At Kikyo's home.
"...A Demon Weapon smith?"
Kaede held a spoon, sitting by the fire pit, stirring the steaming food in the pot, and asked Bal.
"Lady Bal, do you have materials for forging weapons?"
"No, otherwise I would have already set off." Bal couldn't help but sigh, a hint of melancholy in her beautiful eyes, "To want a powerful weapon, the materials must certainly be extraordinary."
"...Does Kikyo have no other way?"
Kaede couldn't help but cast her gaze towards Kikyo. In her heart, the almighty Kikyo might calmly propose a solution.
But.
"…" Kikyo gently shook her head, softly replying, "I also don't know where to find good materials."
She was a poor Miko with nothing; it was simply unrealistic to produce precious materials. Perhaps only her Azusa Bow was somewhat valuable.
However, the Azusa Bow was just… wood.
Moreover, that small volume wasn't enough to make a weapon.
"Is there… no way?" Kaede gently stirred the food in the pot, asking in a somewhat spoiled tone, "Kikyo, you've been to so many places, haven't you heard of any precious materials?"
"…"
A thoughtful expression appeared on Kikyo's beautiful face. She was indeed often invited to various places to exorcise Youkai, so her knowledge was naturally not lacking.
"Perhaps, there's still one feasible method."
"...What method is it?"
Bal's eyes lit up slightly, looking at Kikyo with hope. She held considerable expectations for the method Kikyo spoke of.
Seeing this, Kaede smiled obediently, then lowered her head and gently stirred the food in the pot. She was just a weak apprentice Miko.
From now on, she wouldn't be able to help.
"…"
Kikyo frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and spoke with some solemnity.
"The map given by the Youkai Sage not only marks the location of the smith, but also marks the locations of some powerful Youkai. By following the marked Youkai and exorcising them, you can actually collect enough materials from them."
"Ah… this feels like intentional scheming?" Bal's delicate face showed a subtle expression. "But isn't Yakumo Yukari a Youkai Sage? Does she have a reason to do something like this?"
"…"
Kikyo gently shook her head without speaking, picked up the map beside her and unfolded it. Her slender finger pointed at a Youkai mark on the map, then gently traced a path.
The final location of this path was the smith's whereabouts.
"If we set out on this route, the Youkai we encounter will gradually increase in strength, and the corresponding rewards will also be more abundant."
Such a deliberate route was like a clear indication to them: follow this path to level up by fighting monsters, and you will get the materials for a demonic blade.
However, such obvious scheming… was truly unsettling.
"…"
Bal fell silent.
This was clearly a route planned by Yakumo Yukari, which was truly unsettling. Yakumo Yukari was simply unfathomable, too mysterious and elusive. In front of Yakumo Yukari, it seemed all her thoughts were easily and directly seen through by that half-smiling expression.
Therefore, she had… a subconscious hesitation.
That Yakumo Yukari must be plotting something, even if it was just subconscious, such a thought would arise.
However, she couldn't understand… what she had that was worth such attention from a great Youkai like Yakumo Yukari.
After all, the difference between them was too vast.
"Anyway… let's eat first!"
Kaede showed a sunny smile to the two silent figures, stood up and went to get bowls. Bal and Kikyo exchanged glances, temporarily putting the matter aside. Whatever Yakumo Yukari wanted to do,
for now… filling their stomachs was more important.
*
*
Late night.
Field after field of cultivated land rustled in the evening breeze, and the chirping of insects rose and fell like music.
Every household had closed its doors, and the fires within were extinguished.
The world seemed so vast and quiet.
Bal stood alone in front of the cultivated fields, her purple hair gently swaying in the wind. She watched the fireflies flitting about, like a goddess isolated from the world.
However, this beautiful scene… no one appreciated.
No, perhaps someone… some Youkai appreciated it.
A rift opened silently in the void, revealing chaotic darkness and countless mocking, sneering blood-red eyes.
Then, Yakumo Yukari's upper body emerged from it. She still held a folding fan to cover the lower half of her face, her eyes holding an inscrutable color.
"...Aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night?" Bal calmly glanced at Yakumo Yukari, then spoke as if joking, "Lack of sleep is a woman's greatest enemy. Even a Youkai Sage… needs to be careful."
"But Youkai… aren't they supposed to sleep during the day?" Yakumo Yukari tilted her head, feigning confusion, "Youkai occupy the night, humans occupy the day. This should be… common knowledge, you know."
"...Is that so."
Bal's cheeks puffed out slightly, then she turned her head to look at the wheat field.
Seeing this, Yakumo Yukari smiled with pleasure. She didn't dislike Bal; although there were many childish aspects, that was quite normal, and to her, it was rather endearing.
"If you don't hurry and ask, that Miko will be coming over soon."
"…" Bal was silent for a moment, then looked at Yakumo Yukari and asked, "Why are you so concerned about me?"
She had come out alone late at night just to meet Yakumo Yukari, to resolve the confusion in her heart.
Fortunately, Yakumo Yukari appeared as expected.
"Hehe… perhaps it's because I am a Youkai Sage?" Yakumo Yukari replied with a smile, extending her folding fan to lift Bal's chin, "I want to see, how far can you go?"
"What do you want to see me… do?"
Bal's expression was a bit regretful. Couldn't she just be more direct? Speaking so ambiguously made her feel like a cat scratching at her heart.
Honestly, it was really annoying.
"Heh… that depends on your choice." Yakumo Yukari withdrew the folding fan from Bal's chin, a hint of unexpected melancholy appearing in her eyes, "Don't worry, I don't mean you harm. I just want your fate to be a little smoother."
With that, she retreated back into the rift.
Bal opened her mouth, watching the rift close. What was the difference between this and saying nothing? Couldn't she be more direct?
This only made her feel even more conflicted.
"Are… are all powerful Youkai riddle-speakers?"
She couldn't help but complain, then turned and left. Although she didn't know Yakumo Yukari's purpose, it seemed Yakumo Yukari had no ill intentions, and currently, she couldn't see anything about herself that was worth exploiting.
In any case… becoming stronger first was the priority.
On the other side.
In the gloomy forest.
Kikyo silently put down her bow and arrow and headed towards her home. Since Yakumo Yukari had already left,
there was no need for her to remain vigilant.