Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Feeling something poking him in the back, Nobu awoke to find himself cradling Yui. At the same time, however, Onihime was snuggled up to him from behind. As a result, the moment he shifted in his sleep, he ended up pricking himself on the tip of her horns."Mnn? Master...?"Awakened by Nobu's stirring, Onihime moved away from him before sitting up and rubbing her eyes. This allowed Nobu to sit up as well, his expression immediately morphing into a deadpan as he saw the inordinately petite woman in nothing but her birthday suit.("That explains why it feels like I've been sleeping next to a furnace...")According to what Onihime had told him, full-blooded Oni were able to bathe in lava without any particular difficulty. This had allowed them to produce some of the greatest blacksmiths throughout the history of Nian as they could work forges and handle red-hot metals without risk of injury.Though she was only a half, Onihime's body temperature and resistance to heat were much higher than a normal person's. She was far from lava-proof but she could relax in boiling water and resist natural flames.Feeling a wet stain on his back, the result of a tremendous amount of sweat, Nobu just shook his head before asking, "Why are you naked?"Tilting her head to the side, Onihime replied, "When sharing a bed with one's Lord or Master, isn't it normal to sleep naked?"Answering in Nobu's stead, Yui revealed her own sweat-covered body before replying, "Indeed..." in a curt tone. She hadn't been lying next to Onihime, but, with Nobu clinging to her for several hours, a lot of his body heat had transferred into her."..."After the previous day's experiences, Nobu didn't have the willpower to question the duo's logic. If this was considered common knowledge then so be it. At least he knew what to expect when and if he invited others to share his bed in the future.Combing his hand through his hair, Nobu pulled out the stone tablet to check the time. They had clocked in pretty late last night but it was only 3:57 AM. He figured this was the result of waking up around noon the previous day, so, rather than mull over it, he surprised the two girls by saying, "I'm gonna go for a run."As she had been expecting him to continue brooding for several days, Yui was genuinely surprised by Nobu's words. He didn't seem nearly as affected as he was the previous day. Rather, despite the sweat covering his body and the fatigued look on his face, there was a fire in his eyes that had only been present during the moments when he had been willing to face his death..."Nobu..."Shaking his head, Nobu's expression became serious as he said, "Relax. I just feel like moving my body a bit. After yesterday, it feels like I could run for days without rest. My mind might be tired, but my body is basically on fire."Though he had noticed it when he slept with Yui and Yuriko, Nobu's body always felt as though it was filled with strength whenever he absorbed the Yin Elemental Energy of his partner. Suzune had also mentioned how men possessed an instinct that made them covet women with high cultivation bases. Thus, even though he felt a powerful compulsion to just lay around and be lazy, his heart was pumping as though he had just finished his tenth cup of coffee.What Nobu didn't notice was the fact that a bluish-green had surrounded the crystal orb displayed on his Clicker App. Beneath it, glistening in a similarly colored text was a flashing icon that said 10x multiplier. Had he noticed it, Nobu might not have recovered fully but he would have felt a hell of a lot better about the situation.........After secretly observing Nobu for the remainder of the evening, Inami was both pleasantly surprised and considerably relieved that he had kept his word. She was fully prepared to erase the memories of everyone present. Fortunately, that didn't seem to be necessary, as, despite his brash nature, Nobu seemed to be a man of his word.Considering herself to be a woman with similar qualities, Inami only hesitated for a few hours, just long enough to observe Nobu finishing his exercise routine, before requesting a private audience with Hitomi. When she saw the scowl on the latter's face, she wasn't even surprised. Rather, if she hadn't noticed something was amiss based on Nobu's behavior, Inami would have been severely disappointed in her former protege."What have you done?"Maintaining a calm expression that belied the nervousness she was feeling, Inami provided a similar yet slightly altered story to the one Nobu had given his entourage. If two or more people provided the exact same information, it was infinitely more suspicious. Thus, while the key details were all the same, there were a number of variations accounting for her personal views and motivations leading up to and immediately following her liaison with their Young Lord."You wily old fox. Do you take me for a fool!? I told you to stay away from him...!"Squinting her eyes, Inami appeared as placid as the surface of a cavern lake as she answered, "On the contrary, Hitomi. I understand your personality and capabilities better than most. I know I can trust you to watch over and protect the Yoshitsune Clan and its interests. If not, I would have never allowed you to hold the position of Matriarch for as long as you have."Gritting her teeth, Hitomi's aura began to flare as she hissed, "You've jeopardized the survival of the entire Clan and now you expect me to just play along...?"Despite flaring her own aura, Inami maintained her calm visage as she rebutted, "You know damn well I would never do such a thing! Have you forgotten who it is you're talking to!? I have watched over the Clan for millennia! You haven't even lived a hundredth of my lifespan yet you dare accuse me of putting my interests over those of the Clan!?"Tensing under the aura unleashed by her former Master, realization donned upon Hitomi before her expression darkened even further. She could intuit from Inami's words that she was acting on behalf of Inari. In other words, neither she nor they really have a choice in the matter. If they dared to defy the petty and ill-tempered Goddess, their Clan would invariably pay an even greater price.Noticing the understanding glimmer in Hitomi's eyes, Inami's tensions relaxed as an exasperated sigh escaped her throat. She was far more frustrated by their predicament than the much younger woman seated across from her. After all, she was among the first generation affected by the curse, and, thanks to her affinity with the Divine Energy saturating the mountain, she had borne witness to the suffering of her Clan for thousands of years."Worry not. The Young Lord of the Oda Clan is far more promising than I ever anticipated. I have personally witnessed the qualities that will allow him to rule over Nian. That is the reason I am here today. I've noticed the effort you've put into nurturing and supporting Yui. However, she, alone, will not be able to support our Lord to the pinnacle. The rest of his entourage needs similar attention. If you haven't noticed, he is quite a sentimental young man. If any of the people close to him were to die before their time, the consequences would be dire. If you're serious about entrusting the fate of the Yoshitsune Clan to his and Yui's hands, we should regard everyone in his entourage as someone important for his growth. Isn't that why you entrusted Onihime to him and allowed Kaia to continue living?"As it had been quite some time since she and Inami had talked like this, Hitomi had forgotten how sly the deceptively old woman could be. She also couldn't just expose what she believed to be the truth as that would compromise the Clan while simultaneously embarrassing Nobu. In other words, from the moment she agreed to meet with Inami in private, she had basically fallen into the ancient vixen's trap. To make matters even worse, she couldn't even ask what Inari Okami had tasked her to do as the petulant Goddess wasn't fond of people prying into her personal affairs..."What, exactly, is Inami-sama suggesting...?"Nodding her head in approval, the tensions in Inami's body relaxed considerably as she said, "My intentions are in line with your own. Don't think I haven't noticed the way your eyes light up when you gaze upon our Young Lord. If Yui hadn't been up for the task, there is no doubt in my mind that you would have attempted to seduce him. I will not censure you for this. Rather, in order to tie him and his trainees to the Clan, I am proposing to have the Elders assist in their education. We will help him expand his influence through the Clan before assisting in his takeover of the entire archipelago. Because of his sentimental nature, there is no way he would be able to ignore our plight when most of his confidants, advisors, and retainers are members of our Clan..."Furrowing her brows, Hitomi would be lying if she said Inami's words weren't tempting. They were, in fact, in line with her own reasoning. The only problem was that Inami had requested to become Nobu's, Onihime's, and Kaia's personal instructor. In other words, she would be closer to him than any of the other Elders. While there was nothing intrinsically wrong with this, the crux of the matter was that she was the vessel of Inari.If she were allowed to be completely honest, Hitomi absolutely abhorred Inari. Her Clan had been forced to suffer for thousands of years just because she was spurned by a man that had died more than 5700 years ago. She hadn't even provided them a way to be free of the Curse. In other words, until their last surviving member drew her final breath, the Yoshitsune Clan was effectively doomed to suffer for an eternity. All because their Ancestor had fallen in love with someone else...Unfortunately, even if she wanted to refuse Inami's request, Hitomi didn't really have a choice. She knew Inari was watching over them even as they sat in silence. The Gods in Heaven might not be omniscient, but time flowed differently between the two Realms. A day in Heaven was rumored to be a year in the mortal world, so, with nothing better to do, Inari was continuously spying on their every action.Realizing she had been backed into a corner, Hitomi found herself suppressing a sigh despite appearing calm and unflustered on the outside. It was unfortunate that they couldn't contact the Goddess who had prophesied Nobu's rise. She might have been able to do something about this situation. Unfortunately, the only person Hitomi could rely on in this particular instance was Yui, and, to a lesser extent, Nobu...Deciding to entrust the future to the younger generation, Hitomi's gaze sharpened as she said, "Very well. Though we will need to discuss this matter with the other Elders, I am in support of your idea. However, for the sake of our Young Lord's future, we will need to take action to develop and promote his independence. If we begin treating him as a convenient tool to elevate the Clan, there is a very real probability all our plans will come back to bite us..."Since her impression of Nobu had improved quite a bit after their interaction, Inami was actually of a similar mind to Hitomi. She understood, better than most, how frustrating it was to be treated as someone else's pawn. Thus, even if Hitomi hadn't suggested it, she would have done everything in her power to support Nobu's growth. Rather, now that there was a chance she had his baby in her belly, the notion of replacing Yui as his guardian and fiancee had crossed her mind.........(A/N: Our boy is surprisingly popular...)

Despite exercising for the better part of three hours, Nobu still felt as though he was brimming with energy. The sweat covering his body had built up to the point it was dripping profusely, yet, in spite of this, he felt like he could keep going until his muscles tore and it still wouldn't be enough to fully exhaust him."What the fuck is wrong with me...?"Directing the question towards Yui and Onihime, both of which had been sitting silently in the hall, Nobu nearly lost his footing when the former explained, "Your body has absorbed an excess of Yin Elemental Energy. Inami-sama has been consolidating her cultivation base for the last six thousand years. If she were to venture beyond the mountain, countless people would spare no effort to seize her for themselves. Though I am reluctant to admit it, she may very well be the best dual cultivation partner in all of Nian..."Though he already had a basic understanding of dual cultivation from his previous world, Nobu had already learned the specifics from Yuriko. Suzune's words were also fresh in his mind after what had transpired so it didn't take long for him to recover and accept Yui's words as a statement of fact. He just didn't like it."How annoying..."Plopping down between the two girls, Nobu was preparing to snatch the stone tablet from Onihime when the latter handed it to him with an exuberant smile, saying, "Congratulations, Master. It would appear you've reached the threshold for the Second Realm.""Huh...?"Since he was still waiting for his mask to arrive, Nobu had been hovering between the 4th and the 6th Rank thanks to Midori, Sachiko, and Nariko. He allowed Onihime to click at his behest, but, for the most part, he had been regulating his growth by analyzing items, people, animals, and even the weather. He found it hard to believe that he would suddenly shoot from the 6th Rank to the 10th as he was exercising.With countless questions appearing within his mind, Nobu grabbed the stone tablet before closing his eyes, leaning his head against the wall, and muttering, "Fuck..." in an exasperated tone."Nobu...?""Master...?"Without opening his eyes, Nobu replied, "Just give me a moment..." as his mind desperately worked to sort through the information he had just obtained. He had seen the 10x multiplier listed beneath his aura value, and, based on the remaining time, he could assume that it directly correlated to the amount of time he and Inami had been fucking.Thanks to the medicine she had given him, Nobu ended up going to town on Inami from around 1 PM to just around 9 PM. Since then, roughly seven-and-a-half hours had passed. This left him with just under thirty minutes. As for why his cultivation had shot up so much, it was due to the fact that Midori, Sachiko, and Nariko had already awoken. They generally only contributed around 500 AU a day, but, thanks to the 10x bonus modifier, the amount they had contributed was a startling 5287.Simply put, having sex with Inami really had benefitted him a tremendous amount. This made him feel a little better, but, at the same time, it ignited a flame within his heart. He had spent most of the previous night and much of this morning brooding over how he could increase his strength as quickly as possible.Though he had resisted the idea when Yuriko proposed it, Nobu's desire for strength had been increasing with each passing day. He would need to become exponentially more powerful if he wanted to save Cho and the others. Thus, while a part of him vehemently resisted the idea, a much larger part of him was willing to do whatever it took to increase his strength. Only then would he be able to protect the things he cared about.As that thought crossed his mind, Nobu was startled to realize just how much he cared about Yui and the others. It was hard to say he was willing to die for them, but, at the same time, they were one of the reasons he had decided not to kill himself. He couldn't remember who said it, but there had been a famous quote in his previous life. Something about the legacy of a hero being found in the ideas and people they dedicated their lives to protecting rather than the circumstances of their death..."Fuck me..."Feeling he was getting pulled even deeper into whatever narrative the world had in store for him, Nobu couldn't help cursing under his breath. He knew he wasn't a Hero. If anything, he would have become an anti-hero if he had been given power in his previous world. Heroes were full of shit and villains were often poorly written. Thus, rather than become the lapdog of any particular nation, he had always envisioned himself as being a vigilante passing judgment on pieces of shit the system couldn't prosecute due to corruption and other foundational issues...Imagining himself in a Deadpool costume, a wry smile developed across Nobu's face as he jokingly muttered, "Maximum effort, eh...?""You do you, big boy. Just make sure you give those assholes a few good slaps for daddy, okay?"Opening his eyes, Nobu shifted his gaze left and right to find Yui and Onihime staring at him with varying degrees of concern on their face. This caused the smile on his face to transition into a grin as he internally mused, ("Guess I've finally lost it. Well, whatever. I haven't exactly been playing with a full deck ever since I was a kid. Who knows? Maybe this is all some kind of fever dream. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.")With that thought in mind, Nobu pulled the rag from his face before standing up and saying, "I'm going to advance my Realm. Are there any places on the mountain where the wind is particularly strong?"Though a few places entered her mind, Yui couldn't help asking, "Are you certain? Didn't you want to wait until your mask arrived?"Nodding his head, Nobu replied, "You're not wrong. However, I have no intention of just sitting on my ass for the next month or two. I wasn't fucking around when I told you I wanted to help. I can't do that while I'm still a weak and useless piece of shit. Besides, there are only like four or five days until I have to meet with my folks, right? I figure they would be a lot less stressed out if they learn I basically went from Level 0 to Level 10 in less than a month."Since the Realms were conveniently divided into Ten Realms, each with Ten Ranks, Nobu felt it was easier to regard it as a traditional RPG leveling system. The Cultivation Techniques were essentially just different Classes, and, while he would invariably be able to spec into multiple different Classes, he would need to level his current Class before the rest unlocked. Thus, for the sake of himself, the people he cared about, and just about everything else, he needed to grow stronger. Much stronger.Seeing the resolution in Nobu's eyes, Yui was honestly a little taken aback. Fortunately, she was able to conceal this behind a mask of calm as she answered, "Very well. There is a small gorge located on the Eastern slope. The winds there are particularly strong due to the frigid waters and the relatively temperate climate. If you require elevation, I could ask Grandmother to lend us Hisui..."Though he was feeling fairly ambitious at the moment, Nobu wasn't quite at the point where he was ready to meditate atop a massive bird made of jade and other forms of stone. He also had no idea how long it would take for him to advance to the next Realm, so, without needing to consider his response, he answered, "The gorge should be fine. I'll need to meditate at a higher elevation in the future but the Second Realm only requires me to cultivate in a place where I can feel the wind against my skin. There's no need to trouble your Grandmother..."Nodding her head in understanding, Yui raised her left hand to form a seal as she stated, "Very well. I will defer to your judgment on this matter. The only advice I have to offer is that you should invite everyone to accompany you. I believe it would bolster their morale quite a bit if they were given the opportunity to observe you breaking through to the next Realm..."Since he had no reason to refuse, Nobu returned a nod before saying, "Sounds good. I'm not sure how long it'll take though. They should be prepared to camp out for a few days."Returning a smile, Yui confidently replied, "Not a problem. I'll have Cho prepare a few garnishings, and, if necessary, we can always fish from the river."Having personally experienced Yui's ability to survive and gather resources, Nobu had no doubt regarding the ability of everyone else to do the same. Thus, after supplying another curt nod, he said, "We'll leave around noon. That should give everyone plenty of time to prepare. As for me, I'm gonna hit the bath. I smell like ass."Now that he had removed his face covering, Nobu was able to smell his own musk in all its glory. Advancing four Ranks hadn't helped, so, despite appearing relatively calm, he was actually on the verge of gagging every time he inhaled through his nose.As Yui nodded and prepared to meet with the others, Onihime extended her hand to grasp Nobu's sleeve, muttering, "Master...please allow me to accompany you. I will wash your back..."Since it had become something of a routine for him to bathe with pretty much everyone, Onihime included, Nobu just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Whatever. Let's go." before rising to his feet and heading towards the bath. In response, Onihime quickly fell into step behind him with a smile while Yui, feeling somewhat exasperated, exhaled an inaudible sigh before vanishing into thin air as she went to meet with the others.........Though it had been troublesome and awkward in the past, Nobu would be lying if he said it wasn't pleasant to have someone wash his back. He had always enjoyed getting his head rinsed whenever he got a haircut in his previous life. Now, thanks to the position he had been born into, there were more than a dozen girls who were ready and willing to wash his hair and back. Some of these were brats, but, so long as he ignored them, their nudity no longer affected him as much as it used to."Humans really are capable of adapting to anything, aren't they...?"Surprised by her Master's statement, Onihime paused for a brief moment before replying, "Indeed. There are many who claim that Humans are the most adaptive among the Eight Sovereign Species. It is this adaptability, combined with their ability to procreate, that has allowed Humans to conquer much of the known world...""Mmm..."Recalling the species that Shizune and Kumiko had mentioned, Nobu couldn't help thinking there was something fundamentally wrong with worlds such as this. Like, the Dragons were supposed to be so powerful that the individual members of their race could rival entire nations. In spite of this, they generally kept to themselves until some overpowered and egotistical assholes tracked them down in order to harvest their resources. They had basically been pushed to the brink of extinction, yet, even when their numbers had dwindled to the point that it was possible to name virtually every member of their species, they still acted as though they were untouchable.As someone with a burgeoning desire for power, Nobu felt there was a lot he could learn from the other Sovereign Species. He hadn't been brainwashed by the propaganda that presented humans as the dominant species on the planet. After all, back in his previous world, people were retarded to the point that they literally viewed other humans as 'beneath' them due to arbitrary bullshit such as race and ideology. In this world, even the Gods had nearly been wiped out as a result of their own hubris, so, now that he had decided to become as powerful as possible, Nobu was resolved to avoid the mistakes of his predecessors. At the very least, he wasn't going to be a racist asshole that joined in on the circle-jerk of racial superiority purported by asshats across the world...With that in mind, Nobu surprised Onihime even more by saying, "Turn around. You've washed my back. Now let me wash yours..."......(A/N: Is this what they call growing from trauma or is Nobu just allowing himself to be consumed by something more...?)

Though it felt weird calming someone else down right now, Nobu did his best to prevent Onihime from freaking out. In the middle of this, Yui made an appearance near the entrance of the bath."Nobu..."Exhaling a sigh, Nobu released his hold on Onihime, saying, "Go and get changed. We'll talk more in my room."Nodding her head, Onihime quickly scampered from the room with a sad expression on her face. She had felt her Master's body tense up the moment Yui arrived, and, despite his apparent calm, she could tell he was anything but. She just didn't know what to say. All she knew was she didn't want to make things even worse.Emerging from the bath shortly after Onihime's departure, Nobu made his way over to Yui before surprising her with a hug. This caused a painful aching in her heart, and, for a brief moment, she couldn't bring herself to return his embrace. It was only when Nobu's grasp began to ease that she wrapped her arms around him, a choking sensation in her throat as she said, "You were in the bath for too long...your skin is as red as a lobster..."While laughing dryly in response to Yui's remark, Nobu hugged her with as much strength as he could manage. This resulted in the raven-haired beauty being lifted from the ground, but, instead of offering any resistance, Yui just nestled her face into the nook between his neck and shoulder.........Though he wanted to tell them the truth, Yui specifically, Nobu waited until everyone had gathered in his room before explaining the cover story he and Inami had come up with.Inami was, unsurprisingly, one of the big shots in the Yoshitsune Clan. As a result, she was one of the few people that could trespass the underground waterway without consequence. Thus, as part of their cover story, Nobu mentioned how he had encountered her when he used the passageway in his room to venture into the subterranean tunnels for some peace, quiet, and reflection.Simply put, Nobu used the excuse that he was pissed off, something everyone in the estate knew, to be alone. During that time, he encountered Inami, who, seeing how frustrated he was, decided to lend him an ear. One thing led to another, and, after a considerable amount of preparation, the two of them ended up doing it like rabbits until the sun had set beyond the horizon.When they learned Nobu had not only encountered but had sex with their Clan's Guardian, the girls were at a complete loss for words. Inami was famous for being as capricious as she was reclusive so it was difficult to imagine her willfully approaching someone, much less providing them council. If it was anyone other than Nobu telling them such a thing, they wouldn't have believed it.Surprisingly, the part where Nobu mentioned he and Inami had sex was the easiest aspect for the girls to accept. Not because he was particularly handsome or charismatic, but because they were in the middle of Spring. Inami may have better control over her urges but she was still a kitsune. Until the end of Spring, they were effectively pitfalls for any man unfortunate enough to encounter them.The thing the girls found most suspicious was the fact that Inami was anywhere near the estate. She knew the characteristics of her race better than anyone in the entire Clan. Fortunately, Nobu had an answer for this, explaining, "When I asked why she was here, she told me she and the Matriarch had a disagreement so she wanted to test the security measures we had in place. If she wasn't lying, she has been investigating the estate without anyone noticing for the last five days.""..."Hearing Nobu's explanation, an awkward silence descended upon the room. With what they knew of Inami, it wasn't difficult to imagine her butting heads with the Matriarch. There had even been a few instances in the past where Inami deposed Matriarchs who refused to step down or attempted to implement changes she believed were detrimental to the Clan. With that in mind, it wasn't much of a stretch to imagine her wanting to test their security measures out of spite...Affirming the fears that had manifested in nearly everyone's minds, Nobu went on to say, "After we finished fucking, she asked me if I wanted her help. I wasn't really thinking at the time so I ended up agreeing. In hindsight, I realize it was pretty stupid to agree without discussing the matter with each of you. I just didn't know what to say after learning who she was...""You didn't ask when you met in the tunnels...?"Shifting his attention to Yui, Nobu noticed the serious and analytical look in her eyes. She was one of the few that didn't believe a thing he had said. Rather, after their argument in the afternoon, she refused to believe it. After all, if he was telling the truth, this entire incident could be blamed on her.Shaking his head, Nobu exhaled an exasperated sigh as he closed his eyes and answered, "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. All I knew for certain was that she was a hell of a lot stronger than me. If she was an enemy, I would have been killed in an instant. After we got to talking...well...I don't really know what came over me. I guess she reminded me of Kaia? I don't fucking know..."Hearing Nobu's words, Yui couldn't help feeling pain in her chest. After spending so much time with him, she was confident in her ability to ascertain whether or not he was lying. Despite this, she knew there had to be at least a grain of truth to what he was saying. He was clearly still hurting after their previous argument."Everyone. Leave us. We will discuss this matter in detail later. Right now, there is something Nobu and I need to talk about...""Yui...!"Clearly upset by Yui's words, Yuriko glared at her with a frustrated glower on her face. Before she could say anything further, however, Nobu raised his hand, saying, "Stop. Yui is right. Besides, it's already late and I'm super fucking tired. We'll pick this up tomorrow. Sorry for worrying everyone."With her expression morphing into a look of fretful concern, it was pretty obvious that Yuriko had something she wanted to say. In response to this, Nobu adopted an awkwardly apologetic smile as he said, "Come here..." while gesturing to that effect.Though she was a little confused by Nobu's words and actions, Yuriko still drew nearer to him. This allowed him to wrap his arms around her lithe and muscular body, his tone gentle and soothing as he repeated the same words he had said to Onihime, "It's going to be okay..."In spite of Nobu's words, Yuriko got the distinct impression everything was not going to be okay. It was clear to all of them that he was behaving strangely. At the very least, he was never this intimate. Not without a reason.Unfortunately, Yuriko wasn't given the chance to voice her concerns. Nobu's actions had effectively silenced her. As a result, she fell into a momentary daze that allowed Kiku and Kumiko to guide her away from the room. In the end, the only people left inside were Nobu, Yui, and, despite a deadpan stare from the latter, Onihime. Only Nobu could tell her what to do, so, unless he sent her away, she had no intention of going anywhere."It's fine..."Believing he understood the thoughts of both girls, Nobu gave Onihime permission to stay before urging Yui to continue with his eyes. He knew the half-oni wasn't going to blab on him. Rather, due to the Slave Crest on her body, even Inami wouldn't be able to force information from her.Exhaling a sigh, Yui ended up shaking her head before staring directly into Nobu's eyes and saying, "I won't ask what really happened. From my perspective, truth and lies don't matter. If they are your words, I will abide them all the same. It is my duty to support you..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu was about to say he didn't need people to go so far for him. Before the words could reach his lips, however, Yui left him in a state of stupefaction as she added, "After all...I am your fiancee..."Though she was seized by the distinct impression her response was far too late, Yui wouldn't have been able to rest peacefully if she didn't get this off her chest. Her Grandmother had basically told her that she should follow her heart and that it was a blessing, not a curse, that her desires just so happened to coincide with Nobu's. Suppressing her emotions and hiding from the truth would only make both of them unhappy, so, for the sake of Nobu's future aspirations, Yui was willing to allow herself to love him."..."Unable to find the words to express himself, Nobu surprised both Yui and Onihime by slumping backward and sprawling out on the ground. He felt happy, sad, angry, melancholic, and a whole host of other emotions all at the same time. Part of him even wanted to tell Yui to fuck off, but, at the same time, another part of him just wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay...In the end, Nobu just placed his forearm over his eyes and remained silent. This left Yui feeling a remarkably painful sensation in her chest. It was like someone had gripped her heart, and, though she did her best to maintain a calm expression on her face, she couldn't help sniffling as a layer of moisture rapidly spread across the surface of her obsidian-blue eyes.Hearing the unexpected sound, a part of Nobu wanted to shout, "Why the fuck are you the one crying!?". Instead, he just remained silent for several seconds before lazily asking, "How long are you going to keep me waiting...?"Blinking in surprise, Yui wiped away the tears building at the corners of her eyes as she intoned a confused, "Huh...?"Without opening his eyes, Nobu exhaled a fatigued sigh as he said, "I wasn't lying when I said I was tired. If you're my fiancee, shouldn't you be sleeping next to me...?"For a brief moment, Yui couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. It was only when Nobu rolled onto his side and muttered, "Whatever..." that she came back to her senses and exclaimed, "O-One moment! I just need to remove my armor...!"Though he heard Yui's words, Nobu didn't respond to them. He really was tired right now, and, due to his conflicting emotions, he didn't feel like saying or doing anything. He just wanted to sleep and forget that today ever happened..."Master...?"Hearing Onihime's concerned voice from behind, Nobu remained silent for several seconds before asking, "What is it...?"Handing her head, Onihime's expression turned even more melancholic as she asked, "What do you want me to do...?""..."Resisting the urge to tell her to fuck off, Nobu briefly recalled how worried Onihime had been when she charged into the bath. He didn't understand why, but, ever since she had become his slave, she had always regarded him very highly. It apparently had something to do with the fact he didn't care she was a half-oni, but, as someone with Earth's sensibilities, he didn't think it was anything to write home about..."Just do whatever you want..."Though she knew he was basically dismissing her, Onihime's eyes widened slightly when she heard Nobu's words. Yui was still removing her armor and neatly arranging it at the side, so, with a look of conviction on her face, Onihime moved around to the front of Nobu and said, "Pardon me..." before lying down with her back against his chest."..."Had she tried this at any other point in time, Nobu might have asked if Onihime was touched in the head. After having sex with Inami, however, it was difficult for him to really care about anything. She was also remarkably warm, so, after an oppressive silence, Nobu just muttered, "Whatever..." before closing his eyes and immediately passing out.........(A/N: This novel needs a drama tag...*heavy sweating*...)

Chapter 82: Support