A two-hundred-year-old tree might already have a trace of spirituality.
If he could max out the favorability, maybe he could obtain some special ability?
For instance... controlling trees?
Or... photosynthesis?
Forget it, the latter was useless.
If it were the former, he could try to integrate it and make it his Six Transformations—but the probability was actually not high.
Unless it was some kind of 'divine tree.'
This was a rule Hikaru had summarized long ago: the more extraordinary the object, the stronger the 'talent' it could provide.
Ordinary ones basically had little effect, better than nothing.
Otherwise, he wouldn't still be at 'Five Transformations' until now—because choosing useful ones was actually not an easy thing.
"The weather is nice today, the sun is very warm."
Hikaru continued to speak to the tree, his tone calm.
"Your leaves are growing very lushly, you look in good condition."
"It rained a little yesterday, you must be full, right?"
[ old locust tree: Favorability +1 ]
[ Current favorability: 4 ]
It went up.
Hikaru nodded with satisfaction and turned to walk toward the next target.
...
On the stone steps of the Shrine Hall.
Kikyo stood under the torii gate, watching the gray figure in the distance.
She saw Hikaru walk to the old locust tree and talk to the trunk for quite a while.
Then he walked to a large rock and continued talking.
Then a water well.
An abandoned thatched cottage.
A hoe someone had left on the side of the road.
At every single thing, he would stop and earnestly say a few words.
Sometimes it was a greeting.
Sometimes it was small talk.
Sometimes even... thanks?
"You've been guarding this place for so many years, thank you for your hard work."
She heard him say that to the large rock.
"..."
Kikyo didn't know what expression to use.
This yokai, is there something wrong with his brain?
Talking to a stone, can the stone understand?
But she had to admit that when Hikaru was doing these things, his expression was very calm.
One could even say it was... gentle.
There was no perfunctoriness, nor was there any pretense.
It was as if he were truly communicating with those things.
It was as if those things could truly understand his words.
Very... inconceivable.
In this world, are there still yokai like this, who do not crave killing or blood, and who cherish all things?
It is also true; he is more human than most people in this world.
"Sister, what are you looking at?"
Kaede's voice came from behind her.
Kikyo withdrew her gaze and did not answer.
But Kaede had already followed her line of sight and looked over.
"Ah, it's the handsome big brother!"
The little girl's eyes lit up: "What is he doing? Is he talking to a hoe?"
"..."
Kikyo still did not speak.
"So strange."
Kaede tilted her head: "Is the big brother silly?"
"No."
Kikyo finally spoke.
"He is just..."
She paused, seemingly searching for a suitable word.
In the end, as if giving up, she said: "He is just a bit strange."
"Strange?"
"Mm."
Kikyo looked at the figure in the distance nodding at a hoe, and the corners of her mouth moved slightly.
"A strange yokai."
But... she didn't dislike him.
She added in her heart.
Perhaps it was because of this that he could gain the goodwill of the shikon no tama: naohi, right?
The young shrine maiden in white clothes and red hakama immediately withdrew her gaze and silently gripped the shikon jewel she carried with her.
naohi, Magatsuhi.
Three more days.
That is, the night of the full moon, when the Yin energy overflows.
...
Evening.
Hikaru returned to the guest room.
He glanced at the system panel; today's gains were not bad.
[old locust tree: Favorability 4]
[Large stone: Favorability 2]
[Well: Favorability 3]
[Abandoned hut: Favorability 1]
[Hoe: Favorability 1]
[shikon no tama: naohi: Current Favorability 6 (Sprouting)]
Not bad.
Just as Hikaru was about to lie down and rest, the system panel suddenly popped up a new notification.
[shikon no tama: naohi has conveyed a message to you.]
["Three days later, when the moon is full in the sky, Magatsuhi will reach its peak."]
["At that time, the evil power and Demonic Qi will erupt, attracting all yokai within a radius of hundreds of miles."]
["The god-chosen shrine maiden will perform the sealing alone."]
["She has no intention of telling anyone."]
Hikaru looked at this notification, and his brows furrowed.
Perform the sealing alone?
Yokai within a hundred miles will all be attracted over?
By herself?
He stood up and walked to the window.
Through the cracks in the wooden window, he could see the direction of the shrine.
The vermilion torii gate cast a long shadow in the setting sun.
That figure in white clothes and red hakama stood in front of the Shrine Hall, with her back to him.
Very straight, very resilient.
Cold as the moon, straight and resilient, yet like a winter plum.
Yet also seeming very lonely, blooming all by herself.
Hikaru watched for a while and did not speak.
He did not go to ask Kikyo what the message conveyed by naohi meant, because it was unexplainable, and also because—
Since she did not want to say, then he would not ask.
Anyway, in three days—
He would still be here.