The Old Woman was so terrified that she collapsed onto the floor, her pale face almost corpse-like.
"You old hag, you're disgusting! My clothes—my clothes are stained with your spit!"
Daki was about to explode.
The Old Woman didn't even dare breathe as Daki reached out, fingers poised to grab her throat.
Then, a faint voice drifted in from the windowsill.
"Daki, why are you so angry?"
That voice—
Daki's eyes widened. Before she even turned around, she already knew who had arrived.
Her furious expression instantly melted into a charming, gentle smile, her voice turning sweet and spoiled.
"Lord Muzan, why have you come?"
"What? I'm not allowed to visit you?"
Muzan chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke her head.
Daki leaned into his touch, blissful, swaying slightly like a pampered kitten basking in its master's affection.
The Old Woman was completely stunned.
Was this really Warabihime?
And who on earth was this pale man in black—the only person capable of turning her into such a submissive little kitten?
"Grandma, please leave us. Don't disturb our conversation."
Muzan smiled politely.
The Old Woman nearly cried in relief and scrambled away.
"Really, that old hag is so annoying. She ruined my moment with Lord Muzan."
Daki pouted, clinging to him.
But Muzan wasn't interested in her affections. Daki was like a child with half a brain—lucky to have Gyutaro watching over her. Otherwise, who knows how many disasters she would have caused by now.
"Where's Gyutaro?"
"Lord Muzan, I'm here!"
Gyutaro crawled out from Daki's body, his twisted frame emerging like an eerie shadow.
"Gyutaro, scout the area. I don't want anyone overhearing my conversation with Daki."
Muzan's tone was firm. Ugly as Gyutaro was, his strength was something Muzan respected far more than Daki's beauty.
"Yes, Lord Muzan."
Gyutaro rasped out a reply and leapt out the window.
"Lord Muzan, is there some secret you want to share with me? It's just the two of us now."
Daki leaned closer, eager.
Muzan ignored her tone. His expression sharpened as he pressed his hand onto her head.
"Ah! Lord Muzan, that hurts!"
Daki cried out, but Muzan didn't care. He closed his eyes, digging through her memories in meticulous detail.
Once. Twice. Three times. Almost five.
Yet even after searching repeatedly, he still didn't find what he wanted.
Instead, Daki collapsed to the floor, face flushed, panting like her bones had turned to mush from the strain.
"Daki. Tell me exactly what you and Ryuya did."
Muzan could barely believe what he saw.
He sent her to keep watch on Ryuya… and the idiot went shopping with him?!
"Brother Ryuya?" Daki cupped her face, dreamy.
"We just went shopping! I held his arm the whole time. And whatever I wanted, Brother Ryuya bought it for me!"
"Really?"
Muzan already checked her memories. They matched exactly. That was what annoyed him.
"Really! I swear!"
"Then why didn't Gyutaro follow you?"
Muzan's frown deepened. He never trusted this girl.
"My brother? I told him to leave! He would've ruined my date with Brother Ryuya. Lord Muzan, let me tell you—Brother Ryuya is so sweet to me, he—"
Muzan raised a hand, shutting her up. He didn't need to hear her gush about Ryuya.
This idiot sent Gyutaro away just for a "date"?
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
This girl was hopeless. He needed someone competent—someone reliable.
Since she failed her task, Muzan coldly declared.
"Daki, starting tomorrow, you're no longer following Ryuya. Go back to being a courtesan."
"Huh?!" Her face twisted in shock.
If it were anyone else, she'd have attacked them in rage by now.
But this was Lord Muzan.
She swallowed her fury and pleaded, voice trembling.
"Lord Muzan, did I not do well enough? Please don't send me away… I'll work harder next time!"
She didn't want to lose Ryuya.
"Daki. Are you questioning me?"
Muzan's aura dropped instantly, colder than ice.
"N-no! Lord Muzan, I understand!"
Daki's body shook.
"Good." Muzan gave a faint smile.
With that matter finished—unsatisfying as it was—Muzan moved to the next reason he came.
"Daki, do you have any spare kimonos?"
"My kimono? Why? Is it… for another girl?" Daki blurted automatically.
Her curiosity spiked. Lord Muzan had someone he liked?
"…"
Muzan's face twitched.
He could hardly say that he wanted to wear it.
"Which girl is it?" Daki leaned in, eager.
Muzan snapped, "Why are you asking so many questions? If you have one, bring it."
Why was Muzan's mood so bad today? He was even moodier than she was on her period!
Daki hurriedly opened her wardrobe and pulled out a vibrant red kimono.
"This one—"
"Too bright."
"Oh!!"
She quickly swapped it for a dark blue, extremely flashy kimono—one of her favorites.
"This color is hideous."
Hideous?!
So Lord Muzan thought her style was bad?
Annoying!
"Then… this green one!"
"Old-fashioned."
"White?"
"Too plain."
One after another, she emptied her entire wardrobe until the room looked like a dye shop exploded.
Muzan still wasn't satisfied.
"Why are all your clothes so ugly?"
If he weren't embarrassed to shop in a women's store, he wouldn't be rummaging through Daki's wardrobe for something to wear.
Muzan shoved her aside and began digging through her wardrobe himself.
Daki pouted behind him.
Seriously?! Lord Muzan has terrible taste, yet he says my taste is bad?
"Daki?"
Muzan turned, annoyed.
"Hmph!"
Daki straightened, suddenly nervous.
"I heard your thoughts."
She froze.
Muzan ignored her, reaching deep and pulling out a plain black kimono shoved all the way at the bottom—the most boring, most forgettable garment she owned.
"Hm. This one is acceptable."
Daki almost screamed.
That ugly, featureless thing she didn't even want to use as a floor rag—
Lord Muzan liked that?
This was truly…
Lord Muzan's aesthetic sense.
...
Author's Note
I've created a second Webnovel account under the name Shadow_demon_007A2.
So far, I've already posted 9 different fanfics, including works from:
High School DxD, Shin Chan, Dragon Ball, Marvel, Ben 10, Pokémon, and Versatile Mage, with more on the way.
If you enjoy my stories, please visit the new account, give your support, and add the novels to your library—it really helps a lot.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work!
— Shadow_demon_007