Early the next morning.
"Wow, so comfortable!"
Yamato stretched lazily as she opened her eyes, then blinked in confusion at the empty room.
"Did I fall asleep in the bath again?"
Lately, she'd been working at Ebisu Town during the day, coming home to eat and bathe at night, but could never remember what happened after her baths.
She must have dozed off again.
"Grrrroooowl—"
"So hungry!"
Dismissing further thought, Yamato energetically dressed and headed straight for Gurd's room, sliding the door open without hesitation.
"Gurd, I'm hungr—"
The next moment, the girl froze at the chaotic scene before her.
Gurd lay sprawled naked on the tatami, fast asleep with three equally naked women draped over him.
"Thud!"
The door slammed shut.
Yamato clutched her cheeks as her face rapidly turned lobster-red, steam practically rising from her head.
That was... something she shouldn't have seen!
Since treating the Hot Spring Shop as home, she'd often played with the older sisters there and gradually learned about adult matters. She knew how much the shop's women admired Gurd, practically throwing themselves at him.
Once during a nighttime bathroom trip, she'd even peeked at Gurd and Sister Caidie "fighting," though she hadn't understood what she saw.
But as her understanding grew, new doors of knowledge had begun opening.
The girl's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Maybe... just one more peek?
Like a thief, Yamato crept back to the door, carefully sliding it open just a crack to peek inside.
Her view was blocked by pectoral muscles like slabs of rock.
"Huh?"
Without thinking, she reached out and poked.
So hard!
Gurd slid the door open with a dark expression.
Yamato stiffly looked up at his stormy face, quickly retracting her finger with a foolish grin.
"Good morning!"
"Thwack!"
The man's fist connected with the girl's head.
Moments later.
Sporting a swollen lump on her head, Yamato noisily slurped her delicious Buckwheat Noodles, two large tears hanging at the corners of her eyes.
"Sorry, I was wrong."
"Hmph."
Gurd snorted coldly.
If not for this brat, he wouldn't have needed to... relieve his frustration.
After breakfast, the girl perked up again, enthusiastically raising her arm to flex.
"Wahaha, time for work!"
"Not today. We have other business."
The words doused her like cold water.
"No work?"
Yamato's eyes widened in shock.
How could they skip work?!
Mixing mortar, hauling stones, building walls...
Work was pure joy!
And all her workmates were counting on her—who else could move those massive boulders without her help?
Yamato glared at Gurd: "Why won't you let me work? I want to work! I want to mix mortar! I want to move stones!"
"..."
Gurd remained silent.
Had all that labor addled her brain?
What normal person loved working this much?
Did her boss know how hard she worked?
Wait... he was the boss.
Never mind then.
Gurd smiled brightly: "We have important matters today. Don't worry—tomorrow I'll give you double the workload. You'll be satisfied!"
"Really? Okay then."
Yamato beamed with delight.
Fantastic! Double the work!
Imagining the increasingly magnificent castle at the construction site, the girl proudly puffed out her chest—she'd contributed her share of effort!
"Gurd, where are we going?"
"Great Serpent Castle!"
A short while later, beneath Great Serpent Castle.
The previously energetic young girl now seemed deflated.
"This is where Oden died."
"Yes."
Gurd nodded in agreement, adding salt to the wound.
"He also danced naked here for five years."
"Gurd!"
The girl immediately bristled, glaring at Gurd.
"Don't you know how to read the room?!"
"..."
Gurd shrugged.
He was just telling the truth.
"Yamato, if you want to become someone, you can't just see their good qualities. You have to accept their flaws too."
"Let's go, our host is waiting."
"Hmph!"
Yamato angrily turned her head away, but as soon as Gurd started walking, she quickly followed behind him, pulling at her eyelids and sticking out her tongue in annoyance.
Pfft! Big meanie!
Inside Great Serpent Castle, likely to show their respect for Yamato, all members of the Oniwabanshu except Fukurokuju had gathered to welcome her.
Ten ninjas in total.
The towering leader ignored Gurd walking ahead and instead addressed Yamato with a deep voice.
"Lady Yamato, please come with me."
"Oh."
Yamato looked at Gurd.
She didn't even know why they were here.
"Let's go."
Gurd nodded, his gaze flickering toward the Oniwabanshu.
Among Orochi's subordinates, the Oniwabanshu were the most elite force, especially the ninja squad. Though there were only eleven of them, each was a master of infiltration and assassination, effortlessly skilled in techniques like Flowing Sakura and Flying Slash.
Clearly, this was Orochi's way of flexing his muscles.
Gurd smiled faintly, unbothered.
Even if Orochi had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare make a move against them openly. Kaido's reputation wasn't just for show.
Of course, if he couldn't act openly, he might try something underhanded.
This invitation was likely just to test the waters.
Soon, the two arrived at the banquet hall.
The room was empty except for a single dining table, set with Wano Country's highest-class Formal Cuisine.
"Please, take your seats."
The ninjas ushered them to their seats before vanishing into thin smoke without a trace.
Like ghosts.
"Huh?"
Yamato lifted her head, glancing at the ceiling, then at the oversized vase nearby, then out the window, at the walls, the floor...
Were they playing hide-and-seek?
The ninjas hidden throughout the room broke into a cold sweat. They had meant to intimidate, but their proud stealth techniques had been instantly seen through.
What terrifying instincts!
Luckily, Yamato didn't seem interested in exposing them, her attention quickly captured by the delicious spread on the table.
The girl swallowed discreetly and looked at Gurd.
"Can we eat?"
"Wait a little longer."
Gurd kept a stern face.
The host hadn't even arrived yet—what kind of guest starts eating first?
Where are your manners?!
Three minutes later, the room remained silent.
Gurd's face darkened as he picked up his chopsticks.
"Eat."
"Aren't we waiting?"
"When I say eat, you eat!"
"Oh!"
Yamato eagerly grabbed her chopsticks.
Wano's cuisine was exquisite but served in small portions. Within a minute, the entire table had been cleared.
"Clatter."
The chopsticks were tossed onto the table.
"Mediocre at best."
Gurd gave a disdainful review.
Damn it, keeping him waiting?
Did they think he wouldn't make a scene?
"Guhuhuhu."
An unpleasant laughter drew near, and soon Orochi, with his large head, arrived at the banquet hall, sitting down across the table with a beaming smile.
Looking at the messy dining table, even though he had mentally prepared himself, he couldn't help but feel shocked.
Did these two come here just to eat?
Orochi's smile stiffened as he turned to Yamato, trying to act friendly. "Niece Yamato, it's been so long since I last saw you! I even held you when you were little!"
"Really?"
Yamato tilted her head.
"I don't remember that."
"..."
Orochi's smile grew even stiffer.
Does this brat not know how to read the room?
(End of chapter)