Just one.
He turned and glanced at Kikyo.
The shrine maiden's expression remained calm, but Kanbe Hikaru felt that the tips of her ears seemed slightly red, clearly having thought of something.
"Let's go in."
Kikyo stepped inside first, her figure in white robes and red hakama disappearing behind the door.
Kanbe Hikaru followed her in.
The furnishings in the room were as simple as most rooms in this era.
One tatami mat, an oil lamp, and a low table; it was only slightly better than the village occupied by the toad.
At least it didn't stink.
But the problem was, there was only one tatami mat.
And it wasn't big.
Kanbe Hikaru looked at the tatami mat, then at Kikyo.
The shrine maiden was already sitting by the low table, beginning to adjust her bowstring.
Her movements were very natural, as if she hadn't noticed the fact that there was only one bed in the room.
"Um..."
Kanbe Hikaru spoke up.
"Hm?" Kikyo did not look up.
"There's only one bed."
"I know."
"Then..."
"You are a shikigami."
Kikyo's voice was very calm. "Shikigami do not need to sleep."
"..."
Kanbe Hikaru fell silent.
Why was this excuse different from before?
He had gotten his hopes up for nothing!
Kanbe Hikaru thought, but he did not refute it.
After all, this reason was quite sufficient; he was an Oni Samurai, and he truly did not need to sleep.
And—
He looked at the tatami mat.
He remembered the scene from last night in that dilapidated hut, where the two of them slept back-to-back.
And the warm weight in his arms when he woke up this morning.
Kikyo probably didn't want to 'make a fool of herself' again, right?
"What is it?"
Kikyo's voice came. "If you need to rest, I can give it to you; I will keep watch."
That would be pointless.
Kanbe Hikaru muttered to himself, shaking his head.
"No."
He walked to the wall and sat down, leaning against a pillar. "You're the boss; you make the call."
Kikyo nodded slightly, stood up, and walked outside toward the courtyard.
"I'm going to wash up."
Watching the shrine maiden's red-and-white figure disappear outside the door, Kanbe Hikaru withdrew his gaze, focused his mind, and immediately took out the red comb from his robes.
The true form of Yura of the Hair.
Since he had to stay here for three days, he had to find something to do.
[Demon Artifact: Comb of Yura of the Hair]
[Current Favorability: -28 (Fear, Resentment)]
[It is playing dead, hoping you will forget its existence.]
"Stop pretending."
Kanbe Hikaru tapped the back of the comb. "I know you're awake."
The comb did not react.
"If you keep pretending, I'll soak you in hot water."
"Don't—!"
The tiny skull on the comb finally spoke.
Compared to other truly inanimate objects, this artifact that had become a demon was convenient; even without the system, it could converse directly.
"What exactly do you want!"
"Nothing much, I just want to chat with you."
"Chat about what?"
Yura of the Hair's voice was full of vigilance.
"For example, what kind of maintenance do you like?"
"...What?"
"Maintenance. You're a comb, after all, you must need maintenance, right?"
"..."
Silence.
"Is oil better, or wax? Your material is mulberry wood, it probably isn't suitable for oiling..."
"Are you sick in the head!"
Yura of the Hair was very depressed.
Kanbe Hikaru didn't mind. "I just want to take good care of you."
"Take care of me? You captured me as a prisoner, and you say you want to take care of me?"
"Prisoner?"
Kanbe Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"I prefer to call you... a partner."
"Who wants to partner with you!"
[Demon Artifact: Comb of Yura of the Hair]
[Favorability +2]
[Current Favorability: -26 (Doubtful, Vigilant)]
Although she said no, her favorability still went up.
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