Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

"Oh dear, does Yukina really have no worries?"

Doma rested his chin on one hand, staring intently at Yukina, who was pressed against the wall, his face filled with disappointment.

He tilted his head slightly, his smile revealing a hint of grievance.

Xue Nai, who was huddled in the corner, immediately nodded her little head like a chick pecking at rice upon hearing this.

I was afraid that if I was even a second too slow, this strange uncle would start heartbroken and wiping away tears again.

Immediately afterwards, she raised Hanako, which she had been clutching tightly in her arms, and held it between herself and Doma, her voice soft but her tone earnest:

"Uncle Doma, Hanako said... she said it's a bit crowded here, and she's a little unhappy."

She paused, stealing a glance at Douma's expression, and mustered her courage to add, "Could you move over just a little bit?"

After saying that, he pointed towards the open space away from the corner of the wall.

What a kind and interesting child! He can even understand what the doll is saying.

Is this her Blood Demon Art?

That sounds amazing!

Doma immediately clasped his hands together, bowed to the expressionless wooden doll, and spoke with a tone full of apology.

"Oh dear~ How rude of me, Miss Hanako. Did I accidentally bump into you? Please forgive my oversight~"

After delivering this smooth and natural apology, he seemed to suddenly remember something, straightened up, and the disappointment on his face vanished.

Instead, he adopted an eager expression, leaned forward slightly, and suggested to Yukina:

"But, can we continue playing that game? It was really fun! This time I'll be careful not to bump into Hanako~"

Several concrete question marks almost popped out of Xue Nai's head.

Did I just play a game with that weird uncle?

When?

She doesn't remember at all.

She was clearly just desperately trying to back away!

However, before she could figure it out, Doma had already entered the game mode on his own.

He mimicked what Xue Nai had just done, shifting his knees and shrinking back a little distance.

She lifted her face, her seven-colored eyes sparkling as she looked at her, and said encouragingly, "Oh dear, now it's Yukina's turn~ It's your turn!"

So, does the creepy uncle really want to play a game of push and pull with himself?

Xue Nai's little head was working hard.

Were his strange actions just now meant to scare her, or to invite her to play a game?

I think I misunderstood him.

Although this uncle still looked strange and spoke in a peculiar way, he kept smiling and even apologized to Hanako very politely.

I've always been concerned about whether I have any worries.

Maybe... he's mentally ill, that's why he says those strange things?

Just like humans can get sick and talk nonsense.

Was it a bit rude of me to be so scared and keep backing away?

My mother always said that we should be polite to others, even if they are a little different.

Thinking of this, Xue Na felt a pang of guilt.

Although she didn't really want to play this somewhat bizarre game, she decided to play along with the strange uncle who seemed eager to play, just to express her apology.

"Ah, I'm coming over!"

Yukina took a deep breath, hugged Hanako, mustered her courage, and took a small step forward.

To appear genuinely engaged, she forced a happy smile onto her face.

But that's clearly enough.

Doma's eyes lit up instantly.

What a good child, actually willing to stay with me.

He made up his mind; he wanted to be friends with Yukina.

"It's Uncle's turn!"

Doma said cheerfully, and obediently stepped back.

Thus, one advanced, and the other retreated.

The walls and the open space in the center of the room seemed to have become their playground.

Until Doma's back gently touched the wall on the other side.

He had nowhere left to retreat.

Yukina stopped what she was doing, stood still, and took a slight breath.

Looking into Doma's bright eyes, she suddenly realized that this uncle might not be a bad person after all.

...

Muzan appeared in the room silently.

Neither of the ghosts realized it yet.

He watched this scene with a furrowed brow.

At this moment, his foolish daughter and his subordinate Doma, whom he always found noisy and boring, were standing quite close together, talking head to head to an ugly wooden doll.

Yukina seemed to have completely let her guard down, and even held the doll up to Doma's face with excitement.

"Hanako said she thinks Uncle Doma's eyes are very beautiful! Like rainbows!"

"Oh my gosh~ Really?"

Doma immediately cupped his hands around his heart, his seven-colored eyes curving into crescent moons, and made an exaggerated expression of being flattered.

"I'm so honored to be praised by Miss Hanako~"

"Uh-huh!"

Yukina nodded vigorously, seemingly agreeing as well. "Yukina thinks so too! It's sparkly and comes in many colors!"

"Ah, this is wonderful! I happen to have two eyes, so why don't I give one to Hanako and the other to Yukina? That way you can keep seeing the beautiful colors~"

Doma spoke in a cheerful tone, and as he spoke, he suddenly raised his other hand, his index and middle fingers about to pierce his left eye socket.

Let's give the left eye to Yukina first!

Yukina blinked, seemingly still trying to understand the suggestion.

However, the next second.

"Doma".

Doma's movements stopped.

Then he withdrew his hand, turned around while still kneeling, and looked towards the shadows where the sound was coming from, his tone cheerful:

"Oh my gosh~ It's Lord Muzan! What perfect timing!"

Doma clasped his hands together and tilted his head slightly.

"I was just planning to give my new, adorable colleague a little something to welcome her. But unfortunately, I've already promised her both eyes."

"When my new eyes grow in, I'll choose the prettiest one and give it to you, okay? Please give me this honor~"

Muzan stared coldly at him, ignoring his nonsense, and stepped out of the shadows, walking straight over.

Upon hearing the name "Doma," Yukina shuddered and abruptly turned her head.

The moment she saw Muzan, joy immediately lit up her little face.

"dad!"

She almost instinctively called out, and tried to stand up and run over while holding Hanako, but her calves were numb from kneeling for so long, and she stumbled.

"Hey, Yukina, although Lord Muzan mercifully bestowed upon us his precious blood, giving us a new life..."

But you can't just call someone "Dad" out of gratitude; that's really rude to adults!

Before he could finish saying the word "life," Doma's entire head had already separated from his neck, rolled around on the floor a few times, and finally stopped face up.