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[Anime] Ch 115: The Devil's Shrine Priestess
🕑 Added 2025-03-27 21:32:39 +0000 UTC— — — — — — —
Everything seemed to tremble.
"The gods of Japan are dead?"
Lynn's words struck Kikyo like a bolt of lightning, shaking the very foundation of her beliefs.
As a shrine priestess, she had been raised to respect the gods, taught of their existence and power. She had devoted herself to them, believing in their will.
But now…
A man stood before her, claiming that the gods were no more.
Kikyo took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
It shouldn't be true…
Maybe this man was simply someone who blasphemed the gods.
And yet— Somewhere deep inside, she felt that what he was saying might be right.
Her gaze fell upon Lynn.
"Devil?"
The word sounded foreign to her, unfamiliar and unsettling.
Having lived in Musashi her whole life, Kikyo had little knowledge of Devils beyond what she had read in ancient texts. The descriptions she had come across painted them as ominous beings.
Devils were higher beings than these Yokai and demons.
Was this man the same?
Her expression grew serious, fingers tightening around her bow.
Even though he had saved the village, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Lynn, as if oblivious to her wariness, raised his hand and tapped on the barrier.
A soft BANG sound echoed.
Crack.
Before her eyes, the barrier—once strong enough to withstand the relentless attacks of countless demons—began to crack. Within moments, it shattered into countless glowing fragments that dissipated into the air.
Lynn gave her a friendly smile. "Aren't you going to invite me in? The door's already open, after all."
Kikyo stiffened.
A barrier that had withstood so much… undone with just a casual tap?
The power needed to annihilate a horde of demons in an instant—
She shouldn't be surprised.
A real Devil?
She kept her thoughts to herself but maintained her composure.
"Thank you for your assistance," she said, lowering her head slightly in gratitude, though her face remained unreadable.
"And now…"
Her eyes gleamed with caution. "May I ask what brings you here?"
Though he had saved the village, it would be careless to trust him blindly. The existence of the Sacred Jewel was too great a temptation. And given that he called himself a Devil…
Kikyo felt guilty for suspecting her savior.
But she had no choice.
Meanwhile, Lynn studied her with amusement.
It really was Kikyo.
Had something gone wrong with the time-space coordinates of the Bone-Eater's Well?
The Kikyo standing before him was alive and well—young, even.
Well, no matter. This was a crossover world, where anything was possible.
He flashed what he thought was a friendly smile, then raised his hand. "Are you worried about this?"
Kikyo's breath hitched as her eyes landed on the object he was holding—a glowing purple jewel, pulsating with an ominous light.
The Sacred Jewel.
When—?
Her heart clenched as she instinctively gripped her bow tighter.
This man…
He was terrifyingly strong.
She had placed the Sacred Jewel in the shrine, ensuring its safety.
And yet—
It was now in his hands.
She hadn't even noticed when he took it.
Whether he had stolen it with unimaginable speed or used some unknown technique, it made no difference.
Lynn, the self-proclaimed Devil, was someone she absolutely could not afford to provoke.
Still smiling, he tilted his head. "So, will you invite me in now?"
Kikyo exhaled, stepping aside and bowing slightly. "Please, come in."
Seeing this, Lynn chuckled and put away the Sacred Jewel.
Kikyo pursed her lips but said nothing.
The jewel… it wasn't corrupted?
As she mulled over this, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Wait for me!"
A girl came running up, breathless from exertion.
Kikyo blinked in surprise. "And who might this be?"
Lynn glanced at Kagome before answering casually, "Hmm… my trainee shrine priestess?"
Kikyo lowered her gaze, repeating his words softly.
"A shrine priestess… under a Devil?"
Kikyo wasn't sure how to feel about that.
— — —
Kaede's Village.
Inside a simple straw hut, Kikyo, Lynn, and Kagome sat on the floor.
A young girl nervously brought them cups of hot tea.
"Here, guest… tea."
Her hands trembled slightly as she served them, revealing her lingering fear.
Kagome forced a smile, still struggling to make sense of the situation.
Just what the hell was going on here?!
Did she somehow travel back in time to the past?!
Kikyo remained composed, her expression calm. "Apologies for the lack of proper hospitality."
Her gaze, however, was locked onto the Sacred Jewel in Lynn's hand—the same jewel he was casually tossing in the air.
Her heart clenched with tension.
As Lynn threw the jewel upward, Kikyo's breath hitched, her chin instinctively tilting up as her eyes followed its arc.
Afraid that something might go wrong.
Seeing her reaction, Lynn chuckled lightly.
Kikyo froze for a moment, then quickly restrained herself, shifting back into her usual cold and composed demeanor.
"Lord Lynn, the Sacred Jewel is an extremely dangerous existence."
She straightened her expression and began explaining the jewel's dangers.
Kagome, sitting upright beside her, listened intently, nodding along with increasing seriousness.
However, before Kikyo could continue, Lynn cut her off. "So? Have you given my proposal any thought?"
Kikyo blinked in confusion.
Lynn said with a smile. "So, what do you think? Want to become my shrine priestess?"
"Eh?! Shrine... shrine priestess?!"
Before Kikyo could respond, Kagome let out a shocked cry.
She didn't hear Lynn calling her 'the Devil's trainee shrine priestess.
She only knew that a shrine priestess was someone who served the gods.
But what Lynn was suggesting...
Did he mean for Kikyo to serve him instead?
H-He had such a weird fetish.
Kagome's mind raced, and before she could stop it, an embarrassing image formed in her head.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
Then, as if remembering something, Lynn's voice turned slow and deliberate. "That includes you too."
"...Huh?"
Kagome stiffened, slowly turning her head to look at Lynn, disbelief written all over her face.
"M-Me? A shrine priestess?"
Lynn nodded, smirking slightly. "Don't forget about your debt."
Kagome's mouth twitched. "You never said the payment was becoming your shrine priestess..."
"You're free to choose not to pay, of course."
For a brief moment, Kagome's eyes lit up.
But before she could speak, Lynn's voice turned dark. "I just can't guarantee what might happen if you don't."
A chill ran down Kagome's spine.
Without hesitation, she dropped into a dogeza position, forehead pressed to the floor. "I'm sorry! I'll do my best to be a good shrine priestess!"
She had already witnessed Lynn's terrifying strength.
Defying him? Absolutely not.
Besides, becoming Lynn's shrine priestess might not be a bad thing.
After all, she had already seen real monsters with her own eyes.
The thought of being protected by someone as powerful as Lynn...
Honestly, it wasn't the worst deal.
At least— Lynn's overwhelming strength gave her a sense of security.
Meanwhile—
Lynn, pleased with Kagome's quick compliance, turned his gaze toward Kikyo.
Kikyo pressed her lips together, then softly murmured, "I'm sorry."
Even though Lynn had saved Kaede's Village, converting to serve a Devil was simply too much to accept.
Lynn's voice grew soft, almost whispering. "Kikyo, you wouldn't want Kaede Village to be destroyed, would you?"
A chill crawled up Kikyo's spine.
What... did he mean by that?
Her heart pounded.
If this terrifyingly strong man truly wanted to destroy Kaede Village—
She wouldn't be able to stop him.
Suddenly—
Clink.
The crisp sound of the Sacred Jewel hitting the table filled the air.
Kikyo's eye twitched as she saw Lynn casually toss the jewel onto the wooden surface.
"If you don't deal with this problem..."
"Kaede Village is doomed, sooner or later."
Kikyo was startled by his words but also let out a breath of relief.
So that's what he meant...
Her gaze hardened. "I will take the Sacred Jewel and leave the Village."
"Oh? And then?"
"...Then?"
Kikyo hesitated, not understanding his question.
"Even if you leave with the Sacred Jewel, it will still attract demons wherever you go."
Lynn tapped his chin in mock thought. "Maybe I should start calling you the Wandering Calamity Shrine priestess?"
Wandering... Calamity... Shrine priestess?
Kikyo's heart clenched.
Did that mean that no matter where she went, disaster would follow?
If she carried the Sacred Jewel with her, that scenario seemed inevitable.
Lynn's voice dropped lower. "Can you truly protect it forever?"
"As a human, don't you have limits?"
"Are there not things you simply cannot do?"
Kikyo fell silent.
She thought back to today's crisis in Kaede Village.
She could have escaped with the Sacred Jewel on her own.
But if Lynn hadn't stepped in—
The villagers... they would have all been slaughtered.
Now that she thought about it— The people of Kaede Village calling Lynn 'a god'...
Didn't seem so far-fetched anymore.
After all, when she prayed for divine intervention—
The gods had, as always, remained silent.
The one who answered her prayers— Was a Devil.
Perhaps... Lynn was right.
The gods of this land were already dead.
If that was the case, then devoting herself to a Devil...
The gods wouldn't hold it against her, right?
After all—
Who said a Devil couldn't be a god?
Kikyo took a deep breath, looking up at Lynn.
"If I become your shrine priestess... will it solve the problem of the Sacred Jewel?"
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Comments
Jiang Chen
Kikyo and Kagome in the harem, threesome with twins :O
