In the world of Type-Moon, it all begins with becoming Morgan's husband!

Ian bent down and hugged Shuten-dōji in his arms.

He gently stroked her back and whispered tenderly in her ear:

"I know."

"This is something that's hard for you to accept."

"But--"

"Shuten, if it were you..."

"If Ibaraki is in danger and you have a chance to save her, what will you do?"

"Uh... of course we'll save Ibaraki!"

Shuten-dōji cried uncontrollably, his voice trembling.

"But... this situation is different!"

"Do not."

Ian wiped away the tears from Shuten-dōji's eyes and kissed her forehead.

"Shuten, you know they're the same."

"You would also go to great lengths for things you value, wouldn't you?"

"But what will we do without Uncle?"

Shuten-dōji responded, sobbing.

"I...I'm useless! If Uncle isn't here, I can't do anything!"

"Will not."

Ian looked at Shuten-dōji.

"Shuten-dōji is not a piece of trash."

"Shuten is a very powerful demon."

Even if I'm gone, you and Ibaraki will definitely be able to live well in Heian-kyo.

"Besides -"

"Xiaoyu will take care of you too."

"..."

Shuten-dōji realized that the Great Onmyoji had already thought through all the problems.

This was a decision he made after careful consideration—and it absolutely cannot be changed.

Realizing that the matter was inevitable, Shuten-dōji buried his head in the chest of the great Onmyoji.

Her little hands were clutching his clothes tightly, and she was muttering something under her breath.

"It's all that cow's fault."

"We hate that cow so much...we'll never forgive her..."

"..."

You don't have much to say.

You can only silently wait for Shuten-dōji to vent his inner emotions.

Fortunately, the process wasn't long.

Perhaps she did agree with what you just said.

Shuten-dōji sniffed and looked up at Ian.

She still couldn't accept it.

But she also knew she couldn't stop him.

"Uncle... if you really want to do this, there will be a problem, right?"

"what is the problem?"

"Then how could a cow possibly kill you?"

"She clearly loves you too."

“Hmm.” Ian nodded.

"So I can't let her know what I've done."

"But how is that possible?!" Shuten-dōji looked at Ian in bewilderment.

"If I wanted to kill you, I would definitely know who you are!"

Ian looked at Shuten-dōji in his arms, his eyes filled with a resolute determination born from repeated contemplation.

"That's certainly true given our current status."

"so--"

"Shuten, I need your help."

"My help?"

“Hmm.” Ian nodded, then looked into the distance.

"Use your power to bring about another Night Parade of One Hundred Demons in Heian-kyo."

"I want to be killed by Raikou in the name of a demon at that time."

"That way, she won't realize something is wrong."

160. In the name of the demon, die silently that night. (End of Volume Four)

Your plan is proceeding smoothly.

[You know that under normal circumstances, Minamoto no Yorimitsu would never raise his sword against you.]

You need to find a scenario where she's completely unaware that she killed you.

That is the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

[You know that if you could disguise yourself as a demon at that time, Minamoto no Yorimitsu could kill you without knowing it.]

You told Shuten-dōji about your plan.

"..."

After hearing the entire plan, Shuten-dōji remained silent for a long time before speaking again:

"Uncle, are you going to pretend to be the ghost you dislike the most, and then get killed by that cow?"

"I used to dislike ghosts."

Ian hugged Shuten-dōji even tighter in his arms.

"But after meeting you and Ibaraki, I changed my mind."

"There are indeed some evil spirits in this world, but there are also spirits like you and Ibaraki who value their friends and live like humans."

"If we think about it from this perspective—"

"In fact, humans are also 'ghosts' in another sense to you."

"Once I understood this principle, I was able to accept all of this with equanimity."

"A Heian-kyo where ghosts and humans coexist is the true Heian-kyo."

"..."

Shuten-dōji lowered his head and muttered to himself.

"Uncle, you've changed so much."

“Yes.” Ian nodded. “Shuten-dōji, you’re right. My thoughts have indeed been changing.”

"After all, neither people nor Yin-Yang techniques are static."

"I don't understand any Yin-Yang magic!"

Shuten-dōji rubbed his head vigorously against Ian's clothes.

"All we know is that we'll miss Uncle very much."

"And am I not the same?"

Ian's hand gently caressed the curves of Shuten-dōji's buttocks.

"After all, it wasn't easy to raise Shuten-dōji into a little pet who would feel uncomfortable if he didn't discipline him with a big stick for even a day."

"Who turned into that kind of pet?!"

Shuten-dōji blushed as he refuted the Great Onmyoji's words, but his body betrayed him, allowing him to do as he pleased.

She genuinely enjoyed being treated like a little pet by him.

Because this at least shows that he doesn't dislike being with himself.

"Uncle, can I ask you a question?"

"what is the problem?"

"It's just..." Shuten-dōji gently rubbed the hand that was profaning him.

"Did you ever like me or Ibaraki?"

"..."

Ian looked at the little girl who had finally mustered the courage to ask the question.

Suddenly, he smiled.

"Laugh, what are you laughing at!"

Shuten-dōji called out hurriedly.

"Is the question we asked strange?"