“This is as far as I’ll go.” Several miles outside Akegawa Castle, Kamamara pulled back on the reins, bringing the warhorse beneath him to a steady halt.
He turned toward Kikyo and Kaede beside him.
“All right.” Kikyo nodded.
A complicated emotion flickered through her eyes as she said softly, “Goodbye.
Take care of yourself.” “Goodbye… and you have to come visit us in the village!” Kaede leaned forward on horseback, her little face filled with reluctance as she waved vigorously at him.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll definitely come.” Kamamara nodded seriously, then turned his gaze toward Kikyo and warned her solemnly, “Be careful on the road, especially around that priestess named Tsubaki.
Keep your guard up.” “I’ll remember.” Kikyo nodded gently.
Without lingering any longer, she lightly pressed her legs against the horse’s sides.
The horse whinnied and galloped past Kamamara, carrying her down the road.
Kamamara remained in the saddle, watching her gradually receding figure.
Something stirred in his heart, and he suddenly shouted, “Kikyo!” Hearing him call, Kikyo sharply pulled on the reins, bringing her horse to an abrupt halt.
She turned and looked back at Kamamara in confusion, wondering what else he wanted to say.
“Well…” Meeting her gaze, Kamamara opened his mouth but hesitated for a moment.
In the end, he gathered his courage and shouted, “I mean, if you ever decide you want to marry someday, would you become my wife?!” Kikyo’s entire body stiffened.
A blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
Panic flashed through her usually cool eyes, and even the tips of her ears turned pink.
She gave no answer.
Instead, she abruptly urged her horse forward.
It released a long whinny before racing into the distance without her looking back.
Her long black hair streamed behind her in the wind, and her hurried departure seemed almost flustered.
Watching Kikyo race away, Kamamara’s lips curved into a faint smile.
There were two reasons he had done something so close to a confession.
First, he genuinely liked Kikyo and wanted to marry her.
Second, he wanted to leave an impression on her heart before she encountered Inuyasha, preventing that dog-eared fool from getting there first.
More importantly, Kamamara knew from the original story that Tsubaki would soon place a curse on Kikyo.
In the original plot, Kikyo believed she would never fall in love and paid no attention to Tsubaki’s curse.
In the end, after falling in love with Inuyasha, she met a tragic death exactly as the curse had foretold.
Under ordinary circumstances, Tsubaki should never have been capable of placing a curse on someone as powerful as Kikyo.
Kikyo had simply been too confident.
Combined with the Shikon Jewel’s influence behind the scenes, that confidence ultimately helped bring about the tragedy.
His confession was certain to stir Kikyo’s heart.
When she later faced Tsubaki’s curse, it might make her take the warning more seriously.
Whether it would truly change anything, however, even he could not be certain.
Only after Kikyo’s figure completely disappeared at the end of the road did Kamamara urge his horse around and begin riding back.
Elsewhere, Kikyo galloped for a long time before quietly glancing behind her.
Seeing that Kamamara was already nowhere in sight, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She raised a hand to her chest and felt her heart pounding violently beneath her palm.
The corner of her mouth unconsciously lifted into a faint smile, though she quickly pressed her lips together as if trying to hide it.
“Sis, are you going to marry Kamamara?” Kaede looked up at Kikyo’s slightly flushed cheeks.
This was the first time she had ever seen her sister look like this.
Thinking back on everything that had happened while traveling with Kamamara, Kaede said quietly, “Even though he’s a half-demon, he’s a good person.
He isn’t rough and frightening like other yōkai.
I think he’d make a good husband.” “…I’m a priestess.
How could I possibly marry?” Kikyo glanced at her and let out a soft laugh, though her voice sounded slightly uncertain.
“Why not?
Priestesses can get married too!” Kaede pressed.
“Do you not like him, or do you just not want to marry anyone?” “That’s enough.
Stop talking about him.” Kikyo fell silent for a moment before smiling and changing the subject.
“We’ve been away for quite some time.
We should go back and visit.
After a little longer, we’ll return to the village.” “We’re going home?
That’s wonderful!” Kaede immediately cheered.
Although she had enjoyed traveling with her sister, she still missed their village.
Their home was there.
“We need to go back soon,” Kaede added earnestly.
“Otherwise, Kamamara might not be able to find us.” “…If he can’t find us, then he can wait patiently until we return.” Kikyo paused, then answered with a soft smile.
— Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the mountain forest near Akegawa Castle, Kamamara casually tossed aside the severed head of an enormous serpent.
Snake blood spilled across the ground.
With a thought, he summoned his panel.
[Eight Inner Gates Formation] [Gate of Opening: 100%] [Gate of Healing: 100%] [Gate of Life: 100%] [Gate of Pain: 43%] “Not bad.
I made quite a bit of progress in seven days.” He closed the panel and glanced at the enormous headless serpent lying on the ground.
Even without its head, the body continued twisting and convulsing unconsciously.
Kamamara turned and left.
He soon found a nearby river and leaped into the water.
The foul demon blood covering his body dispersed through the current, drawing countless fish that frantically fought over the blood containing demonic power.
Kamamara quickly washed away the filth.
Then he circulated his demonic power, creating a gentle breeze around himself that dried his wet clothes and hair.
He raised his head and looked at the sun.
After determining the direction, he murmured, “It’s time to collect my sword.” As soon as he spoke, a whirlwind wrapped around his body and carried him swiftly toward Akegawa Town.
He had not wasted those seven days.
Not only had he completed the second stage of his Rasengan training, but he had also spent the rest of his time searching for and killing reasonably powerful yōkai.
He had not bothered wasting time on small-fry yōkai.
Instead, he specifically searched for stronger creatures that had claimed territories of their own.
Unfortunately, he had not encountered any famous yōkai like the Tsuchigumo.
Most of those he found were merely somewhat stronger than ordinary fodder.
Although yōkai of that level still provided a decent amount of progress, they were scarce.
Most of his time had been spent searching, and on average, he found only one every day or two.
Before long, Kamamara arrived once more at Onimaru Masa’s smithy in Akegawa Town.
“You’re here!
The sword is finished.
I’ll bring it over now.” The moment Kamamara entered, Onimaru Masa, who had been resting on a stool, noticed him.
Without wasting words, the swordsmith immediately rose and walked toward a weapon rack beside the wall, where numerous completed weapons were displayed.
He removed a newly forged katana and presented it to Kamamara.
“This was forged by melting down your kanabō.
Take a look and tell me whether it satisfies you.” Kamamara reached out and accepted it.
The weapon felt cool in his hand.
It was a simply designed katana.
The smooth black wooden scabbard had a fine finish, while the hilt was wrapped in black-lacquered ray skin and tightly bound with leather cord.
The wrapping both prevented slipping and made the grip more comfortable.
“Although this sword isn’t a true demon blade, its main material came from an oni’s kanabō, making it far harder than ordinary steel.” Onimaru’s voice was filled with pride.
He was clearly extremely pleased with his work.
“Aside from lacking demonic power, its sharpness and durability can absolutely rival the legendary demon blades!” Kamamara slid the scabbard into his belt, gripped the hilt, and slowly drew the blade.
“Shing!” The clear metallic sound of the blade leaving its sheath cut through the air.
A katana gleaming with a chilling light appeared in his hand.
Its blade shone with a cold silver radiance.
Perhaps because of the unusual oni metal, faint black wave patterns ran across its surface like flowing shadows.
Kamamara raised a hand and lightly flicked the blade.
A clear, lingering metallic note rang out, its echo hanging in the air for a long time.
Although Kamamara was no expert on swords, even he could tell that this was an exceptional weapon.
“There’s a testing room in the back.
You may try it there,” Onimaru Masa said.
Seeing Kamamara’s calm expression, he seemed to mistake it for dissatisfaction and gestured toward a room behind him.
“That won’t be necessary.
It truly is an excellent blade.” Kamamara sheathed the sword and looked sincerely at Onimaru.
“As expected of a renowned swordsmith.
I’m very satisfied with it.” “As long as you’re satisfied!” Hearing the praise, Onimaru smiled proudly and unconsciously straightened his chest.
“By the way, I heard that you once searched for traces of a demon swordsmith.” Kamamara suddenly changed the subject, his gaze becoming serious.
“Would you be willing to tell me anything you know about demon swordsmiths?”