A huge arena was once again set up in the Infinity Castle. Kibutsuji Muzan stood on a high platform with a sour face, glancing at the eager Akaza, then disgustedly at the grinning Doma, his brow twitching uncontrollably.
He hadn't wanted to approve this replacement blood battle. It was too much trouble. If one died, he'd have to find a new one, and Upper Moons were not so easy to cultivate. Especially after he had peeked into their memories beforehand and understood the reasons... One was single-mindedly focused on fighting, the other was entirely focused on playing. Neither had any strong killing intent towards the other. Although Akaza was mostly just disgusted, and Doma was playing his foolish friendship game, but... since when did something as serious as a replacement blood battle become an excuse for a sparring match?
Muzan was angry enough to want to hit Doma, but on second thought, since he was idle anyway, watching them fight could be a form of amusement. He adjusted his splendid kimono and casually read the minds of the two.
Akaza was eagerly anticipating the battle, solely focused on gaining inspiration from this fight to improve his own strength. Very ambitious, always serious in his work, a reliable subordinate.
As for Doma...
"Oh my, what should I do? How should I fight so as not to hurt my and Lord Akaza's feelings?"
"If I go all out from the start, that would be too brutish."
"If the battle ends too quickly, without any sense of experience, Lord Akaza would be very sad and upset, right?"
"Mmm, I must be gentle with a good friend! When facing someone as shy, sensitive, and childish as Lord Akaza, I must be even more patient!"
"So I must fight slowly and gently, let Lord Akaza have his fun, and it can even deepen our bond~"
Yes, that's right. Lord Akaza just has to focus on fighting; Doma has many more things to consider.
Muzan covered his face with his hand, his eyebrows twitching slightly. He walked with a dark face to Kokushibo's room and sat opposite him. "Lord Muzan," Kokushibo lowered his head slowly and said formally.
"Kokushibo, what do you think of this battle?" Muzan asked, looking at the Go board in front of him.
"Akaza... cannot win," Kokushibo said in a clear, slow voice. Although he admired Akaza's spirit of constantly pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts, and he also thought Doma was an annoying and infuriating fellow... he had to admit that Doma's strength was indeed quite good, currently greater than Akaza's. It was not a strength in martial arts skill or mental fortitude, but in another aspect—perhaps born from his cold, empty heart, an incredibly pure and extreme, ultimate Blood Demon Art.
"I see," Muzan placed a stone on the board. "Doma has recently developed a few interesting abilities..."
While the two were conversing slowly, the Upper Moons had already gathered in the Infinity Castle. Doma was very active, greeting each comrade warmly and receiving "enthusiastic" responses.
"Eeeeek—so scary, so scary..." Hantengu cowered in a corner, trembling.
"Oh my, Lord Hantengu is still such a stranger," Doma said with a smile.
"It's been a long time since we've seen a replacement blood battle between Upper Moons. It's truly a joyous... cough, cough, a deeply worrying occasion." Gyokko said, his body swaying. He continued with the mouth on his right, "Lord Doma, I wish you victory!"
"I have recently created a superb piece of art, and I am eagerly looking forward to Lord Doma coming to appreciate it," he said, rubbing the two small hands on the side of his neck together.
"Ah—Lord Gyokko is the same as ever," Doma chuckled and tilted his head, his eyebrows drooping slightly. Oh dear, Lord Gyokko still loves his pranks so much, always trying to make me cry. Such a wicked sense of humor is interesting, but sometimes it can be a headache. Doma thought with some annoyance, but quickly put the matter aside and waved enthusiastically at Gyutaro and Daki.
"Gyutaro, Sister Daki, long time no see!" he showed a happy smile. "I'll come find you to play in a while."
Daki snorted, crossed her arms, and turned her face to the side. It was the first time the siblings had been in such a situation, the first time they had seen the other Upper Moons.
"Didn't you say Upper Moon One was a beautiful noble lady?" After seeing Kokushibo, Daki was stunned for a long moment. She looked at her all-knowing brother with a blank face, "Brother, why didn't you tell me Upper Moon One was replaced?"
"My silly sister, that is indeed the six-eyed swordsman. He hasn't been replaced," Gyutaro said.
"Oh! I get it, she became a man!" Daki nodded with a look of understanding.
Gyutaro silently covered his face with his hand, deeply despairing of his silly sister's intelligence.
"And also, Upper Moon Three doesn't seem to be a shy little boy," Daki said again. "He looks very strong and cold."
"But it seems he does like pink. What a girly heart!" she said excitedly in a low voice. "His features are also very delicate, but he has too many tattoos, which aren't pretty."
Gyutaro: ...Speechless.
"Mmm—wait! What is that thing?" Daki looked at Gyokko, her face instantly losing all color, her exquisite makeup almost scared off. "That's Lord Gyokko," Gyutaro covered his sister's mouth with his hand and sighed in frustration. Heh, I knew it. Lord Doma is truly unreliable.
Daki froze there, utterly devastated, the light slowly fading from her eyes. Lord Gyokko... didn't he say he was very handsome? As an extreme beauty enthusiast, her eyes welled up. A long time later, she came to her senses and asked uncertainly, "Brother, did Lord Doma lie to us?"
Gyutaro was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "He just didn't tell the whole story..." In Lord Doma's mind, that's probably what he thinks. It's not lying, just being purely unreliable.
Not telling the whole story is the same as lying! Daki instantly equated the two in her mind. She crossed her arms and began to get angry.
"Eh? What's wrong, Sister Daki?" Doma asked, puzzled.
"I'm angry!" Daki huffed.
"Oh—" Doma placed an index finger on his chin, thought for a moment, and had a look of realization. "Sister Daki is worried about me, right? How cute~" he beamed. "But there's no need to be angry at Lord Akaza. We're just exchanging feelings."
Huh? Daki's eyebrows shot up.
"Don't be angry," Gyutaro sighed. "Getting angry will give you wrinkles."
"Eh? Really? Then I won't be angry anymore!" Daki quickly touched the corners of her eyes. "Brother, do I have any wrinkles now?"
"Not yet, my silly sister," Gyutaro reached out and stroked her delicate little face.
"Phew—that's good," Daki breathed a sigh of relief and smiled beautifully. Hmph, I won't bother with that slow-witted Doma.
"Hmm? You guys..." Doma's words were cut off by Akaza.
"How much longer are you going to dawdle?" Akaza was already standing on the stage, looking at him impatiently.
"Oh! Coming, coming," Doma leaped onto the stage in a few steps. "Don't be in such a hurry, Lord Akaza~"
Akaza frowned, stepped forward with his right foot, and instantly got into a stance.
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