Yuuki Kyouko had barely arrived home from the office when her phone lit up—it was her secretary calling.
How is the Yukinoshita family's banquet going today? she asked immediately.
Thanks to Mr. Kuzeha, the Yūki and Yukinoshita families were enjoying a honeymoon period.
She had planned to attend the banquet, but an urgent issue on another project required her attention, so she entrusted it to her most trusted secretary.
In her view, such gatherings were nothing more than social affairs among elite wives.
The product Mrs. Yukinoshita planned to unveil couldn't be so important—yet her secretary sounded solemnly incredulous when she reported, "Madam, the Yukinoshita Group has released a formula that can restore one's youth…."
Yuuki's expression shifted from calm to bewildered to shock.
"Are you sure the effect is real?" she asked.
"The likelihood is extremely high," came the reply.
"Understood," Yuuki said, and hung up.
She stood frozen, realizing how terrifying it was to promise restored youth and life-extending functions to the near-dead.
Once Mrs. Yukinoshita unveiled this tonic, the path to the heavens would be open for her conglomerate.
Rival groups might covet it, but Yuuki knew the true power behind Mr. Kuzeha.
For the Yukinoshita family to produce this, it must be thanks to Mr. Kuzeha.
She thought her decisiveness was enough.
Though less aggressive than Mrs. Yukinoshita, she believed she could still catch this train.
But it wasn't a train—it was a rocket!
At the slightest hesitation, she'd be left behind.
She considered calling Mrs. Yukinoshita herself, but instead asked the butler, "Where is Asuna?"
"Miss Asuna is training at the kendo dojo with Lady Kocho Kanae and Mistress Kocho Shinobu!" he answered.
Yuuki headed straight for the dojo.
In the kendo dojo, Kocho Shinobu and Asuna Yuuki had just finished sparring.
Shinobu sat on the wooden floor, her face flushed.
She looked at Asuna with disbelief.
"Asuna, did you have a breakthrough?
You've improved so much today."
They usually split victories, but today Asuna completely dominated—lightning-fast strikes and airtight technique left Shinobu breathless.
The pressure surpassed that of sparring her sister, Kocho Kanae.
Asuna wiped sweat from her brow.
Practice with Mr. Kuzeha and Saeko Busujima at school felt progressive, but only now did she realize how terrifyingly her skill had grown from one hour of special coaching.
"It's… Mr. Kuzeha's breathing method!" she said.
Before she could continue, Kanae—who had been watching—spoke excitedly.
Asuna nodded firmly, "He not only corrected my sword technique but also improved my breathing!"
Both Kocho sisters gasped.
Mr. Kuzeha had claimed his breathing technique could double a Demon Slayer Corps member's power—witnessed on Naoba Kiritani and Kanaho Kurihara.
Now, seeing Asuna's results, they realized "doubling" was too modest.
"However," Asuna added, "I promised Mr. Kuzeha not to pass on his breathing method."
The sisters shook their heads—bound by Corps protocol.
"Master, I think Mr. Kuzeha is reasonable—you could ask him again!" they exchanged glances just as Yuuki Kyouko entered.
"Lady Yūki."
"Mother."
Yuuki nodded and asked, "Asuna, did you meet Mr. Kuzeha today at Sōbu High?"
Asuna nodded shyly.
Yuuki saw no bias against her family.
"We have a good chance of boarding that ten-seat rocket!
But there's no time to waste."
Yuuki informed them about the youth-restoring formula.
The three stared blankly—had Yuuki not told them, they'd have thought it nonsense.
"If it truly extends lifespan, it might sustain even Lord Kaguya Ubuyashiki for a few more years," Kocho Kanae thought of the Demon Slayer Corps' leader, whose health had been failing.
Such a formula would be a godsend.
The sisters felt an ominous premonition.
"Not only humans… perhaps demons like Muzan Kibutsuji would be interested!" Kanae said.
"Madam Yūki, we must warn the Yukinoshita family to stay vigilant at night—they could face demon attacks!"
Yuuki nodded and messaged Mrs. Yukinoshita.
At the banquet, word of the formula spread through Tokyo's—and the world's—elite at terrifying speed.
Privileged people crave more, and the more they have, the more they fear death.
Now offered a chance to delay death, how could they not be driven mad?
Hero Association Headquarters, conference room.
The projector flickered, revealing six figures.
"Heh, the lure of prolonged life is strong—everyone showed up!" a voice said.
After a moment, a youthful voice spoke, "After all, it's no small matter."
From the projection emerged Kirari Momobami, head of the Momobami clan.
An impatient voice asked, "Miss Momobami—you were at the event.
Does the formula truly restore youth and extend life?"
Kirari glanced at the questioner and replied, "Nao Hayasaka of the Shinomiya Group was also present; I believe Mr. Shinomiya knows the true situation."
Her tone confirmed the formula's efficacy.
"The Yukinoshita conglomerate… truly remarkable…"
Murmurs rippled through the room.
After the House of Evolution's destruction and Dr. Genos's loss, they had missed immortality tech.
Yet here, so soon, the Yukinoshita Group unveiled a version of that formula—albeit a weaker one.
"But for a real estate conglomerate to produce this…" they whispered.
There was no time for questions.
Soon, Commander Sekingar arrived.
"Sekingar, if I recall, the Yukinoshita Group expressed interest in joining the Hero Association?" Shinomiya's representative, Kōkō Shinomiya, asked.
Sekingar nodded, "That's right!
Mrs. Yukinoshita asked, and we provided the criteria—but they haven't applied."
Eyes gleamed.
"Two new seats, correct?"
"Yes."
"One seat for the Yukinoshita Group—objections?"
No hands rose.
They'd agreed: let the Yukinoshita Group join, share resources, and gain access to their technology.
"It's decided.
The new seat goes to the Yukinoshita Group."
Kōkō Shinomiya told Sekingar, "Please inform them—Mrs. Yukinoshita will be delighted!"
For any conglomerate, joining the Hero Association meant trading resources with powerful groups and gaining superhuman assets.
For the Yukinoshita Group, it was a golden opportunity—and while many coveted the elixir, the true prize was the technology behind it.
Read advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal