Chapter 40 – So, Just Fall in Love with a Miko Then!
"Tōtōsai, I have an idea. Could you forge a sword for me that aligns with my will—one that can produce whatever power I need in any moment, just like Tessaiga?"
Although Renji didn't think Tessaiga suited him, there was one feature he really envied.
Tessaiga had the ability to absorb youki and evolve with different techniques.
Renji didn't want dual swords. He wanted a single blade that could freely shift between powers.
"Renji-sama, are you asking me to craft something like Tessaiga?"
Tōtōsai looked troubled. Even forging Tessaiga had been a fluke.
He never expected to make such a monstrous weapon.
If Renji was asking for something at that level, he wasn't sure he could pull it off.
"It's fine. It doesn't have to be exactly like Tessaiga. Just take all these powers and fuse them into one blade. Then, I want to be able to bring out whichever power I want according to my will—not all at once. But, if I do want to use all the powers at once, it should still be possible. They must be compatible and usable together!"
Renji had always believed: 'I may not use it, but I must not be without it.'
"So... it doesn't absolutely have to absorb youki, right?"
Tōtōsai's eyes lit up. If Renji insisted on that function, he wouldn't be able to deliver.
But without it, he could give it a try.
"Right. By the way, if I want to reforge it later, will I lose all the previous abilities?"
Renji was already thinking about reforging the blade in the future.
This current one wasn't going to be the final version.
"No, no, no need to worry. Just come find me again later. As long as you bring the materials, any modifications can be made!"
That much, Tōtōsai could guarantee.
"Around fifteen days, Renji-sama. Just come back then."
"Alright. I'll come for the sword in fifteen days."
Renji nodded. That sounded about right.
He'd come back to pick it up then.
"So many materials though... crafting a single sword won't use them all! What a headache!"
Tōtōsai rubbed his nearly bald forehead in frustration. He had suggested crafting two weapons earlier because Renji had brought too many materials.
There was no way to use them all up on one blade. But saving a client's materials for other work or personal use was a grave taboo for any swordsmith.
Seems like he'd just have to see how things went. If it really turned out to be too much, maybe he'd forge a dagger or something else for Renji later.
He already had a plan forming in his heart.
After finishing with Tōtōsai, Renji saw Suiko sitting on a large rock, gazing into the distance, waiting for him. He patted her shoulder to remind her, "Alright, let's go, Suiko."
Suiko turned around and asked, "That's it?"
"We need to wait fifteen days. Didn't you say you wanted to walk around? Anywhere you want to go?"
Of course, Renji wasn't going to sit around for fifteen days. He could travel around with Suiko.
"Yeah, I want to visit a bigger town and buy some things."
"Sure, there's one nearby."
Towns during the Sengoku period weren't that large, but if you wanted to shop for anything decent, you couldn't find it in a small village.
"Strange… this town doesn't ban youkai from entering."
She entered with Renji and noticed there wasn't any restriction on youkai.
"Did you want me to be banned?"
"No, that's not what I meant!"
"So what are you here to buy?"
"Some fresh clothes. I don't want to keep walking around this world dressed in a combat outfit."
Suiko said softly.
She wanted to walk with Renji as an ordinary girl, not as the youkai slayer Suiko.
"Oh, alright. Go ahead and pick something. I'll browse on my own."
It was Renji's first time visiting a human town in this world.
As for shopping with Suiko—no way. His past-life experience had taught him that no matter how strong your stamina was, going clothes shopping with a woman would always leave you exhausted.
After parting from Suiko, Renji strolled through the town. It had the vibe of ancient times, with all sorts of little curiosities. He stopped at a small stall.
"Hello, young master. Would you like to look at some rouge?"
A young girl looked nervously at Renji. His elegant clothes stood in stark contrast to her rough hemp garments. Facing such a noble guest, she was clearly intimidated.
"Which kind is usually given as a gift to a woman?"
The girl froze at Renji's question.
Huh?
Are there even types of rouge for men?
"Red, usually."
Before she could answer, a gentle voice beside her softly offered a suggestion.
Renji turned to see the speaker. A samurai beside her immediately stepped forward and raised his weapon in protection: "Princess, please return. It's not safe outside."
"Mhm. If you're buying rouge for someone you like, this red one is a good choice. I'm sure she'll love it."
"..."
Izayoi?
So this is her father's castle?
No wonder they let him in—it was probably because of Inu no Taishō.
Renji's gaze moved toward Izayoi's stomach. A new life was growing there. Most likely… his second dumb ōdōto, huh?
"I understand."
He picked up the rouge, paid for it, and quickly left.
Watching Renji's back, Setsuna no Takemaru frowned with disgust. "Princess, that guy reeks of youkai!"
"I know."
Izayoi replied with her usual gentleness. But in her heart, she was already wondering—could he be Inu no Taishō's child?
He resembled Inu no Taishō a bit. Even his aura was similar. She gently touched her belly, a soft maternal glow appearing on her face.
Takemaru saw this and was consumed with overwhelming jealousy.
In his eyes, it was all that youkai's fault!
If not for him, Princess Izayoi would have surely been with him!!
"Renji, you're done already?"
Suiko had finished buying her clothes. The styles were all pretty similar, but she liked them. It was just a little disappointing that Renji hadn't been there with her.
"Yeah. Here, this is for you."
Renji handed her the rouge he had picked out earlier.
"Huh? Rouge?"
Suiko opened the shell compact. Inside was the crimson rouge.
"Yeah. I thought it might suit you. Isn't it said that all girls have rouge? I noticed you didn't have any, so I got you one."
"Thank you."
A wave rippled through Suiko's heart. It felt like the first time someone had truly treated her as a woman.
In everyone else's eyes, she had always been the yōkai slayer, the great miko, the one who protected all. But no one had ever seen her as simply a woman. She had received many gifts, but never something like rouge.
She dabbed a little onto her fingertip and touched it to her lips. Then she looked up at Renji with a trace of anticipation in her eyes: "Does it look good?"
"It looks good."
Renji's face turned slightly red. Deep down, he suddenly realized… maybe it wasn't just foolish hanyō who could fall in love with humans.
The two of them slowly leaned closer. Kirara tilted her head in confusion, watching them curiously from the side.
"Well? The woman you love has already fallen for another youkai. Want to work with us?"
In the yōkai slayer village, the yōkai approached a man.
This man had always harbored secret feelings for Suiko but had never dared confess. Over time, his love had twisted into something darker. He desired Suiko.
That twisted obsession had even begun attracting surrounding yōkai.
Sensing the man's impure thoughts and understanding his inner longing, the yōkai began to tempt him—to work with them and fuse with them, becoming a powerful hanyō, then lure Suiko into a trap and eliminate her.
At first, the man wavered. He still loved Suiko and hesitated. He knew that once he fused with the yōkai, he would no longer be human—and the chances of being with Suiko as a yōkai were slim.
But after the yōkai showed him that scene, his mind collapsed completely.
Why?!
Suiko was such a powerful miko—why would she fall in love with a youkai?
Miko and yōkai were natural enemies. Suiko had always taken exterminating yōkai as her duty. And yet, in the end, she chose to be with one? What a cruel joke.
His final shred of will shattered.
"You don't get it, do you? You have no power. You can only watch as Suiko ends up with another man. But if you fuse with us, you'll gain strength—and then you'll have a chance. And besides, if you can't have her, why should some other youkai get her?"
"That guy is the son of Inu no Taishō! There's no way you could beat him. Taking Suiko back is impossible. So what are you hesitating for?"
The yōkai's whispers completely broke his mental defenses.
Now, all he felt was hatred—hatred toward Suiko for 'falling'—for choosing to be with a youkai.
If he couldn't have her, then no other youkai would either!
Sensing the opening in his heart, the yōkai began fusing with the man.
"Seimei-sama, it's done. We've found the perfect yōkai host. Now we just need to wait for Suiko to appear."
The dōji delivered the latest report to Abe no Seimei. Everything was unfolding exactly as planned. Ironically, the man had originally needed more time, but seeing Suiko fall for a youkai had driven him over the edge.
It sped everything up.
"Ah… So the two of them really ended up together. Fate is such an interesting thing."
Abe no Seimei sighed, gazing at the figures in the mirror. He hadn't expected this outcome either. Was this… love?
If two lovers became one within the Shikon no Tama and endlessly fought with the yōkai trapped inside, perhaps they would forge an even more perfect jewel.
"So should we act now?"
"No. That man's yōkai aura is too strong right now. He'd be discovered before even getting close!"
Seimei shook his head. This wasn't the right time to act. The fusion had just taken place, and the man's aura was intense. Along with his malevolent heart, there was no way he could get near the couple undetected.
"But even after some time, he won't be able to fully suppress that aura."
"Don't rush. We'll give him a few artifacts to hide it. Then we'll have them both fall into the trap together."
"If it's both of them, the current yōkai force might not be enough…"
One Suiko could be overwhelmed with yōkai swarm tactics.
But with Renji as well? That would be far harder.
"Inu no Taishō had many enemies, didn't he?"
Seimei said calmly. Indeed, relying on only the current yōkai wasn't enough.
But if Inu no Taishō had enemies, surely his son could be targeted too?
"I understand, Seimei-sama!"
"Good. Go prepare it. Now that he's fused with the yōkai, feed him something to strengthen that jewel. Hyakki Yagyō is about to begin. Heian-kyō will soon lose its usefulness."
A cold light flashed in Abe no Seimei's eyes. His plan was about to begin—but first, he had to refine this jewel to perfection.
Everything was prepared. He was eagerly awaiting the moment when two lovers and a horde of yōkai became entangled in eternal struggle within the Shikon no Tama. If so… this might just be the most promising jewel yet.
[Youkai Renji]: "This is kinda crazy, but… I think I've officially gotten into a relationship."
In the chat group.
He briefly explained what had happened. He just wanted to give Suiko a box of rouge, but somehow… they ended up together.
[Zombie Renji]: "Kill them all. JGP!"
[Naruto Renji]: "I'm still a kid, don't tell me this stuff!"
[Mundane Renji]: "So jealous… you're the first one in the group to get a girlfriend!"
[Kaizoku Renji]: "Jealous of what? You've got so many girls in your world. I've got it rough. Once they're older, it's all Obaachans!"
Sure, there's Purin—but who knows if she'd keep her figure after going full gold mode? She might not age, but damn, the people here shrink when they get old!
[Naruto Renji]: "If I remember right, wasn't the Empress supposed to still look amazing when old?"
[Kaizoku Renji]: "What, you want me to raise her from scratch now?"
[Mundane Renji]: "Ever considered Toki? Cut off Momonosuke at the source!!! MOMONOSUKE MUST DIE!"
[Ding! Your chat group meets the conditions. A new member has joined!]
(End of Chapter)
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