Morning at the Eternal Paradise Faith.
Kotoha knelt on the tatami, holding a rattle drum as she gently tried to amuse Inosuke.
Yet her gaze kept drifting, again and again, toward the corner of the room.
Sitting there was the owner of this room—Upper Rank Two, Doma.
Doma was carefully wiping his fans. The golden fan surfaces were sharp as blades, reflecting a chilling light.
"Kotoha-chan, stop shaking that rattle."
Doma didn't even look up, his tone light and casual.
"Sing Hook Pinkies and Make a Promise again. I love hearing you sing that one. I think Inosuke likes it too."
Kotoha's hand stiffened. A deep flush swept across her face, and the rattle slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor.
"Tanuki-san… tanuki-san…"
She sang it wrong again...
"Inosuke, come here."
Doma beckoned with his hand, just like he was calling his own biological son.
At the moment, Inosuke was sprawled on the tatami, diligently working on his core strength.
Hearing the call, he cursed internally—so much trouble—but on the surface, he immediately broke into a radiant smile and crawled over using both hands and feet.
When he reached Doma's legs, Inosuke didn't hesitate at all. Like a kitten, he grabbed Doma's pant leg and tried to climb up.
The motion was practiced enough to be heartbreaking.
Doma smiled and casually lifted him with one hand, settling him onto his knee.
"Come. Daddy will show you something fun."
Doma flicked his wrist.
Shua!
The pair of golden fans snapped open violently. A sharp gust of wind sliced straight toward Inosuke's face—stopping just 0.01 centimeters from the tip of his nose.
A few strands of the baby's already sparse hair were shaved off, drifting lazily to the ground.
Kotoha clapped a hand over her mouth, nearly screaming. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
This wasn't playing with a child—this was playing with his life!
Yet Inosuke didn't even blink.
Based on his understanding of Doma, he could tell that although the strike looked terrifying, there was no actual killing intent behind it.
Doma's control was terrifyingly precise.
This was pure showing off.
What are you flexing for, you old freak—
"Oh?"
Doma looked at the calm, unflinching Inosuke, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"Not scared? That thing can slice a human head off like cutting tofu, you know."
Inosuke stared fixedly at the fan. Though it was engraved with exquisite lotus patterns, it carried a faint smell of blood and an icy chill.
For someone with an Ice Spirit Physique, that chill felt… nice.
Cool and refreshing.
Like a popsicle in summer.
So, under Doma's surprised gaze, Inosuke stretched out his chubby little hand.
He didn't grab the sharp edge of the fan.
Instead, he precisely grasped the very end of the handle.
"Yi-ya!"
Inosuke tugged hard at the fan tassel.
"You want it?"
Doma let go.
The heavy pair of fans immediately pressed down onto Inosuke's tiny hands.
An ordinary baby would've dropped it instantly—or had it smash their foot—but Inosuke was born freakishly strong. He actually hugged the fan with both hands, holding onto the weapon that was bigger than his own face.
Then, he did something Doma completely didn't expect.
Imitating Doma's movements from just moments ago, Inosuke struggled and swung the fan once.
The motion was clumsy. The swing was sloppy.
But that "I'm about to cut something" aura?
He copied it perfectly.
Whoosh!
The fan, carrying a weak gust of wind, slapped squarely against Doma's chest.
The hall fell into dead silence. Kotoha was so frightened she didn't dare breathe.
Doma lowered his head, looked at the fan pressed to his chest, then at Inosuke's serious expression—like he was saying I can do it too.
After a brief pause, Doma burst into delighted laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!
"Good!
"Like me!
"Just like me...!"
He snatched the fan back, gently folding it shut, then affectionately rubbed Inosuke's head. At this point, he was utterly enamored with the child.
"Did you see that, Kotoha?" Doma pointed at Inosuke, his eyes blazing with fervor.
"He didn't play with the tassel. He didn't try to bite the fan bones.
"He was copying my movements. He was learning how to use a weapon."
"He's only how old? A few months? And he already has a hunter's instinct?"
Doma lifted Inosuke high and kissed that pink, tender little face.
"Perfect!"
Inosuke rolled his eyes internally.
I just wanted to see if the fan was heavy and whether it could be sold for money. Who wanted to learn how to kill people?
But seeing how happy Doma was…
Forget it.
My dad's brain is broken.
"Let's go."
In high spirits, Doma tucked Inosuke under his arm and stood up.
"There's a morning assembly at the cult today. I'll take you to meet those idiots who worship you as a god."
Kotoha hurriedly got up, wanting to take the child back.
"Lord Cult Leader, let me hold him instead—"
"No need. You should rest properly, Kotoha-chan. You ran so far last night; you must be exhausted.
"As his father,
this child should be held by me right now."
He was still fixated on the fact that Kotoha had fled after seeing him eat people.
Inosuke was very uncomfortable being carried like that, but he didn't make a fuss.
Through the gap in Doma's arm, he looked back at his trembling mother and quietly waved a tiny hand at her.
As if to say—
Mom, don't be afraid. I've got you.
In the grand hall of the Eternal Paradise Faith, hundreds of believers knelt prostrate, incense smoke filling the air.
Doma sat upon the lotus throne, casually placing Inosuke on his knee.
"Everyone, today I have a small worry."
Below, a merchant-like believer raised his head trembling.
"The Cult Leader's worries are our sins! Please instruct us!"
"Oh, it's nothing much."
Doma waved his fan lazily, pointing at Inosuke, who was drooling while staring at the apples on the offering table.
"My child is growing. But how could ordinary, mundane things possibly be worthy of him?
"He is a child of the gods."
The believers instantly understood and began shouting over one another.
"I have a thousand-year-old ginseng at home!"
"I have deep-sea pearl powder!"
"I'm willing to donate my entire fortune to build a palace for the Young Master!"
"I have daughters—and sons too! Let the Young Master pick a few to take!"
Inosuke was stunned as he looked at these lunatics.
So this is the value of a cult leader's clout?!
If this could all be converted into cash, I wouldn't even need to become a Hashira—I could just become the world's richest man!
Doma turned his head, looked at Inosuke's sparkling eyes, and chuckled softly.
"See, Inosuke. This is humanity.
"Weak. Foolish. Blind.
"As long as you give them even a shred of illusory hope, they'll offer you everything they have.
"Learn this well. This is a game far more interesting than killing people...
"Salvation for all~"
Listening to the demon's whisper, Inosuke felt not the slightest ripple in his heart.
He only knew one thing—
All these good offerings?
You'd be stupid not to eat them.
He reached out, grabbed a large apple from the offering table, and smashed it hard onto the floor.
Crack!
The crisp sound echoed throughout the grand hall.