After the incident with Kokushibo, a few weeks passed swiftly in peace within the cult.
Doma's life hadn't changed much since Muzan and the other Kizuki entered his existence.
The only notable change was his diet of bandits, which Doma loathed eating due to his standards… and his suicidal followers.
Beyond his diet, there was also the endless training.
Every day, he had to practice his vector control against the sun itself, and at night, Doma spent his time perfecting his ice techniques and breathing.
Breathing techniques didn't bring much physical improvement to a demon like Doma.
He wasn't human, but a monster with naturally high physical strength and exceptional control over his body.
Doma could even simulate the strength boost provided by a breathing technique without actually using the art.
Yet he continued to use it for three important reasons: the Transparent World, the Demon Slayer Mark, and the passive but steady increase in his strength thanks to the technique.
This was an element that pushed Doma to persist on the slow but rewarding path of martial discipline.
He had even developed a power in the style of Baki, to continue fighting Kokushibo and Kamiya in his mind.
It was less effective than a real fight, but "the simulator" was a perfect place for training.
Especially since Doma could apply it against an opponent after consuming enough flesh.
As for his mastery of ice? He had long possessed a scientific understanding of it and an idea of the techniques of the original Doma.
He only needed human flesh and a bit of experience to execute all the wild techniques of his manga counterpart.
After all, ice is born from slowing particles in space.
Doma could control this by nature thanks to his blood demon art, and vector power was incredible support in this regard.
One slowed particles to create ice, while the other countered movement through an understanding of motion in the world.
A highly complementary duo.
"Yet… I still haven't beaten Kokushibo in my head after seven months of training," he said bitterly, looking at his reflection on his fan.
This statement was highly arrogant on his part. Any demon under Muzan might be tempted to slap Doma for his words.
Kokushibo had lived for centuries and was recognized as a swordsmanship genius in his father's domain, even when he was still human and young.
After consuming his flesh, Doma gained access to a vast amount of information about him, including his breathing technique combined with that of the sun.
That's why he could face a serious-mode Kokushibo in his mind, thanks to the simulator option of the paradise of vanity.
Unfortunately, Doma either lost or ended in a draw due to both sides' inability to continue.
The fight could be close, but the gap in experience worked against him.
'But… it's just a simulation… so I can't really go all out, like in a fight to the death,' he thought, closing his fan.
This was also true for the simulated Kokushibo in the gray world created by the paradise of vanity.
Doma wasn't even thirty, but he estimated he'd fully reach Kokushibo's level within the year, or at the latest, within the decade.
Absolute confidence in himself.
This was also why he could turn his back on Kokushibo even though their fight wasn't over.
It wasn't that he trusted Muzan, but he now felt he no longer feared the speed Kokushibo had demonstrated back then.
Doma felt he had more leeway against fast and berserker opponents like Kokushibo.
This situation further showed how practical the power of the paradise of vanity was.
"E… excuse me, Doma-sama!" A youthful, slightly hurried voice echoed from beyond the reception room's door.
It was currently dusk.
That's why Doma was using the sun to train and reflect on his progress.
At the moment, he could withstand the sun for five minutes.
So, he wasn't surprised that someone came looking for him for some yet unknown reason.
"Yes? Is it a guest… or another follower needing my guidance?" he said in a kind tone.
There was no trace of complaint from him about the interruption of his training by the servant.
A small sound echoed in the reception room before a woman entered.
It wasn't Kikyo, but one of the monastery's many servants.
Her name was Yuzuru Nishimiya.
Unlike the other followers, she wasn't a believer and didn't follow the cult's precepts.
She had been assigned to her role on Kaguya's recommendation after Kikyo left to "spread" the cult's doctrine.
Yuzuru was a rather small (loli) girl, with fair skin for her age, jet-black hair kept short: the longest part reached her nape, while the front strands stopped at the bridge of her nose. She had dark blue eyes and a petite frame.
Doma considered this girl a reverse trap due to her androgynous appearance.
(Image)
"N… no, Kaguya-sama is about to give birth!"
The carefree expression Doma wore 24/7 wavered slightly at this news.
He glanced at the beams of dusk light before standing up from his cushion.
Little Yuzuru felt slightly intimidated by the serious aura she had never seen from her cult leader.
Especially since Doma was now standing in front of her after leaving his comfortable cushion.
His 1.90-meter height near the young girl was a bit intimidating, amplified by his serious expression.
Rare were those in the cult who had seen Doma without his usual carefree demeanor.
"I'm coming immediately…"
…
Fortunately for Doma, the sun had set shortly after he arrived in the room where Kaguya was.
Otherwise, he would never have been able to exceed his five-minute exposure limit.
Yet, his action had been a bit reckless compared to his usual habits, but he had no regrets.
"…you picked a good time to be born, huh~," he said in a teasing tone to the tiny creature.
Doma held a newborn with scarlet eyes but extremely pale skin in his arms.
Anyone would have thought he was sickly, had they not witnessed the baby's supernatural vigor.
"D… Danna-san…"
Kaguya was exhausted, lying on the bed, while a midwife tended to her.
The woman called Doma by the term Danna, meaning "darling."
A word Kaguya rarely used, except when Doma had performed exceptionally well in bed.
"I'm here, Kaguya-chan." Doma approached the exhausted woman, still holding the baby in his arms.
Kaguya said nothing for a moment, but Doma quickly understood what she wanted.
He handed her the baby, who stopped crying as soon as he was in his mother's arms.
'Traitor… you only stop crying when I give you back to your mom,'the ice demon lamented silently in his mind.
Even if he was genuinely annoyed, Doma wasn't capable of holding a grudge anyway.
Even the joy of holding his child was overshadowed by the phenomenon called Ainz Ooal Gown.
The abyssal void within him gave him no respite, but Doma didn't care for now.
He just didn't want to ruin Kaguya's moment.
That's why he didn't fake it and used the paradise of vanity to allow himself to feel false happiness.
A moment of weakness, which Kaguya observed without understanding the true implication behind the "usual" smile she saw on her man.
"Have you decided on a name?"
At Doma's question, the young mother shook her head and gave him an expectant look.
It was clear Kaguya wanted Doma to choose a name for their child.
"…He's lively… he's strong and has scarlet eyes like his mother, but he's not a girl."
Doma sighed in disappointment, regretting he couldn't give his child the name Megumin.
But he eventually found a name he deemed fitting.
"Mori… yes, he's Mori… Ogai Mori," he said, recalling the future Lower Moon Six.
That demon was a fake doctor, and it reminded him of another man with scarlet eyes like his child.
He gave a tender smile after giving his son a first and last name.
Something neither he nor Kaguya had the chance to have at birth.
As for the merchant family name Kaguya had gained through Doma?
The ice demon didn't want his child to bear another man's name.
'Will he be like the Port Mafia boss?
Nah… I'm just a chill guy; there's no way I'd have a manipulative kid.'
***
Author's note: I forgot that I was supposed to post a bonus at 800 votes… sorry.
And yes, here's a little slice of life (the next chapter will be less calm—our chill guy isn't so lucky).
aside from that, I reached the top 15 on the Webnovel platform (fanfic).
Lol, I'm happy.