Demon Progenitor Development Project

After this series of exchanges that made Shugo's stomach ache, Shugo stopped trying to dissuade Muzan. At worst, he could just cancel the engagement when he became the head of the family.

"When are you getting married, Shuuga?" Muzan couldn't help but think of this when the topic of marriage came up.

When the topic of marriage came up, Shugo looked even more haggard and could only repeat the same excuse he used to appease his adoptive father.

"You don't like noblewomen? You think they're ugly, so you don't want to get married?" Muzan retorted.

Hiiragi nodded.

“Lying,” Muzan said quietly, “that’s definitely not the reason.”

Hiiragi's brow twitched, and he remained silent for a moment.

There's a reason why Muzan said that.

Having spent so much time together since childhood, he knew that Fujiwara Shugo was a rather indifferent and gentle person. He would not punish servants for making mistakes, but would even comfort the trembling servants and tell them to be careful next time.

Would such a person discriminate against others based on their appearance?

"I've seen women who wear white powder and blacken their teeth when I was a kid, and you didn't do anything wrong back then," Muzan thought.

Shugo watched as Muzan refuted him with clear logic, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Why did the progenitor of demons use your brain on me?!

Just as Shugo was thinking about how to make up a lie to get away with it, he heard Muzan's threatening words.

"Don't lie to me."

Muzan noticed the other person's shifty eyes and knew something was wrong.

In the past, when this guy's eyes darted around, he would then say a series of nonsensical things, leaving the guy half-believing and half-doubting.

As Muzan grew up, he realized that those were just things he told to fool children.

Shugo Fujiwara: ...So you have the ability to read minds now?

Hiiragi stood up and gestured for the other person to come with him.

The two walked and strolled in the garden.

The wisteria is in full bloom, its pale purple blossoms dotting the winding vines like a delicate lady, displaying its beauty.

Hiiragi walked slowly while organizing his thoughts.

"I really don't appreciate makeup like white powder and black teeth, that's true."

Even after living here for so many years, his distorted aesthetic sense can't poison him!

"Moreover, the white powder used by those noble ladies was poisonous."

A look of astonishment flashed across Muzan's eyes.

"It not only poisons the body, but also affects appearance, which forces them to continue using it."

Hiiragi said with annoyance.

"I don't want you to tell anyone about this; let's keep it a secret."

If this gets out, it will affect too many people. Noble men might not take it seriously, or they might develop a dislike for women who wear white powder.

Would a woman who has already used too much white powder throw away that white lead powder?

will not.

Fujiwara Shugo is certain.

Shugo knew perfectly well how crazy women could be for beauty; he had already been rebuffed by the original owner's mother.

When he confidently explained to his stepmother that lead powder was toxic, she vehemently denied it and even hired a sorcerer to exorcise the evil spirits from him.

Ah!

Shugo admitted that he was disheartened and didn't want to care about the original owner's mother anymore. In any case, he had rarely visited her since his coming-of-age ceremony.

The original owner's mother had other children to raise, so she didn't have much time to look for her eldest son.

To become the wife of the head of the Fujiwara family, she must have been a lady from a prominent family in Heian-kyo, which means that her mother's attitude represented the attitude of the noble ladies.

The craftsmen who make white lead powder might be unjustly blamed, lose their livelihood, or even their lives.

Nobles will never reason with commoners; it is only natural for them to take their anger out on others.

Driven by the unspeakable dark thoughts of ordinary people, since I have been poisoned by white lead powder, why are others clean and unharmed?

Hiiragi never underestimates the evil in human nature.

So why bother publicizing it?

As a transmigrator, Hiiragi chose to keep quiet, thinking it was better to avoid trouble.

Just like his official duties, which came with his identity, Shugo treated them purely as a way to gain experience, and focused his energy on political struggles.

After walking such a long distance, Muzan's body was starting to give out.

Seeing this, Shugo suggested that they go back.

Muzan stared straight ahead expressionlessly, his feet moving nimbly as he dodged the colorful, oddly shaped furballs in the corridor.

He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Don't you have a lot of cats? It's practically a cat house."

It was the time for these adorable kittens to roam freely. They were either lazily lying on the ground basking in the sun or chasing and playing with each other, filling the entire corridor with life and energy.

"Where are you going to say there are many?" Shugo retorted, pouting, clearly unconvinced. "I don't think there are many at all!"

For Shugo, who loves cats, owning a cat is more than just simply raising a pet.

In his heart, raising cats is like having a harem; each cat is his beloved concubine who needs his careful care and love.

The joy of being a pet owner is unimaginable to outsiders.

Judging from the number of cats he currently owns, he is truly comparable to an emperor with a harem of three thousand beauties.

Hearing Shugo's firm answer, Muzan shook his head slightly and muttered under his breath, "You say it's not much? If it weren't for your love of cats, cat ownership probably wouldn't be this popular in Kyoto now."

Indeed, thanks to Shugo's love for cats and his influence in the area, owning a cat in Kyoto has become a fashionable trend.

Even Muzan's own father was influenced by him and started keeping cats.

As the saying goes, the celebrity effect means that people always like to follow trends and imitate the preferences and behaviors of those who are in the spotlight.

This isn't blind following; when Shugo visits other officials' homes, many people try to strike up a conversation with him by mentioning his cat.

As the undisputed successor to the position of Regent, he has plenty of people eager to curry favor with him.

Many of the cats were even gifts from friends who shared the same hobby.

“You’re also a black cat I raised! Look here, there are many other old cats about your age!” Shugo’s face was full of satisfaction as he happily squatted down and gently stroked one cat after another.

The old cats, however, remained extremely calm, not even bothering to lift their eyelids. At most, they would let out a low meow to express their slight displeasure at Shugo's affectionate behavior.

Their clipped paws stretched out casually, as if to say: "Hmph, don't bother us while we rest!"

The cats, stretching out in the sunlight, seemed completely indifferent to this foolish two-legged creature.

However, Muzan was unwilling to be treated like an ordinary cat, and he immediately emphasized loudly, "Don't lump me in with these cats!" His words revealed a hint of annoyance.

But Shugo looked completely innocent, blinking his big eyes as he said, "Oh dear, I love cats the most!"

Upon hearing this, Muzan was slightly taken aback. Although he was still unwilling, for some reason, after hesitating for a moment, he actually accepted the nickname "Little Black Cat".