Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Though his excitement had just about boiled over, Nobu quickly calmed down when he noticed an incongruence between the present and past times he had managed to add someone to his Friend's List.Onihime hadn't generated a spare tablet.Noticing the rather drastic change in her Master's behavior, Onihime's expression morphed into one of concern as she asked, "My Lord...?"Meeting the petite girl's purple gaze, Nobu forced a wry smile as he said, "Gimme a sec. I'm trying to figure something out..."Though she maintained a concerned expression, Onihime nodded her head in response to Nobu's words before fixing her posture and doing her best to appear calm.Adopting a slightly more genuine smile, Nobu nodded his head before shifting his attention to the tablet. The biggest question he had at the moment was whether or not Onihime appeared among his list of Units. It was 'just' his friend, he wouldn't know what to do, as, without a tablet of her own, he couldn't even message her through the Messenger App.------------------------------------Name: Aizu-Ashina Onihime/Yoshitsune OnihimeAge: 67Gender: Female, H:137.5cm, W: 34.8kg, B: 61.1cm, W: 46.9cm, H: 62.9cmBlood Type: ZX-Cultivation: *Sealed*Aura Units: 142/432,912Status: Suppressed Physiology(+), Sealed(+), Slave Crest(+), Poisoned(+), Cursed(+), Lesser Vampiric Urge(+), Aroused(+), Sated(+)-Suppressed Physiology: Due to ingesting Sanctified Silver and the blood of animals, her growth has been severely restricted. Removal Cost: 117,000AU-Sealed: Has had her cultivation crippled and sealed using the Four-Beasts Seal. Weakening Cost: 60,000AU. Removal Cost: 6,000,000AU-Slave Crest: Has had her will restricted by a high-quality Slave Crest. Cannot refuse the orders of her Master without experiencing extreme pain. Current Master: Oda Nobunaga. Removal Cost: N/A-Poisoned: Has periodically ingested Sanctified Silver to suppress her Oni instincts. Prolonged consumption has drastically decreased her vitality. Current Toxicity: 47%. Reduction Cost: 11,000AU. Removal Cost: 1,100,000AU-Cursed: Cursed by the Goddess Inari: Being accepted as an honorary member has provided her with a weakened version of the curse. The probability of bearing daughters has increased to 63.9%. Removal Cost: 1,300,000AU-Lesser Vampiric Urge: Must periodically consume blood or her own will begin to foul. Current Degeneration Rate: 4%. Suppression Cost: 300AU. Removal Cost: 11,600,000AU.-Aroused: Ingesting your blood has caused her to become aroused. Current Arousal: 77%. Reduction Cost: 600AU. Removal Cost: 46,200AU-Sated: Ingesting your blood has suppressed her Oni instincts. Current Suppression Rate: 100%. Suppression Cost: 190AU. Removal Cost: 19,000AUMain Hand: Left HandPreferred Weapon: Claws, DaggerStrengths: Oni Physiology, Enhanced Strength, Enhanced Durability, Enhanced Speed, Enhanced Perception, Extreme Pain Tolerance, Resistance to Most IllnessesWeaknesses: Ony Physiology, Extremely Vulnerable to Holy Energy, Prolonged Exposure to Sunlight, Bound by a Slave Crest, Gets Lonely Very Easily, Poisoned, ArousedOrientation: Oda NobunagaPreferences: She prefers to be held gently but secretly desires her partner to be roughFavorite Food: The Blood of Oda Nobunaga, Raw Meat, Dango......------------------------------------Seeing the chibi purple avatar among his list of Units, Nobu found himself clicking on Onihime's profile without much consideration. The fact she had an aura capacity in the 400,000s had caught him by surprise, but, considering she must have been around 17 at the time she was taken prisoner, this wasn't too surprising. After all, she was still the 'princess' of a Noble Clan. It would make sense that her cultivation base has been fairly decent before having it sealed.Unfortunately, even after pressing each of the (+) marks in order, including the one showing her current arousal, Nobu wasn't able to uncover the reason why she hadn't been given a stone tablet. The only thing that came to mind was her sealed cultivation base, but, without 60,000 units of Aura, he couldn't be sure."Well...whatever..."Figuring he could always work it out when he had the Aura to spare, Nobu motioned to set aside the stone tablet only to notice that Onihime's eyes had following the movement. She could have just been staring at his hand, but, even after he had retracted it, her eyes lingered for a very brief moment.Regaining a fair amount of his earlier excitement, Nobu picked up the stone tablet and asked, "Can you see this?"Though she appeared slightly confused by his question, Onihime didn't hesitate to nod her head, answering, "Yes...?"Since there was no reason not to, Nobu's smile widened as he gestured for her to come closer, saying, "Here. I want you to try pressing this icon that looks like a glass sphere..."With a ruddy glow spreading through her cheeks, Onihime moved close enough that Nobu could smell an aroma similar to high-quality wine before gingerly tapping the screen.In the past, Nobu had experimented with having Midori, Sachiko, and Nariko press the icon on his tablet. Unfortunately, just as he couldn't do anything using their stone tablets, they were unable to make use of his. He expected this to be the case with Onihime as well, but, considering the strange circumstances that had led to her becoming his 'friend', it never hurt to try.Seeing a tiny 0.005 pop up the moment Onihime's finger pressed his screen, a massive grin spread across Nobu's face.Sensing her Master's excitement, Onihime's arousal increased to around 83% as she instinctually squeezed her inordinately plump thighs together. She might be remarkably petite for her age, but, were she to be compared to a human girl with a similar stature, even a fool could tell the difference between them. Her breasts might be small, but her body possessed curves that young human girls simply didn't. This included strong, plump, and remarkably soft thighs that were about 30% larger than a human of similar height and build."My Lord...?"Responding to Onihime's voice, Nobu looked down at the petite woman to find her looking up at him with what could best be described as an intoxicated expression on her face. The hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood on end, and, though his face was covered with a cloth soaked in mint oil, the wine-like aroma was becoming increasingly more fragrant with each passing moment.Feeling a familiar tightness in his throat, Nobu was about to tell Onihime to give him some space so he could explain his findings. Before the words could leave his mouth, however, she gently grasped the hem of his yukata, her voice tinged with an undertone of longing as she said, "It's okay...even if I look like this...I can take it..."Though his nature nearly compelled him to ask what the hell she was talking about, Nobu found himself unable to speak as he internally inquired, ("What the fuck is wrong with me? Am I seriously considering this...?")Noticing the reluctance in her Master's gaze, Onihime deflated like a balloon as she withdrew her hand and muttered, "Forgive me...I did not mean to cause any offense..."Furrowing his brows, a conflicted look developed across Nobu's face as he fixed his posture and said, "I'm not offended. It's just...even if you're like three-and-a-half times my age, you don't exactly look it. It feels like I would be committing a crime if I laid my hands on you..."While there was still a hint of melancholy in her expression, Onihime appeared more confused than anything else when she heard Nobu's explanation. There were women with appearances even more youthful than her own working in public brothels so she really wasn't quite sure what to make of his statement.Fortunately, in an effort to ease the awkward tensions that had built between them, Nobu did his best to explain a bit about himself and the stone tablet. His training and education had become a pretty major distraction as of late so it was quite a significant boon to discover the Onihime could do it for him. She was going to be his personal attendant and slave in the future, so, while it might not be the smartest idea to let a girl he hardly knew mess around with his cheat, knowing she had no choice but to obey his orders alleviated the majority of Nobu's concerns.........Ever since Nobu had forced her to lay her head in his lap, Kazue had been feeling markedly more absentminded than usual. She would normally pass her time by reflecting on her uselessness and the many mistakes she had made in the past, but, ever since Nobu gently ran his fingers through her hair, it was one of the only things she could think about."What the hell is wrong with me? Did I seriously fall in love with my own Lord...?"With her forearm resting on her forehead in a manner similar to Nobu, Kazue stared listlessly at the ceiling without a single strand of clothing anywhere on her body. She may have flunked out of the kunoichi program, but, much like every other member of the Yoshitsune Clan, she would rather be naked than fully clothed.The difference between her present and past states was that Kazue wasn't simply naked. Instead, her body glistened with a fresh layer of sweat after she had spent the better part of thirty minutes pleasuring herself to the memory of Nobu caressing her head. It was the feeling of release she felt after the fact that led to her current anguish, not because she had never masturbated, but because she felt like she had somehow defiled her Lord's intentions..."Haaaa..."Raising her tired body, Kazue was about to grab a bucket of water to clean herself with when the pupils of her hazel eyes contracted to the size of pinholes."If you scream, I will have no choice but to silence you...permanently..."Crouching less than three meters from where Kazue had been lying was a youthful-looking girl with obsidian-blue hair and hazy pink eyes. These weren't particularly uncommon traits, but, seeing the ears atop her head six tails shifting about like flames behind her, Kazue didn't have to ask. She knew exactly who the woman was.Under normal circumstances, Kazue would have bowed as low and reverentially as possible. In this particular set of circumstances, however, she felt like a field mouse that had just be discovered by a hungry fox. Her instincts told her that any movement whatsoever might lead to her end, yet, in spite of this, she inhaled a breath with the intention of shouting as loud as possible."Foolish girl...!"Pouncing on Kazue in an instant, Inami slammed the former into the ground with her hand covering her mouth. She really didn't want to hurt one of her own descendants, but, for the sake of the entire clan, she would do whatever it took to ensure their continued survival."Though you might be a failure, your loyalty towards your Lord is commendable. Not all kunoichi can remain steadfast when presented with circumstances such as this. For that, you have earned my respect. Now, sleep..."With her eyes releasing a hazy pink flow, Inami forced Kazue into a state of suggestiveness that made the one experienced by Nobu seem like a joke. She hadn't lived for more than six thousand years without mastering the abilities associated with her race. This included a kitsune's characteristic charm, and, most importantly, their ability to transform and create illusions."I assure you. I harbor no ill will towards your Lord. If you really wish to protect him and your fellow clanswomen, you will tell me everything you know about your Lord, his Heavenly Treasure, and your relationship with him. Tell me everything..."......(A/N: I kind of feel bad for Onihime, but the situation with Kazue is just unfair. Inami has gone too far this time...!)

Though there were a total of 83 candidates, Nobu ultimately only acquired six as teaching staff and caretakers.Generally speaking, there were six major disciplines that Kunoichi were divided into once they had completed their foundation training.On paper, the six major disciplines included combat, assassination, tracking, infiltration, seduction, and poison. In reality, Kunoichi were also able to learn about seals, cooking, craftsmanship, hunting, and various other trade-related abilities that would allow them to seamlessly blend into society.One of the things that made Yui so exceptional was that she had a basic mastery over each of the disciplines and advanced mastery over combat, assassination, and seduction techniques. She had also completed warrior training based on the standards of the Oda Clan, so, while she was a bit odd in the head at times, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she was a prodigy among prodigies.At the present moment, said prodigy was currently tracing her index finger around Nobu's exposed nipple as she reclined her head on his shoulder. She had a somewhat dazed look on her face, and, if you observed closely, it was possible to see the sides of her lips periodically curl upwards as various thoughts danced across her mind.Ever since their first night of passion, Nobu and Yui had made love nearly every single night. At first, this had terrified and confused both of them as neither had any real experience with such emotions. After a while, however, it felt completely natural.("Humans really can adapt to anything...")As that thought crossed his mind, Nobu rolled onto his side and positioned himself so that he was spooning the raven-haired beauty with his mouth near her ear. She had confessed that she enjoyed being held tenderly, so, with his hand caressing her smooth yet firm abdomen, Nobu sent a tremor through Yui's body as he whispered as softly as possible, "I think I might love you...""Nobu..."Not expecting to hear such words, a paradoxical feeling of exuberance and anguish spread through Yui's body. According to the laws, customs, and traditions of their families, she had no right to be loved by Nobu. Love was a weakness that caused people to do foolish things. It was something that was easily exploited, and, depending on the circumstances, invariably led to tragedy.Had he confessed to her several weeks ago, Yui would have promptly reminded Nobu that she was merely his Mistress. It was more accurate to say she was engaged to him rather than say they were engaged to each other. It was her duty to protect him, serve him, and carry out his will. Love wasn't supposed to be a part of the equation.Perhaps as a result of Nobu's peculiarities, Yui found herself unable, or, more accurately, unwilling to 'correct' him. She wasn't quite sure of her own feelings, but she wanted to protect and nourish them rather than quash them completely. Her Grandmother had also implied her support by giving a few not-so-subtle hints, so, after several seconds of silence, a layer of moisture spread across the surface of Yui's eyes as she replied, "I think I feel the same way..."Though they had recently finished a rather passionate session of lovemaking, Nobu could feel the blood rushing to his little brother as he planted a kiss on Yui's exposed shoulder. He was actually happier she responded in such a roundabout manner. If she had declared her feelings directly, he wasn't sure he would be able to accept them. After all, back in his previous world, words like love were thrown around so often that it was more of a meme than anything else. It was merely a word to get women to open their legs and men to open their wallets...While his relationship with Yui was anything but normal, Nobu felt closer to her with each passing day. There was something about knowing she would die for him that gave him a strange peace of mind. He wasn't sure if he could do the same, but, if it came down to it, he was pretty confident he would go down swinging if someone tried to hurt her. Whether or not this was love, Nobu had no idea. All he knew was that he wanted to spend more time with her.........After sleeping in till around noon, Nobu awoke to find that he was alone in his bed. This caused a wry smile to develop across his face, but, understanding Yui had other duties to attend, he simply shook his head and called out, "Anyone there?"Somewhat surprisingly, only a single honey-haired girl entered his room when Nobu called out."Ayane?"Perennially taciturn and soft-spoken, Ayane responded with a curt, "Yes..." while staring directly at him with her peculiar blue eyes.Recalling all the past times they had talked, Nobu could already feel his mental faculties slowing down as he asked, "Where is everyone else...?"Without so much as a single change in expression, Ayane continued to stare unblinkingly at Nobu for several increasingly tense moments before answering, "Yui...training...Yuriko...training...Kumiko..."Though he felt a little guilty about interrupting her, Nobu held up his hand, a wry smile on his face as he said, "Just tell me where Onihime is..."Tilting her head somewhat adorably to the side, Ayane contributed one of her characteristic silences before finally answering, "Kitchen...""..."Resisting the urge to ask why it took so long for her to supply such a simple answer, Nobu just rose to his feet and said, "Let's go. I feel like eating in the dining room today."Without offering a response, Ayane promptly fell into step behind Nobu. This always annoyed him, but, understanding it made the girls uncomfortable to walk directly at his side, he decided to ignore it. Besides, it wasn't like he could have an actual conversation with Ayane. He was almost certain she had some form of autism, and, while he would never fault her for such a thing, it made conversing with her extremely difficult.........Though she would much rather prepare her Lord's meals herself, Cho had learned to appreciate teaching others. Midori was a bashful girl on the surface, but, once you managed to get her to open up to you, her smile became as radiant as the sun."Cho-sama, Cho-sama~! Please try my miso soup~."Giggling in amusement, Cho dutifully tasted Midori's soup with a smile before unhesitantly stating, "Your dashi is too thick and you've used far too much salt. The savoriness has become little more than an undertone to the dish. If you were to feed this to Master as is, he would undoubtedly get a stomach ache."Deflating like a balloon, Midori's amber eyes became unfocused as she stared off into space. This earned amused chuckles from both Cho and Onihime, the most recent addition to the kitchen staff."Don't worry, Midori-chan. It's only a matter of time before you master miso soup. After that, you can begin preparing other dishes."Hearing Onihime's words, Midori instantaneously recovered, a broad and innocent smile on her face as she happily exclaimed, "Yosh! Midori will do her best! Thanks, Oni-nee~!"Though she was nearly sixty years the girl's senior, Onihime didn't mind Midori referring to her as an elder sister. It was infinitely better than being regarded as an old lady.As that thought crossed her mind, a delicate sigh emerged from Onihime's throat as memories of meeting her Master for the first time resurfaced. She felt like she could have tried harder to change his impression and overcome his inhibitions. Now, her body yearned for him, but, due to the way he viewed her, she was more likely to receive a head pat than the intimacy she craved.Noticing the strange expression on Onihime's face, Midori's own became a little awkward as she asked, "Oni-nee? Does your tummy hurt...?"Shaking her head, Onihime extended her hand to caress Midori's as she gently mused, "I was just thinking about our Master. He is a great man, isn't he~?"Smiling radiantly in response, Midori chimed a happy, "Nn~!" before saying, "Master is awesome~!" in an enthusiastic tone.Though she was still a little scared of him due to his size, Nobu had quickly become one of Midori's favorite people. He was nothing like what she had been taught to expect. He was super nice, and, if she was good, he would even give her candies, caress her head, and even play with her. It was also funny to see him squirm around or float face-down in the bath, so, while she couldn't help feeling intimidated by his size, Midori was very fond of the Master that had saved her life.With such thoughts on her mind, Midori was ready to attempt another batch of miso soup when the person each of them was thinking about entered the room, saying, "Yo." in a casual manner."Master~!"Under normal circumstances, Midori would be more cautious, but, as she had just been thinking about how awesome Nobu was, she didn't hesitate to run over and hug his waist. This left Nobu feeling a little awkward, but, rather than admonish the young girl for her overfamiliarity, he began to pat her head, asking, "How's it going? Have you already done your daily clicks?"Smiling wide enough to show off a few of her missing teeth, Midori happily chimed, "Of course! I did it as soon as I woke up~!"Though his voice sounded a bit dry, Nobu chuckled in response to Midori's words, saying, "Good job." before casting a glance at Cho and asking, "Do you have any candy on you? I think Midori has deserved a treat."Having already anticipated such a request, Cho slipped her hand into the sleeve of her kimono before pulling out a string of neatly wrapped rock candy. This caused Midori's eyes to light up, her expression literally beaming as she unhesitantly released Nobu's waist and hurried over to retrieve her treat.Exhaling a sigh of relief, Nobu gave his own body a whiff to confirm that he did, indeed, smell like sex. He and Yui had been up until around 4 AM, and, thanks to his sleeping in, he hadn't bathed at all.Fortunately, Midori was either too young to understand what the smell was or simply didn't care about it. This allowed Nobu to relax until he noticed Onihime staring at him with a rather intense look on her face.Noticing her Master's gaze, Onihime promptly bowed, her expression softening into a pleasantly surprised yet ostensibly subservient look as she said, "Good afternoon, Master. I apologize for not being at your side when you awoke."Though she didn't mean anything by it, the tips of Onihime's ears turned red when she realized how her words might be interpreted. Fortunately, or perhaps not, Nobu didn't seem to realize this. Instead, he just waved dismissively, saying, "It's not a problem. I can't really do anything about your status right now, but, as I keep telling you, I don't really need slaves. If you want to help out in the kitchen, more power to you."Despite suppressing a sigh, a genuine smile developed across Onihime's face as she replied, "Yes. I know. Master is a kind and benevolent man..."Feeling his skin crawl, Nobu forced a smile before shifting his attention to Cho and asking, "What's for lunch? Also, sorry for missing breakfast. I didn't get to sleep until pretty late..."After giggling in response to Nobu's words, Cho gestured towards a number of trays covered in silver lids atop a nearby counter. These were designed to keep food warm, so, even though lunch had been prepared nearly thirty minutes prior, it was still piping hot beneath the insulated cloches.Noticing the arrangement, a smile spread across Nobu's face despite his stomach releasing a rather audible growl. He wasn't the type to get embarrassed over such things, so, after removing the cloth from his face, he made casual conversation with the four girls, Ayane included, as he filled his belly with Cho's perpetually delicious food.........(A/N: What a wholesome chapter (UwU)...)

In the days that followed his meeting with Kaia, Nobu made good on his promise by meeting with Hitomi and Suzune to discuss the viability of converting a part of his estate into a holding facility. This earned him a fair amount of teasing from the pinkette since he was basically asking to build a dungeon, but, when everything was said and done, they agreed to have the holding facility placed beneath the room adjacent to his own.Along with said dungeon, several other renovations were being made to Nobu's personal estate as he split his time between training, clicking, and interviewing potential personnel and staff members. This included Rynka, who, after hearing about the situation from Chikako, presented herself as one of the first people to be interviewed.Though there had been a brief misunderstanding where Rynka mistakenly believed she was being asked to become Nobu's personal 'service kunoichi', it was resolved relatively quickly when he said he had no interest in brats. This left Rynka feeling vexed, but, as she was more than a little afraid of him after seeing how he dealt with Shizune, she never vocalized her thoughts.Regarding Shizune, Nobu actually interviewed her as well. In reality, this was basically just a private admonishment where he laid down the ground rules he had discussed with Suzune while the latter silently observed. She would basically be serving under Kumiko with the penultimate responsibility of caring for and maintaining the estate.In simpler terms, Shizune had effectively become the Head Maid responsible for rearing trainees to be caretakers, attendants, servants, and informants. This was actually a rather coveted position, but, after discussing the matter at length with Kumiko and Yui, they managed to convince Nobu it was the most suitable position for someone with Shizune's status and abilities.Despite the gaff she had made, Shizune was inarguably one of the most talented kunoichi when it came to gathering and supplying information. She wasn't being groomed as the next Information Elder just because she was Suzune's daughter. The Matriarch and Elders would have never allowed such favoritism at it might contribute to misconceptions and resentment spreading among current and future kunoichi. In other words, the favoritism Shizune received had little to do with her status as Suzune's daughter. Instead, it was her talent and her potential as an Onmyoji that had afforded her the leeway to behave like a spoiled princess.Onmyoji were highly respected throughout Nian due to their ability to command Shikigami, and, most importantly, deal with curses. They were effectively exorcists that traveled around the country sealing Youkai, cleansing evil spirits, and erecting barriers. Many were even personally hosted by the nobility of the provinces they visited so Shizune essentially had a perfect cover for traveling around and gathering information.When it came down to it, Nobu didn't really care about Shizune's qualifications. He only tolerated her because Yui and Kumiko vouched for her. In his mind, it was far more important to be able to trust the people around him than to surround himself with capable individuals. After all, even in his previous world, those considered the most capable were, more often than not, the most ambitious and opportunistic.Fortunately, while he had effectively been forced to compromise on the matter regarding Shizune, Nobu had free rein concerning his other staff and personnel picks. This included employing Rukia, and, though she had yet to return, Takao. As for his other picks, he primarily relied on suggestions from Kumiko, Yui, and the other girls. The only real exception to this was the girl named Onihime, who, on the third day, arrived at Nobu's doorstep wearing an inordinately short kimono with pink accents........."Even if you ultimately change your mind, thank you for considering someone as lowly as myself for the position of your personal attendant..."Seeing the inordinately petite girl bowing low enough that her horns were poking against the floor of his room, Nobu had to restrain a sigh as he said, "Raise your head."Though her actions were a little slow, Onihime obeyed Nobu's command without any perceivable hesitation. This allowed him to stare into her dark-purple eyes, which, unlike a human, possessed thin black slits in place of circular pupils."Are you really 68-years-old...?"Adopting a smile with melancholic undertones that even Nobu could perceive, Onihime remained silent for a few moments before shaking her head and answering, "I will be sixty-eight near the end of Satsuki(May)..."Never one for subtlety, Nobu's expression morphed into a furrow as he asked, "Are you okay?" in an ostensibly concerned but largely uncomfortable tone.Confused by her future Lord's question, Onihime tentatively explained, "Oni do not suffer from the same illnesses as normal humans...""Uh...okay?"Realizing his intentions weren't getting across properly, Nobu fell silent for several seconds before asking, "What has the Matriarch told you? Also, do you even want to serve me? Like I've told all the others, I don't need slaves or servants who worship the ground I walk on. If you don't want to be here, I'm not going to force you."Returning a marginally less melancholic smile, Onihime explained, "Hitomi-sama said you were a kind and caring person with different values than traditional Nianese men. She said you were the type of person who evaluated people based on their actions rather than their race, gender, status, or physical appearance. She also told me I could trust you...and that I would be able to experience greater freedom in your service than anywhere else...""..."Resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, Nobu briefly stared off into space before shaking his head and saying, "That's just her personal views. I personally view myself as a bit of an asshole. If you choose to follow me, there is a good chance you'll get wrapped up in the politics and personal affairs of the Oda Clan. I'll do my best, but I can't promise to be able to protect you. I'm pretty new to all this Lordship stuff..."Leaving Nobu at a loss for words, Onihime used her sleeve to cover her mouth as she giggled in a manner reminiscent of a gentle bell chiming in the distance. When she was done, a far more radiant smile had appeared on her face as she mused, "Hitomi-sama was telling the truth. My Lord is unlike any other Noble. If it's for someone as honest and straightforward as you, I believe I could dedicate my everything without regret..."Punctuating her words, Onihime pulled at the green cord keeping her yellow obi fastened around her waist. This caused the hairs on the back of Nobu's neck to stand on end, but, before he could even think to admonish her, the words got stuck in his throat as he noticed the blood-red tattoo near the center of her chest. It looked like a scarlet eye surrounded by angular lines that radiated outward like the traces on a circuit board.Noticing the shock and confusion on her Lord's face, Onihime asked, "Is this the first time my Lord has seen a Slave Crest?"Frowning the moment he heard the words slave and crest, Nobu's tone became firm as he said, "I already told you. I don't need slaves. Fix your clothes."Adopting a slightly apologetic expression on her face, Onihime explained, "Though I want nothing more than to respect my Lord's decision, the people of Nian are significantly less...accepting. If it is discovered that I have not been bound by a contract, I fear my Lord's enemies will never accept my presence at your side. Oni, even halves such as myself, are considered to the common enemy of the Nianese people...we cannot be allowed to wander freely..."Maintaining his frown, Nobu softly muttered, "That's some racist ass shit..." before shaking his head and asked, "So? What do I need to do?"Exhaling a soft yet profoundly relieved sigh, the smile returned to Onihime's face as she explained, "There are two parts. The first part requires my Lord to drip his blood onto the eye at the center of the Slave Crest. The second part...it is unique to Oni..."Though it was faint, a blush spread across Onihime's face as she took a breath to calm herself. Then, with what could best be described as a resolute expression on her face, she explained, "The second part requires me to periodically ingest my Lord's blood. When an Oni accepts blood given of one's own accord, they become bound to the person until death. We will not die if we don't consume the blood of our Masters, but it helps suppress our more...animalistic desires."Blushing to the tips of her elf-like ears, Onihime averted her eyes out of shame and embarrassment. As for Nobu, he just stared at her with a mixture of incredulity and disbelief on his face. Part of him wanted to ask her to explain what she meant, but, fearing she might answer in accordance with his expectations, he ultimately remained mum. She was cute, sure, but the last thing Nobu needed was a 'legal loli' pouncing on him like a bitch in heat."How often do you need to consume blood...?"Keeping her eyes averted, Onihime answered, "Once a week is generally more than enough at my current level of cultivation. As I grow in strength, the frequency will depend on the difference in our respective bases..."After nodding his head in understanding, Nobu only hesitated for a moment before pulling out the dagger Yui had given him for protection. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of cutting the tip of his finger like some edgy anime character, but, considering the circumstances, he didn't have much of a choice.While lamenting what would invariably follow, Nobu placed a shallow cut on the tips of his index and middle fingers. This caused the pupils of Onihime's eyes to contract, and, though it was only a subtle change, her deep purple eyes became noticeably redder as he traced the tips of his fingers over the eerie-looking seal on her chest.Though she had a slightly dazed look in her eyes, Onihime managed a somewhat scary smile as she whispered, "Master's blood is very potent..." in an audibly impassioned tone. Then, just as Nobu had anticipated, she guided his fingers to her lips, her darker-than-average tongue lapping at the excess blood before suckling the digits with a fair amount of vigor.........Despite his best efforts, Nobu was unable to prevent a tent from mounting in his trousers due to Onihime's actions. Fortunately, she was either oblivious to this or had enough sense not to draw attention to it as she dutifully fixed her kimono. What he didn't know was that the only reason she had kept silent was that it was impossible for Slaves to make selfish requests or demands without the express permission of their Master...With her kimono fixed, Onihime sat across from Nobu with a smile on her face as she asked, "Are my Lord's fingers okay?""..."Rather than immediately replying to Onihime's question, Nobu remained silent for several seconds, his eyes focused on the stone tablet in his hands. This caught Onihime's attention, but, rather than interrupt him, she sat with her hands neatly folded across her lap."Holy shit..."Ignoring the legal loli seated across from him, Nobu's excitement continued to increase with each passing second. As for the reason, well, it was because Onihime had been added to his friend's list without him needing to pay a premium. She wouldn't have cost much, but, if things worked the way Nobu expected, it meant he could 'befriend' people for free so long as they were his Slaves..."Holy fucking shit..."......(A/N: That isn't how you make friends, Nobu...)

Chapter 75: Tensions