Soon, the barrier dispersed, yet not completely.
That pale white curtain of light dissolved like morning dew, silently merging into the air. But Shinji could feel that the spiritual power supporting the barrier was still there. As long as the shrine maiden at its core wished, she could instantly activate it again at any moment.
At the same time.
Kikyō walked down the stone steps.
Her steps were steady. Her white robes and red hakama swayed gently in the night breeze. Her face beneath the flowing black hair was still cool and beautiful. Her dark eyes were as deep and calm as the night itself, yet seemed to contain unseen ripples.
Shinji stood still.
He waited.
Waited for this young woman to speak.
Kikyō stopped five paces away from him.
It was exactly the right distance where one could draw a blade, and exactly the right distance where one could nock an arrow.
"Who are you?"
Kikyō's voice was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
But Shinji could feel the confusion within her.
The shrine maiden was truly confused.
Confused at a yokai helping humans slay yokai?
Yet no matter what, what greeted Shinji was, after all, no longer a purification arrow aimed at his head!
"A passing demon warrior."
He replied.
"Passing?"
Kikyō tilted her head slightly, black hair slipping from her shoulder. "A passing demon warrior helps humans kill his own kind?"
"I'm not the same kind as those things."
Shinji's tone was serious.
He truly didn't consider himself the same kind as those yokai.
Not to mention yokai themselves were different kinds, different types, even different 'families'. He couldn't communicate with those guys anyway, right?
Kikyō looked at him.
Those cool eyes held no hostility, but also no trust.
Only confusion.
"You have the Shikon Jewel on you."
She said. Not from seeing, but from guessing, from those suddenly appearing demons, from his sudden intervention, and from his earlier strange behavior.
Shinji paused for a moment.
As expected, nothing escaped her.
"That bead, did you obtain it from the elder of the demon-slayer clan?"
Kikyō continued asking.
Her tone was still calm, but Shinji could sense the vigilance hidden beneath that calm.
If his answer displeased her, the next moment a purification arrow would fly towards his brow
"My name is Shinji. That old man entrusted it to me before he died."
Shinji decided to tell the truth.
There was nothing to hide anyway.
"He asked me to deliver the Shikon Jewel to you."
And incidentally let me unlock the Shikon Jewel's affection.
Shinji thought to himself.
Kikyō fell silent.
Her gaze rested on Shinji, as if discerning the truth in his words.
"That elder… is dead?"
"Dead."
Shinji nodded. "Too severely injured, too much blood loss. He was already barely holding on when I rescued him."
Kikyō's brow furrowed slightly.
This was the first time she had shown emotion tonight.
Then.
Kikyō suddenly lowered her eyes.
"I understand."
Her voice was still calm, but Shinji could sense the heaviness beneath that calm.
Just very reserved, so reserved that no emotion showed through.
Shinji knew she must have known that old man.
Maybe even a friend.
"In that case…"
Kikyō raised her head, her gaze settling back on Shinji. "Where is the Shikon Jewel?"
Shinji didn't waste words.
He reached into his robe and took out the bead emitting that pale purple glow.
He came here to deliver the jewel anyway, setting that aside, combined with his various actions, handing over the jewel was beneficial to him too.
At the very least, going along with the jewel's wishes should raise its affection!
The Shikon Jewel lay in his palm, its glow soft and mysterious.
Kikyō's gaze fell on the bead.
She didn't reach out to take it.
Shinji noticed this detail.
"What? Not going to accept it?"
"…"
Kikyō didn't answer. She just stared at the bead.
This surprised Shinji a bit.
"Strange."
Soon, Kikyō finally spoke.
"What's strange?"
"The Shikon Jewel."
She said. "Its Righteous Spirit… is conveying a message to me."
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
Righteous Spirit can talk?
Although the system panel had shown the Shikon Jewel would "convey messages".
He just hadn't expected Kikyō could receive those messages too.
"What's it saying?"
"It says…"
Kikyō's brow furrowed even tighter. "It says, you can be trusted."
"…"
Shinji was stunned.
The Shikon Jewel was putting in a good word for him?
Was this the benefit of handing it over that the Shikon Jewel had mentioned?
If it really was as the Shikon Jewel's message suggested… Shinji couldn't help but feel a stir of excitement.
Regardless, the shrine maiden before him, even if not at her peak, was still incredibly powerful.
[Shikon no Tama · Righteous Spirit: Current Affection 1 (Germination)] [It conveys a message to you: 'This shrine maiden is very wary. I put in a few good words for you.']
Shinji looked at the prompt on the panel, momentarily unsure what to say.
This bead… how could it actively help people?
And with only 1 point of affection, it was already this proactive?
"The Shikon Jewel seals both righteous and evil forces within."
As if sensing Shinji's confusion, Kikyō spoke to explain. She also clearly didn't know that Shinji's understanding of the Shikon Jewel was, to some extent, not inferior to hers. Her voice carried a hint of thoughtful pause:
"The Righteous Spirit represents good thoughts, the Corrupted Spirit represents evil thoughts."
"If the holder's heart inclines towards evil, the Corrupted Spirit will dominate, and the Shikon Jewel becomes an evil artifact that amplifies demonic power."
"But if the holder's heart inclines towards good thoughts…"
She raised her head and looked at Shinji.
"The Righteous Spirit will actively convey messages to the guardian, confirming the holder's goodwill."
Shinji understood.
As mentioned before, the Shikon Jewel was like a mirror, reflecting the true appearance of the holder's heart.
And now the Righteous Spirit was conveying to Kikyō that he could be trusted.
This meant the Shikon Jewel recognized his "good thoughts".
Even though he was a yokai.
Even though he'd been feeding his blade for three months.
But the Shikon Jewel still considered him a "good person".
Just because of that one point of 'affection'.
"So…"
Shinji looked at Kikyō and asked, "Do you believe me?"
Kikyō didn't answer immediately.
She just quietly looked at him, those cool eyes still without much emotional fluctuation.
The night wind blew, lifting her black hair.
The shrine's torii gate cast a long shadow in the moonlight.
The surrounding villagers had already begun to emerge from the shrine, watching the situation from afar.
Their eyes held fear, curiosity, and a hint of gratitude.
After all, Shinji had just helped them repel the yokai.
Even though he himself was a yokai.
"According to all records, the Righteous Spirit's judgment has never been wrong."
Kikyō finally spoke. "Since it says you can be trusted…"
She took a step forward.
That delicate white hand finally reached towards the Shikon Jewel in Shinji's palm.
"Then I will trust you."
[Shikon no Tama · Righteous Spirit: Affection +2] [Current Affection: 3 (Germination)] [It conveys a message to you: 'Done.']
Shinji looked at the prompt on the panel, that message almost like a matchmaker's update, the corner of his mouth beneath the red demon mask twitching slightly.
This bead…
Why does it feel so personable?
In comparison, that broken blade Muramasa was simply embarrassing to look at!