"If I become your miko, can I solve the problem of the Shikon Jewel?"
Kikyo, who said this, had already broken her own bottom line.
A god who cannot help people is no longer useful.
That's what Kikyo believed.
Lynn smiled.
The moment she said that, he knew it was settled.
Lynn picked up the Shikon Jewel again, drawing Kikyo's gaze.
The uncontaminated Shikon Jewel was also one of the reasons Kikyo was willing to trust Lynn.
"Whether it can be solved or not, you'll see it with your own eyes."
Lynn's words left Kikyo momentarily stunned.
Then, she watched as Lynn's glowing hand reached… inside the Shikon Jewel?
Thanks to the power of the [Spirit-Seer Devil], Lynn noticed something unusual about the Shikon Jewel the moment he acquired it.
Inside were human souls, as well as a large number of vengeful spirits from monsters.
For a [Spirit-Seer Devil], it was a perfect match.
His glowing hand stirred within the Shikon Jewel, and then he touched something soft.
Lynn's expression shifted slightly. He grabbed the soft mass and pulled it out.
Puff—
A round object emerged from the Shikon Jewel.
Kagome froze for a moment, then looked down with a complicated expression.
Kikyo also seemed at a loss for words.
The thing in Lynn's hand…
Why does it look so similar…
Lynn paused, then exerted more force.
"Um…"
A soft moan came from the Shikon Jewel.
With his next movement, a woman in a shrine maiden's outfit suddenly appeared inside the thatched hut.
"Eh?"
Having been pulled out of the Shikon Jewel, Tsuiko blinked in confusion.
"M-Midoriko-sama?!"
Kikyo was visibly shaken.
She was actually seeing a living idol?!
Kikyo's voice brought Midoriko back to her senses.
She looked around in confusion, then looked down and gave Lynn a gentle smile.
"Sir, I truly appreciate you rescuing me from the Shikon Jewel, but…"
Midoriko looked at the large hand on her chest and awkwardly said, "Could you… please let go of my…"
Lynn shrugged. "Sorry, it was just easier to grab."
Midoriko pursed her lips and didn't speak, then glanced at the Shikon Jewel with a complicated expression. "After I was gone, the Shikon Jewel really did become unstable…"
The Shikon Jewel began trembling violently, and its malevolent aura started spreading.
Seeing this, Midoriko sighed.
It seemed like she was fated to continue battling the monsters inside the Shikon Jewel forever…
Just as she was about to dive back in, Lynn grabbed her arm.
"Since I saved you, you're mine."
Midoriko was stunned, then said anxiously, "But…"
Before she could finish, she saw Lynn reaching into the Shikon Jewel once more.
A clump of twisted monster consciousness was slowly being drawn out.
"Wait!"
Midoriko cried out, stopping him. "If you let them out, the whole world could be in danger!"
"The whole world?"
Lynn chuckled. "You're overestimating them. At most, they'll cause trouble in Japan…"
Well, just a bit of trouble.
"That already sounds really dangerous!"
Kagome trembled slightly.
Even Kikyo grew nervous.
These monsters exuded a powerful aura!
Lady Midoriko… Has she been fighting this level of monster all this time…?
If it were her, she probably wouldn't last a minute…
"Hahaha!! Midoriko!! Are you trying to run away, Midoriko?!"
As soon as the monster consciousness appeared, it screamed at Midoriko.
"You're scared! You're finally scared!!"
"Haha!! Keep fighting!! Keeep fiiiighting!!"
Multiple voices rang out at once, making Kagome's eardrums tremble slightly.
Lynn stared at them, eyes gleaming.
This…
Was definitely a supplement!
"Spirit Devouring."
Buzz—
The monsters, who had just been shrieking, suddenly twisted in agony.
The [Spirit-Seer Devil]'s special effect against spiritual beings made this an easy task.
"Wait!"
Sensing their impending demise, the monster consciousness cried out, "What are you doing?! What are you going to do to us?!"
Lynn ignored their pleas.
He just continued to twist and compress.
"Spare us, spare us…"
"W-We… can… help…"
The voices grew faint and eventually disappeared.
Clack.
A purple bead, similar to the Shikon Jewel, fell onto the table.
Lynn picked it up, flicked it into the air, and popped it into his mouth.
Crunch, crunch.
Hmm…
Chicken flavor. Crunchy!
Midoriko was left dumbfounded!
There were so many powerful vengeful spirits sealed in the Shikon Jewel!
And he… just ate them?!
Kikyo also stared silently at the now dull and lifeless Shikon Jewel, which had turned into an ordinary bead.
Lynn's method was simple, crude…
And violent.
But.
This only proved how unfathomably powerful Lynn was!
To her, even her idol, Midoriko, had struggled and barely managed to seal those spirits.
But against Lynn?
They couldn't even fight back!
Maybe…
It wasn't such a bad thing to become the miko of someone like him?
Midoriko's expression kept changing.
She knew more than Kikyo did.
And she understood that to some beings, even powerful monsters meant nothing.
But…
That was the consciousness of seven or eight great monsters!
Some were even from different species!
When combined, they far surpassed any individual monster!
If not for the unique nature of her soul and spiritual power, sealing them in the Shikon Jewel wouldn't have been possible at all!
Yet in the end…
Midoriko stared at Lynn with complex emotions.
Just who was he?
After swallowing the monster consciousness, Lynn's brow twitched slightly.
No wonder the Shikon Jewel was coveted by so many monsters, even great monsters.
Even a single monster's consciousness had pushed his strength at the Satan-Class Devil level up a notch.
What an excellent tonic.
"Alright, now that that's done, next…"
After enjoying the experience boost, Lynn looked at the two shrine maidens and the trainee with a grin.
"Let's talk business."
Hearing that, Kikyo didn't hesitate.
She met Lynn's gaze and said firmly, "I will serve you, Lord Lynn."
In her heart, Lynn—who had solved the problem of the Shikon Jewel—was no different from a god.
And Kikyo was not someone who went back on her word.
Lynn clapped his hands with a grin. "Kikyo, you're really a woman of your word."
Then he turned to Kagome.
Kagome hesitantly raised her hand. "M-Me too…"
Finally, the three of them looked at Midoriko.
Midoriko: "…"
She fidgeted awkwardly.
What… is going on?
"Will you be my miko?"
Lynn extended the invitation.
"M-Miko…?"
Midoriko blushed. She obviously understood what Lynn meant.
Serve… him?
But…
After a moment of thought, Midoriko hesitantly said, "Alright… okay…"
She agreed that easily?
Kagome looked at her in surprise.
Midoriko had her reasons.
First, she was already dead.
What remained was just her soul.
Second, Lynn had pulled her back from that endless suffering in the Shikon Jewel.
She was sincerely grateful to him.
And more than that, he had also resolved the Shikon Jewel's issue.
So—
Offering this "useless" soul to Lynn was the only way she could repay him.
Seeing this, Lynn nodded with satisfaction.
Three more joined his Peerage.
And…
Their quality was exceptional…
Besides Kagome, Kikyo and Midoriko were both powerful shrine maidens!
Especially Midoriko, she had been able to hold her own against the monster consciousness in the Shikon Jewel using just the power of her soul.
Lynn couldn't wait to draw rewards.
"In that case, take off your clothes first."
"...?"
Kagome was dumbfounded. "Take off… our clothes?!"
Kikyo also fell silent.
Midoriko opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally lowered her head with a strange look. "Can a soul even… take off clothes?"
Just as she was thinking that, the clothes on her body suddenly disappeared, revealing her fair skin.
"Ah!"
Midoriko hurriedly hugged her body, trying to cover key areas. Her face was burning.
Kagome looked at her with a complicated expression. "As expected… she's an adult…"
Midoriko's speed at undressing was astonishing.
So bold!
Even Kikyo looked at her in disbelief.
The idol in her heart had completely collapsed!
Lady Midoriko…
So you're… that kind of person?
Midoriko panicked, flailed around for a moment, and finally managed to put her clothes back on.
Then she stared at the ground, blushing, tapping her toes lightly.
But—
She passed through it without resistance.
The simple thatched hut suddenly became silent.
Eventually, Kikyo broke the silence.
With a look of realization, she nodded. "I understand."
"This must be… a purification ceremony."
Upon hearing that, Kagome also seemed to realize something.
There was such a record in the teachings for shrine maidens.
Her family ran a shrine, after all—she'd heard about it before.
A purification ceremony… was a ritual meant to cleanse body and mind in preparation for the arrival of a god!
Hmm…
Lynn's request actually sounded reasonable…
Kagome nodded. "Yes! A purification ceremony!"
Lynn remained silent.
…Was that what he meant?
With the explanation out in the open, Midoriko, Kikyo, and Kagome all let out sighs of relief.
Kikyo spoke up, "There's a natural hot spring not far from the shrine."
"We can perform the purification ceremony there."
"Wow!"
Kagome's eyes lit up. "A hot spring!"
Midoriko also longed for a hot spring bath, but she wasn't sure if a soul could feel it?
Suddenly, three expectant gazes turned toward Lynn.
Lynn nodded. "Then let's head to the hot spring."
As for whether this was really a purification ceremony?
Seeing how excited they were, Lynn didn't spoil the moment.
Besides.
As their god.
It made perfect sense for him to observe the purification ceremony, right?
He hadn't had a hot spring bath in a while either. This would be a good chance to relax.
(To be continued.)