"Douma-sama, the water lilies in the courtyard are blooming beautifully."
Kiko held a few half-opened pinkish-purple lotus flowers, her tone light and cheerful.
"Ah, is it already the season for water lilies to bloom?"
It's already been three months since he started living as a demon.
Douma, as usual, sat cross-legged on a cushion at the altar, smiling as he watched Kiko arrange the water lilies in a vase.
He was now dressed in a black and gold-trimmed cult leader's attire with light gold striped trousers, and a black cape draped over his shoulders, adding a touch of solemnity and mystery.
Well, he certainly didn't want to wear some red bodysuit~
"Yes, are you going out to admire the flowers, Douma-sama?" Kiko asked with a smile.
"I won't go, it's enough for Kiko-nee-san to see them for me~" Douma said in a playful tone.
"Ah, this..." Kiko was a bit incoherent.
Douma-sama like this was truly too unfair, making it impossible for anyone to resist him.
"Douma-sama, the personnel for this 'Transference' ceremony have been confirmed." She quickly changed the subject, putting on a serious face and respectfully handing over a list.
"Just put it here." Douma glanced at it casually, saying languidly.
Kiko put down the list and let out a soft sigh.
She didn't know the specific process of this Transference ceremony, which had begun three months ago, but she clearly understood what kind of ceremony it was.
Volunteers from among the believers would sign up, and after a selection process, those who had no attachment to this world would be chosen, and then—
Douma-sama would personally guide them to Paradise.
To outsiders, it might sound a bit cruel, but to Kiko and the other believers, it was a good thing.
Seeing a glimmer of joyful light ignite in the numb, painful, and lifeless eyes of the chosen ones, that sense of relief, of finally being able to set down all burdens, always brought a strange comfort.
"May they find eternal happiness in Paradise." Kiko prayed in her heart.
"Speaking of which, there are rumors of man-eating demons circulating in the town down the mountain recently."
Before leaving the room, Kiko suddenly remembered this and quickly spoke.
"Huh?" Douma looked up blankly, his rainbow-colored eyes full of innocence.
He hadn't hunted in the town at the foot of the mountain this month.
"Perhaps bandits have infiltrated the town; a believer went missing last night." Kiko said with a worried expression.
"I hope Douma-sama will not go out at night during this time."
"Oh my, Kiko, are you worried about me? How cute~" Douma said with a brilliant smile, propping his cheek on one hand.
Kiko tried to maintain a serious and dignified posture, bowed slightly, and then walked out the door.
The moment she stepped out the door, Kiko finally let out a breath, her cheeks slightly flushed.
As an older woman, she shouldn't have been so flustered by teasing.
She seriously reflected on herself, and after calming her emotions, she glanced at the room where sunlight could not enter, and couldn't help but frown again.
"Honestly, who invited those craftsmen responsible for rebuilding the Monastery?" She grumbled discontentedly.
After Kiko closed the wooden door, Douma lay lazily on his side on the cushion, casually playing with his golden folding fan.
"Are there other demons nearby?"
"I haven't met any other of my kind yet, I wonder if we can communicate?" Douma showed a curious expression.
"But attacking my adorable believers makes me a little unhappy."
He suddenly spread open two opposing fans and brought them together.
"Blood Demon Art: Crystallizing Children~"
As the two fans separated, a translucent ice puppet, identical in appearance and attire to Douma, solidified between them.
The small ice figure, only about a meter tall, nimbly jumped to the ground, obediently tilting its head to look at him.
"What a lovely child."
Douma smiled and patted the little ice puppet's head with his fan.
His development of Blood Demon Art was very smooth; once he grasped the direction and outcome, everything fell into place naturally.
Currently, besides the ultimate move, Lotus Bodhisattva, which he couldn't yet complete, all other techniques were taking shape.
However, he had only been a demon for three months after all, and the amount of blood Muzan Kibutsuji bestowed upon him was not much, so the intensity of his Blood Demon Art was not yet very high.
But the beautiful appearance really suits him~
"Hmm, I really do have a talent for being a demon." Douma also tilted his head, looking at the little ice puppet in front of him.
"Oh, no, that's not right, I was very smart even when I was human~"
He closed his opposing fans again, and another small ice puppet jumped out, chasing and playing with the first ice puppet in the spacious room.
"The current limit is two." Douma fanned himself with the iron fan in his hand.
The two Miko began to wield their ice opposing fans, using various Blood Demon Art techniques to spar.
They could use Blood Demon Art of the same intensity as Douma's main body, but they couldn't release Crystallizing Children again, and from their size, they certainly couldn't unleash ultimate moves.
In a flash, the room's walls were covered in thick frost, as if instantly entering a kingdom of ice and snow.
Exquisite lotus and lotus leaf-shaped ice crystals bloomed everywhere, beautiful yet carrying deadly killing intent.
Chilling, biting misty ice crystals permeated the air, enough to freeze one's skin and cause difficulty breathing for those who inhaled them, leading to alveolar necrosis.
"Ah ah~ It's becoming more and more like my future self." Douma, enjoying the spectacle, directed the two little ice puppets to fight more fiercely.
However, he had no desire for close combat.
Even though his physical abilities were quite good, especially his speed, he had absolutely no experience in close combat.
—After all, he was just a weakling before becoming a demon.
And he didn't want to train at all.
So he might as well be a good ice mage and summoner.
Even if he accidentally got close, he could use Blood Demon Art to calmly force the enemy back, and if all else failed, there was Blood Demon Art: Haphazard Slapping... no, Withered Garden Hanging Snow, which could be used as a defensive measure.
But, ultimately, he actually didn't like fighting; developing Blood Demon Art was more because he found it fun.
"Should I develop an ability to escape? It seems quite necessary."
Douma watched the Miko spar, his expression becoming increasingly bored.
When night fully fell, he left the Monastery and entered the town at the foot of the mountain, wandering around.
Perhaps he could encounter a few delicious little desserts~
As night deepened, pedestrians on the streets gradually thinned out, but there were still some lively districts.
Douma strolled unhurriedly through the main streets and alleys, a carefree smile on his face, his exceptionally handsome appearance always attracting the amazed gazes of passersby.
Occasionally, he would be recognized by a few scattered believers in the crowd, receiving words of gratitude and reverence, or small gifts full of heartfelt intentions.
Douma tucked a flower given to him by a little girl behind his ear, and then smelled the distant scent of blood.
Hmm, and the scent of a fellow demon~
Douma followed the scent, entering a more secluded and deserted alley, where moonlight illuminated the splattered crimson traces on the ground.
A tall figure was squatting at the end of the alley, feasting on a mutilated body on the ground.
"Hey—excuse me~"
Douma canceled his mimicry, so as not to appear too out of place, then cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, drawing out his words as he softly greeted him.