Chapter 89: A Demon's Life in the Sengoku Period
The morning light grew brighter, spilling over the horizon and gently waking Kaede Village from its slumber. Smoke began to curl from the chimneys of thatched-roof houses, farmers headed out to their fields with tools slung over their shoulders, and the carefree laughter of children echoed along the village paths.
It was a rare, fragile scene of peace in this war-torn era.
Inside the shrine, Hikaru sat cross-legged under the veranda's wooden eaves. Laid out before him were the spoils from the previous night's fierce battle: a deep purple horn crackling with latent energy, a single dark purple scale that seemed to drink the light, a pair of jet-black cat-like claws, and the red comb he had just taken from his robes.
[Horn of the Thunder Beast: Favorability 4]
[Poison Jiao Scale: Favorability 2]
[Nekomata Claws: Favorability 1]
[Yura of the Hair: Favorability 3]
Hikaru stared at the numbers on the system panel, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. 'The favorability is growing far too slowly,' he mused.
Although these were all demonic artifacts, they were a cut above ordinary objects. They pulsed with their own Yao Qi, readily lending their power without resisting his will. Even so, they were a long way from truly integrating their abilities into his own being, from becoming a permanent part of his evolution.
He estimated it would take a favorability of 30 to unlock the first latent talent, 50 for the second, and a full 100 to achieve complete fusion. At this rate, he'd have to "date" each of these items for at least a month.
With a sigh, he arranged the four artifacts neatly in front of him, like a teacher assigning seats to a new class of students.
The Thunder Beast's horn was placed on the far left; it jumped restlessly, an arc of electricity occasionally sparking across its surface. The dragon scale sat quietly in the middle, a wisp of purple mist occasionally seeping from its surface. It looked docile, but Hikaru knew the thing was sinister to its core. The Nekomata Claws were on the far right, utterly motionless, like a piece of carved stone.
As for Yura of the Hair—
Bzzzz-bzzzz-bzzzz.
The red comb began vibrating at an intense frequency from within his robes, a clear protest at not being placed out in front with the others.
"Are you activating your vibration mode?" Hikaru deadpanned, pressing a hand against his chest to still the restless comb. "Stop making a fuss."
"You didn't put me out!" Yura's indignant voice buzzed from his lapel.
"Your place is on the inside."
"What's that supposed to mean!? Does 'inside' mean I'm the most important?"
"It means I don't have to worry about you running off."
"..." Yura fell silent for two seconds, then vibrated even more violently.
With a long-suffering sigh, Hikaru finally took her out and placed her at the very front of the four items—in a separate spot, directly facing him. It was the classic homeroom teacher move: placing the naughtiest student directly under the podium for observation.
The vibration stopped instantly.
The expression on the comb's tiny skull was difficult to read, but the slight upward curve of its jaw carried an unmistakable air of triumph.
'So this is what they call playing hard to get,'Hikaru thought, watching her settle.'As expected of me.' His face remained a mask of deep contemplation.
"What are you thinking about?"
A cool, clear voice drifted from behind him. Hikaru turned his head.
Kikyo was walking over carrying a wooden tray. Upon it sat two steaming bowls of porridge and a few small side dishes. She had changed into a clean miko outfit; the white kosode and red hakama were as immaculate as ever, her jet-black hair tied back with a simple white ribbon. A few stray strands had escaped, framing her ears.
The morning light caught her in profile, outlining her delicate and beautiful contours. Her pale, cherry-blossom lips were slightly pursed, yet her dark eyes held an indescribable gentleness.
Looking at her, Hikaru was struck by how unreal the scene felt. Last night, he had been locked in a battle to the death with the great demon Kidomaru. This morning, he was about to eat breakfast with his lover.
The contrast was staggering.
"Thinking of you," he said, his tone utterly righteous.
Kikyo's movements hitched for a fraction of a second. A flicker of surprise rippled through her dark eyes before they immediately returned to their usual calm.
"Smooth," she commented dryly, putting down the wooden tray and sitting beside him. It was unclear if she was referring to the demon beside her or something else entirely.
The two sat side-by-side, their gazes turned toward the village beyond the shrine. In the distance, villagers were already busy in the fields, the lowing of cattle and the crowing of roosters drifting on the morning air. Near the village entrance, Kaede was chasing a butterfly. She tripped and fell, only to scramble back up and continue the chase with a giggle.
It was peaceful. It was ordinary. It was as if the devastating battle from the night before had never happened.
"Eat," Kikyo said, pushing a bowl of porridge in front of him.
Hikaru didn't bother with his usual protests about not needing to eat. He simply picked up the bowl and took a sip. It was hot, but in the simulated perception granted by his Yao Qi, the taste was surprisingly good.
"Did you cook this?"
"It was sent by the villagers," Kikyo replied, picking up her own bowl and sipping it in small, graceful mouthfuls. "They said they wanted to thank you for saving the village."
Hikaru didn't respond. He just looked down at the bowl of porridge, his mind flashing back to the countless slaughters and massacred villages he had witnessed on his journey. Once, he would have only watched such tragedies unfold, a detached observer in a world defined by war. Now, could he actually be in a position to protect a place?
Even if it was only by basking in the light of Kikyo's presence.
He nodded slowly, and their gazes met. In the soft morning light, her cool, aloof face was within arm's reach. He could clearly see the gentle curve of her eyelashes and smell the faint, clean scent of mountain wildflowers that always clung to her.
"Kikyo."
"You're sitting very close."
Kikyo was slightly startled by his observation. She looked down. The distance between them was indeed a bit excessive. Her shoulder was almost brushing against his arm, and their knees were touching through the fabric of their clothes.
Kikyo did not pull away. She merely looked up, her gaze locking with his crimson eyes.
"So what if I am?"
A slow smile spread across Hikaru's face. "It's nothing," he said. "I just think this is nice. Whether human or demon, it's better to be honest and not bother with pretenses."
Kikyo found herself deeply agreeing with that sentiment.
Silence spread between them again, but it wasn't awkward. Instead, it was a comfortable quiet that allowed them to simply feel each other's presence.
Then, Kikyo moved.
She turned slightly, tilting her head up. Her dark, fathomless eyes met his, and her cherry-colored lips parted just enough to be an invitation.
Hikaru froze for a moment, genuinely stunned that Kikyo would take the initiative. But he recovered in the next second, lowering his head to meet hers.
Their lips touched gently. It was a light, shallow kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water. But in that fleeting instant, Hikaru felt something truly, genuinely wonderful.
When they separated, a faint blush had bloomed across Kikyo's cheeks. It was the first time Hikaru had ever seen her like this. The priestess, usually so cool and self-restrained, looked like an ordinary girl at this moment. Or rather, she was supposed to be an ordinary girl, one who was meant to enjoy the simple things someone her age should.
"...Stop staring." Kikyo lowered her head, letting her long, raven-black hair fall like a curtain to hide her expression.
"Stare at what?"
"At me."
"You're my lover. If I don't look at you, who should I look at?"
Kikyo's body stiffened for a moment. Then, against her will, the corners of her mouth curved into a small, pleased smile.
[Shikon Jewel: Naohi: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 68 (Intimate)]
[It says: "Continue."]
Hikaru saw the notification on his panel and couldn't help but complain internally. 'Even if this is thanks to you... why is a jewel like you getting in on the fun? Do you even know what 'gradual progress' means!?'He performed a swift'tactical lean back' in his mind.
Kikyo, oblivious to his inner turmoil, simply stacked their two empty bowls and placed them back on the wooden tray. Her movements were calm, her breathing steady, but the blush on her face did not fade for a long time.
This kind of daily life was nice. Very nice. So nice that he almost forgot he had a pile of serious matters to attend to.
The crisis was far from over.
After finishing breakfast, Hikaru reviewed his trump cards once more. The Six Transformations: Body, Eye, Hand, Waist, Bone, and Blood.
Among them, the Bone Soul Transformation, now fused with the power of Hiraikotsu, allowed him to freely manipulate the hardness, form, and growth of his own bones. It was currently his strongest offensive tool. The Blood Transformation, in turn, remained his most potent sensory ability.
But this alone was not enough. The battle with Kidomaru had proven that.
Even with the land itself recognizing him and Kikyo fighting by his side, he had only barely managed to force his opponent back and narrowly survive. If Kidomaru had decided to go all out, willing to be buried here just to take him down, Hikaru might not have escaped unscathed, even with Kikyo's protection.
And that wasn't all. Behind Kidomaru were the other demons of Kyoto. And towering above them all... Hagoromo Gitsune.
She was a true Great Yokai. In Hikaru's deductions, she was an existence that had completed at least thirteen transformations.
Beyond that, there was Kibutsuji Muzan still hiding in the darkness. The Progenitor of Demons, a creature with an immortal body. While not as overwhelmingly powerful as the great yokai, he was a persistent, troublesome annoyance.
There were too many enemies in this world, and his current strength was far from enough.
He needed to pick up the pace.
The Thunder Beast's horn, the poison jiao's scale, and the Nekomata Claws—he had to max out the favorability of these three items as soon as possible. As long as he could integrate their power into his Six Transformations, his strength would reach the next level.
Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. That was the path he had planned for himself. He would turn six small hills into six great mountains, using a foundation of pure, overwhelming quantity to shatter the threshold of a true qualitative breakthrough.
"What are you thinking about?" Kikyo's voice sounded again.
Hikaru returned to his senses and found her looking at him, her expression curious.
"Thinking about how to become stronger," he admitted without hesitation. "Kidomaru won't give up. Next time, it might not be just one of him."
Kikyo nodded, her own expression turning serious. "I know," she said.
She stood up, her longbow already in her hand. In those jet-black eyes, the flame of determination ignited once more.
"I will not slacken either," she declared. "You get stronger, and I will get stronger too. Only then can we fight side by side and be together always."
Although she was already immensely powerful, there was no doubt that Kikyo could refine her use of spiritual power even further. At the very least, the next time she faced an existence on Kidomaru's level, she had to be able to effectively subdue him.
Hikaru watched her, a silhouette of grace and power in her white and red robes, holding her longbow against the morning sun, her black hair fluttering in the breeze.
A flash of inspiration struck him.
"Does 'always together'include tonight as well?" he asked, his tone perfectly level.'Even just holding each other would be enough,' he added silently.
Kikyo was slightly stunned by the question. She then rolled her eyes at him, but for some inexplicable reason, she did not refuse.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]