Chapter 248: A Nest of Vampires

As he crossed the mansion leading everyone in, Tamayo and her companions were already waiting.

A round of introductions was unavoidable.

However, this part was very simple, even crude, to the point that it ended after saying just a single name.

After all, Marcus couldn’t introduce them by saying:

"This is Tamayo. She stood at Muzan’s side doing evil hundreds of years ago, then defected."

"These are Ivy and Pearl. I rescued them while they were killing Corps members at Natagumo."

"This is Hakuji, Muzan’s finest subordinate for hundreds of years, and he’s recognized me as his master."

"These are Ume and her older brother, Gyutaro, who over all these years have killed a total of 22 Hashiras, and now they follow me."

Just from watching Sanemi’s movements—placing his hand on the hilt of his katana at merely hearing the names—he knew perfectly well that if he dared introduce them like that, this shrimp would blow up.

It was normal that, for the moment, he couldn’t accept this environment.

Sanemi had basically fallen into a nest of demons.

His years of experience killing demons meant that, without a doubt, he wouldn’t be able to relax in this setting.

However, after living alongside everyone for a while, he’d gradually discover just how "charming" they were.

Once he too transformed into a vampire, some of those barriers would progressively fade away.

Only then would the time come for them to truly understand one another.

After wrapping up the brief introductions, Marcus had Tanjiro take him to the front courtyard to find a guest room where he could rest.

Along the way, he also sent Inosuke and Zenitsu to provide him with psychological counseling.

As for Urokodaki, Ivy took charge of guiding him around the mansion to see whether he was satisfied with his future room.

Marcus had reserved a small, exclusive private courtyard for him in the back.

He knew his master was incapable of sitting idle, so this courtyard near the training grounds turned out to be the perfect place for his stay.

As for Mitsuri, he kept her by his side, showing her the grounds as they walked through them.

Although he himself wasn’t entirely clear on various details about this still-unfamiliar house and needed Tamayo to help by explaining off to the side, in the end he took the time for both himself and Mitsuri to get acquainted with the place.

When Marcus brought Mitsuri before the main building that belonged to him and informed her that they’d be sleeping there together that night, Mitsuri immediately lowered her head shyly.

"Marcus-kun... didn’t you say that when I came, I’d be staying at the Demon Slayer Corps branch?"

Marcus looked at Tamayo.

Tamayo nodded slightly, indicating that everything was arranged.

Marcus looked at Mitsuri and shook his head solemnly.

"That place isn’t ready yet, so you’ll stay here for now."

Mitsuri was a bit of a hopeless romantic, but she wasn’t a fool; how could she not catch on to Marcus’s intention?

She fidgeted shyly with her fingers, blushing, keeping her head down and speaking in an extremely faint voice.

"Then... when will it be ready?"

Marcus shook his head again, looking utterly serious.

"I’m not sure! Maybe it’ll take a year or two!"

"Huh?" Mitsuri was dumbstruck.

She’d thought Marcus would say a day or two, or even a week or two, but she’d never imagined an answer like that.

’Marcus-kun is really... really shameless...’

"That’s enough—Mitsuri’s shy, stop teasing her."

Shinobu stepped forward helplessly, took Mitsuri’s hand, and said gently, "Don’t worry, the main house is very big. You can freely pick any spot on the third floor, and he won’t bother you either."

"And if you really feel uncomfortable, come stay at my place first to settle in."

"Your place?" Mitsuri blinked, puzzled. "Shinobu, don’t you live here?"

"Yeah, Shinobu." Marcus was just as confused. "Why don’t you live here?"

"Me?"

Shinobu gave him a smile. "Because a certain someone still hasn’t done what he’s supposed to do."

"Mitsuri, Kanao and I are living at the Butterfly Garden next door now. Do you want to come?"

Mitsuri looked at Marcus, who was shaking his head desperately off to the side, and pressed her lips together to stifle a giggle. "All right, then I’ll stay at your place."

"Haa..."

Hearing that sigh, Shinobu looked at Marcus, whose eyes had lost all their light, and couldn’t help but laugh.

With that, she dragged along Mitsuri—who kept turning to look back every three steps—and headed to the side courtyard together with Kanao, scooping up Nezuko along the way as well.

Marcus turned his head in irritation and, pointing at Shinobu’s back, griped to Tamayo, "Just look at that, look at how this brat is..."

Tamayo let out a soft giggle. "You can’t put the blame on her; if anyone’s to blame, it’s you yourself."

"Me? What did I do?"

Tamayo guided Marcus into the main house and, as she helped him out of his outer robe, spoke in a low voice. "When you posed as Shinobu’s boyfriend to convince Kanae to stay, you didn’t tell her about your romantic escapades, did you?"

Marcus was baffled. "You mean...?"

"Kanae already knows," Tamayo said with a certain resignation. "Not only does she know you flirted your heart out with both of her sisters, but she also knows you rounded up a huge number of ’little sisters’ for them."

"In Kanae’s day, monogamy was already the norm. How do you think someone like Kanao, who respects the rules as much as she does, would feel?"

Marcus: "..."

"Didn’t you notice that the moment Shinobu came back, Kanao handed over the butterfly sword and didn’t even dare say a single word to you?"

The more Marcus listened, the more his head ached. "So you’re saying that if I don’t smooth things over with Kanae, none of these three women will pay me any attention?"

"Not necessarily. Shinobu’s just giving Mitsuri some time to settle in—it’s not like she’s really going to restrict her."

"But those two definitely won’t disobey their older sister."

"What’s more..."

At this point, Tamayo had a bit of trouble putting it into words. "What’s more, you intend to keep all three sisters."

By then, she’d already changed Marcus’s footwear, and as she stood up, her face showed a hint of schadenfreude.

"Fufufu~ You’re always toying with women. We can’t rein you in, but naturally there’ll be someone who can."

Marcus smiled wickedly. "Are you enjoying this?"

"Kyaa!"

Suddenly, he hoisted her over his shoulders.

Amid Tamayo’s surprised cries, Marcus gave her a hard smack on the backside. "Making fun of me comes with a price!"

Marcus turned. "Ivy, where’s your room? Lead the way."

Ivy already knew full well what he intended to do.

Instantly, her face flushed bright red. "M... Master... I still have thing—Kyaaa~!"

Ivy also ended up hoisted over Marcus’s other shoulder.

"Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow! First, tell me which room is yours."

"M-Marcus... don’t do anything just yet, you just got back—take a bath first."

Tamayo’s words made his eyes light up.

Now he wasn’t thinking about looking for any room; he headed straight for the baths specially reserved in the main building.

"Perfect! The two of you are going to help me bathe!"

...

Ten minutes later...

With a dirty face and a couple of leaves stuck in her hair, Ume violently shoved open the door of the house, fuming with rage. "MARCUS!!! COME OUT RIGHT NOW!!"

"I’m not in the bath, Ume—for the love of all you hold dear, don’t come looking for me there."

Hearing the direction the voice came from, Ume laughed coldly and, without a word, slipped into that warm room enveloped in steam. "Ah! Y-You..."

"Heh heh, dirty girl, come quick—your master will help you wash up."

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