[Ding!]
[Successfully added Horned Demon as a friend!]
[Friendship level between Horned Demon and Host: Initial Acquaintance. Reward granted at random.]
[Obtained Comprehension: Superior]
[Fuse Comprehension: Superior now?]
[No]
Raiden listened to the system notifications in silence, the faint smile on his face deepening.
Not bad. This was exactly what he wanted.
One more Superior Comprehension and he could advance to Superior Talent. With Superior Talent, and a period of steady training, aside from Muzan Kibutsuji, he doubted anyone else would stand against him for long.
Making friends truly was the fastest way to grow stronger.
The Horned Demon watched Raiden's gentle expression and swallowed hard.
Why did that smile feel unsettling?
Still, if becoming his friend meant survival, then dignity meant nothing.
The Horned Demon exhaled slowly. He had endured blows from the Wolf Fang Demon in the West District without serious injury. Yet before this white haired man, his defense had shattered like thin glass.
"Alright," Raiden said lightly. "What were you trying to say earlier?"
Now that he had secured his reward, his mood had improved. He allowed the demon to speak, granting him the illusion of mercy.
He did not believe a single word about sparing humans. Demons required blood to grow stronger. Nezuko was an exception, not the rule. The craving for flesh and blood was etched into their very being.
For this demon to reach such strength, he had consumed many lives.
"I have not eaten…" the Horned Demon began, then faltered under Raiden's half amused gaze.
"I have eaten a few," he corrected himself quickly. "But since arriving in Hirai, I have not killed anyone here. The people I captured were sent to the Eternal Paradise Sect. There is someone there who favors consuming women."
He hesitated, then continued in a rush.
"I earned his attention by delivering women from Hirai. He rewarded me with a small bottle of his blood. That is how I reached this level."
Raiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
Eternal Paradise Sect. A demon who consumed women.
There was no need to guess.
Only Upper Rank Two, Doma, matched that description.
So this demon's strength had been nurtured by Doma's blood. That explained the sudden growth. While Upper Rank blood could not compare to Muzan's, it was more than enough to elevate an ordinary demon.
Raiden's smile faded.
"Where is the Eternal Paradise Sect located?"
"I do not know," the Horned Demon replied immediately. "My role is only to gather women in Hirai. Other demons collect them periodically."
Raiden studied his eyes. No deception. At least not on that point.
"How often?"
"It varies, but usually once a month. They came two days ago."
Two days.
That meant another month before the next opportunity.
Raiden considered this calmly. A month was sufficient. He could easily strengthen himself further before crossing paths with Doma.
And truthfully, among the Upper Ranks, Doma would be the easiest to approach.
Akaza demanded strength and respect. Doma demanded nothing. His twisted belief in salvation made him strangely approachable. As long as Raiden spoke politely, Doma would likely respond with equal courtesy.
Whether that courtesy meant genuine friendship was another matter entirely.
"The exchange point is here?" Raiden asked.
The Horned Demon nodded repeatedly, almost mechanically.
Then something changed.
A cold sensation crept up from the base of his spine to the back of his skull. His body stiffened. His head felt strangely light, as if no longer connected to his shoulders.
His heart pounded violently.
Before he could react, the world tilted.
His vision spun as his head separated cleanly from his body. He tried to scream, but no sound came. Only silence and disorientation.
As his head struck the wooden floor and rolled to a stop, Raiden's calm voice reached him.
"Thank you for your trouble."
There was no anger in it. No excitement. Only quiet indifference.
The Horned Demon's fading eyes locked onto Raiden's retreating figure.
They were supposed to be friends.
Was this what friendship meant to him?
His thoughts dissolved before he could reach an answer.
Darkness swallowed his vision. His body crumbled to ash. The temple returned to silence.
Raiden stepped away without looking back, white hair catching the faint light filtering through the temple hall.