Chapter 204 - Forbidden Questions (1/2)
Once again, Nik followed down the path filled with the greenery initiative of a funeral and even if Shinobu felt emotional while making her way down the hill, she let nothing transpire on her face as the upward curve of her lips remained as natural as the rustling sound of the leaves.
This time around, Shinobu led Nik to the east direction of the slope, he could tell due to various signs created on the way to affiliate organised navigation. Although, Nik reckoned that such polite navigational means would be removed when Muzan decides to strike.
As Nik followed along Shinobu down the patched road, he finally couldn't hold it in and asked softly.
”Is it natural? The pigmentation at the ends of your hair?”
With no indication of faltering in her steps, Shinobu replied while keeping her pace constant, ”Poison. This is what happens when you ingest an astonishing amount of Wisteria poison that could theoretically kill a moon series demon just to enhance your body's resistance against poison.”
Nik nodded while he continued satiating his curiosity.
”Was it tasty?”
”Eh?”
Shinobu finally stopped in her tracks and turned her heels to face Nik's curious expression with her astonishment laced expression.
”Ex-excuse me?”
Shinobu stammered, not willing to believe that someone would be more interested in the taste of poison rather than its actual effect on the body aside from the exterior pigmentation of the hair.
”I asked about its taste. Was it delicious? The Wisteria Poison.”
Nik smiled and asked while sticking his tongue out and pointing at it.
”You know... poison isn't tasty...”
Shinobu floundered, not willing to divulge any information regarding the topic. At her words, Nik pursued with a small smirk.
”I guess so... but why do I feel that Pillar of Insect is a woman of great taste? Both, metaphorically... and literally.”
With a smirk of her own, Shinobu tilted her head and whispered sweetly.
”Compliments won't get you the answers to the forbidden questions. Just so you know, as a future reference, my weight and age belong to a similar category.”
”You look weightless and age is just a number. I am more interested in the taste... so you can rest easy.”
Turning towards the road, Shinobu spoke with an enchanting smile not visible to Nik.
”With that expression of yours, Mr Pillar of War... my guards are all up.”
'Even more delicious.'
Nik remarked internally before following Shinobu, who admittedly increased her speed the closer they got to the city before taking a left turn, circling around the city while explaining Nik to avoid his confusion.
”This is the capital with a number of rich nobles. Of course, corrupted ones are even in greater number, so I like to avoid the distasteful stares of the lower-minded.”
”Well, a natural biological reaction should not characterize them into 'lower-minded' citizens, unless, you, or someone else have encountered something unpleasant.”
”It isn't hard to guess, really.” Shinobu replied as she continued making her way around the surrounding forest, occasionally encountering a clearing with long, patched roads that led into the city before entering the adjacent greenery.
”There have been many cases of Harassment against the opposite genders, both, male and female. Although, we try not to get involved with them too much, an occasional conflict is not unheard of.”
”Any case when the pillar is offended?” Nik questioned as a chuckle escaped Shinobu's lips and she replied with a giddy tone.
”Sanemi Shinazugawa.”
A gleeful chuckled escaped Nik's lips as he questioned, ”Then I must ask... any casualty?”
”Many. Sanemi is an individual who will slay any demon— physically or mentally.”
'Well... I am both...'
Nik thought of how easily he could have slashed Sanemi's neck since he wasn't particularly cautious against him.
”Of course, now, there has been an exception. The lovely lady inside the box behind you.”
”Oh well, there are always some exceptions. After all, it isn't just Nezuko... there are many corrupt 'devils' alive within the city, too, right?”
”Agreed.”
Shinobu nodded.
Finally, after a few minutes of casual chatting regarding the hotspots within the capital, a few famous stories and the noble structure within the feudal system, Nik finally saw a beautiful, traditional mansion in the distance. From Shinobu, Nik already knew that she was the only pillar who received a mansion due to her expert medical skills that did not lose out to Shizuka and her tutoring skills were almost reaching the level of a Cultivator.
Most of her tutoring skills, however, were enhanced due to her quirky personality. At least, that is what Saeko told him, but now, Nik did feel that there was some truth in the statement.