"Has Gyokko finally applied for a replacement blood battle?"
"It's a shame he's not challenging me." Doma smiled without a care and contacted Nakime with his mind. "Miss Nakime, I want to go to the Infinity Castle~"
The next moment, he appeared in the Infinity Castle. It was still the same as before, a boundless, dim space where countless lights converged into a brilliant river of stars. Nakime's service was always so thoughtful and timely, as diligent as an emotionless tool.
"Miss Nakime's diligence is truly moving." Thinking this, Doma walked along the corridors of the Infinity Castle with light and elegant steps, humming a cheerful song.
Although Gyokko wasn't challenging him this time, a replacement blood battle for an Upper Moon was no small matter. All Upper Moons would be notified. Besides the one being challenged, the other Upper Moons could choose to come and watch or ignore it. For such an interesting event, Doma naturally had to join in the fun~
A huge arena had already been set up in the center of the Infinity Castle. The challenged Kikage stood on one side of the arena with a sullen face, facing off against Gyokko on the other side. Nakime sat properly on her knees on a high platform, her head lowered over her biwa as usual, with little presence.
Doma first greeted Nakime enthusiastically, then looked around to see who had arrived. Hantengu was cowering on the stairs, hugging his head, completely unchanged, and barely responded to greetings.
Kokushibo stood alone on a high wooden platform, wearing his unchanging purple snake-patterned kimono and black hakama, a sword with many eyes tucked into his waist. His long, crimson hair was tied in a high ponytail. Flame-like red markings were on his left forehead and the right side of his neck. His six eyes, with red sclera and golden irises, looked down from above. As someone who valued the hierarchy greatly, he would naturally be present at such a time.
"Eh—Lord Akaza isn't here." Doma lowered his head with a dejected look. I haven't seen Lord Akaza in decades. I miss him so much. After being dejected for a while on his own, he became full of life again and leaped onto the platform where Kokushibo was in a few bounds.
Kokushibo turned to look at him, his six eyes exuding an intimidating pressure.
"Good evening, Lord Kokushibo~" Doma waved enthusiastically. "It's been so long. I've missed you very much."
Kokushibo looked at him silently for a long moment, trying to recall his name in his mind. It seemed... he couldn't remember. So he stopped trying. "You... what is your name?" he asked in a clear, slow voice.
"Eh? Has Lord Kokushibo forgotten my name?" Doma showed a very hurt expression and clutched his chest with his right hand. "That's so sad. I've been thinking of Lord Kokushibo all this time~"
Kokushibo looked at the sad-faced Doma and fell into solemn thought. From his expression... he seems to be very familiar with me? But... Upper Moon Six... I think I've only seen him from a distance once. Have we met again since then? Could it be... I've forgotten? I can't remember... my memory shouldn't be this bad.
Kokushibo was a little confused, but the serious and steady expression on his face didn't change at all, his six eyes staring straight at Doma. Being stared at by six imposing eyes didn't make Doma feel uncomfortable at all. He soon showed a cheerful smile again. "Lord Kokushibo, I'm Doma. You must remember this time, okay~"
Kokushibo nodded slowly and said, "We... have we met several times?"
"Once. Only the time when I became an Upper Moon," Doma said, holding up his right index finger and tilting his head in confusion. He didn't quite understand why Lord Kokushibo was asking this. "A likable person like me, with such beautiful eyes, if we had met a second time, you shouldn't have forgotten, right?" he said with full confidence.
Kokushibo looked at Doma's rainbow eyes with the engraved characters and felt even more confused. "Then... why are you... so familiar with me?" he asked, choosing his words carefully, with long pauses between them.
"Eh?" Doma blinked his eyes innocently. Lord Kokushibo seems a bit slow... How cute! He seems fun to tease too~
?▽?
Doma's eyes instantly sparkled, his gaze so intense that Kokushibo frowned slightly.
Kokushibo: I have the urge to draw my sword.
"That's because we hit it off right away, Lord Kokushibo~" Doma said with a chuckle.
"I do not think... that I hit it off with you," Kokushibo said slowly after careful consideration.
"Eh? How could that be..." Doma looked at him in disbelief, as if his sincere feelings had been betrayed. "But I've always thought so, yet I never expected Lord Kokushibo would..." He showed a sad and dejected expression.
Kokushibo looked at him silently, without any reaction. It was the first time he had met such a person, and for a moment, he couldn't figure out how to respond.
Fortunately, Doma considered himself a natural optimist, so in the blink of an eye, he put away his sad expression and showed a pure and brilliant smile. "Lord Kokushibo, it doesn't matter if we didn't hit it off right away. We can be good friends now, right?"
Kokushibo's brow furrowed even tighter. Always proper and formal, he found Doma's casual words and actions very disagreeable. "Friendship... should not be... a matter decided so rashly," he said seriously, his aura becoming even more imposing.
"Huh? What Lord Kokushibo means is..." Doma's beautiful eyes widened, and he nodded in understanding. It seems Lord Kokushibo is a person who warms up slowly. He's willing to be friends with someone only after getting to know them deeply. So, his words are hinting that I should go find him often in the future, to spend more time with him and communicate with him. Only then will he be willing to be my friend!
"I understand! Lord Kokushibo~" Doma said cheerfully, raising his right hand. Honestly, if you want to play with me, you should have just said so. You almost made me not understand. Lord Kokushibo is just like a child~
"But, we are important comrades now, right! Right, Lord Kokushibo?" Doma said with an expectant look.
Kokushibo was taken aback and thought seriously for a moment. Doma was his subordinate, so it was not out of place to consider him a comrade... The Upper Moons were few in number and indeed important. To say he was an important comrade... was not entirely wrong. Kokushibo nodded slowly, his high ponytail bobbing slightly with the movement.
Doma: (???)
"That's great, Lord Kokushibo~"
"I don't know where Lord Kokushibo lives, so I can't go find you." Doma stared at the middle pair of Kokushibo's eyes without blinking, his tone cheerful. Since Lord Kokushibo has already hinted that I should spend more time with him, he's basically inviting me to come play.
"You seek me... for what purpose?" Kokushibo asked, puzzled.
"Eh? Weren't you the one who invited me to come play with you, Lord Kokushibo?" Doma also showed a confused expression.
Kokushibo fell silent again. When did I ever make such an invitation? Seeing Doma's confused look, he understood that the other had misunderstood something. But... there was no need to explain.
So, he refused directly, "I am currently... in important training. I am not seeing visitors."
"Ah—so that's how it is." Doma showed a disappointed expression. That's right, Lord Kokushibo is also a very serious and hardworking person. He doesn't have that much free time. I can only go find him when he's free.
"Boo~ what bad timing," Doma lowered his head dejectedly. He glanced at Lord Kokushibo's always-calm expression and felt that he must be just as disappointed as he was right now.
He was just about to offer a few words of comfort when he heard a light cough from above. Kibutsuji Muzan stood at the highest point, looking down. His gaze swept over Kokushibo's and Doma's faces with an unreadable expression. He really couldn't stand their "chickens talking to ducks" conversation any longer and finally spoke up to interrupt them.
He no longer wanted to comment on Doma. But Kokushibo... normally such a sharp person, why was he acting so foolish now?
"The replacement blood battle. Let it begin now," Muzan looked away, his face unreadable, and announced in a cold tone.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (260 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (230 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (100 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (110 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (280 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (110 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (130 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (162 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (130 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (90 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (60 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (90 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (110 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (100 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (80 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (50 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (90 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (90 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (50 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (70 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (70 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (50 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (50 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (50 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.