[The Consciousness Realm]
Su Han stayed with Makoto until her spirit grew tired. Through their conversation, he learned exactly what materials and soul density he would need to forge her a new physical body.
"Three Raiden Shoguns," Su Han mused as his consciousness returned to his body. "Ei, Makoto, and the Puppet. That's going to be a fun household."
When he opened his eyes, morning sunlight was filtering through the shrine. Time moved differently inside the Sacred Sakura.
He stretched his limbs and decided to check on the progress in the Inuyasha world.
[Feudal Era – Forward Operating Base (Kaede's Village)]
Stepping through the portal, Su Han was greeted by the sight of rapid industrialization.
The muddy village had been transformed. Paved roads, windmills, and elemental power pylons dotted the landscape. Vast tracts of forest had been cleared for farmland. The Shogunate's efficiency was terrifying.
He flew over the military camp.
In the training yard, Inuyasha was currently eating dirt.
"Idiot!" A Shogunate drill instructor barked, effortlessly dodging Inuyasha's wild claw swipes. "Calm your mind! Observation Haki requires absolute focus! Stop swinging like a blind boar!"
Smack.
The instructor's Haki-coated wooden sword tapped Inuyasha on the back of the head, sending the half-demon sprawling.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha spat out a mouthful of dirt, his pride wounded but his eyes burning with determination. He closed his eyes, trying to sense the instructor's 'intent' instead of relying on his demon nose.
Su Han watched, amused. Inuyasha was learning the hard way that raw power meant nothing without discipline.
He walked into the command tent.
Kujou Sara was in the middle of changing her armor. Su Han caught a glimpse of her surprisingly generous figure before she hurriedly pulled her breastplate up, her face flushing crimson.
"L-Lord Su Han!" She knelt instantly, her wings fluttering in embarrassment.
She didn't mind him seeing her—the Shogun had taught her that a retainer's body and soul belonged to their lord—but she was caught off guard.
"At ease, Sara," Su Han coughed, politely looking at a map on the table. "How is the recruitment drive going?"
Sara quickly composed herself. "Excellent, my Lord. Thanks to Miss Kagome posing as the reincarnated Kikyo, we are taking in about 3,000 refugees a day. The number is growing as rumors spread of our 'Pure Land'."
"Good. And the military expansion?"
Sara handed him a report. "Captain Kaeya eliminated the Thunder Brothers. Lady Yelan secured a Daimyo's castle and wiped out the Bat Demons on the coast. Our forces are pushing west."
Su Han paused, looking at the map. "West. That's the Western Lands. The territory of the Dog Demons."
"Yes," Sara nodded. "Our scouts report that a massive demon army resides there, ruled by a powerful female demon (Sesshomaru's Mother). Should we engage?"
The Western Lands controlled hundreds of thousands of youkai. It was the premier military power of this era. If Inazuma absorbed them, it would solve their manpower issues for decades.
"Send an envoy," Su Han ordered. "Tell the Lady of the West to submit and become citizens of Inazuma. If they refuse... send Kazuha and the Black Blade to teach them some manners."
"Understood. And where shall we house them if they submit?"
"Seirai Island," Su Han decided. "It's harsh, but demons are hardy. They can mine the ores there and serve in the Vanguard."
"I will dispatch the envoy immediately."
[Eastern Forest – The Hunt]
While Su Han handled the macro-strategy, Kagome was enjoying her new life.
Being a VIP of the Shogunate had its perks. She had bodyguards, excellent food, and a clean bed. It was infinitely better than roughing it out in the demon-infested woods.
"Target sighted, Lady Kagome," a Shogunate sniper reported.
Ahead, in a graveyard, a hunchbacked old hag with a scythe was digging up bones. This was Urasue, the ogress who specialized in necromancy. Su Han had specifically ordered her capture alive.
"My turn," Kagome said, stepping forward.
Under the tutelage of the Earth Kitsune, her innate spiritual power had been refined. She was no longer just a battery; she was a weapon.
She drew a standard Shogunate bow, infusing it with pure, purple spiritual energy.
Urasue sensed the danger. The ogress shrieked and tried to flee on her scythe.
"Too slow."
Kagome released the string. The spiritual arrow tracked Urasue like a heat-seeking missile, pinning the ogress's sleeve to a tree and shocking her system with purifying light.
"Tie her up," Kagome ordered her guards confidently. "The Boss wants to see her."
[The Base – One Hour Later]
A battered, terrified Urasue was thrown at Su Han's feet.
"You... you're not Kikyo!" Urasue gasped, looking at Kagome. "But your power... it's identical!"
"Shut up, hag," Kagome said coldly. She then turned to Su Han, her expression instantly melting into a sweet, pleading smile.
"Lord Su Han, I brought her! Did I do a good job?"
"Very good," Su Han nodded, looking at Urasue. He needed the hag's clay-body resurrection technique. It would be useful for certain... projects.
"Um," Kagome fidgeted. "Since I did a good job... can I ask a favor? Can I bring my family here? My mom, Grandpa, and little brother Sota? I don't want to leave them in modern Tokyo while I live here."
Su Han thought for a moment. Bringing a few modern humans was trivial.
"I have a counter-offer," Su Han smiled. "I will let your family move to Inazuma. In exchange, I want your Grandpa to use your family's funds to buy modern goods. Cars, generators, heavy machinery, appliances."
Kagome blinked. "Cars? But... there's no gasoline here."
"I have Albedo and Sucrose," Su Han chuckled. "We'll convert the engines to run on Electro runes. Your modern world has the designs; we have the infinite clean energy."
Kagome's eyes lit up. She threw her arms around Su Han, planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you! You're the best boss ever! I'll go tell them right now!"
She skipped away toward the Bone-Eater's Well.
Nearby, Kujou Sara watched the display, her brows furrowed in a mix of mild disapproval and deep, unacknowledged envy.
To act so boldly with the Lord... she thought, her wings twitching. Perhaps... I should be more bold as well?
100+ chapters are available now and daily updates! @patreon.com/Zefyrus