Soon, the Barrier dissipated, yet not entirely.
That layer of faint white light screen melted away like morning dew, silently blending into the air, but Hikaru could feel that the spiritual power supporting the Barrier was still there; as long as the priestess at the core wished it, it could be restarted and activated again in an instant.
At the same time.
Kikyo walked down the stone steps.
Her steps were steady, her white robe and red hakama swaying gently in the night wind; her face under her jet-black long hair remained cold and beautiful, and her dark eyes were as deep and calm as the night, yet seemed to contain invisible ripples.
Hikaru stood still.
He was waiting.
Waiting for this girl to speak.
Kikyo stopped five paces away from him.
This was a distance where one could just as easily draw a sword as one could notch an arrow.
"What are you?"
Kikyo's voice was calm, without any emotional fluctuation.
But Hikaru could feel the confusion in her heart.
The priestess was truly confused.
Confused by a demon... who helped humans kill other demons?
Regardless, what greeted Hikaru was finally not a Sacred Arrow falling upon him!
"A passing Ghost Samurai."
He replied.
"Passing?"
Kikyo tilted her head slightly, her black hair sliding from her shoulder: "A passing Ghost Samurai would help humans kill his own kind?"
"I am not the same kind as those things."
Hikaru's tone was very serious.
He truly didn't feel like he was the same kind as that group of demons.
Not to mention that demons themselves were of different species and categories, even different 'families'; he couldn't even communicate with those guys, could he?
Kikyo looked at him.
There was no hostility in those cold eyes, but there was no trust either.
Only confusion remained.
"You have the shikon jewel on you."
She spoke as if she had seen through him directly, or perhaps she had guessed it from the sudden appearance of the demons, his sudden intervention, and all his strange behavior during that time.
Hikaru was momentarily stunned.
It seemed that although he hadn't had time to actively reveal the existence of the shikon jewel, nothing could be hidden from her after all.
It made sense; she was, after all, the priestess who guarded the shikon jewel, so this was only normal. She had likely helped him just now because of this.
"That jewel, did you obtain it from the old village head of the Demon Slayer village?"
Kikyo continued to ask.
Her tone was still calm, but Hikaru could feel the vigilance hidden beneath that calm.
If his answer was unsatisfactory, a Sacred Arrow would be aimed at the center of his brow in the next instant—
"My name is Hikaru. This was entrusted to me by that old man before he died."
Hikaru decided to tell the truth.
There was nothing to hide anyway.
"He asked me to deliver the shikon jewel into your hands."
And by the way, let me unlock the favorability of the shikon jewel.
Hikaru thought to himself.
Kikyo fell silent.
Her gaze fell upon Hikaru, as if trying to discern the truth of his words.
"That old gentleman... is dead?"
"Dead."
Hikaru nodded. "His injuries were too severe, and he lost too much blood. He couldn't hold on by the time I rescued him."
Kikyo's brow furrowed slightly.
This was the first time she had shown emotion tonight.
And then.
Kikyo suddenly lowered her eyes.
"I understand."
Her voice was still calm, but Hikaru could sense the weight beneath that calm.
It was just very restrained, so restrained that not a hint of emotion leaked out.
Hikaru knew she must have known that old man.
Perhaps they were even friends.
"In that case..."
Kikyo looked up, her gaze falling on Hikaru again. "Where is the shikon jewel?"
Hikaru did not waste words.
He reached into his robe and took out the bead that emitted a faint purple glow.
He had come here to deliver the jewel in the first place—putting that aside for a moment, judging from various actions, handing over the jewel would also benefit him.
At the very least, following the jewel's wishes should increase its favorability!
Moreover, he felt that after unlocking the favorability, a mental link seemed to have formed between him and this jewel. Even if he handed it over, it would still count as being in his possession, so he felt no reluctance.
The shikon jewel lay in his palm, its light soft and mysterious.
Kikyo's gaze fell upon the bead.
She did not reach out to take it.
Hikaru noticed this detail.
"What? Don't you plan to take it?"
"..."
Kikyo did not answer; she just stared at the bead.
This surprised Hikaru somewhat.
"Strange."
Soon, Kikyo finally spoke.
"What's strange?"
"The shikon jewel."
She said, "Its naohi... is conveying a message to me."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
The naohi can talk?
Although the system panel had shown that the shikon jewel would "convey information."
He just hadn't expected that Kikyo could also receive this kind of information.
"What is it saying?"
"It says..."
Kikyo's brow furrowed even tighter. "It says that you can be trusted."
"..."
Hikaru was stunned.
The shikon jewel is putting in a good word for him?
Is this the benefit of handing it over that the shikon jewel mentioned?
If he really followed the information given by the shikon jewel... Hikaru couldn't help but feel moved.
Regardless, the priestess before him, even if she hadn't reached her strongest state, was still incredibly powerful.
[shikon no tama: naohi is conveying a message to you: 'This priestess is very vigilant. I found an opportunity to say a few good words for you. No need to thank me.']
Looking at the prompt on the panel, Hikaru didn't know what to say for a moment.
This bead... how can it take the initiative to help someone?
And it's already so proactive with just 1 point of favorability?
"Two types of power, good and evil, are sealed within the shikon jewel."
As if sensing Hikaru's confusion, Kikyo spoke to explain. She clearly didn't know that Hikaru's understanding of the shikon jewel was, to some extent, not inferior to hers. Her voice carried a hint of contemplation:
"naohi represents good thoughts, while Magatsuhi represents evil thoughts."
"If the possessor's heart leans toward evil, Magatsuhi will take dominance, and the shikon jewel will become an evil tool that amplifies demonic power."
"But if the possessor's heart leans toward good thoughts..."
She looked up at Hikaru.
"naohi will actively transmit information to the guardian to confirm the possessor's goodwill."
Hikaru understood.
As mentioned before, the shikon jewel was like a mirror that could reflect the true face of the possessor's heart.
And now naohi was conveying to Kikyo the message that he could be trusted.
This meant that the shikon jewel acknowledged his "good thoughts."
Even though he was a demon.
Even though he had been feeding the blade for three months.
The shikon jewel still considered him a "good person."
All because of that one point of 'favorability.'
"So..."
Hikaru looked at Kikyo and asked, "You believe me now?"
Kikyo did not answer immediately.
She just looked at him quietly, her cool eyes still showing little emotional fluctuation.
The night wind blew, lifting her black hair.
The shrine's Torii cast a long shadow under the moonlight.
The surrounding villagers had begun to emerge from the shrine, watching the situation from a distance.
Their eyes held fear, curiosity, and a hint of gratitude.
After all, Hikaru had just helped them repel the demons.
Even though he was a demon himself.
"From all records, naohi's judgment has never been seen to be wrong."
Kikyo finally spoke. "Since it says you can be trusted..."
She took a step forward.
That slender, white hand finally reached for the shikon jewel in Hikaru's palm.
"Then I shall believe you."
[shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 3 (Sprouting)]
[It conveys a message to you: 'It's done.']
Hikaru looked at the prompt on the panel and the message that felt almost like a middleman's work. The corners of his mouth beneath the Red Oni Mask moved slightly.
This bead...
Why does it feel so human?
In comparison, that broken blade muramasa is simply unbearable to look at!