The moment Kokushibo revealed that the bamboo flask contained human blood, Akaza's interest was immediately piqued.
Anything Kokushibo personally valued could not possibly be ordinary.
Doma, however, reacted with immediate disgust. The Upper Rank Two unfolded his golden folding fan and covered the lower half of his face dramatically.
"My apologies, Lord Kokushibo," he said with a pleasant smile. "But I have absolutely no interest in the blood of men. Please, the two of you enjoy it yourselves."
With exaggerated elegance, he pushed his cup aside.
Kokushibo nearly laughed.
What nonsense.
Did Doma really expect him to kneel and beg him to drink it?
Absolutely shameless.
Without another word, Kokushibo uncorked the bamboo flask.
Instantly, an intoxicating fragrance spread throughout the room.
The aroma was unbelievably rich.
Even Kokushibo himself had not expected Shinazugawa Sanemi's Marechi blood to possess such overwhelming potency. The scent alone caused the instincts of every demon present to stir violently.
Akaza unconsciously swallowed.
Even Doma's smile froze.
Kokushibo calmly poured half a cup for himself and another for Akaza before immediately sealing the container again to prevent the scent from spreading further.
Doma stared fixedly at the cups like a starving child watching a feast disappear.
Kokushibo raised his cup slightly toward Akaza.
"Drink slowly," he said calmly. "Savor it."
Then he took a sip.
The moment the blood touched his tongue, an indescribable sensation surged through his body.
It was as though every cell had been revitalized.
His muscles relaxed.
His senses sharpened.
Even his regeneration felt invigorated.
So this was Marechi blood.
No wonder demons lost themselves over it.
Akaza also drank a small mouthful.
Immediately, his eyes widened.
The usually stoic Upper Rank Three actually exhaled heavily in satisfaction. A faint flush even appeared across his cheeks.
For demons, this blood was no different from the finest liquor.
Doma, meanwhile, stared at them in disbelief.
His fan trembled in his hand.
"What are you doing?" Akaza suddenly snapped drunkenly, clutching his cup protectively. "Don't stare at mine!"
Doma immediately moved closer to Kokushibo with shameless enthusiasm.
"Brother Kokushibo," he said sweetly while tugging on his sleeve, "surely you wouldn't leave me out?"
Kokushibo nearly burst into laughter internally.
Hooked.
Completely hooked.
Without teasing him further, Kokushibo finally poured Doma a cup.
Doma wasted no time.
"Ahh !"
The moment he drank it, his eyes sparkled.
"So delicious!"
His expression looked almost blissful.
Even Kokushibo had to admit it was absurdly effective. At this rate, Shinazugawa Sanemi truly needed to stay alive no matter what.
Not only alive.
Healthy.
Properly fed.
Preferably producing enough blood to support an entire army of demons.
After another cup, Doma's behavior became noticeably stranger.
The Upper Rank Two suddenly stood up and began waving his fan dramatically while swaying around the room.
"I shall perform a dance for everyone!"
Kokushibo's eyelids twitched.
Akaza looked horrified.
Thankfully, Kotoha hurried over before Doma could begin tearing off his clothes.
"This idiot actually wants to perform a strip dance…" Kokushibo muttered.
Despite the chaos, Kokushibo himself remained relatively sober.
He leaned back slightly and spoke in a seemingly casual tone.
"Lately… I've been feeling an unusual gaze watching me from somewhere."
Akaza frowned and shook his head.
Doma thought seriously for several moments before also shaking his head.
Interesting.
So neither of them sensed it.
Kokushibo concealed his thoughts and continued drinking.
At some point, Doma suddenly glanced around the empty table.
"Hm? There are no side dishes."
Then he slowly turned toward Kotoha.
"How about we eat "
Before he could finish, Akaza slapped the back of his head.
"Second Rank… stop acting weird…"
Akaza himself was already thoroughly drunk.
His words slurred together.
"My Koyuki is coming to pick me up…"
Then he collapsed face-first onto the floor.
Kokushibo immediately activated the Transparent World instinctively.
After confirming Akaza was merely unconscious, he finally relaxed.
That nearly gave him a fright.
So demons really could become drunk enough to pass out.
Amazing.
Kokushibo hoisted Akaza over his shoulder while quietly storing away the remaining Marechi blood.
"Kotoha," he said calmly, "watch Doma carefully. Don't let him wander into sunlight while drunk."
"Yes," Kotoha answered obediently.
Then Kokushibo departed with Akaza.
After they left, Kotoha spent nearly an hour trying to settle Doma down.
Unfortunately, the drunken Upper Rank Two became even more troublesome than usual.
One moment he demanded a bedtime story.
The next, he insisted on hearing a lullaby.
Eventually, exhausted beyond measure, Kotoha allowed him to rest his head on her lap.
Doma immediately hugged her waist tightly while giggling foolishly.
Kotoha's face reddened.
For a moment, her heart genuinely skipped a beat.
Then
Doma fell asleep instantly.
Kotoha froze.
"…That's it?"
The next morning, Akaza awoke inside Kokushibo's residence.
More specifically
Inside Kokushibo's bed.
Even worse, he was tied up tightly with ropes stronger than steel chains.
The sound of his struggling woke Kokushibo from sleep.
"Hm?" Kokushibo sat up lazily. "You're awake."
Akaza stared blankly.
Why was he here?
Why was he tied up?
Why were they sharing a bed?!
Kokushibo rubbed his forehead with a tired sigh.
"What choice did I have? You kept grabbing onto me all night while muttering Koyuki's name."
Akaza instantly stiffened.
"If I hadn't tied you up," Kokushibo continued seriously, "my innocence would have been in danger."
Akaza's face darkened immediately.
Several minutes later, he fled the residence at top speed.
Before leaving, however, Kokushibo instructed him to contact Nakime.
He intended to visit Muzan.
After all, the events of the original story were rapidly approaching.
And Kokushibo had already decided something important.
If Muzan continued hiding forever like a coward, then everything would become troublesome.
No.
He needed to encourage him.
Support him.
Strengthen his courage.
Preferably right before throwing him directly toward disaster.
Soon afterward, Kokushibo arrived within the Infinity Castle.
Muzan Kibutsuji sat calmly at a low table.
Yet the moment he saw Kokushibo appear, his eyelid twitched involuntarily.
Calm down.
Be brave.
Nothing is wrong.
Kokushibo immediately noticed something else.
Muzan was currently using a male form.
Kokushibo silently stared at him.
Wait.
Why male?
You were perfectly fine wearing women's kimono before.
Why switch now of all times?
Kokushibo took a deep breath.
No matter.
Everything was for the future.
Everything was for conquering the sun.
Everything was for becoming the ultimate lifeform.
Thus, Kokushibo silently strengthened his resolve.
Even if Muzan appeared as a man
He would endure it.