Chapter 55: Seeing a Spirit
"I choose B."
Kaito's logic for choosing his rewards was simple. Because the target's Slaughter Points were so low, the reward values from this drop card were generally poor. The only one that held its value and was of immediate use was C, the attribute point. Among the remaining options, the number of items he could get from B was too small, and his opponent hadn't displayed any particularly special gear. Kaito figured that rather than digging through trash, it was better to take a proficiency roll. Even if it wasn't something he desperately needed, it would still be useful.
The result was quite good, granting him a level in his footwork proficiency.
Kaito felt the familiar spasm in his muscles as his body was once again enhanced. This feeling of rapid growth was indeed intoxicating, almost addictive. He mused that perhaps Karma Reincarnators didn't need any extra incentive to fall into a fate of constantly hunting other Reincarnators to strengthen themselves, making more enemies, and then continuing the cycle of slaughter until the day they were finally killed by another Reincarnator, ending their sinful lives.
"Karma Reincarnator… a fitting name indeed."
Kaito then recalled the Professor's final, private warning about the [Black King's Assembly]. It was clearly a gentle reminder that limitless killing would eventually bring disaster upon oneself in the Nexus.
He sat on the roof of the train, the silver moon hanging high above.
I'm being underestimated, he thought ironically. I've always been a law-abiding citizen who resists temptation.
The night wind was fierce, whipping his hair about his face. In the moonlight, an excited expression played on his features. In the distance, he could already see the increasing number of torii gates dotting the landscape—the most iconic feature of the city of Kyoto. As the cultural heart of Japan since the Heian period, the city's various shrines were its signature landmarks.
The greater irony was that the being who should be most despised by the gods, Muzan Kibutsuji, was now living in this very city. And Prince Hirohito, the man who would one day lead Japan into a catastrophic war across Asia, was here as well.
Kaito's smile grew wider. He wasn't deceiving himself. Kaito loved [Order]. He respected [Order]. In all his years growing up, while he had been feared for being an anomaly, he had also, in turn, been pitied for that same reason.
Kaito wasn't some protagonist from a chuunibyou story; he didn't grow to hate the world because people pitied him. On the contrary, he found humanity to be a fascinating species. They were actually capable of feeling pity for a being stronger than themselves.
Kaito touched the spot over his heart. Is it because those people have a stronger heart than I do… or…?
A few fragmented images flashed through his mind, like someone had said something to him once, but just as he tried to grasp the memory, it vanished.
"Arriving at Kyoto Station!"
As the conductor made his rounds, the train began to slow. After nearly a full night's journey, they had arrived at what would likely be the main stage for this mission's most intense battles.
Kaito didn't wait for the others. He leaped from the roof of the train, and like a crane taking flight, he soared nearly ten meters through the air, landing in the fields outside the tracks. He then quickly vanished into the night. He had already discussed the so-called plan with the others. All that was left to do was wait for the slaughter at dawn.
Kaito walked from the fields toward the city. The moonlit fields were deserted. But suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps echoed from behind him. Kaito stopped, and the sound also stopped. He moved again, and the sound resumed.
He frowned and looked around. His senses were sharp; he knew there was nothing behind him. His hawk-like eyes scanned the low-lying fields and the trees lining the railway. He found nothing. It wasn't a demon looking for a meal, nor was it a startled animal.
Kaito's brow furrowed. His Hamon was about to surge subconsciously, but then he remembered the unique nature of this world, and that one, special milestone.
[Spirit Seer (Rare): See a spirit.]
The world of Demon Slayer didn't just have demons like Muzan. There was no doubt that this world also had genuine spirits. The souls of those who died with good hearts sometimes lingered in the world, unwilling to depart so they could watch over their loved ones.
Kaito had never expected to encounter such a situation. It wasn't that he was afraid; he was the type to charge a den of the world's most vicious demons with his bare fists. He just wasn't sure how to handle this. The thing was right next to him, but he couldn't see it. Was it because he lacked the ability or aptitude to see spirits, or… was it because the spirit didn't want him to see it?
Kaito glanced at the brightly lit city in the distance, unwilling to give up on a milestone marked as "Rare." In the various anime worlds, the concept of "spirits" was a powerful and versatile one. It was hard to say if this milestone would affect his ability to acquire a precious power system later on.
He tried walking forward again, and sure enough, the footsteps followed. He changed direction, and the sound was still there. Only when he walked back toward the train did the sound disappear.
It doesn't want to go near the train or the tracks?
Kaito scanned his surroundings and suddenly noticed the large number of torii gates on a nearby mountain. An idea struck him, and he began to walk in that direction. The footsteps behind him promptly resumed.
By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, he was looking up at a massive torii gate that marked the entrance. Beyond it, a path of stone steps was lined with fox statues. The path leading up to the shrine at the summit was covered by a series of smaller torii gates, forming a long, red tunnel.
As he stepped through the mountain gate, the footsteps behind him hesitated.
It's afraid?
As Kaito wondered, a voice suddenly spoke. "I never imagined you would be the one to bring the child back, sir. Could this be the revelation of Lord Inari?"
An old man in a formal red hakama and white haori appeared. He looked to be the head priest of the shrine. His hair and beard were completely white, but he was looking at Kaito as if he were something miraculous.
The trademark smile returned to Kaito's lips. He never believed in coincidences or divine revelations. Moreover, he was a Reincarnator, a predator in this world. This old priest might look solemn and dignified, but Kaito smelled the scent of a conspiracy.
The old priest didn't wait for Kaito to speak. He formed a seal with his hands, and the footsteps behind Kaito suddenly became clear.
In the next instant, a young girl in a miko's uniform, no taller than fifty centimeters, appeared behind him. Two fluffy ears protruded from her hair, her eyes were the color of wine, and a tail peeked out from beneath her red hakama.
[You have seen a spirit in this world. You have completed the Milestone: Spirit Seer (Rare).]
[Spirit Seer - You will now have a chance to see spirits. The probability is linked to your Spirit attribute and the strength of the spirit. Each time you encounter a spirit, you have a small chance of increasing your Spirit.]
[You have unlocked the subsequent Milestone: Spirit Toucher (Rare) - Successfully touch a spirit and survive.]
At the same time, the Professor appeared at the mountain gate. He looked at Kaito, who had somehow found this shrine before him, with a hint of surprise.
"Mr. Tao. Are you also here seeking assistance?" he asked. Could he not be a Great Sin Reincarnator after all? Is he like me, someone who can receive guidance?
"Human," the little fox girl, who appeared to be a divine messenger of Inari, spoke. "I have a request."
Kaito reached out to touch her head, but his hand passed right through. All he felt was a slight drop in temperature, but he had touched nothing at all.