What is the worst nightmare for a healthy man?
Dōma had always believed it was becoming disabled or losing physical fitness for various reasons.
Of course, this opinion was heavily influenced by the memories of Jay, his past life on 21st-century Earth.
After all, no matter how wealthy you are, health cannot be bought in the face of complex diseases like HIV.
But today, Dōma realized he had been mistaken.
"I… I think I'm pregnant."
Kaguya's voice was soft, but it shook Dōma's mind and heart.
Unfortunately, the news she delivered was a terrible shock.
The demon had never imagined becoming a father, let alone being a good one.
He had merely been experimenting, mimicking human anatomy as best he could through his biological manipulation.
During the act, Dōma had removed all inhuman elements tied to his demonic nature from his reproductive organs.
So, if he were to have a child by chance, that child would theoretically be purely human, based on his understanding.
'Did I really succeed? Damn… I wasn't even serious about this relationship!'
Dōma cared for Kaguya: a strong, determined woman who knew what she wanted and did everything to achieve it.
But…
'…I'm immortal.'
Kaguya and Kikyō would eventually be swept away by the river of time.
Even Yoriichi hadn't escaped that universal rule.
'It's too late for regrets. I'll do like Kokushibō… or the Joestar family: I'll cut ties if necessary after Kaguya's generation.'
It wasn't cowardice, just realism.
Dōma didn't want to become some cultivation novel ancestor, meddling in his descendants' lives whenever things went wrong.
"Is… is something wrong?" Kaguya asked, setting her teacup down on the traditional table, her worried gaze fixed on her delicate face.
Her usual confidence gave way to an unexpected fragility.
Anyone would have wanted to protect her upon seeing the doubt in her scarlet eyes.
"Hm… no. I was just wondering if Kaguya-chan will be able to produce milk with…"
The moment the words left his mouth, Kaguya's empty teacup smashed into the demon's face.
The young woman didn't appreciate that kind of joke, especially given her insecurities on the subject.
"Ouch… are you already trying to become a widow again?" Dōma said, rubbing his forehead with a smile, unscathed despite the attack.
"I expected a more… serious reaction from you."
She stood up with a graceful movement, ready to leave.
"You know how much this child means to us… no… to *me*…"
She had meant to say "us" but used "me" instead. Dōma could see Kaguya clenching her small fists in her kimono as she spoke the word.
Kaguya no longer wanted just a child; she wanted more from Dōma.
She opened her mouth to speak again, but the action didn't have time to finish: a warmth enveloped her.
Dōma had embraced her from behind.
"Sorry, Kaguya. You know me… I'm not ordinary, and I don't always know how to handle humans," he said in an emotionless, slightly inhuman voice, as Dōma wasn't wearing a mask at that moment.
The only difference between the Dōma perceived by the three thugs in the alley and the one facing Kaguya was a faint glimmer of sadness in his multicolored eyes.
He didn't use the Paradise of Vanity, as he sometimes did in Kaguya's presence.
Dōma showed his true face.
Yet, he chose to avoid revealing his demonic nature, having decided not to turn Kaguya into a demon.
The idea of turning Kaguya into a man-eating monster like himself was completely erased.
She was Kaguya, and that was enough.
He didn't want to see her die of old age, but even less did he want to see her distorted, like Ume who became Daki.
"Y-yes… you've always had an extreme view of everything: jokes, business… even women."
The hint of reproach in her voice didn't escape the demon.
Kaguya knew she couldn't formalize their relationship due to their respective social positions.
Of course, Dōma's flirtatious nature had also been a significant factor in this situation.
"Can you come with me to the festival tonight?" Kaguya asked, looking up at him.
The height difference—1.90 m versus 1.58 m—was striking in this scene, in the cult's reception hall.
"Sorry, but Kikyō needs me tonight. I promised her yesterday morning."
At the mention of that name, Kaguya's pretty face tensed slightly with anger.
It was an almost routine scene for Dōma: the two women didn't get along.
'I should find a way to reconcile them…'
They talked for a while longer before Kaguya took her leave.
She had a trading business to manage.
…
The New Year's festival was lively and splendid, thanks to the massive investments the cult had made for the event.
Colorful lanterns adorned every street, and crowds gathered around local food stalls, participating in various activities.
The lanterns, in various shapes, were held high by the townspeople, their flickering light reminiscent of stars twinkling in the night sky.
Drums and traditional songs created enchanting melodies, resonating through alleys and main streets.
The followers of the Eternal Paradise Faith had set up a lamppost in the heart of the liveliest street, receiving special treatment thanks to the cult's generous donations to the town.
Many carried lotus-shaped lanterns, with the words "Eternal Paradise" clearly visible in the nocturnal decor.
Dōma, dressed in a luxurious outfit specially prepared by Kikyō, sat atop a high platform surrounded by lanterns, legs crossed, an impeccable smile on his face as he observed the crowd in the street.
The believers had built this platform with almost religious care, as if they were celebrating a stone idol.
At the slightest gesture, someone would come to check on his comfort, treating him like a fragile object.
'So boring…'Dōma thought, nodding gently to a follower with a warm smile while inwardly cursing his fate.
At first, he enjoyed Kikyō's company, the duo "working" together by inspecting the cult's stalls and sharing a few pleasant moments.
Kikyō wanted to tell him something important, but an issue arose.
The Buddha statue, ordered from a sculptor, hadn't been delivered on time, and the cult had to improvise.
And then some fool mentioned Dōma's ethereal appearance in his new outfit.
The department heads noticed and unilaterally decided to place Dōma in the Buddha's spot.
'I should've gone to the Infinity Castle to connect more with Nakime-san…'
A thought neither Kaguya nor Kikyō would have appreciated.
The two women were already engaged in a silent battle under Dōma's gaze, and Nakime's arrival would be like pouring oil on the fire.
Yet Dōma remained convinced he wasn't doing anything wrong and could make everyone "happy."
Unbeknownst to him, he was following in the footsteps of his late father.
…
But the issue didn't end there, on this night of transition between two years.
At the other end of the street, a young man wearing a flame-patterned haori walked solemnly through the crowd.
Beneath his haori, a black outfit and a long sword sheathed at his waist completed his appearance.
"Is this the place?" he asked, looking up at a crow perched on his shoulder.
The creature nodded, then spoke in a strange voice:
"There have been rumors of man-eating demons recently, following the repeated disappearance of delinquents. With this many people, a fight would be dangerous."
The young man sighed.
'If it were my master, he'd kill the demon without alarming anyone at this festival.'
He tightened his grip on his sword, his brows furrowed. A few days earlier, his master and the Wind Hashira had jointly faced the Upper Moon Six.
After a fierce battle, the demon was killed, but at the cost of the Wind Hashira's life and severe injuries to his father.
"The doctor said the master can no longer engage in high-intensity combat and must stay on the sidelines."
The young man was none other than Kamiya Rengoku, a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and an aspiring Flame Hashira.
He aimed to quickly take over from his father and was searching for a powerful demon to test his abilities.
'No… I must stay focused. The master expects me to become the Flame Hashira!'
He pushed aside intrusive thoughts and reminded himself:
"The master and the others killed an Upper Rank demon. A victory that hasn't happened in decades."
Slapping his cheeks to motivate himself, he made his way through the crowd.
Suddenly, he caught a faint "scent" of a demon.
A phenomenon imperceptible to an ordinary human, but Kamiya possessed a special sense of smell.
He could even detect lies.
Scanning his surroundings, he fixed his gaze on a woman in a white priestess outfit standing by the roadside.
'She's giving off a demon's scent? But… when I sense her up close, it disappears. Strange… Is it my imagination?'
Kamiya Rengoku advanced with determination, and the woman turned her gaze toward him.
The demon slayer made no attempt to hide his presence.
"Sir, would you like to learn more about the doctrine of the Eternal Paradise Faith? I'm Kikyō, a priestess of the cult," she said, handing him a pamphlet.
"What doctrine?" Kamiya asked calmly, accepting the pamphlet.
Dōma had designed this approach to promote the cult.
The Eternal Paradise Faith advocated for a serene spirit and a happy life. There was no need to burden oneself with tasks that brought pain or sadness.
The ideology blended Christian values with a touch of nihilism and atheism.
There were no deities in the traditional sense; the figure of Buddha was merely a symbolic element to maintain harmony with local Shintoism.
'A paradise for the good, a hell for the wicked…'Kamiya thought.
"Sounds pretty good," he said, intrigued.
Kikyō's eyes lit up, and her smile widened, dispelling the melancholy born from her temporary separation from Dōma.
"The Eternal Paradise Faith has always helped those who suffer. Our goal is to achieve happiness with everyone."
'This doesn't feel like an ordinary cult…'Kamiya thought, nodding.
Typically, a common cult would seek to exploit its followers, extracting as much money as possible without providing real benefits.
Yet Dōma genuinely helped his followers.
An anomaly.
"All this is thanks to Dōma-sama," Kikyō said with sincere, grateful conviction.
The aspiring Flame Hashira sensed something else: a mix of devotion and genuine love for the man named Dōma.
"Dōma-sama is the chosen one of the gods. He hears the world and always helps those who suffer with kindness and gentleness and…"
Kikyō began listing all of Dōma's "positive" traits to the poor Kamiya.
'Chosen? A mystical aura? She's not mistaking a blood demon art for a miracle here, is she…?'Kamiya observed, calmly analyzing the situation.
"Oh! Dōma-sama is at the other end of the street. I can take you to him."
"Yes, please!" Kamiya replied, eager.
He paused for a moment, mentally scolding himself for his haste toward the potential demon.
But it was already a bit too late to back out, as the priestess could alert others to his presence at any moment.
Kamiya tightened his grip on his katana and followed the priestess through the crowd.
***
Author's Note:
I considered adding an R-18 scene before the festival event, but… I hadn't added the tag ;) , and some readers might not appreciate it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So I'd like to get your opinion on the matter.