In the face of Horitake's forceful rejection and unwavering opposition, Shinobu felt a flicker of annoyance, yet beneath it, a secret warmth blossomed.
The source of that secret joy was, of course, the fact that Horitake cared for her so deeply. To him, the idea of her entering such a place was an absolute taboo; it was clear that she held a significant amount of weight in his heart.
However, her dissatisfaction stemmed from his tone. It was far too harsh—not only was he being overbearing, but he was also leaving her absolutely no room for argument.
Shinobu voiced her displeasure in a small, quiet murmur. "I only intended to disguise myself as a bathhouse girl to slip in and look around. I didn't plan on actually doing anything."
"Even so, the answer is no!" Horitake's voice left no room for debate. "Shinobu-nee, I will not permit you to be in any danger! I won't allow even the slightest chance of an accident! Slipping in as a bathhouse girl? How could you even think of such a thing!?"
He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "The moment you walk in there, regardless of your disguise, any man with eyes will see your beauty and lust after you. I absolutely refuse to allow it. Shinobu-nee is mine; no one else is allowed to lay a finger on her."
He continued, his voice dropping an octave, "In fact, I don't even want you setting foot inside. You know exactly what kind of people frequent those places. If I have to watch those bastards ogling your beauty, I'm liable to draw my blade and turn that place into a river of blood!"
The killing intent radiating from Horitake was truly terrifying.
At this moment, no one would dare provoke him, and no one would dare talk back—not even Shinobu. While she usually seemed to have him wrapped around her finger, she knew better than to push him when he was genuinely enraged.
Furthermore, Shinobu could sense that Horitake wasn't exaggerating. If she really did sneak in and something happened, he might actually follow through on his threat and slaughter everyone inside. If that happened, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
Truthfully, as a woman of traditional values, Shinobu wasn't exactly eager to enter such a place herself. Since Horitake was so vehemently opposed to it, she decided to yield.
She reached out, gently patting his arm to soothe his agitated nerves. "Alright, alright. I won't go in. But someone still needs to investigate the interior."
As soon as she raised the practical issue, the aggressive aura surrounding Horitake instantly deflated.
Though his current mindset was a bit hypocritical—wanting to maintain his moral high ground while also being the one to enter—he made a "helpless" decision.
"There's no other way. Since I absolutely cannot allow you to go in, I'll have to be the one to do the scouting. If I handle it personally, success is guaranteed."
Shinobu asked with a teasing smile, "And... what identity does Horitake-san plan to use? Will you be a security guard for the shop? Or perhaps a lowly handyman?"
Horitake avoided the sting of her words, answering as if the choice were obvious.
"A guard or a handyman? How could someone in those positions gain access to the inner sanctum? Such roles make it difficult to investigate the deeper secrets of the establishment, and certainly wouldn't allow for a comprehensive search. Therefore, I've decided: it's best to go in disguised as a wealthy guest."
Shinobu nodded, her smile widening as she seemingly agreed with his logic.
"Indeed. Only by posing as a wealthy and prestigious guest can you receive the best service, reach the innermost areas, and investigate most thoroughly. But the question is... Horitake, do you actually have that much money? A place like this is clearly a gold-sink. A single night of 'enjoyment' will likely cost a fortune."
At this, Horitake felt a pang of genuine pain in his heart. He began mentally tallying his accumulated salary.
"Fortunately, I'm the 'Tenhashira,' and the Corps pays us very well. Otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to afford this. Even so, I estimate that even a 'modest' spending spree in there will cost me at least half a year's salary."
He then added, his voice filled with a sudden sense of righteous indignation and selfless duty, "Half a year's salary it is, then! But when we get back, Oyakata-sama must reimburse me! I'm not spending this money for my own pleasure; I'm doing it for the mission. Therefore, it absolutely qualifies for a public expense report!"
Horitake spoke with such conviction and moral gravity that he almost managed to convince himself.
Shinobu watched him, her gaze lingering on his face with a look that was both meaningful and deeply amused by his shamelessness. However, she didn't call him out on it. Instead, she brought up another practical matter.
"And then there's your appearance. Your current attire doesn't exactly scream 'wealthy guest.' You're wearing the Demon Slayer uniform and carrying a sword. A guest like that would be seen as a threat. It's highly likely they'd kick you out before you even reached the door."
Horitake looked down at his clothes and had to admit she was right. "You're right. I need a makeover. Going in like this definitely won't work."
With that, Horitake handed his nichirin blade, Weiguang, to Shinobu.
"Here, Shinobu-nee. Please hold onto my sword for me. I doubt they'll let me in if I'm armed."
"Are you sure you'll be okay without it?" she asked, her tone turning concerned.
"It's fine. My lightning alone is enough to kill a demon. I don't think I'll encounter any enemy in that bathhouse that requires me to actually draw my blade."
"Very well."
Shinobu reached out and took Weiguang. Because the sword was sentient and possessed a spirit of its own, it refused to acknowledge anyone other than Horitake. The moment it felt her grip, the blade began to hum, preparing to release an electric shock to her hand.
Horitake sensed the sword's intent immediately and snapped at it before it could discharge.
"Behave yourself! This is your mistress!"
The command worked instantly. The surging electricity within Weiguang vanished as if it had never existed, the blade becoming perfectly docile.
Horitake glanced around and spotted a high-end clothing shop nearby. His eyes lit up. "Wait for me here a moment, Shinobu-nee. I'm going to change into some proper gear. I'll be right back."
With that, he dashed toward the shop.
Shinobu waited with interest, genuinely curious to see what kind of "gear" he would choose. While standing there with nothing to do, she began to study Weiguang, deciding she wanted to unsheathe the blade just to see it.
To her surprise, no matter how much strength she applied, she couldn't budge the sword from its scabbard!
A bit frustrated, Shinobu increased her effort, yet Weiguang remained stubbornly shut.
Unbeknownst to her, Weiguang possessed its own pride. While it had obeyed Horitake and refrained from shocking her, it was merely giving her "face" on the surface. In reality, the sword still didn't recognize Shinobu as its master. Thus, no matter how hard she pulled, it refused to reveal its edge.
After some time had passed, Horitake returned, fully transformed. He walked up to find Shinobu still locked in a silent struggle with his sword.
He tapped her on the shoulder, breaking her concentration.
Shinobu turned around and found that Horitake had completely changed his appearance. He was now wearing a luxurious, deep purple silk kimono for men. He wore traditional wooden geta on his feet, and his hair had been neatly styled. He looked every bit the part of a wealthy, perhaps slightly decadent, young nobleman.
Yes, this image is perfect for entering a bathhouse, she thought.
Shinobu walked in a slow circle around him, nodding her head as she appraised his new look.
"Mmm... I imagine the girls in that bathhouse will welcome a guest like you with open arms," she remarked with a playful tilt of her head. "Young, handsome, and wealthy... the girls who find themselves serving a man like you probably won't feel like they're losing out at all."
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