The demoness walked toward the outskirts of the city.
Behind her was the chaotic warehouse and several corpses drained of their blood.
Kanbe Hikaru.
From today on, this name would spread throughout this region.
As the murderer who killed the lord.
As a demon who dared to take action against human nobility.
And also as—
The prey of a certain demoness.
...
Outside the city.
On the mountain path heading north.
Kanbe Hikaru sneezed.
"Are you catching a cold?"
Nurarihyon, who was walking in front, turned his head to look at him, his eyes filled with a bit of confusion: "Do Oni Samurai catch colds too?"
"I don't know."
Kanbe Hikaru rubbed his nose, his expression calm: "Maybe someone is talking about me."
"That certainly won't be anything good."
Rihan shrugged.
"You left your name there, so just wait for the trouble to come knocking."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Kanbe Hikaru patted the Hiraikotsu on his back.
This thing is really heavy.
It's truly made from demon bones; just carrying it, one can feel the fierce Demonic Qi within.
However, the favorability system had already reacted.
[Hiraikotsu]
[Quality: Demon Weapon]
[Current Favorability: 0 (Stranger)]
[It was sleeping and is very annoyed at being woken up by you, and it thinks the smell of Oni on you is too strong.]
Seems like it has a bad temper.
Kanbe Hikaru wasn't in a rush either.
Anyway, the favorability had already been unlocked.
The road is long; I'll slowly wear it down.
Kikyo walked in the front, remaining silent the whole time.
But her steps were light and quick.
As if she had laid down the final burden in her heart.
"By the way."
Kanbe Hikaru suddenly spoke.
"How do you maintain this Hiraikotsu?"
Kikyo turned her head and glanced at him.
"Why are you asking about this?"
"It has to be returned to the Demon Slayer village. Before sending it back, I have to clean it up a bit."
Kanbe Hikaru said, sounding perfectly justified.
"...Just wipe it down with clean water."
Kikyo said, "It was forged from the bones of a demon. It doesn't need oiling or maintenance; in fact, it should be kept away from human grease."
"What about demon grease?"
"...That probably won't work either."
Kikyo's tone was somewhat hesitant.
Kanbe Hikaru nodded.
Wipe with clean water.
That was simple enough.
He glanced at the giant boomerang on his back, his mind already calculating how to increase its affinity.
Conversation?
He didn't know if this thing could understand human speech.
Companionship?
That was doable. In any case, they still had several days of travel ahead.
Feeding?
Feed it what?
Clean water?
"What are you thinking about?"
Kikyo's voice interrupted his train of thought.
"I was thinking about how to take care of this big guy."
Kanbe Hikaru answered honestly.
Kikyo looked at the Hiraikotsu on his back, then at his expression.
"...Are you always this attentive to weapons?"
"I'm used to it."
Kanbe Hikaru said dismissively.
"A weapon is a samurai's second life. If you treat them well, they'll treat you well in critical moments."
Kikyo fell silent.
She thought of the demon blade Muramasa that Kanbe Hikaru was always using and which was currently hanging at his waist.
In Kanbe Hikaru's hands, that demon blade truly unleashed power far exceeding its original quality.
Perhaps...
...this is the reason?
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