"Um… Inosuke, is your father really a demon?"
Though he felt awkward asking, Tanjiro finally voiced the question that had troubled him for a long time. He had heard every word of that conversation between Shinobu and Inosuke that day.
"B-big brother… will your dad eat us to make you repay your debt?"
"Or is he a good demon, like Nezuko?"
Zenitsu glanced at Inosuke nervously.
"He's changing. I can feel it."
"Please trust me. And trust him too."
"In the future, I'll give everyone an explanation."
Inosuke's expression was heavy, his thoughts unreadable.
...
After several days of travel, the air gradually grew colder. A familiar lotus pond finally came into Inosuke's view.
"So cold… Tanjiro, is this really a place people live in?!"
"It's still summer—why is it snowing?!"
Zenitsu shrank behind Tanjiro, not just from the cold, but because his keen hearing had picked up something deeply unsettling.
There were no imagined screams of agony.
Instead—deathly silence.
And within that silence, the faint sound of women softly singing.
"Stop making a fuss, Stripe-itsu."
Inosuke halted, looking up at the golden plaque engraved with Eternal Paradise Cult, and took a deep breath of the frigid air.
"Hah… even in summer, the old geezer's place is still this cool."
His face relaxed in pure contentment. For someone with an Ice Spirit physique, this low temperature felt like soaking in a hot spring.
"Cool…?" Tanjiro tilted his head, not quite understanding. But his sharp sense of smell caught something unusual.
There was no scent of blood.
None at all.
Despite the presence of an immensely powerful demon, the air was clean—pure as the lotus pond itself, carrying an otherworldly calm, untouched by mortal filth.
"Inosuke… your father is truly someone special," Tanjiro said sincerely.
"Hmph. He's just a big idiot."
Inosuke adjusted his collar, then shot a warning glance at his two underlings, emerald eyes flashing.
"Remember—once we're inside, talk less, eat more. And if you embarrass me, I'll raise the interest on what you owe me by ten percent."
With that, he lifted his leg and kicked open the massive gate he'd been kicking open since childhood.
"Old man! Your young master's back! Is there still food in the kitchen?! I'm starving!"
Boom!
The heavy gates flew open.
Zenitsu froze.
Wasn't he going to get scolded for that?
But instead of a reprimand, what came first was a huge, chilling embrace.
"Oh my! Isn't this my Inosuke?"
A figure appeared before them like a ghost.
Doma, dressed in his signature dark red Cult Leader robes, gently fanning himself with a golden iron fan, his rainbow-colored eyes swirling with unmistakable joy.
"You didn't even send a letter, but Daddy sensed it~ That adorable aura that belongs only to Inosuke!"
He spread his arms wide, ignoring Inosuke's look of disgust, and pulled him into a suffocating hug.
"Let go! You're strangling me! Your clothes smell like incense ash!"
Inosuke struggled fiercely, like a kitten caught by the scruff of its neck.
"Is this teenage rebellion? How adorable," Doma chuckled as he released him.
Then he turned, his gaze drifting lightly toward Tanjiro and Zenitsu.
In that instant—
Tanjiro's hand instinctively tightened around his sword hilt.
Zenitsu nearly fainted on the spot.
"Are these the friends Inosuke mentioned in his letters?"
Doma closed his fan and propped the handle under his chin, leaning close to Tanjiro. His inhumanly beautiful face was only inches away, the pressure almost tangible.
"Those earrings that smell of the sun… and this golden-haired boy."
His eyes curved into crescents, his smile warm enough to melt hearts.
"Welcome to the Eternal Paradise Cult. I'm the Cult Leader—and Inosuke's father. Since you're guests he brought home, you're family here."
"H-hello! I'm Kamado Tanjiro! This is Agatsuma Zenitsu! Sorry for the intrusion!"
Tanjiro bowed stiffly, sheer willpower holding him together.
"So polite."
Doma reached out with an icy hand and gently patted Tanjiro's head.
"Don't worry. I've been fasting for a long time now. These days, I'm a vegetarian—a kind, loving father."
"Hey! Old man!"
Inosuke slapped Doma's hand away and stepped in front of Tanjiro, glaring like a food-guarding puppy.
"Don't touch my underling. If you scare him, are you going to compensate me?"
Doma blinked, then burst into delighted laughter.
"Hahahaha! Inosuke's really grown up—protecting his possessions now. Very well, very well. Since they're the young master's assets, Daddy won't touch them."
He clapped his hands, voice gentle enough to drip water.
"Kotoha-chan! Come out! Inosuke brought friends home—and they're completely unharmed!"
From behind the screen emerged a gentle figure.
Kotoha wore a pale green kimono, holding a tray of freshly made wisteria cakes. Time seemed to have left no mark on her—she was still young, beautiful, her eyes clear and childlike.
"Inosuke!"
Her eyes lit up instantly. She set the tray down and rushed over, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Mom was so worried! I heard it's dangerous outside—are you hurt? Have you eaten well?"
"Mm… I'm fine. I'm really strong, you know."
Just moments ago fierce and sharp, Inosuke softened instantly in her arms. Though he grumbled, he didn't pull away—instead, he leaned into the warmth of her collar.
Zenitsu's fear vanished in an instant, replaced by a dreamy blush.
"So… so beautiful… That's Inosuke's mom?! She's a fairy! Absolutely a fairy!"
"No wonder Inosuke's so pretty! This place is heaven!"
"Come, come, everyone sit," Doma said warmly.
The dinner was lavish beyond words.
The long table overflowed with the finest dishes—and a gigantic serving of tempura Inosuke had been craving.
Yet the atmosphere made Tanjiro and Zenitsu feel… oddly unnecessary.
Perhaps because of Zenitsu's careless praise, Doma seemed determined to put on a show, loudly asserting ownership.
"Kotoha-chan, ah—"
Doma picked up the fattiest slice of tuna and held it to her lips, smiling indulgently.
"It was flown in from Hokkaido today. I even preserved it with my Blood Demon Art."
Kotoha glanced shyly at the guests, then obediently took a bite.
"Thank you, Cult Leader. It's delicious."
"As long as you like it," Doma beamed, wiping the corner of her mouth.
"Your singing's improved again lately. Tonight, why not sing for Inosuke and the others? How about Pinky Promise?"
"Really?"
Kotoha's eyes sparkled.
"Of course. I'd never lie to you."
Across the table, Inosuke chewed his tempura, watching the scene with mixed feelings.
In the past, he'd have thought Doma was just acting. But over the years, to please Kotoha, Doma had truly quit eating humans—and even dismissed those messy female followers.
"This idiot…"
Inosuke muttered inwardly. He was happy—but deeply anxious.
He knew the plot.
Doma was still a demon. Could this warmth really last?
Once the Demon Slayer Corps went all out… once Muzan gave the order… what would become of this home?
After dinner, Tanjiro and Zenitsu were led to guest rooms.
Only the family of three remained in the grand hall.
"Inosuke, come here," Doma said, seated on the icy lotus throne, beckoning.
Inosuke walked over and sat casually on the step by Doma's feet.
"What? Giving allowance? I spent a lot of money this time protecting the cult's reputation."
"The treasury's open. Take whatever you want."
Doma placed a hand lightly on Inosuke's shoulder.
In that instant, a pure, chilling cold flowed into Inosuke's body.
He instinctively tensed—but his heightened senses told him there was no malice.
Only… rapidly gathering anger.
"Tsk."
Doma's smile didn't fade—if anything, it grew brighter. Yet his eyes were devoid of warmth.
"Three broken ribs, healed crookedly. Torn arm muscles. Internal shock injuries."
His fingers brushed over Inosuke's chest—the spot struck by Akaza's fist wind.
"And… deep in these wounds, there's a stench I know very well."
He leaned in slightly, sniffing.
"Akaza, wasn't it?"
His voice was light, even amused—but the temperature in the hall dropped sharply. Distant candle flames flickered, half-frozen.
Inosuke stiffened.
"Tch. You smelled it, huh."
He turned his head away, hiding the tension in his eyes.
"Third Uncle was tough. The owl, the underlings, and I barely managed to drive him off."
"Drive him off?"
Doma repeated softly, the curve of his smile sharpening.
"Inosuke is amazing—chasing off that battle-crazed martial fool. Daddy's so proud of you."
He gently patted Inosuke's head, like soothing an injured kitten.
"Go now. Kotoha-chan's prepared your room. Sleep well. Daddy will give you the best medicine for these wounds."
"Oh."
Inosuke stood up, took a few steps—then stopped.
He looked back.
Doma still sat atop the lotus dais, smiling as warmly as ever, as if that chilling moment had been an illusion.
"Hey, old man."
"Yes?"
"Tonight… don't go out. Gonpachiro said he wants to hear you preach."
With that, Inosuke bolted.
The grand hall doors slowly closed.
In the vast emptiness, only Doma remained.
His smile gradually faded—bit by bit.
In its place was the cold, expressionless face of Upper Rank Two.
He raised his hand, staring at the fingertips that had touched Inosuke's wounds—still tinged with Akaza's battle aura.
"Akaza…"
Doma murmured softly, murderous intent seeping into his voice.
"You're usually disrespectful to me, and I let it slide. After all, I'm a generous senior—a reasonable friend."
"You always preach about not killing women, flaunting your so-called martial spirit."
He rose slowly, snapping his golden fan open. Thick frost instantly coated its surface.
"But… why did you hurt my Inosuke like this?"
"That is my child—raised with care. Someone I wouldn't scold even once."
"My most treasured possession… and you treated him like a punching bag?"
"How dare you injure him so badly?"
"Do you really think you're some kind of martial genius?"
"Or do you truly not understand—among the Upper Ranks, who is Second, and who is Third?"
"Have I… given you too much face?"
Doma narrowed his eyes, gazing toward the northern night sky.
"I really want to go twist your head off right now… and kick it around like a ball."
"But…"
He glanced back toward Kotoha's chambers, his fake smile returning.
"Not now. Making too much noise would scare Kotoha-chan. And Inosuke just got back—I want to spend a few days with him."
"This debt… I'll keep it for now."
"When Inosuke leaves—"
"We'll settle it slowly."
"My good friend, Akaza."
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