After a long series of explanations, Mrs. Yukinoshita finally understood everything.
If it all had to be sumd up in a single sentence, then it would be this:
Her son had encountered demons, and in order to fight them, he had created a power system known as Breathing Techniques.
Not only that, but the strength of those demons far surpassed anything an ordinary human could imagine.
The only one who could truly stand against them was her adopted son.
On top of that, both of her daughters had also received power from him—one mastering Water Breathing, the other Fla Breathing.
And for soone like Mrs. Yukinoshita, who held a deeply materialistic worldview, all of this was nothing short of a massive shock.
"Alright. Let try to understand this. So what you're saying is that this Mieko… she isn't human, but a demon like the one you described?"
"Yes. And if my guess is correct, that Mieko is very likely Muzan Kibutsuji himself. Because he's the only one who would disguise himself and blend in among humans like that."
"Wait a mont. Didn't you say Muzan Kibutsuji was a man? Mieko is a woman."
"No. More accurately, before becoming a demon, Muzan Kibutsuji was a man. But as the progenitor of all demons, he can freely alter his body—his appearance, even his gender."
Perfect mimicry.
Muzan Kibutsuji's ability allowed him to change his looks, his sex, his scent—everything that could be perceived by the human senses. A complete and total transformation.
"Ugh—"
The mont she heard that, goosebumps ran across Mrs. Yukinoshita's entire body.
Both ntally and physically, an intense wave of discomfort washed over her.
After all, when they first beca acquainted, she had once held "Mieko's" hand with her own. She had even wondered back then why another woman's skin could be so smooth.
She had assud it was because of so kind of skin condition—maybe sothing that prevented her from being exposed to ultraviolet light, making her complexion unusually pale.
Now that she thought about it again, it had all been deliberate.
What's more, she hadn't just shown concern once. She had comforted and reassured the other party more than a few tis. Thinking about it now, in her opponent's eyes, she had probably looked like nothing more than a fool.
anwhile, on Yukinoshita Akira's side, a realization also settled into place.
No wonder there had been so many demons in Chiba—so many, in fact, that even Upper Ranks and Lower Ranks were appearing one after another.
Now it all made sense.
Because Muzan Kibutsuji was here.
That cowardly Demon King would naturally arrange for his subordinates to gather around him. That was only logical.
"Mother, where does this Mieko live?"
"In the easternmost villa district of Chiba City. A standalone residence owned by the Murashita family."
That could be considered extrely valuable information.
Knowing Muzan Kibutsuji's general location ant they now held at least a small bit of initiative.
"The eastern part of Chiba… I noticed sothing strange there before. In the past three months, there hasn't been a single case of murder or suicide in that entire area."
"Probably to avoid trouble. After all, Muzan Kibutsuji is a coward. He might even be wary of human ard forces. Even if he's a demon, in the face of missiles and artillery, there's only so much he could do."
It was just that this ancient demon progenitor was a little lacking in intelligence.
Across all of Chiba, murders and suicides happened everywhere—except the eastern district.
Wasn't that practically a public announcent that sothing suspicious was going on there?
As the saying went, a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its own burrow—that was exactly why.
But this wasn't Japan of the past anymore.
Caras were everywhere. Population records and big data statistics had long since been put into use.
In the old world, even the annihilation of an entire village or town wouldn't have been a problem.
Because back then, humans were weak—and had absolutely no way to resist demons.
But now, things were different.
Trying to operate in modern society with an ancient mindset was nothing but the height of foolishness.
"Akira, this 'Breathing Styles' you ntioned… can I learn it too?"
At that mont, Mrs. Yukinoshita asked the question.
"Of course you can. If you're willing, Mother, it can even beco a signature style of the Yukinoshita family—passed down from generation to generation."
"Such a good child."
Benefits moved the heart—especially benefits great enough to establish a school and lay the foundation for a family legacy.
And Yukinoshita Akira was willing to hand sothing like that over to her without hesitation.
This went beyond simply being a "good child."
In a country built on interests and capital—especially considering that Akira was only an adopted son—such a sacrifice could truly be called rare.
As she thought about it, Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced again at Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita Yukino.
Compared to her son, these two daughters really lagged far behind.
The sisters didn't know that, at this very mont, because of Yukinoshita Akira's attitude, their mother's evaluation of them had quietly dropped another level.
"Oh, right. That 'Swordmaster Incident' that caused such a stir before—that was also because of your Breathing Styles, wasn't it?"
"That's right. Once soone learns a Breathing Style, they've essentially stepped into a higher realm. Compared to ordinary swordsn—even a so-called Sword Saint—it's an attack from a completely different dinsion."
"Then what the head of the Busujima family said is also true?"
"Which part?"
"That you were the one who defeated Busujima Munemasa."
"That's true. But it was just a sparring match. He held back, and I didn't use my full strength either."
"Then that ans your relationship with the Busujima family's daughter—Busujima Saeko—is also true?"
"Yes. Saeko belongs to now."
Aside from actual life-and-death sword battles, in every other sense, that mature, purple-haired woman was already completely within Akira's domain.
"Then what about your engagent to Haruno?"
Suddenly, Mrs. Yukinoshita fired off a direct question.
Whether it was this beloved child of hers—or the value he represented—Mrs. Yukinoshita had no intention of letting either fall into another family's hands.
This was clearly a "little cabbage" she had personally raised bit by bit herself.
So why should she now let another family co along and carry away the whole pot in one go?
"Mother, feelings can't be forced."
"Hmph. Can't be forced? That's not a problem at all. Feelings between a man and a woman will gradually grow after marriage, through more and more interaction."
For children of noble families, engagents were chains of interest.
The marriages of sons and daughters were, for the most part, not within their own control.
Even back then, Mrs. Yukinoshita's own marriage had been arranged by her family.
But she hadn't wanted the Yukinoshita family to be swallowed up by another family years later.
So she chose her own husband—and personally took control of the Yukinoshita family herself.
That was how the Yukinoshita family of today ca to be, along with the "head of the family" who existed on the surface.
Beside her, both Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita Yukino lowered their heads.
If this had been in the past, they would have imdiately argued back.
But now…
They already had feelings for Yukinoshita Akira.
Even Yukinoshita Haruno's earlier "rejection"—
Those words had only slipped out in the mont, without any real thought behind them at all.
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