Chapter 15: A Calculated Gamble
In truth, Kikyo's gradually lowering guard toward Kobe Hikaru was not entirely due to the goodwill conveyed by the Naohi within the Shikon Jewel. As a miko, she possessed her own judgment. She was the guardian of this village, a powerful wielder of spiritual energy, the one whom the head of the demon slayer clan had entrusted with the Shikon Jewel, deeming her worthy of continuing his vigil.
She had always been independent, her will her own.
And in her sight, within her spiritual perception, this Oni Samurai named Kobe Hikaru was an anomaly. A deep, unsettling strangeness.
As she had considered before, in her time as the strongest priestess of the Sengoku period, she had faced hundreds, if not thousands, of demons. She had seen the greedy and the tyrannical, the cunning and the hypocritical. No matter the human guise they wore or the honeyed words they whispered, the cloying stench of Yao Qi and spilled blood always clung to them, an obvious stain on their souls.
Demons were demons. Their nature was to devour and to destroy.
But this one…
His Yao Qi was inert, a dead thing, yet his 'will' felt vibrantly, consciously alive. The contradiction was jarring. An Oni Samurai was an existence born from the fusion of a dead soul's resentment and demonic energy; by all logic, only an instinctive, unthinking desire for slaughter should remain.
But Hikaru was not like that. He possessed reason, judgment, and a clear sense of purpose.
More —when he killed other demons, he did so without a shred of hesitation. The sheer efficiency, the utter lack of mercy he showed his own kind, made him seem less like a demon and more like… an exorcist who relied on brutal physical combat.
Kikyo knew the head of the Demon Slayer Village and had, by extension, seen many of their warriors. The look in their eyes as they cut down demons—calm, focused, and chillingly pure—was the exact same look she had just seen in Hikaru's.
This led her to a startling possibility.
Could this Oni Samurai have been a human demon slayer in his life, perhaps one of low-ranking samurai status? And had he, against all odds, retained his human consciousness even after death?
If that were the case…
Kikyo's gaze fell upon the Shikon Jewel resting in Hikaru's palm. The Naohi within it was glowing, pulsing with a soft, warm light. It was the light of approval.
"I'll leave it to you."
Hikaru's voice, low and even, cut through her thoughts. He extended his hand, offering the Shikon Jewel to her with a natural, unhurried movement. There wasn't the slightest hint of reluctance in his posture.
This simple act caught Kikyo off guard. She knew all too well the irresistible temptation the Shikon Jewel held for demons. Even the most powerful, self-proclaimed rational youkai would betray their greed when faced with its power.
But this Oni Samurai… he was just handing it over? As if it were a common stone?
Kikyo reached out, her fingertips brushing against the bead's surface. It was warm and smooth to the touch, and from it flowed a faint, rippling current of spiritual power. The Naohi was communicating with her, a silent message of affirmation.
She closed her hand around the Shikon Jewel, her own spiritual power instinctively rising to suppress the aura it radiated. The bead's glow gradually dimmed, contained within her palm.
"Thank you," she said, her voice quiet. It was the first time she had thanked him that night.
Hikaru seemed to pause for a fraction of a second. Then, the crimson eyes beneath his red oni mask curved into crescents. The effect was surprisingly… comical.
"You're welcome," he replied. "I was heading this way anyway."
'On the way'? Kikyo thought, a flicker of skepticism crossing her mind. She knew the path from the demon slayer village to her own required crossing several mountains. Carrying the Shikon Jewel on such a journey would have been an open invitation to every demon in the region, a gauntlet of relentless attacks. He called that being 'on the way'?
She did not voice her doubt. Instead, she carefully tucked the Shikon Jewel into the folds of her robes before looking back at him.
"Where do you plan to go next?" It was a tentative question. If he said he intended to linger near the village, she would have to refuse. He was still a demon, and the villagers could never accept his presence. But if he said he was leaving, then… what would she do? Kikyo found she wasn't entirely sure. The 'person' before her remained an anomaly, an existence fundamentally different from humans.
"I don't know," Hikaru answered with disarming honesty. "I don't really have a destination. I'm just wandering, looking."
"Looking?" Kikyo tilted her head slightly. "Are you searching for something?"
Hikaru fell silent for a moment, the mask concealing his expression as he considered how to answer. Tell her the truth? That he was hunting for sacred artifacts, famous blades, and powerful barriers to grind their 'favorability'? She would think him a lunatic.
"I suppose I'm looking for a few things," he said vaguely. "Some things that are… very important and useful to me."
Kikyo didn't press him further. Everyone had their secrets; she understood that well enough.
"Then where do you plan to rest tonight?" she asked.
Hikaru gestured with his chin toward the dark woods bordering the village. "Any cave will do."
"An Oni Samurai doesn't need to sleep, does he?"
"No, but I need to recover my demonic power," he stated frankly. "Tonight's consumption was a bit high."
It was the truth. While not weak, Hikaru had only undergone five 'Transformations' and was far from being a high-level demon. His reserves of Yao Qi were limited. After consecutively using Ghost Step and Resonance with Blood, his body was running on fumes. If he encountered another demon tomorrow without replenishing his energy, he would be utterly helpless.
Kikyo studied him, the moonlight spilling over her profile, tracing the elegant lines of her face and making her skin seem as pale and luminous as fine porcelain. For a moment, Hikaru found himself slightly dazed by the stunning sight.
"There are empty rooms in the village," she said.
"What?" Hikaru was certain he had misheard. This priestess… was inviting him into the village?
"I said, there are empty rooms in the village," Kikyo repeated, her tone as calm and steady as ever. "If you don't mind, you can rest there."
This time, Hikaru was genuinely shocked. What kind of development was this? Him, a demon, being invited to spend the night in a human village? How was this logical?
"I am a demon," he felt compelled to remind her.
"I know," Kikyo replied, her composure unwavering. "But you helped this village. The villagers should be grateful to you."
"Will they agree?"
"Here, I have the final say." Kikyo turned, her white kosode and red hakama swaying gently in the night wind. "Follow me."
Hikaru remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
[Shikon Jewel: Naohi Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 4]
[It conveys a message to you: "This priestess's trust in you is rising."]
He stared at the prompt materializing in his vision. So that brief conversation had raised the Shikon Jewel's favorability again? What exactly were this bead's criteria for judgment? He wasn't sure.
But it didn't matter anymore.
The oni-masked samurai lifted his gaze, watching the priestess walk ahead. Her long hair, as black as a waterfall, swayed in the wind. Her white robes cinched around a slender waist, and the red hakama below trailed behind her, the shadows defining curves that were unexpectedly captivating.
No, it didn't matter at all.
To be able to earn 'trust.' To gain the trust of the strongest priestess of the Warring States period. And more than that, to gain the trust of the person who had, against all reason, stirred something within his long-dead heart.
From any perspective, this was a good thing. It was an absolute bargain.
He had bet correctly.
Yes. From the very beginning, Hikaru knew that if he wanted to earn Kikyo's trust, his only real use was the favorability of the Shikon Jewel. His intervention earlier, and this direct contact now—it had all been a gamble.
He had gambled that the Naohi within the Shikon Jewel, influenced by its unlocked favorability, would approve of him. He had gambled that this approval would, in turn, be sensed by Kikyo. He had gambled that she would trust the Naohi's judgment.
He had gambled that he would be allowed to stand here, alive.
Now, it seemed his bet had paid off. The fact that the Naohi could practically speak was beyond his expectations, but the result was good. That was enough.
Hikaru let his hand fall from the hilt of the Muramasa at his waist and took a step forward.
As she walked, the miko's expression was unreadable. She didn't seem to fully comprehend her own choice. She knew she shouldn't have invited a demon into the village… but as she gripped the Shikon Jewel, feeling the pure, benevolent power of the Naohi flowing endlessly from it, she felt her decision was the right one.
The Naohi would not be wrong.
This demon, she thought, was likely worthy of trust.
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