Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

After quickly packing up camp, Nobu and the girls spent the better part of two and a half hours transitioning from the Eastern base of the mountain to their estate on the Northern side.Fortunately, now that he had broken through the Second Realm and become increasingly familiar with his Aura, Nobu could now generate a layer of wind to keep most insects at bay. It caused his clothes to billow and rustle as if he were constantly being battered by the wind, but, compared to being swarmed by mosquitos, it was infinitely better.If there was anything Nobu could complain about, it was the fact that his cultivation method wasn't suited for stealth in the slightest. He produced a shot ton of sound due to the rustling of grass and leaves that followed his every movement. This earned him more than a few amused looks from the girls, who, for the most part, produced little to no sound as they moved through the dense forest.Comforting his ego by reminding himself that he wasn't a shinobi, Nobu enjoyed the two-and-a-half-hour hike quite a bit. It was only once the walls surrounding his estate came into view that his mood soured, as, standing near the entrance to the gate was none other than Inami.Restraining a sigh, Nobu missed the looks he received from several members of his entourage. Yui, Yuriko, and Onihime, in particular, were very concerned about him. What they didn't know was that the primary reason for his frustration was Inami's height. He already knew she was small, but, due to the circumstances of their last encounter, he had been sitting on his ass or lying on his back most of the time they were talking. It was only now that he understood how truly short she was..."Welcome back, Waka-danna. Congratulations on your breakthrough."Though the girls seemed to expect it somewhat, Nobu was slightly taken aback when Inami crossed her hands over her lap and performed a polite yet reserved bow. She had also changed into a white kimono with a red obi and what he believed to be a modified haori. It was similar to the coats worn by the Captain-class Shinigami in Bleach but it had been modified to allow her six bluish-black tails to flow behind her as if they were unaffected by gravity.While his entire entourage bowed towards Inami, Nobu remained with his head high as he forced a smile and said, "Thanks..."Noticing the awkwardness in Nobu's words and actions, Inami's ears twitched slightly as she raised her head and asked, "Is something the matter, Waka-danna?"Shaking his head, Nobu caused everyone to tense as he honestly answered, "Not really. I was just a little surprised by how short you are. I knew you were tiny but I wasn't really paying much attention the last time we met..."Though her expression didn't change, the inordinately fluffy ears atop Inami's head twitched as she asked, "Does Waka-danna...have a problem with my height?"Shaking his head a second time, Nobu answered, "Nah. Like I said before, it's just a little surprising. I don't really care how tall you are so long as you're of age..."Perking up in response to her Master's words, a visibly excited glimmer appeared in the depths of Onihime's deep purple eyes. If she excluded Inami's large, almost rabbit-like ears, she was only a centimeter or two shorter than the six-tailed kitsune. Their figures weren't all that dissimilar, either. Rather, thanks to her half-oni heritage, Onihime was pretty confident that her thighs, hips, and butt were bigger than Inami's...While Onihime was allowing her thoughts to run wild, Inami just stared at Nobu for several seconds before nodding her head and saying, "I see. I had almost forgotten how brash and honest you were. I'll have to keep that in mind during our training..."Though she was tempted to remind Nobu that his words and actions had consequences, Inami had already discussed the matter of his behavior with Hitomi and the Elders. They had effectively linked the fate of their Clan with Nobu, so, while they would do their best to correct his behavior, they had come to the conclusion it was best to let outsiders teach him the harder lessons in life. Their goal, at least in the interim period leading up to Nobu's rise, was making sure that he felt more at home on the mountain than anywhere else in Nian.........With such sentiments in mind, Inami escorted Nobu, Yui, and Onihime to his room while everyone else split off to either rest or return to their respective duties.Upon entering the room, Nobu immediately became aware of the peculiar aroma that seemed to have permeated the entire area. His sense of smell hadn't improved during his breakthrough, but, now that he no longer had a cloth covering his face, he was a lot more susceptible to even subtle changes in aroma and odor."Have you been staying in my room while I was gone?"Though her expression didn't change, the pupils of Inami's eyes contracted slightly as she casually answered, "Very perceptive...however, to answer your question, I haven't been staying here. I have just been visiting rather frequently. Though I am ashamed to admit it, my instincts have been acting up ever since our previous encounter..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu was about to ask what she meant when Inami took it upon herself to explain, "You see, with few exceptions, intercourse between a kitsune and a male partner frequently results in the latter's death. As you are well aware, I had to restrain myself considerably just to avoid accidentally injuring you. Because of that, the symptoms of my heat have yet to settle. They should diminish by the end of Spring, but, for the time being, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that my body craves you..."Surprising Nobu, Yui, and Onihime, Inami slowly sauntered over to the futon that Nobu frequently used when resting. Then, stopping just short of touching herself, she nestled face-first into the spot where he usually lay, her tails flickering behind her as she audibly inhaled his aroma."...""...""..."Exchanging looks, Nobu noticed equal parts confusion and concern in Yui's gaze. This was clearly an abnormal situation so she couldn't help fearing for everyone's safety. After all, the most senior member of their entire Clan was basically behaving like an animal in heat right in front of them. If the other clanswomen learned about this, it would be a scandal unlike any other.Almost as soon as that thought had crossed Yui's mind, her body tensed as Inami rolled lazily onto her side and said, "Don't worry. After discussing the matter with the other Elders, we have decided to respect Waka-danna's unique perspective. While it is certainly troublesome, we have come to the conclusion that it is not our place to dictate how he should act and behave around others. I believe your Grandmother has told you something similar, yes?"Recalling the advice her Grandmother had given her, Yui reluctantly nodded her head in response to Inami's words. This earned her a slight smile from the vulpine woman, who, rather shamelessly stated, "Then it's fine. So long as you don't go around spreading rumors, there's nothing to worry about. All I care about right now is being close to Waka-danna..."Though her words were both carefully chosen and practiced, Inami wasn't lying when she said she wanted to be close to Nobu. Rather, it would be a big problem for all of them if they weren't close to each other. Thus, even though she felt indescribably embarrassed, she tightly squeezed Nobu's pillow before curling up her tails, closing her eyes, and relishing in his aroma.Observing Inami's actions, both Yui and Onihime were at a complete loss for words. Prior to this moment, they couldn't even imagine their Clan's legendary Guardian behaving in such a manner. It was almost like she was a maiden in love, and, were it not for the fact she held the highest position in the entire Clan, they might have even accused her of going rogue...Fortunately, at least for Inami, Nobu's thoughts were very different from the indoctrinated duo. He had been thinking a lot these past few days, so, while Inami's behavior was stalker-level creepy, it was also extremely convenient for him. Thus, after a few seconds had passed, he surprised everyone by saying, "Whatever. So long as you don't cause trouble or swagger around like a big shot, you're free to stay here. If that's too difficult, you're free to stay in the room next to Suzune..."While Yui's and Onihime's conditioning caused them to break out in a cold sweat the moment they heard Nobu's brash and overly casual words, Inami just returned an amused smile as she peered at him between the veil of her tails. Had he spoken this way before their previous liaison, she wouldn't have hesitated to give him a tongue-lashing. Now that the fate of the Yoshitsune Clan rested on his shoulders, she actually felt that it was normal for him to speak and behave in such a brazen manner. Rather, if he was the type of person to lower his head and willfully follow someone else's orders, he would never be able to unify the archipelago...As that thought crossed her mind, Inami briefly recalled the moment Nobu had carelessly smacked her bottom. She had never considered herself a masochist, but it had crossed her mind quite a few times these past couple of days. Each time it did, the perpetual fire in her body would become even more prominent, and, were it not for the fact Nobu had to meet with his parents in a few hours, she might not have been able to restrain herself...Exhaling a hot sigh, Inami's tails unfurled like a blossoming flower before she forced herself to a seated position and asked, "Have you prepared yourself? You'll be meeting with your Lord Father and Mother in less than five hours. We'll need to set out within the next half an hour to avoid being late."Raising his brows, Nobu asked, "You're coming with us? Weren't you supposed to be trapped on the mountain or something?"Though she was a little annoyed by the reminder, Inami's expression remained calm as she said, "I will be part of the group escorting you down the mountain. From then onward, you will be escorted by the Matriarch, Yui-chan, Kumiko, and your servant. The others will need to stay behind.""Hmm..."For a moment, Nobu considered asking if Yuriko could come along. He noticed she had been pretty stressed out lately so he had tried to make it up to her by pounding the shit out of her the previous night. This had helped her calm down quite a bit, but, the moment they returned to the estate, her mood had noticeably soured."Nobu..."Hearing Yui's voice, Nobu shifted his direction to the raven-haired beauty with a questioning look in his eyes. To his surprise, she seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking, saying, "While it is ultimately your decision to make, it isn't you who should be making compromises. Even if you see us as equals, we live to serve you. The more exceptions you make for Yuriko, the more troublesome her behavior will become. It is fine if you want to make her your Concubine. However, she needs to break away from the mentality that she has an intrinsic right to be with you..."Nodding her head in approval of Yui's words, Inami stated, "Yui-chan is correct. I noticed it during my investigation but that girl is steadily becoming more and more unstable. If you continue along your current course, there is a chance she will go rogue. As someone who has witnessed hundreds of kunoichi going rogue, trust me when I say it is never pretty. Unless you want her to be killed or executed, you need to put your foot down and make your relationship as Lord and Retainer clear.""..."Though he didn't want to admit it, Nobu knew the two girls were right. He had been warned quite a number of times yet he has continued treating Yuriko differently than the rest of his entourage. This was because he truly did see her as someone special, but, at the same time, he had also noticed the tell-tale signs of her becoming unhinged and clingy. Thus, even though he wanted to pretend there wasn't an issue, Nobu ultimately exhaled a sigh, saying, "Fine...I'll talk to her when we get back..."Understanding that he had a soft heart despite his brash nature, Yui grabbed Nobu's hand with a supportive smile on her face. Truthfully, she didn't mind if he and Yuriko became genuine lovers. It was common for Lords to have between three and ten wives. The thing she was most worried about was Yuriko going rogue and scarring Nobu for the rest of his life. She knew he would never be able to forgive himself if Yuriko had to be put down after going on a rampage, so, while it was ultimately her last resort, she was fully prepared to kill her former rival before things got too far out of hand.........(A/N: Loyalty can be scary...)

After a short rest that included tea and a light snack, Nobu found himself hiking down the Northern face of the mountain with a listless look on his face. Alongside him were Yui, Onihime, Kumiko, and, as could be expected, Hitomi and Inami. He could have brought more people with him, but, feeling it would only complicate things, he asked everyone else to patiently await his return."I'm getting real tired of walking up and down mountains..."Chuckling at Nobu's expense, Hitomi used her aura to casually sweep aside brush as she stated, "It's good for you. If you want to strengthen your foundation quickly, scaling the mountain a few times a day is a step in the right direction.""Yeah, yeah..."Since he apparently no longer had to put a filter on the things he said, Nobu didn't even pretend to be courteous towards Hitomi. This earned him a disproving look from the heterochromatic woman, but, instead of saying anything to correct him, she just continued smiling as a thin branch managed to slip through her hazy, bluish-green aura.Not expecting her Grandmother to perform such an act, Yui didn't immediately react to the branch whizzing towards Nobu's face. Fortunately for the latter, a remarkably thin blue line immediately cut the branch into tiny pieces as Inami plainly stated, "Never drop your guard, even amongst allies."Furrowing her brows, Yui was about to thank Inami for the lesson when the latter simply stated, "No need. From this moment onward, the only person you lower your head to is your Lord. If he refuses to bow, you shall stand with him. If you can't do that, you have no right to stand in that spot..."With Yui walking beside rather than behind Nobu, Inami intended to put as much pressure on the young woman as possible. After all, that position was supposed to be reserved for Nobu's partner, or, more specifically, his wife. If Yui was going to occupy such a position, she would need to adapt to the scorn and resentment directed her way. If she couldn't, she needed to vacate the spot so that someone more competent could whether the trials and tribulations that would invariably follow.Tensing up in response to Inami's words, Yui was at a loss for words until Nobu grabbed her hand and said, "Relax..." in an awkward yet soothing tone. In truth, he wanted to say more, but, with the eyes of several people focusing on him, he refused to say anything cheesy or embarassing.Fortunately, the tensions in Yui's body eased the moment Nobu grabbed her hand. His words also helped, but, compared to his actions, they were supplemental at best.Noticing her Granddaughter's slight yet sincere smile, the corner's of Hitomi's curled upward as she softly mused, "How enviable it is to be young..."Since Hitomi's words weren't exactly discreet, even Nobu was able to hear them. This caused a look of mock disdain to appear on his face as he asked, "Aren't you like fifty or something? Compared to the two chibis, you might as well be a brat. Don't go talking like you're about to kick the bucket..."Raising her brows, Hitomi's smile became ostensibly more sincere as she asked, "Oh? Is Waka-chan worried about me~?"Rolling his eyes, Nobu elected to ignore Hitomi's question since they were already nearing the base of the mountain. A few footpaths had started to appear, and, though it was still rough terrain, it was a lot easier to walk compared to the unmanaged terrain further up the forested slope.Clicking her tongue in a playful manner, Hitomi briefly exchanged glances with Inami before waving her hand to sweep aside another layer of the underbrush. This would leave an easy trail for anyone tracking them to follow, but, considering where they were, she wasn't particularly concerned about the possibility of an ambush. Her own skills were nothing to scoff at, but, so long as she was on the mountain, Inami may as well be invincible........."We're here."After reaching the base of the mountain and separating from Inami, Hitomi led the group along the edge of a river until they reached a series of Jizo statues lining a relatively clean dirt road. It wasn't uncommon for patrols to pass through the region, so, while there were no official roads, there were quite a number of paths present in the forests surrounding the walled city looming in the distance.Just as Nobu was about to ask, Hitomi casually twisted the heads of each Jizo statue. Immediately thereafter, a path that hadn't been present before appeared off to the side. It stood out from the rest of the forest because it was almost like a tunnel formed from hundreds of trees that had been grown in such a way they block out most of the sun's light."One can never be too safe. Even if they were especially careful during their departure, the forces that oppose Lord Senken would invariably take notice of his absence. Though it isn't too likely, you should always be prepared for a potential skirmish. That goes doubly for the three of you. There is no greater shame for a warrior or a kunoichi to outlive their Lord..."Though Nobu couldn't help frowning, Yui, Kumiko, and Onihime nodded their heads with serious expressions on their faces.What none of the girls expected, Hitomi being the obvious exception, was for a raspy yet masculine voice to immediately respond, "Well said. It would appear your long life hasn't been entirely wasted, Hitomi-kacho..."Appearing like a phantom, a muscular man with clothes that screamed 'samurai' appeared with a platinum-hued aura lingering around his body. He was attired in a loose yukata, a pair of hakama-style pants, black-plated tassets, and a blue haori with a dragon pattern and the symbol of the Oda Clan plastered at numerous locations across his body. Even the guard of his white-handled katana resembled the flower-like pattern of the Oda Clan, and, based on the aura exuding from his body, he bore the symbol with tremendous pride."Ara ara~? This isn't a face I expected to see any time soon. Weren't you protecting the Eastern border, Hiashi-dono~?"Snorting through his nose, Hiashi cast his gaze over everyone present before setting his pitch-black eyes on Nobu. Then, with a loud 'pa', he brought his hands together in a respectful yet unyielding manner as he firmly stated, "Hyuudou Hiashi greets the Young Lord of the Oda Clan."Taken aback by the short yet muscular man's obeisance, Nobu's expression hardened as he replied, "Yeah...nice to meet you..."Though he was briefly confused by Nobu's excessively casual response, Hiashi just lowered his head even further before rising to cast a disdainful glare at everyone else. Onihime, in particular, seemed to have earned his ire, as, for a brief moment, the thumb he had resting on the guard of his katana twitched. Half-Oni were considered abominations by most people, but, as a proud warrior of Nian, Hiashi was offended by her mere presence at Nobu's side.Fortunately, Hitomi managed to adequately deter him by flaring her aura and asking, "Hiashi-dono...are you disobeying our Lord? I cannot imagine Lord Senken asking you to come here to cause trouble..."After sending another quick glare Hitomi's way, Hiashi seemed to have reached the conclusion that he should simply ignore everyone else's existence as he supplied another polite bow towards Nobu and stated, "Nobunaga-sama. Please, follow me. Your father, Lord Senken, has ordered that I escort you to your destination...""..."Staring at the man's bushy ponytail with a frown, Nobu waited until Hiashi raised his head before shaking his own and saying, "Yeah, that's not gonna happen. We've never met before and I'm not going to just follow someone I just met to a destination I've never been to. These four are coming with me. If you've got a problem with that, please inform my parents that I couldn't meet with them because you decided to behave like a bigot towards your own allies."Not expecting such a response, Hiashi was at a genuine loss for words as he stared at Nobu with a completely blank expression on his face. Moments later, however, a slight smile developed across his face as he mused, "You really are Lord Senken's child..."Leaving Nobu at a loss this time, Hitomi began to giggle into her sleeve as the tensions that had been building spontaneously relaxed. Then, with a significantly less hostile expression on his face, Hiashi gestured behind him, stating, "You really should hurry. If you delay any longer, Lady Suzuki might not be able to restrain herself. She has been sick for a long time. It isn't good for her to move around too much."Confused by the sudden change, Nobu blinked several times before looking towards Hitomi to find her staring back at him with an amused smile on her face. It was at that moment that he realized he had been played, a hint of red bleeding into his cheeks as he cleared his throat and said, "Lead the way..."Nodding his head in affirmation, Hiashi turned to do just that when a silvery crimson blur pushed him aside, shouting, "My baby...!" in a feminine, audibly stressed tone. In the next moment, Nobu felt as though he had been hit by a truck as a petite woman wearing a crimson kimono tackled him with enough force to send them both crashing into the river."Nobu...!""Suzuki-sama...!"Fortunately, unlike the river Nobu had trained in, the one running adjacent to the forest path was shallow enough to cross without issue. Thus, while everyone else was panicking, Nobu had turned statuesque as a woman who had only appeared in his memories clung to him, tears pouring from the corners of her ruby-red eyes as she cupped his face and asked, "Am I imagining things? I have dreamt of this day for so long that it doesn't feel real. You are my son, my beloved Nobu-chan, are you not...?"Not really sure what he should say, Nobu just swallowed hard before slowly nodding his head in affirmation. If he were being honest, his mother was a lot more beautiful than his memories gave credit. He was grateful for the frigid water, as, despite being related by blood, he was genuinely afraid that his body might react due to her fragrant aroma and the warmth transmitting from her body...Further exacerbating Nobu's difficulties, a loving smile developed across Nana's face as she gently kneaded his cheeks with her thumbs. This was something mothers and old grannies did with young children. Combined with the fact she was currently lying on top of him, the awkwardness Nobu was experienced built to the point that a part of him wanted to throw her away from him. He just didn't have the heart to actually do it...As if finally realizing how awkward of a position they were in, Nana took a moment to sweep aside Nobu's bangs before moving away from him, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding water as she sat properly and said, "This is something I've wanted to do for a very long time..."Just as Nobu was on the verge of recovering some semblance of his mental faculties, Nana caused him to nearly allow the current to take him away as she suddenly performed a low dogeza, her nose touching the top of the water as she tearfully exclaimed, "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I know my actions were beyond reprehensible. I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but...but...!"Though he would like to say he went forth to grab Nana to assure her that everything was okay, the truth of the matter was that Nobu's brain had stalled the moment he saw the remarkably beautiful woman lower her head. Her words impacted his heart and mind like a hammer, but, despite hearing each and every word she said, the only thing his mind was currently able to process was the fact her kimono was gradually being pulled open by the river's current...Fortunately, just as Nana's obi was whisked away, Nobu recovered enough of his senses to grab her shoulders, forcing her to rise before promptly closing her kimono and saying, "I forgive you..." with a complexion similar to someone who had gone to the beach without sunscreen.........(A/N: Spoiler alert: Nana is a bit of an idiot.)

Since he wasn't exactly in a hurry to return to his so-called estate, Nobu spent three of the four days he had remaining training with Yui and periodically watching over how Midori, Sachiko, and Nariko were being taught.As a result of his efforts, Nobu quickly discovered that he only really needed to expose his arms in order to breathe properly. More importantly, he realized he didn't actually need to exhale in order to manipulate the surrounding wind currents. Exhaling was just one of the simplest methods since it was an intuitive action that allowed all creatures to technically manipulate air.Nobu's eureka moment came when he was learning how to meditate alongside Sachiko. They had been sitting next to each other, and, thanks to her sensitivity towards the changes in other people's auras, she quickly noticed a cool breeze blowing towards Nobu whenever he was breathing inward.After that important discovery, it only took a few hours of guided instruction before Nobu was able to generate a small breeze from his palms by drawing in air through the pores of his arms. It was a sensation similar to cold water flowing through his veins, but, in spite of this, a rare smile could be seen on Nobu's face as he made grass and leaves rustle. He might not have been a weeb back in his previous life but it was understandably exhilarating to be able to use supernatural abilities. A part of him was even tempted to try a Kamehameha........."Nobu...I believe it's about time we return to the estate. We can't stay out here indefinitely..."On the even of their third day of training, Nobu was lying in his tent between Yui and Yuriko. He had been attempting to ascertain whether or not it was possible to generate a bonus by absorbing the Yin Elemental Energy in their bodies, but, even after taking a small dose of Dragon's Vigor and going at it for more than three hours, he felt more refreshed than empowered.Exhaling a sigh, Nobu gave both girls' breasts a gentle squeeze as he answered, "Yeah, I know. We'll head back first thing tomorrow morning. I guess I just got caught up in the flow of things. Camping with a large group is surprisingly enjoyable. We should all come out again when Sachiko is ready to advance..."Though she knew there was another reason Nobu was reluctant to return to the estate, Yui just nestled closer to him without saying anything. She had been periodically heading up the mountain to report to her Grandmother while the others had been taking turns watching over the estate and making sure the renovations were going smoothly. As a result, everyone, including Nobu, had been made aware of the Elders' decision. Since then, Nobu had been putting off their return for a variety of different reasons, but, with his family reunion scheduled for noon the following day, he no longer had the option to continue stalling...What Yui didn't know what that Nobu had largely gotten over what had happened between him and Inami. Rather, after tonight's experiment, he was determined to continue fucking her so long as she continued providing him with a bonus to his aura gains. This might sound super scummy, but, after learning Inami was basically the most powerful person in the entire Clan, it didn't take a genius to understand that the person forcing her was none other than Inari.Since they were both being used by the fox goddess, Nobu was determined to become as strong as possible before the benefits of boning Inami ran out. At the very least, he wanted to become strong enough to befriend all the girls in his entourage. Then, once he reached a point where three-million aura was chump change, he intended to spite the bitch of a goddess by removing her curse from as many people as possible.In other words, Nobu's reluctance had less to do with Inami than it did with his parents. He could still vividly recall the memories of his catatonic self, but, thanks to the selfish decision he had made prior to his reincarnation, Nobu found it difficult to regard the couple as his parents. As sappy as it sounded, he still missed his mother from his previous life. He couldn't even describe how awkward it was to know he had a second mother who loved him to the point of becoming ill the moment he was secretly exiled...If he were being completely honest, Nobu was afraid. He couldn't quite put it into words, but the thought of meeting with his second life's biological parents filled him with a sense of incongruency and existential dread that was impossible to fathom. He was literally experiencing it, yet, no matter how much he tried to wrap his head around the events that had led up to the present situation, his mind simply refused to accept it...Fortunately, no matter how terrible things went tomorrow, Nobu was comforted by the knowledge that he had more than a dozen people literally willing to die for him if necessary. If he asked them to, they would whisk him away from the mountain even if the entire Yoshitsune and Oda Clans gave chase. They were ride-or-die for him, so, for their sakes, Nobu was willing to stand his ground and face whatever the future threw his way..."At least I'm not a simp..."Hearing Nobu's remark, it was Yuriko who asked, "Simp? What's that?" in a curious tone."It's a slang term used to describe subservient men who will do anything for a woman in the hope of receiving some kind of reward. When things don't go their way, they whine, bitch, and complain about how the females they serve don't appreciate their efforts. It's sad as fuck..."Furrowing her brows, Yuriko asked, "Are there actually men like that? I never read about anyone like that. The closest parallel I can think of are the Eunuchs of the Imperial Court but I'm pretty sure they would be put to death if they harbored such expectations..."Even if she didn't intend it as an insult, Nobu couldn't help laughing in response to Yuriko's remark. She had basically correlated Simps with Eunuchs. Such words would have come across as incredibly mean-spirited in his previous life, but, considering neither Simps nor Eunuchs were able to have sex, it was a surprisingly apt comparison...Believing Nobu was laughing at her, Yuriko adopted a slight pout as she reached down to grab his half-erect penis. This quickly silenced Nobu's laughter, not because he believed Yuriko was trying to threaten him, but because she immediately followed her actions by seductively whispering, "You're definitely not a simp...""Yuriko..."Since they had only recently finished having sex, Yui adopted a slight frown as she opened her eyes and stared at the ink-haired beauty sharing Nobu's chest. She wasn't going to chastise her in front of their Lord, but, depending on Nobu's decision, they would need to have a serious discussion the next time they were alone together.Fortunately for Yui, Nobu wasn't particularly tired. He also knew he wasn't going to get much sleep if he continued thinking about tomorrow's meeting, so, after the mischievous kunoichi had gotten him to full mast, a wolfish grin spread across his face as he replied, "You're goddamn right..."......Though he didn't actively complain, Nobu regretted his decision to pack up and leave at dawn. It was nearly 2 AM by the time he actually fell asleep. In other words, he only got around two and a half hours of rest since the run rose relatively early this time of year.Thankfully, Owari was one of the only Provinces actively trading with Granus. As a result, they were one of only three regions, excluding the Capital, that had coffee beans. Cho had been taught how to process them, so, despite a distinct lack of cream and sugar, both luxury goods, Nobu was able to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee as the girls broke down the camp and prepared for their return.Savoring the overwhelming yet nostalgic aroma, Nobu didn't immediately notice Midori staring at him. She had helped Cho to prepare his breakfast so she generally accompanied the latter while he was eating.Amused by the curious glimmer in Midori's eyes, a teasing smile developed across Nobu's face as he asked, "Want to try it?"Since coffee was an extreme luxury good, most people would never have the opportunity to try it. This included Midori, so, with an eager, innocent, and naive smile on her face, she leaned forward and exclaimed, "Can I really!?"Understanding that her Lord was pulling a prank, Cho covered her mouth with her sleeve in an attempt to suppress her laughter. This went completely unnoticed by Midori, who, upon receiving Nobu's permission, eagerly took a large gulp of the now lukewarm liquid.Though she had been warned by Cho that it was very bitter, the smile on Midori's face immediately faded the moment the coffee reached her tastebuds. If her Master hadn't been seated right in front of her, she might have spit it out without a second thought. Instead, she forced herself to swallow, a shiver running through her body as the liquid made its way down her throat. Then, with an equally forced smile, she handed back the cup and said, "It was delicious. Thank you..."Feeling somewhat apologetic, Nobu managed to hold in his laughter as he ruffled Midori's hair and said, "Don't worry. It's an acquired taste. If anyone tells you it's delicious, they're lying through their teeth. Even I think it tastes terrible. No offense, Cho."Having tasted it quite a number of times herself, Cho was in complete agreement with Nobu. Thus, rather than taking offense to his words, she just giggled in amusement before repeating what she had told Midori, specifically, "It is quite bitter, isn't it~?"Realizing she had been pranked, Midori puffed out her cheeks as she retracted her shoulders into a pouting posture. She knew he was just playing around but she couldn't help feeling that Nobu had somehow betrayed her. He was usually very nice. Much nicer than she had anticipated during their first encounter. She never expected him to trick her like this...Taken aback by Midori's reaction, Nobu found himself at a momentary loss for words. He had never been particularly fond of children so he didn't really know how to deal with one that was throwing a tantrum or pouting. All he knew was that he was in the wrong, so, before Cho could reprimand her for her behavior, Nobu pointed his free hand towards Midori, a warm breeze flowing from his palm and disturbing her teal-green hair as he said, "Hey now...you're the one who wanted to try it. I was just giving you the opportunity..."Though she was tempted to keep pouting, Midori wasn't oblivious to the spine-chilling looks she was receiving from some of the older girls. This included Cho, so, upon being reminded that she was, in fact, the person who wanted to try it, an awkward smile developed across her face as she meekly replied, "I'm sorry..."Oblivious to the subtle bloodlust that had been directed towards the eight-year-old girl, Nobu just chuckled wryly in response to Midori's words before asserting, "I should be the one apologizing. I didn't mean to make you upset. Let's just let bygones be bygones. Deal?"Despite having no idea what a bygone was, Midori's smile became notably more sincere as she intoned a happy, "Nn~!". Her Master was still the kindest person she had ever met, so, even if he had pranked her, she was willing to forgive him. After all, he was also the only person protecting her from all the scary onee-sans that sometimes appeared as though they were ready to flay her alive.........(A/N: I would probably feel nervous as well...)

Chapter 86: Return