Beneath the Peach Tree
Kaigaku lay sprawled in a muddy pit, his eyes lifeless as he stared at the swaying leaves overhead.
His face was swollen like a pig's head, but compared to the physical pain, the collapse of his spirit filled him with far deeper despair.
It's over.
All of it is over.
Stealing money and getting expelled from the temple. Luring a ghost inside to save his own life, resulting in an orphan's death… All the festering sores he had desperately tried to hide were ripped open in public by Inosuke, bloody and merciless.
He didn't even need to turn around to feel the two gazes behind him.
One was his grandfather, Kuwajima Jigoro—that grief-stricken look, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
The other belonged to that useless junior disciple, Zenitsu—shock, disbelief, and finally, disappointment.
"I… have nothing left…"
Kaigaku muttered to himself.
There was no way for him to survive here anymore. His grandfather would never forgive him again.
At that moment, a foot kicked his face.
"Hey, trash."
Inosuke squatted down, holding a crumpled piece of paper he had just pulled from his robes.
"Feeling like life's hopeless? Want to die?"
He looked at Kaigaku the way one looked at a poorly trained dog, the corners of his mouth curling into a vicious grin.
"Dying is easy. That's exactly why I won't let you."
Inosuke took out a brush and scribbled wildly across the paper, then smack—slapped it onto Kaigaku's forehead.
"Take this and get your ass to the Eternal Paradise Cult."
Kaigaku froze, instinctively picking up the paper.
Written on it were the words:
[You idiot old man, this is a new guard dog I've taken in.
This kid's morals are rotten—find a way to discipline him.
Let him see what our family usually does.
Remember: do NOT turn him into a demon!
Make him work as a human to atone for his sins until I'm no longer angry!]
"Go see it for yourself, frog in a well."
Inosuke leaned in close, his voice carrying a dangerously seductive cadence.
"Aren't you obsessed with power? Don't you want to become stronger?
"Then go see what the so-called 'strong' in that place actually live like.
"Go see whether becoming a demon really makes you as omnipotent as you imagine."
"If you manage to survive there without being toyed to death…"
Inosuke patted Kaigaku's swollen cheek.
"I'll acknowledge that you're qualified to be my dog."
Kaigaku stared at the boy before him.
Just moments ago, this youth had turned into a monster more terrifying than any demon, crushing the pride Kaigaku had always held dear.
And yet…
He had also given him a way out when he was truly at the end of the road.
A deeply twisted emotion began to take root in Kaigaku's heart.
Compared to his grandfather's gentle, lukewarm love.
Compared to Zenitsu's cowardly kindness.
Inosuke's absolute violence and domination gave him a sense of… sick, warped security.
"Yes…"
Trembling, Kaigaku struggled to his feet, clutching the letter tightly as if it were his last lifeline.
Then, without looking back, he dragged his battered body down the mountain, stumbling step by step.
The moment his figure disappeared—
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Major deviation detected in the fate line of key character Kaigaku!]
[Original Fate: Encounter Kokushibo, fall into demonic corruption]
[Current Fate: Head to the Eternal Paradise Cult, become a laborer and punching bag]
[Congratulations, Host! Potential faction influence successfully expanded!]
[Reward Issued: Weapon Upgrade — "Cloud-Swallowing, Mist-Breathing Twin Fans" greatly enhanced!]
[Item Description:]
Human Form: Forged from extreme-cold meteorite iron. Hardness surpasses Nichirin blades. Can conduct any Breathing Style.
Demon Form: Can perfectly inherit Doma's Blood Demon Art.
Inosuke felt a sudden weight on his chest. The iron fans Doma had given him had transformed—replaced by a pair of platinum-white folding fans emitting a faint chill, their ribs engraved with exquisite lotus patterns.
He stroked the new weapons, deep in thought.
"So that's how it works…
"Not only do you get rewards for killing demons—changing these guys' utterly screwed-up destinies gives even better ones?"
"Jigoro's grandpa doesn't have to die, that trash Kaigaku got punished, and I got new weapons…"
"This is what they call a clean sweep, right?"
Just as Inosuke was lost in thought—
"Inosuke-kun!!
Great benefactor Inosuke!!"
Two explosive sobs rang out behind him. Before he could react, Zenitsu had latched onto his leg.
"Thank you! Really, thank you!"
Kuwajima Jigoro wept openly, tears streaming down his face.
"This old man… I always knew Kaigaku's heart was twisted, but I couldn't bring myself to be ruthless. If not for you waking him up—if not for you exposing him—he would have walked a path with no return!"
"Though this 'Paradise Cult' sounds strange, as long as he doesn't become a demon and stays alive, that's good! This is his chance to atone!"
Zenitsu cried so hard snot bubbles formed.
"Big bro! You were so cool! Even though you looked like a villain just now, your heart is really kind!
"For Grandpa's sake, to save senior brother, you're even sending him to your own home to be taken care of!
"You're a saint!"
Inosuke's temples throbbed from the noise.
"Stop! Shut up! Cry one more time and I'll throw you off the mountain!"
He waved his newly acquired folding fan and snap—opened it, covering his face filled with blatant disgust.
"I just needed someone to do chores! Don't make me sound so noble!"
The following days, life on Peach Mountain became… extraordinarily chaotic.
"Gonpachiro! I want the highest peach! Go pick it!"
"Yes, Inosuke-kun!"
"Wenyi! Peel fruit for me! If the skin breaks, I'll beat you!"
"Waaah! Why do I still have to work after coming home?! Grandpa, do something!"
Kuwajima Jigoro sat on the veranda, watching the three youths roughhousing in the courtyard.
A long-absent smile appeared on his face.
Kaigaku was gone—though in that manner—but the stone weighing on his heart had finally been lifted.
And these three children before him…
They were like the rising sun, brimming with hope.
"Inosuke…" the old man said with a sigh, sipping his tea.
"Sharp-tongued and strange as he is… he's truly a good child."
...
Happy times were always short. One third of their paid vacation had already passed.
One night, everyone sat around the brazier eating peach rice balls.
Zenitsu suddenly stopped chewing, frowned slightly, and looked at Inosuke.
"Um… big bro."
"What? I'm not lending you money."
Inosuke immediately shielded his rice ball.
"It's not about money…" Zenitsu said hesitantly, worry creeping into his voice.
"I've been thinking these past few days… is it really okay for Senior Brother Kaigaku to go to your place?"
"Last time we went, the atmosphere felt pretty nice—aside from your dad being kind of scary—but still…"
He scratched his head, lowering his voice.
"Something just feels off. Your dad… he feels way too unfathomable.
"With Senior Brother's personality, if he offends the cult leader… won't he get beaten to death?"
Tanjiro also set down his rice ball.
"That's true. Mister Doma looks very gentle, but I've smelled it before… even though it's well hidden, there's a heavy scent of killing intent on him."
Inosuke's heart skipped a beat.
Crap. I forgot how terrifyingly accurate these two are.
If they found out an Upper Rank Six demon was still living there, wouldn't they be scared to death?
But then another thought struck him.
"Wait. The current Paradise Cult… really has turned into some kind of villain family compound.
"If I bring them back and let them see how Kaigaku's being 'educated,' wouldn't that be kind of fun?"
"Hmph. Want to know?"
Inosuke snapped his fan shut, tapped Zenitsu on the head, and revealed a mischievous grin.
"Since you're so worried…
"Then we'll set off tomorrow."
"Back to the Eternal Paradise Cult.
"Perfect timing—I also want to see just how spectacular that idiot senior brother's expression is right now."
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