Demon.
They are all connected to their king, Kibutsuji Muzan. None of them are truly free, save for a few exceptions.
Tamayo was one of those exceptions, along with her assistant, Yushirō.
Dōma wanted to use the doctor woman if the Flower remained unfound, but the task promised to be colossal.
He had lost many resources in his search for the demon woman, but it seemed logical to him.
Tamayo's hallucinogenic power made tracking her particularly difficult.
Especially since, at that time, Dōma believed she was accompanied by Yushirō.
All the information gathered by his followers wasn't always reliable, as Tamayo sometimes deliberately left false trails.
Testimonies influenced by her illusions further complicated the pursuit of the woman.
Beyond these elements for her freedom, the ice demon had another card up his sleeve.
The System.
Dōma knew almost nothing about his System, except that it was some kind of discussion group tied to an organization called MEDIA.
The details remained vague due to the state of synchronization the System had been performing for years.
"D-Dōma-sama… Y-you know, I've never been this close to another man…"
Rin's small voice snapped Dōma back to reality.
The usually strong and determined woman seemed unusually vulnerable, struggling to maintain prolonged eye contact with him.
Even though he had no intention of eating her, seeing Rin in this position stirred something within him.
'Damn… now's not the time to get hard,' he thought to himself, stepping away from Rin's chair.
The young woman let out a disappointed sigh, then sat back properly after Dōma moved away from her side.
"I've kept Tamayo and the young man by her side under close surveillance, and I've entrusted them to Lin-san."
At the mention of Lin, Rin's face tightened slightly.
Lin.
She hadn't died or aged since the death of her son-in-law and daughter decades ago.
Dōma had turned her into a demon after Mori's death.
Unlike Taiga, she had no hesitation in shedding her humanity.
On the contrary, she seemed almost enthusiastic about the idea of eternal youth, at the cost of never seeing the sun again.
Her words came back to him:
"I've always lived in the shadows of society… I-If staying in your shadow allows me to continue serving you, then I'll embrace your shadows."
Dōma found the older woman's words a bit strange, but since they reminded him of confessions in fictional stories, he decided to set them aside.
Much like the topic of Lin's past with the Chinese triads.
After all, spending time with Kokushibō had made the ice demon slightly more refined.
"Thank you for your hard work," Dōma said as he stood up. He walked toward the door with a brisk pace.
He wanted to speak to Tamayo immediately, before exploring the recently activated System.
"You're not staying? I-I made way too much food!" Rin said awkwardly.
If the guards saw the usually cold sect leader acting like this, they'd probably suffer a mental shock.
'Made way too much food? Who invites someone to dinner like that?' The ice demon found her choice of words odd but paused at the door of the reception room.
He could ignore Rin and keep going, but would that be fair to her?
Especially since she had accomplished something all her ancestors had failed to do.
"Alright, just one meal…"
Dōma was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
The young woman dragged him back inside and fed him herself, as if she were serving her boyfriend? Or her man?
'It's just this once… it's not a big deal,' he convinced himself as his mouth accepted a piece of beef from Rin's chopsticks.
Dōma didn't enjoy human food, but he could use Jay's knowledge to manipulate his own perception of taste.
A kind of self-hypnosis.
Unfortunately, he forgot to use it for the first bite of Rin's meal.
'Goddamn, this is the most disgusting crap I've ever eaten,' he cursed internally about her cooking skills, but he didn't let it show and ate the rest of the meal with apparent delight.
This act convinced Rin that she no longer needed to follow Lin's suggestion about taking cooking lessons.
'Hehe. Onii-san really knows how to appreciate the good stuff~ But wait a minute! If we're sharing a meal and basically using my chopsticks, is this an indirect kiss?' Unlike Dōma, the young woman was already lost in her own little world.
…
It took Dōma two hours to satisfy Rin before leaving the reception room.
The ice demon's stomach was clearly bloated from the large amount of food his digestive system had taken in.
He might have even vomited if Rin, the cook, hadn't been there.
"Elder!"
"Elder!"
After a short walk, he was suddenly surrounded by men wearing straw hats and dressed in black.
The group's leader wore more casual clothing. His skin was tanned, and his brown hair was messy.
His rolled-up sleeves revealed scarred forearms. He casually removed his cigarette to greet Dōma nonchalantly.
"Yo, old man, you finally showed up," he said in a lazy voice.
He was the deputy leader of Shadow and Lin's right-hand man, alias Mugen.
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Unlike most Shadow members, he wasn't from this region.
He hailed from the island of Hokkaidō.
According to the information Dōma had gathered when their sect branch opened, the island was a penal colony that also "rehabilitated" delinquent children.
At least, that was the official story.
In reality, there was no real rehabilitation in that godforsaken place.
The juvenile delinquent camp, otherwise known as "Shōnen Gakkō," aimed to use society's rejects as free labor.
The government's goal at the time was simple: colonize the wild lands of Hokkaidō.
Criminals and delinquents were an excellent way to cut the costs of an enterprise that would have otherwise drained the Empire of the Rising Sun's treasury.
Why had Dōma gone to recruit people there? His reasons were similar to the Japanese government's: no one cared about the disappearance of criminals or troubled kids.
Thus, Dōma used his personal fortune to pay the heads of the juvenile rehabilitation camps to "adopt" children.
Mugen was the best of the current batch.
The young boy was "adopted" after Dōma paid a generous sum to the rehabilitation camp.
The child was known for being a problem kid but possessed exceptional agility.
The guards struggled to manage him as he stole food for his fellow inmates.
Dōma's offer to buy him came at the perfect time.
'Even if he's annoying, this guy is surprisingly reliable,' Dōma thought as the duo walked toward Tamayo's location.
Mugen had plenty of flaws: he loved alcohol, smoking, beautiful women, gambling, and fighting strong opponents.
Yet, he was surprisingly loyal to those he considered family.
That's why he didn't hesitate to steal food, even if it meant punishment for him.
Nor did he hesitate to defend his dorm mates when a guard abused their power.
He embodied what Dōma would call a clichéd, rough "anti-hero."
This aspect of his personality earned him Dōma's appreciation and his current rank as Shadow's deputy captain.
Of course, the little rascal knew all about the sect's dark side due to his rank.
But… he had already seen worse among humans.
'Even if Rin and her predecessors never knew my true nature, soon it won't matter,' he thought as Tamayo's image appeared before his eyes after the door opened.
"Phew, now I get why you wanted this woman. *whistles*," Mugen whistled before shooting a suggestive look at Dōma.
The orphan from a penal island wasn't one to hold his tongue.
Not even Rin was spared from his remarks.
"Now I understand why Rin-chan beats you up so often," Dōma replied before stepping inside.
"W-What?! That girl doesn't count as a loss… a-and neither does the boss!" Unfortunately for Mugen, his lame excuses went unheard.
Dōma headed toward Tamayo and Yushirō.
(Image)
The master-and-assistant duo had noticed him as soon as he reached the door but didn't react.
"Good evening~ You may already know, but allow me to introduce myself personally."
Dōma flashed a polite smile and slowly opened his fan.
His rank among the Kizuki was clearly visible to Tamayo and Yushirō, who shivered upon seeing the symbol etched on it.
"My name is Dōma, and I am Upper Moon Two. I hope Tamayo-san will take good care of me," he said politely.
Even though he had kidnapped this woman, Dōma considered himself a gentleman in his own mind.
He had to remain courteous.
"I-I understand now… a demon running a human organization…" Tamayo didn't respond to Dōma immediately but muttered to herself after regaining her composure.
Her empty eyes soon fixed on the Upper Moon before her, as if she had realized something.
"Given your rank, you must know that Muzan ordered me to be killed on sight, don't you?" Tamayo's voice remained calm and soft to Dōma's ears.
The ice demon widened his fake smile, pleased with how quickly the fugitive had grasped her situation.
"Indeed, I disobeyed Muzan's order." Tamayo's empty eyes widened slightly upon hearing Dōma's words.
The demon hadn't addressed Muzan with respect and even admitted his defiance without fear, as if his master couldn't track him.
"Have you escaped Muzan's control?" There was a hint of hope in Tamayo's voice, but the atmosphere was interrupted by a third party.
"Tamayo-sama! You can't trust him!" Yushirō placed his hand in front of Tamayo, as if to hold her back.
The young demon clearly didn't trust Dōma.
"This man is a high-ranking member of the Kizuki, who have served Muzan for decades, if not longer." The young man frowned as he observed Dōma.
"Who knows how many he's killed and devoured…" He wanted to continue expressing his opinion, but Mugen suddenly drew his Khukuri knife from his hip.
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"Listen, kid. My boss may have plenty of moral flaws, but…" He pointed his blade at Yushirō's eye.
"…he's not some lackey serving another, got it?" The murderous aura of a man who had fought since childhood filled the room.
"I apologize if my disciple offended your master," Tamayo said in a polite and sincere tone, stepping between Mugen and Yushirō.
"However, Yushirō isn't entirely wrong."
The room's atmosphere grew colder under Dōma's aura, but the demon woman didn't back down from the pressure of an Upper Moon.
"I'm sorry if my words offend you, Dōma-san, but I cannot trust a demon so close to Muzan without guarantees," she said calmly.
The woman stood and gently pushed Yushirō back, positioning herself directly in front of Dōma.
"Can you prove that Muzan has no control over you? If so, then we can discuss your purpose in defying that man's orders." Tamayo's final tone left no room for negotiation.
If Dōma couldn't prove his claims, he knew Tamayo might do something reckless in this place.
This woman hadn't hesitated to risk her life for the faintest hope of killing Muzan.
In the KNY universe, few female characters possess such mental strength, aside from her and Shinobu.
Dōma was stronger than Tamayo.
That was a factual reality.
Yet, this woman could surpass him mentally.
A domain where the Ice Demon took pride in his achievements.
The Blood Demon Art: Vanity's Paradise.
This supernatural power is potent in many ways.
Unfortunately, it has flaws, like all powers in this universe.
Individuals with high mental strength, whom Dōma had encountered, showed some resistance to several abilities derived from his Blood Demon Art.
For example, they were difficult to influence, and altering their memories or perceptions was complex.
At best, Dōma could only read their memories and emotions.
This was also why he had never succeeded in directly recruiting Kokushibō to his cause.
Thus, Tamayo deterred him from using force or supernatural manipulation against her.
Of course, the option of threats had been off the table from the start of negotiations due to this woman's nature.
Dōma was left with three options: the truth, persuasion, or combat.
"I can prove my claims, but—" Dōma paused, looking at Tamayo and her companion, Yushirō.
Anyone could sense the Ice Demon's hesitation, but there was clearly something more in his gaze.
"But what? You seem to have doubts when fighting Muzan requires sacrifices. Do you even have that determination?" Unlike before, Tamayo spoke more assertively.
It was as if she wasn't just addressing Dōma but also herself.
Yet, this small speech made Tamayo appear more dignified in the eyes of those in the room.
'Damn, she's got some serious backbone.' Mugen subtly nodded toward his boss.
Dōma gave Mugen a discreet, knowing smile before refocusing on Tamayo.
"Haha, don't worry about my determination. You won't doubt it after this." With those words, Dōma stood and swiftly pulled a lock of Tamayo's black hair.
The act was abrupt and quick.
The demon woman hadn't expected this reaction but responded rapidly.
'Does his power involve hair? I was careless…' she thought, preparing a counterattack.
Without a moment's hesitation, Tamayo tried to slash her forearm with her nails.
Unfortunately, she didn't have time to finish.
The woman who had once made Muzan himself tremble suddenly lost control of her body and fell into Dōma's arms like a puppet with cut strings.
She wasn't dead, but Tamayo's mind was grappling with an ocean of information.
Specifically, she was experiencing Dōma's entire life in the third person, without access to sensitive information.
This caused Tamayo's mind to lose control over her body.
Her brain was simply overwhelmed.
"See that, Mugen? I told you." Dōma shrugged and added, "They all fall into my arms on the first night."
The silence was broken by this tasteless joke, except for Mugen, who laughed. No one else got it.
After processing the situation, Yushirō attacked immediately.
He deployed a talisman out of nowhere, but his arm flew into the air after the sound of a blade being drawn echoed.
"Tch, I've never been able to stand these 'well-mannered' boys playing gentlemen when they just want some damn pussy," Mugen said, his cigarette burning down in seconds.
"Shit, this is why I hate using your weird breathing techniques…" he complained to Dōma after tossing the rest of his cigarette.
Aside from Dōma, no one knew that Mugen could use Total Concentration: Constant.
The only thing holding the young man back from refining his skill was his addiction to alcohol and cigarettes.
A talent wasted on the vices of the world.
***
Author's note: Mugen will never replace Taiga, but he's funny, lol.
Well, this chapter is over 2,400 words.
I didn't want to split it in two, as that would've been mean (and a bit rude, since the system has been waiting for too long).
It's also time for Muzan to lose control over Dōma.