As the group ventured deeper into the forest, the traces of demons grew thicker.
Sticky spider webs were entangled everywhere, making it difficult even to lift their feet.
At that moment, a shadow leaped out from the darkness of the forest.
"Who goes there! How dare you enter my domain!"
Along with a sharp voice appeared a bizarre-looking demon with human form mixed with spider characteristics—Spider Sister.
"Demons? And humans? What kind of combination is this? Don't you know who's here? The Twelve Kizuki are here! Get lost now!"
She arrogantly looked down on Akira's group without even grasping the situation.
"Are you really going to make her your subordinate? She doesn't seem very strong."
Akira said while scrutinizing Spider Sister.
"Master! They say even dog poop can be used as medicine! I'll quickly train that kind of creature and make her my underling number two!"
Mukago licked her lips as she looked at Spider Sister. If she could make that creature her subordinate, her position in the mansion would become even more solid.
"Wh-what? What are you all talking about? This area is our family's——!"
Spider Sister seemed flustered by Akira and Mukago's nonchalant conversation.
At that moment, her gaze turned upward.
Her eyes met Nobunaga's, who was sitting on her matchlock, looking down at her with a red cloak fluttering.
"Hmm~ She definitely looks weak."
Nobunaga's overwhelming presence. Her demon instincts warned her.
That was not a being she could handle.
"Eek! D-dad! Dad! Help me!"
Spider Sister screamed in panic as she backed away. At her cry, a massive vibration that seemed to shake the entire forest was felt.
Thud, thud, thud!
Along with footsteps that resonated through the earth, trees in the forest collapsed helplessly as a giant monster appeared.
A demon with human form but covered in bursting muscles, with several spider eyes embedded in its hideous face—Spider Father.
"Don't touch my family!!!"
Due to Rui's punishment, his intelligence had been reduced to that of a child, and he exuded killing intent toward the enemy solely out of a simple instinct to protect his family.
"So that's the dad. Just big, but seems stupid."
Nobunaga sneered at Spider Father and aimed her gun.
Her bullets contained the mystic-slaying property fatal to beings belonging to mystery. Originally, as bullets of a Servant, they were powerful even without such attributes.
No matter how tough a demon's hide was, it was like paper before her gun.
Bang!
A crisp gunshot sound split the forest.
Splat!
"Gyaaah!"
One of Spider Father's thick arms exploded without a trace.
It wasn't a simple penetration wound. The moment it hit, it was a destructive power that ignored the demon's regenerative ability and crumbled the flesh.
Even the leg grazed by the bullet was torn to shreds, becoming a bloody mess.
"Hahaha! What, too boring? Well, is it because I'm too strong?"
Nobunaga yawned as if bored and reloaded.
Spider Father, writhing in pain, opened the ability he received from Rui out of instinctive crisis sense.
Grrrr!
His body swelled up and began to shed its skin.
Molting. His size doubled, and his muscles and skin hardened to be tougher than steel. His face became even more hideous, and blade-like protrusions sprouted on his arms.
It was an enhanced form where strength and durability had dramatically increased.
"Grooaaar!"
Spider Father let out a monstrous roar. But Nobunaga snorted.
"Do you think changing your shell will make a difference? This time, I'll blow off your arm."
Nobunaga placed her finger on the trigger.
That was when.
"Wait a moment! Nobunaga-sama!"
Mukago urgently shouted toward her.
"Let me finish that creature! It's a waste to use your precious bullets on such a sandbag!"
In truth, she wanted to show her new subordinate (Spider Father) being overpowered by her strength in front of her number one underling, Spider Mother.
That way, the hierarchy would be clearly established.
Akira, fully aware of Mukago's intentions, nodded.
"Alright. Don't beat him too badly, do it moderately."
"Thank you! Hey, big guy! Your opponent is me!"
Mukago confidently leaped out.
Spider Father, who had molted and grown gigantic, tried to slam down his fist, but Mukago had already burrowed into his embrace.
"How dare you resist when you're going to become Master's gatekeeper!"
A chilling blue coldness wrapped around Mukago's leg. She accurately targeted Spider Father's shin joint.
"Blood Demon Art: [Fetters of Frozen Earth]!"
Crack! Splat!
As Mukago's kick struck Spider Father's knee joint, powerful coldness penetrated deep into the bone.
The hardened skin was useless. The joint itself instantly froze, and the leg turned to ice shattered into pieces under Mukago's kick.
"Gyaaah!"
Spider Father screamed and collapsed. One leg had completely frozen and broken, leaving him unable to stand.
The overwhelming difference in power. Spider Father instinctively realized.
That the small female demon before him was a far superior predator. A monster of the same caliber as Rui.
He trembled in fear and backed away.
Akira slowly walked toward the fallen Spider Father.
"Grrr…."
Spider Father growled in fear, but Akira, without changing his expression, reached out his hand.
Crunch!
Akira's hand mercilessly grabbed Spider Father's jaw. Then, with force, he pried it open, crushing the jawbone and tearing it apart.
"Gack…!"
"Open wide. Medicine's coming in."
Akira shoved his wounded hand into Spider Father's torn mouth. Dark red blood flowed down the throat.
Along with the pain of cells burning, Rui's domination washed away as if cleaned. Moments later, the killing intent in Spider Father's eyes vanished, leaving only a dazed light of obedience.
"Good. Secure a sturdy gatekeeper. If raised well, he could reach Lower Moon level. Molting itself is a good ability."
Akira stood up, brushing off the saliva on his hand.
Seeing that sight, Spider Sister panicked.
"D-dad was taken down in an instant! M-monsters!"
She screamed and tried to escape by threading silk. But behind her, Mukago with fiery eyes was already there.
"Where do you think you're running? My underling number two!"
"Eek! Don't come closer!"
Spider Sister shot out silk threads, but Mukago contemptuously shattered them with a single hand gesture, freezing them.
Mukago closed the distance instantly, grabbed Spider Sister by the hair, and dragged her down to the ground.
"Got you, you wench!"
"Let go! Let go of me!"
Spider Sister struggled, but she couldn't withstand the grip of Mukago, who had grown to Lower Moon Two level.
Mukago, smiling, dragged her toward Akira.
"Master! I've caught this one too!"
Akira looked down at Spider Sister with an annoyed expression.
"She's noisy, so make her quiet."
At his words, Mukago choked Spider Sister's neck, and Akira forced blood into her forcibly opened mouth.
"Ugh…! Ubuugh!"
Spider Sister, forced to swallow the blood, rolled on the ground in agony before becoming docile. She too was reborn as Akira's loyal servant.
Once the situation was settled, Mukago made Spider Mother, Father, and Sister kneel in a neat row.
"Now, listen well! I am Mukago-sama, your direct senior and the one favored by Master! Understand? Move briskly from now on!"
"Yes… Mukago-sama…."
The spider family answered in unison, overwhelmed by Mukago's momentum. Mukago proudly placed her hands on her hips and snorted. Finally, she had subordinates of her own.
Since Ubume wasn't inclined to command underlings, these were her own demon subordinates. Finally feeling her position had risen somewhat, she was happy.
That was when.
Swish.
The bushes frozen by Mukago were effortlessly sliced apart by sharp threads. The forest air instantly grew heavy.
A sinister and ominous demonic aura, on a different dimension from the family-play demons so far, flowed out.
From the darkness, a boy slowly descended on white spider threads. It was Lower Moon Five, Rui.
He coldly looked down at the sight of his family submitting to Akira and Mukago.
"What have you done to my family?"
The space around Rui trembled sharply due to anger. Indeed, as a demon who had received much of Muzan's blood, his intimidating presence was different.
But Akira was composed. He looked at Rui and gestured to Kanae and Shinobu beside him.
"Kanae, Shinobu."
"Yes, Akira-san."
"You two handle that one. He's Lower Moon Five. A perfect opponent to test the results of your training so far."
At Akira's words, Kanae and Shinobu's eyes turned serious.
"Understood. Please watch over us."
Kanae gracefully drew her sword. Shinobu also drew a sword that appeared ordinary but was made very light with magecraft and had injection functions.
"A perfect little one for dissection. I wonder if poison will work well on him."
Akira crossed his arms and stepped back. Now, it was time for the Butterfly Sisters' dance to begin.
"Kanao, just watch for now. He's not your opponent yet."
"Yes. I'll watch closely what my sisters do."
Just watching would be enough experience. Kanao had good eyes.
Mukago, not even seeing Rui as her rival, was chattering to the spider family about Akira's household.
And Nobunaga.
"Darn, I didn't bring any snacks."
Had finished preparing to watch the fight.