Even though it was the appearance of a monster, for some reason, she found it... quite pleasing.
She wanted to say something.
She wanted to ask him if... he would continue to accompany her in the future.
But the words reached her lips and were swallowed back; it would be too abrupt, and it wasn't like her at all.
Yet—she still wanted to ask.
"Kanbe Hikaru."
She spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"In the future..."
She had only said two words.
"Lady Kikyo—!"
A voice came from the foot of the mountain, interrupting her.
The two turned their heads simultaneously.
On the mountain path, a group of Demon Slayers was rushing up.
Leading them was the burly man, Matoba.
"Lady Kikyo! Lord Kanbe Hikaru!"
He ran up, breathless: "Why are you here?"
"Isn't the ritual duel today? We came to preside as judges—"
He looked left and right, also very confused: "Eh? Where is Lady Tsubaki?"
Kikyo was silent for a moment.
"She left."
"Left?"
The Demon Slayer 'Matoba' was stunned: "The ritual duel is cancelled?"
"It is."
Kikyo's voice returned to its usual coldness: "She conceded."
"Con... conceded?"
Matoba's expression was quite colorful.
That shrine maiden Tsubaki, who looked so arrogant, had actually conceded?
He looked at Kikyo, then at Kanbe Hikaru, finally letting his gaze fall on the latter.
"Does this have something to do with Lord Kobe?"
Kanbe Hikaru raised an eyebrow: "What makes you say that?"
"The commotion last night was heard throughout the village."
Matoba rubbed his hands: "I heard a monster appeared in the back mountain?"
"Not a monster."
Kanbe Hikaru answered briefly: "But it has already been resolved."
"Resolved?"
Matoba blinked.
"So... Lady Tsubaki was actually scared away by the monster?"
He had a sudden thought, clearly misunderstanding something.
But this statement was actually not wrong, though it wasn't by a monster, but by a more 'terrifying' existence.
Kanbe Hikaru glanced at Kikyo.
Kikyo remained expressionless, but her earlobes seemed to turn slightly red again.
"Something like that."
Kanbe Hikaru said.
Although it wasn't quite accurate, he couldn't be bothered to explain.
[shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 55 (Trust)]
[It asks you: Do you know what she wanted to say just now?]
Kanbe Hikaru looked at the prompt on the panel.
Of course he knew.
It had just been interrupted...
"There are many things in the future, and I cannot guarantee that I will never leave."
"But I will never abandon you alone."
He also suddenly spoke up, his voice low.
Such words mixed into the wind, audible only to each other.
Such a voice reached Kikyo's ears, causing the shrine maiden to pause slightly, lifting her eyes to look at the 'demon' beside her.
The youthful figure she saw had a calm expression.
But Kikyo suddenly pursed her lips, unable to suppress the corners of her mouth from curling up.
Yes.
In matters between men and women, whoever speaks first loses.
And this first round, Kanbe Hikaru, conceded.
[shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 56 (Trust)]
Volume One: Chapter Sixty-Four (2/4 Please subscribe) The Journey Home, The Possibility of Achieving Materialization Through Quantitative Change
Afterwards, it was time to say goodbye, a farewell to the people of the Demon Slayer Village.
The Hiraikotsu had been returned, the village chief's ashes had been handed over to the elder, the dispute with Tsubaki had come to an end, and everything that needed to be done was finished.
"Lady Kikyo, take care on your journey!"
Matoba stood at the entrance, waving at them.
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