"Is this how you all usually spend your time?"
"Hm? Got a problem with it?!"
"Just surprised that someone with Sesshomaru's personality would be this lenient."
Kagura spoke while watching Rin and Jaken sitting idly by the roadside.
"Hehe, that's because Sesshomaru-sama is a very kind person."
"You're the only one who'd dare say that."
"Ah, Akame-san is back."
As they chatted, Rin noticed Akame returning from another direction and called out.
"Akame-san, was it those demons again?"
"Mm."
Hearing Akame's response to Rin, Sesshomaru stood at the forefront, lost in thought.
"Honestly, there are way fewer youkai around lately, but there's way more of that creepy aura."
Jaken looked around at her words and sighed.
"It's probably Naraku's Servant causing trouble."
Kagura knew the source and murmured thoughtfully.
"?"
"Hey, tell us everything you know!"
Without waiting for anyone else to react, Jaken immediately pressed for information.
"Naraku summoned a Servant that can transform humans and youkai into demons. I think the Class was Caster? But Naraku and him don't seem to get along—he's been left to do as he pleases. Among the demons this girl killed earlier, one of them was Hakudoshi."
Not bothering to hide anything, Kagura glanced at Akame as she spoke.
She still couldn't forget the scene she'd witnessed that night—with just one encounter, Akame had instantly killed Hakudoshi after he'd become a Demon Youkai.
This girl named Akame possessed nimble movement and a brutally simple weapon.
Once cut by it, an incomprehensible cursed poison would cause the enemy to die instantly.
"Ah, you killed Hakudoshi too?"
Jaken looked at Akame in disbelief. He hadn't expected this girl to have done something so significant.
Hakudoshi was one of Naraku's incarnations—killed without a sound by the girl before him?
"So impressive!"
"You should be careful. Byakuya, another of Naraku's incarnations, was there when it happened. Your sword's ability might already be known to Naraku, though whether he's told his Servant is unclear."
Compared to Rin's exclamation, Kagura offered an important warning.
"What does Naraku's Servant look like?"
Before Akame could respond, Sesshomaru specifically asked.
"Oh? You're actually interested?"
"Normally, he wouldn't be worth mentioning as an enemy. He's the one you crushed casually when you found me that day."
Hearing Kagura's answer, Sesshomaru recalled.
In his memory, there had indeed been such a pathetically weak creature.
He'd been so weak that Sesshomaru hadn't given him a second thought.
And now Kagura was saying that thing was Naraku's Servant?
Comparing him to Akame, whom Rin had summoned...
Sesshomaru felt it was quite fitting for Naraku's wretched state.
"That guy might not be strong himself, but like Naraku, he has powerful regeneration. And his ability to transform creatures—we still don't know the principle behind it. He might not be trouble for you, but..."
As Kagura described this, her voice trailed off.
From her perspective, Muzan couldn't compare to Naraku no matter what.
If Naraku could barely handle Sesshomaru, Muzan couldn't possibly accomplish anything.
'Come to think of it, that guy is completely useless to Naraku, so why...'
Suddenly thinking of something, Kagura fell silent.
With Naraku's personality, useless things should have been discarded long ago, yet this Muzan remained unharmed.
What exactly...
"We're leaving."
As if sensing something, Sesshomaru's gaze shifted to a certain direction, then he spoke.
He'd caught that familiar yet slightly altered scent.
Moryomaru...
...
"Hmph hmph, soon I'll succeed."
Hiding in a room where sunlight couldn't reach, Muzan stared at the wall with a cold smile.
After continuously devouring those youkai for so long, he'd begun to feel it.
His fear of sunlight was gradually diminishing.
To think that millennia of longing was now so close.
Just thinking about it, Muzan could barely contain his excitement.
Never had any moment been filled with more anticipation than now.
From human to demon, and from demon to youkai...
His life had truly been full of twists and turns.
"But the youkai around here are running out."
"Time to find a new location."
With things going so smoothly, Muzan couldn't wait any longer. He didn't even bother glancing at the ordinary humans anymore.
Unless there were powerful humans, Muzan only targeted youkai now.
Weak humans simply weren't as beneficial as youkai bodies.
In the dim room, countless shadows crowded together—all the Demon Youkai Muzan had transformed.
"Tonight will be a good night..."
...
"Can't sense any trace at all. That bastard Naraku really is hiding with the Shikon no Tama."
Returning to the village, Inuyasha shared his observations with the others.
"Nothing we can do about it. Unless he shows himself, we can't find him."
Miroku sat by the fire and sighed. Before they knew it, they seemed to have returned to the old status quo.
"Well, that might be a good thing. According to Rikuo, Naraku definitely isn't unscathed either. He'll probably lay low for a while."
Sango spoke while looking at Rikuo, who sat wrapped in heavy bandages.
Since the person who'd directly taken Cu Chulainn's Noble Phantasm said so, they believed him.
"Let's rest for now. We can talk more when Kagome returns."
"Kagome's going back to study again?"
"We won't see her for a while."
Hearing his companions' words, Shippo sounded a bit bored.
"Speaking of which, how exactly is Inuyasha able to pass through the well?"
Suddenly thinking of something, Rikuo turned and asked.
He'd just tried jumping into the well himself, but nothing happened.
"Huh? Just jump in, right?"
But that straightforward answer left Rikuo speechless.
"Hmm, even as Kagome's Servant, you can't go through? In that case, we don't have to worry about other Servants slipping through."
"But if she uses a Command Spell, I feel like I could force a transfer."
"Eh, that would work?"
"Probably, but one round trip would cost two Command Spells. Not worth it at all."
"This ritual is really fascinating."
"Rare to see you interested, Monk."
"No, I just think whoever created this ritual is impressive."
Miroku poked at the campfire with his staff and replied with admiration.
"Hehe, though I doubt the Master's world is the same as mine."
"You mentioned before that youkai fight using a power called 'Fear.' I assume that's a youkai ability?"
"Mm... it's hard to explain. But we could have Inuyasha try it first... If he can really learn to use Fear, that proves there are commonalities."
"Tch, doesn't sound like much."
"Inuyasha, stop being stubborn. You obviously want to learn."
"Shut up!"
BONK!