Chapter 112: Gift

Chapter 112: Gift

---

Tamayo handled the blood with care.

"Mr. Aoki, I didn't gain much from the blood you asked me to study before."

"Never mind" Aoki shook his head. Though a bit disappointed, it was acceptable. He was already near the limit of being a demon and had overcome the sunlight. Even if some secrets were discovered, they wouldn't be of much help to him.

"By the way, Miss Tamayo, I'm ready to take action against Muzan Kibutsuji."

*Crash!*

The beaker in Tamayo's hand fell to the ground and shattered, but she paid it no attention. She turned her head and looked at Aoki blankly.

"Mr. Aoki, what did you just say?"

Aoki gazed at Tamayo's beautiful face and repeated seriously, "I am ready to attack Muzan Kibutsuji."

Tamayo was silent for a long time as she steadied her emotions.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

This time, Aoki didn't hide his confidence. "As long as Kibutsuji Muzan shows up, he's as good as dead"

Tamayo took a deep breath. "When will we do it?"

"I'm not sure yet," Aoki replied. "I plan to use the Blue Spider Lily to lure Kibutsuji Muzan out, but to do that, I need to make some preparations."

Tamayo asked, "Do you need my help?"

Aoki shook his head. "No, the Demon Slayer Corps will handle this. They are more agile than us and have much more influence on society."

"You're right, it's more fitting for them to take responsibility."

Tamayo felt her heartbeat quicken. The people and demons resisting Muzan Kibutsuji were uniting. Wasn't this the ideal outcome she had always envisioned? Could they finally defeat Muzan Kibutsuji?

Aoki continued, "However, there is something I do need Miss Tamayo's help with. The compound I showed you before was created by two doctors from the Demon Slayer Corps. I'd like you to collaborate with them to see if the poison can be further optimized."

"No problem" Tamayo agreed without hesitation. She was willing to take any risk to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji. Besides, since Mr. Aoki introduced it, she trusted there would be no danger.

Aoki nodded. "There's one last thing."

He briefly explained the situation with Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

Tamayo's expression became thoughtful. "I remember Mr. Yoriichi Tsugikuni mentioning this long ago, but it doesn't seem to be a simple illness. Even if I examine him, I'm afraid there won't be much I can do."

Aoki replied, "Just do your best. If you can help extend his life, great. If not, it's okay."

Tamayo nodded lightly. "In that case, I'll do my best."

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, followed by Yushiro's voice.

"Lady Tamayo"

Aoki and Tamayo exchanged smiles.

…

Aoki and Tamayo sat by the window, drinking and admiring the bright moon and starry sky. Their conversation, devoid of any elegance, revolved mostly around battle.

Tamayo held her wine glass in one hand and the window frame with the other. "Six of the Twelve Kizuki are dead. When Muzan Kibutsuji turned you into a demon, he surely didn't expect he would create such a formidable enemy for himself"

"I hope it makes them tremble," Aoki said.

After killing Kokushibo, he should be able to ascend to the next level.

A faint smile appeared on Tamayo's face, and suddenly her eyes lit up, a trace of excitement in her voice. "It's almost dawn"

Aoki turned to look.

Tamayo's hair was down, making her appear less dignified and more youthful and energetic. Despite having lived for centuries, her appearance remained that of a nineteen-year-old.

"What's wrong?" Tamayo asked, puzzled.

"I remember Miss Tamayo saying she liked the break of dawn," Aoki said.

Tamayo lifted a few strands of her long hair. "I don't exactly like it. I yearn for the light but fear the sun. At dawn, I feel like I'm closer to the light."

Aoki raised his hand, and suddenly there was a large black hat in his grasp.

Tamayo looked at it curiously. She recognized this bamboo hat. Mr. Aoki used to carry it with him, but it had suddenly disappeared. She had assumed he had discarded it or placed it somewhere else.

To her surprise, he still had it. But where had he kept such a large object before?

"Here," Aoki handed the sun hat to Miss Tamayo.

She took it but looked confused.

"Try it on," Aoki suggested.

Tamayo quickly put it on, trusting that whatever Aoki's purpose, it would soon become clear. She found the hat was well-made. Though it appeared large, it was surprisingly comfortable, even more so than a regular hat.

"Come," Aoki led Miss Tamashi to the door and had her stand in front of it.

She obeyed, though puzzled. "And now?"

Aoki smiled but said nothing. He grabbed the door handle and suddenly threw the door open.

Golden sunlight flooded the room.

Tamayo remained still, her gaze fixed on Aoki. It took her two seconds to react. Slowly, she turned her head to look outside, a strong shock appearing on her beautiful face beneath the bamboo hat.

Aoki admired Miss Tamayo. This was the first time he had seen someone else—another demon, to be precise—wearing a sun hat. Aside from being slightly larger, it looked no different from an ordinary hat. Miss Tamayo's beautiful face was faintly visible through the black veil.

"Miss Tamayo, how does it feel to stand in the sun again?" Aoki asked.

Tamayo sighed. "It feels like a dream. I never thought I'd be able to stand in the sun safely. Mr. Aoki, what is this hat?"

"It's a magical item called a Sunshade hat," Aoki explained. "As long as you wear it, it protects demons from the sun."

"Incredible."

Tamayo stood in the sunlight for a moment, then stepped back into the shadows. She closed the door, removed the hat, and returned it to Aoki.

"It's a wonderful feeling to walk in the sun with a demon's body."

Aoki didn't take it back.

"This is for you, Miss Tamayo."

He had already overcome the sun, making the sun hat useless to him. Otherwise, it would just gather dust in another space.

Tamayo shook her head. "No, I can't accept such a precious thing"

Aoki insisted, "I already have something better."

"Something better?" Tamayo was stunned. Could there be another magical item like this?

Then she remembered Mr. Aoki's gourd that could turn ordinary wine into something demons could taste.

Aoki nodded. "Take it, Miss Tamayo. I didn't hold back when I asked you to do various research before. Besides, there will be more things in the future where I'll need your help."

Tamayo pursed her lips and smiled. "Alright, then I won't refuse."

=====

T/N: There is a patreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early access of 40+ chapters.

Patreon link:- patreon.com/ANelite