Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 265: Visiting a Friend

_______

The table was filled with a variety of delicious dishes—sushi, barbecue, fried fish fillet, mapo tofu, various desserts, and more.

Aoki sampled each dish before finally setting down his chopsticks.

"How is it?" Mitsuri asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Aoki shook his head. "No."

Mitsuri's excitement deflated instantly. She slumped onto the table, muttering to herself.

"Still not good enough?"

Aoki leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed. "Don't worry about it. Maybe one day, if I turn back into a human, I'll finally be able to enjoy the food you make."

Mitsuri's energy returned in an instant. She clenched her fist with determination. "Hehe, I won't give up! I'll keep experimenting until I succeed!"

Aoki chuckled. "Didn't you say the same thing a month ago?"

Mitsuri's expression turned sheepish, her lips pursing in a pout. "A month ago, I had a guest..."

---

The moon rose high above the branches, casting a silvery glow over the quiet night.

Aoki stood at the door. "I'm leaving."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow!" Mitsuri waved cheerfully.

Aoki smiled faintly before disappearing into the night.

As Mitsuri lowered her hand, a glint of light reflected off the gem-like pill she held. Her eyes sparkled with determination.

---

Asakusa

As night fell, the bustling streets of Asakusa grew even livelier.

Tamayo and Yushiro strolled through the vibrant crowd, receiving warm greetings from passersby.

Since Muzan Kibutsuji's death, they no longer had to live in hiding. After taking the Blue Spider Lily potion, they could now walk freely under the sun.

Tamayo Hospital's growing reputation had turned them into local celebrities.

The pair eventually arrived at a villa.

Before they even stepped inside, Tamayo's brows furrowed slightly. "Hmm, why is the light on? I'm certain I turned it off before we left."

"Master Tamayo, stay cautious," Yushiro warned, his face serious. Despite his concern, he showed no fear and stepped forward confidently.

Both of them were demons and masters of Blood Demon Arts. While Yushiro wasn't particularly skilled in combat, his abilities far surpassed those of ordinary humans.

With a loud bang, Yushiro pushed the door open and froze in place.

Tamayo, puzzled, walked up to him. But when she looked inside, her expression shifted to one of surprise.

A table stood in the center of the living room, laden with a variety of food. Sitting casually beside it was a black-haired young man.

"You're back!" Aoki greeted them with a wave. "Come in! I've prepared something special for you."

Tamayo's lips curved into a gentle smile. She stepped forward and took a seat beside him.

Aoki picked up a cup, placed it in front of her, and poured tea from a kettle. "Try this."

"Black tea?" Tamayo's eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and nostalgia. She lifted the cup, took a sip, and her expression grew complicated. After a long pause, she finally set the cup down.

"What a nostalgic taste."

As a demon, she had only known two flavors: the taste of human flesh and blood, and the taste of Demon wine. This was the third—and it reminded her of her favorite black tea from when she was still human.

"I've left the rest in the drawer by your bedside," Aoki said. "There's only a pound, so make it last."

"I understand," Tamayo replied with a soft smile and a nod.

"Come on, try some of this too. I worked hard to gather it," Aoki said, gesturing to the assortment of food on the table.

The dishes weren't what one would call traditional meals—beef jerky, chocolate, biscuits, and similar snacks.

Tamayo's eyes lit up with recognition. "Could these be..."

"You'll know once you try them," Aoki replied with a knowing smile.

He glanced toward the doorway. "And why are you still standing there like a statue? Get over here!"

Yushiro's face darkened, but after a brief pause, he reluctantly walked over.

Tamayo picked up a piece of chocolate, parted her rosy lips, and took a delicate bite.

The sweetness, mingled with a hint of bitterness, unfolded in her mouth. The rich, mellow flavor transmitted from her taste buds to her brain, filling every cell in her body with delight.

"So, this is what chocolate tastes like?" she murmured, gazing at the unfamiliar yet intriguing piece of food in her hand.

Though chocolate was sold in Asakusa, its price was exorbitant. Tamayo had bought some before, but like all other food, it had been tasteless to her.

Only now did she realize the true wonder of chocolate's flavor.

Yushiro hesitantly picked up a biscuit, took a cautious bite, and his expression immediately shifted into something between awe and disbelief.

Aoki casually grabbed a piece of beef jerky, chewing as the fresh, fragrant, and spicy flavor spread through his mouth.

For them, these ordinary foods were treasures beyond measure.

For a while, the three of them sat in silence, savoring this rare and precious experience.

Before long, every dish on the table was gone.

After sending Yushiro to wash the dishes, only Aoki and Tamayo remained in the room.

Tamayo's expression turned serious, her tone apologetic.

"Mr. Aoki, I'm sorry. There's still no progress on those two research topics."

Aoki blinked, then realized she was referring to the ongoing studies: Analyzing the Essence of a Demon's Power and Extracting Demon Power and Characteristics.

"It's fine," Aoki said calmly. "It's only been a year. There's no need to rush."

His current predicament had grown far more complex than merely being a ghost. He had already begun to suspect that the ultimate solution would involve the system.

"By the way," Tamayo interjected, "the Blue Spider Lily has bloomed again this year."

She retrieved a small box, opened it, and revealed ten vials of blue potion.

Aoki inspected them closely. "Hmm? They look a little different from the last batch."

Tamayo smiled. "I've improved the production process and combined the effects of several medicines.

This potion now has three functions: it helps Demons withstand sunlight, rediscover their humanity, and break their dependency on human flesh and blood."

"Three-in-one? Impressive." Aoki nodded appreciatively. "Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Tamayo."

He carefully stowed away the potions before asking, "And what about the blood I left behind? Any changes?"

Tamayo shook her head. "No changes. Its activity is well-maintained. As long as there are no accidents, it should remain viable for at least a hundred years."

"That's reassuring," Aoki said with a relieved sigh.

His greatest fear was that his blood might degrade over time, rendering him unable to maintain his demonic transformation.

Tamayo tilted her head curiously. "Mr. Aoki, where have you been this past year?"

Aoki smiled faintly. "I went..."

The two chatted late into the night, their conversation stretching until dawn.

---

As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, Aoki bid farewell to Tamayo and Yushiro.

In an instant, he teleported to a grand courtyard.

Nearby, several children played with a ball in the open space, their laughter filling the air.

On the other side of the courtyard, a beautiful woman was tending to a man with a severe scar running across his face.

When the children noticed Aoki, they stopped their game and bowed respectfully.

The man with the scar seemed to sense his presence and turned his head toward the entrance.

"Amane, is someone here?"

Before Amane could respond, Aoki stepped forward.

"Master Ubuyashiki, long time no see."

A gentle smile spread across Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face. "Ah, Mr. Aoki. It's been a year since we last met. I trust you've been well?"

"Haha, thank you for your concern, Master Ubuyashiki. I'm doing fine. And you seem to be in good health as well."

Ubuyashiki nodded softly. "Thanks to you, Mr. Aoki."