"Well then, Little Butterfly, I'll see you off here. Go home and rest early."
In the darkness, standing at a street corner, Mitsuba said to Sumire before her with a smile.
"Mm, you too, Mitsuba. Don't go wandering around casually at night if there's nothing to do."
"Yes, yes, yes..."
"Miss Mitsuba!"
Waving goodbye, just as Mitsuba was about to turn and leave, she saw the figure of a familiar footman running hurriedly toward them from the street not far away.
"Miss Mitsuba! A merchant from the neighboring town asked me to notify you! He said the guest you wanted to see has arrived! He wants you to hurry to the usual place to meet!"
[Finally here.]
"Mm, thank you, I understand."
Hearing the footman's message, the smile on Mitsuba's face gradually faded.
Over two full months had passed since her last meeting with that mysterious wealthy merchant, and this person had finally returned with the intelligence she wanted.
Mitsuba had a strong premonition that this matter concerning the Blue Spider Lily would likely truly and completely end tonight.
She could hardly wait to meet that mysterious person who had caused such a commotion behind all this.
Watching the footman leave, Mitsuba then turned to look at Sumire beside her and said apologetically:
"Sorry, Little Butterfly, it seems I have to go out again tonight.
If nothing unexpected happens, this should be the last time in the near future..."
"It's fine, just be careful yourself, Mitsuba."
As always, Sumire showed full understanding, not even asking a single question about what Mitsuba was going to do.
"I understand. See you tomorrow."
Without saying more, regarding her close friend's concern, Mitsuba simply nodded gently and quickly turned to leave.
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Standing in place like this, watching Mitsuba's figure completely disappear into the night, Sumire then turned and walked slowly toward the clinic.
Once again, Mitsuba had suddenly left before her like this.
Since they had known each other, this situation had only occurred twice.
The last time was over two months ago. She remembered that time, it was also that footman who came to notify Mitsuba...
[Was it also for the same matter?]
During these past two months, because Mitsuba had almost no longer frequently gone out at night, Sumire had thought that the matter Mitsuba was busy with before had been completely resolved.
But now it seemed, the facts were not so?
What kind of matter could cause Mitsuba to investigate for so long?
Was it something related to Demon Slayers?
Thinking repeatedly in her mind, Sumire—who had already walked to the clinic door—instinctively took out her key, opened the main door, and walked in.
For some reason, her heart faintly had a bad premonition.
She always felt that Mitsuba might encounter some danger...
In the empty, pitch-black room, it was so quiet that only the creaking sound of her footsteps on the stairs could be heard.
[No, how could that be possible...]
Walking up to the second floor, amused by this sudden worry that emerged in her heart, Sumire immediately shook her head.
With Mitsuba's strength, how could there possibly be Demon Slayers in this world who could threaten her?
She had even safely survived through the era when the Child of God was active, let alone this ordinary and mundane era?
Alright, don't think so much. Go to sleep early. Mitsuba couldn't possibly be in danger...
Thinking this in her heart, just as Sumire picked up the water basin and was about to go wash up and rest, her entire body instantly froze in place!
Thud!
The wooden basin in her hand fell to the ground with a crash. She maintained this posture with both hands raised, her eyes wide open, her pupils suddenly constricting.
Why?
Why was she so certain that Mitsuba definitely wouldn't be in danger?
How strange. She had never had such thoughts before...
She had even frequently reminded herself in her cultivation records to pay special attention to this point...
Stiffly turning her neck, looking down at her slightly trembling hands, Sumire's brain operated at extreme speed at this moment.
Why did she feel that as long as Mitsuba had survived through the era when the Child of God was active, she would definitely not encounter any danger in the future?
Why, even though she clearly knew that demons were creatures with numerous weaknesses, clearly knew that Mitsuba wasn't truly omnipotent, did she still turn a blind eye to the unease she felt just now?
No, not right...
It wasn't that she herself didn't want to care, nor that she herself wanted to turn a blind eye.
But rather something had just influenced her thinking, wanting her to appear unconcerned about this, wanting her to turn a blind eye to this, wanting her... not to interfere in Mitsuba's affairs tonight!
The gods!
Realizing this, Sumire's expression instantly became grave. She hurriedly stepped forward to open the wooden chest beside her bed, took out a backpack from within and put it on her back, then without hesitation turned and ran out of the clinic.
[The gods in heaven have made their move. Mitsuba is definitely in danger tonight!]
It must be so!
"..."
"Miss Tamayo, do you think the person in this painting could be Tsugikuni Mitsuba?"
In the late-night residence, Ubuyashiki handed the painting in his hand to Tamayo opposite him.
Ever since several months ago, when Ubuyashiki used his methods to send out commissions across the country to search for the Blue Spider Lily.
Now, quite a few portraits of people claiming to possess intelligence about the Blue Spider Lily, along with their so-called intelligence, had been passed layer by layer through various channels to Ubuyashiki's hands, for Tamayo to verify authenticity.
But regrettably, the vast majority of these people were eliminated by Tamayo at first glance.
The remaining few were also subsequently eliminated in follow-up tentative contacts.
Until today, among the latest batch of portraits passed over, one suddenly caught Ubuyashiki's attention.
In the painting was a handsome and dashing young man, appearing extraordinarily heroic.
In small characters on the side of the painting, this man's name was noted—
Tsugikuni Michikatsu.
In the intelligence passed along with this painting, this man named Tsugikuni Michikatsu had written with pen an extremely thought-provoking sentence.
[Legend has it that the Blue Spider Lily is something useless to humans, and only legendary demons would pursue its existence.]
To the unknowing, this might merely be a story this Mr. Tsugikuni Michikatsu casually fabricated about the Blue Spider Lily to earn intelligence fees.
But in the eyes of true insiders, this was practically an open probe.
Yes, the Blue Spider Lily is useless to humans. This is a mysterious flower that only demons would pursue.
So then, what kind of being could clearly know this intelligence—a human, or a demon?
After these months of waiting bitterly, Ubuyashiki felt that they had likely finally... hooked a real "fish."
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