Time passed quietly in the Eternal Paradise Faith.
...Two years later.
"Inhale—Exhale—"
"Inhale—Exhale—"
In the back mountain courtyard of the Paradise Faith, a two-year-old toddler sat cross-legged on a massive lotus flower, practicing a strange breathing technique.
This was none other than Hashibira Inosuke.
He was no longer the swaddled infant from before.
His skin was fair like carved jade, porcelain-smooth, with large emerald eyes that mirrored his biological mother's.
Yet his reckless, devil-may-care aura was a perfect copy of Doma's.
If you ignored the occasional flicker of demonic energy in his eyes, he looked exactly like a celestial child stepped out of an ancient painting.
He'd forgotten many pre-transmigration memories, but oddly, the original story's details grew clearer every day.
Under Doma's "education" these past years, his personality had grown increasingly eccentric.
**[System Monitoring: Current lung capacity utilization efficiency 80%.]**
**[Passive Skill: Lung Capacity Enhancement Level 1 transitioning from quantitative to qualitative change.]**
Inosuke took a deep breath, chest swelling as the freezing air rushed into his lungs and limbs like a whale gulping water.
After two years of adaptation, he realized his "father's" bedroom was basically a natural training ground.
The thin, sub-zero air was deadly for normal people, but paired with the System's lung capacity boost, he'd developed a prototype of something like Total Concentration: Constant.
"Young Lord!
Young Lord, please slow down!
?
Why are you sitting here again?
The Divine Child is truly amazing.
How can I not keep up with a two-year-old?"
An anxious voice called from afar, followed by complaints.
Inosuke opened his eyes—it was Xiao Mei, the maid who'd cared for him these past two years.
"Tsk, so naggy."
Inosuke flipped off the ice lotus with feline grace.
Though only two, his physique and intellect were absurd.
Combined with his deliberate mimicry of Doma's mannerisms, he now strutted around the cult with an ethereal, punchable swagger.
Just then—
**BOOM!!!**
A massive explosion rocked the front hall.
The ground shook violently, roof tiles shattering in a deafening roar.
"An enemy attack?!"
The maid collapsed in terror.
But Inosuke's eyes lit up.
This level of commotion, this surging demonic aura—it wasn't some ordinary intruder, not even a regular Hashira.
At this point in time, only one person in the world would dare crash Doma's place like this.
"You're finally here?"
The corners of Inosuke's mouth curled, revealing two sharp little canines.
He didn't flee—instead, his short legs carried him straight toward the explosion's center.
...The front hall was in ruins.
The once-grand gates had been blasted to splinters.
Amid swirling dust, two figures faced off.
Doma still wore his signature smile, though half his head had been smashed—it was regenerating visibly.
He waved his damaged fan, tone full of pleasant surprise:
"My, my—if it isn't Akaza, Your Excellency?"
"What brings you here for a visit?
Have you had a change of heart and want to join my Eternal Paradise Faith?
I could even make you the Divine Child~"
Opposite him stood a lean, muscular man covered in deep blue tattoos, with short pink hair.
Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
Veins bulged on his forehead, his fist still smeared with Doma's brains—he was beyond furious.
"Shut up, Doma."
Akaza's voice dripped with suppressed rage.
"Lord Muzan has summoned us.
You're wasting time here—do you want to die?!"
"Because I was playing with my child."
Doma's freshly regenerated mouth started chattering again.
"Oh right, Akaza, Your Excellency—you have to meet my son!
He's super cute, practically—"
"Destructive Death: Chaotic Style!"
Akaza refused to listen; he launched a punch aimed at smashing Doma's lower half.
Just as the punch's wind pressure was about to erupt—
A childish voice cut through the air beside them.
"Whoa! It's a talking Striped Basketball!"
The air froze.
Akaza's fist halted mid-swing.
He turned, golden eyes locking onto the voice's source.
There, atop a pile of rubble, stood a beautiful toddler.
The child stared with wide, innocent eyes, curiously studying Akaza's tattoos—even reaching out a tiny hand to point at them.
"Dad, is this basketball a new toy you bought for me?"
Doma: "Pfft."
Akaza: "?"
..."A... toy?"
Cross-shaped veins throbbed on Akaza's forehead.
He—the grand Upper Rank Three, pinnacle of the martial faction—was called a "Striped Basketball" by a human toddler?
And a *toy*?
"Doma."
Akaza turned to Doma, killing intent practically solidifying around him.
"Is this part of your sick humor?
Keeping such a fragile thing around?"
"Don't say that."
Doma instantly appeared beside Inosuke, scooping him up and showing him off like a prized possession.
"Look! This is my son, Inosuke! Isn't he cute?"
"Inosuke, quick—call him Uncle.
This is your Third Uncle. He has a bit of a temper,
but he never hits women or children; he's a great guy!
Just don't copy him~"
Inosuke gave Doma a mental thumbs-up.
*Dad might be an idiot, but at key moments, he really sells out his teammates—straight-up exposing Akaza's no-kill-women-or-kids rule.*
*In that case, I won't hold back.*
Inosuke looked at Akaza's pitch-black face and suddenly stretched both arms toward him.
"Hold!"
Akaza froze. Doma froze.
"I want the striped uncle to hold me!"
Inosuke wriggled in Doma's arms, pointing at Akaza with pure, innocent excitement.
"He looks so warm! Not cold like you, Dad!"
**[System Judgment: Host is engaging in high-difficulty death-seeking behavior.]**
**[Analysis: Exploiting Akaza's self-contempt and non-killing principle for extreme manipulation.]**
Akaza stared at the toddler reaching for a hug, goosebumps rising across his skin.
He'd killed Hashira, slain demons—but he'd never dealt with *this*:
A creature oblivious to death, eagerly trying to cling to him.
"Get away."
Akaza stepped back half a pace, face full of disgust.
"Stay away from me!"
"Oh my, is Akaza, Your Excellency, shy?"
Doma—ever the pot-stirrer—thrust Inosuke toward Akaza.
"Come on, a hug won't hurt. The child really likes you."
Inosuke timed it perfectly; the moment Doma pushed, he lunged.
Like a koala, he latched onto Akaza's arm.
"Gotcha!"
Inosuke cheered.
What he felt was pure muscle and blazing fighting spirit.
Completely different from Doma's icy chill—was this the vitality of a combat demon?
Akaza's body went rigid.
Shake him off?
A fraction of his strength would turn the child to paste.
Kill him?
His principles forbade striking a harmless, smiling toddler.
"Doma!!!"
Akaza roared, a howl of utter revulsion.
"Take this!!!! Take this thing away!!!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Doma doubled over laughing.
Hanging from Akaza's arm, Inosuke sensed the Upper Rank Three's emotions on the verge of collapse—and his heart bloomed with joy.
Sure, he was courting death, but betting on Akaza's bottom line made this the safest spot.
Furthermore—
**[Ding! Host successfully made intimate contact with Upper Rank Three and survived.]**
**[Hidden Achievement Triggered: Newborn Calf Unafraid of the Tiger.]**
**[Reward Issued: Basic Attribute Enhancement – Agility Enhancement Level 1.]**
**[Note: To jump between two Upper Rank demons, you need fast legs.]**
A surge of light energy flowed into his legs.
Inosuke let go, landed steadily, and stuck his tongue out at Akaza.
"Bleh! Uncle's a stingy miser!"
With that, he dashed off—far faster than any normal two-year-old.
Akaza took a deep breath, knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.
He turned to Doma, gaze icy.
"Lord Muzan is waiting.
Right now. Immediately. Come with me.
If I see that brat again, I'll make an exception and kill him."
With that, Akaza charged out without looking back—like fleeing a monster.
"My, my—he really can't take a joke."
Doma stroked his chin, watching Inosuke's retreating figure thoughtfully.
"But for Inosuke to proactively touch Akaza~"
"That instinct for danger, that courage."
"As expected, my education is spot-on!"
Doma picked up the broken half of his fan, his smile growing brighter and prouder.
"Just wait, Lord Muzan—I'll bring you a very big surprise."