Han Zhiqi unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to Nohime. She happily took it and drank a couple of sips.
"There are two reasons I don't want to join them. First, what we face next is a matter of life and death. If we don't join them, we won't become involved with them. If anything unusual happens, we can make rational choices without being influenced by feelings. Second, our strength isn't equal. To put it bluntly, they're too weak. Being with them would only hold me back, and I won't place my life in someone else's hands. The strong rely on themselves; only the weak depend on others."
"This time, I understand. First, you don't trust them. Second, you think they're too weak. Am I right?"
Nohime spoke smugly, but her gaze landed on the meat-and-vegetable pancakes beside her. From the look of it, she still was not full. Yet in this short while, she had already eaten five pancakes in a row, while Han Zhiqi had not even finished one.
They were both teenagers. Under normal circumstances, Han Zhiqi could eat at most two. Who would have thought that a girl could eat five and still not be full? Just how big was her appetite?
"Are you still not full? If you aren't, eat as much as you can." Han Zhiqi pushed the bag closer to Nohime.
Nohime's eyes lit up first, and she swallowed. She looked at the pancakes on the ground, then raised her head to glance at Han Zhiqi. In the end, she restrained her urge to eat and shook her head. "N-No, I'm full."
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. If you can still eat, then eat as much as possible. These pancakes will only keep for one night. Once the fighting starts, they probably won't be edible tomorrow."
"Really?"
Han Zhiqi nodded.
"Th-Then... all right. I won't stand on ceremony."
Nohime picked up another pancake and continued eating. A blissful expression appeared on her face, and she wolfed it down as though she had not eaten in days.
Han Zhiqi stared in astonishment. He seemed to have finally found the reason she was so well-endowed.
"How can you eat so much?" Han Zhiqi could not help asking curiously.
Nohime's mouth was stuffed full, while both hands still held a pancake each. Her absent-minded gaze remained fixed on the food.
Seeing her like this, Han Zhiqi thought of a puppy guarding its food. If I snatched the pancake from her hand right now, would she pounce on me and bite me?
"I don't mean to look down on you. I'm just curious how a girl like you can eat so much at once."
"It's fine. I know you're not looking down on me." Nohime mumbled as she took a sip of water and washed down the pancake in her mouth. After catching her breath, she continued, "I... I don't want to eat this much either, but if I don't, I'll fall unconscious and won't be able to do anything."
When Nohime saw the disbelief on Han Zhiqi's face, her expression turned serious.
"It's true. I'm not lying to you. It has to do with my family's special constitution. The women in our family have muscle density several times greater than normal people, and our strength is several times greater too. Even our breathing and body temperature differ from ordinary people. We can only maintain the energy our bodies need by consuming large amounts of food."
Indeed, during their brief contact earlier, Han Zhiqi had noticed that Nohime breathed slightly faster than ordinary people. At first, he had thought it was because she practiced a Breathing Style, but now it seemed to be related to the constitution she had mentioned.
"My muscle density is six times that of a normal person, while my sister's is eight times. To support such a strong... powerful body, our heart and lungs are also somewhat different from those of normal people. So, the women in our family not... not only eat a lot, but also..."
Nohime lowered her head in embarrassment and glanced at her impressive chest, then gave Han Zhiqi a look that told him to figure it out himself.
Han Zhiqi was clever enough to understand at once.
Still, hearing that Nohime's muscle density was six times that of an ordinary person shocked Han Zhiqi greatly.
That was equivalent to one woman possessing the strength of six normal men. How much strength was that? And her sister was even more formidable, at eight times. What kind of concept was that?
Why even practice a Breathing Style? She practically came with one naturally. No wonder she had dared to come alone for the Demon Slayer Corps assessment.
This was probably also why she was so insecure, sensitive, and timid. To ordinary people, someone like her would seem no different from a monster. Being excluded and isolated was inevitable. No wonder she desperately wanted to fit in and be accepted by others.
Poor girl. She did not realize just how special she was. She had no friends only because she had yet to meet people who shared her ideals.
Han Zhiqi truly witnessed what it meant to be able to eat. In no time, there were barely any pancakes left, yet Nohime still seemed unsatisfied.
Nohime wiped her greasy hands and smiled sheepishly at Han Zhiqi.
"When I went out looking for work, they all disliked how much I ate and wouldn't hire me. When I stayed home, I had nothing to do all day, and I was too embarrassed to eat freely. I knew my sister worked for an organization called the Demon Slayer Corps, so I wanted to find her and see if she could get me a job. But after I arrived, I didn't dare to see her because I was afraid she'd scold me. I secretly ran away from home, and then... I came here to apply."
After hearing Nohime's story, Han Zhiqi did not know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, he found the girl both adorable and pitiful. She had entered the Demon Slayer Corps assessment just to find a job and eat her fill. He truly did not know what to say.
They said big breasts meant no brains. Sure enough, her nerves were not exactly normal.
"You said your sister works for the Demon Slayer Corps. What's her name? I know a few people in the Demon Slayer Corps. Maybe I can help you ask around."
Nohime quickly waved her hands. "No, no. I know my sister's address. I... I just don't dare to see her. It's not that I don't know where she lives."
Han Zhiqi nodded and did not press further.
Night finally fell completely. Chilly moonlight spilled over the treetops, and the vast forest was deathly silent. Not even the chirping of birds or insects could be heard.
Everyone could sense the strangeness of this mountain.
Nohime finally began to grow nervous as well. Her large eyes stared fixedly at the dark forest below, which seemed like an exit leading straight to hell.
She felt certain that something would burst out from within. She could already hear rustling and the snapping of branches from nearby. The dense sounds drew closer and closer, like raging tides carried on the wind.
Han Zhiqi patted her shoulder.
Nohime could not help shuddering, quickly turning her head to look at Han Zhiqi beside her.
"Are you afraid?"
Nohime froze for a moment, then forced out a strained smile. Her lips trembled as she said, "A-A little. But I'll definitely protect you."
Han Zhiqi raised a hand and lightly flicked her forehead. That small gesture seemed to pull her back from her fear.
Han Zhiqi's handsome face was bathed in moonlight, making him seem almost unreal.
Nohime stared at him, entranced.
"There's actually another reason I don't want to join them. Do you know what it is?"
"I don't."
"When there are too many people, it's easy to get focused down!"
A scream tore through Mount Fujikasane, and the night banquet with demons began.
Before you continue