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Nakime's Blood Demon Art was called "Infinity Castle."
As the name suggested, she could create and maintain an "otherworldly castle" independent of the original world.
This other space had no fixed gravity or direction, and would continuously extend in all directions with herself at the core—theoretically capable of expanding to infinitely vast proportions!
And Nakime, situated at the core of the Infinity Castle, could not only freely alter the spatial layout within the castle according to her will.
But could also, knowing specific coordinates, forcibly teleport objects from outside the Infinity Castle into it, or teleport them back out.
The night before last, when Mitsuba had fallen into Tamayo and the Demon Slayer Corps' trap and was hanging by a thread.
It was Nakime who, based on the coordinates Muzan provided, directly teleported Michikatsu and Sumire—who had come seeking help—to Mitsuba's side, saving her at the final critical moment.
"That is how things transpired."
Having explained all this, Michikatsu first indicated with his eyes the fresh head of Ubuyashiki placed not far away.
Then he turned to look at Sumire, who sat quietly to the side with only a smile on her face, bowed his head slightly toward her, and spoke as if offering thanks:
"Mitsuba, you may not know this, but in the poison Tamayo administered to you, besides a large amount of wisteria poison, there also existed a different medicinal component."
"According to Doctor Butterfly's analysis, this substance should be a specially developed inhibitor created by Tamayo."
"It can temporarily suppress wisteria toxin, preventing our cells from detecting the poison within our bodies."
"This may also explain why you initially failed to realize you had been poisoned that night before last."
"Fortunately, Doctor Butterfly came prepared, carrying medicine capable of neutralizing wisteria poison, and promptly detoxified you."
"Otherwise, given your condition at the time, if I had been alone, even arriving in time would likely have been powerless..."
Michikatsu's words were not false—Mitsuba's condition that night had indeed been disastrously dire.
If they had arrived even slightly later, the wisteria poison rampaging through her body would certainly have killed her completely!
It was only regrettable that he ultimately failed to find Tamayo, only managing to bring back Ubuyashiki's head...
"Mr. Michikatsu speaks too highly of me."
Facing Michikatsu's sincere gratitude, Sumire shook her head.
She looked at Mitsuba, who sat before her staring blankly, and said seriously:
"Protecting Mitsuba, allowing her to live happily and joyfully—this is not only my wish, but also the lifelong wish of my mother and grandmother before they passed. You need not thank me at all."
"Moreover, I actually only did what I could, playing a small role."
"What truly played the decisive role was actually Lord Muzan and yourself, and that young lady Nakime."
"Little Sumire..."
"Don't rush to thank her yet!"
Eyes glistening with tears, just as Mitsuba couldn't help but want to step forward and embrace Sumire, Muzan—who had been silent for quite some time—finally spoke at this moment.
"To allow a group of ants to drive you into such a state... Little Mitsuba, did you truly believe yourself invincible?!"
Speaking thus, Muzan—who had been waiting impatiently nearby for quite a while—immediately strode forward aggressively.
Extending her index finger, she poked Mitsuba's forehead while loudly scolding:
"What have I always told you?! Hmm?! Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit—have you forgotten such a simple principle?!"
"I've told you again and again in the past! Be especially careful of those Demon Slayers who appear ordinary and unremarkable! Don't draw attention to yourself normally! Kill only when necessary! Deal with any tails immediately! Once you make a move, you must use your full strength!"
"Little Mitsuba, tell me! Tell me yourself! Have I spoken these words to you or not?!"
"W-well, it seems you have..."
"So you still remember?! Then what were you doing last night?!"
"Knowing it was a trap, you didn't even inform me beforehand, and dared to go striding over alone?!"
"Fine, you went, but once you arrived, you could have just killed all those Demon Slayers directly!"
"And the result?! You just had to chat with them! Just had to step into that trap!"
"I simply cannot understand—what exactly did you have to talk about with those ants?!"
"Look at you—you nearly talked your own life away in the end!"
"It's only been a few decades! Have you completely forgotten about your brother Yoriichi's incident already?!"
"If not for Nakime's Blood Demon Art, I wouldn't even have been able to save you in time! Do you understand?!"
"Stop scolding me, stop scolding me, Lord Muzan, I know I was wrong, I won't do this again next time, I promise..."
Scolded head-on by Muzan and poked until her forehead ached, Mitsuba raised her hand to shield her head, smoothly admitting fault while desperately signaling with her eyes to Michikatsu sitting nearby.
[Elder Brother! Quickly help me say something!]
Their gazes met. Receiving Mitsuba's signal, Michikatsu slowly nodded, then spoke.
But he did not come to Mitsuba's rescue—instead, he joined Muzan's "punishment army" against his own sister.
"Mitsuba, I told you in the past to practice your sword more, yet you refused to practice properly. I told you to be more cautious and careful in your conduct, yet you treated it as wind past your ears."
"To be honest, last night's crisis was entirely a result of your personality."
"It seems that over these past decades, Lord Muzan has been too indulgent with you..."
"Elder Brother?!"
"Is there anything wrong with what Kokushibo said?!"
"Uuu..."
"..."
Thus, after being scolded round after round by Muzan and Michikatsu, Mitsuba finally escaped from the Infinity Castle under Sumire's rescue—using "attending a friend's wedding" as her excuse.
With the sound of a biwa, Mitsuba and Sumire returned to the Butterfly Clinic.
It was daytime now, with the blazing sun high in the sky, sunlight streaming in through the window.
"Little Sumire..."
Turning to look at Sumire beside her, Mitsuba hesitated to speak.
Actually, when she had first awakened earlier, Mitsuba had many questions she wanted to ask her.
Why did you appear in the Infinity Castle?
The night before last, how did you learn I would encounter danger?
Why did you have the antidote for wisteria poison in your possession?
And... when exactly did you learn of my and Elder Brother's true identities?
The doubts in her heart came one after another. Even though Mitsuba had already faintly guessed the true answer, she still wanted to hear Sumire tell her personally.
And then, ask that question Mitsuba must ask at this moment.
[Little Sumire, would you be willing to become a demon?]
Yes, from Mitsuba's perspective, this was a question she must ask at this moment.
Because Sumire already knew her true identity. Not only that, she had even saved her, gone to the Infinity Castle, and personally met the Demon King.
In the eyes of the gods, this little butterfly was already "unspeakably wicked."
Defying the gods required paying a price to begin with, let alone that Sumire had saved her—the "transgressor" the gods were fixated on killing.
The gods were never impartial and selfless. They would certainly retaliate.
Therefore, Sumire's future would inevitably be dark and gloomy.
And Mitsuba could not turn a blind eye to this.
Allowing Sumire to also become a demon, completely breaking free from the gods' control over karma—this was the most suitable solution Mitsuba could think of.
However, Mitsuba would not force others, especially those close to her.
She wanted to know Sumire's own choice.