Chapter 220: How Exactly Do the Oni Multiply?
Noah's arrival was completely unexpected for Ibaraki and Shuten.
As for Noah's claim of having the ability to save Shuten, they hadn't even dared to think about such a possibility.
Upon hearing this news, Ibaraki was overjoyed, leaping up from the drinking table, a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor. Although Shuten had been pondering Noah's motives ever since the Oni reported that Noah had brought a method to cure her, seeing Ibaraki's excited gaze fixed on her made Shuten push those thoughts aside.
Forget it...
Whatever that lord's intentions may be, as long as we're happy—I'm happy, Ibaraki is happy... then schemes or whatever don't matter.
Shuten decided to think this way, while Ibaraki didn't consider such things at all. She first intended to drag Shuten over directly, but then suddenly remembered Shuten's poor physical condition, so she—
Picked Shuten up in her arms and ran toward Noah's location—so frantic she even forgot her shoes.
The Oni crowd watched this scene, momentarily filled with emotion.
"If it were before, when Lord Shuten hadn't become like this, if such a scene appeared, it would definitely be Lord Shuten dragging Lord Ibaraki around everywhere..."
"Yes, back then Lord Shuten would be laughing, and although Lord Ibaraki usually had her own ideas, she was helpless against Lord Shuten's smile."
"Hey, it's not bad having things completely reversed like this now!"
Many of these Oni had followed Shuten and Ibaraki since long ago, so when they heard about Shuten's extremely serious condition, these usually rowdy creatures who cared not for day or night had been quite subdued during this period.
But now, after hearing that Lord Noah had a method to cure Shuten, they watched this scene before them and smiled from the bottom of their hearts.
How wonderful, Lord Shuten can still be saved.
How wonderful... to have encountered this lord.
Noah arrived among the Oni crowd, who were all observing him.
After Ibaraki announced that Noah was the Oni's lord, each of these Oni deeply memorized Noah's appearance and name.
They were such simple creatures—simple in their pleasures, simple in their wickedness, and similarly—their loyalty was also simple.
If the Oni King Ibaraki acknowledged him, then they all acknowledged him.
And once acknowledged, they would never betray.
These usually pleasure-seeking Oni were quite particular in this regard.
So they were very curious about Noah.
And Noah was equally curious about them.
Because since Noah arrived at the Oni gathering place, he discovered he hadn't seen a single male Oni!
These Oni weren't like the minor enemies encountered in the FGO game, nor were they all fierce and terrifying as in legends.
If one had to describe their appearance, they were quite similar to Shuten and Ibaraki.
If you didn't know this was an Oni gathering place and stumbled in here, you might think you'd entered a kingdom of women!
And a kingdom of women where no ugly women existed!
However, Noah's extra attention towards them wasn't because of that—he was no longer the rather inexperienced fellow he once had been in such matters.
He truly had no ulterior motives, it was just... well, purely some academic questions.
Ahem...
If the Oni are all female, how do they reproduce?
It was a highly academic question, approached from a very scientific perspective.
But before Noah could analyze the issue from a scientist's viewpoint, Ibaraki barged into the room carrying Shuten.
"Lord, I heard you can heal Shuten!!"
Ibaraki was very straightforward. Upon seeing Noah, she immediately ran over with Shuten in her arms and knelt before him, presenting Shuten as if offering a treasure, holding her up in front of Noah.
Shuten, looking at Noah before her, didn't feel embarrassed by this scene at all. Instead, she smiled and greeted him.
—This might be what they call a social terror.
But Noah didn't have much to say about it either. He simply reached out toward Shuten after Ibaraki did this.
Seeing Noah extend his hand, Shuten instinctively wanted to grab it, but Noah flicked her forehead instead.
"Behave..."
Hearing this, Shuten blinked her eyes, putting on an innocent look as if she were a well-behaved child, and made no further moves.
No, rather than making no moves, this posture was the new little act she was putting on.
But since she wasn't causing trouble, Noah ignored her antics.
He directly channeled the vitality of the World Tree, pouring it into Shuten's body.
To be honest, when Scáthach told Noah that Shuten was severely lacking in vitality, he didn't think it was a particularly serious issue. He had even been quite curious—how could an Oni like Shuten run out of vitality so quickly?
But when Noah began infusing Shuten with vitality, he realized just how severe this "severe lack" truly was.
If the vitality Noah used to replenish and heal Vivian in the past was the most basic "one," then the amount he infused into Shuten this time was at least fifty or more!
As Noah infused Shuten with vitality, she slowly made some strange noises until Noah glanced at her. Then, looking at him like this, she smiled slightly and stopped.
After about ten minutes, Noah withdrew his hand. Shuten absorbed the last portion of vitality, patted Ibaraki's hand, and jumped down from her arms.
Standing before Noah, Shuten clenched her fist in the air, feeling a strength she hadn't experienced in a long time. The smile on her face grew slightly more pronounced.
"This is really... it feels so good to have power~"
Seeing Shuten like this, Ibaraki, who had also stood up, clenched her fists, visibly excited.
Just then, the Oni who had informed the two of them earlier walked in. While delighted by the scene, she also brought Noah the tea that should have been prepared when he first arrived.
Noah didn't say anything about this and simply took the tea.
Cold?
Sensing the temperature, Noah blinked and took a small sip.
Afterward, he placed the teacup back down, pointed a finger at the liquid inside, and ignited a flame.
Only a small, ordinary flame flew from Noah's finger, but when it landed on the tea, it immediately burst into flames.
Watching this, Noah expressionlessly turned his gaze toward Shuten, Ibaraki, and the Oni who had just served the tea.
"You call this tea?"
Hearing Noah's question, Shuten smiled and replied.
"The color is right, and it smells good too. Well, Master, this is tea—Oni Tea that brings joy to those who drink it~"
Hearing Shuten's words, Ibaraki nodded repeatedly beside her, and the surrounding Oni also agreed.
Noah stared at this concoction—an ultimate, potent liquor that even someone like him could clearly feel the strength of after drinking, unsure of how it was brewed—and eventually extinguished the flame.
Then he downed it in one gulp.
Fine, tea it is.
After finishing the cup, Noah declined the Oni's offer to refill it, even when she mentioned having hot tea besides this cold version. Instead, he asked Shuten and Ibaraki to sit down and proceeded to share his second purpose for coming to the Oni.
"I came here mainly for two reasons. The first has already been achieved: to heal Shuten. After all, the Oni are now my people. If I hadn't seen or known about it, I wouldn't have intervened. But since I saw it and I know, I'll do what I can to help."
"As for the second purpose..."
This was something Noah had just thought of on the spot.
Upon seeing these Oni, Noah recalled how Morgan and Vivian had mentioned to him that the Maid Squad was severely understaffed.
Although he wasn't sure if these hedonistic Oni could handle being maids, his job was only to recruit. The one who should worry about the specifics was Vivian, not him.
"...My Maid Squad has been short on hands. So, would you Oni be willing to come to my side and serve as maids?"