"Ah, speaking of which, my younger sister actually came here tonight as well, and she's waiting for me nearby right now..."
Having already formed a plan in her mind, Mitsuba suddenly spoke.
"Huh? Master Yoriichi's younger sister?"
"Yes, yes! Mitsuba is a very~ cute young lady. These past few days, she's often heard me mention you, so she's always been curious about you, Amei~"
"I-is that so, that Master Yoriichi's younger sister would actually be interested in someone like me..."
"Yes, yes! She even said it would be wonderful if she could meet you in person and chat with you~ I imagine you must feel the same way, Amei?"
"Um, I..."
"Excellent! In that case, Amei, please wait here for a moment and don't move. I'll go fetch that girl right away!"
"Master Yoriichi, wait—"
Giving Amei no chance to react, Mitsuba immediately stood up and with a *whoosh* ran into the deserted alley behind her.
Seeing no one around, she immediately changed her appearance back.
[As expected, when it comes to heart-to-heart talks with young girls, my own face works far better than using elder brother's stern face...]
Instantly switching from the tall and handsome "Tsugikuni Michikatsu" image back to the petite and beautiful "Tsugikuni Mitsuba" image, just as Mitsuba turned to head back.
Behind her, a familiar voice she hadn't heard in over a decade suddenly rang out.
"Mitsuba, what are you doing?"
"Eek?!"
Startled by this voice, Mitsuba subconsciously turned around, only then noticing that Michikatsu had been standing behind her for who knows how long.
"E-elder brother? When did you arrive?"
"From the moment you entered this alley."
Under the Transparent World, Michikatsu—who had returned from six eyes to two—had completely restrained his aura, to the point where even Mitsuba hadn't detected his arrival at all.
At this moment, looking at his younger sister's flustered expression before him, the originally calm and indifferent depths of his eyes were filled with incomprehensible confusion.
"That Lord told me that because you've been investigating matters related to the Blue Spider Lily lately, your movements have been somewhat unusual, so he had me come check on your situation...
I didn't expect that you would actually come to such a filthy place, Mitsuba..."
"Ahaha, well this is for the investigation..."
Letting out two dry laughs, Mitsuba subconsciously averted her gaze while simultaneously taking two imperceptible steps backward.
[Not good! Caught red-handed! Lord Muzan, are you scheming against me?!]
[I am not, Mitsuba. Don't falsely accuse me.]
Seemingly oblivious to Mitsuba's small movements, the Michikatsu before her simply continued asking:
"That you came is one thing, but what I cannot understand is why you just now... transformed into my appearance?"
"Haha, that's of course because... Elder brother, quick look! It's Lord Muzan!"
Suddenly shouting and pointing behind Michikatsu, Mitsuba turned and ran without hesitation.
But Michikatsu seemed to have seen through this long ago. Without even turning his head, he instantly stepped forward, reached out, grabbed Mitsuba by the back collar, and lifted her up on the spot.
"Uwaa!"
"Mitsuba, answer my question."
Holding her by the back collar, lifting his fleeing younger sister in mid-air, Michikatsu repeated in that flat voice:
"Why did you appear here, transformed into my appearance?"
"T-that's of course because elder brother, you have always been the most handsome and dashing man in Mitsuba's heart, so Mitsuba always wants to transform into your appearance~
Alright, elder brother~ let's not dwell on these trivial matters anymore. I still have business to attend to, so please hurry back. Be good~ listen and don't bother me..."
With nowhere left to escape, Mitsuba tried to use coquettish pleading to bluff her way through, but Michikatsu wasn't buying it at all.
He simply stared straight at this younger sister in his grasp who kept avoiding his gaze, and continued asking in that cold voice:
"These years, how many similar things have you done using my face?"
"O-occasionally..."
"Occasionally, meaning how many?"
"Meaning whenever there's an opportunity, I'll transform..."
Whenever there's an opportunity, she would transform into his appearance?
In other words, over the past several decades, his beloved younger sister, his only blood relative in this world, had been using his face, his name, to stir up trouble and flirt everywhere without his knowledge?!
Completely unable to believe such words could come from his younger sister's mouth, Michikatsu felt his hands trembling slightly.
How strange, what was this feeling?
This feeling of burning rage, yet having nowhere to vent it, forced to swallow it down silently—what was this?
Was the creature he was currently holding in his hand truly his younger sister?
Could it really not be something else disguised as her?
"Mitsuba, you..."
"Um... Master Yoriichi?"
Just as Michikatsu was about to say something, Amei's puzzled voice suddenly rang out from outside the alley.
"Master Yoriichi, are you in there?"
Accompanying this inquiry were Amei's footsteps, growing closer and closer.
Hearing this voice, Mitsuba first blinked, then the corners of her mouth rose slightly.
Ehe!
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck her mind. She suddenly thought of a good idea.
A good idea that might help her elder brother completely change his stern face and embark on a new life!
Deciding to act immediately, Mitsuba instantly returned to her serious demeanor, using consciousness communication to speak to Michikatsu:
[Elder brother, please accompany me in performing a play.]
[Why must I accompany you?]
[Because this Miss Amei who is about to arrive is an important figure related to the Blue Spider Lily intelligence that Lord asked me to investigate. She cannot be lost at this moment.]
Very skillfully bringing out Muzan as a shield, still being held in mid-air, Mitsuba turned her head back and flashed an utterly wicked smile at Michikatsu behind her.
[I imagine, elder brother, you certainly wouldn't want to disappoint Lord Muzan, would you?]
The gazes of the brother and sister finally met in this brief instant. Looking at the triumphant, wicked look in his younger sister's eyes, the corner of Michikatsu's eye twitched violently.
He faintly realized that his younger sister was likely preparing to set him up.
But then he discovered that even though he had realized this, he could only obediently step into this trap.
Because Mitsuba always held the golden signboard of Lord Muzan, so even if he went to ask Lord Muzan right now, he would surely only receive a response of "Just do as Mitsuba says"...
Although Michikatsu could also choose to turn and leave without a word, it didn't take any thought to know that if he dared to do so, Mitsuba would definitely use:
"Oh my~ Is elder brother leaving now? Just like before, abandoning his poor younger sister here all alone, leaving without a care~"
To viciously attack his conscience...
Ever since becoming a demon, ever since confronting the guilt he felt toward his younger sister during his human life, Michikatsu had secretly sworn in his heart that he would make it up to Mitsuba in the future.
Therefore, as long as it wasn't an excessively unreasonable request, he wouldn't refuse Mitsuba.
[Very well...]
After their brief confrontation, it was ultimately Michikatsu who admitted defeat.
Seeing this, a brilliant smile immediately spread across Mitsuba's face.
[Ah, I knew elder brother would agree! Now, listen carefully, in a moment you will...]
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