Additional Chapter!
Thank this people (for smashing that three stones in this story) for this additional chapter to ITZ_RIZEE, Kaisen_Shishigo, and Destroyer404 for making this extra chapter possible.
Enjoy Reading!
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Knock, knock, knock!
A soft knock sounded, accompanied by a hesitant voice.
"Brother-in-law, Sister, it's time to get up and eat!"
Kochou Kanae's star-dusted eyelashes fluttered, her eyes slowly opening with a soft sigh as she prepared to rise.
"Hiss~!"
Shiraki sprang upright with a carp-like flip.
He'd accidentally pinned Kanae's hair while sleeping, and her movement tugged it.
With physical contact, their five senses synced.
Reverie reached out, gathering Kanae's long hair. The raven-black strands, smooth as crow feathers, tipped with crystalline purple, shimmered with warm red hues in the vibrant sunlight.
"Good thing I didn't pull hard." Kanae, meanwhile, rubbed Shiraki's head with her small hand.
"Coming, coming!" Kanae called out, as the trio dressed with a coordination unimaginable to outsiders.
Shiraki grabbed his phone to check the time—12:30 PM. First to finish, he slid open the wooden door. "Shinobu, good afternoon~!"
"Brother-in-law…" Shinobu's words cut off, her gaze drifting past Shiraki to Kanae, who was brushing Reverie's hair inside. Her soft expression turned complex.
"Hm? Shinobu, what's wrong?" Shiraki followed her gaze. Kanae fixing Reverie's hair—pretty normal, right?
"N-Nothing!"
Shinobu bit her lower lip, hesitating before choosing silence. Her pitying eyes lingered on Shiraki, forcing a gentle smile.
Since her sister wanted to hide her love for girls, as the younger sibling, Shinobu would support her and compensate the brother-in-law who sacrificed for Kanae and Reverie-neesan!
"No sleep last night, no breakfast either—Brother-in-law must be starving, right? I made some lunch."
Shinobu held a tray with dishes and rice. "My cooking's not as good as Sister's, but if you don't mind…"
"How could I mind~?" Shinobu's subtle, odd gaze puzzled Shiraki, but he didn't dwell on it, chuckling as he patted her head.
"Don't be so modest, Shinobu. Your cooking's just as good as Kanae's."
Girls take longer to get ready, mostly due to hair. Reverie's silky locks were a dream, but still needed time. Once done, they switched—Reverie now brushed Kanae's hair.
This scene deepened Shinobu's conflicted expression, especially seeing Shiraki's warm smile as he watched them. Guilt for her sister surged uncontrollably in her heart.
"Brother-in-law, it's nice out today. Why not eat outside?" After a two-second pause, Shinobu grabbed Shiraki's pale hand, leading him out.
Watching Brother-in-law see Sister and Reverie-neesan like this—it's too cruel!
"Huh? Oh, sure." Shiraki blinked, unfazed by Shinobu's hand-holding. He *was* Kanae, so hand-holding was nothing. He'd even bathed with Shinobu in Kanae's perspective, touched her… *cough*.
The azure sky was crystal-clear, white clouds drifting lazily. Birds dotted the lush, emerald lawn.
This environment was two whole tiers above modern times.
"Brother-in-law, are you a young master from a great Qing Dynasty family across the ocean?" Shinobu asked curiously, away from her sister's room.
"No, I'm not from the Qing Dynasty, nor a young master." Shiraki shook his head with a light smile.
Shinobu nodded thoughtfully. She believed he wasn't from the Qing Dynasty—her reading gave her some knowledge of their customs and attire, which didn't match Shiraki's!
But not a young master? She was skeptical.
Shiraki's clothes were made of materials she'd never seen, clearly expensive. How could he not be from a great family?
Glancing at Shiraki's hands—soft, fair, smoother than hers, his slender frame lacking strength—he'd likely never done farm work.
She'd heard great families' young masters were even fed by servants… Yet Brother-in-law left home for Sister and Reverie-neesan. Shinobu glanced back at Kanae's room.
Her glossy lips pursed, her snow-white cheeks tinged with faint pink. Breathing deeply, she chanted inwardly, This is for Sister's compensation, this is for Sister's compensation!
"Brother-in-law, h-how about I f-feed you?"
Sitting on the wooden steps, Shinobu picked up a piece of tempura, holding it to Shiraki's mouth.
"???"
What's with this kid all of a sudden?
No way it's like Kanae said… Impossible!
Shiraki knew his charm's limits. Meeting Shinobu for the first time, as her brother-in-law, how could she have such feelings?
Lowering his gaze, the shy girl seemed to bloom like pink petals in the sunlight, her wandering eyes holding inexplicable tenderness.
No way… right?
Whatever, he'd enjoy a sisterly feeding session!
Being one with Kanae, Shiraki felt no pressure accepting Shinobu's gesture.
As the Butterfly Mansion's head medic, Shinobu was skilled at caregiving.
Reverie wanted to join them, but Kanae held her back.
Reverie and Shiraki were truly one soul in two bodies. When Kanae touched Reverie, she sensed what happened.
Though unsure what Shinobu misunderstood, this development was quite promising!
If anyone could earn Kanae's trust to care for her sister, it was "herself"!
Other men… hah, Kanae had zero faith in marriage!
As the feeding ended, Kanae led Reverie out leisurely. Seeing Shinobu wipe Shiraki's mouth, her lips curved into an even gentler smile.
To Shinobu, her sister watched her act so intimately with her husband yet remained unfazed, her pink-purple eyes brimming with amusement.
Though Shinobu didn't think Kanae would be mad over this, shouldn't a normal person show some jealousy or misunderstanding when their sister got cozy with their husband?
Not a hint of either!?
This solidified Shinobu's belief that Kanae truly loved Reverie-neesan, and Brother-in-law was just their "shield."
After lunch, Shinobu cleared the dishes and left.
On the way to the main courtyard, Kanae's slender fingers poked Shiraki's cheek. "So, how was it?"
"You're serious?" Shiraki blinked.
"Of course. I don't want to part with Shinobu." Kanae gave a serene, faint smile. "So, I'll feed 'myself' this double-layered bowl!"
"Don't worry, I'll take it slow, considering 'my' feelings."
Having just synced memories, Shiraki, like her, saw Shinobu as a sister. Pushing "himself" to shift feelings now would be too shameless.
Shiraki was speechless.
"Let's talk about this later. Even if Shinobu's just our sister, she'll stay with us in the future, right?" Reverie tilted her head.
"It's not the same." Kanae shook her head. "We'll see."
The trio walked side by side into the main courtyard, where the Hashira and Ubuyashiki Kagaya awaited, resuming last night's Hashira meeting.
Last night, Shiraki used the tablet as a chalkboard, detailing the Upper Ranks' and Muzan's Blood Demon Arts, abilities, and traits for the Hashira.
Ubuyashiki and the Hashira were in an unprecedented fervor. Only Shiraki rested normally—they couldn't sleep!
This millennia-long vendetta and wish finally glimpsed hope of resolution.
The meeting focused on one question.
"How do we lure out Muzan Kibutsuji?"
The answer was simple, reached simultaneously by Shiraki and Ubuyashiki.
"The Blue Spider Lily!"
With intel on the Blue Spider Lily, no matter the risk, Muzan would surface!
"The Blue Spider Lily, huh…" Ubuyashiki sighed with a touch of helplessness and melancholy.
Not just Muzan—for millennia, the Corps knew nothing of the Demon King's coveted item.
"I happen to know about the Blue Spider Lily." Shiraki rubbed his chin, casually dropping words that made Ubuyashiki's expression shift drastically.
"What!?"
The shock passed quickly—Shiraki's surprises were so frequent they were almost numb to them.
With Upper Rank intel detailed enough to make Muzan see ghosts, knowing the Blue Spider Lily seemed plausible.
"No, no way! It's too risky." Ubuyashiki shook his head, rejecting the idea. "If Muzan gets the Blue Spider Lily and overcomes sunlight, he'll become truly immortal!"
"Lord Shiraki, please keep the Blue Spider Lily's intel secret! The Corps mustn't record it either." Ubuyashiki urged.
"No worries. Rather than hiding it, I'd even tell Muzan about it." Shiraki's lips curled.
His words drew sharp, hawk-like glares. The hot-tempered Shinazugawa Sanemi nearly drew his blade.
Kanae explained with a light smile, "The Blue Spider Lily only grows in places with abundant sunlight. It blooms for just two or three days a year during sunny daylight, wilting quickly without light. Muzan Kibutsuji can never obtain it in his lifetime."
"!"
Hearing Kanae's revelation, everyone froze, then uproarious laughter echoed across the vast courtyard.
"A flower that blooms only in sunlight… Haha! Hahaha!"
Ubuyashiki laughed too, his laughter growing until he doubled over, coughing violently, even spitting blood.
For a family opposing Muzan for a millennium, learning their foe's obsession was an unattainable mirage—how could Ubuyashiki not cheer?
The courtyard brimmed with lively joy, lingering endlessly.
Long after, the laughter subsided.
Ubuyashiki's scarred face held a lingering smile. "Then, there's only one way to lure Muzan out."
"I'll be the bait myself."
His words carried a breezy ease.