Ashen Demon

7

Did she hear that right?

"Lower Rank 6?" Byleth looks at Douma questionably with a small frown. "The tsuzumi demon is a member of the Twelve Demon Moons?" she asked further as she points at Kyogai with her weapon.

Now that Douma has mentioned that, it would make sense given the strength and ability the demon has showed to her. Though manipulating the room by shifting around doesn't seem much, but it would be troublesome if not a single individual could recall what each tsuzumi can do. It's easy to figure it out, but having to move along with the shifting of the rooms is a different story.

The only two things to look out from Kyogai were the tsuzumi on his navel and on his back. His navel tsuzumi is used as offense to slice his prey. Especially to attack while his victims are too focused on making sure to not lose their footing while the room is still moving around. The back tsuzumi is much more problematic; randomly warping his victims in his own mansion any where and catching them off guard by ambushing them without warning.

She can see why Kyogai is a member of the Twelve Demon Moons, as Lower Rank 6. Though she doesn't see the single kanji in one of his eyes, which made her think that he must've had his eyes rolled back. Why hide it, though?

"Formerly, Byleth-chan." Douma corrects the mint-haired woman, giving her a closed-eye smile. Though it didn't last long as he reopens them and the serious yet devoid look was back when he looks back at Kyogai in the corner of his eyes. 

"If memory serves right, he was stripped of his rank because he could not grow stronger. That man has no use of stunted demons." he added.

'So in other words, any demon that couldn't show any progress in growth are tossed aside and replaced with a different one... how sad.' Byleth thought as her frown grew deeper. The more she is starting to learn how the leader of the demons operates and commands, the more she is starting to resent him.

"You're protecting a human, let alone a demon slayer." Kyogai starts to say, as he is snarling at the silver-haired demon with anger. "That man will not be happy if he finds out you betrayed him for that human!"

"And?" Douma tilts his head, while keeping that emotionless look on.

"You're asking for a death sentence!" Kyogai hissed.

"Do you think that is the case, peasant?" Douma flicked his right wrist, causing the fan to be unfurled with a sharp thwack! while moving himself in front of Byleth. The woman cannot help but flinch from the sudden malice her companion is oozing, let along feeling the killing intent.

"I'll have you know, unlike you Lower Ranks, that man favors the Upper Ranks. Especially the top three strongest Upper Moons, with me among them. Do you think he'd want to get rid of me for picking sides, knowing that I am one of his valuable assets to get rid of the Demon Slayer Corps? No, I think he'd be under the impression that I am merely acting out of sheer curiousness or going undercover." Douma states the former Lower Rank.

 And Kyogai knew every words that spewed out from the demon are unfortunately true; their king prefers the Upper Ranks more than the Lower Ranks. They never failed him before, but the Lower Ranks on the other hand, continue to disappoint him for constantly changing over the years.

While seeing the seething face forming on the tsuzumi demon, Byleth looks over to Douma. Going over his response, she is aware that Douma clearly sworn to her that he will stop feasting and defend humans from other demons. There was no sign of deceit behind the words he had just told to Kyogai. Their king wouldn't want to kill his closest allies over something as trivial as this, even though Douma told her that he is vaguely aware that he was never liked by him.