— — — — — — —
Butterfly Mansion
With a grim expression, Kocho Shinobu grabbed her Nichirin blade and stormed out of the mansion.
She had to bring her sister back!
---
At the same time, after completing her reincarnation ritual, Kocho Kanae returned to her world.
Seeing Kikyo, who was troubled over finding a proper location for the Devil Cult, Kanae suddenly spoke up.
"Miss Kikyo, I actually know a rather suitable place."
Hearing this, Kikyo's usually cold eyes lit up. She stepped forward and grabbed Kanae's shoulders firmly.
"Where?"
As a shrine maiden devoted to her lord Lynn, anything related to him was of utmost importance.
Seeing this, Kanae couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "Miss Kikyo is truly faithful..."
But then again…
Thinking about the changes in herself after becoming one of Lynn's followers, she could somewhat understand.
She, too, would need to offer her prayers day and night!
Strengthening her resolve, Kanae smiled and said, "The Ubuyashiki Mansion."
Without hesitation, she sold out her former lord, Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
To Kanae, converting them to serve Lynn should be considered an honorfor them.
Kikyo, barely able to contain her excitement, immediately declared, "Let's establish the Devil Cult!"
Taking a moment to collect herself, Kanae added, "But… it might take some time to convince them."
"No need for that."
A rare smile appeared on Kikyo's cold face. "I'll take a squad of our devil army with me and 'persuade' them."
Kanae twitched at the words.
Then again…Once they witnessed Kikyo's power, they should come to their senses, right?
Kanae wasn't entirely sure.
"Count me in."
A voice interrupted.
It was Busujima Saeko.
Kikyo blinked in surprise.
Saeko smiled. "I'm quite interested in Miss Kanae's sword techniques from yesterday."
As she spoke, her breathing subtly changed.
"That was called the Flower Breathing, right?"
Kanae's eyes widened. "Y-You… you already learned it?!"
She had only briefly demonstrated it yesterday, and Saeko had already picked it up?
Saeko's eyes gleamed. "I assume there are more breathing techniques like it?"
Kanae could only nod in silence.
With their objectives clear, Kikyo, Kanae, and Saeko, along with a squad of devil loli warriors, soared toward the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
Anyone they passed along the way dropped to their knees in reverence, assuming they were witnessing the arrival of deities.
Of course.
Those who knewwhat demons were could only tremble in fear.
---
Kikyo paid no mind to being seen by the common folk.
Or rather…
She intended for them to see.
Lynn had said that faith must be accompanied by fear.
Where the devil goes, all shall bow!
As they pressed forward, a young girl—one who bore a striking resemblance to Kanae—suddenly stepped into their path.
Kocho Shinobu drew her blade, her eyes brimming with cold fury. "You're the ones who took my sister, aren't you?"
"..."
Kikyo turned to Kanae with a complex expression. "Your sister?"
Kanae nodded.
"Has your sister always been this reckless?"
Kanae gave an awkward but polite smile.
"Huh?"
"…Big Sis?"
On the other side, Shinobu froze in place upon seeing Kanae.
Kanae waved with a smile. "Shinobu, would you like to join the Devil Cult?"
Shinobu's pupils shrank as she fixated on the wings sprouting from Kanae's back.
"...?!"
She's been turned into a demon!!
"I have notbeen turned into a demon!"
Kanae flew toward her, flicked her forehead, and huffed. "Did you not notice the sun overhead?"
"Oh…?"
Shinobu blinked, realization dawning upon her.
That's true!
Then… what exactly had happened to her sister?
Kanae gave her a brief rundown on the Devil Cult.
"Reincarnated as a devil… blessed by the Devil Lynn?"
Is this for real?
Shinobu shot Kanae a suspicious look.
Did they brainwash her after taking her captive?
Seeing how little progress she was making, Kanae felt slightly frustrated.
Shinobu, in turn, kept staring at Kanae's wings.
Could it actually be true?
---
Kanae was certain that once Shinobu witnessed Kikyo's power and Lynn's greatness for herself…
Joining the Devil Cult would only be a matter of time.
Soon, they arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
The sight of their overwhelming devil army instantly caused a massive uproar.
"Stop! This area is off-limits!"
Rengoku Kyojuro stepped forward, his eyes widening in shock upon seeing Kikyo and her group.
Demons…?
A demon army?
Damn it! The demons have even evolved?
They can walk in sunlight now?!
And worse—they had found their way to the Ubuyashiki Mansion!
Kyojuro's expression hardened as he braced himself for battle, fully prepared to lay down his life.
Seeing this, Kanae stepped forward. "Miss Kikyo, allow me to handle the negotiations."
"The Flower Hashira?"
Kyojuro's eyes narrowed.
"You're the one leading the demons here?"
— — —
After some time, at Ubuyashiki Mansion
Thanks to Kikyo's purification abilities, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was now completely free of his family's centuries-old curse.
With renewed vigor, he declared, "Amane, I leave the negotiations with the shrine priests to you!"
Ubuyashiki Amane: "...Huh?"
She turned to look at Kikyo's calm yet chilling expression and sighed helplessly. "Understood."
She had made the decision in advance.
The Ubuyashiki Clan had been cursed for a thousand years, and yet, this shrine maiden, Kikyo, had effortlessly dispelled it…
So the Devil Cult was a sure thing.
Kikyo continued diligently spreading the word of Lynn in the Demon Slayer world…
— — —
Shuchiin Academy
Inside the Supernatural Research Club
Ryougetsu Senhime anxiously poked at Lynn's arm as he leisurely flipped through Utaha's novel titled The Devil Lady and Her Loyal Servant.
"Lynn, could you return to the past for a bit?"
Lynn closed the book and looked down at her. "You've finally remembered your own people?"
Senhime gave an awkward chuckle.
"You're really not the most responsible royal, are you?"
She pouted. "But aside from being an Inu-Yokai, I'm also Lord Lynn's Familia now..."
"I was thinking of the familia...yeah."
"..."
"Good. You're aware of your priorities."
Lynn rewarded her with a head pat acting like he believed her.
"Hehe~~"
After a moment of thought, Lynn spoke. "Alright, let's go."
Coincidentally, Sumire Muroto had sent word that her research on using yokai to forge weapons had made progress, but...she needed insights about making such weapons.
The Inu Yokai (Dog Demon) clan... should still have a decent relationship with Totosai, right?
.
.
.