Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

He's clearly dead.

Moreover, it sounds like Muzan-sama didn't use his usual brutal headshot technique, but instead made them lie face down, as if they were asleep...

Is it for Yukina?

Doma looked Yukina up and down again.

"However, Dad seemed a little unhappy at the end..."

Yukina recalled how Muzan quickly wrapped her in his robes and took her back to the Infinity Castle at dawn, faster than usual.

Although no one spoke, the air around them seemed to grow colder.

Doma chuckled and gently tapped his head with his fan.

"If we go back now, we might just be running into Muzan-sama at his worst? Yukina, aren't you scared?"

Yukina paused for a moment.

It can be a little scary when Dad is in a bad mood.

but……

She touched the spot in her mouth where she was missing a tooth, and then clenched the small tooth in her palm.

She wanted to see her father right now.

"I'm not afraid, Dad won't do anything to me."

At most, I'd just be a little colder in my tone, or tell her to go to sleep.

She's not afraid at all.

"Really? That's brave! Let's hurry up then!"

Doma quickened his pace slightly, leading Yukina through the intricate corridors and the ever-changing spaces.

The Infinite City was dimly lit, with only paper lanterns emitting a hazy glow that elongated and distorted the shadows of the two people.

After walking for a while, the space ahead seemed to open up, and the familiar paper door was faintly visible.

Just then, Doma suddenly stopped.

"Um?"

He uttered a light, questioning sound, his gaze drifting to the shadows of a side road to his side.

Yukina also stopped and looked in the direction of his gaze with a puzzled expression.

In the shadows, a faint chord vibrated.

Immediately afterwards, a figure holding a pipa, with black hair covering half of her face, appeared there silently.

It's Nakime who just returned from a mission.

She glanced at Doma indifferently, her gaze finally settling on Yukina.

"Oh! It's Biwa-san~" Douma waved his fan first, his voice light and cheerful, his seven-colored eyes curving into a smile, "Biba-san, did you just come back from a mission? You must be exhausted~"

"Um."

Nakime treated Doma with her usual indifference.

Then, turning to Yukina, her tone softened slightly: "Miss Yukina, are you going to see Lord Muzan?"

"Um!"

Xue Nai nodded vigorously and immediately ran over.

Halfway through the run, she remembered something, turned around, and waved her little hand at Doma, who was still standing in the same spot.

"Doma Susu, I'm going now! Thank you!"

Immediately, she ran over, looked up, and grabbed Nakime's sleeve, saying affectionately, "Nakime-neechan, where have you been? I've missed you so much."

Hearing the soft, sweet voice coming from the other end, Douma covered his mouth with his fan and replied with a smile, "Oh dear, Yukina, remember to miss Uncle Douma too~"

"Miss Pipa, could you please send me back to the Blissful Sect while you're at it?"

"I will!" Xue Nai shouted to him.

Nakime did not respond to Doma again, but simply nodded slightly, which was considered as if she had heard him.

……

The two entered the room, which was brighter than the hallway.

Muzan remained seated in his usual spot, facing the doorway, a scroll in his hand.

The dim light outlined the lines of his profile, and his long eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes.

Xue Nai wanted to rush over as soon as she entered the door and show her teeth to her father.

But thinking that Nakime-neechan seemed to have something to ask her father, she held back.

Nakime was reporting from the side, and Muzan only occasionally made a short nasal sound or a single word to indicate that he knew.

Xue Nai first quietly closed the door, then obediently knelt on the cushion not far away, placing her hands properly on her knees.

But his eyes kept glancing in Muzan's direction, waiting.

Finally, Nakime's voice stopped, and silence returned to the room.

Muzan picked up the teacup beside him and took a small sip.

Right now.

Like a spring that had been pressed down for too long, Yukina suddenly stood up, clenched her little fists tightly, and ran towards Muzan with excitement on her face.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

"I'll show you—"

However, before she could get close, Muzan had already raised a hand, his long fingers pressing against her forehead, stopping her advance.

"Stand there, don't come near me, stand still."

Yukina was forced to stop in place, tilting her small face up, feeling the cool touch of his fingertips on her forehead.

Muzan then slowly turned his face, his gaze falling on her.

His eyes scanned her from top to bottom, from her slightly messy, curly hair to the dusty corner of her clothes.

He frowned slightly, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

He smelled like doma (a type of Japanese cooking pot).

I only spent a short time with that guy, and I've already been tainted with such an unpleasant mark.

Just smelling it reminded him of that foolish smiling face.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

Yukina blinked in confusion.

Dad seemed even more unhappy.

But she hasn't done anything yet.

Muzan did not answer, nor did he even spare a glance.

He withdrew his hand and turned his attention back to the book on the table.

It was as if reaching out to stop him just now had merely brushed away an uncooperative flying insect.

Did he find her too noisy again?

Then she can speak a little softer.

Yukina watched Muzan fall silent again, her mind making small guesses.

But she had something important to share, and the tooth was still warm in her hand.

She observed that Muzan was looking down, his long eyelashes motionless, seemingly completely absorbed in the pages of the book.

You might not notice her subtle gestures.

A sneaky idea popped into her head like a tiny bubble.

She held her breath and slowly, little by little, shuffled forward on her toes.

The wooden floor was smooth and made no noise.

She immediately raised her eyelids and quickly glanced at Muzan.

Dad remained in the same reading posture, without even turning the page.

Hehe, I wasn't caught!

I'm so smart.

A small surge of joy welled up inside her, giving her courage.

She pursed her lips, suppressing the upward curve of her mouth, and began to move quietly, inch by inch, like a kitten.

Finally, he managed to get close to Muzan.

The tiny baby tooth lay quietly in her sweaty palm.

"Dad, look!"

"This is my tooth that fell out! It just fell out by itself!"

Muzan's gaze did not leave the pages of the book, and not even his eyelashes trembled.

"Go over there and show it to Douma."

Yukina was stunned.

She stood there, arms outstretched, her small face filled with confusion.

These are clearly her teeth, the ones she wanted to show her father. Why did she show them to Uncle Doma?

What does this have to do with Uncle Doma?

She tilted her head and naturally followed up the conversation, replying, "Doma Susu has already seen it."

He also said that my new teeth might grow in on their own.

Muzan: ...