Tsubaki.
This name, Shinji actually recognized.
She was a character from the original story.
A shrine maiden, but not an ordinary one.
In outsiders' eyes, she held the same status as Kikyō, a genius shrine maiden of equal renown. In her youth, she traveled widely, training in demon-slaying. She once met Kikyō in a village and worked together to slay a demon, viewing Kikyō as her rival.
When the demon slayer clan entrusted the Shikon Jewel to Kikyō for protection and purification, Tsubaki refused to accept it. She tried to ambush Kikyō with a shikigami, but the attack was reflected, scarring her face.
From that day, she swore revenge. Fifty years later, when the original story began, she had fallen and become a dark shrine maiden, using black magic to curse people to death.
But looking at her now, this woman, though very arrogant, was still young. She hadn't yet embarked on that path of jealousy and revenge, like in the original.
And she seemed
Just like in the original, to have come for the Shikon Jewel out of 'rivalry'!
Tsubaki stood there, chin raised high, like a proud peacock.
Her white robes clung to her figure. Because of her posture, the fabric across her chest was pulled tight, outlining a full curve.
Her red hakama swayed like a long skirt in the wind.
Spiritual power surged.
She radiated a strong spiritual energy fluctuation. Much weaker than Kikyō's, but among ordinary monks, she was definitely top-tier.
"Pet?" Shinji raised an eyebrow. Not angry, just finding the metaphor novel.
He'd been called a demon, a ghost, even a beast before.
Pet was a first.
"I prefer the term 'companion.'" He planted Hiraikotsu on the ground with a thud, making a few nearby demon slayers stumble back. "As for who's the pet—"
He gave Tsubaki a once-over.
"Hard to say."
Tsubaki's expression shifted.
On that striking face, the arrogance in her eyes instantly froze into ice.
Classic villain template!
"You demon…"
"Tsubaki." Kikyō spoke. Her voice was quiet, but it clearly cut off the impending curse. "You came here for the Shikon Jewel?"
The question was direct.
Tsubaki sneered.
"What else?" She took two steps forward, the hem of her red hakama trailing a red line on the ground.
"That old man gave the jewel to you. I don't accept it."
"Why you?"
"I believe, in spiritual power, I'm your equal. In training, I've traveled the land, slaying countless demons."
"In seniority." She paused, the displeasure in her eyes even more evident. "My birth is nobler than yours. I began training in spiritual arts earlier than you."
Kikyō didn't argue.
She just stood there quietly, her black hair gently swaying in the wind. That calm, composed demeanor was a stark contrast to Tsubaki's aggressiveness.
"So?" Kikyō asked. "What do you want?"
"A contest." Tsubaki raised her hand, pointing at Kikyō. "Three days from now, here in this demon slayer village. We compete as miko."
"Whoever wins gets the right to guard the Shikon Jewel."
The surrounding demon slayers began to stir.
"This…"
"Two shrine maiden ladies dueling?"
"Can our village withstand it…"
Shinji stood to the side, quietly observing.
He noticed Tsubaki's expression as she spoke.
Beneath the arrogance, there was anxiety.
And in her eyes, undisguised jealousy?
This woman had seen Kikyō as a rival from the start.
But Kikyō never seemed to see her as one. That imbalance was probably what hurt Tsubaki most.
Unrequited love was the most painful.
Ahem, wrong. Unrequited rivalry.
"Duel?" Kikyō's voice interrupted Shinji's wandering thoughts. "Meaningless."
Tsubaki's expression froze.
"What did you say?"
"Protecting the Shikon Jewel isn't about who's strongest." Kikyō's voice was calm. "It requires a pure heart."
"Your heart is too troubled."
To say this to a shrine maiden, whose mental state was crucial, was blunt. Blunt enough to wound.
Tsubaki's face flushed red.
Enraged, and very suddenly, she raised her hand, shooting a bolt of spiritual energy from her fingertip straight at Kikyō's face.
Fast.
Very fast.
But—
Clang.
A metallic ring.
Shinji had somehow moved in front of Kikyō, Muramasa held horizontally across his chest, blocking the spiritual energy.
The blade hummed. The spiritual energy was split in two by the edge, flying past on either side and hitting the ground behind, blasting two small craters.
"A sneak attack?" Shinji's voice was calm. "This is the conduct of a shrine maiden who wants to guard the Shikon Jewel? Makes me, a demon, look better."
Tsubaki's face reddened further.
Not shame. Just anger.
"You demon, get out of the way!" She raised both hands, more spiritual power gathering, condensing into streaks of white light swirling around her.
"Since you want to be her watchdog—"
"I'll deal with you first!"
Shinji didn't move. He just stood there, the tip of his blade angled toward the ground.
Behind him, Kikyō didn't move either.
But her hand was already on her bowstring.
The atmosphere was tense. The surrounding demon slayers quickly backed away.
Just as they were about to clash
"Enough."
An aged voice came from the crowd.
Everyone turned to see an old woman in a grey, long-skirted robe walking forward, leaning on a cane. Her hair was white, her face wrinkled, but her eyes still held a sharpness that rivaled any young person's.
"Starting a fight on our demon slayer village's grounds"
Her gaze swept over Tsubaki, then over Shinji. "Lady Tsubaki, do you truly wish to disrespect this old woman?"
Tsubaki froze mid-motion.
Shinji sheathed his sword.
The old woman's status was obvious at a glance.
An elder of the demon slayer village. Probably the one in charge while the chief was away.
"You want to compete? Fine." The old woman walked between them, planting her cane on the ground. "But not now."
She looked at Tsubaki.
"Lady Tsubaki, you are a famed shrine maiden. Attacking someone in public like this… word will spread. It won't look good."
Tsubaki's face cycled through shades of blue and white.
"I…"
"Three days." The old woman cut her off. "Three days from now, there's an open area behind the village."
"If you must compete, do it there."
"Then, we demon slayers will bear witness."
"Win or lose, there will be justice."
The old woman finished and turned to Kikyō. "Lady Kikyō, what say you?"
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"Agreed."
Tsubaki's expression shifted.
From anger to… smugness?
Her scheme had worked.
"Good." She sneered. "Three days. I'll see for myself just how strong you really are, Kikyō, the one they all call the 'strongest shrine maiden.'"
With that, she turned and walked away.
Her white-and-red figure disappeared into the crowd.
The tension finally eased.
Shinji sheathed Muramasa and turned to Kikyō.
"You agreed to that?"
"Yes." Kikyō's expression was calm. "She won't let this go."
"Better to settle it now than let her keep pestering."
Shinji thought about it. That made sense.
But something felt off.
"That attack just now" He pointed at the spiritual energy he'd blocked. "You let that happen on purpose, didn't you?"
Kikyō didn't speak.
She just looked at him.
Her expression seemed to say… you're only noticing now?
"In front of others," Kikyō said, her voice soft, only for him to hear, "your identity is my familiar."
"…"
Shinji was silent.
Familiar?
A demon warrior, treated as a familiar?
"From now on, that's your cover story," Kikyō continued. "It makes explanations easier. Fewer questions."
Shinji opened his mouth.
Thought about saying something, then swallowed it back.
Fine.
Shikigami it was.
With that title, moving through human settlements would definitely be easier.
"Then..."
But looking at Kikyō's serious expression, Shinji suddenly had a moment of inspiration and asked:
"As your familiar, do I get a salary?"
Kikyō looked at him.
Her gaze held exasperation, speechlessness, and also a hint of amusement.
"Does offering count?"
"…It counts."
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +1]
[Current Affection: 50 (Trust)]
[Congratulations. Affection breakthrough 50. Second talent unlocked.]
[Second Talent: Inspiration]
[Effect: You can not only see spiritual power, but also perceive its flow and intensity more clearly in your eyes, spiritual power is light, and also wind you cannot grasp.]
Shinji looked at the prompt on his panel.
Fifty.
Finally breakthrough the second threshold.
Next
He looked in the direction Tsubaki had gone.
The duel in three days.
It would be interesting.