Nao kept quiet the entire time Muzan was berating Douma, who was in turn, bleeding as Muzan kept talking. In the end, after being brought to his knees and accumulating a lot of blood on the floor, Douma was dismissed and told to never show his face to Mimi or else Muzan is going to make him pay dearly for it.

Honestly, Nao thinks that Muzan was being too much but she was glad that the other demon was gone. Nao was very uncomfortable in his presence. Nao did not like Douma at all.

He was emotionless. He doesn't really feel anything and the way he explained his ideals to Nao made her feel sick to the core.

Demons really have forgone their humanity.

Nao also witnessed a different side of Muzan. He normally speaks in a gentle way infront of her but ever since she revealed the fact that she knows he's a demon, he started showing his true nature. It was as if he didn't want to hide who he truly is to her.

Nao was glad that he was being like that. She really did not want to live in a fantasy where Muzan only acted nice and gentle towards her. She was not that naive.

Nao was already prepared of the fact that Muzan can also be cruel if he wanted to. He is a demon afterall and it is their nature since they have little to no humanity anymore.

They don't feel the same way humans do.

After what happened with Douma, Muzan moved her away from that room, saying that Nao would not stay in a room that reeked with the foul smell of blood.

So for the meantime, Muzan kept Nao close to him as he worked on his laboratory. Nao sat quietly as she watched Muzan mix one liquid after another.

She really did not understand what he was doing but since Nao was still annoyed at him for keeping her in the dark, she kept a safe distance by sitting on a chair near the end of the table.

Nao also decided to watch him work instead of engaging on a conversation. Nao was silently thinking about her situation and musing at the fact that she might not ever get out of this place unless Muzan allows her.

He didn't seem like he was letting her go anytime soon.

"Mimi, come over here." Muzan's sudden order made Nao straighten herself. He turned to her when Nao did not answer.

He looked annoyed at the fact that Nao was simply staring at him instead of moving closer. Muzan must've realized that Nao was too stubborn to approach him so he ended up coming over to her instead.

He extended the vial towards Nao.

"Mimi, drink this for me. "At his words, Nao immediately shot up and shook her head.

"Mimi." Muzan said lowly as he stared at her.

But Nao refused and stubbornly shook her head.

"No more. I don't want to drink any weird liquids anymore." Nao told him as she eyed the vial with suspicion in her eyes.

"Mimi, it's for your own good."

"Muzan!" Nao cried out when he suddenly grabbed her by the waist and sat her on the table. Nao glared at him as her hands fisted on his clothes that looked way too expensive than her own.

"Mimi, behave yourself. I'm doing this for you. "

Nao opened her mouth to protest but the look Muzan was giving her made her stop.

Nao easily deflated as she looked at him.

"But..."

"This time, you won't sleep after drinking it. I've modified the contents." Muzan explained as he popped it open with his thumb. He placed a hand under her chin and stared at Nao's eyes.

"You won't have to suffer from any curse after this."

Nao perked up. "Really...?"

Muzan nodded. "Mimi, do you trust me?"

He slowly stroked her cheek with his thumb. It made Nao feel warm inside and she ended up nodding to him.

"Then drink."

Nao really felt like a hypocrite. The last time she drank his medicine, she was asleep for a 'long time' and her hair grew back in the process. She doesn't understand why she is once again taking the vial and placing it on her lips. Maybe it was because Muzan asked or maybe because Nao was just weak.

Weak for him.

Drinking the odorless and tasteless medicine for the second time felt different. This time, instead of fainting, Nao felt incredibly hot inside.

Her body temperature suddenly rose and she looked at Muzan for guidance, silently asking what she needed to do afterwards. Muzan cupped both of her flushed cheeks as she dazely stared at him.

Nao grabbed the front of his clothes tighter as she breathed heavily and stared at him with half lidded eyes.

"... What's h-happening...?" Nao asked and instead of receiving a proper answer, Muzan pulled her closer to his chest and placed a hand on her head, gently stroking her hair in the process.

Nao didn't know how long she was burning up but after the feeling subsided, she felt completely different inside.

"Mimi, how do you feel?"

Nao stared at him before she swung her arms around his neck and also buried her face on the crook of his neck while placing herself closer to him.

Nao wanted to cry.

"I can breathe easily now and I don't feel any blockage in my lungs. If I run, does Muzan think I'll get easily tired or not? It's as if I have a lot of reserve energy. What did Muzan made me drink?" Nao quietly asked.

She was surprised when he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to the point that any space hardly exists between them.

But what surprised Nao even more was Muzan's answer.

"It contains my blood."

Nao's eyes widened like saucers and as soon as she realized what he meant, her hands flew away and she found herself pushing him.

"Y-You..!" Nao's face was flushed red as she tried to distance herself from Muzan but his gripped tightened that all her struggles seemed pointless.

"Muzan's b-blood... D-Demon's blood.... o-ohh...." Nao looked at Muzan with horror on her face, knowing the implications of drinking or being exposed to a demon's blood.

She quickly tried to push him but Muzan did not seemed bothered by it.

"Nao-san is not going to turn into a demon."

"D-Don't lie to me. " Nao cried out as she looked away, tears starting to form on the corner of her eyes.

"I am not lying. I won't lie to Nao-san anymore."

Muzan's words made her stare at him, his sincere words that seem to penetrate her deeper managed to make her bubbling emotions calm itself.

When Nao gazed at his eyes, a warm feeling bloomed inside her chest as she realized that he was indeed telling the truth.

Nao let out a shaky breath as if she felt a heavy burden was released.

"But how is it possible...? Muzan is a demon... and I'm.."

Muzan's only answer was to shake his head. Even he didn't know the answer to her question. Muzan was strangely puzzled by this fact since he had no problem turning Nao into a demon several centuries ago.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Nao is cursed. Or was it simply because his blood was not potent enough? It was ridiculous. He made sure to add the exact same amount he gives to any human he wants to turn into a demon. And it always yielded results.

"Then I'm still a human..?" Nao asked him.

He cupped both her cheeks and placed his forehead against her.

"Yes... But I wanted Nao-san to become a demon so that Nao-san would be forever free from the curse that binds her. And Nao-san won't have to worry about living a short life. With a demon's lifespan, Nao-san would be able to enjoy her life to the fullest, free to do all the things she wants." He breathed out as he leaned closer, his lips almost brushing against hers.

"And most of all, Nao-san would be able to stay with me forever and ever, until the end of time."