The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.44.1

“Rei-san. Good evening.”

When I opened my eyes, there was a large black turtle there.
I… know this turtle.

“Spirit Turtle… sama”

The spirit turtle that I once saw within Satoru-sama.
He is a great demon who has given him supernatural powers.

With a smile, the spirit turtle’s eyes narrowed.

“It seems like you’re getting along well with Satoru.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”

Lord Seiryu chuckles softly.

“Please, continue to support Satoru from now on. That child… ever since I died, he’s been holding on so tightly, unable to show his true self to anyone.”

Did I die?

“Uh, um…? What are you talking about…? Who are you…?”

Then, the spirit turtle looks into my eyes.

“Did you receive a Noble Phantasm from the Tsukumogami? And then, you copied the Hundred Eyes’ ability with Nue, right? If so… you should understand, shouldn’t you?”

I will activate the Hundred Eyes ability that I copied from Hyakuharu-sama.
Right now, I’m lending him the magical glasses I received from the Tsukumogami.

A hundred eyes, and then… a Noble Phantasm.
Using two powers…

Then the giant turtle’s form appeared to be something else.
There was a woman with black hair, a very… very beautiful woman.
But… strangely, it seemed like they resembled someone.

“There are also demons that can disguise themselves as humans. In such cases, by using the powers of the hundred-eyed and the tsukumogami, you can see through their transformations. Remember this.”
“Y-yes!”

The woman with black hair smiles.

“Ah, truly. You are like a miracle. You harbor three extraordinary abilities within your body, and yet… you treat Satoru normally.”

That’s right.
That gaze.

The red eyes… are the same as Lord Satoru’s.

“Could it be… Sumi-sama…?”

Mr. Satoru’s mother.
The person I heard had died, why are they here…?

Moreover, in the form of the Spirit Tortoise, what is Satoru-sama doing… I wonder…

“Yes. That’s right. I am Ichijo Sumi, Satoru’s mother. Nice to meet you.”
“Y-yes… I-I am in your care! Um… M-mother…”

Then, Sumi-sama looks puzzled.
And then… from those eyes, a single tear fell.

“Um, um… what happened?”
“No… I see. It seems you’ve also developed a wife’s heart.”

“Yo, the heart of a wife…”
“Rei-san. Thank you. For coming to that child. Please make that child happy in my place.”

As soon as she said that, Sumi-sama body transformed back into the spirit turtle form.

“We are watching over you. Within Satori.”

“Sumire Momi… sama…”

When I woke up, there was a familiar ceiling.
This is my room in the Ichijo family house.

“Mmm… Rei…”
“Sa, Satoru-sama!?”

Satoru-sama is sleeping in his work clothes.
Moreover… in my futon?

“Wh-why…?”

Yesterday, I was sure I went out for a night patrol…
You came straight home… to my room…?

“Um… I have to go back to my room… Eek!”

Satoru-sama is using me as a body pillow.
Hugging tightly, they are breathing peacefully.

I stroke his white hair.
I think I shouldn’t wake him up since he’s working hard.

I don’t know too much.
For example, Sumi-sama.

She took the form of a spirit turtle and resided within Satoru-sama.

For example, the existence of something called “Hakumen.”
They said they have a grudge against the Ichijo family. What kind of grudge is it… I don’t know.

For example, about Mr. Satoru’s father.
In this house, the name of Ichijo Ietsugu-sama is considered taboo.

I don’t know anything about what happens around Satoru-sama.
But… from now on, I want to take my time and get to know everything about it.

But…

“I… love you, Satoru-sama…”

Because it’s someone I like. I… want to know everything.

“Yahhoo! Good morning! Rei-chan!”

At that moment, the sliding door opened, and Yuu Momen from Rokutan-en entered the room.

“Sorry about the other day. Today is Asakusa date… wait, huh, what!?”

Let’s sort out the situation.
In front of Cotton-san, there is me, and then there is Satoru-sama.

Moreover, from the side, it looks like they are sleeping together.

“Rei-chan… already!?”
“Geez, already…”
“Are you already sharing a bed with him?!”

Hey, hey, a bedroom is like that…?

“We have to make red rice!”
“It’s not like that! This is, um, not like that!”

With a commotion, the Hyakumekki siblings, Doumeki and his sister, arrive.

“What’s wrong, Miss? Oh my.”
“Rei-chan, what are you doing with Satoru-niichan…?”

Ms. Akino nodded knowingly and then pushed Mr. Sojiro back.

“Sōjirō Sōjirō. It’s too early for you.”
“Eh! What do you mean?!”
“I have to make red rice.”

Even Akino Akino is misunderstanding me.
“You’re noisy, you guys…”

With a start, Satoru wakes up.

“Um, welcome back. If you’re going to sleep, how about sleeping in your own room?”

Then, Satoru-sama nodded thoughtfully and fell asleep just like that.
Geez.

“Please wake up!”
“This place is nice… it smells good… and Rei is here…”
“Ah, well then, at least let me go…”

“I can’t do that. Rei… I love you… ugh…”

As soon as I say that, Satoru-sama falls asleep.
Before I knew it, Cotton-san and the others were gone.
I can hear voices in the distance saying, “It’s red rice,” “We have to cook it.” It seems I’ve been misunderstood…

But, I wonder why.
Even if I’m misunderstood, there’s a part of me that thinks, “It’s fine.”

If it’s you, Satoru-sama, I wouldn’t mind surrendering my body. After all, I came here to become a bride.

The refreshing autumn breeze comes in through the window, tousling our hair.
When I think about it, I’ve come a long way.

I came here to the Far East in place of my sister, and although not much time has passed since then… it feels like a long time ago.

I wonder how my parents’ house is doing right now.
But… I don’t care anymore.

As for that house, for me… it’s already fine.

“Suu… guu… Rei… I love you…”

This house where Satoru-sama is.
Because it has become my… place to return to.

“I like you too, Satoru-sama.”