Kikyo drew her bow, aiming at a one-horned snake demon that was closing in.
Her movements were standard, perfect.
But her heart... was actually not calm.
This was a feeling she had never experienced before.
As the priestess guarding this village, she was used to fighting alone.
Facing demons alone.
Bearing everything alone.
No one could help her, and no one was qualified to stand by her side.
Because she was the strongest.
And she had to be the strongest.
The village chief of the Demon Slayer village had said that she was the only one who could suppress the shikon jewel.
The only one.
This word meant loneliness; it meant no one could stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
But now—
"The carapace of that centipede on the left has a crack; shoot and shatter it!"
Hikaru's voice came through.
Kikyo did not hesitate; the arrow was released in response.
It hit the crack perfectly.
The Centipede Spirit shrieked and rolled on the ground.
"Thanks."
Hikaru rushed up to deliver the finishing blow.
A single strike decapitated it, clean and efficient.
Kikyo watched that gray shadow weaving through the demon horde, the blade flashing, taking a life with every strike.
His movements were smooth.
Not the kind of rounded perfection from years of cultivation, but... instinct.
Like the instinct of a beast.
But with a bit more reason than a beast.
He knew when to advance and when to retreat.
He knew when to meet force with force, and when to use leverage to strike.
More importantly—
He knew where her targets were.
He never blocked her arrows.
He would even actively drive the demons to positions where she could easily hit them.
This kind of rapport...
Kikyo had never experienced it before.
Every arrow she shot had someone coordinating with her.
Behind her back, there was an existence she could rely on.
This feeling... was very unfamiliar.
But it really wasn't unpleasant.
"Sister—!"
Kaede's voice came from afar.
Kikyo frowned slightly.
That Barrier should have been soundproof; how could Kaede have woken up?
No,
This is...
"It's an illusion!"
Kikyo reacted instantly and was not bewitched.
Hikaru's voice also pulled her attention back at the same time.
As he spoke, his blade swept horizontally, forcing back the two demons in front of him.
Then he turned around and slashed a wave of Demonic Qi toward the direction the voice had come from.
The black energy tore through the air and drilled deep into the forest.
"Hiss—!"
A sharp shriek rang out.
That "voice of Kaede" came to an abrupt end, and in its place, a three-tailed fox covered in grayish-white fur was stumbling as it fled from behind a tree.
Illusion Fox.
A type of mid-level demon that specialized in using illusions to confuse prey, skilled at mimicking human voices.
It had clearly been trying to use Kaede's voice to lure Hikaru away, creating an opportunity for other demons to sneak attack Kikyo.
"Cheap trick."
Hikaru snorted coldly.
He did not pursue the fleeing fox, because—
"Bang!"
A Sacred Arrow flew past from behind him, accurately piercing the spine of that Illusion Fox.
The fox shrieked and collapsed to the ground, never to rise again.
Hikaru turned his head to look.
Kikyo still maintained her bow-drawing stance, her gaze calm.
The next moment, he had already returned to Kikyo's side.
The entire process took less than ten breaths.
"Done."
He said.
Kikyo looked at him without speaking.
But her hand, the one gripping the bow, relaxed slightly.
Not out of laxity.
It was... peace of mind.
So this is what it feels like to have someone by your side.
So this is what is known as a comrade-in-arms.
[ shikon no tama: naohi: Affinity + 1 ]
[ Current Affinity: 9 ]
[ It conveyed a message to you: "She is getting used to your presence." ]
Hikaru glanced at the panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Continue."
He said.
"There are seventeen left."
Kikyo nodded.
The bowstring was pulled taut once more.
The night was still long.
But she was no longer alone.
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