The chicken soup was fragrant.
Hikaru held the bowl, drinking it sip by sip.
Although the Ghost Samurai body didn't require food, it wasn't that he couldn't eat, and this did not prevent him from enjoying the taste of food.
After all, he was still human at his core—a 'person' who had transmigrated from the modern era, who once never had to worry about food and drink, and now didn't need to struggle just to be full.
Being able to just pursue good taste was, to some extent, a good thing.
"Delicious."
He exclaimed sincerely.
Kikyo sat across from him, also holding a bowl in her hands.
She drank very demurely, sipping in small mouthfuls, her movements as elegant as if she were performing a ritual.
She had changed out of her white robes and red hakama, now clean and tidy, with no sign of the disarray from last night's battle.
Her black hair had also been re-combed, tied back with a plain hair ribbon, revealing her fair nape.
Sunlight streamed in from outside the window, casting faint light and shadows on her profile.
Hikaru glanced at her, then looked away.
He was thinking about other things.
That battle last night had moved him deeply.
It wasn't just because of the danger.
It was even more because of that Kamaitachi.
Although as a demon, he had already sorted out and summarized the levels of demons for himself in the months since his reincarnation, it was ultimately just a deduction and speculation based on his own changes—a logical derivation and a theory on paper.
That high-level demon at the Qualitative Transformation stage made him truly understand what 'Qualitative Transformation' meant for the first time.
Hikaru put down his bowl and silently reviewed the battle in his mind.
Physical Transformation, as mentioned before, involves changing the body's structure.
Growing horns, sprouting wings, adding claws, and changing eyes.
These are all structural changes.
His Six Transformations were like this: Sharp Body, Keen Eyes, Archer's Arm, Spear Waist, Shield Bone, and Blood Transformation.
Each transformation caused a mutation in a certain part of his body, granting him abilities that transcended common logic.
But in the end, it was still a modification within the original framework.
Like changing the tires, adding an engine, or installing a turbocharger on a car.
The car is still the same car; only its performance has improved.
Qualitative Transformation, however, is clearly different.
Hikaru recalled the Kamaitachi's performance in battle.
It could change its body size at will, shrinking from thirty feet to five feet, and then expanding from five feet to twenty feet.
The volume changed, but the mass remained the same.
What did this mean?
It meant it could compress the same amount of power into a smaller volume, gaining faster speed and sharper attacks.
It could also disperse the same power into a larger volume, gaining a wider defensive range and stronger resistance to strikes.
This wasn't a change in structure; it was a change in attributes.
It was the manipulation of the most fundamental attributes.
Large and small, increase and decrease.
Hikaru suddenly had a deeper realization.
Physical Transformation changes 'how to use.'
Qualitative Transformation changes 'how much there is.'
One changes the method, the other changes the essence.
No wonder the gap was so large.
He had perfected his Six Transformations, and his ghostly qi was so pure that even the Kamaitachi was surprised.
But he was still being suppressed and beaten.
Because his 'attributes' weren't enough.
Strength, speed, and defense—these most basic things were an entire level below those of a Qualitative Transformation demon.
Hikaru's heart suddenly stirred, and as if struck by a flash of inspiration, he realized something.
He realized that the quality of the Kamaitachi's Demonic Qi was actually inferior to his own.
And Demonic Qi, besides being related to 'transformation,' actually requires the accumulation and refinement of years.
In other words, the Kamaitachi's age as a demon was likely not long—based on the lifespan of demons, it had probably just been born not long ago.
It had already completed more than the 'Six Transformations' despite being recently born.
Compared to ordinary demons, its talent naturally went without saying.
But Hikaru felt that this should be more related to its essence.
The essence of a Kamaitachi is not a biological creature, but the formless 'wind.'
Just like that Six Transformations Fog Demon from before, although beings with an illusory essence are harder to demonize than ordinary demons, once they succeed, they also seem to transform more easily than ordinary ones.
By extension, they might also find it easier to step into Qualitative Transformation after Physical Transformation than ordinary demons.
Further extending this, their Qualitative Transformation is likely related to their essential 'wind.' One must know that besides basic physical attributes like mass, Yin and Yang, the Four Symbols, and the Five Elements are also 'attributes.'
This is the difference between physics and elements.
But whether physical or elemental, they are all attributes and all 'qualitative' changes!
Of course, this isn't simply manipulating elements, but 'becoming' the element—just as the Kamaitachi is essentially 'wind.'
The Kamaitachi gradually condenses a physical body from the wind.
For an ordinary demon to take this path, it would have to do the opposite and become 'wind.'
Hikaru understood.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kikyo's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Hikaru looked up.
The priestess was looking at him, curiosity in her cool eyes.
"Thinking about how to become stronger."
Hikaru spoke truthfully: "The Kamaitachi from last night made me realize that I'm still far from enough. Even with external help, I can't truly contend with it head-on."
As a demon, and even more as a being walking through a chaotic world, only by being strong enough can one be stable enough.
To be able to pursue the lifestyle one desires.
This was a reason that needed no explanation.
A pursuit that required no excessive elaboration.
Kikyo nodded in understanding.
"That was indeed a very strong demon."
She put down her bowl, her gaze falling on the sunlight outside the window.
"To be able to change body size at will and manipulate the essence of wind... a demon of that level can no longer be dealt with by ordinary means."
"However, with your growth rate, you should be able to surpass it soon."
Kikyo glanced at him, her dark eyes calm yet bright, speaking very seriously.
Hikaru paused slightly.
"You are not an ordinary demon,"
she said.
"Although I don't know the details, I can feel that your way of growing is not ordinary."
Of course it wasn't ordinary.
Although Kikyo was not a demon and could not possibly summarize the so-called 'Demons' Four Transformations and Six Transformations' classification, as a priestess with extremely strong spiritual power, her perception was sharp, and she could sense the Ghost Samurai before her becoming stronger.
Hikaru was not at all surprised by this.
"It is indeed not ordinary."
"But as for what it specifically is, it's not convenient for me to say for now."
Kikyo did not press further.
She simply nodded and then stood up.
"I understand."
"Everyone has their own secrets."
She walked to the window, her back to Hikaru.
Sunlight spilled over her back, dyeing those white clothes a faint gold.
"But no matter what your method is, there is one thing my intuition won't be wrong about."
"What?"
"Your way of becoming stronger is different from other demons; it is neither chaotic nor bloodthirsty."
Kikyo turned around again and looked at him.
Hikaru also looked at her and suddenly smiled.
"You're right."
He stood up and walked to Kikyo's side.
The two stood side by side in front of the window, looking at the village outside.
Kaede was chasing a chicken in the courtyard, running until she was covered in sweat.
"Big Brother! Sister! What are you doing!"
The little girl's voice came from outside.
"Standing so close! Are you whispering secrets!"
Hikaru and Kikyo fell silent at the same time.
"We are discussing serious business,"
Kikyo said.
"What kind of serious business requires standing so close!"
Kaede put her hands on her hips, a look of 'I understand everything' on her face.
"Adults just love making excuses!"
"..."
Hikaru felt this little girl was truly a piece of work.
He glanced at Kikyo from the side.
The priestess's earlobes turned slightly red, but she still maintained a calm expression on her face.
"Kaede."
She spoke.
"What is it, Sister?"
"Go catch the chicken in the courtyard. We'll have an extra dish for lunch."
"Eh—? But I still want to play with Big Brother—"
"Now."
"...Fine."
Kaede pouted and ran away.
Hikaru watched her back and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"This girl is really interesting."
"She's always been like this."
There was a hint of helplessness in Kikyo's tone.
"She's liked talking nonsense since she was little."
"However—"
She paused.
"She's not entirely wrong, either."
Hikaru was stunned for a moment.
Kikyo didn't give him a chance to ask back; instead, she turned around and walked into the house.
"Clean up a bit,"
she said.
"We are setting out."
"To where?"
"The Demon Slayer Village."
Kikyo stopped her pace and looked back at Hikaru.
"That elder entrusted the shikon jewel to me. Now that Magatsuhi within the shikon jewel has been suppressed, it is time for me to personally inform his clansmen."
"And—"
"His family is still waiting for his return."
Hikaru fell silent.
He recalled the words the old man spoke before his death.
"I understand."
Hikaru nodded.
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Kikyo said.
"Rest for today to recover spiritual power."
"Alright."
Hikaru responded.
He watched Kikyo's retreating figure as she walked into the house, but his mind was on other things.
Kikyo hadn't asked if he wanted to go along because she knew that Hikaru would definitely follow.
Despite having fought side-by-side only once, she truly trusted him completely.
To some extent, she was still inexperienced in the ways of the world.
However, regarding following Kikyo to the Demon Slayer Village, it was indeed impossible for Hikaru to refuse. Even setting aside personal feelings, he would follow just to further increase the favorability of the shikon jewel.
Not to mention,
The Demon Slayer Tribe also had important characters from the original work.
Although those who would be active fifty years later were likely not yet born,
Their weapon—
The Hiraikotsu.
It was a giant boomerang used by the Demon Slayer Village to slay demons, made from demon bones and possessing astonishing power.
If he could max out the favorability of that thing...
He should be able to obtain a sufficiently powerful talent change, right?
He wondered if he could reach the level of 'Qualitative Transformation' through this.
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