The Eternal Paradise Cult's main base was not in the city. The man had learned about the cult's existence through other channels and gradually came to understand it.
He was one of the most devout followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult, and had personally met the Cult Leader Douma to express his troubles.
It was also at that time that the Cult Leader mentioned to him that he could send his daughter to the cult.
At least she would have enough to eat.
He never doubted that the Eternal Paradise Cult was anything but a righteous organization.
Because Cult Leader Douma possessed a pair of rainbow-colored eyes and immaculate white oak-colored hair, he could communicate with the heavens.
At this point, the man couldn't help but look at Mizuki twice.
Those peculiar pupils were no less striking than Douma's.
Mizuki ignored his scrutiny and asked, "Roughly how many people are in the cult?"
"Over two hundred people. That demon, the Cult Leader, seems unwilling to expand the numbers further."
"Someone in the cult once brought up expansion, but he rejected it."
There are also struggles between religious sects, just as Buddhism and Taoism would squabble over followers and territory.
It's rare for a sect to be unwilling to expand outwardly.
They probably don't want to make a big fuss.
Mizuki thought to herself.
After his battle with Yoriichi, Muzan had become a rat lacking the magnanimity of a villainous BOSS. He would never allow his subordinates to be so ostentatious.
At least, not until he completely overcame the sun.
"Have there been no disappearances of young girls before?"
"…" After a moment of silence, the man said in a low voice, "Yes, but everyone only believes they went to the Pure Land to enjoy blessings."
...It certainly is a Pure Land.
This is truly a hellish joke.
In the silence, the man suddenly said, "We're here."
Mizuki looked in the direction he was pointing, only to see a grand mansion ahead, with people coming and going, seemingly quite numerous.
Mizuki glanced at the passersby on both sides of the street; it was brazenly located within the city.
Although it was not a prosperous area, merely on the outskirts.
"You can go back."
The man opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only nod helplessly.
Watching the man leave, Mizuki looked at the sky. It was still a while before dark.
Demons only become active at night; this is common sense.
She wandered around the city for a while, and during that time, she even saw two Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.
From their appearance, they didn't seem to be here for the Eternal Paradise Cult; they were just passing through, so their objective didn't overlap with hers.
Mizuki was truly relieved.
It wasn't that running into them would be awkward; she was mainly worried that while investigating Douma, she would also have to consider rescuing people.
The quality of the Demon Slayer Corps in these recent generations is truly worrying.
Can you say he can fight the Twelve Demon Moons?
He simply doesn't have the strength.
As night fell, Mizuki wrapped herself up tightly, ensuring no one could recognize her original appearance, and slipped in with her Nichirin Blade.
As for the demon blade she named 'Shura', she put it away.
She could guarantee that Douma wouldn't see her true demonic nature, but if she carried that blade, it might be different.
Moreover, for demons, battles between their own kind are basically a test of stamina, who has stronger attack power, and who recovers faster.
The weaker one will basically be devoured by the stronger one.
Demons can also grow stronger by eating other demons.
Among the Twelve Demon Moons, there's even a concept of rank battles.
Dusk is the time for demons to be active, so the Eternal Paradise Cult not only didn't quiet down, but the number of followers inside increased significantly.
Mizuki lay on the roof, her brows furrowed.
This is going to be troublesome.
It probably won't be easy to meet Douma among this group of fanatical followers.
She wouldn't have much time.
Mizuki moved forward in silence. The further in she went, the fewer followers there were.
It seemed not everyone could meet the Cult Leader at any time; most followers just prayed devoutly outside.
Suddenly, two figures dressed as followers appeared before her.
A man and a woman.
The man was around thirty or forty, while the woman was very young, about ten-something years old.
"When you go in later, you must serve the Cult Leader well," the man instructed. "This is an honor many dream of but cannot attain."
"I-I understand!"
Mizuki's eyes lowered slightly, seeing through the girl's rapidly beating heart.
It was not fear.
"Go," the man only escorted her a short distance before bowing and retreating.
The area behind was mostly clear.
In the current situation, if things escalated, these followers would probably rush to Douma's residence in three minutes... no, even less.
The girl, with an excited heart, walked towards the door.
The girl's physique was slender; she was clearly not from a wealthy family, but rather lived below the poverty line, often going hungry twice a day.
Perhaps she had already decided to sacrifice certain things to gain the conditions for survival, but she would never have imagined that what she had to give up was precisely what she longed for.
The girl arrived at the door, demurely knocked, and then cautiously stepped inside.
Mizuki lightly tapped her toes, her body floating like a falling leaf onto the rooftop.
She lifted a roof tile and peered inside.
"Today's child is truly cute~"
The demon named Douma, with white oak-colored hair, sat casually on a meditation cushion, resting one hand on his cheek as he looked at the girl.
The girl knelt on the ground and respectfully said, "Cult Leader, I am Aiko, here to serve you tonight."
Douma said with a smile, "Aiko, what a lovely name."
Just by listening to his voice and tone, one would never guess that this person was actually a hideous demon.
But under Mizuki's Transparent World, the demon's true form was revealed without a doubt.
This form... indeed, an Upper Rank.
She thought she had heard that name before, it seemed to be related to... Giyuu... Water Hashira... Mizuki suddenly remembered where she had seen his name.
Giyuu among the Hashira, Douma among the demons... that's what it meant, right?
She couldn't quite recall.
Moreover, this character shouldn't have appeared in the first season; otherwise, seeing his appearance, she should have remembered something.
Aiko respectfully prostrated herself on the ground: "Cult Leader, you flatter me."
"Hmm..." Douma tilted his head, hesitating, "Although I'd really like to enjoy you quickly..."
Aiko's heart beat even faster, her cheeks flushed.
"But with an outsider present, I'd also be embarrassed."
Douma suddenly looked up, smiling at the ceiling.
"Wouldn't you agree, my lovely young lady~"
Aiko slightly raised her head, wondering who the outsider he spoke of was, when a figure dropped from the roof, lightly landing in front of her.
Aiko exclaimed in shock, "Who are you!"
"Are you trying to assassinate the Cult Leader?!"
Mizuki wore a bamboo hat and a large cloak, and she had jumped from the roof, so it was understandable that Aiko would think that.
Just as Aiko was about to shout for help, Mizuki regretfully used a chop to knock her unconscious.
Helping her to the ground, Mizuki looked up at Douma, who was still sitting there, smiling.
How perceptive... Upper Rank... Six...
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