Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

Doma blinked, then slowly raised his head completely, looking in the direction from which the barking was coming.

There stood an ordinary-looking little yellow dog under the eaves, its limbs tense, its body slightly lowered, its bright black eyes fixed on him, and it was making a whimpering sound.

Where did this puppy come from?

Is it Yukina's new Blood Demon Art?

A blood demon technique that can turn you into a puppy? That's really interesting!

Doma stepped forward and sniffed the air!

wrong!

It's actually a real dog!

A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even stronger curiosity.

Oh my, in a place like this, in Yukina's garden, a live puppy actually appears?

This is much more interesting than his Crystal Princess!

After all, living things would have more realistic reactions.

"hello!"

He remained lying on the ground, raised one hand, and waved to the puppy with a smile, his voice full of enthusiasm.

"Are you here to play with Yukina too? What a coincidence! Me too!"

The little yellow dog clearly didn't think he was a good person.

It growled, then suddenly charged at Tongmo without hesitation, stopping a few steps away and continuing to bark loudly at him: "Woof! Woof woof!"

"Huh—?"

Doma was taken aback by the intense reaction, but then his smile became even brighter, even showing a hint of surprise.

"Are you greeting me? You're so enthusiastic!"

"I knew it! How could anyone—no, a dog—not like me? Looks like we're destined to be together!"

As he spoke, he tried to get up from the grass, moving slowly with a smile on his face, and moved a little closer to the puppy.

The little yellow dog was startled by his inexplicable approach and jumped back a small step, its fur standing on end even more, and the low growl in its throat turned into a more urgent bark.

It circled the doyoma, changed its angle, and continued barking at him: "Woof woof woof!"

"Hey, are you talking to me? What do you want to say?"

"Woof woof woof...woof woof!"

"I'm so sorry."

"I don't quite understand what you're saying. But that's okay, we can talk it out slowly. Relationships are built up over time!"

He lay or half-sat on the ground, ignoring the dog's barking, and started talking to it.

Nakime, who was in her room sensing the movements around her, paused for a moment on the biwa strings.

As for Doma's behavior of... engaging in a one-sided, pleasant exchange with a dog.

She really didn't know how to evaluate it.

"Zheng".

A clear and melodious pipa note rang out in the air diagonally above the courtyard.

Nakime appeared on an extended wooden platform.

She stared blankly at the increasingly agitated puppy and the happy Doma on the grass below.

"Lord Upper Moon Two, this is Miss Yukina's dog."

"Ara ara!"

Doma looked up and saw Nakime. His smile immediately became even brighter. He quickly opened his fan and gently shook it.

"Is it really Yukina's dog? I knew it! No wonder it's here! It's just as lively, cute, and energetic as Yukina!"

He's so smart, of course he figured it out long ago!

In this Infinite City, besides Yukina, who else would bring a useless, ordinary little dog in...?

As far as he knew, none of the Upper Moons ate animals.

Ordinary ghosts rarely feed on wild animals, unless they are so weak that they can't even catch a human...

Moreover, if this dog hadn't been allowed in Yukina's yard, it probably would have had its head crushed by Muzan-sama long ago...

Interesting, really interesting!

After giving that instruction, Nakime didn't want to linger for even a second longer.

Just as Douma opened his mouth, seemingly preparing to greet her or ask for more details with his cheerful words,

"Zheng".

Another soft sound of a pipa rang out, and Nakime's figure appeared as abruptly as it had, vanishing from the platform in an instant.

"...Oh dear, they've gone."

Doma blinked, looking at the empty platform, his tone filled with regret, but his smile remained unchanged.

He was already used to Miss Pipa's style.

Doma's attention quickly returned to the little yellow dog in front of him.

It had retreated behind the pillar of the veranda, peeking out only half its head and one eye, watching him warily.

Don't be shy~

Doma stood up from the ground and took another small step toward the puppy with a smile.

"Now it's just the two of us, so we can continue our pleasant conversation. You clearly wanted to play with me, didn't you?"

The little yellow dog burst out from behind the pillar, barked at him again, and even made a tentative lunge forward before quickly retreating to a safe distance.

It's so funny how this dog looks, both scared and wanting to attack!

……

"Dad, your handwriting is so beautiful!"

"Dad, you're so amazing! You can do everything!"

"Xue Nai loves her dad the most..."

Hearing the child's string of praises, Muzan remained outwardly expressionless, seemingly unmoved. In reality, however, his pen slipped, and a stroke that should have ended smoothly veered abruptly to the side.

"dad,"

Yukina keenly noticed the unusual character. She stretched out her little finger and curiously poked the crooked ink mark, her eyes sparkling with surprise. "This character... it looks so peculiar! It's crooked, like it's dancing!!"

The next second, her vision was once again blocked by a cool, large hand.

"Hmm... Dad?"

When her sight returned, a brand new sheet of washi paper had been placed on the low table.

The piece of paper from before has disappeared without a trace.

"Huh—?"

Yukina blinked in confusion, her little head turning rapidly. "Where's that piece of paper? Did it run away?"

She even considered bending down to look under the table.

"This is the piece of paper." Muzan glanced at it sideways, his expression warning.

Xue Nai looked at the brand-new piece of paper in front of her, and then secretly glanced at her father's face.

Hmm... Dad said they're the same, so they probably are!

She seemed to understand something, a look of sudden realization appearing on her small face, and she nodded in a seemingly profound manner.

Muzan watched her nod, and couldn't help but curse her in his heart for being such an idiot, so easily fooled.

He said nothing more, dipped his brush in ink again, and placed the tip on the new paper.

"Ah! That's Yukina's name!"

Muzan did not respond to her, but continued writing, adding a few more words next to her.

Then, he gently tapped the newly written character with the end of his pen: "Whose name is this?"

Xue Nai immediately leaned closer, observed his expression, thought for a moment, and her little brain was working at a rapid pace.

Finally, she shouted, "It's Daddy's name!"

At least I'm not that stupid.

"Remember this, or I'll throw you out!"

In the time that followed, Xue Nai memorized those words with utmost care.

Even after she was sent back to her room, those few words were still swirling in her mind.

"Woof woof woof! Woof-woof!"