The chicken soup was good.
Shinji held his bowl, drinking it sip by sip.
Even though his demon warrior body didn't require food, that didn't mean he couldn't eat. And it certainly didn't stop him from enjoying the taste.
Deep down, he was still human. A guy from the modern era who'd crossed over someone who'd never had to worry about his next meal back then, and didn't have to struggle for one now either.
Being able to eat just for the pleasure of it? That was a blessing in its own way.
"This is really good," he said, meaning it.
Kikyō sat across from him, also holding a bowl.
She drank delicately, taking small, measured sips, her movements as graceful as if she were performing a ritual.
She'd changed into fresh white robes and red hakama, clean and neat, with no trace of last night's battle.
Her black hair had been re-tied with a simple cloth band, gathered at the nape of her neck and revealing the pale skin there.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting soft shadows across her profile.
Shinji glanced at her, then looked away.
His mind was elsewhere.
Last night's fight had shaken him.
Not just because of the danger.
But because of that Kamaitachi.
In the months since crossing over, he'd pieced together a rough hierarchy of demonkind based on his own experiences. But that was all theoretical deductions from his own growth, logic on paper.
That quality tranformation level yokai had shown him, for the first time, what "materialization" truly meant.
Shinji set down his bowl, mentally replaying the fight.
Body Transformation , as the name suggested, altered the body's structure.
Growing horns, sprouting wings, extra claws, mutated eyes.
That was what his Six Transformations did, Sharp Body, Keen Eye, Bow Arm, Spear Waist, Shield Bone, Blood Change.
Each transformation mutated a specific part of his body, granting abilities beyond normal limits.
But ultimately, it was still modification within an existing framework.
Like swapping tires on a car, adding an engine, installing a turbo.
The car was still a car. It just performed better.
Quality Transformation was different. Fundamentally different.
Shinji recalled how the Kamaitachi had fought.
It could change its size at will, shrinking from ten yards down to two, then expanding back to six.
Its volume changed, but its mass stayed the same.
What did that mean?
It meant it could compress the same power into a smaller space, gaining greater speed and sharper attacks.
Or spread that same power across a larger area, widening its defensive range and increasing its durability.
This wasn't a change in structure. It was a change in properties.
Control over the most fundamental attributes.
Big and small. Increase and decrease.
A deeper understanding dawned on Shinji.
Body Transformation changed how you used what you had.
Quality Transformation changed how much you had to begin with.
One changed the method. One changed the essence.
No wonder the gap was so huge.
He'd mastered all Six Transformations. His demonic aura was so pure it had surprised even the Kamaitachi.
And still, he'd been pushed back.
Because his 'attributes' weren't enough.
Strength, speed, defense, the basics. Compared to a quality transformation demon, he was a whole tier below.
Then a thought struck him. A sudden realization.
He recalled that the Kamaitachi's 'demon aura' had been inferior to his in quality.
And demon aura, aside from being tied to 'transformations,' also required years of accumulation and refinement.
In other words, that Kamaitachi was probably young by demon standards likely not long since its birth.
Born not long ago, and already past the Six Transformations.
Compared to ordinary demons, its talent spoke for itself.
But Shinji suspected it had more to do with its essence.
A Kamaitachi wasn't a living creature at its core. It was born from formless 'wind.'
Like that mist demon he'd encountered before, entities with illusory essences had a harder time achieving demonization, but once they succeeded, they seemed to undergo transformations more easily than ordinary demons.
By that logic, they might also find it easier to progress from body transformation to quality transformation.
And their quality transformation would likely be tied to their elemental essence, wind. Because beyond basic physical attributes like mass, concepts like yin-yang, the four symbols, the five elements, those were also 'attributes.'
This was the difference between physics and elements.
But whether physical or elemental, both were attributes. Both were changes in 'essence'!
Of course, this wasn't simply manipulating an element. It was 'becoming' the element just as a Kamaitachi, in essence, was 'wind.'
A Kamaitachi started as wind and gradually condensed into physical form.
For an ordinary demon to walk that path, they'd have to reverse the process and 'become' wind.
Shinji understood now.
"What are you thinking about?" Kikyō's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shinji looked up.
The shrine maiden was watching him, curiosity in her usually cool eyes.
"How to get stronger," he said honestly. "That Kamaitachi last night made me realize how far I still have to go. Even with outside help, I couldn't truly stand against it head-on."
As a demon, and as someone navigating this chaotic age, only by being strong enough could he truly be safe.
To live the kind of life he wanted.
That was the reason, unspoken but understood.
A pursuit that needed no lengthy explanation.
Kikyō nodded, acknowledging his point.
"That really was a powerful demon," she said, setting down her bowl and gazing at the sunlight streaming through the window. "Being able to change its size at will, manipulating the very essence of wind… a demon on that level is beyond what ordinary means can handle."
"But at your rate of growth, you should surpass it soon enough."
She glanced at him, her dark eyes calm yet bright, speaking with quiet conviction.
Shinji paused for a moment.
"You're not an ordinary demon," she continued.
"I don't know the specifics, but I can sense it. The way you grow… it's not ordinary."
Of course it wasn't.
Kikyō wasn't a demon herself, and she hadn't pieced together a clear hierarchy like his "Four Stages, Six Transformations" system. But as a shrine maiden with immense spiritual power, her perception was sharp. She could feel the demon warrior beside her getting stronger.
Shinji wasn't surprised by that.
"You're right, it's not ordinary," he admitted. "But the specifics… I'm not ready to share just yet."
Kikyō didn't press.
She simply nodded and rose to her feet.
"I understand," she said. "Everyone has their secrets."
She walked to the window, her back to him.
Sunlight fell across her figure, painting her white robes in shades of pale gold.
"But whatever your method is, there's one thing my instincts tell me for certain."
"What's that?"
"The way you grow stronger… it's different from other demons. It's not chaotic. It's not bloodthirsty."
She turned to face him again.
Shinji met her gaze and suddenly smiled.
"You're right about that."
He stood and moved to stand beside her.
They stood shoulder to shoulder at the window, looking out at the village below.
In the yard, Kaede was chasing a chicken, running herself ragged.
"Big brother! Sister! What are you two doing!" the little girl's voice floated up from outside. "Standing so close! Are you whispering love secrets!"
Shinji and Kikyō fell silent simultaneously.
"We're discussing important matters," Kikyō said.
"What important matters need you standing that close!" Kaede planted her hands on her hips, wearing her signature 'I know exactly what's going on' expression. "Adults always make excuses!"
"…"
Shinji had to admit, this kid was something else.
He glanced sideways at Kikyō.
The tips of her ears were faintly pink, though her face remained composed.
"Kaede."
She spoke.
"What is it, sister?"
"Go catch that chicken in the yard. We're having it for lunch."
"Eh? But I wanted to play with big brother—"
"Now."
"…Fine."
Kaede pouted and ran off.
Shinji watched her go and couldn't help but laugh.
"That kid's hilarious."
"She's always like this," Kikyō said, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "She's had a habit of saying whatever comes to mind since she was little."
"But—" She paused.
"She's not entirely wrong."
Shinji blinked, caught off guard.
But Kikyō didn't give him a chance to ask. She turned and walked back inside.
"Get ready," she said.
"We're leaving."
"Where to?"
"The demon slayer (Yōkai taijiya) village."
Kikyō stopped and looked back at him.
"That elder entrusted the Shikon Jewel to me. Now that the Magatsuhi within it is suppressed, I should go tell his people in person."
"And—"
"His family is still waiting for him to come home."
Shinji fell silent.
He remembered the old man's final words.
"I understand," he nodded. "When do we leave?"
"First thing tomorrow," Kikyō said. "We'll rest today and recover our spiritual power."
"Got it."
Shinji acknowledged.
He watched Kikyō disappear into the house, but his mind was elsewhere.
Kikyō hadn't asked if he wanted to come. She already knew he would.
They'd only fought side by side once, but she trusted him completely.
In a way, she was still naive about the world.
But following Kikyō to the Yōkai taijiya village? There was no way he'd say no. Even setting aside personal feelings, just to earn more favor with the Shikon Jewel, he'd tag along.
Not to mention,
The demon slayer village had some key characters from the original story.
Sure, the ones who'd be active fifty years from now probably weren't even born yet.
But their weapon—
Hiraikotsu.
That massive boomerang the demon slayers used, crafted from demon bones. Devastating power.
If he could max out his affection with that thing…
Would he get a powerful talent transformation out of it?
Maybe even reach the 'quality transformation'?