Chapter 188: Spiteful and Meticulous
In the third-floor study of the mansion.
Shinobu tilted her head slightly. "Staying the night is fine, but let’s set the personal topics aside."
Her voice turned a little softer.
"The relationship between us is still uncertain ground, I..."
"Are you that scared of me?" Marcus interrupted, cocking his head with that broad, confident smile she knew all too well. "Did you really have no reason to come other than business?"
Shinobu looked up to hold his gaze.
In her purple eyes there was a fleeting flash that she suppressed at once.
"...What else would I be here to do?"
"I don’t know, maybe to check how life’s treating me?"
Shinobu tilted her head, and the usual amused curve returned to her lips. "Aren’t you having a pretty good time right now? You’ve got food, a nice house, transportation, and an entourage of beautiful girls around you."
Marcus laughed. "Is that jealousy I smell?"
"Your sense of smell needs a tune-up. I suggest you go to Tamayo-san for a medical checkup."
At the distance they were standing, each could feel the other’s breath.
"Not a single personal question? Purely official business?" he pressed.
She shifted her gaze to the painting on the wall. "That’s a conversation you need to have with Kanao—you really owe her an explanation. When she found out about your transformation, she spent the entire night crying."
Marcus didn’t take his eyes off her profile.
The moonlight coming through the window accentuated the faint blush on her cheeks.
"And what do you think about it?"
Shinobu didn’t turn her gaze back to him. "My stance is the same as the Master’s."
"Well, looks like someone’s upset," Marcus clicked his tongue.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A few raps echoed on the door.
"Master, Urokodaki-sama, Tanjiro, and the boys just arrived."
"Got it, I’ll be down in a second," Marcus answered toward the door before turning back to her. "Since you’re not going anywhere tonight, shall we head down to say hello?"
Shinobu took a moment of hesitation. "...All right. I’ll greet Urokodaki-san while I’m at it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him."
...
Downstairs, upon seeing Shinobu, Urokodaki’s eyes lit up behind his mask. "Well now, Shinobu-chan! Long time no see."
Shinobu gave a slight bow. "Urokodaki-san, how has your health been?"
"Quite good... Aside from the aggravation this brat puts me through, I’m still holding strong."
Urokodaki pointed at Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, whom he had trained until they were reduced to wrecks, a certain pride showing in his voice.
Noticing that the old man looked full of vitality despite the sweat, Shinobu nodded. "You’re clearly in great shape. If you’d like, I can give you a quick checkup later."
"No need." Urokodaki waved his hand. "I’ll be heading back to headquarters with you. As long as I don’t have to see this brat for a couple of days, I’ll heal up right away."
Shinobu was puzzled. "Head back together?"
"Didn’t you come to negotiate on behalf of the Corps?"
"Yes."
"Then once you wrap up the matter, aren’t you going back?"
"Going back..."
"Of course," Urokodaki wore a look of absolute obviousness. "Didn’t he tell you? This time I’ll go with you to pick up my—mmgh?"
Marcus immediately stepped forward and covered his master’s mouth, endlessly winking at him in desperation.
Urokodaki rolled his eyes and swatted his hand away. "So you’ve got moments where you feel embarrassed too."
He didn’t keep talking. He knew his disciple’s intention all too well. Egging him on to go collect his retirement pension was embarrassing, especially in front of a girl.
Urokodaki turned toward Shinobu and steered the conversation elsewhere. "I’ll go discuss a few matters with the Master."
Shinobu tilted her head, letting her gaze wander between master and disciple with a slight smile. "To discuss feelings, or to discuss money?"
!
Both of them went stiff.
Urokodaki shot Marcus a withering glare. "Well, would you look at that, they saw right through your game. Did you think everyone’s as dumb as that white-haired girl?"
"Old man!!! Who are you calling dumb?!"
In a corner, Ume blew up. She started kicking and lunged at Urokodaki.
Marcus rushed forward, grabbed her by the torso in one fluid motion, and hauled her over his shoulder.
"Easy, Ume. Don’t make a scene. There are three white-haired girls in this house and the old man didn’t name names."
Ume, unconvinced, flailed her arms above Marcus’s shoulder. "He said it to me! He never says anything to those two little spiders!"
Smack!
Marcus gave her a spank.
"Tantrum’s over. If he said it to you, you brought it on yourself. Everyone else calls him grandpa all the time, and you’re the only one who calls him old man. It’s been days and I don’t get how you manage to get on everyone’s bad side."
"Y-Y-You... you dare hit me?! I am your GREAT QUEEN!"
Smack!
Another spank.
"Cut the nonsense. It wasn’t even twenty million total, and I already spoiled you for five days. You should be satisfied."
"You weren’t saying that when you took my money! You kept my money and changed your tune! You’re shameless!"
"Get me another twenty million and I’ll spoil you again. You got it?"
"Y-YOU!!!"
Ume shrieked like a boiling kettle. "ONII-CHAN!!! Marcus is messing with me again!!"
In a corner, Gyutaro turned away in silence, ignoring his sister’s drama.
"So you even dare to rat me out!" Marcus raised his hand.
Smack!
"Aaaaah! Bastard!"
"And you’re still cursing!"
Smack!
"Waaah! Put me down!"
"No demands!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Shinobu watched, dumbfounded, as Marcus spanked the girl all the way to the dining room.
Urokodaki sighed beside her. "That’s the former Upper Rank Six. Now she goes by Ume. She’s willful and spends all day stirring up trouble. Only Marcus can keep her in check."
Seeing that beautiful young woman whose crying was so shrill, Shinobu’s eye gave a slight twitch. "Her? Upper Rank Six?"
"The very same."
Shinobu’s gaze followed Marcus’s hand rising and falling, recalling the moment he’d punished her the same way. A faint blush tinged her ears.
"Does he usually discipline Ume like this?"
Urokodaki touched his chin. "Well, truth be told, I’ve never seen him spank anyone else."
Shinobu’s face froze.
Confirmed.
This damned man was doing it on purpose so she would see.
Simply spiteful. Spiteful and meticulous.
In the distance, Marcus’s lesson went on.
"Look at them, what a difference in behavior compared to you. If you’re all servants, why is the gap so big?"
"Master~" the voices of Pearl and Ivy came from the kitchen, laced with a soft, amused resignation.
"Carry on with what you’re doing. We’ve got a guest today, make more food."
"Understood!"
Ume squirmed on Marcus’s shoulder. "I’m not any kind of servant!"
"Of course you are."
"I’m telling you I’m not!"
"You signed a servitude contract."
"The money I handed you was more than enough to cancel it!"
"That was payment for spoiling you for five days, not for your freedom."
"YOU’RE A SWINDLER!!!"
"And you’re a stubborn fool!"
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
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Throw your stones, drop them ALL! 💎
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