But he soon felt that this was normal. After all, as the master of Doma, how could Rivo be a weak person?
On the contrary, on Rivo's side, he was still very satisfied with this power.
His palm slowly clenched, and the frost disappeared.
"System, extract the servants of the Twelve Kizuki series."
After testing the increase in strength, Rivo chose to extract from the Twelve Kizuki series without hesitation.
This was undoubtedly the most affordable series at present—no matter which Upper Rank demon appeared, it would be enough for Rivo to use.
[Starting the Twelve Kizuki extraction…]
[Congratulations to the host, you have drawn Upper Rank Three: Akaza!]
The small roulette wheel slowly stopped, and in front of Rivo appeared a man with a lean figure, cherry blossom-pink hair, and tattoos all over his body.
Judging from his physique full of explosive muscle, this man's combat power was undoubtedly formidable.
He was the ghost of war from the original Demon Slayer work, and his strength was unquestionable.
In Rivo's opinion, he shouldn't be any weaker than Doma.
[Akaza – Upper Rank Three]
[C-class Minion]
[Blood Demon Art: Destructive Death, Rapid Regeneration, Near-Immortality]
Although he was also categorized as C-rank, even within the same tier there were levels of strength.
Doma and Akaza definitely stood at the peak of C-rank, far stronger than Daki and Gyutaro.
As soon as Rivo waved his hand, he immediately summoned Akaza.
A tall man covered in blue tattoos appeared before him.
"Master."
Compared to other demons, Akaza was much more disciplined.
There was no frivolous smile like Doma, nor the obsessive longing like Daki.
"Go and turn the imperial capital upside down. You can kill any powerful figure within the city."
"Just use the name of the Twelve Kizuki."
The corners of Rivo's lips curled slightly. Akaza was the freest chess piece.
The riots in the imperial capital were mostly instigated by Night Raid and others.
Akaza would be the key to completely muddying this turbulent water.
"Yes, I will not fail you."
"But... that guy outside the door—do you need me to take care of him?"
A flash of bloodlust appeared in Akaza's eyes. He squinted toward the rear as he spoke, delighted by the thought of hunting another strong opponent.
This was what he enjoyed the most—fighting the strong to continually improve himself.
At the same time, he also held deep respect and obedience toward Rivo.
There was someone watching Rivo from outside the door. This made Akaza very dissatisfied. Even if it was daytime, he would willingly go and kill that person.
"No need. Let them be."
"Do what you were summoned to do."
Rivo shook his head. He didn't need to look to know who was monitoring him.
If his guess was correct, it would definitely be one of the Four Rakshasa Demons.
Their role was not only to spy on him but to also protect him.
At this point, he and Honest were bound together. Honest wouldn't make a move against him and would continue using his value until the very end.
On the contrary, Akaza's sensitivity surprised Rivo.
Though a demon, he despised the weak and had his own strict and self-centered style.
Rivo didn't resent this, in fact, he appreciated Akaza's nature.
Even though it was daytime, Rivo knew he had his ways of moving around.
After all, there were so many palaces in the capital—finding one or two places without sunlight was too easy.
One who reveres strength and despises the weak.
What kind of chaos will this already unstable imperial capital become?
To be honest, Rivo still had some expectations.
...
At this time, outside Rivo's palace, a figure silently emerged from the shadows.
A petite girl with wheat-colored skin peeked from the darkness.
This person was, in Rivo's opinion, the only "normal" one among the Four Rakshasa Demons—the one known as Horse Head.
"Strange… that murderous aura just now…"
Horse Head stared toward Rivo's quarters, her face showing a trace of doubt.
As the strongest warrior trained in the Imperial Fist Temple, her senses were extremely sharp.
She did not make mistakes in perception.
But that murderous aura had appeared for only a moment—then vanished.
That puzzled her deeply.
Guarding the little emperor was supposed to be a simple task for the Rakshasa Four Ghosts.
In the past two years, they could clearly sense that the little emperor was merely a puppet in Honest's hands.
And not just any puppet—but the type that couldn't resist at all.
Thinking of this, only one thought arose in Horse Head's mind.
Someone might have tried to assassinate the emperor.
Feeling a chill run through her body, she instantly leapt forward like a phantom and pushed open the window of Rivo's quarters.
"Your Majesty!"
Horse Head had a duty to both monitor and guard Rivo. If she failed in that duty—
Then forget being one of the Rakshasa Four Ghosts—even as the Imperial Fist Temple's strongest disciple, she would still be executed by Honest.
The moment she pushed open the window, she saw Rivo sitting on the edge of the bed, eating fruit.
Only then did she breathe a silent sigh of relief.
But soon, she realized how rude she had been—and immediately knelt on the ground.
"Was that Akaza's presence sensed by Horse Head?"
Rivo placed the fruit plate aside and gave Sayo a glance.
Sayo took a few steps back, and the hostility in her eyes disappeared.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty."
"Just now, I thought someone intended to harm you."
Honest had the authority to execute her—but so did the boy in front of her.
They were the two sides of power: one in the light, and the other in the shadows.
"Don't be so restrained, Horse Head."
"No, maybe I should call you… Mez."
Rivo hadn't expected that the person who had been observing him for so long was the girl known as Horse Head.
If there was one among the Rakshasa Four Ghosts that Rivo didn't dislike—
It was her.
Though she was one of Honest's enforcers, she was different from the others.
She wasn't cruel. She simply treated killing as a duty.
"Your Majesty… how do you know my name…?"
Horse Head's eyes widened slightly, and a stream of long-forgotten memories resurfaced.
She was the youngest of the Four Rakshasa Demons, and the first to abandon her name.
During her training in the Imperial Fist Temple, even her name—Mez—had been erased.
"A place like the Imperial Fist Temple is truly dull."
"Such a beautiful name… and yet they force a girl to go by something like 'Horse Head.'"