At the top of the shrine, Kikyō lowered her bow.
Her brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
This was rare.
As the shrine maiden protecting this village, she had slain countless demons. Those demons varied in strength, in cunning, in stupidity, but they all shared one thing,
Not a single one had dodged more than three of her purification arrows.
But this yokai before her…
Six arrows.
All of them misses.
Not that she had been going all out. When facing yokai, Kikyō didn't always aim to kill. For smaller fry that didn't carry much of a 'blood scent', she would often gauge their demonic energy and output just enough to drive them off, nothing more.
But now… Kikyō's gaze settled on the figure in battered armor at the village entrance.
A demon warrior.
She could sense his demonic energy cold, decaying, carrying the particular ashen, withered aura of the undead.
This type of yokai wasn't common in the Sengoku era, but not particularly rare either. Samurai who died on battlefields, their obsessions lingering, absorbing the world's demonic energy to forge new bodies, they became demon warriors.
Typically, a demon warrior's strength depended on their martial skill in life and how much demonic energy they absorbed after death.
Most were mid-to-low tier yokai. A few could become high-tier, but that was it.
But this one…
Was a bit different.
His demonic energy wasn't particularly dense, not at a very strong level, not what you'd call a high-tier yokai.
But his reaction speed, his predictive ability, and that movement style – all far beyond your average small fry. It was like he had the intelligence that ordinary small fry lacked.
Because he was getting closer.
Dodging, yet simultaneously advancing.
That meant he had a clear goal.
"Is it related to the Shikon Jewel?"
The thought crossed Kikyō's mind.
She had already received word.
The head of that demon-slayer clan was traveling with the Shikon Jewel, trying to bring it to her.
But unfortunately.
This yokai seemed to have arrived early.
The Shikon Jewel was not yet in her hands.
But regardless, if he dared to come right to her door, her response would be clean and decisive.
The shrine maiden Kikyō drew her bowstring once more.
Whether this demon warrior came to steal the Shikon Jewel, or to challenge her.
As a shrine maiden, she had only one choice.
Subjugate.
To subjugate all demons, and drive them away.
It was her duty.
It was the meaning of her existence.
The seventh arrow flew.
This one contained more spiritual power than the previous ones. The white light around the arrow was dazzling, like a falling star against the setting sun, she had slightly increased her output, raising it to a level that, based on his demonic energy, should be enough to force him to retreat.
At least, that was Kikyō's judgment.
…
Shinji saw the arrow again.
Through the blood mist hanging in the air, he clearly saw how this arrow differed from the previous six.
Faster. Brighter.
And naturally, more deadly.
"She's getting serious now."
Earlier, Kikyō had probably just been trying to drive him away. But now, with him getting closer and closer, she was finally starting to increase her spiritual power output.
There was still no killing intent, as a demon warrior, Shinji could sense that intangible murderous intent but continuing to charge forward like this was indeed a bit dangerous. He wouldn't die, but he might get hurt.
So, at this moment, the demonic energy beneath Shinji's feet began to boil.
Ordinary dodging wasn't enough anymore.
But Shinji was prepared.
These three days of travel weren't just about killing yokai. He was also collecting something,
Fish blood from streams along the way, animal blood splattered from hunting wild boar, even the sap oozing from broken plants and trees.
Those bloods and fluids that didn't come from yokai, he carefully collected in several bamboo tubes at his waist.
The reason was simple.
Purification arrows counter demonic energy.
But blood from ordinary living creatures contained no demonic energy at all. Yet if mixed with his own blood, they could still be sensed and manipulated in advance by his [Blood Resonance].
If he used this blood to form a perception net, the arrows' spiritual power wouldn't lock onto him because of his demonic energy and he could even use the moisture in the blood to reduce the power of the purification arrows themselves.
After all, purification arrows tracked demonic energy.
This blood wasn't in that category.
This was the countermeasure he'd thought of on the road.
After all, his destination was where Kikyō was. Not preparing in advance for getting shot at would be truly stupid.
Shinji uncorked one of the bamboo tubes, used his demonic energy to activate the animal blood inside, and sent it exploding out as a cloud of dark red mist.
The blood mist didn't disperse. Under his control, it formed a curved curtain, suspended between him and the arrow.
Not to block it.
How could mere animal blood block a purification arrow?
Just to slow it down as much as possible, to… be able to see it more clearly!
Only by seeing could he act.
[Phantom Step].
The next second.
Shinji's form vanished.
He reappeared fifteen meters away. The arrow whistled past where he'd just been standing, the residual spiritual energy stinging his back like fire.
Too close. If he'd been even a tenth of a second slower…
But no time for reflecting.
Because the eighth arrow was already on its way.
Then the ninth.
The tenth.
The twelfth, fifteenth, twentieth!
Throughout this, Kikyō seemed to be gradually increasing her output, trying to suppress him, to drive him away.
Even with the blood mist obscuring and the moisture weighing down the arrows, she alone was unleashing a rain of arrows like a small army.
Arrows fell like rain, streaks of white light exploding on the open ground at the village entrance, gouging furrow after furrow into the earth.
But Shinji still had bamboo tubes.
He dodged while continuously flinging animal blood, weaving a perception net that contained no demonic energy.
Those dark red droplets hung in the air like countless invisible eyes, seeing the trajectory of every arrow clearly.
Just as Shinji had thought, the purification arrows' spiritual power could indeed burn demonic energy, but they had no reaction to ordinary animal blood
But that didn't mean he could dodge indefinitely.
His supply of animal blood was limited. Every time he flung some out, he had less.
And Kikyō's archery was too precise. Even without demonic energy tracking, her naked eye and spiritual perception could still lock onto his position.
He had to get closer, and fast.
[Cursed Blade Muramasa: Mood 'Excited'. It conveys a message to you: 'That human really is strong. Dangerous, yes, but it strongly recommends you give it a try']
"…"
Shinji was speechless that this thing was still hung up on that.
But right now, he really didn't have time to deal with this gluttonous katana.
He kept dodging the continuous arrows, silently calculating the distance in his mind.
As he did, Shinji glanced down at his chest.
The Shikon Jewel's glow had become noticeably brighter than before, its pale purple light nearly piercing through the cloth bundle and his armor.
Looked like his earlier guess was right. Even just getting close was useful!
Shinji felt a surge of joy.
The system panel kept flickering.
[Detected 'Jewel's Keeper' approaching...]
[Affection unlock condition verifying...]
[Distance insufficient. Please continue to approach...]
Fifteen meters.
Ten meters.
The prompt on the panel refreshed.
[Distance meets minimum requirement.]
[Affection unlock verification complete.]
[Shikon no Tama affection can now be unlocked. Please operate in a safe environment.]
Enough.
Shinji stopped.
His basic goal was achieved.
Yes.
His goal from the beginning wasn't to hand over the Shikon Jewel here, under this rain of arrows, that would be too stupid.
He just needed to get close enough for the Shikon Jewel to sense Kikyō's presence, to trigger the system's unlock verification.
Actually handing over the bead wasn't necessary right now.
It might also have to wait until a time when she wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later.
As for why he didn't just speak, even if she couldn't hear him, he could rely on lip movements to convey meaning, and why he didn't just take out the Shikon Jewel and lay it before Kikyō, the reason was simple.
Because as a demon warrior, he relied on demonic energy for movement, but fine control was difficult for him. With a dead face, even speaking required vibrating his vocal cords with internal demonic energy, and his expressions were all formulaic. What lip movements could he possibly make?
Besides that, the Shikon Jewel was too bright.
The slightest mistake would attract a horde of yokai.
And if he couldn't explain himself in time, couldn't speak in time, couldn't get Kikyō's 'support', or worse, if she misunderstood something and targeted him, then he'd really be caught between two enemies, dying with no place to bury his corpse.
But still, entrusted with the task, at this distance, she should be able to hear his voice.
He had to try at least…
Shinji stopped, his lips moving slightly, trying to speak.
He was just about to say something.
But before the sound could even leave his throat,
The twenty-first arrow was already on its way.
This one wasn't aimed at his body, but at his mouth.
More precisely, at the air three inches in front of his mouth.
The arrow grazed past his chin, the residual spiritual energy leaving a burning red mark on his cheek.
The message was clear –
Shut up.
Don't you dare speak.
This arrow from Kikyō wasn't to kill him, but a warning.
In her eyes, a humanoid yokai suddenly charging to this distance and trying to speak usually meant only one thing: attempting to use sound to perform demonic arts, bewitchment, enchanting sounds, cursed words
These were common yokai tactics.
She wouldn't give any yokai the chance to speak.
Shinji swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
'Fine.
Can't talk, can't talk.'
The system's unlock verification was complete anyway. His core goal was achieved.
As for handing over the Shikon Jewel, establishing contact with Kikyō…
Seems like that would indeed require another opportunity.
The twenty-second arrow was already nocked.
The tip pointed directly at his brow.
Shinji stood still. He didn't try to speak again, didn't try to take out the Shikon Jewel.
He knew that at this distance, with Kikyō's archery skills, he had no chance.
Even just raising his hand would be enough to put a hole in his head.
No wonder she was the shrine maiden who could suppress the Shikon Jewel.
No wonder she was the strongest exorcist of the Sengoku era.
Just this level of vigilance and suppressive power was enough to make any yokai think twice.
Too bad he wasn't an ordinary yokai. He was a transmigrator with a system.
Shinji looked at Kikyō again.
This time, he just looked into her eyes.
Those eyes were also very beautiful, but also very empty.
Like stars sealed in ice.
A bit… a pity.
"…Forget it."
He silently repeated this in his mind, not aloud.
Nothing more he could do today.
But it didn't matter.
He'd achieved his goal.
The rest could wait.
Shinji stood about thirty meters from the shrine's stone steps, right at the wooden palisade at the village entrance, looking up at Kikyō on the heights.
Kikyō was also looking at him.
Their gazes met across the stone steps, the torii gate, the blood mist and spiritual power residue hanging in the air.
One was a demon warrior, his jet-black sclera and blood-red pupils reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun.
One was a shrine maiden, her clear, cold eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Confrontation.
Silence.
Kikyō's hand still rested on her bowstring, ready to loose another arrow at any moment.
At this distance, Shinji knew he absolutely couldn't dodge.
But for some reason, Kikyō didn't shoot. She just furrowed her brow slightly.
Shinji didn't show fear either.
He just stood there, looking at Kikyō.
Just a glance.
A very strange look.
The crimson eyes beneath the red demon mask closed slightly, and the corner of his mouth seemed to curve just a little.
But though it was strange and stiff, it was definitely not the ferociousness commonly seen in yokai, nor was it the fawning of showing weakness or begging for mercy.
Kikyō couldn't understand it.
In her long career as a shrine maiden, she had seen all kinds of yokai expressions.
Greed, fear, anger, madness.
But she had never seen a yokai look at her like this.
There was no goodwill in that gaze.
But there was also no hostility.
Shinji withdrew his gaze.
Then, he turned around.
His back to Kikyō, his back to that arrow that could fly at any moment.
Without a word, the sound of footsteps began.
Shinji walked away.
The figure in battered armor gradually disappeared into the thickening dusk beyond the village entrance.
Kikyō stood still, maintaining her drawn bow, unmoving for a long time.
She stared at the departing figure, her brow furrowing even tighter.
This yokai…
What was his deal?
He approached, but didn't attack.
He tried to speak, but when she suppressed him, he didn't struggle.
In the end, he just smiled slightly and turned away.
He didn't seem to be here to provoke a fight, nor did he seem to be here to steal anything.
Then what… did he want?
"Sister."
A young voice came from behind her.
A little girl in the same shrine maiden attire ran out from the shrine hall, her hair in twin ponytails, a worried expression on her face.
"What happened just now? Was it a yokai?"
Kikyō didn't answer.
She just kept looking towards the village entrance.
The demon warrior's figure had long since vanished into the twilight.
"…Nothing."
Kikyō said softly.
"Just a strange one."