"Thppt..."
Hearing her mother's scolding, Mari stuck out her tongue in secret and retorted, "Yukiko-nee always says Higurashi is an old witch."
"Even if Lady Yukiko says it, you can't!" Yuriko gave her a reproachful look, clearly displeased. Manners were one thing, but no parent liked their child cursing.
Another issue was their status. Yukiko had been following Dan for a long time and now held a high position. She could say whatever she wanted about Kurozumi Higurashi, but Yuriko and Mari were different.
The two of them had only been fortunate enough to enter the daimyo's residence and serve Lord Dan because Yukiko had bought them. They couldn't help Dan as much as Yukiko or Kurozumi Higurashi could. Even as a maid, Yuriko was special because she was the only one among the maids who had given birth to a child. This meant she had once belonged to another man.
How could a "withered flower" like her compare to the others?
This status made Yuriko particularly sensitive. Having suffered hardships in the past, she cherished her current life dearly and often placed herself in a lower position within the daimyo's residence.
That's why she was especially happy to be able to help Dan this time. When Dan asked if her body could handle the journey, she agreed without a second thought, not even considering her physical condition.
However, Yuriko didn't know that Dan had a certain fondness for the Oyakodon.
Not to mention, the "meal" was so delicious.
"Lady Yukiko and Lady Higurashi are both working for Dan-sama. Even if you admire Lady Yukiko, you can't speak ill of Lady Higurashi behind her back!"
Mari sensed that Yuriko was getting a bit angry, so she pouted and reluctantly agreed.
"Okay, I get it. Don't be mad, Mom."
"Yuriko, you don't have to be so strict," Dan said, patting Mari's head. "But Yukiko, that girl, actually taught someone to curse. That's not good."
"Yukiko-nee didn't teach me! I heard it and learned it myself!" Mari quickly defended.
"You're quite loyal," Dan chuckled. At the same time, he noticed Yuriko's breathing had become labored. He turned to see that her forehead was beaded with sweat, and the soft strands of hair at her temples were sticking to her skin.
"Are you getting tired, Yuriko?"
"A little, but it's fine. I can keep going," Yuriko said with a smile. Her body was weak, not from illness, but from years of lack of exercise and frequent hunger after her family's downfall. Walking such a long distance was inevitably taxing for her.
"Hop on," Dan said. Clouds formed beneath his feet, solidifying into a soft, walkable surface.
Mari's eyes sparkled as she looked at the clouds, unable to resist reaching out to touch them.
"It's so soft, like cotton but more elastic! You can summon clouds, Dan-sama, you're amazing!" Mari's face was filled with admiration.
Generally, people in Wano would consider Devil Fruit abilities to be sorcery. But the line between sorcery and divine magic was thin. When someone they admired displayed such miraculous abilities, they would only see him as a deity.
Yuriko didn't immediately step onto the clouds. Instead, she looked at Dan with a troubled expression. "Dan-sama, isn't this too much trouble for you?"
In truth, Yuriko, like Mari, had a strong-willed side to her personality. She felt she had already received so much kindness—how could she trouble Dan with such a small matter?
"It's fine. Get on. If you get sick, that would be a real problem for me. I might need your help on this trip," Dan said.
Hearing this, Yuriko nodded slowly and carefully stepped onto the clouds. Since they were floating in the air, she didn't dare stand and instead sat down sideways.
"Dan-sama, can I sit too?" Mari asked excitedly. Flying on a cloud was a novel experience for her.
"Of course. We'll be using this method to cross the sea," Dan nodded. But before Mari could jump on, he added, "But Mari, you haven't finished today's training, have you? How about running to the coast from here? Or do you want to take a day off?"
"I forgot! I'll start right now!" Mari blurted out and immediately began sprinting toward the coastline. Taking a day off wasn't even a consideration.
Watching Mari's figure grow smaller in the distance, Dan turned to Yuriko and said:
"Your body is too weak. I think I'll find a Zoan-type Devil Fruit for you to strengthen your body."
"But aren't Devil Fruits important strategic resources? Is it really okay to give one to me?" Yuriko said, unable to suppress a smile. Talking about getting a Devil Fruit to "strengthen her body"—Dan really made it sound like some kind of health supplement.
Living in the daimyo's residence, Yuriko naturally knew about these miraculous fruits. However, she had heard that these fruits were extremely valuable, with a single fruit worth at least ten thousand gold.
For someone like Oden and his group, it would take at least ten years of working in Kuri to afford one.
Using such a precious thing on someone like her felt like a waste. Yuriko thought to herself. She was just a maid bought to serve Lord Dan, and in a few years, she might lose her beauty. She had no special skills or strategies. If only she could be as helpful as Higurashi, she wouldn't feel so guilty.
Or rather, instead of giving it to her, it would be better to give the fruit to Mari. At least the child was learning martial arts and could be of some help in the future.
"It's fine. We have plenty of ordinary Zoan-type fruits in stock. And for you, the fruit's ability doesn't need to be too strong since you're not a combatant. Orochi probably has some in storage. I'll take a look later," Dan said in a tone that brooked no argument. "But after you eat the fruit, you'll need to start training. Only then will the fruit's effects on your body be more effective."
Yuriko nodded, her gaze at Dan growing even softer.
Dan made it sound simple, but Devil Fruits were worth ten thousand gold. Spending such a valuable resource on her just to "strengthen her body"—Yuriko, who understood its worth, felt her heart melting.
No woman could dislike being treated like this. At this moment, Yuriko wished she could merge herself entirely into Dan's body.
"Dan-sama... would you... like to try... aerial combat..."
Yuriko's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, her head lowered so much it almost buried itself in her chest.