Here it is the next chapter! College is kicking my butt but I'm enjoying writing this mess-up story.

Special thanks for Gluten-Free-Okami on Discord for beta-reader.

Chapter 5

"My lord, your carriage is all set and ready to go. We suggest leaving as soon as possible." The man's brow furrowed a bit, "People here are starting to ask questions about the missing people." One is his little myrmidons said worriedly. Douma hummed as his handmaidens made sure he looked pretty and presentable. Which is funny to Douma; his little lambs fuss over everything. But humans are shallow creatures, if you look like an upstanding person they relax around you. But if not they distrust you. Funny how it's usually the other way around. But he supposed he was the same too. He likes pretty and unusual things.

"You guys worry too much." He said as he fixed his haori, "I was super careful about the people I ate," And he was! Most of them were homeless. Poor wretches who were hurting in their misery. He had done them a favor considering how sad their lives were, "And we must make sure our recruits are ready for the journey." He pointed out.

His myrmidon bows, "Of course my lord. I'll get right on it." Douma nodded, it's good to have good help. Otherwise, he would go crazy if he had to do everything. Which did happen a couple of times. Good thing he knows how to restart the cult if it dies out. But he learned over time he needed loyal members to help carry out his deeds. One sthat helped run the cult when he was busy.

"Sir?" Speaking of, one of his workers spoke from outside the room. Douma nodded and one of his other workers opened the shojo door. Seiji walked in and bowed, "Everyone is ready and the carriage is set to go."

"Oh thank you!" He reaches for the desk and puts on his black hat.

He steps out of his room and walks to the living room of the place he and his followers were staying at. His followers both new and old bow as he walks past. He smiles as raises his hand and speaks.

"Everyone! We have quite the journey ahead of us. But we should be there before nightfall if there is no trouble. So make sure to help each other during this trip and for those who can't," His eyes flicked to a pregnant woman, barely an adult, and the child he helped. Said the child huffed, standing there proudly.

Ha! What a funny little girl. She was acting all brave and tough when she was so small. He remembers finding her in that alleyway. Scared out of wits. He just had to help her. So he gave her some cannabis. A drug that helps calm people down and it certainly helps with the child.

He walked to the carriage which was in the shadowed part of the hotel. His followers already got the horse all hooked up. Good, good.

"Right this way sir," Being the ever-loyal follower Seiji opened the door for him.

"Thank you," Douma said as he got into the carriage. The door closes, leaving him a dimly lit room. The carriage was designed to keep as little light as possible. He hardly used it because it made him vulnerable if the carriage was attacked. Which is the only reason why he has guards. He could hear his little lambs outside helping the new ones. Most of them come from the poor or homeless which are his favorite humans.

Seiji was one of them. Douma remembers finding the bald-haired man when was a boy. He and his mom lost her husband so she sought his and his temple's help. Being ever kind, he let the pair stay in his village free of charge. One thing he likes about humans who come from hard lives and he likes about people from poor lives is that they are grateful for anything. They do not make much such a fuss as people who come from better lives. Some don't even mind getting eaten by him. Like what happened to Seiji's mother when it was her time to ascend to Paradise. Seiji himself didn't make a fuss when he found out about her death. Saying it was the ending she wanted.

As it should be. He gives home, food, and happiness. So he deserved a good meal too. It's a win-win for both parties.

Then the door opened. Douma turned to see two guests he was expecting. One was a young pregnant girl named Rin. Judging by her flesh she must have been 17 years old. From what he got out of her, the man she was seeing pressured her to have sex with him and she ended up with a child. And of course, the man ran when she told him she was pregnant.

Of course…

The young woman bowed in apology but Douma shook his head.

"It's fine. Let me help you." He said helping her up as it was the gentlemanly thing to do.

"Thank you, my lord," Rin flinched in pain as she sat down. Douma peeks his eyes away from her pregnant stomach. As much as he would love to eat her, he made it a rule to not eat new followers. They need to restock their numbers. Maybe some other time.

"Oh it's my-" Douma was cut off by a blur running into the carriage. Rin let out a startled scream.

"What this is so cool! Why is it so dark? How long is this trip? Why do your eyes glow? Hey, what-" Douna laughed as he caught the child by the back of her kimono.

"Now, now don't be rude. You started poor Rin-san here, Haelth-chan." He gently scolded the young girl.

"Oh!" The child turns to the startled woman, "I'm sorry!"

"It's fine…" Rin said weakly. She took a deep breath, then smiled at the girl. She patted the seat next to her, "Come sit here." Happily, Haelth sits next to her. It wasn't long until the carriage was moving and the little one was trying to peek out but the windows were designed to block out any sunshine. Rin and Douma laughed at her.

Douma is honestly so glad he convinced the child to come with him to the cult. Hāfu was so rare. They're like foreigners, they don't come this far into the mainland, and stick to port towns. He originally went to eat her if her family was there way back in that cave. One huge family would have filled him up during this whole trip. He was disappointed when he found out the child was crazy and made up her dead family. What a poor, sad soul he thought when he found out. Then a plan started to form in his mind.

Children won't make a good meal. He had some before, while some were nice they were so small that in a couple of bites, they were gone. Which is why he doesn't go out of his way to eat them. Only a couple of times did he have to kill a child. Mostly if they are dangerous to themselves or others he takes them away and kills them. Not to prolong their suffering.

But he could raise this girl to be a perfect meal. He has done it before. All of which turned out to be the best meals he made and his favorites. His favorites have the honor of having their skulls up on the shelves in his room. They're the ones that he remembers forever. Which is the highest honor, only people who make an impression on him go up there.

But he needs to keep an eye on her. He had people like her before. Ones that see things that are not there, driving them insane. Some of which turn on themselves or others. Douna gives them mercy before that can happen. But if he wants the little one to become a perfect meal for him he needs to keep an eye on her. To make sure she doesn't hurt herself or others.

Who knows! Maybe he'll let her live just a bit longer if she popped out a kid or more. Just so he has the next generation too. But then he has to give her a partner when she is older. Urgh, so much work.

"So what's your village like? Do I have to shave my head? I don't want to do that..." Douma blinked in surprise as he was so lost in thought that the child started to sit next to him. He turns to see Rin look shocked and horrified that Douma has to laugh. He is not used to kids coming up to him. They were usually too shy but this girl was bold.

"Whoa, whoa there!" Douma grabs the young girl by the back of her kimono, "One at a time little one! We are in the village soon enough. And you don't need to shave your head. Only my myrmidons have to." He sat her down next to him.

"How about I tell you a story?" Douma struggles. The child's blue eyes brighten at that.

"Can you please!" She asked, Douma chuckled at that.

"Ever heard of Shippeitaro?" He asks her. The child tilted her head.

"No, who is he?" She asked him.

"He was a dog," Douma started, hoping she reacted confused.

"Huh?" Haelth tilted her head, "What did the dog do?" She asked him.

Douma laughed, "Well you see our story didn't start with a dog, but an adventurous young warrior wanting to prove himself. So he went into the mountains but got lost and rested by shine. Where he watches as cats stand out their hind legs and charting, 'Don't tell Shippeitaro.' Over and over throughout the night." He looks out of the dark window. He could smell the fresh breeze of the mountain. They were getting close, "When morning came the man wisely got out there. There he finds out that the village sends young girls to be sacrificed to demons, and then the man remembers the cats were talking about Shippeitaro. So he went around the village asking who is Shippeitaro. Turns out he was a lord dog."

"What kind of dog?" Haelth asked him.

"Shiba Inu." He answers before going back to his story, "After some convincing he took the dog with him. Then the girl who is about to offer to the demon is replaced in her basket with the dog. There, as the mountain demon opens the basket, Shippeitaro leaps forward. Killing the demon and chasing off cats as well. Pretty cute story no?" He smiles at her.

Haelth nodded, "Kinda… but I want more action next time!" She exclaimed, throwing her fist in the air.

Douma laughed, "Don't worry I have plenty of stories like that but…" The carriage stopped and the child lost her balance and fell face-first on the floor. Rin squeaks in surprise.

"We're here!"

The people from his village greeted him and new members of his flock with open arms. But while the journey was done there was still plenty of work to be done. New members were tired from their trip so they needed to bathe and eat. They will rest at the temple until Douma and his workers can sort them out.

Busy, busy, but happy lives make for happy meals.

At least Haelth was easy to place. Being a child she was placed in an orphanage. A large building next to the temple at the heart of the village. All to ensure the buildings in the village are taken care of… besides his temple of course.

He greeted the caretaker, Hana, as he made his way with the child in hand. She bowed saying she'll get a room ready for her as soon as possible. As she disappeared, the child looked around at the building nervously. There were a couple of children peeking out of their room, curious.

So Douma kneels beside her. It's funny how she can be so bold but in an unfamiliar place, she gets shy.

"Now don't be scared," He whispered calmly to her. Haelth looked up at him, "If there's any trouble you come to me or Hana-san. My temple is right next to here. Just ask a worker and they come to get me," He told her.

"Really?" The child raises an eyebrow, "I can come over anytime I want?" She asked him.

Douma smiled, "Oh course! You are a part of my flock now! As a shepherd, it's my job to make sure all my little lambs are safe and sound." He promised her.

That's a wrap!

Urggh this month was hard because I got fired from my hotel cleaning job because I went home early(I ask) and stayed at home to rest. My job fired me over text. Plus college is kicking my butt and this Sep I'm taking Fundamentals of Art and 3-D Foundations. Yeah going to be hard but hey lean about 3-D art and am closer to getting my Game Arts degree.

Playing FF16 and F/SR Demo: firedragonx23

My Tumblr where you get updates of my fics: firedragonx

And lastly my discord: CKmutXFYGF