Chapter 507. Repaying Kindness with Enmity
「—Bam.」
「The pathetic display of falling into desire fully revealed the painter's true nature.」
「At this moment, Shirogane Miyuki did not regret saving a life, but he could not tolerate such an ugly person continuing to wallow in depravity. Thus, he threw a punch without mercy.」
「With a loud thud, the painter—struck in the face—staggered back. He was forced out of his state of sexual delusion and could not help but glare at Shirogane Miyuki with fury.」
「"You idiot!" Shirogane Miyuki scolded him directly. "Putting aside whether you're just lusting after the princess's body or truly like her, if you really want to marry her, what you should be doing is properly getting your own mind and body in order."」
「"Displaying such a pathetic state and salivating here... looking like this, who could you possibly marry? You're dreaming!"」
「"What did you say!?"」
「The painter was enraged. "You dare look down on me? You dare bully me? It's fine if the noble generals bully me, but someone like you dares to bully me too? I'll kill you, aaaggghh!!"」
「Having the fact that the princess looked down on him pointed out caused his rage to eclipse everything else; the painter felt not a shred of respect or gratitude toward his savior.」
「He even repaid kindness with enmity, pulling out his picture scroll and flicking his hand. The demons and yakshas painted on the scroll suddenly turned from illusion to reality, surging forward to slay Shirogane Miyuki.」
「Shirogane Miyuki was greatly shocked and quickly rolled away.」
「He hadn't expected a destitute painter—who hadn't dared to resist mere ordinary guards and allowed himself to be trampled—to possess such a skill. Even more, he hadn't expected the man to be so utterly devoid of conscience that he would try to murder his benefactor over a single sentence.」
「Though there were many villains in this Warring States period, the first person he had met in this world was the angel-like Kikyo, followed by the villagers who had consciences and could change, and the simple, kind-hearted Jinenji.」
「On the way to track down Kagome, he had avoided involvement with people to save time, so he had no prior experience with this. Now was the first time he vividly felt the malice of this era firsthand. This undoubtedly left Shirogane Miyuki incredibly angry and disappointed.」
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"So this is the consequence of meddling in others' business..."
With Beatrice and Shaula sitting in his arms—both competing for attention and sulking with each other—Hikigaya Hachiman's focus was entirely on Shirogane Miyuki.
Even in Emilia's world, he often meddled and showed kindness, improving the lives of many commoners and liberating many slaves. But that was built on the premise that he had already laid the groundwork and had power as a backer; thus, even if there was a tidal wave of malice, Hikigaya Hachiman could take it calmly and without a ripple.
But Shirogane Miyuki did not have that. Currently in the Warring States world, he was merely the leader of a tiny village. The consequence of meddling was very likely to be his own downfall.
"What a kind-hearted idiot... but I like this kind of idiot, Shirogane Miyuki."
Muttering softly, Hikigaya Hachiman gave his full praise. He could feel that Shirogane Miyuki was, like Julius, a "real thing" who made him want to strike up a friendship and share his heart. At this moment, he sincerely hoped for Shirogane Miyuki's counterattack or for some savior to help; he did not want to see the fall of a kind-hearted fool.
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「They've appeared!」
「Just as Shirogane Miyuki, who was rolling continuously, was about to run out of room to dodge and was starting to get cut, a blade of energy tore through the air accompanied by a spirited shout.」
「With just one strike, it slashed through the ink-formed monsters and demons!」
「"Heh, I was wondering why those corpses nearby smelled of ink. Looks like this was your handiwork, you bastard!"」
「A man with short silver-white hair, two dog ears, wearing a red Fire Rat Robe and carrying a massive sword, leaped through the air. He arrived in an instant, standing in front of Shirogane Miyuki and protectively shielding him.」
「"Those wandering samurai? They deserved it! Who told them to look down on me! Do you want to look down on me too? Then die, you demon!"」
「The painter had verged on madness, his soul consumed by rage and desire. He quickly splashed out more ink, forming an army of painted demons that blotted out the sky—a number that even Inuyasha found troublesome.」
「Inuyasha grit his teeth. Before the battle began, he urged Shirogane Miyuki to run to a safe place. "Tch, a guy like this, even with Tessaiga, dealing with them is... Hey, get far away!"」
「There was no response; Shirogane Miyuki did not move.」
「In this instant, his heart had soared beyond the heavens, suddenly struck through. Following extreme malice, the sudden appearance of unreasoned kindness was like a bolt of light smashing through the darkness, capturing him. For a moment, the feeling was even deeper than what Kikyo had brought.」
「Because Inuyasha was a "straight ball"—he was heat, he was fire, he was straightforwardly spoken care. Kikyo only expressed herself through actions; the former hit Shirogane Miyuki harder.」
「"Inuyasha! ...Eh? Eeeeehh!?"」
「An arrow came from the west. Magnificent spiritual power, like a great sun, was attached to the arrow, helping Inuyasha exorcise the enemies.」
「Kagome had just arrived and cried out in surprise. Her shout drew Shirogane Miyuki's attention; the two looked at each other, both seeing the modern clothes on the other's body.」
「However, this was an urgent battlefield with no time to clear up each other's confusion.」
「"Sir, please come over here! Kirara will protect you!"」
「...Shirogane Miyuki also snapped back to his senses at this moment. He followed Monk Miroku's invitation and hid beside Kirara.」
「Kirara was the size of an ordinary cat at normal times, a two-tailed nekomata. In battle, it reverted to its demon form—a powerful combatant large enough to carry two or three people on its back and capable of flight.」
「The painter's ink seemed infinite. Even after being scattered, the monsters would quickly reform, making them difficult to completely eliminate.」
「Inuyasha swung his massive sword, Tessaiga; the monsters died upon contact. The demon slayer Sango threw her boomerang-like weapon named Hiraikotsu.」
「Monk Miroku extended his right hand. There was a hole in the center of his palm; once opened, a powerful suction appeared, sucking a large number of monsters inside like a black hole.」
「Every arrow Kagome fired carried a brilliant light; that was the manifestation of overly potent spiritual power.」
「Kirara's strength was not lacking in the slightest.」
「Shirogane Miyuki watched as this group used their various methods, like gods descending to earth, crushing the ink demons that had previously overwhelmed him.」
「"Inuyasha, he has a Shikon Jewel fragment on him!"」
「Kagome saw through to the location of the fragment. The battle ended as the fragment was taken from the painter.」
「The painter himself had no superpowers at all; the only reason he possessed such ability was entirely due to the gift of the Shikon Jewel fragment.」
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