White light flooded the entire hall.
The onmyōji were frozen in place, unable to move.
Not just from fear, their spiritual power was completely suppressed. Kikyō's spiritual energy crashed over them like a towering wave, grinding their paltry reserves to dust.
"This… this is impossible…" The oldest onmyōji murmured, his murky eyes wide with disbelief.
He had trained for thirty years. He considered himself a fairly famous onmyōji in these parts.
But now, he couldn't move a single finger.
The oppressive weight of that spiritual power was too immense. It reminded him of the great onmyōji he'd glimpsed from afar outside the Onmyōryō in Kyoto as a young man.
In terms of pure spiritual power's quality and quantity, this was even stronger.
What kind of monster was this woman?
By the door.
Nurarihyon's pipe dropped from his mouth.
He stared blankly at the white-clad figure in the center of the hall, his golden pupils filled with shock.
"This…" He swallowed hard.
He prided himself on his experience. He knew most of the demons in the Kantō region. He'd dealt with plenty of human onmyōji relying on his elusive nature, none of them could ever hold him.
But he'd never witnessed spiritual power on this level.
This was suppression. Domain-level suppression.
Within the range of this white light, all spiritual energy was subject to her will.
Nurarihyon could feel his own demonic aura crushed beneath that power.
He tried to move, but found his body wouldn't obey.
That spiritual force was warning him, don't move.
"So this is the woman many consider the strongest shrine maiden of this era… Kikyō of Kaede Village?" he murmured, awe in his voice.
And barely suppressed excitement.
Kikyō's name wasn't just known among humans. It was infamous among Yokai too.
For this shrine maiden who protected a single village, the chaotic, bloodthirsty Yokai though not exactly terrified, had learned through their limited rationality that only in groups would they dare confront her.
Alone, they faced certain death.
For Yokai, that was proof enough of her power!
But before this, Nurarihyon hadn't paid much attention.
The arrow that pierced the Kamaitachi and lit up the sky, the shot that pinned the false god toad, impressive, yes. But in his eyes, they hadn't posed a threat to him. He couldn't provoke her, but he could certainly evade.
Now, he realized he might have underestimated her.
Before that piercing shot against the Kamaitachi, Kikyō had already consumed heavily.
The arrow that pinned the toad demon? That wasn't even her full strength!
"That 'strongest' title, I thought it was just hype…" he breathed.
"Turns out it's real."
Spiritual power of this magnitude was beyond the reach of ordinary human onmyōji.
This was talent.
The kind of talent you're born with, a gift from the heavens.
No wonder that demon warrior had dared to just barge in.
In his place, he'd dare too.
With someone like that backing you up, who wouldn't walk around like they owned the place?
In the center of the hall.
Shinji's blade still pointed at Suda Shigenobu's throat.
The short, fat lord was completely terrified. A large wet patch spread across his crotch, the stench of urine filling the air.
"Spare… spare me…" His teeth chattered, his words barely coherent. "I'll give everything back… money… gold…"
"Whatever you want, I'll give it…"
Shinji looked at him.
Firelight flickered across his pale, handsome face. His red eyes burned like twin flames of ghost fire.
"What I want," he said,
"You can't give."
The blade fell.
No fancy technique.
Just the simplest of slashes.
But that slash was so fast, Suda Shigenobu didn't even see it.
He just felt a chill at his neck.
Then, his vision began to spin.
He saw his own body.
That short, fat form in the ill-fitting hitatare, now spraying blood.
He saw the young demon warrior too.
Beneath that warrior's blade... was his body.
Then, the vision went dark.
…
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Shinji held Suda Shigenobu's head and turned around.
His movements were natural, like he was doing something completely ordinary.
Killing.
For a demon, for a demon warrior, this was indeed ordinary.
The hall was dead silent.
The attendants, the onmyōji, all stared blankly at the scene.
Their master, the one who'd been issuing commands from the raised platform moments ago, was dead.
Cleanly. Efficiently. Without even a chance to struggle.
Shinji walked toward the hall's entrance.
Kikyō lowered her longbow. The white light enveloping the hall faded.
The suppressed onmyōji, granted reprieve, collapsed to the floor.
But no one dared to move. No one dared to block him.
Shinji reached the door and stopped.
He raised his hand.
Holding Suda Shigenobu's head high.
"Listen well." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the tenshu.
"My name is Nakai Shinji."
"A demon warrior."
"I slew the toad demon of Stone Village that falsely claimed divinity. And I slew this man who oppressed the people."
"If anyone dares to mistreat the common folk under their rule again, this man's fate will be proof."
"I will come calling. And I will kill again."
He announced his name.
From today, that name would spread throughout this region.
As the one who killed Suda Shigenobu.
As a demon who dared to raise his hand against human authority.
As an existence that… didn't play by the rules.
This was a warning.
Sure, there would be those who didn't believe it in the future. But for now, in this castle, those who witnessed this, for a while, at least wouldn't dare act rashly.
Aside from Suda Shigenobu himself, they were the officials managing the surrounding areas.
This gave the people a chance to breathe.
And a chance to breathe was enough.
After all, if needed, he would 'come' again!
Nurarihyon leaned against the doorframe, watching.
He'd picked up his pipe, but forgotten to light it.
"Nakai Shinji…" He muttered the name, his golden eyes gleaming. "Interesting."
"Interesting. Very interesting."
He looked at Kikyō, still standing there.
White robes and red hakama, longbow in hand.
That overwhelming spiritual power from moments ago had completely withdrawn. She looked like an ordinary shrine maiden.
But Nurarihyon knew that was just a facade.
This woman was a monster.
And that demon warrior named Shinji, who could stand alongside her, he wasn't simple either.
"This trip," Nurarihyon grinned, "was worth it."
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +1]
[Current Affection: 49 (Trust)]
Just a little more, and he'd unlock the second 'talent.'
Shinji looked at the prompt on his panel.
The right thing to do.
Yeah.
This was the right thing to do.
He turned and walked back into the hall.
To the wall where Hiraikotsu hung.
He reached out and took down the massive weapon.
It was heavy in his hands.
The unique texture of demon bone transmitted through his palm, a feeling of solid weight.
This thing had been a decoration here for ten days.
While its true owner had died on the road to Kaede Village.
"Time to return this to its rightful owners." Shinji slung Hiraikotsu over his back.
Then he walked out of the tenshu without looking back.
Kikyō followed behind him.
Nurarihyon, pipe in mouth, ambled along at the rear.
The three of them strolled out of the castle as if they owned the place.
No one dared stop them. No one dared pursue. The people in the city only watched from a distance.
Watched the three figures disappear beyond the gate.
Watched Suda Shigenobu's head hung from the flagpole at the gate, no one dared take it down.
Because the expression on that head still held the terror of his final moments.
Like a warning to all.