The Next Day.
Shun extended his hand, his thoughts inevitably comparing other women to Tamayo. He couldn't help but admire her in his heart.
Feeling the movement of someone beside her, Tamayo opened her eyes. Her complicated gaze met Shun's handsome face, his perfect figure, and his vibrant demeanor.
At first, she felt annoyed, then mesmerized. Finally, she wasn't sure if her feelings stemmed from the contract or from last night. She stood up like a devoted wife and carefully helped him adjust his clothing.
Shun enjoyed her care, and when he lowered his gaze to see her alluring figure barely clad in a thin gauze robe, he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her.
"Mhm... don't... it's already late." She murmured.
"My lady, you're not allowed to disobey your master's orders." He replied with a mischievous smile.
Soon, the clothing Shun had just put on was discarded once again.
Until Noon
After covering the sleeping Tamayo with a blanket, Shun dressed, sprayed himself with a green and orange-scented perfume, and returned to the Butterfly Mansion.
"Shun!"
In the courtyard, Kanae angrily stopped him.
"Kanae? What's wrong?"
Confused, Shun followed Kanae as she dragged him to an isolated corner of the yard and confronted him seriously:
"What's going on with Shinobu lately?"
"What do you mean?" Shun asked, feigning ignorance.
Kanae glared at him, pinching his arm.
"Don't play dumb! Just look at Shinobu! It's obvious..."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, whether from anger or embarrassment, and she pouted before muttering, "You're so annoying. Shinobu was right—you're such a pervert."
Seeing her flustered state, Shun stopped pretending. He chuckled and said firmly, "Alright, alright. I promise to make both you and Shinobu happy."
"Kanae, I'll marry you!"
Although this was the Taisho Era, a time of great change, traditional values still persisted. Marrying multiple wives might invite envy, but the customs and laws of the time allowed it.
Uzui Tengen with his three wives, was a prime example.
This emboldened Shun's confidence, but first, he needed Kanae's agreement.
He stepped closer, sensing an opportunity, and held Kanae in his arms. She was trapped, her large, clear eyes looking straight at him, her defenses lowered.
"I know I've been reckless." Shun said softly. "But with the final battle against Muzan approaching, I need to tell you how I feel."
"Muzan is so powerful, I don't know if I'll survive..."
Kanae's body tensed at his words. She hugged him tightly, and he continued, "You wouldn't want to be separated from Shinobu, would you? If we succeed, the three of us can always be together."
Shun's whispers gently persuaded her. When Kanae let out a faint "Hmm." He knew his plan was progressing smoothly.
The Following Day
The Demon Slayer Corps located Tsukihiko, one of Muzan's disguises.
Upon receiving the news, Shun, the Seven Hashira, and the entire Corps gathered at a Western-style mansion on the outskirts of the city.
The Kakushi unit evacuated a mother and child nearby and secured a hundred-mile radius around the area. Only the Hashira were allowed near the two-story bungalow.
As Shun and the Demon Slayers completed their preparations, a voice suddenly echoed from Sanemi's direction:
"What is that?!"
A large eye, surrounded by countless fleshy tentacles, appeared on the roof of the building. It stared directly at Shun and the Hashira before erupting into countless red eyes.
Shun's thoughts flashed to the Naruto series, likening the scene to an unexpected climactic twist.
"Is Kibutsuji Muzan assembling the Twelve Kizuki here?"
"Such meticulous planning. So cautious." He muttered, his lips twitching.
A sound broke through his thoughts—the pluck of a biwa string resonated from within the building.
With the melody of Nakime's biwa, the Infinity Castle manipulation activated.
Before the Hashira could react, Shun was transported into the infamous Infinity Castle.
As the disorienting spatial shift settled, Shun found himself in a world of distorted architecture. Directions and gravity seemed to warp, and buildings spiraled unnaturally.
This eerie, Japanese-style city was Nakime's creation, her biwa controlling the castle's intricate structure. As Muzan's loyal servant, Nakime maintained the castle and facilitated his plans.
Shun recalled the original story where Muzan's wrath led to him mercilessly killing his subordinates within this castle. In this place, Muzan's terrifying strength was on full display.
"If Muzan wasn't the greatest villain here, I'd think he was a disciplined professional returning from military training." Shun thought wryly.
As the space around him shifted, Nakime's biwa played another note, and five demons appeared before him.
Standing at different points were Nakime, who controlled the castle from above, and four other demons encircling Shun. Yet Muzan remained unseen.
Surveying the scene, Shun sighed deeply.
"To teleport me directly into the Infinity Castle, mobilize every demon, and stay hidden yourself..."
"As expected of Muzan—ever so cautious!"