Demon Progenitor Development Project

If there are any trending news stories in Heian-kyo.

The biggest news recently is "Shocking! Fujiwara Shugo confesses his love to Kisaragi and gets married in a flash."

Countless nobles in Heian-kyo, regardless of gender, gritted their teeth at the two of them.

The head of the Fujiwara family almost burst into tears of joy.

His son, who was in his early twenties, finally got married.

His son's peers already have grandchildren!

Faced with his excited adoptive father, Shugo: ...

The wedding ceremony was organized by the palace, so it was naturally very elaborate. It took a long time just to choose an auspicious day, and it was finally set after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

After learning the news, Muzan remained silent for a long time, then irritably pushed the files off the desktop, scattering them all over the floor.

Is marriage a must?

Muzan searched the table for a long time and found several dusty invitations. He stared at them for a long time, pondered them, and finally picked one out.

He has never liked going to those complicated banquets; they are too noisy and not good for his health.

The young noblemen, who were not yet young, had both leisure and money. Family affairs were not their responsibility for the time being, so they only did simple tasks. They could also go out without being controlled by adults, so they were naturally very unrestrained.

A man-made channel flows gently through a clear stream, and a wine glass filled with wine floats along the winding stream.

They drifted to a young nobleman dressed in purple, who loudly composed a waka poem.

The young man in yellow, who followed closely behind, pondered for a moment, sighed deeply, took the wine cup in front of him out of the water, and drank it all in one gulp.

A beautiful maidservant filled the wine cups with a wine pot and then placed them back into the water.

The banquet, where wine cups float on a winding stream, continued.

Sitting to the side watching this spectacle, Muzan felt utterly out of place.

He recalled how, when he first arrived at the banquet, these people would frequently glance at him.

Amazement, regret, jealousy, scrutinizing glances, and so on—these were just some of the reactions that made Muzan feel somewhat displeased.

Muzan, with impeccable manners, bid farewell to the banquet, leaving the ethereal singing behind. He slowly walked through the transition hall and into the courtyard, looking as if he had come out for some fresh air and to enjoy the flowers and rest.

Pale yellow chrysanthemums bloom in abundance, their delicate petals intertwined, quietly unfolding their beauty.

The courtyard was deserted; the grand banquet had drawn the vast majority of people to the front yard, leaving few to pass by.

Muzan stared blankly at his chrysanthemum, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe. He felt uncomfortable and irritable, an inexplicable sense of unease that made him unable to stay still.

One chrysanthemum petal after another was torn off and thrown on the ground.

Suddenly, a soft voice reached my ears.

Muzan instinctively turned to the side to cover his body, stopping his ruthless act of destroying the flowers, and secretly peeked through the gaps in the leaves.

The attendant nearby also cleverly hid.

The two figures, one tall and one short, walked together in close proximity, their age difference immediately apparent.

Somewhat like him and Shuuga, but...

Muzan peered in at the two of them, feeling that something was off about him and Shuuga.

The young boy playfully teased his lover, his expression shy and timid, while the mature and refined older man watched him with doting and indulgent eyes, reaching out to take a strand of the boy's black hair and leaning down to kiss it.

Muzan's pupils trembled.

The sheltered young boy, Muzan, who was just over ten years old, was greatly shocked. Could it be possible for men to have sex with each other?

A hazy, bustling scene.

Muzan stared blankly and in astonishment at the two men's affectionate display, looking utterly bewildered.

Men and men?

Muzan couldn't help but take a few more glances.

The boy, beaming with joy after receiving the kiss, happily gave his lover a kiss in return.

Muzan was confused.

Both being older and younger, Muzan couldn't help but compare himself to Shuuga...

Muzan shuddered; he dared not think any further.

The various schools of thought that were popularized by the deceased Emperor Shirakawa are no longer in vogue, but some traces of them remain.

Muzan fled home in a disheveled state, as if someone were chasing him.

*

The most popular wedding custom in Heian-kyo was the walking marriage.

This means that the groom will drive to the bride's house after nightfall and stay there for a period of time before moving out to live independently.

It makes it seem like he's married into the family.

Shugo, dressed in his magnificent wedding attire, alighted from the oxcart. Servants had already moved the fire from the torches on the pine tree to the candles. Shugo walked through the door and entered the sleeping quarters via the side steps.

The doors are closed.

Princess Kisaragi, dressed in her wedding gown, knelt on the ground with a smirk on her lips and lifted her hat.

Shugo had already sat down to one side, looking straight ahead at the books he had brought.

"Tsk, you really aren't interested in women at all!" Kisaragi-hime retorted, beginning to doubt her own charm. Shuugo turned another page, offering no reply.

"Shugo, you wouldn't happen to like that boy from the Ubuyashiki family, would you?" Kisaragi asked, blinking.

Shugo stopped turning the pages and gave her a warning look.

It seems it's just unrequited love.

Kisaragi-hime raised an eyebrow.

Three days later, the seemingly happy but actually estranged newlyweds ate cakes and, after completing the ceremony, went to attend the public revelation.

The unveiling ceremony is a banquet where the groom's and bride's relatives get to know each other and socialize.

For Shugo, these were all old acquaintances.

His brother-in-law also appeared, and after exchanging pleasantries with him, Shugo drove home exhausted.

Muzan has come knocking.

Just as Shugo was about to rest, he rubbed his forehead and greeted Muzan, only to be met with a devastating blow that nearly sent his skull flying.

"You said you like me?" Shugo stared at Muzan, bewildered.

Oh no, he's ruined this photophobic carnivorous plant!

Muzan, with the courage to confess his feelings in a desperate attempt, looked nervously at Shuuga.

After that gathering, Muzan went to learn about the relevant matters and the affairs of the various paths. Then he heard the news that Shugo was going to marry Kisaragi-hime and a lot of stories about their love.

The general public opinion is that the couple is a perfect match, both in terms of looks and social standing, and that this marriage is wonderful.

Nobles: Seals Clapping.JPG

"Tsukihiko, you're still young. You might not actually like me, but I'm just your only choice," Shugo said, trying his best to calm himself down.

What are twelve-year-old elementary school students, or even middle schoolers, talking about dating?! Go study!

"No," Muzan retorted, raising his voice.

Shugo interrupted Muzan's explanation, calmly analyzing, "How many relatives and friends do you have? You can say that you only know a handful of people. Among them, I am the best to you, so you have a good impression of me. You are just habitually attached to me..."

He really didn't have many friends. Muzan, who was often recuperating, didn't have much time for socializing. Later, those who took the initiative to approach him were just hoping to get in touch with the Fujiwara Kita family through him.

Muzan had absolutely no desire to be friends with these people.

"So do you like me or not?" Muzan didn't want to listen to Shugo's long-winded explanation, so he asked the question directly, his voice soft and weak.

"I only see you as a junior, as a younger brother," Shugo replied after a moment of silence.

Muzan felt an indescribable sense of shame welling up inside him.

Twelve-year-old Muzan has lost his love.