Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

"...Bringing a...living creature into the Infinite Castle...is not impossible."

"However, you need to consider... whether you brought this dog back out of momentary pity, or... whether you have thought about the consequences? It needs food, it can get sick, and it may even die."

It's just a stray dog; whether or not it's brought back is insignificant to the Infinite City.

However, the focus of this matter is not the dog itself.

In any case, since Lord Muzan shifted the blame to himself and assigned the responsibility of teaching to him, this became one of the matters that needed to be handled within his scope of duty.

If Yukina's actions were merely a passing fancy, and she were to forget about the dog after her initial pity, bringing it back would only create more trouble and reveal her impetuous nature.

Every choice has its price, and you must bear it.

Just as he chose to enter the path of the demons, he had to bear the eternal curse and battles, with no way back.

But he doesn't regret it.

This is the path he chose, and he will bear the consequences.

"Are you... sure you've thought this through?"

Kokushibo asked again.

Xue Nai was taken aback by his question. The excitement and eagerness on her face gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

She blinked, her little hands clenching her sleeves, trying to understand the meaning behind her teacher's words.

Now that I've brought it back, is it enough to just play with it?

Do we really need to consider so many things?

but……

The image of the little dog curled up on the ground, trembling, with its wet, black eyes flashed before her eyes again...

"……I……"

She spoke softly, her voice hesitant, but quickly became firm.

"I've made up my mind, teacher. I... I'll take good care of it..."

But when Kokushibo heard her first words, which were initially hesitant but eventually turned into firmness, he had already made up his mind.

The child's words may be naive, and his promises may be immature, but they are not entirely the result of an impulsive thought process, and he sensed that.

This is enough.

What happens next is another matter.

Teaching is a process that involves repeated attempts, choices, and bearing the consequences.

So, just as Yukina was about to say something more, Kokushibo nodded slightly, interrupting her thoughts.

"If that's the case..."

He stood up, the hem of his deep purple kimono brushing against the tatami mat.

"...Then let's go."

He spoke succinctly, then turned and walked toward the paper sliding door of the Japanese-style room.

Yukina was stunned for a moment, and then a huge joy exploded in her heart like fireworks!

"That's great! Thank you, teacher!!"

She cheered, scrambled to her feet, and hurried after him, her hem swaying merrily behind her.

This was the first time that Yukina had left the Infinity Castle with a demon other than her father.

When the surrounding scenery stabilized and she stepped back onto the ground, she subconsciously reached out her small hand and tightly grasped the hem of Kokushibo's deep purple kimono.

"Teacher," she pointed in the direction of the alley in her memory, "yesterday... I met the little dog here."

"……Um."

Kokushibo responded in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the somewhat dilapidated street scene around him. He didn't say anything more, but simply started walking steadily in the direction she pointed.

Xue Nai followed closely behind, her little hand always clutching the hem of his clothes.

I thought that after a night, the injured stray dog ​​might have already left the area that caused it so much pain and found another place to live.

However, before they even reached the alley where the incident had occurred the day before, they unexpectedly encountered their target at a relatively secluded fork in the road.

The skinny yellow mongrel was curled up beside a half-collapsed pile of abandoned timber, trying to lick a newly added wound on its front leg.

Compared to yesterday, it seemed to have more small scratches and mud on its body, making it look even more disheveled.

It was extremely sensitive to scents and raised its head almost the instant Yukina and Kokushibo appeared.

When those wet, black eyes saw Yukina clearly, her little tail immediately started wagging uncontrollably, and a soft whimper came from her throat.

However, when its gaze fell upon the tall figure beside Xue Nai, its wagging tail instantly froze.

It then drooped down close to its abdomen, the fur on its back stood up slightly, it bared its small teeth, and let out a low growl.

"Little puppy, don't bark," Xue Nai quickly squatted down and waved her little hand at it in a friendly manner, trying to soothe it.

"This is my teacher! She's the best, the very best teacher, and she won't hurt you!"

The little dog still stared warily at Kokushibo, its body tense, but under Yukina's gentle call, it finally overcame its fear.

It lowered its tail and carefully moved over step by step.

First, it sniffed at Yukina's outstretched hand, and after confirming that it was the right one, it let out a louder whimper and gently rubbed its head against Yukina's palm.

"Teacher, teacher, look!"

Yukina felt the furry touch in her palm, and her eyes curved into crescents with joy. She looked up at Kokushibo, who had been silent beside her, her little face full of bright smiles.

"It's here! It actually remembered me! It's so cute!"

Kokushibo stood quietly to one side, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the light.

The phrase "the best teacher" still echoes in his mind.

most……

What constitutes the best?

This vocabulary was almost ironic to him.

If this child in front of me could one day learn about that person's charisma...

Yoriichi, the strongest child of God since birth...

At that time, she will probably regret what she said today...

She will truly understand what is best, and what is so perfect that it makes one feel powerless even to look up at it.

Yoriichi...

Just the thought of that name alone is enough to uncontrollably unleash a torrent of emotions.

My stomach is twitching slightly, and my throat feels tight.

He needed to muster all his self-control to maintain his composure and prevent any sign of anything amiss.

Kokushibo lowered his gaze and looked at Yukina, who was squatting on the ground.

She was smiling so hard her eyes disappeared as she stroked the little yellow dog with her small hand.

That warm image vaguely overlapped with a blurry childhood silhouette in my memory, then quickly separated.

"……Um."

In the end, he simply responded with a sound, which was his way of acknowledging Xue Nai's sharing.

He slightly raised his hand, as if to indicate something, or perhaps it was just a habitual gesture.

The fingertips paused in the air for a moment, then did nothing, simply falling back to their sides.

After touching it for a while, Xue Nai finally remembered the important matter.

"Little puppy, would you like to come home with me?"

The little yellow dog in front of her seemed to understand. It hesitated for a moment, glanced at Heishibo, and finally sat down properly next to her.

"Do you agree?"

Yukina looked delighted and asked again.

As if in response, the puppy moved closer to her and even stretched out a paw.