Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

Akaza was in a secluded mountain forest.

Moonlight fell on his bare upper body.

He had just finished a set of boxing techniques and was casually checking the area for clues about blue spider lilies.

"Lord Akaza, are you there?"

Doma's voice suddenly rang in his mind.

Noisy.

Akaza has always lacked even the most basic desire to communicate with Doma.

That guy's pointless nonsense and his womanizing ways annoyed him.

Inside the Infinite Castle, Doma, who had been unilaterally disconnected, blinked.

Huh? No response?

Am I disliked?

Lord Akaza is clearly so powerful, yet he always trains alone and doesn't communicate with demons. How lonely that must be.

And he missed such wonderful and important news.

He'll definitely regret it!

Doma thought regretfully.

He took out a handkerchief, gently pressed it to the dry corner of his eye, symbolically wiping away non-existent tears, completing a routine of expressing regret.

However, he quickly rallied.

It seems I need to improve my strength more quickly.

If I become stronger and rise to a higher position among the Upper Moons, it will be easier for me to chat with Akaza-sama.

Lord Kokushibo looks very strong.

It seems like we're a bit outmatched.

He made an objective assessment and ruled out this goal, which seemed unlikely at the moment.

Why don't you go find someone else?

But we need to eat something first.

Doma stood up gracefully, patted off non-existent dust from his clothes, and his smile returned to its radiant form.

"So, where should we go now, and what should we eat?"

"Dad, where are we?"

Yukina was dragged out of the Infinity Castle by Muzan by the collar. As soon as her feet touched the unfamiliar stone pavement, she couldn't help but look up at her surroundings with curiosity.

The night breeze brought a slightly different dampness than in Kyoto, making the streets seem even narrower.

"Osaka."

Muzan released his grip, allowing Yukina to steady herself, while his brow twitched.

He didn't know why he had acted impulsively and brought this little trouble along with him.

In any case, he felt the decision was somewhat superfluous at the moment.

"Dad, how long are we going to have to stay here?"

Xue Nai didn't notice his slight displeasure.

She was like a little animal going on an adventure, turning her head left and right.

The streets of Osaka were quiet at night, a stark contrast to the bustling markets they had visited earlier. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed softly in the narrow alleyways.

"have no idea."

Muzan couldn't understand why this little thing had so many questions.

His target was a shiba-ya (traditional Japanese house) not far ahead, its outline blurred in the night with a noren (traditional Japanese curtain) hanging over it.

This is a well-known small theater in Osaka.

According to the message from that guy Yu Hu, a regular customer here, Yoshida Shigeru, boasted to others a couple of days ago while watching a play that a merchant friend of his had given him a peculiar blue flower.

Yu Hu was disguised as a pot nearby at the time. Upon hearing this description, he immediately thought it might be related to the blue spider lily.

Although he felt that most of the information about the jade pot was problematic, Muzan did not want to let go of any possibility.

He ignored Yukina's curious stares and turned straight towards the back door of the shrine.

Xue Nai quickly jogged to catch up, her little hand grabbing the corner of his drooping sleeve.

Pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door, the two slipped inside.

Inside the door was a dimly lit corridor, filled with the smell of perfume.

As Xue Nai stepped into the unfamiliar indoor space, she immediately held her breath unconsciously and even slowed her steps.

She lowered her voice and whispered to Muzan, "Daddy, are the humans here still sleeping? Is it okay for us to come in like this?"

"When are we going back to Infinity Castle? I want to go back and help Uncle Doma pack up."

She still remembered Uncle with the colorful glasses, and felt a little guilty whenever she thought of his head, which was shattered into pieces.

Even if Dad says he won't survive, what if he can fight back?

Muzan paused for a moment, then glanced at her sideways in the dim light.

This little idiot is trembling with fear himself, yet he still has the leisure to worry about that brainless good-for-nothing?

Should we tidy up a bit more?

Did she think it was a toy fragment?

"Be quiet. If you make any more noise, I'll leave you here."

Yukina shrank back, the grievances that had just welled up in her heart, before they could turn into tears, were interrupted by footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor.

A middle-aged man, who looked like a theater servant, rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked over carrying a dim oil lamp.

He was startled to see two unfamiliar figures standing in the dim light, then frowned, his tone displeased.

"Gentlemen, it's not opening time yet, and outsiders are not allowed in the backstage area. Please leave."

Yukina immediately shrank behind Muzan, her little hands tightly gripping the fabric of his kimono at his waist. She only dared to peek out half of her head, nervously watching the uncle with the unfriendly expression.

Do you know Shigeru Yoshida?

The man was taken aback, clearly not expecting the other party to ask this directly.

He looked Muzan up and down.

He was impeccably dressed and had a cool demeanor, but his actions were strangely undeniable.

Mr. Yoshida is a regular here and a respectable person. How could he possibly reveal information to someone of unknown origin?

"No……"

He instinctively wanted to refuse, but at the same time became more vigilant and prepared to call for help.

However, before he could finish uttering the word "no," his body suddenly swayed, his eyes glazed over, and he let out a soft gasp before collapsing to the ground.

Muzan stepped over the slumped body expressionlessly.

Yukina's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly jogged to catch up. As she passed by the person, she couldn't help but glance down at him.

How come this uncle fell asleep before he even finished speaking?

Her mind was filled with confusion.

The ground is so cold, won't he get sick lying there like that?

Humans are very susceptible to catching a cold.

"Keep up."

Xue Nai quickened her pace, keeping up closely, but she couldn't help but look back every few steps, her brows furrowed with worry as she gazed at the motionless figure on the ground.

She finally couldn't hold back and asked:

"Dad, that uncle, he just sleeps there like that, won't he catch a cold and get sick? I remember that humans get sick very easily."

Muzan turned his head to the side, looking at her with an expression that said he was an idiot.

Yukina shut her mouth on her own.

At the end of the corridor was a paper door painted with pine and crane patterns. Light and voices could be faintly heard coming from inside, suggesting that someone was already there.

Inside the door was a room that was decorated rather elegantly.

A middle-aged woman was sitting behind a low table, counting a stack of account books and scattered coins in the dim light, muttering something under her breath.

Hearing the door open, she abruptly looked up.

Seeing that it was a stranger standing at the door, she immediately shoved the money on the table into her sleeve, then stood up, put her hands on her hips, and raised her voice:

"Hey, who are you? Who gave you permission to come in? This is backstage area, not some random Tom, Dick, or Harry can just barge in!"

Although this person was dressed very well and looked like a wealthy person, everyone here is rich, yet he dared to trespass into her room.

Muzan ignored her, grabbed Yukina by the back of her collar, and put her by the door, making her stand with her back against the wall.

"Stand here, look outside, and don't move."