Higashino Makoto didn't stop; he continued walking forward.
The demon waved its six arms, covered in sharp claws, and reached for the food in front of it.
But Higashino Makoto didn't look at them; he just kept walking forward at a leisurely pace, as if he were strolling in his own Garden.
"Stop."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every ghost present.
The ghost's movements froze.
Under the influence of the "Dominate" magic, the ghost involuntarily stopped its movements, becoming like a statue.
Its red eyes stared at the silver-haired, golden-eyed man, his reflection shimmering in its pupils.
It wanted to pounce on him, to tear him apart, to devour him, but its body wouldn't obey its commands.
Higashino Makoto stopped and looked it over.
The karma above his head was clearly visible to him.
Something like rotten silt clung to the soul of every ghost.
"Not bad, there are enough customers, they must have eaten there quite a few times."
He said in a low voice.
"Muzan Kibutsuji would at least glance at a demon of this level, right?"
What's your name?
The demon did not answer; perhaps Muzan Kibutsuji's control had partially negated the control he was under.
It simply stood there, its deep red eyes fixed on Higashino Makoto, its body slightly leaning forward, like a wild beast ready to pounce at any moment.
"It's okay if you don't tell me."
Higashino Makoto raised his hand, and a dark purple light appeared in his palm.
Magic "Dominate".
"Look at me."
The ghost's body trembled violently.
The moment its eyes met Higashino Makoto's, a dark purple light flew out from Higashino Makoto's palm, transforming into countless fine threads that wrapped around the demon's body.
The silk threads seeped into its skin, into its muscles, into its soul.
The ghost's struggle lasted only a moment.
Its gaze shifted from calm to vacant, and then from vacant to submissive.
"Owner."
It knelt down on one knee and lowered its head.
"Your faithful servant greets you."
Higashino Makoto looked at it and nodded.
"What you were called before doesn't matter. From today onwards, you are the bait."
"Yes, Master."
Higashino Makoto took the silver ring out of his backpack, knelt down, and put it on the demon's finger.
The pale yellow gemstone on the ring face glowed faintly in the moonlight, as if a miniature sun was sleeping within it.
"Tomorrow morning, when the sun rises."
He stood up and took a step back.
"Step into the sunlight, and then say that name."
The ghost raised its head, its deep red eyes looking at him.
What's your name?
"Muzan Kibutsuji."
The ghost's body trembled violently.
Because of fear?
No, Dominate creatures do not experience fear.
Rather, it's because of a certain power inherent in the name itself, like Curse branded deep within the soul of every ghost.
"Say his name out loud, and if it doesn't work the first time, try again. After that, just follow his orders as usual."
"Yes, Master."
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked out of the village.
"Let's go. It's still early, let's find a hotel to rest."
Momo followed behind him, and the three butterfly sisters followed behind her.
The ghost knelt on the temple steps, gazing in that direction.
The moonlight shone on it, casting its shadow on the broken stone slabs, lonely and slender.
On its finger, the silver ring gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
That was the last treasure of its life.
It was also the last shackle in its life.
The next morning, the sun rose above the eastern horizon.
The first rays of sunlight shone on the land of that abandoned village, turning the grayish-white pebbles golden.
The ghost stood in the open space in the center of the village.
Its deep red eyes gazed at the brightening eastern sky, the golden sunlight reflected in its pupils.
The ring was worn on its finger.
The silver-white ring had a pale yellow gemstone on its face that was glowing.
The light spread from the ring face to its fingers, from the fingers to the palm, and from the palm to the whole body.
The sunlight fell on it.
It did not burn, did not turn to ashes, and did not even emit any painful roars.
It simply stood there, in the sunlight, like an ordinary person.
The ghost lowered its head and looked at its hands.
That dark purple skin stood out exceptionally well under the sunlight.
"Sunlight..."
It spoke softly, its voice hoarse.
"... Not hot."
It raised its head and looked up at the sky again.
Something was gleaming in those deep red eyes.
It was a kind of radiance, like finally seeing something you've longed for your whole life.
Then, it opened its mouth.
The sound wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire village in the quiet of the early morning.
"Muzan Kibutsuji."
It said.
"Muzan Kibutsuji. Muzan Kibutsuji."
It was repeated three times.
The first time, it was calm.
The second time, it carried a kind of suppressed anger, as if it were surging from the depths of the soul.
The third time, it had turned into a scream.
"Muzan Kibutsuji--!"
The sound echoed through the ruins, crashing against the collapsed walls and bouncing back as a buzzing echo.
This was a name he had never dared to say before, or even think about.
Under the sunlight, loudly and brazenly, as if in defiance.
Then, it sensed it.
A pair of eyes.
It was as if they were surging in from all directions at once, an omnipresent and inescapable gaze.
Those were Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes. He was looking through the eyes of those demons who were still alive.
Look at this foolish and despicable Traitor dared to utter his name.
The ghost raised its head and looked at the sky.
Are you watching?
It said the voice was calm.
"Are you watching, Muzan Kibutsuji?"
Silence.
Then, a voice rang in its mind.
It didn't just enter through the ears; it was etched directly into the soul.
"... How did you do that?"
The voice was deep and calm, carrying an echo that instilled a primal fear, as if it came from the bottom of Abyss.
The ghost did not answer.
It simply raised its hand, holding the ring on its finger up to its eyes.
The pale yellow gemstone shimmered in the sunlight, like a miniature sun.
"What's this?"
Muzan Kibutsuji's voice was filled with excitement and urgency.
It was like the trembling of a wild beast that had been starving for a thousand years and finally smelled blood.
The ghost lowered its hand, and a slow smile crept onto its lips.
"It's this ring."
It said.
"It's a treasure that allows ghosts to walk in the sunlight."
A long silence.
So long that the sunlight changed from pale gold to golden yellow, so long that the wind blew from east to west, so long that the ghosts hiding in the ruins in the distance retreated back into the shadows.
Then, Muzan Kibutsuji's voice rang out again.
"Wait there, stay where you are, don't go anywhere."