"You see, it's just like this. Seeing her like this every day, it naturally stuck in my mind..."
Having no interest in discussing Tamayo further, Muzan once again turned his gaze to Mitsuba.
"So, the moment I saw you, Miss Mitsuba, I sensed that almost identical repression in you that Tamayo has."
Saying this, Muzan used those strange plum-red blood pupils to stare straight at Mitsuba, speaking in a low voice:
"To be frank, Miss Mitsuba, I originally had no interest in you, but our conversation just now has indeed put me in a good mood.
Therefore, I am willing to give you an opportunity."
"I wonder what opportunity Mr. Kibutsuji is referring to?"
Hearing Mitsuba's inquiry, the smile on Muzan's face faded, his tone suddenly becoming low. Looking at Mitsuba, he spoke with unprecedented seriousness:
"An opportunity that can lead you to the eternal true 'freedom' you desire."
Looking at Muzan before her, a strange feeling suddenly surfaced in Mitsuba's heart.
She vaguely felt that the man before her seemed to have suddenly transformed into... another kind of creature in that instant.
"But it's alright. Miss Mitsuba doesn't need to rush to make a decision now."
Before Mitsuba could think further, she saw Muzan rise from his seat, seemingly preparing to leave.
"We still have plenty of time. Perhaps I will return here again in the near future. When that time comes, Miss Mitsuba can make her decision without haste..."
"Aren't you waiting for someone anymore?"
Mitsuba inquired.
Muzan and Tamayo's original purpose in coming to this restaurant was to wait for someone.
To this, Muzan simply waved his hand indifferently.
"No more waiting. It's probably just some groundless false intelligence anyway. After all these years, it's always been like this... Ah, right."
As if suddenly remembering something, Muzan looked at Mitsuba again and smiled:
"If Miss Mitsuba has the time, would you mind doing me a small favor?"
"Please speak."
"Blue Spider Lily."
Muzan spoke a name Mitsuba had never heard before.
"For some personal reasons, I am in great need of this particular flower. If Miss Mitsuba knows any information about it, please be sure to tell me."
"Mm, I will keep an eye out for you."
"Thank you very much. Additionally... looking forward to our next meeting."
Under Tamayo's slightly shocked gaze, Muzan very politely bowed to Mitsuba, then left the restaurant with her.
Sitting on the second floor of the restaurant, watching until their figures completely disappeared into the dark streets, Mitsuba finally withdrew her gaze.
A very strange pair of man and woman—it felt like they had many secrets...
But Mitsuba didn't want to think much about this, nor did she care. After all, everyone in this world has their own secrets.
Her only feeling was that her conversation with Muzan just now was very pleasant.
This kind of mutual inner probing, unreserved conversation gave Mitsuba an unprecedented sense of relaxation.
No need to conceal, no need to worry, no need to be concerned whether her words and actions were proper—just say whatever came to mind...
If Muzan hadn't decided to leave, Mitsuba would have even wanted to chat longer.
Yes, although this man who called himself "Muzan Kibutsuji" gave off a dangerous feeling just by looking at him.
Mitsuba unexpectedly felt that the two of them might be quite compatible in personality...
Just as Muzan's final words before leaving—
"Looking forward to our next meeting."
"..."
On the other side, on the street leading out of the city, Muzan and Tamayo walked one after another.
"You were very interested in that girl just now."
In the silent stillness, it was ultimately Tamayo who first broke the silence.
"That's obvious."
Muzan replied without turning his head, and Tamayo continued pressing:
"Do you believe she has the value to become a demon?"
"Whether there's value or not can only be known after transforming into a demon."
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, Muzan uncharacteristically answered Tamayo's question patiently.
"Based on my experience over the past several hundred years, strong humans after becoming demons don't necessarily remain strong; and weak humans after becoming demons don't necessarily remain weak.
There is no absolute relationship between the two."
Hearing this, Tamayo fell into silence.
But after only a brief silence, she spoke again:
"That girl is ill."
Recalling the subtle abnormalities she had noticed at the restaurant on Mitsuba's left arm, Tamayo reminded:
"Twitching muscles in the left arm, numb and uncoordinated fingers—these are signs of a stroke. Though not obvious yet, she definitely won't live long."
"Isn't that perfect?"
Muzan smiled upon hearing this.
"The closer one is to death, the more one can feel the preciousness of life, the more one wants to grasp that sole opportunity...
Tamayo, wasn't it the same for you back then?"
Hearing Muzan's words carrying mocking meaning, Tamayo once again clenched her hand.
What Muzan said to Mitsuba earlier was indeed all true.
Tamayo was once also a doctor. Suffering from a terminal illness, because she wanted to see her child grow up with her own eyes, she accepted Muzan's charity and transformed from human to demon.
And after becoming a demon, she immediately killed her own husband and children with her own hands while in an unconscious, out-of-control state.
This immense grief was ultimately transformed by Tamayo into surging hatred toward Muzan.
In Tamayo's view, this was Muzan deceiving her.
He not only failed to inform her in advance that demons needed to feed on humans, but he also didn't stop her when she was out of control and attacking her own family!
Instead, he watched with his own eyes as the out-of-control her tore apart and devoured her husband and children bite by bite!
Of course, Muzan didn't acknowledge this.
He even felt Tamayo was quite inexplicable.
In Muzan's view, Tamayo's so-called hatred toward him was nothing but her displacement of anger toward him after being unable to accept the reality of what she had done.
Hmph, an ungrateful woman!
All these years, Tamayo has constantly thought about how to kill Muzan in her heart.
And Muzan, relying on his ability to read the thoughts of the demons under him, has constantly known all of this.
But he doesn't care.
As the Demon King, he has absolute control over the demons under him.
Therefore, as long as Tamayo remains a demon, she can never kill him.
And Muzan, because he needs Tamayo's superb medical skills, not only didn't kill her but has kept her by his side all along, taking her everywhere he goes...
The relationship between the two is thus twisted.
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