"You mean, Naraku's birth wasn't an accident, and it wasn't something that a Bandit's evil thoughts alone could bring about?"
Kikyo seemed to have finally figured out the key point, her eyes looking at him somewhat blankly.
"Exactly!" Retsu nodded seriously.
"It's the shikon jewel, isn't it!" Kikyo's expression instantly became serious; she had completely understood Retsu's implication.
Over the years, although the condition of "sacrificing one's body to demons" seemed simple, only Onigumo had successfully become Naraku.
The only unique factor was that she was the priestess purifying the shikon jewel at the time, and Onigumo's obsession had formed some sort of connection with the jewel.
Retsu nodded in confirmation: "Correct. Only the shikon jewel can both amplify the evil thoughts of wicked people and bring about many things that defy common sense."
After sharing his hypothesis, he explained in detail: "I don't kill Naraku because I'm worried that after he dies, the shikon jewel will create a new 'Naraku' again."
In this world, there are plenty of guys even more evil than that Bandit Onigumo. The shikon jewel could easily create a replacement."
Kikyo thoroughly grasped his intent and said softly: "So, killing Naraku isn't the key. Only by finding a way to destroy the source—the shikon jewel—while getting rid of Naraku can the problem truly be solved."
"Mhm, exactly!" Retsu nodded. "You said Naraku is a puppet of the shikon jewel, and that's indeed true."
A helpless smile suddenly appeared on Kikyo's face: "I didn't expect that as a priestess dedicated to purifying the shikon jewel, I would ultimately die at its hands."
"You've been resurrected now; let the past be the past," Retsu corrected her softly.
"True, I am truly alive now, and my time has begun to flow again." Kikyo withdrew her wandering thoughts, and a smile blossomed on her face once more.
"Alright, don't think about those things anymore. Let Kagome, Inuyasha, and the others worry about the shikon jewel and Naraku."
Seeing that Kikyo was no longer dwelling on the past, Retsu changed the subject, his tone becoming lighthearted: "Tomorrow I plan to visit a nearby Castle Town. It's been a long time since I've truly tasted good food; my previous body was just inconvenient after all."
"I'll go too!" Hearing his words, Kikyo's eyes instantly lit up.
Her previous clay body couldn't eat at all. Now that she had a new physical body, she naturally wanted to taste the dishes she had missed for so long.
"No problem, it's a deal!" Retsu readily agreed.
---
Early the next morning, Retsu and Kikyo headed to the nearby Castle Town together.
Although it was currently Japan's Sengoku period and resources weren't exactly abundant, the Castle Town still had many specialty delicacies.
Crispy tempura, soft and chewy dango of various kinds, fragrant wild mushrooms, and fresh seafood and river fish just caught.
The two spent the entire day wandering the town. Under the guidance of Kikyo, the "native," they tasted many unique flavors of this era.
In addition, Retsu specifically bought many fresh ingredients, various seasonings, and a full set of tableware.
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