As the priestess protecting Kaede Village, she knew the uniqueness of the Sacred Tree, but even she could not sense anything from this divine tree.
"Yes."
Kanbe Hikaru walked to her side and took her hand again.
This action had become very natural.
So natural that neither of them felt any awkwardness.
"I can communicate with it, but the progress is very slow."
He said, "It will probably take a long time to gain its approval."
Kikyo nodded, her expression returning to normal.
"The Sacred Tree has been growing here for thousands of years."
She parted her red lips and said, "It is indeed not easy to make it approve of a demon who only arrived a few months ago."
Kanbe Hikaru laughed.
"Are you trying to discourage me?"
"I am just stating the truth."
The corners of Kikyo's mouth curled up slightly.
This woman—she was usually so aloof, but occasionally showing an expression like this was simply unfair.
"Let's go."
Kikyo pulled his hand and walked back, "The Sacred Tree won't run away; there will be plenty of time in the future."
Kanbe Hikaru followed her back, but suddenly another matter came to his mind.
The Bone-Eating Well.
According to the original setting, the Bone-Eating Well was made from the wood of the Sacred Tree.
That well could connect to modern Japan five hundred years later, allowing people from future generations to travel to this era.
If he could find that well—perhaps he could try to develop favorability with it too.
Perhaps he might even gain some clues about 'time travel'.
"Kikyo."
He spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"Do you know about the Bone-Eating Well?"
Kikyo's footsteps faltered.
"The Bone-Eating Well?"
She turned to look at him, her brows slightly furrowed, "How do you know that name?"
Kanbe Hikaru's heart stirred.
"What do you mean?"
Kikyo's expression became a bit strange.
"The Bone-Eating Well is a part of the Sacred Tree, a well used to dispose of demon corpses, but it has been abandoned now."
"It has been abandoned?"
"Yes."
Kikyo nodded, "That well is right behind the shrine—you actually see it every day."
Kanbe Hikaru fell silent.
He could indeed see it, but every time he passed by, there was no prompt, even when he touched it. It was not even as good as the other well in front of the shrine that had helped him block a few attacks from the Kamaitachi earlier.
That was the Bone-Eating Well?
No, that wasn't right.
"That well probably hasn't been activated yet."
Kanbe Hikaru thought of another thing.
According to the original setting, the Bone-Eating Well was a well that existed from the start and was indeed used to dispose of demon corpses... but the problem was that before Kikyo was responsible for guarding the Shikon Jewel, there weren't actually that many demon corpses to dispose of. For most demons, she could just purify them directly with her spiritual power.
Only when the number was so large that she couldn't purify them in a short time would she use external objects.
And since it was a well for disposing of demon corpses where the bodies would disappear once thrown in, it meant that the well itself might actually need demon corpses.
Since there were no demon corpses to dispose of previously, then theoretically, there was a high possibility that it hadn't been 'activated'.
"Activated?"
This word made Kikyo slightly startled, and she seemed to see through his thoughts, "Perhaps that is the case."
"But from now on, this abandoned well will indeed need to be put to use."
She didn't continue.
But Kanbe Hikaru already understood.
Now that the Shikon Jewel was in hand, the demons attacking were increasing day by day. If the accumulated number of corpses was large enough and they couldn't be purified quickly, letting them dissipate freely would indeed pollute the land.
So at this time, the Bone-Eating Well would be needed.
The Bone-Eating Well would also be 'activated'.
"It seems—"
Kanbe Hikaru took a deep breath.
"There is one more thing I need to wait for."
Kikyo looked at him, a faint smile appearing on the corners of her mouth again.
"Good luck."
She said.
Her voice was very soft, yet carried an indescribable gentleness.
[shikon no tama: naohi: favorability + 1]
[Current favorability: 70 (Intimate)]
[It says: "She is encouraging you."]
Looking at this prompt, Kanbe Hikaru couldn't help but complain internally.
Do I need you to tell me that?
...
Returning to the shrine.
Kanbe Hikaru began to formulate a new strategy plan.
The Sacred Tree was of divine artifact quality, and the favorability cap should also be 100. However, at the current rate, it would likely take years, maybe even longer—decades were possible—to max it out.
That was too long.
However, regarding this aspect, Kanbe Hikaru was not in a hurry.
He knew that some things could not be rushed.
He was even more clear that such effort and reward were undoubtedly directly proportional.
Just like his feelings for Kikyo—from the initial 'utilization', to the trust that followed, and now to treating each other with sincerity.
How many things had they gone through in between?
The Sacred Tree was the same.
It needed time to get to know him, understand him, and trust him.
Being overly eager for success would only be counterproductive.
As for the Bone-Eating Well, that would require even more waiting.
"Put these aside for now."
Kanbe Hikaru said to himself internally, "Focus on the things at hand."
Thunder Horn, Reverse Scale, Nekomata Claws.
And Yura of the Hair.
The progress of these four items was all moving forward.
The Thunder Horn currently had 7 favorability points, increasing by 1 to 2 points every day.
The Reverse Scale currently had 4 favorability points; although it required caution, it was actually not the slowest.
The Nekomata Claws currently had 3 favorability points.
Yura of the Hair currently had 6 favorability points. Going from negative thirty at the start to now, it was the fastest progressing among these items because he could communicate directly with her.
But because she had consciousness, it might be harder to push forward in the later stages.
'People' were always not as easy to trick as things.
So next.
"Let's prioritize the Thunder Horn first!"
Lightning—it could fight and run, and it was very suitable for Kanbe Hikaru at this stage.
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