NOVEL WEB Chapter 158: Chapter 158
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows in the dimly lit chamber, its golden glow dancing over the intricate patterns on the wooden floor. Across from him, the shrine maiden sat gracefully, her expression serene but filled with an underlying tension.
"So, Miroku, why did you become the high priestess of the Land of Demons?" Uchiha Shin rested his cheek on his palm, his crimson Sharingan eyes lazily tracing her delicate features. "And what do you really think about the spirits that inhabit this land?"
Now that he understood the origins of these so-called ghosts, Shin felt utterly at ease.
Even if these entities were powerful, they barely reached the level of a high-tier Kage at best. If Miroku truly was their conduit, then pinning them down and eradicating them would be child's play.
But more than that, he was curious.
What had this enigmatic woman experienced to bring her to this point?
Miroku met his gaze, her golden eyes reflecting the candle's flicker. At last, she spoke, her voice calm, unwavering.
"At first, I was no different from them. A formless entity wandering the Land of Demons, bound by neither flesh nor will," she began. "But unlike the others… I was drawn to something different. Maybe it was the energy of Yang that shaped me, unlike the darkness that consumed the others."
She paused, as if recalling distant memories. "I witnessed humanity's warmth. Their struggles, their fleeting joys. And, for the first time, I desired to be one of them. To live as they do."
Shin listened in silence as she continued.
"Little by little, I shaped myself into what you see now." She gestured at herself, her hand gliding over the crimson and white robes she adorned. "Until, eventually, I became… complete. Human, in every way that matters."
The room was silent except for the soft crackling of the fire. Shin's gaze remained impassive, but inside, he was intrigued.
"I revealed my power to the people of this land, healing their wounds, protecting them from danger. They began to call me a shrine maiden… a savior." Her lips curled into a faint smile. "And so, I accepted that role. I became Miroku, high priestess of the Land of Demons."
She exhaled, her fingers tightening slightly on the fabric of her robes. "Now, my only desire is to ensure that this land remains safe. Even if it means sealing away the dark forces with my own life."
There was no fear in her voice. Only quiet determination.
Then, without warning, she rose from her seat and knelt before him.
The motion was so sudden, so fluid, that Shin barely had time to react before she bowed deeply, her forehead nearly touching the floor.
Her luxurious robes pooled around her, the dust of the old temple clinging to their embroidered edges. But Miroku didn't seem to care. Her golden eyes remained firm, unwavering.
"Lord Uchiha Shin," she said softly, her voice a whisper against the silence, "even if you intend to destroy me, I beg of you… grant me time. Please."
For a long moment, Shin simply stared at her.
A beautiful woman kneeling before him, pleading so earnestly…
It was a nice sight.
If only she'd had a more—shall we say—*expressive* look, it would've been even better.
Shin exhaled through his nose and rubbed his temples before finally reaching out, taking her by the wrist. Her skin was smooth, cool, flawless.
He pulled her up gently.
"I never said I was going to kill you, did I?" he murmured, his thumb absentmindedly brushing against the back of her hand. "No need to look so pitiful."
Miroku lifted her head, but her expression remained unreadable.
Shin's gaze flickered downward. And just for a moment, when she had been kneeling, he had caught sight of something truly divine.
The gentle curves beneath those deceptively loose robes. The slender waist, the perfect fullness, the tantalizing outline of something hidden beneath layers of silk.
A woman with such a holy, untouchable face… yet underneath, a body so utterly sinful.
Damn.
She was a masterpiece.
Was this intentional? Did she *plan* to be this enticing, or was it just a side effect of her transformation?
…Wait.
Her words suddenly echoed back in his mind.
*"I only hope to pass on my life before I sacrifice myself."*
Pass on her life?
As in… have children?
Shin's mind short-circuited for a moment before he shook his head and forced himself back to the present.
Not now. They had bigger things to deal with.
There would be plenty of time to discuss *that* later.
But before he could redirect the conversation, Miroku tilted her head slightly. Her golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim firelight.
"Lord Uchiha Shin," she said softly, "do you… wish to create life with me?"
"..."
Shin blinked.
His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Where the hell did that come from?!
"I—"
Then, he followed her gaze and immediately understood.
Oh.
She had *felt* it. His momentary lapse, the flicker of desire, the hesitation in his chakra.
Miroku's ability to perceive life force was… *annoyingly* accurate.
He coughed lightly, trying to play it off. "Ahem. This is, uh, force majeure."
Miroku, however, merely nodded, as though she completely understood. "I see. That makes sense."
No, it *doesn't*—wait, what does she mean *that makes sense*?!
Then, before he could stop her, she raised her face once more, looking him directly in the eye.
"If possible," she said, her voice like silk, "I would like to bear your child."
"..."
Shin was speechless.
The sincerity in her gaze was unwavering. She wasn't joking.
She was *dead serious*.
"Your body is strong, your life force immense," she continued, placing a hand over her own chest. "Such vitality… such strength… I can feel it. Your genes are ideal."
Jesus.
She was making it sound so *clinical*.
Shin suddenly had the absurd urge to laugh.
"I… uh…"
His mind was going a mile a minute, but somehow, he managed to compose himself.
Glancing at the guards standing at a distance, he knew this wasn't the time or place for such *discussions*.
"Miroku." He inhaled deeply. "This… kind of thing isn't something you decide on a whim."
Miroku tilted her head. "Why not?"
Shin exhaled sharply through his nose. "Because," he said, "this is a *long-term* matter. And before we even *think* about it, we have to deal with the damn monsters first."
Miroku considered this for a moment before nodding. "That is reasonable."
Finally. Some goddamn common sense.
She sat back down, smoothing out her robes. "But before I seal them away," she added, "I must ensure my legacy continues."
Shin groaned internally.
This woman was *relentless*.
Fine. They'd settle this matter first.
Then, they'd *revisit* that other topic… later.
Much, *much* later.
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