"So... if you insist on joining them, you should be mentally prepared. Be ready for the possibility that your sister may not be accepted... or even worse."
After finishing, the Shogun no longer looked at Tanjiro. Instead, she turned toward the silver-haired boy walking ahead. He had stopped in front of a tall, unfamiliar wall and turned to face it directly.
The Shogun followed him, her gaze sharp and observant. The boy raised one hand, pressing his palm against the wall. The moment his skin made contact, the surface rippled like water—his hand, then arm, then entire body passed straight through.
"..."
The Shogun narrowed her eyes, watching the scene unfold like an illusionary spell.
[Fascinating... a form of sorcery? Such techniques exist even in Inazuma.]
"Come on, get inside! Don't let anyone see you!"
The boy's head popped back out from the shimmering wall, motioning for them to hurry.
Without hesitation, the Shogun followed his example, raising her hand and stepping through the illusion. Tanjiro and Nezuko quickly did the same.
"Whoa!!"
Tanjiro gasped in awe the moment he passed through.
"Shut up!" the boy snapped immediately.
"Oh..." Tanjiro clamped his mouth shut, embarrassed.
"...Could you at least try to be polite?" the Shogun said quietly, sighing.
"Hmph. Stop talking and move." The boy snorted, completely dismissive.
"..."
The Shogun's eyes narrowed slightly. She was speechless.
[Don't get angry...] Ei's calm, gentle tone soothed her from within.
"Haa..." The Shogun sighed once more and followed silently.
As they stepped into what appeared to be a courtyard, they found themselves standing before a large, two-story residence—or perhaps three, if the small upper floor counted as an attic. The structure looked like a private mansion, its front lantern casting a warm glow across the entrance.
"Is this her power?" the Shogun asked, stepping beside the boy.
"No... it's just a charm effect." He pointed toward the wall above the entryway, his tone for once neutral.
She looked where he indicated—a thin strip of paper was attached to the wall, marked with crimson symbols in an unfamiliar pattern. So that was the source of the illusion.
"Wow... this house is huge," Tanjiro said, his country-boy awe obvious.
"Listen carefully," the boy warned, turning to glare at them. "Once we're inside, do not be rude to the lady."
He then stepped closer to the Shogun, scowling. "Frankly, I couldn't care less about any of you. If she hadn't asked me personally, I wouldn't have bothered bringing you here." His voice dripped with disdain.
"Well, thank you so much," the Shogun replied dryly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Must've been tough for you—escorting us while suffering so much."
Her tone was smooth, mocking, and her smile sharp.
'As if I needed him to guide us,' she thought. 'What an arrogant child.'
"You—what did you just say?!" The boy's pale face twisted with irritation, but his words faltered.
"I said next time, don't push yourself so hard," she replied sweetly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Wouldn't want you to collapse and blame us for it."
"You—! Tch... whatever!"
Clearly outmatched, the boy clenched his jaw and turned away. With an audible huff, he led them toward the door, deciding not to waste more time arguing while someone was waiting inside.
From within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei observed everything with a soft laugh. Her daughter, despite her calm and regal demeanor, was still young—so quick to push back when slighted, unwilling to ever take a loss. Whether through words or action, she always had to have the last say. How familiar... it reminded Ei of her younger self.
Knock, knock...
The silver-haired boy led them down the corridor and stopped at a door. He raised his hand and knocked softly—his movements far gentler than the attitude he had shown them earlier. The difference was almost comical, but perhaps understandable. They were just outsiders, after all.
"Please, come in..."
A calm, graceful woman's voice answered from inside.
Click...
"It's me. I've returned," the boy said as he opened the door.
The Shogun used that moment to glance into the room, taking in the details at once. It was a medical chamber—small and tidy, with a single desk and a low bed. Charts of human anatomy lined the walls, along with posters of medical notes and health diagrams. A bookshelf in the corner was filled with thick volumes on medicine, and a faint scent of disinfectant and herbs hung in the air.
Sitting by the bedside was the woman they had met earlier—the mysterious demon doctor. She was tending to a patient, the same woman who had been bitten by her husband in the street. Her shoulder was wrapped in bandages, faint traces of blood showing through, but the wound was clearly treated and no longer bleeding.
"Welcome back," the doctor said softly as she turned her gaze toward them, smiling kindly.
Click.
The boy—Yushiro, as she now addressed him—closed the door behind them, sealing out the world.
"You took quite some time," she remarked gently, glancing at the wall clock. "Did something happen on the way, Yushiro?"
"It's their fault," he muttered, shooting a sharp glare at the group. "They were slow and troublesome."
"We weren't slow..." Tanjiro protested in a small voice, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ha. You talk big for someone no one even asked to guide us," the Shogun interjected coolly, crossing her arms and closing her eyes with a faint smirk. "Don't flatter yourself, white-faced brat."
Her tone was sharp and mocking—the words, especially the nickname, carried a double edge.
"You—!! You damn woman! What did you just call me?!" Yushiro's pale face flushed crimson with fury, his whole body trembling like an angry cat.
"Besides," the Shogun continued with a deliberately sweet smile, "weren't you the one spying from the shadows and wasting time? And now you're blaming us? How shameless... how pitiful... how boring~"
Her words came like a flurry of verbal strikes, each more cutting than the last.
"You...!!! Lady Tamayo, don't listen to her!!"
Yushiro's voice cracked in indignation, utterly humiliated. The Shogun's poison-tipped tongue had hit home, leaving him fuming and red-faced.
Ei chuckled quietly within her mind. So that's how it is... someone's been rubbing off on her.
And then—
"Pfft... hehe~"
Lady Tamayo, the demon doctor, couldn't hold back a soft laugh. She covered her lips with one hand, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Her gentle laughter filled the small room, making everyone pause—even the Shogun looked at her, surprised.
From within, Ei also laughed, covering her mouth just like Tamayo.
Because right then, the Shogun—her ever-stoic, proud daughter—looked far too cute for her own good.
"?"
Hearing the woman's soft laughter, the Shogun turned her head slightly, her expression puzzled.
"Lady Tamayo, may I ask what you find amusing?"
Even Yushiro blinked in confusion, clearly not understanding why his mistress was laughing.
"Hehe... forgive me," Tamayo said with a gentle smile. "I simply didn't expect this young lady to be such a charming and witty person."
"Hah?! Her?! Charming?!" Yushiro shouted, as if he'd just heard something that shattered his worldview. He glared at the violet-haired woman with visible disdain, clearly not agreeing with Tamayo's assessment.
"Yushiro, mind your manners."
Tamayo rose from her seat, her tone soft yet firm. She walked gracefully toward the Shogun and bowed politely.
"Please forgive Yushiro. He can be rather... spirited."
"There's no need," the Shogun replied calmly, though her eyes flicked mischievously toward the boy. "Youth often comes with arrogance."
"!!"
Yushiro's cheeks puffed like a pufferfish, his pale face flushed red with suppressed frustration. But with Tamayo present, he didn't dare retort.
"Um... how is that woman doing?"
Tanjiro, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke, breaking the tension. He glanced worriedly at the patient lying on the bed.
"She's stable now," Tamayo said softly. The woman's complexion had regained a bit of color. "It was close—she nearly lost too much blood."
"But... her husband is locked up in the basement. I can't help feeling uneasy about it."
Her expression darkened, her eyes filled with quiet sorrow, as though remembering a past tragedy.
"Doesn't it... feel difficult? Treating humans while being a demon?" Tanjiro asked sincerely.
Thud!
"Ugh—ah!!"
Before he could react, Yushiro had punched him square in the chest.
"Wh-Why'd you hit me?!" Tanjiro yelped, clutching his ribs.
"What kind of stupid question is that?! We're demons constantly resisting our hunger for blood and flesh just to help humans!" Yushiro shouted, furious.
"Sorry..." Tanjiro mumbled awkwardly, holding his chest.
"Yushiro, no violence," Tamayo said, her gentle voice firm for once.
"..."
Yushiro turned his face away, pouting.
"Now then... I haven't properly introduced myself," Tamayo said with a soft sigh. "My name is Tamayo. And as you've heard, this child is Yushiro."
The Shogun inclined her head politely. "I am Raiden."
"Miss Raiden... if I hadn't intervened earlier, would you have drawn your blade on those officers? Perhaps even..." Tamayo's words trailed softly, implying the rest.
"...Yes," the Shogun admitted honestly. "Though I had no intent to kill—merely to intimidate."
"I see... I believe you," Tamayo replied with a faint nod. "And as for this young man..." She turned her gaze toward Tanjiro.
"Ah—my name is Tanjiro!" he said quickly, bowing slightly.
"Tanjiro," Tamayo said gently, "as for your earlier question... No, I don't find it painful. Compared to other demons, it's far easier for me."
She lifted her hand, gazing at her pale fingers.
"After all, I've altered my own body extensively. The curse of Kibutsuji no longer binds me."
Kibutsuji... again?
The Shogun frowned slightly. That name had come up multiple times now—Tanjiro had mentioned it too. Yet she had never heard it before, not even from Shinobu.
"Curse? You can modify your body?!" Tanjiro asked, eyes widening.
But Tamayo didn't answer directly. Instead, she unfastened her white coat and walked toward a nearby door.
Click...
She slid it open, revealing an adjoining room—a guest chamber.
Soft beige tatami mats covered the floor, giving the space a gentle warmth. The walls were lined with bookshelves and a simple clock, while a low table near the window held several burning candles. Above it hung a serene painting of Mount Fuji. The room felt peaceful and homey.
"Please," Tamayo said, stepping aside with a graceful gesture. "Come in and sit for a while."
After removing their shoes at the entrance, everyone stepped into the room one by one. The Shogun did the same, slipping off her open-toed heels and setting her warm, stockinged-feet onto the cool surface of the tatami mat.
Her toes touched down first, revealing the graceful curve of her foot—shaped with flawless proportions, elegant in every angle. After walking such a long distance in those shoes, faint traces of dust now marked the toes and soles of her white stockings. Yet even so, her feet retained a pristine beauty, like delicate cream draped in snow—enticingly flawless.
She was still dressed in her usual short kimono—a stylized variation that only reached her upper thighs. She disliked covering her legs more than necessary, aside from stockings or tights, which she wore consistently. This preference had long become part of her visual identity.
She began to take a step forward when—
[Arrange your shoes properly.]
Ei's gentle yet motherly voice echoed in her mind, as if reminding her of a long-taught lesson.
"..."
The Shogun froze for a moment, sighed inwardly, then obediently turned back. She crouched down and neatly aligned her shoes beside the entrance.
Meanwhile, Nezuko simply lay down the moment she entered the room.
"Nezuko, that's not very polite..." Tanjiro said awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
"It's alright," Tamayo said with a kind smile. "Let her rest." She then gracefully knelt on the tatami, sitting in seiza.
The Shogun was the last to sit. She adjusted the hem of her kimono, smoothing it out before folding her legs beneath her in one fluid, practiced motion. Directly across from her sat Yushiro, who, though visibly calmer than before, couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes.
As he stole a quick glance at her, something within him faltered.
He'd spoken so harshly before—yet now, seeing her up close, he realized his words had been utterly foolish. Her beauty was unreal—her long violet hair cascaded like a waterfall, with a few strands gently brushing her shoulders. The fan-shaped ornament by her temple added to her refined elegance. Every detail embodied the delicate grace of an Eastern woman.
But more than anything else, his gaze kept slipping to the shape of her thighs, hugged by the sheer tension of her white stockings. The way she sat in seiza highlighted every line and curve—tight and drawn beneath her, the soft shape subtly outlined beneath the short hem of her kimono. It was impossible not to notice.
Yes... he hadn't noticed it before. She truly was breathtaking—a woman of peerless beauty.
The realization made his chest tighten. He quickly turned away, flustered. I have Lady Tamayo... I have Lady Tamayo... he told himself, repeating it like a mantra. Yet, as a boy still in his youth, it was hard not to be captivated.
"..."
The Shogun noticed his subtle shift in expression and the way he avoided her eyes. Misunderstanding, she assumed he still disliked her.
[Shogun... it seems he doesn't like you.] Ei commented softly.
'Doesn't matter. I couldn't care less,' she replied calmly.
She didn't bother with such trivialities. The opinions of others rarely concerned her—especially those of strangers.
"Now then," Tamayo began once more, seeing that everyone had settled. "Let us continue where we left off."
Her voice was calm and steady.
"After modifying our bodies, we no longer need to consume human flesh to survive," she explained. "A small amount of human blood is sufficient."
"But that's still—" Tanjiro started.
"Perhaps this sounds unpleasant," Tamayo interrupted gently, "but we only acquire blood from those who sell it willingly. The amount we take is small—never enough to harm them."
"I see... and what about him?" The Shogun gestured slightly toward Yushiro with her eyes.
"Yes, he too drinks blood. However, he requires much less," Tamayo replied. "Because... I was the one who turned him into a demon."
"..."
The Shogun's eyes shifted toward Yushiro again. Their gazes met briefly before he quickly looked away, his face tinged with faint embarrassment.
"?"
The Shogun blinked, puzzled. What was that about? She decided not to dwell on it.
"Huuh~ huuh~"
On the tatami, Nezuko rolled lazily like a small pet, eventually bumping against the Shogun's leg.
"...?"
The Shogun looked down. The pink-eyed girl was staring up at her, bamboo muzzle still between her lips, eyes glimmering like a curious animal.
The Shogun's expression softened. She raised her hand gently, placing it atop Nezuko's head and stroking her hair tenderly, as though smoothing a kitten's fur.
Nezuko didn't resist—she simply gazed up at her quietly, her eyes calm and pure.
The Shogun withdrew her hand, and Nezuko rolled away again, contentedly curling up a few feet away.