He said: "Besides, my face won't scare you anyway."
Kikyo did not reply; she simply turned around and walked toward the Shrine Hall.
"Follow me."
Hikaru followed.
The doors of the Shrine Hall were open, and the interior was simply furnished.
In the center was a shrine altar, dedicated to an unknown deity.
In front of the altar was a low table with an incense burner, a candlestick, and several empty plates.
On both sides were sliding doors, which likely led to the inner sanctum.
Kikyo walked to the altar and knelt on a meditation cushion.
She didn't invite Hikaru to sit, but instead took some items from a nearby cabinet.
Incense sticks.
A candle.
And—a dish of rice.
A dish of pickles.
A bowl of clear water.
Hikaru watched as she placed these items one by one on the low table in front of the altar, her movements proficient, as if she had done it countless times.
Then she lit the incense, pressed her hands together, and chanted in a low voice.
It was some kind of prayer incantation; Hikaru didn't quite understand it, but he could feel the spiritual power fluctuations contained within it.
After finishing all this, Kikyo stood up and turned to look at Hikaru.
"This is for you."
Hikaru was stunned.
For me?
He looked at the dish of rice, the dish of pickles, the bowl of clear water, and the curling incense smoke.
This setup...
"Is this an offering?"
He asked.
Kikyo nodded.
Hikaru fell silent.
He had transmigrated three months ago, and although he had spent most of his time in the wilderness killing demons, he still understood some of the customs of this era.
Offerings were humanity's expression of awe and supplication toward gods and demons.
By offering food and incense, they sought to appease the gods and demons, praying for protection.
And for a demon, an offering was actually a source of power.
Incense was the embodiment of human faith.
When humans offered sacrifices to gods and demons with a pious heart, that piety would convert into a special kind of energy.
For a demon, this energy was like food to humans.
It could replenish demonic power and heal wounds.
Therefore, some demons would pretend to be gods to trick people into giving offerings, and some demons would even go so far as to truly protect human settlements and safeguard the commoners for the sake of these offerings.
"Are you giving an offering to me?"
Hikaru confirmed.
"Yes."
Kikyo's tone was calm.
"You helped this village, this is my thanks."
"..." Hikaru didn't know what to say.
A shrine maiden, offering incense to a yōkai?
The scene looked bizarre no matter how he viewed it.
But he could truly feel the warm power contained within the curling wisps of incense smoke.
That power was slowly flowing into his body, replenishing the Demonic Qi he had consumed during the battle.
It felt comfortable.
It was just like soaking in a hot spring.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow; it was his first time experiencing the benefits of incense offerings.
If he had known earlier, he should have found a village to blend into and sponge off their offerings every day.
Of course, that was just a thought.
Compared to relying on external forces, having the 'Affection System' on him... well, that was actually an external force too, the pot calling the kettle black.
But it was always more stable!
However, for the moment, Hikaru wouldn't refuse it either.
"Thanks," Hikaru said to Kikyo.
Kikyo shook her head. "I am the one who should be saying thanks."
She took the shikon jewel out from her sleeve, its pale purple light swirling in her palm.
"This bead was originally supposed to be handed to me by that old man himself."
"But he didn't make it here alive."
"If it weren't for you..."
She didn't finish her sentence.
But Hikaru understood what she meant.
If he hadn't picked up the shikon jewel along the way, the bead would probably have already fallen into the hands of a yōkai.
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Don't say that."
Hikaru waved his hand. "I'm not a good person either—I'm not even human."
He cracked a small joke, but Kikyo had no reaction to it.
Hikaru felt awkward and gave a light cough, then continued.
"Anyway, I've already said it; saving that old man was just something I did while I was at it, and delivering the shikon jewel was on my way too."
"You don't need to take it to heart."
Kikyo looked at him.
A flash of light seemed to pass through her cold, clear eyes.
But it was only for an instant.
Soon, her expression returned to calmness.
"Regardless, you helped me, and you helped this village."
She said, "I will remember this favor."
Hikaru opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But after thinking about it, he didn't say it, just smiled.
It was a smile that was slightly stiff but devoid of any concealment.
It was clean, frank, and without any pretense.
It formed a strange contrast with his inverted black-and-white eyes, pale skin, and his identity as a yōkai.
Kikyo looked at this smile and was slightly stunned.
She had seen countless yōkai.
But she had never seen a yōkai that could smile so...
Human-like.
It was even more human than most people of this era, who spent their lives facing the dirt and turning their backs to the sky, living only to survive.
[shikon no tama: naohi: Affection + 1]
[Current Affection: 5]
[It conveyed a message to you:'She saw the way you looked when you smiled.']
So, this shikon jewel is also a superficial person like Kaede, huh?
Hikaru really hadn't expected that.
If he had known, he would have taken off his mask long ago!