Horitake felt a knot of apprehension tighten in his chest as the words left his mouth.
While the Kanroji family wasn't as difficult to deal with as he had initially feared, admitting to such a thing—in front of a girl's parents, no less—usually didn't earn a man any friendly glances.
Sure enough, the moment he finished speaking, the expressions on Mitsuri's parents shifted.
However, it wasn't the explosive rage Horitake had braced himself for. Instead, they looked somber, their faces clouded with a mixture of resentment and conflicted hesitation.
Mitsuri's father let out a long, heavy sigh.
"I see... So, our Mitsuri won't be the only one you take as a wife." He paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "In this day and age, such arrangements aren't uncommon among wealthy or noble families. You mentioned before that you are a 'Heavenly Pillar' of the Demon Slayer Corps, with a status equal to their Master. From a standing of rank and prestige, I suppose you have the right to take several wives."
He looked at Horitake, his eyes softening with a father's lingering hurt. "But regardless of status, as a father... knowing my daughter will be just one of several... it still doesn't sit right with me."
Seeing the opening, Horitake moved quickly to offer reassurance.
"Uncle, this is entirely my fault. I've been too fickle—having Mitsuri wasn't enough, and I ended up involving myself with other women. I am truly sorry. But the truth is, the other two girls are wonderful people as well. I simply cannot bring myself to abandon them. And, of course, I could never abandon Mitsuri."
He looked the older man in the eye, his voice steady. "In my eyes, all three are equal. If any one of them were to leave me, it would be the end of me."
Horitake had laid his heart bare. His sincerity and his apology were woven into every word, leaving no room for doubt about his conviction.
Furthermore, the Taisho era still carried the weight of feudal traditions. As long as a man possessed sufficient status and wealth, polygamy was an accepted social reality. The Kanroji family was not one of immense wealth or influence, and since their eldest daughter had struggled so long to find any suitor at all, her parents—while reluctant—were more inclined to be open-minded.
In fact, Mitsuri's mother seemed to reach a point of acceptance faster than her husband.
"My boy, I can see that your feelings for my daughter are genuine," she said, her voice filled with a quiet relief. "That alone gives me great comfort. I am willing to entrust Mitsuri to you, even if she isn't your only wife. However..."
Her expression turned sharp with maternal concern. "There are things I must be certain of. Once Mitsuri marries you and becomes part of your household, what exactly will her status be among these three women? Will she be the Principal Wife? The Head of the House? If not, what place will she hold? I need to understand this clearly."
Mitsuri's mother was indeed a woman of keen intellect. The point she raised was vital, and it immediately drew the father's attention. He, too, fixed Horitake with an urgent, questioning gaze.
Horitake had anticipated this question. It was the crux of the matter, and he had his answer ready.
"Uncle, Auntie, my feelings for your daughter are absolute," Horitake replied with solemn gravity. "But my feelings for the other two girls are exactly the same. When Mitsuri joins my home, I will never allow her to suffer a moment's grievance. The same applies to the others."
He took a breath, emphasizing his next words. "In my heart, the three of them are absolute equals. There is no hierarchy—no 'above' or 'below,' no 'distant' or 'near.' I will always treat them with the exact same devotion. If I were to elevate Mitsuri to the position of 'Principal Wife,' it would be an injustice to the other two. Likewise, if I elevated either of them, it would be an injustice to Mitsuri. Therefore, my intention is to have no 'First Wife.' They are all my wives. They are all my loves."
The sentiment was profound, but it left the parents hesitating.
Mitsuri's mother lowered her head in thought. "This... no Principal Wife, treating everyone as equals... it sounds wonderful in theory. But there is no precedent for such a thing. I've never heard of a household functioning that way."
The father added, looking troubled, "Exactly. While it sounds fair, people might talk. If we don't follow the established order, won't there be gossip? Won't people look down on our families?"
Horitake's expression hardened, showing a flash of the steel that defined a Pillar.
"Uncle, Auntie, I don't care about gossip, and I certainly won't let it dictate my life. We live our lives for ourselves and our families. The whispers and judgments of outsiders have no place in my home! If anyone truly dares to wag their tongue and cause distress to my family, I wouldn't mind making those bastards disappear from this world entirely."
When facing a father-in-law and mother-in-law, showing a degree of firm resolve—specifically, the protective aura of a man—can be quite effective.
Indeed, seeing Horitake's conviction and feeling the faint, chilling edge of his killing intent, Mitsuri's parents found themselves admiring him even more. They saw a man who could actually get things done.
The father let out a boisterous laugh, the tension breaking. "Hahaha! You're right! Why should we give a damn about what other people think of our own lives?!"
The mother still looked slightly worried, but as she looked at her laughing husband, then at the resolute Horitake, and finally at the radiant, happy face of her eldest daughter, she let out a helpless sigh.
"Very well. If that is your conviction, then an equal status for all three is acceptable." She looked at her daughter with a lingering trace of anxiety. "My only fear is for my daughter. I only hope that, in the years to come, you won't show favoritism or neglect her for the others."
This point caused the father to snap back into a state of high alert. He stopped laughing instantly.
"She's right! No favoritism! Listen here, kid—how many women you marry is your business, and I can't stop you. But if you ever let my daughter feel unwanted or mistreated in that house of yours, I will not let it slide! Even if I'm no match for you in a fight, I'll put my life on the line to give you a piece of my mind for her sake!"
Looking at the huffing, wide-eyed father, Horitake didn't feel nervous. Instead, he felt a wave of relief.
This is how it should be, he thought. This is how a normal father reacts.
If Mitsuri's father had remained unreliable or overly passive, Horitake would have been more concerned. Seeing this flash of genuine protective instinct actually put his mind at ease.
Horitake took the opportunity to give his final vow. "Please, rest assured. I will never play favorites. I will treat them all with the same heart, always."
After a long series of heartfelt explanations, emotional appeals, and various promises, the Kanroji parents were finally satisfied.
With that, they officially entrusted Mitsuri to Horitake.
For a moment, the room was filled with a sense of universal joy. Everyone was smiling.
But the happiest of all was undoubtedly Horitake.
Now that he had passed the trial of Mitsuri's parents, there were virtually no hurdles left.
Nezuko's family had already entrusted her to him.
Shinobu's sister, Kanae, had done the same for Shinobu.
All that remained was to continue nurturing his bond with Nezuko and find a way to turn her back into a human.
After that, the final challenge: ensuring the three of them could live together in perfect harmony. Once that balance was achieved and their feelings for one another were fully matured, he could finally enjoy the "blessing of multiple wives." His greatest dream was finally within reach!
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