Becoming an Oni in this land of illusion

Chapter 74

Ibaraki arrived at their house with a look of satisfaction etched across her face. Meanwhile, Yukari looked rather fatigued, her body slumping as she wrapped her arms around Ibaraki's shoulder for support.

"Hmm, it seems they haven't finished buying supplies yet," Ibaraki muttered to herself as she sat down on the sofa with Yukari beside her.

Yukari unabashedly rested her head on Ibaraki's lap and soon drifted off to sleep. Ibaraki couldn't help but chuckle at Yukari's carefree and relaxed demeanor.

Ibaraki gazed down at Yukari and noticed how adorable she looked while resting peacefully. A mischievous grin crossed her face as she thought of an idea.

"You know, Yukari, I just realized how cute you are," Ibaraki said, unable to resist teasing her. She then gently removed Yukari's hat and ran her fingers through the soft and silky locks of hair.

"I suppose you're right," Yukari murmured softly, her voice laced with sleepiness and contentment. As she began to doze off, Ibaraki looked down at Yukari with fondness and decided to hum a sweet tune, hoping to lull her into a deeper slumber.

As time passed, Yukari's peaceful expression was replaced with a slight smile, while Ibaraki reflected on her own life and decisions.

Initially driven by a desire for revenge, Ibaraki had achieved her goal, but had realized that there was nothing more to strive for. She felt a sense of pity for herself, an emptiness where her ambition used to reside.

But despite this, Ibaraki took comfort in the present. She knew she had someone special to share her moments with – for better or for worse. Ibaraki had no grand aspirations or lofty goals, but found joy in bringing a smile to her lovers' faces.

While reflecting on her life, Ibaraki realized that there was one thing that had been awakened in her by Yukari's influence – the art of trolling others. She found it amusing to ruin others' day by pushing them to their limits and causing them to run away from her – a twisted sense of satisfaction that she couldn't help but chuckle at.

Her partners were not exempt from her tricks, and she took pleasure in teasing them until their faces turned red with embarrassment. Though she knew there were still problems that needed to be solved, she decided to confront them as they arose, content to live in the present and take life as it came.

"Family, huh..." Ibaraki smiled at the thought of having a family of her own, something that she had never truly considered before. She vowed to herself that, unlike her past treatment, she would raise her children with love and kindness.

"I suppose having a family someday isn't such a bad thing," Ibaraki thought to herself. However, a sense of fear crept into her mind – what if the happiness she had found would be forcibly taken away from her?

These thoughts made her heart race with trepidation, as she feared becoming the true demon that others had always perceived her to be. But Ibaraki was determined to protect her newfound happiness at any cost, even if it meant being ruthless and unrelenting in the eyes of others.

The sound of a car pulling up outside caught Ibaraki's attention, and she could hear the excited chatter of Marisa, Shuten, and Nyx discussing the design of the hot spring they were planning to build.

As Ibaraki watched the door open, her friends' smiling faces suddenly turned into shocked expressions as they spotted Yukari sleeping soundly on her lap. But Ibaraki remained unfazed, wearing a small smile that hinted at a private amusement.

Marisa approached Ibaraki silently, careful not to disturb Yukari's peaceful slumber, while Shuten and Nyx observed from a distance with a mixture of curiosity and concern.