The headquarters of the Eternal Paradise Cult was not located within the city. The man had only learned of its existence through other channels and gradually came to understand it that way.
He was considered one of the most devout believers of the Eternal Paradise Cult. He had even personally met the Cult Leader, Doma, and confided his troubles to him.
It was at that time that the Cult Leader mentioned that he could send his daughter into the cult.
At the very least, she would have food to eat.
He never once doubted that the Eternal Paradise Cult might be an evil organization.
After all, the Cult Leader Doma possessed rainbow-colored eyes and pure, white-oak-colored hair, and was said to be able to communicate with the heavens.
As he spoke of this, the man couldn't help but glance at Yuko a few more times.
Those unusual pupils of hers were no less striking than Doma's.
Yuko ignored his scrutiny and asked, "About how many people are in the cult?"
"A little over two hundred. The Cult Leader… that demon, doesn't seem willing to continue expanding the numbers."
"Some people in the cult once suggested expansion, but it was always rejected by him."
There was always conflict between sects—just like how Buddhism and Taoism would fight over followers and territory.
It was rare to see a cult that had no desire to expand outward.
So he doesn't want to make a big scene.
Yuko thought to herself.
After the battle with Yoriichi, Muzan had become a rat that lacked the composure of a true final boss. He would never allow his subordinates to act so flamboyantly.
At least, not until he had completely overcome the sunlight.
"There were never any cases of girls going missing before?" Yuko asked.
"…There were," the man replied in a low voice after a brief silence. "But everyone just believed they had gone to the Pure Land to enjoy blessings."
…
The Pure Land indeed.
What a hell of a joke.
In the silence, the man suddenly said, "We're here."
Yuko followed the direction of his finger and saw a grand estate ahead. People were constantly going in and out, and there were quite a few of them.
She swept her gaze over the pedestrians on both sides of the street—this place was sitting openly within the city.
Although it wasn't in a bustling district, it was still only at the outskirts.
"You should go back," Yuko said.
The man opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he could only nod helplessly.
Watching him leave, Yuko glanced at the sky. It would still be a while before night fell.
Demons only became active at night—this was common knowledge.
She wandered around the city for a while. During that time, she even spotted two Demon Slayer swordsmen.
Judging by their appearance, they weren't here for the Eternal Paradise Cult—just passing through. Their objectives did not overlap with hers.
Yuko truly let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn't that running into them would be awkward—she was more worried that if she were investigating Doma while also having to save people at the same time, things would get complicated.
The quality of the Demon Slayer Corps in recent generations was truly worrying.
Could they really fight the Twelve Kizuki?
They simply didn't have that kind of strength.
When night fell, Yuko wrapped herself tightly so that her original appearance could not be discerned at all. Carrying her Nichirin Blade, she slipped inside.
As for the demon blade she had named "Asura," she put it away.
She could guarantee that Doma wouldn't recognize her as one of his kind, but if she brought out that blade, that might not be the case.
Moreover, for demons, battles between their own kind were basically a contest of stamina—whose attacks were stronger, whose regeneration was faster.
The weaker side would almost always be devoured by the other.
Demons could grow stronger by eating other demons.
Among the Twelve Kizuki, there was even the concept of ranking battles.
Dusk was the time when demons became active. Not only did the Eternal Paradise Cult show no signs of quieting down, there were actually even more followers inside.
Yuko crouched on the rooftop, her brows tightly furrowed.
This was going to be troublesome.
If she wanted to meet Doma amid such a crowd of fanatical believers, it wouldn't be easy.
She didn't have much time.
Yuko moved forward in silence. The deeper she went inside, the fewer followers there were.
It seemed that not just anyone could meet the Cult Leader at will. The vast majority of believers could only pray devoutly outside.
Suddenly, two figures dressed as followers appeared before her.
One man and one woman.
The man looked to be in his thirties or forties. The woman was extremely young—about fifteen or sixteen.
"Make sure you serve the Cult Leader well when you go in later," the man instructed. "This is an honor that countless people dream of but can never obtain."
"I—I understand!" the girl replied.
Yuko lowered her gaze slightly and saw through the violently pounding heart of the girl.
That feeling was not fear.
"Go on," the man said. After escorting her only a short distance, he bowed and withdrew.
Beyond that point, the area was essentially cleared.
In the current situation, if things got out of hand, these followers would reach Doma's residence in three minutes… no, even faster.
Carrying her excitement, the girl walked toward the door.
She had a slender frame—clearly not someone from a wealthy family, but someone who lived below the subsistence line, skipping meals daily.
Perhaps she had already resolved herself to sacrifice something in exchange for the chance to survive. But she could never imagine that what she would have to give up was exactly the thing she longed to obtain.
The girl stopped at the door, knocked properly, then stepped inside nervously.
Yuko lightly tapped her toe and drifted down onto the rooftop like a falling leaf.
She lifted a roof tile and looked inside.
"Today's child is really adorable~"
The demon named Doma, with white-oak-colored hair, sat casually on a cushion, resting his cheek on one hand as he looked at the girl.
The girl knelt to the floor and said respectfully, "Cult Leader, I am Aiko, who has come tonight to serve you."
Doma smiled warmly. "Aiko, huh? That's a lovely name too."
Judging only by his voice and tone, no one would ever guess that he was actually a hideous demon.
But under Yuko's Transparent World, his demonic form was revealed without concealment.
This presence… so it really is an Upper Rank.
No wonder the name sounded familiar. It seemed to be connected to… Giyu… the Water Hashira…
Yuko suddenly remembered where she had seen his name before.
Among the Hashira there was Giyu, and among the demons there was Doma…
That seemed to be it.
Her memory was a little hazy.
And this character shouldn't have appeared in the first season—if she had seen his appearance before, she should have remembered something.
Aiko remained kneeling. "You flatter me, Cult Leader."
"Hmm…" Doma tilted his head. "Although I really want to enjoy you as soon as possible…"
Aiko's heart started beating even faster, her cheeks flushing red.
"But since there's an outsider present, I'd feel embarrassed too."
Doma suddenly raised his head and looked up at the ceiling with a smile.
"Isn't that right, this lovely young lady~"
Aiko lifted her head slightly, confused about who the "outsider" was—when suddenly a figure dropped lightly from the roof and landed gracefully in front of her.
Aiko cried out in shock, "Who are you?!"
"Are you trying to assassinate the Cult Leader?!"
Yuko was wearing a wide cloak and a straw hat, and she had just leapt down from the rooftop—no wonder the girl thought that way.
Just as Aiko was about to cry out for help, Yuko helplessly chopped her with a hand strike, knocking her unconscious.
After laying her gently on the floor, Yuko raised her head and looked toward Doma, who was still sitting there with a smiling face.
So sharp…
Upper Rank… Six… (This is in Edo era.)
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Currently at chapter 291 for advance chapters
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