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Sumire saw Mitsuba again at her mother's funeral ten years later.
At that time, she was only sixteen years old, formally taking over the heavy responsibility of cultivating the Blue Spider Lily from her mother, who had passed away due to illness.
That night, Miss Mitsuba appeared once more.
Just like that night ten years ago, after silently seeing her mother off, she departed alone just as quietly.
Miss Mitsuba seemed to possess a special ability—no matter when or where, she could always arrive in time at the final moments of their clan members' lives to see them off.
Without doubt, the bond between her grandmother and Miss Mitsuba was mutual.
Just as her grandmother was devoted to cultivating the Blue Spider Lily, Miss Mitsuba was also silently watching over each of her grandmother's descendants. Both of them had always cared for each other in their own ways.
Since this was the case, why had Miss Mitsuba never come to meet her grandmother?
Sumire found the answer in the words her grandmother had spoken to her while alive.
Perhaps in Miss Mitsuba's view, this was her way of protecting her grandmother and their clan.
Because gods existed in this world, and divine will was omnipresent—every person in this world was under their control.
As an existence that the gods viewed as one that must be eliminated, any human who drew too close to Miss Mitsuba, or even attempted to assist her, would very likely incur the gods' wrath.
Therefore, in Miss Mitsuba's eyes, maintaining a certain distance from them was essentially a form of protection.
But since a human identity wouldn't work, why didn't Miss Mitsuba transform their clan into demons as well?
After pondering this for a long time, Sumire also found the answer.
Because demons were flawed creatures.
They appeared immensely powerful, yet possessed numerous weaknesses. Not only could sunlight easily kill them, but even wisteria poison was an absolute toxin they must never touch.
Especially in the era when Miss Mitsuba and her grandmother lived, Miss Mitsuba's elder brother—the strongest Demon Slayer in the long history of the Corps, Mr. Tsugikuni Yoriichi—was still active.
The power of this Child of God deeply shocked all demons in this world; even the progenitor of demons herself could not match him.
Bearing multiple fatal weaknesses while such a powerful enemy existed in the world, no matter from what angle one considered it, Miss Mitsuba at that time would never have considered transforming her grandmother into a demon.
After all, this was Miss Mitsuba's character—someone who cared so deeply about those close to her.
She remembered her grandmother once said that at the fireworks festival where they last accompanied each other, before the shrine where they made wishes for one another,
after Miss Mitsuba revealed her true nature for the first time in her life, she had carefully and tentatively asked her grandmother if she despised her now...
Miss Mitsuba was just like this—seemingly bold and reckless, yet always exceedingly careful when facing friends she truly acknowledged in her heart.
Truly lovely.
Perhaps it was precisely because of those tragic experiences during her human life that Miss Mitsuba developed such a special personality.
Therefore, Sumire would not make things difficult for Mitsuba.
If Mitsuba wanted to conceal her identity, she would accompany her in concealing it.
If Mitsuba wanted to pretend they had never met in the past, she would accompany her in pretending.
If there were things Mitsuba was unwilling to tell her, she would absolutely not ask further.
Even if someday in the future, Mitsuba decided to leave this town, she would definitely not stop her.
Anyway, no matter how long they were separated, when her final moments came, Mitsuba would certainly return to see her again.
Just as she had gone to see her grandmother and mother...
As for transforming into a demon?
That could wait until her descendants had completely cultivated the Blue Spider Lily, until demons could complete their final evolution...
With a faint smile on her face, Sumire blew out the oil lamp in the room and went upstairs to rest.
"..."
"Kokushibo, have you spoken with Mitsuba recently?"
Late at night, in a deserted mountain, within an uninhabited cave, Muzan had come to play chess with Kokushibo after a long absence.
At this moment, Muzan wore a black kimono, her appearance beautiful and lovely—dressed as an oiran.
Of course, Muzan had no particular hobbies; she simply felt that such an appearance might be safer.
Yes, safe.
Ever since being cut by Yoriichi over eighty years ago, Muzan suddenly understood many things overnight.
She suddenly realized that the life of every living being in this world was actually precious.
Even as the powerful Demon King, as part of the myriad living beings in this world, she should not arbitrarily kill other beings and take their lives.
More importantly, a truly powerful, magnanimous life form would not casually flaunt its strength.
Therefore, her power only needed to be known by herself.
The kind of behavior from the past—strutting about ostentatiously, killing anyone who displeased her on a whim.
The current Muzan felt that this was truly unnecessary.
Such boring behavior actually had no meaning whatsoever, don't you agree...
Of course, she was not afraid of Yoriichi.
Considering that some might misunderstand this point, Muzan felt it necessary to clarify.
Yoriichi was dead, had died decades ago. As the Demon King, she could not possibly fear a dead person, understood?
But as the saying goes, everything in this world has its natural predator; no matter how powerful a life form, it will always encounter its natural enemy that can restrain it.
Like Yoriichi—though Muzan was not afraid of him, he did indeed restrain her, belonging to that category of existence that she must avoid whenever she saw him.
To repeat, she was truly not afraid of Yoriichi.
Because Yoriichi restrained her, she had to avoid him—this was the natural principle of mutual generation and restraint among all things in this world, a very common phenomenon unrelated to fear.
Similarly, just as living beings constantly evolved.
In order to avoid suddenly encountering another "Yoriichi Two" at some point in the future, Muzan gradually "evolved" the ability to disguise herself.
Past bad behaviors—change them if possible.
Killing—don't do it if possible.
Previous appearances—try not to use them anymore.
From now on, don't always be so arrogant, thinking oneself invincible under heaven. Change identities frequently—old, young, male, female, all were fine...
In short, blend into human society as much as possible, make oneself appear ordinary, then obediently search for his Blue Spider Lily, occasionally sparring with those Demon Slayers...
And among her many identities, Muzan favored this beautiful oiran disguise the most.
After all, who could possibly imagine that she, the progenitor of demons, the existence closest to perfection in this world, would choose to disguise herself as a delicate oiran?
Hmph... Hahahahaha!
The Demon King, amazed by her own cleverness and wit.