The next morning, Inuyasha awoke to the rich aroma of food.
He turned his head and saw Kaede lifting the lid from the pot.
Rising steam blurred half her face.
“If you’re awake, come eat something.” The dignified priestess looked the same as ever.
Inuyasha glanced at her right eye and caught the scent of the medicine in the air.
Toran had stumbled upon it while searching for resurrection arts.
She found it in a Taoist temple deep in the mountains, where it was said to have been left by an ancient celestial maiden skilled in healing.
The medicine had been made from demon marrow, spirit herbs, and purified spring water.
Thanks to the selfless contributions of several bandits, it had undergone extensive testing.
With repeated application, it produced miraculous results on both fresh and long-standing injuries.
Confirming that fact had been the main reason Inuyasha spent two additional months away from the village.
Holding a bowl of rice, he casually brought up his plan to replace the village with a city.
“I intend to expand this village into a city where humans and demons can live together.” “The Sacred Tree and Bone-Eater’s Well will become the rear garden, while the castle keep will stand where we are now.
You won’t have to carry the village alone anymore.
Plenty of people will help you.” Kaede’s brow gradually furrowed as she listened.
“It would be better not to disturb the peace here.” She put down her chopsticks, straightened her posture, and looked calmly at Inuyasha.
“This is the land Kikyo-neesan protected and the home where these families have lived for generations.
I don’t want it turned into some demon city.” “Have you considered the dangers?” Seeing Inuyasha stop shoveling down his food, Kaede knew he was listening and continued without holding back.
“Human-demon coexistence sounds wonderful, but demons enjoy feeding on humans.
Even if you can control the powerful demons under you, what about every worthless monster wandering the land?” “They won’t avoid the city simply because you built it, nor will they all fear your reputation.
Some will take advantage of the confusion to slip inside.” “Villagers gathering firewood, collecting herbs, or working their fields could be dragged into the forest and eaten at any moment.
Do you intend to assign everyone a personal guard?” “Besides, fear of demons is an instinct carved into human bones.” “Stop and have some water first.” Inuyasha offered her a cup.
Kaede accepted it with a frown, glared at the dog who kept inching closer, and took a sip before continuing.
“If your demon subordinates live beside the villagers, people will spend every day terrified and sleep with knives clenched in their hands.
What kind of life would that be?” “Even if the demons never attack, the demonic energy gathering around them would leave ordinary people unable to eat or sleep.
Their bodies would weaken, and they would constantly fall ill.” “And what about the exorcist monks, priestesses, and other Buddhist clergy who devote themselves to slaying demons?” “If a city full of demons appears in Musashi Province, they will see it as a threat.
Sooner or later, they will unite and attack.” “Then this village will no longer be a peaceful home.
It will become a battlefield.” Kaede’s reasoning was clear and orderly, while her gaze upon Inuyasha gradually sharpened.
“Inuyasha, I won’t stop you from building a city or declaring yourself king.
I couldn’t stop you even if I tried.” “But don’t drag the village into it.
The people here only want to live peaceful, stable lives.” Inuyasha scratched his silver hair rather than arguing.
Under the mature priestess’s disgusted stare, he took the cup from her hand and drained the remaining water as if he had been the one delivering that heartfelt speech.
“Everything you said is right, Kaede.” His voice was unusually serious.
“That’s why I never intended to make the demons and villagers live together from the beginning.” “With the Sacred Tree and Kaede’s Village at the center, we’ll establish two residential districts.
Demons will live in the east and humans in the west.
Neither side may enter the other’s territory without permission.” “Then we’ll establish rules one step at a time.” Inuyasha folded his arms, his golden eyes reflecting Kaede’s thoughtful expression.
“Demons who eat humans will die.
Those who obey the rules can stay.
Given enough time, those rules will become tradition.” “As for demonic energy damaging human health…” He considered the problem briefly before tilting his head toward Kaede.
“We won’t need to worry about it during the early stages.
By the time humans and demons begin truly interacting, I’ll have found a solution.” The spiritual energy and sorcery of this world had certain limitations.
Anyone born without spiritual power would never develop it later, much like the spiritual roots in A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality.
Inuyasha planned to begin with Devices.
By awakening the power of the soul itself, that strength could nourish the body and allow an ordinary person to enter the supernatural realm.
However, this path was similar to the priestess system.
If someone’s soul was not strong enough to manifest a Device, the method would still accomplish nothing.
Even so, it unquestionably offered the people under his rule another path toward supernatural power.
In the future, [I Alone Across the Myriad Worlds] might grant him chakra, magic power, true qi, or other systems.
Leading the entire population into a supernatural age of immortality would no longer be an impossible dream.
However, he could not truly open the power of Devices to others until another ten years had passed and he absorbed his next Alternate Self.
Naraku lurked in the shadows like a venomous snake, while countless demons and monsters roamed the land.
Before gaining an absolute advantage, Inuyasha had no intention of clearing the path only for someone else to claim the prize.
Besides, he still had no method for awakening Devices in large numbers.
Kaede stared at the utterly confident Inuyasha before releasing a sigh.
“Words aren’t enough.
I need to see how you intend to solve these problems.” “Otherwise, I won’t agree to you wasting vast amounts of labor and resources on an unrealistic city that serves no purpose.” Inuyasha suddenly smiled like a weasel preparing to raid a chicken coop.
“Kaede, come closer.” He beckoned.
Kaede froze briefly before leaning her head toward him with obvious caution.
Inuyasha moved close to her ear.
Warm breath brushed across Kaede’s skin.
Having never been so intimate with a man, the beautiful, mature priestess felt her heart tremble.
The silver-haired half-demon whispered several words that only she could hear.
Kaede’s ears instantly turned crimson, and heat flooded her dignified face.
She jerked upright and glared at Inuyasha in furious embarrassment, her clenched fist nearly flying toward him.
“Inuyasha!
Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” “Stop talking such nonsense!” Inuyasha jumped backward and spread his hands with a grin.
“I’m not talking nonsense.
I really can give you power.
Just don’t worry too much about where that power comes from.” “How could I possibly not worry about that?!” Kaede gritted her teeth, her cheeks still burning red.
“You shameless, perverted dog!
Bullying Kikyo-neesan wasn’t enough, so now you want to bully me too!” “You really were born an evil half-demon!
I’ll seal you away with my own hands!” Seeing the humiliated and furious Kaede turn to retrieve her arrows, Inuyasha decided to give her time to calm down.
He immediately bolted through the door, leaving only one sentence behind.
“Remember to save me dinner!” “In your dreams, half-demon!” Kaede watched the door continue to swing.
She lowered the bow and arrows in her hands, then covered her burning face as her heart pounded wildly.
‘What a bad dog!’ …
^^ The more you vote, the more chapters I upload weekly.) …
Replace “é” with “e” on your web browser.)