Serve the Lord Cult Leader Well

The Eternal Paradise Cult's headquarters was not in the city. The man had only heard of the cult's existence through other channels before gradually learning more about it.

He was one of the Eternal Paradise Cult's most devout followers and had even met the Lord Cult Leader, Doma, in person to explain his troubles to him.

It was then that the Lord Cult Leader had mentioned that he could send his daughter to the cult.

At least she would have enough to eat.

He had never suspected that the Eternal Paradise Cult might be some sort of evil cult.

After all, the Lord Cult Leader, Doma, possessed a pair of seven-colored eyes and pure white, oak-colored hair. He could communicate with the heavens.

When he mentioned this, the man could not help taking another look at Yuko.

Those unusual pupils were no less remarkable than Doma's.

Yuko ignored his scrutiny and asked, "About how many people are in the cult?"

"More than two hundred. The Lord Cult Leader... that evil Demon seems unwilling to continue expanding their numbers."

"Some people in the cult have mentioned expanding, but he rejected them all."

There were struggles between cults as well. Buddhism and Taoism, for example, would fight over followers and territory.

It was rare for a cult to have no desire to expand outward.

He probably doesn't want to make things too big.

Yuko thought.

After his battle with Yoriichi, Muzan had become a rat who lacked the bearing of a villainous boss. He would never allow his subordinates to act so brazenly.

At least, not before he had completely overcome the sunlight.

"Did no girls go missing in the past?"

"..." After a moment of silence, the man said in a low voice, "They did, but everyone believed they had gone to the paradise world to enjoy themselves."

They really had gone to the paradise world.

That was one hell of a joke.

Amid the silence, the man suddenly said, "We've arrived."

Yuko followed the direction of his finger and saw an imposing estate ahead. People were coming and going, and there seemed to be quite a few of them.

Yuko glanced at the pedestrians on both sides of the street. The cult was actually located in the city in such an overt manner.

Though it was not in a prosperous district, merely on the outskirts.

"You can go back."

The man opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only nod helplessly.

After watching the man leave, Yuko looked up at the sky. It would be a while before nightfall.

Demons only came out to move around at night. That was common knowledge.

After wandering around the city for a while, she even spotted two Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.

Judging by their appearance, they were probably not here because of the Eternal Paradise Cult. They were merely passing through, and their purpose did not overlap with hers.

Yuko was genuinely relieved.

It was not that running into them would be awkward. More importantly, she was worried that she would have to investigate Doma while also worrying about rescuing people.

The quality of these recent generations of Demon Slayer Corps members was truly disheartening.

Could they really fight the Twelve Kizuki?

They simply did not have the ability.

When night came, Yuko wrapped herself up so thoroughly that no one could make out her original appearance, then slipped inside with a Nichirin Blade in hand.

As for the Demon Blade she had named "Shura," she had put it away.

She could guarantee that Doma would not see through her nature as one of his kind, but carrying that blade made it uncertain.

Besides, for Demons, battles between their kind were basically a matter of seeing who exhausted their strength first, whose attacks were stronger, and whose recovery was faster.

The weaker side would essentially be devoured by the other.

Demons could become stronger by eating other Demons as well.

There was even such a thing as ranking battles between the Twelve Kizuki.

Dusk was when Demons came out to move around, so the Eternal Paradise Cult had not quieted down. Instead, there were considerably more followers inside.

Yuko crouched on the roof, her brows tightly furrowed.

This is troublesome.

Meeting Doma from within this crowd of fanatical followers would probably not be easy.

She would not have much time.

Yuko silently moved forward. The farther inside she went, the fewer followers there were.

It seemed that not everyone could meet the Lord Cult Leader whenever they wished. Most followers could only pray devoutly outside.

Suddenly, two figures dressed as followers appeared before her.

A man and a woman.

The man was around thirty or forty years old, while the woman was extremely young, perhaps in her teens.

"Make sure you serve the Lord Cult Leader well when you go in," the man instructed. "This is an honor many people dream of but can never obtain."

"I-I understand!"

Yuko lowered her eyes slightly and saw through the girl's rapidly pounding heart.

It was not fear.

"Go on." The man escorted her only a short distance before withdrawing with a stoop.

The area behind them was basically cleared out.

Given the current situation, if things grew chaotic, these followers would probably reach Doma's residence within three minutes... No, even less.

The girl, her heart filled with excitement, walked toward the door.

The girl had a thin build. Clearly, she did not come from a wealthy family. Rather, she hovered below the line of basic subsistence, going hungry twice a day.

Perhaps she had already decided to sacrifice something in exchange for the means to survive. But she would never have imagined that what she had to give up was the very thing she longed to obtain.

The girl reached the door, knocked on it demurely, and then stepped inside stiffly.

Yuko touched the ground with her toes, her body drifting down to the roof like a falling leaf.

She lifted a roof tile and looked inside.

"What an adorable child today~"

The evil Demon named Doma, whose hair was the color of white oak, sat casually on a cushion, propping up one cheek with one hand as he looked at the girl.

The girl knelt and bowed to the floor, saying respectfully, "Lord Cult Leader, I am Aiko, here to serve you tonight."

Doma smiled brightly. "Aiko, huh? That's a lovely name too."

Judging only by his voice and tone, no one could have guessed that he was actually an ugly Demon.

But under the gaze of Yuko's Clear and Transparent World, his true form as a Demon was laid bare.

This appearance... He's an Upper Rank, just as I thought.

She had said that the name seemed familiar, as if it had something to do with... Giyu... the Water Hashira...

Yuko suddenly remembered where she had seen his name.

Giyu among the Hashira, Doma among the Demons...

That seemed to be what it meant.

She could not quite remember.

Besides, this character should not have appeared in the first season. Otherwise, seeing his appearance should have jogged her memory of something.

Aiko respectfully lay prostrate on the floor. "You flatter me, Lord Cult Leader."

"Hmm..." Doma tilted his head and hesitated. "Although I would love to enjoy you right away..."

Aiko's heart beat even faster, and her cheeks flushed.

"But with an outsider present, I would feel embarrassed too."

Doma suddenly raised his head and smiled at the ceiling.

"Isn't that right, you adorable young lady~"

Aiko raised her head slightly, confused about who he meant by outsider. Then a figure dropped from the roof and landed lightly in front of her.

Aiko cried out in shock, "Who are you?"

"Are you trying to assassinate the Lord Cult Leader?!"

Yuko was wearing a conical hat and a loose cloak. Since she had also jumped down from the roof, it was no wonder Aiko would think that.

Just as Aiko was about to shout for help, Yuko helplessly knocked her unconscious with a chop of her hand.

After lowering her carefully to the floor, Yuko looked up at Doma, who merely sat beside them with a bright smile.

How perceptive...

An Upper Rank... Six...