The mountain path wound ahead, and the three of them had been walking for about half an hour.
Yes, three 'people'—not just Kanbe Hikaru and Kikyo, but even Nurarihyon, who had specifically come to watch the show, hadn't left.
The hills on both sides rolled and undulated; they weren't particularly tall, but they fragmented the otherwise flat plain, causing the midday sun to scatter into mottled, broken patches.
The shadows of the trees on both sides swayed and danced.
On the road in the middle.
Kanbe Hikaru looked back in the direction they had come from.
There were no pursuers, no shouts of battle.
There wasn't even a trace of dust.
It seemed those samurai in the city were truly scared out of their wits.
"Rest assured."
Nurarihyon's voice came from ahead, "Those remaining wretches in that city wouldn't dare chase us out, even if you gave them ten times the courage."
"You're that sure?"
"I've been knocking around this era for a few years now; I can see through anyone's character at a glance."
Nurarihyon shrugged, his golden hair particularly striking in the sunlight. "That pack of private soldiers Suda Shigenobu raised might be fine for bullying commoners, but when they run into something tough, they run faster than rabbits."
"Besides, their master is dead. They're probably busy looting the storehouse right now—who has the time to chase after you?"
Kanbe Hikaru didn't respond.
He watched the figure walking swaying ahead, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Kikyo also turned her head and glanced at Nurarihyon.
Her expression was calm, but Kanbe Hikaru could sense that she was also wary of something.
"Come to think of it."
Kanbe Hikaru finally spoke.
"You've been following us for a day and a night."
"You were watching the show when we killed the toad, you were watching when we entered the city, and now that we've left, you're still following us."
"Your goal probably isn't as simple as just watching a show, is it?"
"What exactly do you want?"
Nurarihyon stopped walking.
He turned around, a hint of a smile on his young face.
His golden slit pupils shimmered in the sunlight.
"So I've been found out."
He didn't feel the slightest bit of embarrassment at being exposed; instead, he seemed to take it for granted. "I thought I'd be able to watch the show for a few more days."
"Speak."
Kanbe Hikaru's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his gaze unfriendly. "What is your real purpose?"
He wouldn't lower his guard just because the other party was a so-called character from the original story he knew.
Being a demon himself, he also knew that neither of them was a 'good sort.'
Seeing Kanbe Hikaru's reaction.
Kikyo, without the slightest hesitation, drew her bowstring!
Thus, the relaxed expression on Nurarihyon's face stiffened slightly, and he gave a dry laugh.
He put away his playfulness and gave a soft cough.
"Kanbe Hikaru, right?"
He asked.
"I've never heard of an Oni Samurai like you before, but I can feel that you haven't been a demon for very long—at least, not more than a year."
"But in just one year, you've already approached the level of a high-ranking demon, and the purity of this Demonic Qi and oni energy is ridiculously high."
"So, my goal is actually quite simple—I have taken a liking to your potential, Kanbe Hikaru!"
"Join my ranks!"
Nurarihyon said it very directly.
"What?"
Kanbe Hikaru was stunned, not reacting for a moment.
"I said, I want to recruit you."
Nurarihyon puffed out a ring of smoke, which dissipated in the air, forming a blurry circle.
"I am officially inviting you here to join my ranks, to join my 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.'"
The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
A collective demon movement centered around a powerful demon.
Some are spontaneous, gathered by the attraction of a powerful Demonic Qi.
Others are organized in advance, belonging to a group from the start.
What Nurarihyon was referring to was, without a doubt, the latter.
But.
Kanbe Hikaru looked at Nurarihyon.
And then looked behind Nurarihyon—at the empty space where 'no one' was.
"Your Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?"
There was obvious doubt in Kanbe Hikaru's tone.
"Yes."
Nurarihyon nodded, looking as if it were only natural.
"Night... Parade... of... One... Hundred... Demons... Clan..."
Kanbe Hikaru confirmed again.
"Yes."
Nurarihyon still looked perfectly justified.
Kanbe Hikaru was silent for two seconds.
Then he pointed to the empty mountain path behind Nurarihyon: "Just you?"
"...For now."
Nurarihyon coughed, though not the least bit embarrassed: "But there will be many in the future!"
He added.
"My goal is to gather all the powerful demons in the world and build a true Night Parade of One Hundred Demons!"
"By then, all the monsters and spirits will be in my hands, and all the demons in the world will obey my commands!"
"I will be the strongest and greatest Lord of Monsters and Spirits in this world!"
He spoke with great passion, his golden hair fluttering in the wind.
But Kanbe Hikaru only found it somewhat amusing.
Lord of Monsters and Spirits?
He naturally knew that this guy would become a famous figure in the future.
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