"Miss Tamayo, I naturally won't take your medicine for free. If you need my help with anything, please don't hesitate to ask—as long as it's within my capabilities."
Ryuya didn't get angry at Yushiro. What Yushiro said wasn't wrong, but his attitude was grating.
Still, since he was Tamayo's loyal follower—and Ryuya wanted to cooperate with Tamayo and maintain a friendly relationship—he couldn't be too harsh.
He simply ignored what he could.
"Mr. Ryuya… is that truly alright?"
Tamayo's heart stirred, her tightly clasped hands revealing her nervousness.
It had taken a great deal of courage for Tamayo to meet him.
To be blunt, if Ryuya wanted to seize or threaten them, they had no way of resisting. But he didn't.
His polite, restrained attitude was completely unlike the selfish, cowardly Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Of course. There's no need to be nervous, Miss Tamayo. I mean no harm."
Hearing this, Tamayo quietly breathed out in relief.
Not that being nervous would change anything.
Ryuya's strength was unfathomable—far beyond anything she and Yushiro could handle.
"If… if it's not too much trouble, Mr. Ryuya… I would like to ask you to collect some of Kibutsuji Muzan's blood.
Um, it doesn't have to be his personally—blood from a demon who has received Muzan's blood would also be useful. Of course, the closer their strength is to Muzan's, the better."
As Tamayo spoke, bowing slightly, Ryuya felt suspicion stir in his chest.
She actually wanted Muzan's direct blood—but she was worried about burdening him and afraid the request was too outrageous, so she softened it.
Ryuya's lips curved faintly.
"Miss Tamayo… how about I bring you the blood of the Upper Rank Twelve Kizuki? Along with Muzan's own blood?"
"Ah…?"
Tamayo blinked repeatedly, stunned. Her expression was a mix of disbelief and joy.
"I–Is that really possible?!"
Her chest rose and fell with excitement.
With that level of blood, the likelihood of successfully creating a medicine to turn demons back into humans would increase tremendously.
"As long as Miss Tamayo wants it, I will absolutely fulfill it."
…Why did that sentence sound a little strange?
Tamayo, far more experienced than Kanae, instantly caught the double meaning and flushed.
Her cheeks warmed. Is he teasing me?
Yushiro, meanwhile, nearly exploded on the spot.
Not only did it sound like Ryuya was flirting with Lady Tamayo, it sounded like he was mocking him too!
He could practically hear Ryuya whispering in his ear: Kid, what's wrong with you? You can't even handle such a simple request for Miss Tamayo? Embarrassing. Let me do it. You go stand in the corner.
And Kochou Kanae was stuck in her own spiral of thoughts.
Ryuya wants to break free from Kibutsuji Muzan… doesn't that mean he could stand on the same side as me?!
Wow. An unexpected blessing!
And Miss Tamayo… though a demon… seemed extremely gentle and approachable.
Her dream didn't feel impossible anymore.
Humans and demons coexisting—it felt achievable. And the turning point lay with Ryuya.
She must hold onto him tightly. She absolutely couldn't let Ryuya slip away!
"T-Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Ryuya!"
Tamayo, still flustered from his ambiguous choice of words, escaped into the back room, gathering and organizing the medicinal ingredients.
Her efficiency was impressive.
Ryuya had barely taken a few sips of the fragrant black tea when Tamayo returned with neatly tied packets of medicine.
"Miss Tamayo's craftsmanship is excellent. And the black tea is truly delicious."
Ryuya praised sincerely.
He didn't particularly like tea—Kokushibo always forced him to drink the bitter, astringent stuff—but Tamayo's tea was entirely different: smooth, fragrant, almost like milk tea.
"If Mr. Ryuya likes it, please come by to drink it anytime."
"Then I fear I may end up troubling you often."
Ryuya smiled.
This guy's smile is truly ugly!!!
And his skin is so damn thick. Who said he could come often?!
With Ryuya in the room, Yushiro felt like oxygen had become scarce.
"Um… Miss Tamayo."
Kanae finally spoke after quietly observing.
"Yes? What is it, Miss Kanae?"
Tamayo smiled warmly—like a gentle older sister. The warmth relaxed Kanae's embarrassment.
"I wanted to ask… is there any medicine that allows a demon who has transformed to avoid eating humans? Or… something else they can consume to fill their stomach?"
After transforming into a demon, Kanae's hunger for human flesh increased dramatically.
She had strong self-control, so she hadn't harmed anyone, but troubling the Master and everyone at the Butterfly Mansion weighed on her heavily.
"Yes. I'll go retrieve it." Tamayo slipped back into the pharmacy.
There really is one? Hehe, that's great!
Kanae nearly glowed with joy. Her trip was incredibly rewarding—her smile blooming like a flower.
"Miss Tamayo, please get some for Ryuya as well!"
Kanae decided on her own.
For humans and demons to coexist, the first step was improving Ryuya's diet. That was essential!
"I don't need it," Ryuya said calmly.
"Ah? No, you can't say that! If you can avoid eating humans, why wouldn't you? Ryuya, listen to me—please use Miss Tamayo's medicine, okay?"
Seeing Kanae's anxious, adorable attempt at persuasion, Ryuya couldn't help but smile.
"Miss Kanae, I never eat humans."
Tamayo's medicine, even at its best, still required small amounts of human blood.
Unless a demon was turned fully human, that need couldn't be eliminated.
Ryuya… has never eaten humans?
Tamayo and Kanae froze.
Yushiro nearly choked on pure shock.
And the room fell into stunned silence—
—before the implications finally sank in.