Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

After the two finished speaking, Qin Ye stepped forward and, as was customary, prepared to lead the believers who had been received out.

"Madam, over here—"

"Wait." A voice suddenly came from the other end of the corridor, hurried and slightly panting.

Endo rushed over, walking much faster than usual.

As soon as Yoshiko saw him, she smiled gently at Kotoha and then turned to greet him.

Seeing this, Qin Ye realized what they wanted to talk about and tactfully took two steps back.

The air here was quiet. As she stood there, a bunch of strange and wonderful thoughts popped into her mind. Suddenly—a hand reached out from behind and patted her shoulder, thinking it was very light.

"Kotoha, go check on Inosuke first."

Doma's voice came from behind her head.

Qin Ye shuddered and gasped.

She had been keeping an eye on Endo's movements, and this sudden touch and the sound so close to her ear startled her so much that she almost jumped up.

At the same time, the pain in my shoulder belatedly spread, as if I had been pressed down by something heavy.

As Doma behind her watched Kotoha's reaction the moment he struck down, he vaguely realized that something was amiss.

His strength seemed a bit too much for a human...

"Oh dear, Kotoyo, are you alright?" He tilted his head, his tone concerned.

Qinye took a small step to the side, creating some distance. "Um—Master... I'm fine."

"Are you really alright?" Douma asked, taking a step back. "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright. I knew it, I hit you very gently."

His tone was sincere; it was unclear whether he truly believed it or not.

Qinye didn't reply, but took a small step to the side.

"Master, I'll go check on Inosuke first, and then I'll come back later."

Over there, Endo didn't notice the little incident happening here.

He was looking at Yoshiko with a big smile on his face, his mind racing.

Who would have thought that the ordinary woman whom this evil spirit helped casually years ago would later become the owner of a popular restaurant?

This person donates a considerable amount of money to the church every year, so we cannot neglect them.

He remembered what Jiazi had asked him to inquire about last time, so he quickly pulled out a small notebook from his sleeve, flipped through a few pages, and handed it over.

"I've already asked the cult leader about what the lady mentioned last time, and he's very willing to do so as well."

Yoshiko took the notebook, held it with both hands, and looked down at the name written on it.

"The list of homeless female believers in the Blissful Church who can go to Fukusuke's restaurant is all written here," Endo said, pointing to a few lines of text in the notebook.

"I'm really sorry to trouble you, Mr. Endo." Yoshiko turned the page, her gaze falling on a line of names, and the young face that had led her in earlier suddenly flashed through her mind.

The woman with emerald green eyes, though called a woman, looked even younger than her youngest daughter.

"That child with emerald green eyes," Yoshiko looked up, her voice gentle, "what's her name? Is she here too?"

Endo was old and didn't react for a moment. He paused for a moment, and it took him a few moments to realize that she was talking about Kotoha.

"She's not up there." He waved his hand. "She's the cult leader's maid now, and she's with a very young child..."

What he said after that was the truth.

But he didn't say the real reason: the demon's maid was very likely a reserve food item. He couldn't bear the responsibility if the demon wanted to eat her one day but she wasn't there.

Moreover, sending believers to other believers who are doing well is precisely to give these people a place to belong, to expand the church's influence, and to alleviate some of the church's personnel pressure.

Qinye, whose identity is special, is not included in this category.

"I see," Yoshiko replied thoughtfully.

The two chatted for a few more minutes about the people in the notebook.

After finishing her story, Yoshiko handed the notebook back to Endo. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "If possible… could you please ask that child named Kotoha for me? She's taking a child with her, and she'll eventually leave the church…"

She looked up at Endo's expression and added, "Of course, it's best if she's willing herself."

In her heart, the seemingly ageless, incredibly kind cult leader would never go against the wishes of his followers.

"Okay, okay," Endo mumbled in agreement.

……

"Okay, okay—teacher, I know where the problem is!"

Inside Kokushibo's human mansion, Yukina stared intently at the chessboard on the table, her lips pursed and her fists clenched. "So let's play one more game!"

She issued a new challenge, her tone carrying a defiant spirit.

That shouldn't be the case.

I had clearly learned the rules of chess several days in advance and even practiced with someone several times.

Didn't the teacher just teach him the rules?

Why is it that, apart from the first game, I'm always the one who gets defeated?

She is not convinced.

Seeing her stubborn expression, Kokushibo silently placed the chess pieces back in their original positions. "...Again."

Although he had only recently come into contact with this game of chess, which originated in the West, and although the rules seemed to be more numerous than those of Go, it was not a difficult task for him, who was skilled in chess.

"I'll eat it!"

"I'll eat some more!"

I think this game has a chance!

……

"Huh? This isn't right..."

Yukina stared at the game she had lost again, her red eyes filled with confusion, her tone resentful.

"Teacher, did you really just learn this?"

"……Um."

"Talent!" she sighed, resting her chin on the edge of the table. "Damn talent!"

Looking at the sullen child, Kokushibo found it hard to believe that he was associated with the word "talent." He had always been more like the one chasing after the talented.

But when he thought about how these words came from the child in front of him, he didn't find it so strange anymore.

After all, being praised in front of this child seems to be an easy thing.

"I can't be considered... talented... it's just that chess games inherently have... commonalities."

Xue Na put down the chess piece in her hand, sighed deeply, and thought to herself: Teacher is too modest. Isn't this talent?

"...Want to come again?"

Having played Go for hundreds of years, Kokushibo's emotions, which shouldn't be affected by this, were surprisingly relaxed at this moment, and he couldn't help but want to tease this child whose mind had obviously drifted away.

Xue Nai lifted her head from her arms and glanced at him.

"Would you like to take a break, teacher?" she asked.

Hei Shibo gathered the remaining pieces on the board and placed them back in their original positions one by one.

Although I didn't really want to continue just now, but now...

"Come! You have to come!"

Yukina looked at Kokushibo, and before he could answer, she suddenly sat up straight.

She pushed back the chair, rolled up her sleeves, and placed her hands on the edge of the table.

"Teacher, I'm about to activate my hidden talent this round!"