Why did this girl fall asleep every time she got scrubbed down?!
Cai Die came to the bath, saw Good and a drooling Yamato, and couldn't help covering her mouth with a giggle.
"Lord Good, Lord Fukurokuju of the Oniwabanshu has sent an invitation."
"Fukurokuju... Got it."
Good smiled.
Chapter 35: Don't You Know There's a Time and Place?
Early the next morning.
"Wow, that feels great!"
Yamato opened her eyes and stretched comfortably. As she looked around the empty room, a question mark popped up over her head.
"Did I fall asleep in the bath again last night?"
Lately, she had been working in Hakumai all day, then coming home to eat and bathe at night, but she could never remember anything after her bath.
I must have fallen asleep again.
Grrrr~~
"I'm so hungry!"
Yamato stopped dwelling on it, got dressed with boundless energy, then headed straight for Good's room and slid the door open.
"Good, I'm hungr-"
The next instant, the girl caught sight of the chaotic scene inside.
Good lay sprawled naked on the tatami, fast asleep, with three equally naked women draped over him.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Yamato cupped her cheeks, her head rapidly heating up like a boiled lobster until steam began rising from it.
I think I just saw something incredible!
Since making the Hot Spring Shop her home, she had often played with the older girls there. She had come to understand the adult world and knew that they all adored Good, eager to offer themselves to him.
Once, when she had gotten up in the night to pee, she had even sneaked a peek at Good and Cai Die fighting, though she hadn't understood what she was seeing.
But as her understanding deepened, the door to a whole new world gradually opened before her.
Her eyes sparkled.
Maybe just one more look?
Like a little thief, Yamato crept up to the door, carefully slid it open a crack, and peeked inside.
A slab of rocklike chest muscle blocked her view.
"What's this?"
She instinctively reached out and poked it.
So hard!
Good slid the door open, exasperation written all over his face.
Yamato stiffly raised her head. When she saw Good's dark expression, she quickly withdrew her finger and flashed a goofy smile.
"Good morning!"
Thump!
The man's fist landed on the girl's head.
A little while later.
With a swollen lump on her head, Yamato noisily slurped down her delicious soba, a huge teardrop dangling from the corner of each eye.
"I'm sorry! I was wrong."
"Hmph."
Good snorted.
If it hadn't been for this girl, he wouldn't have had so much pent-up frustration to release.
Once breakfast was over, Yamato perked up again, energetically raising her arms to show off her strength.
"Wahaha! Time to get to work!"
"We have something else to do today. We're not going to Hakumai to work."
It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her.
"We're not working?"
Yamato's eyes immediately went wide.
How could we not go to work?!
Mixing concrete, hauling stones, laying walls.
Working is so much fun!
And so many coworkers were waiting for her. Without her help, who would move those extra-large stones?
Yamato glared at Good. "Why won't you let me work? I want to work! I want to mix concrete! I want to haul stones!"
"..."
Good fell silent.
Has working turned this girl into an idiot?
What normal person likes working?
Does your boss know you work this hard?
Wait, I think I'm her boss!
Then that's fine.
Good beamed. "We have something important to do today. Don't worry, I'll give you twice as much work tomorrow. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
"Really? All right, then."
Yamato was delighted.
Great! Twice as much work to do!
Thinking of the increasingly magnificent castle at the construction site, she proudly puffed out her chest. She had helped build it!
"Good, where are we going?"
"Orochi Castle!"
A little while later, at the foot of Orochi Castle.
The girl who had been so full of energy now looked utterly dispirited.
"Oden died here."
"Yes."
Good nodded in agreement, then twisted the knife.
"He also danced naked here for five years."
"Good!"
Yamato bristled at once and glared at him.
"Don't you know there's a time and place?!"
"..."
Good shrugged.
He was only telling the truth.
"Yamato, if you want to become someone, you can't just look at their good points. You have to accept their flaws, too."
"Come on. Our host is waiting."
"Hmph!"
Yamato angrily turned her head away. Once Good started walking, she hurried after him, pulling down the corners of her eyes and sticking out her tongue at his back.
Bleh, bleh, bleh! Big jerk!
Inside Orochi Castle, perhaps to show how much importance they placed on Yamato, every ninja in the Oniwabanshu except Fukurokuju had come to welcome her.
Ten ninjas in all.
The towering man at their head ignored Good, who was walking in front, and instead faced Yamato, addressing her in a deep voice.
"Lady Yamato, please follow me."
"Oh."
Yamato looked at Good.
She didn't even know what they were here for.
"Let's go."
Good nodded, glancing at the Oniwabanshu standing nearby.
Among Orochi's subordinates, the Oniwabanshu were his most elite force, especially the ninja squad. Though it had only eleven members, every one was an expert in stealth and assassination, with techniques such as ryuo and Flying Slash at their fingertips.
Clearly, this was Orochi's attempt to intimidate them.
Good smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned.
Even if Orochi were a hundred times braver, he wouldn't dare openly attack them. Boss Kaido's deterrent power was no empty boast.
Of course, if he couldn't act openly, he could always act in secret.
This invitation was probably meant to sound them out.
Soon, the two arrived at the banquet hall.
There was no one else in the room, only a single dining table laden with Wano Country's finest [honzen cuisine].
"Please take your seats."
The ninjas invited them to sit, then all vanished into smoke without leaving a single trace.
Like ghosts.
"Hmm?"
Yamato raised her head and looked at the ceiling, then at an enormous vase nearby, then outside the window, at the walls, and at the floor.
Are we playing hide-and-seek?
The ninjas hidden around the room instantly broke into cold sweats. They had hoped to give their guests a scare, but never imagined that the concealment techniques they took such pride in would be seen through instantly.
What terrifying instincts!
Fortunately, Yamato had no intention of dragging them out. Her attention was soon captured by the delicious food on the table.
She discreetly swallowed and looked at Good.
"Can I eat?"
"Wait a little longer."
Good kept a stern face.
Their host hadn't even arrived yet. What kind of guest started eating first?
Don't you know any manners?!
Three minutes later, the room was still quiet.
With a dark expression, Good picked up his chopsticks.
Before you continue