Shinobu's head ached terribly.
Confusion and bafflement were plain on her pale, pretty face.
Just what the hell was going on…? She couldn't understand.
The believers of the Eternal Paradise Faith — a cult-like system run by an Upper Rank demon until now — suddenly arrived and began bowing before Tanjiro as if he were their Kenja-sama.
Reverence and devotion radiated from their entire bodies like bright stars. They weren't acting; it was real. She could tell. She watched Tanjiro order them to stay far from the dungeon and not disturb the Kakushi's work. Every single one complied with absolute respect. No one from the Faith uttered a word because of Tanjiro's command and kept their distance from the fully uniformed, secretive Kakushi members.
Because of this, the process of burying the skulls finished far too quickly. A dozen or so Kakushi were sent away after just over ten minutes of service.
That aside, right now she and Tanjiro sat on the main seat of the preaching hall — the place where the already-dead Upper Rank Two was supposed to sit and command, or rather fool, his followers. Surrounded by fresh lotuses on a very comfortable cushion, with stunning iconography hanging on the walls, Shinobu had to admit the main hall was meticulously cared for. It was truly beautiful.
She would have looked around more if not for the three people sitting in seiza on the tatami mats.
All three were female and visibly older than her. Two looked young while the one seated in front was older, likely in her early forties. Their eyes were down, backs straight, postures showing clear submission to the person ahead of them on Kenja-sama's seat — Tanjiro.
'Am I actually asleep? This doesn't seem real…' She thought, pressing her forehead. Her purple eyes narrowed in powerful confusion.
Only when she was about to smack her own head to break out of the dream did she catch Tanjiro leaning backward and whispering into her ear. A smug smile played on his face. "I'm taking over this faith or cult, whatever it is. It'd be better that way. All these believers think I'm their Kenja-sama. I can't destroy their faith for no reason, right?"
Seeing him plant a kiss on her cheek in front of others, her body fidgeted for just a second.
'This doesn't look like it was done by Blood Demon Art either, so why are they treating him this way? Ugh, I'll deal with how and why later…'
She nodded, her gaze serious.
"Are you really going to take over? Becoming Kenja-sama?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes. I'm gonna operate the cult and inquire a few things while at it." He said with a smirk.
'Hm, why is he so calm about this… Am I the weird one here?'
Feeling unreal, she sat still and watched things unfold.
…
"Introduce yourselves." Tanjiro said, his voice calm yet powerful.
The black-haired, black-eyed woman at the front — body like ripened fruit, wearing a blue yukata — answered swiftly, showing no hesitation. "Mayumi, my lord." She bowed deeply in complete submission, her enormous curves jiggling from the slightest movement. "I'm the head maid."
'…Are those for real?' Tanjiro was doubtful, though he avoided staring and turned his gaze to the other two.
Noticed by their Master, the former students of Douma placed their hands on the floor and inclined their bodies forward, clearly demonstrating the supreme authority Tanjiro held over them.
"Yumeko, master." Said the girl with short black-to-pink hair and green eyes.
The other girl with long brown hair and blue eyes spoke softly. "Yukio, master."
From the way these girls called him Master, Tanjiro connected the dots and realized they were Douma's students. That demon had probably planned to eat them eventually and decorate his rotting dungeon with their skulls like trophies.
'I see. I stole Douma's image from their minds… I think I get it now.' He understood his reward.
Tanjiro sat cross-legged and nodded. "Mayumi, Yumeko, and Yukio… How many years have you been here as members of my Faith?"
Staying bowed, Mayumi said, "36 years, my lord."
Yumeko and Yukio answered, "10 years, master." "12 years, master."
'Hm… That's weird. He didn't eat her for so long? Wait, don't tell me he was saving her for some special occasion? Whatever… These two students of his have also been here quite some time. Good that I killed him early, or else that bastard was definitely going to devour them one of these days…'
Tanjiro thought of something and ordered, "My students, go outside and relay to all the believers that everything is alright. They can sleep soundly now… and you two should get some rest too. It's almost midnight."
Yumeko and Yukio showed faint smiles, adoration in their eyes, and bowed deeply. "We'll follow the Master's command," before exiting the hall quietly.
Next, looking at Mayumi's narrow eyes that showed no emotion and remained downcast, his primal urges screamed to pounce on her and make her his. He knew the reason was likely the Kyōgi, the sacred doctrines of the Paradise Faith. Anyone who joined the Eternal Paradise Faith was supposed to live peacefully without doing difficult work. This was one of the main teachings. The second was that followers weren't allowed any indecent thoughts, as it would disrupt the harmony of their soul and mind, breaking their inner peace.
Given the absolute devotion to Kenja-sama, all believers followed the rules. Much less having indecent thoughts, they never touched a person of the opposite gender in their entire lives once they became devotees.
What did that mean?
All two hundred and fifty limited members of the Eternal Paradise Faith — every single one — were celibate.
Over two hundred females in the Faith were between 15 and 30 years old, all virgins.
Because Douma ate only girls, he had made a sanctuary for orphan girls: taking them in, raising them, and when they were old enough, making them disappear from the Faith.
The Eternal Paradise Faith was Douma's slaughterhouse, his feeding ground. He gave them shelter, cared for them to ensure they grew healthy, and then took everything away once they fully ripened.
'Fuck…' Tanjiro could only curse mentally. It was sickening. Just thinking about it made him enraged. Though he cooled his head and maintained self-control. His lust to devour the mature, chaste woman disappeared, and he asked her directly.
"How much money does the Faith have? You've taken care of that matter all this time, right?"
Behind him, Shinobu's pupils flickered wildly. 'Over a century-old Faith… The leader was a powerful demon… This…'
As a smart person, it didn't take her long to realize.
They must take over the cult…!
The fortune had to be enormous.
Mayumi never raised her head and replied, her voice carrying a temptation hard to ignore. "My lord. The donations we have collected so far amount close to ten million. This includes liquid money, jewelry, and all property or mansions gifted to the Faith by our patrons over the years. If the market and hot springs in Kyoto and Nagoya owned by our Faith were included, the total amount may increase even more."
After Mayumi closed her mouth, a brief silence followed.
'Holy shit…' Tanjiro faked his calm expression.
Behind him, Shinobu covered her mouth that had been wide open since earlier. 'Richer than the Ubuyashiki family…' She mumbled in her mind constantly.
It took Tanjiro exactly three seconds to process that he'd become filthy rich, and he almost couldn't stop his laughter. "Haha…"
Shinobu got startled by his laughter. '…'
As for Mayumi, she didn't say a word and bowed there in quiet submission. Her devotion to the lord who had saved her from slavery when she was just five was astronomically high. She wasn't like other devotees who were oblivious to her lord's profundity. She knew her lord was more than just a human — a living deity, because he'd never aged since her childhood while she had become a woman in her forties. He was the same she remembered from her memories. Turning her gaze upward, she saw her lord's features, the same face and the same heart-warming demeanor, and felt her veneration become even more resolute.
As his number one believer, she was ready to do anything for her lord if it was his wish.
…
An hour passed swiftly~
Tanjiro and Shinobu spent their free time in the huge mansion, looking around and talking under the moonlight on the roof.
They conversed about everything — how and why such a ridiculous thing could have happened — but ultimately didn't reach a believable conclusion.
It was like the concept of Kenja-sama had been swapped from Upper Rank Two to Tanjiro in the heads of believers and the whole village. Their original memories had switched too. In their minds, it was Tanjiro who had saved them and led them to the doctrines of Paradise.
Under Mayumi's explanation, they learned more deeply about the Eternal Paradise Faith.
Later, Tanjiro and Shinobu decided that he would stay in the cult temporarily while Shinobu returned to headquarters to inform Kagaya personally.
Shiori had already gone to share the good news of another Upper Rank's decapitation hastily, so she wasn't aware Tanjiro had somehow acquired the cult.
That's why Shinobu chose to go.
Separating his lips from hers as a thin string of saliva stretched between their close faces, Tanjiro let go of her nape and smiled warmly at his girl. "I'll make you mine when I'm back. You better be ready, Shinobu…"
Her face flushed red as she looked at him shyly. "Idiot." Backing off, she mumbled, gave him a loving look, and walked away immediately. There were important things to do first.
Tanjiro waved her off. He had given her half of his Senzu Beans. Even if she encountered a demon she couldn't handle by chance, she could still run and escape until morning without trouble. Those Senzu Beans could heal and recover stamina fully, after all. There was no need to worry.
He turned around and located Mayumi standing quietly at the torii gate.
His gaze lingered on her voluptuous figure for a second before moving to her face. She was absolutely beautiful, with her own unquestionable charm.
"There are going to be some changes in the doctrines from tomorrow. Let's head inside and talk." He said.
Mayumi nodded gently and followed behind him. "As you wish, my lord."
'Not even a bit shocked, huh… Oh well, she's that devoted to me. I can't even complain… Let's get this done with and head to the Entertainment District. It's not far away anyway. With Lightning Step, I'll be there within an hour.'
Gradually, both entered the grand mansion as everyone else slept soundly except for the night guards.
…
Infinity Castle.
On the massive tatami mat.
Muzan clutched his head tightly as his whole body convulsed in primal terror and sheer horror.
"Can't leave… Can't leave… Can't leave…"
Douma's memories repeated in his mind as his half-recovered body twisted in absolute fear.
He pressed his nails deep into his skin in chaotic disorder.
Some distance away, Nakime's sole eye bled from her lord's frenzy.
Infinity Castle shook because of her injuries, giving Muzan a scare that almost made him pull out his own eyeballs in panic.
"NOOOO! NOOOO! NOOOO!" He cried loudly, caught Nakime's head with his flesh tentacle, and pumped his blood into her. To stabilize the situation!
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