Chapter 498. The Beginning
「Shirogane Miyuki, who believed he had done a good deed and felt a sense of inner peace, managed to reach the nearest village successfully before nightfall.」
「Tiny wooden huts, small-scale farming, and gaunt villagers dressed in the cheapest, oldest rags—this was a true depiction of the bottom-tier peasantry in ancient times.」
「Shirogane sighed softly. He remembered many rumors circulating on the internet back then, claiming how wonderful ancient times were, and how a man could transmigrate and immediately rebel to become a king, or a woman could transmigrate and become a princess.」
「It was truly anti-intellectual.」
「Assuming one has 'no cheats' as a prerequisite.」
「Without a foundation of martial power like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, even someone with high IQ and EQ like Hikigaya Hachiman would likely have struggled for a while in the early stages if he hadn't encountered a 'Genuine' right at the start; he would have needed time to develop.」
「Not to mention an ordinary person; they would likely remain destitute for a lifetime, or simply get slaughtered in the early stages.」
「Therefore, Shirogane had actually prepared himself mentally for the possibility of hitting a wall when seeking help.」
「And indeed, the villagers' attitude toward him was very mediocre at first... However, to his surprise, the moment they saw Kikyo, the villagers who were previously lukewarm toward him immediately broke into radiant smiles.」
「Not only did they readily agree to the request for 'an empty warehouse to spend the night,' but they also automatically upgraded the warehouse to a fine room in the village chief's house and declared they would provide three meals a day for free.」
「The contrast was so vast that Shirogane realized instantly: in this world, a Miko (shrine maiden) is likely an extremely noble existence.」
「...While supporting Kikyo on the way to the village chief's house, Shirogane engaged the villagers in conversation to gather information.」
「He was vague about his origins, and the villagers didn't pry too much. From them, he obtained a crucial piece of information: 'This is Japan during the Sengoku (Warring States) period.'」
「Unlike the worlds of Emilia or the Healer Hero, the isekai world he had crossed into followed a Japanese theme rather than a Western-style fantasy worldview.」
「...And frankly, because historical figures like Oda Nobunaga were all present here, he felt momentary daze.」
「'Maybe I didn't transmigrate to another world, but rather traveled back to the past?'」
「This thought was quickly pushed to a corner of his heart by Shirogane himself; the probability dropped sharply, trending toward one percent.」
「Because that night, as he watched the villagers bring dinner with expressions of deep respect, he couldn't help but ask Kikyo: "Why does everyone respect Mikos so much?"」
「Kikyo's answer was concise: "Mikos possess the ability to exorcise demons."」
「"Demons (Yokai)?"」
「Shirogane was speechless for a moment. "Are you saying there are demons nearby, and they attack humans?"」
「"No," Kikyo's cool and ethereal voice delivered content that made Shirogane gasp, "It is the entire world."」
「He suddenly lost all appetite for his meal, feeling a chill crawl up his spine.」
「Shirogane had self-awareness; he was by no means a very brave or fearless person. Otherwise, back when he first entered Shuchiin, he wouldn't have stood by and watched a female classmate fall into the water without going to rescue her.」
「Because at that time, he was afraid—afraid that trying to save her and entering the water would be dangerous.」
「Though he had grown significantly since then, it was still very difficult for him to be unafraid of death... This was one of the reasons he deeply respected Hikigaya Hachiman and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.」
「Despite being modern high school students just like him, those two possessed a level of resolve far beyond his own.」
「He was quite scared now, so scared that he felt the need to ask about demons immediately.」
「"Miss Kikyo, please guide me!"」
「Once, to prepare for any eventuality, he had privately practiced the formal seiza sitting posture of the Japanese nobility, thinking it might improve his evaluation in the eyes of the Shinomiya family and help him marry Kaguya more smoothly.」
「Now, Shirogane used this seiza posture very formally to demonstrate his seriousness and his respect for Kikyo.」
「Kikyo didn't care whether Shirogane respected her or not. Since the other party was human and sought her help, regardless of his attitude, she would naturally answer him properly: "What do you wish to know?"」
「...Through their Q&A, Shirogane gradually understood the mechanics of this world.」
「This world is divided into the Living World and the Netherworld.」
「Humans and demons reside in the Living World. There is a vast variety of demons; animals, bones, plants, and even a piece of clothing can all become demons.」
「The vast majority of demons are keen on devouring humans. While a small minority of demons are kind, they basically just refrain from hunting humans and won't help humans fight against wicked demons.」
「In this situation, the reason humanity is still able to multiply and thrive is due to the existence of various Mikos, monks, priests, and exorcists.」
「Some are born with immense spiritual power, while others rely on decades of bitter cultivation to develop it. The greater the spiritual power, the stronger the individual, and the better they can crush powerful demons.」
「A few of these people establish bases and settle in certain locations, but most wander throughout the world, exterminating demons along the way and protecting the human race.」
「However, their numbers are far fewer than those of the demons. Thus, quite often, villages without a resident priest are slaughtered, or even an entire city or country is devoured by demons.」
「"I see. So, a Miko settling in this village brings the villagers a lot of peace of mind?"」
「Filled with emotion, Shirogane paused. He suddenly realized: "There are so many demons in this world, yet I didn't encounter a single one while walking through the forest for so long. Could it be—"」
「Regarding this, Kikyo's expression remained flat. She didn't take the slightest credit for herself, nor did she intend to act as his benefactor.」
「But her lack of denial was enough to tell Shirogane that his guess was correct.」
「At this moment, a wave of lingering fear surged over him. Shirogane took two deep breaths, and when he looked at Kikyo again, he felt as if he saw holy light radiating from behind the priestess.」
「She was practically an angel!」
「Shirogane suddenly understood the feeling Hikigaya Hachiman had when he was saved by Emilia... Ah, no, no, his was a pure heart of gratitude; he shouldn't use that as a comparison.」
「"Phew... Miss Kikyo, please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude to you."」
「Regardless of Shirogane's attitude, Kikyo remained consistent, maintaining the same indifferent expression she had held since her first appearance.」
「She held respect, equality, and compassion for everyone; she never harbored even a half-second of a condescending thought.」
「Like an angel fallen into the mortal realm.」
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