The Shikon Jewel.
A miraculous artifact born in this world.
It could grant immense demonic power, strengthen its bearer, even revive the dead and overturn the boundary between life and death.
Roy had arrived at a very fortunate moment.
This miraculous item—
Was currently inside a weak, helpless middle-school girl.
Of course, Roy would not simply snatch it by force.
He was not some irredeemable villain.
But neither would he go out of his way to protect her for free.
"Why did I come to this world? Is it because I'm Kikyo's reincarnation?" Kagome looked at Roy.
Compared to these unfamiliar people of the past, she clearly trusted this so-called "fellow modern person" more.
Roy glanced toward her side abdomen.
"No. It's because you carry the Shikon Jewel."
"What?! The Shikon Jewel?!"
Kaede practically jolted upright, her expression turning grave and startling Kagome.
After Kaede's explanation, Kagome roughly understood what the Shikon Jewel was—
A sacred jewel once guarded by the shrine maiden Kikyo.
An object that attracted demons.
And now—
It was inside her.
Kaede's gaze shifted between Roy and Kagome, increasingly confused by the situation.
When night fell, panicked screams echoed through the village.
Roy knew—
The Centipede Demon Woman had arrived.
He and Kagome stepped outside.
Before them stood a monstrous creature thirty to forty meters long.
Its lower body resembled a massive centipede.
Its upper body was that of a woman.
"It's that demon!"
Kagome's face paled.
This was the very monster that had dragged her into the well.
"Fire!"
The farmers defending the village loosed arrows.
Over a dozen arrows shot toward the demon.
Roy shook his head at the sight.
Too weak.
The Centipede Demon Woman spun like a top, deflecting every arrow with ease.
"Pathetic humans!" she sneered.
Her tail swept sideways—
About to smash several fragile wooden houses.
Roy frowned.
He had received a bowl of soup here.
He could not simply watch these villagers die.
Crackle!
Golden lightning surged in his palm, forming a spear of thunder.
With a powerful step forward, muscles tensing, he hurled it.
The spear pierced through the demon's body with a thunderous roar, driving her massive frame backward and saving the nearby houses.
Fine arcs of electricity crackled across her body as she screamed in agony.
Kagome stared wide-eyed.
Was this "fellow modern person" really that strong?
"She's here because of the Shikon Jewel inside you," Roy said calmly. "What will you do?"
Kagome looked at him expectantly.
"Can you defeat it?"
Roy answered vaguely, "About fifty-fifty."
She nearly stamped her foot in frustration.
"If you give me the Shikon Jewel, perhaps I can defeat her," Roy said meaningfully.
Kagome studied him carefully.
She wasn't stupid.
Kaede had already warned her—
The Shikon Jewel would attract countless beings, human and demon alike.
Was Roy one of them?
Roy coughed lightly, smiling without hiding his intentions.
At least he still had basic moral standards.
He would not rob her outright.
This was a transaction.
He would protect the village—
But not her.
And the demon had come for her.
Kagome touched her abdomen, glanced at the ferocious demon, and clenched her teeth.
"Fine. Take it. I don't even know what it's for anyway!"
"Wise choice."
Golden lightning formed into a sharp surgical blade in Roy's hand.
Kagome swallowed nervously.
Was it even sterilized?
In this era, infections were deadly.
Roy made a small incision.
A flash of violet light appeared.
With a gentle flick, a blood-stained purple jewel flew out.
Kagome gasped in pain.
"—Noah's Heal."
Roy did not immediately pick up the jewel.
It was valuable—but not enough to make him lose composure.
Green life-filled light gathered in his palm and fell upon her wound.
The cut healed rapidly.
Kagome stared in shock.
Lightning manipulation.
Healing magic.
This "fellow modern person" was anything but ordinary.
Only then did Roy step forward and pick up the Shikon Jewel.
It was about the size of an adult's thumb.
It shimmered with strange light and energy.
As it touched his hand, the system automatically analyzed it.
A panel appeared.
Name: Shikon Jewel
Quality: Legendary
Description: A sacred jewel formed from the fusion of the shrine maiden Midoriko's soul and countless demons.
Special Effect: When attached to a body or weapon, greatly enhances strength and vitality. Grants a demon-like immortal body with limitless regeneration.
Special Effect: When placed upon a corpse with intact remains, can restore life—but the revived depends on the jewel to sustain existence.
Special Effect: Can grant wishes through causal manipulation. However, wishes are twisted by an evil will. The soul of the wisher becomes bound to the jewel until a successor makes the one correct wish to release it.
Note: Negative emotions will corrupt the jewel and gradually influence and manipulate its wielder.
Roy smiled faintly.
A free legendary-grade item.
Far easier than obtaining the Spirit Holy Sword before.
Though it carried side effects—
Great power always came with risks.
"Shikon Jewel!"
The Centipede Demon Woman sensed its aura and charged madly toward Roy.
For demons, its allure was irresistible.
Now that he had it, Roy no longer bothered pretending.
The Centipede Demon Woman was roughly Level 2 in strength.
Before him—
She was nothing.
Golden lightning surged wildly in his palm, forming a massive sphere of thunder.
He hurled it forward.
Upon contact, her body melted and disintegrated under the intense heat.
Boom!
The explosion left a crater five meters wide.
The ground trembled.
Kagome was stunned.
This was what he called fifty-fifty?
[Centipede Demon Woman slain. Congratulations, 50 attribute points obtained. Main quest completed. Please return within 24 hours.]
Roy glanced at the notification and smiled in satisfaction.
"Roy… can you return the Shikon Jewel to me?" Kagome asked, forcing a smile.
She still needed it to return to her own time.
Roy shook his head lightly.
"Don't even think about it. That was our deal."
He had never spat out meat once it was in his mouth.