Shinobu tilted her chin up slightly, her hands behind her back, and curled her lips into a smile that made one's scalp prickle. "I said, I'm coming too. Since you need to enter the Entertainment District as a visitor to protect them, wouldn't having one more person along look more natural? Besides, I'm well versed in toxicology. If they happen to be poisoned by a demon's Blood Demon Art, I can treat them immediately. This is for the sake of the mission and our companions' safety."
Rokuya opened his mouth to argue, only to find that he couldn't come up with a single suitable reason. Shinobu had thrown his excuse right back at him, word for word, and added medical support as a bargaining chip he couldn't refuse.
"But... a place like that..." Rokuya tried to make one last stand.
"What's wrong with a place like that?" Shinobu cut him off and stepped closer, leaving barely any distance between them. The scent of wisteria on her drifted straight into Rokuya's nose. "Do you think I'll cause trouble for you if I go? Or are you actually planning something you don't want me to see?"
Looking at the threat in Shinobu's eyes, Rokuya knew he had lost completely. If he refused her now, knowing her temperament, she would probably make a scene right there in the Butterfly Mansion, and might even complain to Kanae. The thought of Kanae smiling as she said terrifying things immediately prompted Rokuya to make the wise choice.
"Fine. We'll go together." Rokuya sighed and nodded in resignation.
Only then did Shinobu turn around in satisfaction and give Tengen a perfectly polite smile. "Lord Sound Hashira, shall we set off, then?"
Watching Rokuya being kept so thoroughly in line, Tengen couldn't help the corners of his mouth