Time began to flow once again, and in the blink of an eye, another six years had passed.
For demons with infinite lifespans, six years was but a short time.
Mitsuba switched to working at another newspaper company. "Middle-aged" Yoriichi (Michikatsu) had just begun his fifth term as a congressman.
His former assistant Gyutaro now also held an important government position, appearing in the news papers from time to time.
Doma, together with Ume and Ubume, had made several more blockbuster films. It was said that this trio's collaboration had now gone beyond the island nation and reached the entire world.
Gyokko's antique shop in Tokyo had closed due to poor management, but it was said that this fellow had recently run off to a rural town and opened a new porcelain shop, specializing in selling pots he made himself.
As for Hantengu, this disgraceful fellow was still wandering the streets of Tokyo begging. Because of his roaming around, he would occasionally be beaten by local beggars until he crawled all over the ground.
This spineless creature...
Finally, there was Akaza.
Having successfully completed his studies with top grades, he had now finally achieved his wish and obtained his doctorate degree, becoming the "youngest" Doctor of Literature at Tokyo University!
Congratulations, truly congratulations. This child has finally made something of himself...
While continuing his academic research, the young Doctor Hakuji now also took on the work of teaching and educating at Tokyo University.
Every day he would give lectures to students who enrolled in his classes, living quite happily...
Mitsuba was endlessly pleased by this.
It seemed that before long, she might finally be able to completely let go of this child...
The past six years appeared peaceful, but in reality, one noteworthy small matter had occurred.
Of course, it had nothing to do with the Demon Slayer Corps—the matter concerned Doma.
"So, this is what you told me before, that 'treasure' you wanted to introduce me to?"
In Tokyo, inside the luxurious Western-style mansion of the great director Doma, Mitsuba sat on the sofa, narrowing her eyes as she sized up the beautiful girl before her.
This girl wore a light green floral kimono, had smooth jet-black long hair, emerald pupils, and a gentle, beautiful appearance... No, it should be said, extremely beautiful.
Even among all the people Mitsuba had seen in the past several hundred years, this girl's appearance could rank near the top.
The girl was also holding a two or three-year-old child in her arms, with the same emerald pupils as her, making it obvious at a glance that this was her flesh and blood.
Mm, and a married woman at that.
According to Doma's introduction just now, her name was Hashibira Kotoha, and the child in her arms was called Hashibira Inosuke.
She was a pitiful soul Doma had encountered by chance several days ago while returning to the headquarters of the Eternal Bliss Sect.
It was said that unable to endure the domestic violence from her husband and mother-in-law, she had fled overnight with her infant child. While lost and wandering about, she happened to run into Doma.
Then under Doma's enthusiastic invitation, she followed him in a daze to this mansion of his in Tokyo, where she had since stayed.
How should I put it... it felt like kidnapping a decent married woman...
"M-meet Madam..."
Seemingly unsettled by Mitsuba's silence, Kotoha hurriedly tried to bow to Mitsuba, startling her into quickly dodging to the side to clarify:
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not any Madam. This fellow and I are just ordinary friends. This is also my first time at his residence today..."
"Eh?"
The moment Mitsuba finished speaking, before Kotoha could say anything, Doma beside her suddenly froze.
He turned his head to stare blankly at Mitsuba, his rainbow-colored pupils full of disbelief.
"So in the Holy Maiden's eyes, we are actually just ordinary friends?"
"Then what else did you think we were?"
"Have I not always been the Holy Maiden's most loyal servant?!"
"Doma, what the hell kind of crazy are you spouting now?!"
Having long since lost the energy to deal with this fellow's abstract thought process, Mitsuba merely waved her hand in disgust.
"Alright, alright, just tell me directly—what did you call me here for this time? Surely you don't want me to help you divide her up?
Let me say first, I've always only eaten Demon Slayers. No matter how beautiful ordinary people are, I have no interest..."
Mitsuba directly asked this question, not even avoiding Kotoha before her.
After all, they were old friends of over two hundred years. Mitsuba believed she understood the personality of the creature beside her quite well.
Facing such a beautiful girl, if he was so eager to call her over, no need to even think—he was definitely holding that idea of sharing treasure with a good friend and inviting her over for a meal together...
But this time, it seemed slightly different?
"No, Holy Maiden, I have no intention of eating little Kotoha."
To Mitsuba's inquiry, Doma shook his head. He blinked his large eyes and said seriously:
"Little Kotoha is a very good girl. I want to keep her by my side for her entire life.
If possible, I even want to watch her die of old age~"
"Eh? M-Mr. Doma! What are you suddenly saying..."
Kotoha, who hadn't quite understood what the two were talking about from the start, suddenly heard this confession-like straightforward statement from Doma. Her mind went blank with a buzz, her whole person stunned, cheeks burning red.
How strange—clearly they were talking about eating just a second ago, how did it suddenly jump to being about her?
Speaking of which, being together for a lifetime, dying of old age... so this warm-hearted Mr. Doma had always viewed her in this way?
N-no wonder he was so enthusiastic toward her back then and brought her to live in such a luxurious mansion. So, so...
"Oh~ I see~"
Glancing at Kotoha who had already turned into a steam engine, Mitsuba merely nodded calmly.
She lightly leaned her head over and whispered in Doma's ear:
"You've gone crazy?"
Doma also lightly leaned his head over and whispered back in Mitsuba's ear:
"I'm serious~"
Frog wow!
This fellow was actually serious?!
Having received affirmative confirmation from Doma once again, Mitsuba finally couldn't maintain her composure.
She immediately stepped back two paces, looking at Doma with eyes as if seeing a monster.
Doma, who exclusively loved eating beautiful women and had never changed for over two hundred years, had now altered his nature. Not only did he not plan to eat this beautiful girl before him, he actually said he wanted to accompany her until she died of old age?!
Incredible...
Was this the sublimation of morality, or the awakening of humanity?