Chapter 16: Slaying Ten Thousand Monsters

"Kikyō, wait up! I'm coming!"

After quickly washing up, Yae Sakura rushed over to Kikyō.

"Don't be so hasty," Kikyō said with an exasperated shake of her head at Yae Sakura's frantic arrival. "I haven't even left yet. Honestly, why are you so obsessed with these commissions?"

"What kind of job is this time?"

Crystal was primarily obtained from defeating monsters or completing commissions, so Yae Sakura couldn't afford to miss out.

For some reason, whenever she went on a commission with Kikyō, the system seemed to automatically consider them as a team. This meant there would be rewards just for finishing the job together.

"I got a request from Ensei the Priest to purify hundreds of demons about to break free from their seal."

In a village nearby, there lived a famous priest named Yuan Zheng who guarded a temple where a group of monsters were sealed away.

A few days ago, Ensei had fought a powerful monster and suffered serious injuries. Because of this, the seal on the temple began weakening, giving those hundreds of demons a chance to escape and harm people.

That's why he'd sent someone to ask the now-famous miko Kikyō for help in purifying the monsters.

"Purify a hundred ghosts?"

That sounds too good to be true. I was just worried about how to deal with the remaining monsters—how did they arrive so soon...

Over the past year, Yae had intentionally taken on as many tasks as possible. Now, in all of Musashi Province, there were hardly any monsters left.

Even if some remained, they were hiding extremely well!

The only ones left... were those sealed away by people. This time was perfect! She could finally complete that bounty quest.

In this year, Yae hadn't slacked off at all. Her swordsmanship and skills had become quite proficient, and she'd also consulted Kikyō... learning miko spells from her.

Especially Kikyō's barrier techniques.

From the Valkyrie Gyakushin Miko, Yae had mainly learned combat skills; other abilities were lacking.

But Kikyō was different. As a proper miko, she wasn't just skilled at exorcisms. She also knew barriers, seals, blessings, funerals... all sorts of things.

These were areas where Yae needed improvement, so she studied under Kikyō alongside the little girl—the one who happened to be Kikyō's younger sister Kaede.

However, progress-wise... it could only be described as scratching the surface.

"Let's go!" Kikyō said calmly when she thought they were ready.

"Huh? Kaede too?" Yae suddenly noticed that the little miko who had woken her up was also there with luggage, looking like she wanted to come along.

Normally, Kikyō wouldn't bring Kaede on exorcism missions.

"Yeah, it's time for her to see what these are all about."

"You're right." Although Kaede was only a few years old, she'd be an adult in just a few more.

And this time... the commission...

Commission Request Received: Purify Hundred Demons

Reward: 3 Crystals

Three crystals! Not bad at all!

Ensei's village wasn't too far from Maple Village—about ten or fifteen kilometers away.

Yae Sakura followed Kikyo, leading Kaede on a walk that would take one or two hours.

Along the way, they didn't encounter any monsters. Yae wouldn't mind if there were some around; she was ready for them. But by now, all the monsters in Musashi Province—and even those in neighboring countries—knew about this half-demon priestess who specialized in killing their kind.

In the past, many overconfident monsters had come to challenge her, but now they ran as fast as they could whenever they saw her.

It's not like Yae Sakura kills every monster she sees. Only those that have harmed people carry a malevolent aura, and it's only then that Yae Sakura doesn't hold back.

As for friendly monsters? She usually ignores them.

Otherwise, they would've wiped out all 10,000 monsters by now.

What Yae Sakura can't figure out is this: Her reputation has grown so much, yet why hasn't she completed her main quest?

It just doesn't make sense!

"Lady Kikyō, Lady Yae, you're finally here! The head monk is barely holding on. Please come with me!"

When Kikyō, Yae, and the third member of their group arrived at the temple, a young monk spotted them and rushed over anxiously.

"Let's go," Kikyō said without hesitation. She followed the young monk towards the temple, with Yae right behind her.

-

"Ensei, you're already half-dead! What makes you think you can stop us? You fool!"

"We must eat him—now!"

In the center of the temple stood a golden pagoda about six meters tall. Inside, it seemed filled with endless dark mist. Dark, angry voices roared, trying to break free from the tower.

The golden pagoda shook constantly, as if it might shatter at any moment.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

An old monk with short white hair sat cross-legged in front of the pagoda, continuously striking a wooden fish bell. His body seemed to emit a golden light that held the pagoda steady.

Suddenly... The old monk's face turned pale, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

His strikes on the wooden fish stopped.

"Haha! He's injured but tried to push through it!"

"The tower's breaking—we're free!"

"Liver—it smells like fresh liver..."

Cracks spread across the golden pagoda, growing larger by the second. Then... boom!

The pagoda exploded, releasing over a hundred monsters that Ensei had captured over the years.

"It's karma," Ensei sighed weakly, clapping his hands together. It seemed he was ready to die.

For years, he'd tried to help these monsters find peace within Buddhism. But now, he realized he'd only made their evil worse.

"Join us, Ensei! Become one with us!"

-

As Yae Sakura and her two companions entered the temple's main hall, the ground suddenly shook. A moment later, the air inside filled with a foul, demonic stench.

"Not good!"

Kikyō and Yae exchanged glances and rushed straight into the inner courtyard. There they saw...

A horde of demons feasting on a monk.

"Purification Arrow!" Kikyō drew her bow and fired without hesitation.

Yae was taken aback... Kikyō stole my kill! she thought angrily. They'd agreed that if there were many monsters, Yae would handle things.

"Zero Void Three Flashes!" Without wasting another second, three massive sword energy waves, each dozens of meters wide, sliced through the air towards the demons.

She immediately locked onto one in the center.

In an instant, Body Flash activated...

And then, Killing Intent Stigma... erupted!

The inner courtyard quickly filled with Sakura Sword Force, sweeping away all the monsters...

Achievement Unlocked: Demon Slaying Crusader

Crystals Awarded: 10

Bounty Quest Completed

Main Storyline Task Completed