Kikyo asked, feigning ignorance, her bow still not lowered.
"I said, I concede!"
Tsubaki's voice grew louder. "The Shikon Jewel is yours."
"No ritual duel is needed. Consider my earlier words unsaid!"
"I'm leaving!"
After saying this, she turned to leave.
But after two steps, she stopped.
She looked back at Kanbe Hikaru, her eyes still holding a trace of unwillingness.
But more than that was fear—fear of Kikyo.
"That shikigami..."
She started, seemingly wanting to leave with a parting threat.
"Hmm?"
Kikyo's bowstring twanged.
Tsubaki immediately shut her mouth.
"It's nothing."
Biting her lip, she left quickly.
The figure in white robes and red hakama disappeared into the morning light, leaving only a low murmur behind.
"It seems... it's time to return to the'sect' for a visit..."
Clearly, the miko named Tsubaki had not given up.
She could give up the Shikon Jewel, as she never had much desire for it in the first place; it was merely her Unconvinced towards Kikyo.
But regarding that Oni Samurai covered in Bone Spikes—
As a miko of the Tahoto, skilled in shikigami arts, she truly, *truly* wanted such a powerful'shikigami'!
Regarding this, Kanbe Hikaru felt a bit regretful.
Why hadn't that person lost their temper and attacked?
It proved that entrapment doesn't succeed every time.
...
Afterwards, confirming Tsubaki was gone, Kikyo slowly put away her bow.
Her expression remained calm.
But Kanbe Hikaru always felt that beneath that calmness hid a hint of... smugness?
No, it should be called satisfaction.
"Let's go."
Kikyo spoke.
"Where to?"
"Back to the village, to bid farewell to the Demon Slayers—the matter is settled. It's time to leave."
She started walking forward.
After a few steps, she noticed Kanbe Hikaru wasn't following.
She stopped and looked back at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Kanbe Hikaru caught up. "Just thought the scene earlier was quite amusing."
"Amusing how?"
"The strongest miko, to protect her shikigami, didn't hesitate to turn against a fellow practitioner."
"If this story spreads, it would surely be quite sensational."
Kikyo's footsteps faltered for a moment.
She didn't turn around.
But Kanbe Hikaru could see the tips of her ears... were slightly flushed.
"Nonsense."
She said, "I was merely upholding order. Her desire to take what belongs to another was wrong from the start."
Kanbe Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"And if what she wanted to take wasn't me, but something else?"
"For example, a sword?"
"A rock?"
"A tree?"
Kikyo remained silent and began to walk faster.
Her back was straight.
Her black hair fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
[shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +2]
[Current Favorability: 54 (Trust)]
[It conveyed a message to you: "She will not admit it."]
["But you should understand."]
Kanbe Hikaru looked at the prompt on the panel.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Of course he understood.
It's just—
Understanding is one thing, but saying it out loud would spoil the fun.
Some things are better left unsaid.
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