Soon, the barrier dissipated, yet not completely.
The pale white curtain of light melted away like morning dew, silently blending into the air.
However, Kōbe Hikaru could sense that the Spiritual Power supporting the barrier still lingered.
As long as the Shrine Maiden at its core willed it, she could reactivate and deploy it again in an instant.
Meanwhile, Kikyō walked down the stone steps.
Her footsteps were steady, her white and red robes swaying gently in the night breeze.
Beneath her long black hair, her features remained aloof and beautiful.
Her dark eyes were as profound and calm as the night sky, yet they seemed to harbor unseen ripples of emotion.
Hikaru stood his ground.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the girl to speak.
Kikyō stopped five steps away from him.
It was the perfect distance to draw a sword, and equally the perfect distance to nock an arrow.
“What are you?”
Kikyō’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
But Hikaru could sense her inner bewilderment.
The Shrine Maiden was genuinely confused.
Confused by a yōkai that helped humans slaughter other yōkai?
Regardless, at the very least, Hikaru was not greeted by an Exorcism Arrow raining down on his head!
“A passing Ghost Samurai,” he replied.
“Passing by?” Kikyō tilted her head slightly, her black hair slipping over her shoulder.
“Would a passing Ghost Samurai help humans kill his own kind?”
“I am nothing like those things,” Hikaru said, his tone entirely serious.
He truly did not consider himself the same kind as that horde of yōkai.
Setting aside the fact that yōkai were already of different species, types, and even ‘families,’ it wasn’t like he could even communicate with those monsters, right?
Kikyō looked at him.
There was no hostility in her aloof eyes, but there was no trust either.
Only confusion.
“You have the Jewel of Four Souls on you,” she stated.
It was something she could see directly, and even more so, something she could easily deduce—from the sudden appearance of the demons, from his abrupt intervention, and from his various bizarre actions during the battle.
Hikaru froze for a moment.
It seemed that even though he hadn’t had the chance to voluntarily reveal the Jewel of Four Souls, nothing could be hidden from her.
Then again, she was the Shrine Maiden tasked with guarding the Jewel of Four Souls, so this was only natural.
She had probably come to his aid just now precisely because of it.
“Did you obtain that jewel from the Elder Village Chief of the Demon Slayer Clan?” Kikyō continued to ask.
Her tone remained calm, but Hikaru could sense the hidden vigilance beneath that tranquility.
If his answer dissatisfied her, an Exorcism Arrow would be fired right between his eyes the very next second—
“My name is Kōbe Hikaru.
The old man entrusted it to me right before he died.”
Hikaru decided to tell the truth.
There was nothing to hide, anyway.
“He asked me to deliver the Jewel of Four Souls into your hands.”
‘And conveniently let me unlock the Jewel of Four Souls’ Affinity,’ Hikaru added inwardly.
Kikyō fell silent.
Her gaze landed on Hikaru as if trying to discern the truth in his words.
“That old gentleman…
has passed away?”
“He’s dead,” Hikaru nodded.
“His injuries were too severe, and he lost too much blood.
By the time I rescued him, he was already failing.”
Kikyō’s brows furrowed slightly.
It was the first time she had shown any emotion tonight.
Then, she suddenly lowered her eyes.
“I understand.”
Her voice was still calm, but Hikaru could detect the heaviness beneath it.
It was just deeply restrained, so restrained that not a single trace of emotion leaked out.
Hikaru knew she must have known the old man.
Perhaps they were even friends.
“In that case…”
Kikyō raised her head, her gaze returning to Hikaru.
“Where is the Jewel of Four Souls?”
Hikaru didn’t waste words.
He reached into his robes and took out the orb radiating a faint purple glow.
He had come here specifically to deliver the jewel—setting that aside, judging by his various actions, handing over the jewel would also benefit him.
At the very least, complying with the jewel’s wishes should increase its Affinity!
Moreover, he felt that after unlocking its Affinity, he had formed a sort of mental link with the jewel.
Handing it over still counted as possessing it, so he felt no reluctance to part with it.
The Jewel of Four Souls rested in his palm, its light soft and mysterious.
Kikyō’s gaze fell upon the orb.
She did not reach out to take it.
Hikaru noticed this detail.
“What’s wrong?
Aren’t you going to take it?”
“…”
Kikyō did not answer; she merely stared at the jewel.
This took Hikaru somewhat by surprise.
“Strange.”
Soon, Kikyō finally spoke.
“What’s strange?”
“The Jewel of Four Souls,” she said.
“Its Straight Spirit…
is conveying a message to me.”
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
The Straight Spirit could talk?
Although the system interface had indicated that the Jewel of Four Souls would “convey messages.”
He just hadn’t expected Kikyō to be able to receive them as well.
“What is it saying?”
“It says…” Kikyō’s frown deepened.
“It says that you can be trusted.”
“…”
Hikaru was stunned.
The Jewel of Four Souls was putting in a good word for him?
Was this the benefit of handing it over that the Jewel had implied?
If things really went according to the information the Jewel provided…
Hikaru couldn’t help but feel tempted.
Regardless, the Shrine Maiden before him, even if she hadn’t reached her peak state, was still incredibly powerful.
Looking at the prompt on his interface, Hikaru didn’t know what to say for a moment.
How could this jewel…
actively help someone?
And it was this proactive with only 1 point of Affinity?
“Sealed within the Jewel of Four Souls are two opposing forces of good and evil.”
Seemingly sensing Hikaru’s confusion, Kikyō began to explain.
She clearly had no idea that Hikaru’s understanding of the Jewel of Four Souls was, to some extent, no less than her own.
Her voice carried a hint of contemplation.
“The Straight Spirit represents good intentions, while the Crooked Spirit represents malicious intent.”
“If the wielder’s heart leans toward evil, the Crooked Spirit will take dominance, and the Jewel of Four Souls will become a wicked artifact that amplifies Demonic Power.”
“But if the wielder’s heart leans toward good…”
She raised her head, looking at Hikaru.
“The Straight Spirit will actively convey a message to its guardian, confirming the wielder’s goodwill.”
Hikaru understood.
Just as previously stated, the Jewel of Four Souls was like a mirror, capable of reflecting the true nature of its wielder’s heart.
And right now, the Straight Spirit was conveying to Kikyō that he could be trusted.
This meant that the Jewel of Four Souls had acknowledged his “good intentions.”
Even though he was a yōkai.
Even though he had spent the last three months feeding his sword with blood.
The Jewel of Four Souls still considered him a “good person.”
All because of that single point of ‘Affinity.’
“So…”
Hikaru looked at Kikyō and asked, “Do you believe me?”
Kikyō did not answer immediately.
She merely looked at him quietly, her aloof eyes still devoid of much emotional fluctuation.
The night breeze blew past, lifting her black hair.
The shrine’s Torii Gate cast a long shadow under the moonlight.
The surrounding villagers had begun to emerge from the shrine, watching the situation from afar.
Their eyes held fear, curiosity, and a trace of gratitude.
After all, Hikaru had just helped them repel the yōkai.
Even if he was a yōkai himself.
“According to all records, the Straight Spirit’s judgment has never been wrong,” Kikyō finally spoke.
“Since it says you can be trusted…”
She took a step forward.
Her slender, pale hand finally reached out toward the Jewel of Four Souls in Hikaru’s palm.
“Then I shall trust you.”
Looking at the prompt on his interface—a message that almost felt like it was playing matchmaker—the corners of Hikaru’s mouth twitched beneath the Red Oni Mask.
This jewel…
Why did it feel so human?
In comparison, that broken sword Muramasa was simply an eyesore!