Dawn, the Taki-no-Gawa main store mansion of the Akatsuki Trading Company. Akira entrusted the clearly exhausted Kanae and Shinobu to Tsubaki and Ubume and headed straight underground.
"My, my Master, life force is overflowing, isn't it? Having trouble controlling it?"
Shuten grinned and said. Red sparks were flying from Akira's entire body. Lower Moon Four's power was much higher quality and vast than expected.
"No, control isn't a problem. But, my stomach is too hot. If I don't quickly shape this power into form and spit it out, I think I'll explode."
Akira was smiling, but his blood vessels were turbulent. His oni class had risen. Beyond simply becoming stronger, his vessel itself had enlarged.
"Tamamo, set up a barrier. This summoning... probably won't end with just one."
"Huh? If not one, then?"
"I don't know either. But I have a feeling."
Akira stood on the magic circle at the center of the great cavern. He took a deep breath and concentrated the power rampaging within his body to his fingertips.
Grrrrrr!
The underground space shook slightly. Red mist spewing from Akira's hands. For an ordinary summoning, light would have appeared meekly, but this time was different. The suddenly strengthened power swirled madly.
"Blood Demon Art,
With Akira's shout, the red mist split into two. One, orange light like a wild beast running amok. The other, blue light that felt small, sharp, and with a strict order.
With an explosion of light, thick smoke billowed up. Tamamo narrowed her eyes while sweeping away smoke with her fan.
"Cough cough... Master? Did you succeed?"
Two silhouettes emerged from the smoke. One, a beast's form with giant claws, the other, a small girl's form.
And a loud shout breaking the silence was heard.
"Woof! Master~!"
Thud!
"Cough?!"
What Akira staggered to receive was a giant cat hand, a woman looking exactly like Tamamo wearing only an apron close to naked. The moment she saw Akira, she rubbed her cheek against his like a dog raised for ten years.
"Missed you, woof! Finally summoned me, Master! Was so hungry almost chewed all the carrots!"
The basic knowledge and fondness for the Master granted to a Servant at the moment of summoning. Tamamo Cat was seeing Akira for the first time, but was already following him at a soul level.
Akira familiarly stroked her head.
"Right, right. It's Tamamo Cat. Fur's flying, step back a little."
"Woof! As expected, we're fate!"
"Mi, mikon?! Excuse me! Aren't you going to get off him there?!"
From behind, Tamamo rushed over in astonishment. She hadn't even imagined her dark history, her alter ego, would pop out.
"Ooh? Original found, woof! But now I'm Master's loyal dog! Don't pull rank, original!"
Tamamo Cat growled while licking Akira's cheek with her rough tongue.
Akira tried to peel her off with a bewildered expression, but her grip strength was beyond imagination.
'This one... is incredibly strong? Still too early for Strength B perhaps.'
Strength even Akira who became stronger by devouring a Lower Moon found burdensome. Combat power was certain. But what to do about this distractibility.
Amid that commotion, another small shadow walked out from the smoke. Red kimono reminiscent of a sparrow, sharp sword at the waist.
Appearance of a young girl, but eyes of a yokai deep and strict like an old man who lived a thousand years.
The moment she saw Akira, she politely bowed.
"Master. I have come in response to your summonsy."
The tongue-cut sparrow, princess of Enma-cho, Benienma.
Her characteristic tongue-tied speech. But the spirit contained in that voice was no joke.
"Long time no seey... seems like Master is meeting me for the first time thoughy."
Benienma stared up at Akira. The thread of connection felt as a Servant. And Akira smiled looking at her appearance seen countless times in games.
"Welcome, Benienma. Having you, also the world's best chef, here makes me feel reassured."
"Oh my, that's too much praisy. But being praised makes me happyy."
Benienma's cheeks slightly reddened. But the emotion was brief, as she sniffed and frowned.
"But, Master?"
"Hmm?"
"There's a smell in the housey. Seems hygiene condition is a messy. Master, how have you been managing the kitchen while I was awayy?"
Despite cute speech, her eyes were already those of a butcher. Akira felt his spine chill.
"No, well... Tamamo and Kiyohime tried hard but."
"Won't doy. Going to the kitchen right awayy. Can hear the ingredients cryingy."
Benienma strode up the stairs.
"You two furballs, and the snake hiding behind (Kiyohime). All assembley. Starting hell's hygiene checky. If late, will fry youy."
Benienma turned her head toward Tamamo-no-Mae, Kiyohime, and Tamamo Cat. Her eyes instantly changed to tiger teacher mode.
"Everyone. Have you been properly practicing cooking while I was awayy? Could hear the messy chopping sounds all the way herey."
"Eek!"
Tamamo and Kiyohime hugged each other and trembled. To them, Benienma was a respected teacher and simultaneously their most feared natural enemy.
The next morning, the Akatsuki Trading Company's kitchen became Benienma's cooking classroom.
"Kiyohime! Fire control is too strongy! How many times have I taught you to fry like a heartbeaty!"
"S-sorry, Teacher...!"
Kiyohime made a crying face and adjusted the fire again. Her usual insane demeanor was nowhere to be found, only the appearance of a model student trying not to be scolded by her teacher.
"Tamamo! Don't shed furry! Hygiene points deductiony! Planning to serve Master rice with fox fur in ity?!"
"Mi, mikon! Sorry Teacher! Will manage tail properly!"
Tamamo-no-Mae also curled her tail and floundered. Even the great yokai nine-tailed fox was merely Benienma's cute disciple before cooking.
"Cat! Don't steal and eaty! Will chop off your heady!"
"Woof! Caught! As expected, can't fool Teacher's eyes, woof!"
Even Tamamo Cat instinctively recognized Benienma's rank and lowered her tail.
Benienma scurried around the kitchen counter with her small frame, directing her disciples. Under her strict yet accurate guidance, the disciples moved desperately, and the resulting breakfast table was truly a divine feast.
For the disciples and humans Kanae, Shinobu, Tsubaki, glossy rice, perfectly proportioned miso soup, and grilled fish were served. But Akira's seat was different.
"This is..." aTF4RE5DbGowRWJBNjlXRzBRK3hYVUI0VXBXd3FTUXU5eTRVSmdwMlpZVk9RMEZKazYwTGxRT21EVlNKeFo5Tw
Before Akira's eyes, on a large plate, lay a lump of red meat slightly seared only on the surface.
"Master is an oni so can't eat human foody. So specially prepared thisy."
Benienma explained.
"Top-grade beef tenderloiny. Only the surface very lightly seared, blue rare cookedy. Inside is almost raw meat, but the surface warmth catches the blood's fishy smell and maximizes meat aromay."
Akira picked up fork and knife. After becoming an oni, rice or bread tasted like ash or mud the moment chewed, so he always spat it out. Only blood and raw meat were his meals.
He carefully sliced the meat. The moment the knife entered, red blood seeped out. Put one piece in his mouth.
"...!"
First felt the warm, crispy texture of the seared surface. Then the moment chewed, the cold raw meat inside burst, flooding his mouth with thick meat juices and blood taste. Not disgusting. Rather, excellent.
"...Delicious."
Akira uttered an exclamation.
"Since becoming an oni, this is the first time I've eaten something called cooking and felt it tasty."
Different dimension from simply tearing and eating raw meat. Harmony of fire aroma and texture, and blood taste satisfying an oni's palate.
"Suits your tastey? That's a reliefy. In Enma-cho there are many guests who only eat human flesh, so familiar with this cooking methody."
Benienma smiled in relief. The disciples also applauded, impressed by their teacher's consideration and skill.
"As expected of Teacher! Master is eating cooking!"
"I also want to learn that perfect searing!"
Akira happily chewed the meat. Now not merely ingestion for survival, but able to enjoy fine dining. This alone was sufficient value for summoning Benienma.
"Next time should be human, I guessy. Would be a lie if said no reluctance, but will work hard for Mastery."
"Sorry. Making you cook human meat dishes."
"Not at ally. Because it's Mastery."
After finishing the satisfying meal, Akira gathered the main members and spread out a map. Benienma and Tamamo Cat also took seats.
"Family has increased, stomachs are full, so let's move in earnest."
Akira pointed at the red dots on the map.
"Targets are Lower Moon oni. To grow my power further, need their high-concentration nutrients."
"Woof! Just bite and tear them all, woof? Cat is good at hunting too!"
Tamamo Cat asked while chomping on a pork bone.
"Right. But there's an order."
Akira's finger pointed at places avoiding one mountain in the north.
"Lower Moon Five, Rui. That spider brat, don't touch."
"Why? Lower Moon Five seems weaker than Lower Moon Four."
Shinobu put down her teacup and asked.
"That guy is Muzan's most cherished oni. If we kill him, Muzan might get angry and disband all Lower Moons, or even make a personal appearance. No need to poke a hornet's nest for no reason."
Akira knew Rui's existence was the trigger for the Lower Moon dissolution show.
"We hunt all remaining Lower Moons before Rui dies and removes this good experience source called Lower Moons. Since nameless ones change frequently, we catch and eat any that catch our eye."
The so-called prime hunt. A strategy avoiding Muzan's aggro while taking only the substance.
Anyway, Lower Moons die frequently this generation, so even if Muzan gives them a scolding as useless ones, he'll let it pass because of Rui.
"Benienma, Cat. Need your powers."
"Understoody. Will chase Master's enemies to hell's end and cut them downy. My swordsmanship is as sharp as the cooking I taught my disciplesy."
Benienma answered coolly while stroking the sword at her waist. Unlike her small, cute appearance, she was a master of drawing sword techniques. Even the disciples held their breath when she held a sword.
"Woof! Cat likes walks! Likes hunting too! If it's Master's order, will jump into hellfire, woof!"
Tamamo Cat rubbed her head against Akira's knee.
Akira smiled with satisfaction. A teacher in charge of cooking and discipline (Benienma), and a beast to sweep the frontlines (Tamamo Cat). A perfect formation was assembled.
"Now, shall we begin the hunt? Nameless Lower Moons await us."
The beginning of Lower Moon hunting. Finally, after long preparations, the true beginning to take flight.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 39
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T