Chapter 69: Nezuko: Now That You Have a Big Sister, You Still Bully Your Sister-in-Law!

Returning to the house, he made his way to the basement.

Hearing Zhu Shi and the others breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two of them return.

Nezuko could not wait any longer and rushed forward to hug Zero, then threw her arms around Shi Lang as well.

"Nezuko!" Shi Lang hugged his own sister tightly as well; this battle had been even more grueling than his previous ones.

If not for Zero, it would likely have been even more grueling.

Xiao Bai Yue canceled combat mode, and the cross-shaped floating cannons and small drones were also recalled by Zero into his 【Nano Space】.

"Brother, you're back."

"Mm, Xiao Bai Yue, you've worked hard."

"It wasn't hard."

He reached out and patted Xiao Bai Yue on the head.

Hearing Zhu Shi also slowly came before Zero and said, "Zero, thank you."

"You're welcome. Those two demons could only be considered small-fry ghosts, not all that powerful—probably just sent by Kibutsuji Muzan to make trouble. Still, I didn't expect Kibutsuji Muzan to actually show up here in Asakusa, Tokyo. I'm afraid you'll need to relocate to another safe place this time."

"I was thinking the same. It's almost dawn now. Once Yushiro and I have packed up our things, we'll prepare to relocate tonight."

"Mm, that's fine too. In that case, I should probably be heading back as well."

"Leaving already?"

"After all, I still have a mission."

"I see… then you all need to be careful too."

Just as they were about to leave, Nezuko came before Hearing Zhu Shi and hugged her, then stretched out a hand to pat Yushiro on the head.

Yushiro: (ò_ò?) Don't touch me!

At Nezuko's state, Hearing Zhu Shi asked in confusion, "Is Nezuko's state like this really alright?"

"It's fine. She probably sees you all as family…" Shi Lang then explained the suggestion his breeder had implanted in Nezuko.

"I see… but the suggestion implanted in Nezuko was to see humans as family, wasn't it? Yet we are demons…"

"I think it's possible that Nezuko sees you as human, which is why she's like this. Actually, I… don't really want Nezuko to have a suggestion implanted in her, but looking at it this way, she should still have her own consciousness, so…"

Before his words fell, tears slid down Hearing Zhu Shi's cheeks from the corners of her eyes.

She had never imagined there would come a day when someone would treat her as a human, and a flood of emotions welled up inside her.

Seeing this, Shi Lang thought Hearing Zhu Shi disliked being hugged by Nezuko, and stepped forward to pull Nezuko away, loudly apologizing: "I'm very sorry! Truly very sorry! Nezuko, you should… let go of her, this is too impolite…"

But Hearing Zhu Shi's next action made Shi Lang realize he had misunderstood.

She also tightly hugged Nezuko, weeping: "Thank you, Nezuko. Thank you…"

Zero and Xiao Bai Yue saw this scene and exchanged a smile.

At such a sight, Yushiro recalled the scene of the first time he had met Hearing Zhu Shi.

That year, Yushiro was critically ill and not long for this world, and it was then that he met Hearing Zhu Shi—she was a ray of light he encountered in his life.

Hearing Zhu Shi asked him whether he was willing to keep living.

Even if it meant no longer being human, was he still willing to live?

His illness would take his life, but the years of no longer being human would be very painful…

After the embrace, Hearing Zhu Shi wiped away her tears and said, "Shi Lang, there's something I'd like to ask your opinion on."

"Please go ahead."

"Would you be willing to entrust Nezuko to our care?"

"Eh?"

The moment Yushiro heard this, he was immediately displeased, and inwardly very resistant—he disliked anyone disturbing his time with Hearing Zhu Shi.

For a moment, Shi Lang did not know how to choose.

Indeed, Hearing Zhu Shi's words sounded very reasonable—leaving Nezuko here for them to look after would indeed be relatively safer…

But in his heart, he truly could not feel at ease.

In the end, his gaze turned to Zero and Xiao Bai Yue.

Zero smiled slightly and said, "Shi Lang, follow your own heart. Some things—the right to choose and the right to decide—are in your own hands."

Xiao Bai Yue nodded, indicating the same.

"The right to choose and the right to decide are in my hands…" Shi Lang kept repeating this sentence in his heart.

As if sensing Ichiro's thoughts, Nezuko grabbed Shi Lang's hand and held it tightly—it was already obvious enough.

"Nezuko…"

Looking at Nezuko's gaze, filled with resolve, he made his choice first: "Young Lady Hearing Zhu Shi, I appreciate your kind offer, but my sibling and I… are better off acting together. I cannot be separated from my sister again."

Though a little regretful, she still respected Shi Lang's decision.

"I understand… I wish you smooth martial fortune on your journey."

Just as Shi Lang took back the wooden box and prepared to have Nezuko return inside it, Yushiro called out to him and said, "Shi Lang, your sister… is a beauty."

Having said that, he turned his head away in a tsundere fashion, no longer looking at them.

Hearing Yushiro acknowledge his sister as a beauty, Shi Lang smiled once more.

After Zero and the others departed, Yushiro finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Just now his heart had been in a complete panic, afraid that Zero would remember what had happened before.

"Darn, I forgot to thank Zero for the gift he gave me. Looks like I'll have to thank him next time we meet."

Hearing Hearing Zhu Shi's words, Yushiro now felt an urge to write his last will and testament…

The next time he met Zero would probably be his own "doomsday"…

Leaving Asakusa, Tokyo, Zero and Shi Lang bid each other farewell.

"Tanjiro, this is where we part ways. The path of demon slaying is fraught with danger — you must be careful too!"

"Yes, I understand, Big Brother Zero."

Then, he tapped lightly on the wooden box behind Tanjiro and said, "Little Nezuko, you must protect your brother as well. I'll find a way to turn you back into a human as soon as possible, so you can reunite with your family."

The wooden box on his back trembled a few times — this was Nezuko's reply to Zero, indicating she understood.

Watching Tanjiro leave, Zero took out his dark alloy motorcycle and placed Xiao Bai Yue in front of him.

Just as he was starting the motorcycle, he felt as though he had forgotten something?

"Strange, did I forget something? Hmm… seems important, yet also not… what on earth was it?"

No matter how he thought it over, he couldn't recall what he had forgotten. He started the motorcycle and, with Xiao Bai Yue aboard, headed back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

…………

Afternoon, Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

On the way back to the mansion with Xiao Bai Yue, Zero happened to pass by the Butterfly Estate and ran into Hu Die Ren.

Upon seeing Zero, Hu Die Ren glared at him through gritted teeth.

As if he had done something indescribable to her…

"Xiao Ren, what's… wrong with you?"

"And you still have the nerve to ask me what's wrong?! Give me back my sister! Otherwise I'll bite you to death!!"

Hu Die Ren put on a fierce, claws-bared look.

She wished she could poison Zero and knock him out!

As for the reason…

Naturally, it was because of Xiang Nai Hui's matter.

Ever since Xiang Nai Hui got together with Zero, she had basically never come back to the Butterfly Estate!

Even when she did return, she would stay only a short while before immediately heading back to Zero's mansion.

The same went for after rest, training, or missions.

A textbook case of forgetting one's sister once one has a husband!

By now, most of the affairs at the Butterfly Estate were being managed by Hu Die Ren, Kanzaki Aoi, the three little nursing staff members, and Tsuyuri Kanao together.

Otherwise, one person alone really couldn't handle it all!

"Uh…" Zero looked at Hu Die Ren somewhat speechlessly, shook his head helplessly, and said to Xiao Bai Yue, "Xiao Bai Yue, you go on ahead first."

"Oh~ I got it~"

After Xiao Bai Yue left, Zero looked at Hu Die Ren, who was a head shorter than him, and felt that she looked rather cute like this.

"Tell me, why are you asking me to give Nai Hui back to you? She is now, like Xiao Xiao Mili, my lover — essentially my fiancée. If you want me to give her back to you, you need a reason, don't you?"

"And you still have the nerve to ask?! Ever since my sister got together with you, look how many times she's come back to the Butterfly Estate in a month! Every day she just stays glued to you with Xiao Xiao Mili!"

"Pfft… hahahaha… Xiao Ren, just because of this you want me to give Nai Hui back to you? Let me tell you — n-o-t a c-h-a-n-c-e~"

"You… stinky brother-in-law, I'll bite you to death!!"

Hu Die Ren didn't care whether she could beat Zero or not — she lunged straight at him, looking determined to bite him to death!

Besides, he was her brother-in-law — would he dare hit his sister-in-law?

If he really dared, she'd go tell her sister!

Seeing this, Zero stood his ground without moving a muscle, raising his mechanical left arm horizontally across his chest.

Hu Die Ren paid no heed and bit down hard!

Crack!

The sound of teeth colliding — a tooth flew out.

"Ahhhh!!! Oww oww oww oww oww!! Boohoo~ Stinky brother-in-law! How dare you treat me like this…"

Hu Die Ren clutched her mouth in pain and crouched on the ground, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Looking utterly pitiful, as if she had truly suffered some great grievance.

She also regretted her earlier impulsiveness — she had forgotten that one of Zero's hands wasn't a real hand, but one made of machinery.

"Xiao Ren, you can't blame me for this — you rushed at me and bit me without paying attention. Get up first, let me stop the bleeding for you."

"You…" Hu Die Ren was so angry she didn't know what to say. She stood up, wiped away her tears, and pointed at Zero: "Just you wait! I'm going to tell my sister right now that you're bullying me! Having my sister and still bullying her little sister! Humph~"

"Ara~ Who's bullying my little sister Ren?"

Nai Hui had appeared behind Hu Die Ren at some unknown point, smiling cheerfully as she looked at the two of them.

Seeing her sister arrive, Hu Die Ren grabbed Nai Hui's arm and, with tears flowing, acted coquettishly: "Sister, hurry and rein in your husband! He has you and yet he's bullying me, your little sister! He did that to me just now — if you'd been a little later, your husband would probably have bullied me even more~ Look, my tooth is broken!"

Hu Die Ren opened her mouth slightly — missing one little fang, still bleeding — and spoke with a slight lisp.

(? ー`? ′⌒) Uh…

Zero's eye twitched slightly — how could this Hu Die Ren be so scheming!?

She even turned the tables on him!

What did he mean by saying he'd bully her even more?

If he wanted to bully her, she wouldn't even have the chance to cry out, let alone resist!

This little sister-in-law really needed to be taught a lesson!

Nai Hui smiled slightly, took out a handkerchief from her bosom, wiped her mouth for her, and said, "I saw everything that just happened, you know~"

"Uh… hehe~ Sister, I-I… I was just kidding~ You… don't be mad~"

"Pfft…" Zero beside them couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny! Stinky brother-in-law, you just wait, I'll…"

"Ahem…" Nai Hui coughed lightly, signaling that she was still right here.

"Um, sis, I was wrong, I-I... I still have things to do, heading back to the Butterfly Estate~"

Not giving the two of them a chance to speak, she scurried back to the Butterfly Estate in a flash.

Zero and Xiang Nai Hui exchanged a smile, paid it no mind, and walked back to the residence hand in hand.

On the second floor of the Butterfly Estate, Hu Die Ren caught this scene from the window, scheming darkly: "Stinky brother-in-law, just you wait! Hehe~"

……

Night fell.

After dinner, Zero was sorting through his weapons and gear in the side hall on the first floor.

Aunt Kui Zhi was tidying up the dishes in the kitchen, while Hanako and a few other children were making the beds in a room on the second floor.

Xiang Nai Hui and Xiao Xiao Mili, meanwhile, were chatting with Xiao Bai Yue in Zero's room.

However, just at that moment, an unexpected familiar face arrived at the residence—Hu Die Ren.

"Good evening, brother-in-law~"

"Good evening, Xiao Ren. What brings you to my residence?"

"Oh~ I just came by to apologize to you. I'm sorry~ About this afternoon, I went way too far~ And I dropped by to see my sister."

"Is that really so?" Zero looked at Hu Die Ren with a smiling gaze, as if he could see right through her.

Hu Die Ren, apologizing? Something felt off about this!

Being stared at made Hu Die Ren a little uneasy. She put on a very sincere look, sat down in the chair across from Zero, and said: "Brother-in-law, I really am here to apologize~"

Because she was missing a tooth, her words whistled a little when she spoke.

Swoosh~

The glass door of the side hall opened, and Aunt Kui Zhi walked in carrying a small wooden tray with two cups of hot tea, setting it down on the table.

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Kui Zhi."

"Thank you, Ms. Kui Zhi."

"You're welcome. Just give me a shout if you need anything."

With that, Aunt Kui Zhi took her leave first.

"Alright, I believe you're here to apologize to me."

Even so, Zero took this chance to activate 【Transparent World】. For no particular reason, he just had a bad premonition!

As it turned out, he guessed right.

Whoosh~ He really did notice something off!

Hu Die Ren's current state was laid completely bare before Zero's eyes. He noticed that at the cuff of her right sleeve, there was a small specially-made container.

Roughly half a centimeter wide and about a centimeter long.

Inside was probably some sort of liquid medicine, with a capacity of only a few milliliters.

But knowing Hu Die Ren's personality, it was definitely poison! At the very least it wouldn't kill anyone, but making someone miserable or in agony was no problem at all!

Like that time when they were testing the battle mecha, and Tomioka Giyuu got poisoned and passed out……

Still, he pretended to know nothing and continued inspecting the gear in his hands.

Seeing that Zero had no suspicion at all, Hu Die Ren immediately breathed a sigh of relief inside.

She picked up the two cups of tea beside her, set one in front of herself, and placed the other in front of Zero.

However, when serving Zero his cup, she used her butterfly haori to slightly block the view, and swiftly dripped a few drops of liquid from her sleeve into the tea.

Then, acting as if nothing had happened, she picked up her own cup of tea, took a small sip, and asked: "Brother-in-law, where's my sister?"

"She's in my room, chatting with Xiao Xiao Mili and Xiao Bai Yue. If you want to see them, just head upstairs." Zero answered while inspecting his gear.

He pretended to know nothing about Hu Die Ren's little maneuver just now.

"Oh~"

But Hu Die Ren didn't leave. She wanted to see Zero drink that cup of tea with her own eyes before she could relax—it was a specially prepared potion.

This little scheme, Zero had long since figured out.

So, he deliberately pretended to accidentally drop a tool on the ground, kicked it under Hu Die Ren's feet, and said: "Strange, where did it go?"

"Here it is." Hu Die Ren bent down and picked up the tool that had fallen at her feet.

And in the instant she bent over, under the state of 【Transparent World】, Zero swiftly swapped his tea cup with hers.

The motion was so fast it was impossible to see, utterly undetectable.

She handed the tool to Zero.

Zero took the tool, set it aside, picked up the cup in front of him, and drank all the tea inside in one go.

Seeing Zero drink all the tea, Hu Die Ren finally broke into a smile, relieved.

"Brother-in-law, I'll go see my sister, so I won't disturb you any longer." With that, she drank all the tea in the cup Zero had swapped.

"Mm, go ahead."

After that, Hu Die Ren left the side hall, preparing to head to the second floor.

Perhaps the specially-made drug's potency was kicking in—as she walked, she suddenly sensed something was wrong!

Gurgle gurgle~

Her stomach made noises.

It definitely wasn't hunger!

Immediately after, she felt some pain.

She hurried to the bathroom, took off her butterfly haori and hung it on the coat rack by the door, shut the bathroom door and locked it.

Hu Die Ren... had diarrhea!

"Dammit, what's going on? Why is this happening!?"

Can't figure it out, really can't figure it out!

He clearly saw with his own eyes brother-in-law drink the water, so how did it end up being himself?

Could it be that he knew someone was going to drug him, so he used the same method to drug himself?

Or perhaps... he put the drops in the wrong cup?

That's impossible too!

Suddenly a scene flashed through his mind — just now, in that instant of helping Zero pick up the tools, his own tea had been swapped out by Zero?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

How could he possibly have swapped the tea in the blink of an eye?

If that were really the case, just how strong would brother-in-law have to be?! And how fast?!

Gurgle gurgle~

His stomach churned like a river turned upside down, another bout of turmoil!

"It hurts!!!"

The aftermath of all this, Zero naturally knew.

【Analyzing... deciphered successfully】

【Detected the residual drug in the teacup is a special-effect laxative, personally crafted by Hu Die Ren. After ingestion, the effect takes hold within 10 seconds! Duration: 3 hours.】

Didn't expect it really was like that...

This time, it could only be counted as Hu Die Ren's own bad luck.

"Xiao Ren, you really are... sigh..."

Three hours ah...

Wonder if Xiao Ren can tough it out?

Even if he toughs it out, he's probably already collapsed into something that doesn't look human~

Half an hour later, Hu Die Ren walked out of the bathroom.

Both hands gripping the door frame, legs trembling slightly.

The result...

Gurgle gurgle~

"Oh no! Here it comes again!"

Ran back into the bathroom, locked the door tight...