章 319: Chapter 319
"You're back so soon? Did you learn about how couples interact?"
Yoichi feigned surprise as he spoke. In truth, he had sent a shadow clone to follow Kaguya, and to his amusement, she had naively interrupted couples during the night, walking in to question them directly.
"I don't understand why couples engage in such behavior!"
Kaguya shook her head and explained, "They said it's for reproduction, but I can use my abilities to create children directly. If that's the case, those rituals can be skipped entirely. Besides, such actions are useless in facing enemies."
"Can becoming a couple really help in fighting against enemies?"
"Of course."
Yoichi answered seriously. He stood up, walked closer to Kaguya, and immediately noticed her tense up at his approach. He said, "See? You're nervous just because I got close to you. This shows how little trust we have. How can we possibly join forces against enemies with such a lack of trust?"
"You're probably being wary of me right now. Such a relationship full of distrust can't ensure effective cooperation against enemies. It's just like with your former companion—would you willingly help them face their enemies?"
Kaguya remained silent. Yoichi's words had hit too close to home, leaving her unsure of how to respond.
She had no intention of attacking him, but his strength made her feel uneasy in his presence.
After a moment, Kaguya asked, "Would such a ritual increase mutual trust?"
"Of course," Yoichi replied, "Think about it, Kaguya. If two people embrace each other, and neither takes the opportunity to harm the other, wouldn't that signify mutual trust, ensuring neither will betray the other?"
While his reasoning was twisted, to someone as inexperienced as Kaguya, it sounded somewhat convincing.
"It does seem to make sense..."
Yoichi continued, "Trust is the foundation of cooperation. Without trust, working together is impossible, let alone anything else."
Kaguya nodded slightly, finding his argument somewhat reasonable, though she couldn't quite articulate why.
Looking at Yoichi with her pure white eyes, she asked, "So, should we perform such rituals? The ones couples do?"
To Kaguya, the ritual seemed pointless, but if it could strengthen her bond with Yoichi and help them cooperate against enemies, she was willing to try.
"It's not the right time yet," Yoichi said. "You're probably not ready for such close interactions. Let's start with something simpler, like holding hands."
He reached out and took Kaguya's hand.
Though Kaguya realized what he was doing, she didn't resist. Instead, she placed her soft, snow-white hand in his, wanting to quickly build the trust needed to face the Ōtsutsuki clan together.
'She's so gullible,' Yoichi thought as he held her hand.
Kaguya's lack of worldly experience made her an easy target. Just a few ominous words about enemies had been enough to make her fall into his plans.
Her hand was incredibly smooth and delicate, like polished snow. Holding it, Yoichi couldn't help but let his mind wander, his fingers gently caressing hers.
Kaguya, meanwhile, wondered to herself, 'Is this how trust between two people grows?'
Looking up at Yoichi's face while he held her hand, she found herself feeling less tense.
Favorability increased: 56
Favorability increased: 57
Favorability increased: 58
After holding hands for a while, Kaguya's favorability toward Yoichi had risen by three points. Satisfied with the progress, Yoichi knew he had reached the limit for now.
"Kaguya, we'll need to do more things that couples typically do," he said.
"Alright, I'll follow your lead," Kaguya replied. She didn't know what else to do, and with someone as strong and helpful as Yoichi guiding her, it was natural to rely on him.
Moreover, under the subtle influence of Yoichi's mental energy, her dependence on him was steadily increasing.
In the days that followed, Yoichi, disguised as the ruler of Jomae, ordered his warriors to conquer neighboring nations.
The surrounding area was dotted with over thirty small countries within a thousand-mile radius. Further out, larger nations boasted more sophisticated structures and figures like onmyōji, shrine maidens, and "divine warriors."
To Yoichi, these so-called "divine warriors" were merely fighters who could resonate with natural energy.
After healing the warriors of Jomae, Yoichi taught them basic chakra control, giving them a significant boost in strength and speed—enough to overwhelm regular soldiers.
Within just two days, the nearby nation of Hiza was subdued.
The process was simple: assassinate the opposing daimyo and absorb their forces. Governance wasn't a priority; Yoichi was focused on expanding Jomae's territory and resources.
By the fifth day, his forces moved on to conquer the neighboring nation of Taiyō. It took another two days to claim their lands, bringing Jomae's total number of warriors to over a hundred and its subjects to nearly 2,000 households—making it the dominant power in the region.
Amid this expansion, Yoichi's primary goal remained his relationship with Kaguya.
"Yoichi, how much longer do we need to do this?"
Kaguya nestled awkwardly in Yoichi's arms, her discomfort evident as he held her close, his arm around her waist.
"This is an essential part of being a couple, Kaguya," Yoichi explained. "Look around; don't you see other couples doing the same? It builds trust."
"But isn't the final ritual the most important?" Kaguya asked earnestly, tilting her head up to look at him. Her horn nearly jabbed his chin.
Her words caught Yoichi off guard. Realizing she didn't fully understand what she was suggesting, he responded, "Do you really want to perform that ritual?"
"Yes," Kaguya said seriously. "The sooner we complete it, the better we can face our enemies."
Over the past month, her interactions with Yoichi—holding hands, hugging, and their conversations—had steadily increased her favorability toward him.
Currently, Kaguya's favorability had reached 71.
"Alright, let's go inside and perform the ritual," Yoichi said, lifting her into his arms and carrying her into the house.
Inside, he closed the doors and windows tightly. Despite it being midday, the room was well-lit.
"Kaguya, do you know what couples do in this ritual?"
Kaguya nodded, her face calm. "Yes, after completing the ritual for reproduction, we'll be fully recognized as a couple."
"Alright, then let's begin."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Yoichi activated and deactivated his abilities, using his strength and endurance, their "ritual" continued through the day and into the night.
By the next morning, their activity had lasted over 24 hours, leaving both exhausted but satisfied.
Lying in bed with Kaguya resting on his chest, Yoichi glanced at the setting sun.
"How long has it been?" he muttered, exhaling deeply.
Though fatigued, Yoichi couldn't help but feel accomplished—not only had their bond deepened, but Kaguya's dependence on him had solidified.
For now, both needed rest.
(End of Chapter)
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