The journey from the forest back to the Eternal Paradise Cult was torture for Akaza—far more painful than sparring with Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.
"Hey, hey, Akaza-dono, did you know?
Kotoha-chan recently learned how to make miso soup! Though sometimes she mistakes sugar for salt, that clumsy sweetness is just so adorable!"
"And, and—Inosuke, that kid, even though he complains about me all the time, he actually loves his dad the most in his heart.
Last time he even tried to warm my hands for me! Sure, that was over ten years ago, but just thinking about it now still moves me to tears!"
All along the way, Doma was like a tireless skylark, flitting around Akaza, chattering nonstop as he showed off his blissful family life.
The veins on Akaza's forehead bulged. His fists clenched, then loosened, then clenched again.
If he weren't unable to beat—or kill—this bastard, he would've already attacked.
"Shut up.
Doma.
Say one more word, and I'll rip your tongue out."
Akaza ground the words out through his teeth.
"Oh my, don't be so cold."
Doma didn't care in the slightest, even casually fanning himself.
"Speaking of which, we're almost home. Since this is your first official visit—and you're Inosuke's Third Uncle—how can you go empty-handed?"
Doma stopped and pointed at a roadside general store that was still open.
"Humans care a lot about etiquette, you know. If you go empty-handed, Kotoha-chan won't say anything, but she'll think I don't know how to make friends. I don't want her thinking I keep bad company.
Go on, go on—buy something."
"I don't have money!"
"I'll pay."
Akaza stared at the shop, his fist tightening again.
But when he thought about how he had seriously injured Inosuke before—and that this visit was his own request this time…
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his anger, and walked into the shop.
What should he buy?
He was a demon. He hadn't bought anything in centuries.
Akaza's gaze swept across the shelves.
Candy? Too sweet. Inosuke was probably past that age—and he wasn't even sure if the kid would be home.
Cloth? No idea. He'd worn the same clothes forever.
Then his eyes stopped on a bundle in the corner.
Fireworks.
Some vague, warm fragment flickered through his mind. Long, long ago, someone seemed to have told him they wanted to see fireworks.
"…This, then."
Akaza tossed down a gold coin Doma had given him, grabbed the bundle of fireworks, and turned to leave.
...
The Eternal Paradise Cult
"Welcome back, Lord Cult Leader."
Hearing movement, Kotoha came out with a lantern. She wore a light pink house robe, a warm splash of spring in this frigid palace.
"Kotoha-chan!"
Doma instantly pounced like a giant golden retriever begging for hugs.
"I'm back! Did you miss me?"
"I did, I did."
Kotoha smiled and patted his back, then looked at the pink-haired man behind him with the gloomy expression.
"And this gentleman is…?"
"Oh, this is the one who hurt Inosuke—the bad—ah, no. This is Inosuke's Third Uncle, Akaza-dono."
Doma introduced him cheerfully.
"He came especially to apologize! And he even brought you a gift!"
Being called out, Akaza stiffened all over. Holding the fireworks, he didn't know whether to offer them or not.
So this is… the human Doma keeps?
Too weak.
So weak he could crush her with a single finger.
And yet… why was it that looking into those clear eyes, he felt an unfamiliar calm?
"…For you."
Akaza spat out the words stiffly, shoved the fireworks into Kotoha's hands, and immediately turned his head away.
"Fireworks?"
Kotoha's eyes widened in delight.
"They're beautiful! Thank you so much, Akaza-dono! The moonlight is lovely tonight—we should light them together!"
"Fireworks! Great idea!"
Doma clapped excitedly.
"Come, come—let's go to the courtyard!"
In the courtyard, the snow had yet to melt.
A few simple fireworks were lit, sputtering and spraying colorful sparks into the night sky.
They couldn't compare to a festival, but in this small courtyard, they felt especially warm.
"So beautiful~"
Kotoha watched the fireworks, her face glowing with happiness.
"Oh, there's more."
Doma suddenly stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as his golden fan flicked open.
Blood Demon Art · Cold Splendor of the White Princess · Miniature Version.
The pitch-black sky suddenly filled with crystalline snowflakes.
Under the fireworks' glow, they refracted seven colors of light, drifting down slowly—fiery blossoms against white snow, dreamlike and unreal.
"Kotoha-chan, look."
Doma whispered in her ear, his tone full of pride.
"Snow and fireworks go so well together, don't they? I created this scenery just for you."
Kotoha's cheeks flushed with emotion.
"Thank you, Lord Cult Leader… it's truly beautiful."
Watching this affectionate scene from the side, Akaza's golden pupils suddenly contracted violently.
Fireworks.
And that promise.
"From now on… let's watch fireworks together every year…
I want to… become stronger… strong enough to protect you…"
Who said that?
To whom?
The sealed memories in his mind cracked open again under this intense stimulation.
A tidal wave of grief and agony swallowed him whole.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Akaza suddenly let out a scream no human could make. He clutched his head, nails digging deep into his flesh.
"Why?! Why does this hurt so much?!
I can't remember!
I can't remember anything!!"
That blurry image of a girl smiled at him through the fireworks—then turned into blood all over the ground.
"Stop smiling! Stop it!"
Boom!
Before Doma and Kotoha's stunned eyes, Akaza raised his fist and smashed it straight into his own head.
Destructive Death · Annihilation!
Pshhk!
His head burst like a rotten watermelon—blown apart by his own punch.
Blood and brain matter splattered across the white snow, a few drops even staining Doma's expensive cult robes.
The headless body swayed twice, then collapsed to its knees.
Silence.
"...
What are you doing?
What exactly are you trying to do?"
Doma wiped the blood from his face in disgust, rare irritation flashing across his features at Akaza's inexplicable behavior.
"Akaza-dono, what is the meaning of this?"
He pulled the trembling Kotoha tightly into his arms, frowning.
"Before, I only suspected something was wrong with your head. Now I understand—you're just jealous of me.
You can't stand seeing me happy.
Jealousy driving you insane?
To disgust me, you actually smashed your own head on the spot?
Do you have any idea how hard this is to clean up?! And what if you scared Kotoha-chan?!"
In Doma's mind, this was completely incomprehensible behavior—just Akaza picking a fight again.
"Akaza-dono…"
Though frightened, Kotoha looked at the kneeling, headless body with a trace of pity in her eyes.
"He… he looks like he's in a lot of pain."
Moments later, flesh wriggled.
Akaza's head regenerated. He remained kneeling, gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat, eyes hollow.
"I'm sorry…"
His voice was hoarse as he stared at the snow.
"I lost control."
Though the searing pain had faded, the urge for atonement only grew stronger.
He looked at Kotoha—at the woman whose gentle eyes mirrored those in his memories.
"I shouldn't have hurt that kid.
And I shouldn't have… ruined your evening."
Doma raised an eyebrow. Had the sun risen in the west?
This mad dog was apologizing?
Kotoha slipped free of Doma's arms, carefully walked up to Akaza, and handed him a clean handkerchief.
"It's alright, Akaza-dono."
Her voice was soft.
"Please wipe up. I don't know what you remembered, but as long as you're alive, there's always hope."
Akaza stared at the handkerchief for a long time before tremblingly accepting it.
"…Thank you."
He stood up. The killing intent around him was completely gone. He turned to Doma, his expression unusually serious.
"Doma."
"Hmm?"
"I want to atone.
For hurting Inosuke… and for the answer I'm searching for."
Clenching his fists, Akaza seemed to pour his entire being into those words.
Doma blinked—then his seven-colored eyes lit up as if struck by inspiration.
"Atonement, huh~"
He fanned himself, circling Akaza, that familiar mischievous smile spreading across his face.
"Since Akaza-dono is so sincere, wouldn't it make me look petty to refuse?"
Doma snapped his fan shut and pointed toward the distant night sky.
"Inosuke may know some Ice Breathing and a bit of my Blood Demon Art, but his fighting style is far too wild—nothing but openings.
He's basically just hacking away with those two blades."
"Since you're the pinnacle of martial combat, the so-called fist-technique master…"
Doma leaned close and whispered:
"When Inosuke comes back, you'll teach him martial arts."
"Teach him everything you know about Destructive Death.
Make him strong—strong enough that no one can bully him again."
Akaza froze. Teach that brat martial arts? Soryu Style?
"…How about it?" Doma smiled.
"A once-in-a-lifetime chance at atonement. A Third Uncle passing down secret techniques to his nephew—doesn't that sound perfectly reasonable?"
Akaza fell silent, the image of that boy with the serrated blades screaming as he tried to chop off his neck flashing through his mind.
"…Alright."
Akaza nodded, a new fire igniting in his golden eyes.
"I'll teach him.
I'll temper him into what you want."
"Oh my, that's wonderful!"
Doma clapped happily.
"Then from today on, you're the Eternal Paradise Cult's martial arts instructor!
No salary, food and lodging included—and remember to greet Kotoha-chan every morning!"
In the wind and snow, Upper Rank Two smiled brightly.
Upper Rank Three clenched his fists, eyes resolute.
And far away, an oblivious Inosuke was still in Yoshiwara's pleasure district, yelling at Zenitsu for not knowing how to attract customers and make money…
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