Kanbe Hikaru received no answer. The evil oni wailed, seemingly unwilling and unable to respond—its face twisted in pain and ferocity.
He looked at the monster pinned to the ground by Bone Spikes, covered in blood, yet unkillable, and his thoughts became unfathomable.
It possessed terrifying regenerative abilities.
It was neither a yokai nor an oni in the usual sense.
He carefully recalled his memories from before transmigration.
This thing... pale skin, sunken eye sockets, crimson pupils.
It possessed nearly infinite regenerative abilities; it wouldn't die even if its heart was pierced.
It felt pain when attacked by spiritual power, but it wouldn't die.
Bloodthirsty, brutal, self-aware, yet clearly controlled by bestial instincts.
Plus, it wasn't a yokai or ghost in the traditional sense of this world.
It possessed immortality.
If his guess was correct—
This world wasn't just "Inuyasha" and "Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan".
It also fused with another work.
"Interesting."
Kanbe Hikaru said in a low voice.
He suddenly understood that this world was far more complex than he had imagined.
More dangerous than he had imagined.
And, full of more opportunities.
...
Tsubaki stood in an area not too far, not too close, untouched by the battle, watching this scene.
The monster was pinned to the ground by Kanbe Hikaru with countless Bone Spikes, unable to move, but it wasn't dead. Its crimson eyes were still darting around, filled with hatred and fear.
"What exactly is that thing?"
She murmured.
Not a yokai, nor an oni.
Yet it possessed a recovery ability that even most yokai didn't have!
This was absolutely not normal!
Just as she was thinking, Kikyo had already arrived beside her.
Silently, unknowingly. The miko in white and red hakama had her black hair flowing, tied into a single strand at the end, a long bow in hand, and an invisible, glorious spiritual power radiating from her body.
Her expression remained cold.
"Are you alright?"
Kikyo asked.
Tsubaki gritted her teeth.
"...Thank you."
The two words were said with difficulty.
She didn't want to owe Kikyo a favor.
But the truth was, if it weren't for Kikyo's arrow and the Oni Samurai's intervention, she would probably be dead by now.
Kikyo didn't mind her attitude.
She just looked at the monster pinned to the ground.
"That thing..."
She frowned and said, "I've never seen it either."
"It's not a yokai."
Tsubaki said, "My Barrier has a restraining effect on yokai, but it's completely ineffective against it."
"Nor is it an ordinary ghost."
Kikyo added, "My Sacred Arrow can wound it, but it can't kill it—the purification of spiritual power had no effect at all."
Only brute force could work.
The two exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
...
Kanbe Hikaru ignored the two bewildered miko behind him; his attention was entirely on the monster in front of him.
He had more or less guessed it.
These works most likely also came from a work he had seen in his previous life.
Its name was... "demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba".
That was a world where slaying evil oni was the main plot.
However, unlike Inuyasha and Nurarihyon, there were oni in that work, but those oni were not yokai. Instead, they originated from an evil oni ancestor created by humans through some peculiar medicine.
The ancestor of evil oni could infect humans with its own blood, creating evil oni.
The created evil oni possessed immortality, and their only weaknesses were sunlight and nichirin swords, which were forged from steel containing solar energy.
If it was a creature like this, it would indeed be difficult for the miko's spiritual power to be effective.
Because, as far as Kanbe Hikaru knew, the existence of Kibutsuji Muzan was very likely related to 'gods'.
Neither human nor demon, but something that might be in between the two, not restrained by purity or impurity.
Of course.
For Kikyo, dealing with such a creature, sealing it, would not be difficult.
After all, she could even seal Magatsuhi.
And Kanbe Hikaru was only guessing, not confirming.
He still needed to make further confirmation!
"Can you understand me?"
He asked.
The monster's eyes darted around, staring at him.
"Kill..."
"I know you want to kill me, but before that—"
Kanbe Hikaru squatted down, meeting its gaze.
"Answer me a question."
The monster didn't speak.
But its gaze said it all.
It was listening.
Kanbe Hikaru naturally knew what to ask.
If this thing was truly an oni from that world—
Then it must know a name.
The progenitor who created all oni.
The existence that countless people feared.
"You."
Kanbe Hikaru spoke.
His voice was not loud, but it clearly entered the monster's ears.
"Do you know Kibutsuji Muzan?"
...
In an instant, the monster's body stiffened.
But it was no longer because of the Bone Spikes, but because of fear, pure, instinctive fear.
Its crimson eyes suddenly widened.
The gaze that was once full of hatred now only held terror.
It looked at Kanbe Hikaru as if he were a death god.
But he himself was an oni!
"You... how do you know that name...!?"
Its voice trembled: "How do you know—that Lord's name!"
That Lord.
Kanbe Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
It seemed he had guessed correctly.
This thing indeed knew Kibutsuji Muzan.
And, judging from its title.
It must be one of the demons created by Muzan himself.
"As I thought."
Kanbe Hikaru whispered.
He stood up, looking down at the monster pinned to the ground.
At this moment, the monster had completely stopped struggling.
It just stared blankly at Kanbe Hikaru, its eyes filled with disbelief.
"You... who on earth are you..."
It asked.
"Why do you know that lord's name..."
"Could it be that you are also..."
"What I am doesn't matter."
Kanbe Hikaru interrupted it.
He looked at those terrified eyes and smiled.
That smile looked exceptionally eerie under the moonlight, like a hunter looking at prey that had fallen into a trap.
"What matters is—"
He said.
"I have confirmed it."
The monster's body trembled even more violently.
...
In the distance.
Both Kikyo and Tsubaki heard that name.
Kibutsuji Muzan, an unfamiliar name.
But judging from the monster's reaction, this name—
Was no small matter.
"Who is that?"
Tsubaki asked with a frown.
Kikyo shook her head: "I don't know."
Her gaze fell on Kanbe Hikaru's back.
That figure, a blend of red and white, stood under the moonlight like a demon god walking out of hell.
He knew that name.
He knew the origin of this monster.
He—
Just how many more secrets was he hiding?
Kikyo still did not press for answers.
But in her heart, there was an extra hint of curiosity.
And, expectation.
That Oni Samurai named Kanbe Hikaru.
He seemed to always be able to bring her surprises.
[shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 52 (Trust)]
[It conveys a message to you: "The scent on that monster smells very bad."]
["But you handled it well."]
Kanbe Hikaru looked at the prompts on the panel.
He was quite satisfied.
Tonight's harvest was even greater than he had imagined.
Not just a new ability.
But also—new information.
The worldview of demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba also exists here.
That means Kibutsuji Muzan might also exist.
Those powerful demons might also exist.
And the nichirin sword that can slay demons might also exist.
Danger and opportunity coexist.
"Interesting."
He whispered: "This world is getting more and more interesting."
-------------------------
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