The Pig, The Mask, and The Slayers [Redux]

[~Chapter 3: Mundanity~]

The water was warm, much to his shock. One would think that a lake in the snowy mountain-tops wouldn't be warm, and yet here he was, sitting in a warm lake in the middle of winter, surrounded by snow, with a chill breeze blowing through the trees and through his hair.

"Heat vents," Pink Skin spoke up, catching Giyuu off guard, looking over at the Demon, who now had his arms resting against the rock barrier of the lake. "If you put magma-rock underwater, and do so in such a way where it is evenly spaced out, it will heat up the water just enough so it's bearable. It's also hot enough to get rid of any bacteria on or off a person's body, and keeps the water drinkable."

Giyuu pursed his lips, looking down at the water. It wasn't completely see-through because of the steam, but he had to assume what Pink Skin was saying was right.

But even so...

"That doesn't make sense. Magma-rock makes this boiling and inhospitable. Yet, I don't feel a thing..." Giyuu muttered to himself as Pink Skin snorted.

"That's if you dump it in carelessly," Pink Skin said, looking up into the sky. "It's almost like you don't pay attention to what others say."

Giyuu frowned, narrowing his eyes at Pink Skin. "I did. I'm just saying it doesn't make sense. It breaks the laws of nature," The Water Hashira stated as Pink Skin sighed.

"No, it doesn't. You just don't have a clear enough grasp on it. There are always loopholes in laws, and I know quite a few loopholes. I used one to make this lake what it is now. I spent a whole day and night on this project. This is technically a test run, and so far so good if you ask me," Pink Skin replied as Giyuu blinked.

He... did what? "Y-you... made this!? All of this!? The waterfall, the lake, the heat vents—all of it?!" Giyuu exclaimed, recoiling in shock as Pink Skin shrugged.

"What can I say? I like terraforming. Again, another thing I picked up from a friend of mine. And when you're given as much free time as I am... well, you get good at being very, very quick at it. 'Sides, this was just a small project. And I plan to expand on it a little bit more. This is just the start. I quite like this area, so I might just remove some trees and build some lodgings. Maybe rent out some houses for some money to families who want to get away from the city—the whole shebang," Pink Skin explained as Giyuu stared in awe.

That... that was insane. This Demon... this Demon was insane—more insane than any Demon he had met thus far. From the sounds of it, it almost sounded like he was... he was making a... making a farm of humans to eat.

It was a long plan. A plan that would take forever to accomplish. But if he succeeded....

"So that's your plan..." Giyuu rumbled, glaring at Pink Skin, who raised an eyebrow.

"What? You don't approve? I mean, c'mon! It's easy economics! Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'd have power over people, but I would be able to give them affordable lodging. I mean, think about it. You clearly hiked up this mountain to get to Kamado's home, right? You looked pretty beat when Dream dragged you here, so I kinda got the idea from you," Pink Skin said, a relaxed expression on his face as Giyuu sneered.

"Don't play coy with me, Demon!" Giyuu spat, standing up in the water, his body dripping wet from soaking in the warm lake as Pink Skin stared at him with an unamused expression. "I knew it! I knew you lied! I don't know why I trusted you for even a moment! You had something to do with those villagers disappearing! And I bet you have them somewhere locked up here, don't you? I bet they're in that basement! Just how many people have you killed and eaten!"

It was at that moment, whether Giyuu knew it or not, that he had stepped on a nerve. And he saw it rather quickly, too. With how Pink Skin's nose shrivelled, and how his lips curled back to reveal a row of sharp, angular teeth.