Back mountain of the shrine, within the hot spring.
It was now Kikyo's turn for her reincarnation ceremony.
Lynn embedded the Evil Piece.
Hum—
A soft glow lit up her smooth back as her Blessing information quietly surfaced.
Kikyo
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic Power: i0
Inherent Skills:
— [Demon-Breaking Power]
Spiritual power; special attack against evil spirits.
— [Witch's Combat Skill]
Grants use of witch techniques; rapid growth in agility and magic.
— [Pure Eradicator of Tragic Souls]
Purifies spiritual power; special attack against all evil beings; immune to curse-type negative conditions.
— [Purifying Devil]
The Unsullied; special attack bonus against dark attributes and filth.
— Devil Transformation (Environmental Unstained Coffin)
…
Lynn: "…"
Looking at Kikyo's skill set, Lynn felt a bit conflicted.
She was clearly a devil now… but she had too many skills hostile to devils.
All those special attack traits…
Lynn copied her Blessing data and handed it to her, falling into thought.
He couldn't shake the feeling…
One day, would he be expelled from the devil race because of this?
Kikyo looked over her Blessing, her expression dazed.
This kind of gift… really was something only a god could grant.
While they were reviewing their Blessings, Lynn also gave a brief overview of the current Peerage situation.
He mentioned talents, other worlds, and so on.
"Another world?!"
Kagome's eyes were wide with disbelief. She'd already had enough shocks today!
First, monsters suddenly appeared. Then she was rescued by members of the Supernatural Investigation Club.
After that, she traveled through time and space with Lynn, only to be dragged into his harem and turned into a devil…
The sheer amount of events left her mind spinning, it felt like her brain was full to bursting.
And now, she was being told the Peerage had access to other worlds for leveling up?
Too much!
"You can really adventure in another world?"
"Of course," Lynn nodded.
The Peerage's primary purpose was to grow stronger and return that strength to him.
However…
Lynn glanced at Kikyo and Midoriko.
The worlds currently under his control didn't offer much challenge to High-Class or higher devils anymore.
That… was starting to be a headache.
Still…
What's done is done.
"Kagome, are you ready for the arrival of the gods?"
"Eh…"
Kagome blinked in confusion. "Wasn't this just a purification ceremony?"
"The arrival of the gods is part of the purification ritual."
"U-Umm…"
Kikyo and Midoriko both froze, clearly unsure what to do.
Seeing this, Lynn spoke calmly, "Kagome isn't experienced as a shrine maiden yet. You two should help guide her."
Kikyo bit her lip, her voice barely audible. "…Understood."
Warring States shrine maidens were strong!
The next day.
The hot spring had to be slightly expanded due to last night's "ritual."
Kikyo and the others floated in the water, eyes blank, their beautiful bodies coated in sticky fluid.
Lynn exhaled in satisfaction.
After the shrine maidens' night-long service, he felt completely refreshed, mind and body.
Midoriko subconsciously stuck out her pink tongue and licked the sticky fluid from her lips.
In the next second, her previously drained body regained vitality.
The miraculous effect made her mutter, "…Truly divine…"
Splash.
Lynn rose from the hot spring.
Kikyo and Midoriko immediately came to their senses and hurried over. "Lord Lynn, allow us to dress you."
Only Kagome was still asleep, drooling.
Lynn finished dressing, then patted Kikyo's shoulder.
"Show me around Kaede Village."
Kikyo's face turned red. "…Yes."
…
Kaede Village.
The sun shone brightly.
Villagers worked in the rice fields. It seemed that yesterday's monster attack hadn't affected daily life.
"Everyone's already used to this kind of thing," Kikyo said with a tinge of melancholy.
Since inheriting the Shikon Jewel, Kaede Village had long lost its peace.
However…
She glanced at Lynn, a rare tenderness flickering in her usually cold eyes.
Her god had answered her prayers.
"Lady Kikyo—"
Along the way, villagers warmly and respectfully greeted her.
Kikyo nodded indifferently, always keeping a respectful position beside Lynn to signify his noble status.
Noticing this, the villagers glanced at Lynn with a mix of curiosity and fear, then quickly looked away.
If even Lady Kikyo acted this respectfully, this man had to be someone of great power.
Not to mention.
The miracle he performed yesterday still echoed in their minds.
He had to be a god.
Yes… Lady Kikyo's god!
Along the way, Lynn listened as Kikyo explained the local situation.
Buzz—
Suddenly, a shrill sound rang out.
Lynn and Kikyo turned their heads and saw it, an insect resembling a wasp, with blood-red compound eyes and large pincer-like mandibles, was watching them from the shadows of the leaves.
When it realized it had been spotted, it tried to fly away—only to be shot down by Kikyo's arrow.
Lynn observed the insect carefully. "Kikyo."
"Yes?"
Kikyo lowered her head slightly.
"Do you know of someone called Naraku?"
"…Or maybe a demon called Onigumo?"
Upon hearing that, Kikyo frowned. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lord Lynn. I've never heard of them."
"I see…"
Lynn paused.
It seemed that, although this world had changed, even with Kikyo not saving Onigumo…
Naraku still appeared.
So…
The mastermind behind yesterday's attack on Kaede Village must have been that little pest.
He was probably after the Shikon Jewel.
Lynn guessed as much but didn't care.
At best, Naraku was just a bug.
No different than the insect Kikyo had just shot down.
Still…
Lynn rubbed his chin.
Kagura and Kanna might be worthwhile talents to recruit into the Peerage.
It'd be troublesome to locate Naraku, though.
After Lynn explained Naraku's existence.
Kikyo murmured, "So that's how it is…"
"No wonder the monsters seemed oddly coordinated yesterday. Someone was manipulating them."
A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Only dares to hide in the shadows…"
They chatted for a while longer.
Lynn began thinking about how to make the most of this era.
Since he was in the past, he couldn't waste the opportunity…
But first.
He needed to check in with Saeko and the others.
This era of Japan had rich resources and monsters.
Even some high-grade and Great Youkai.
It would be perfect for Saeko, who had hit a growth bottleneck!
…
Elsewhere.
In a damp, dark cave, Naraku sat in the shadows, his expression grim.
"The Kaede Village spy was eliminated…"
That human shrine maiden… and that man.
Remembering yesterday, Naraku's body trembled slightly.
The man's power had burned everything in an instant.
For the first time since his creation, Naraku had felt real fear.
Absolutely.
He could not afford to provoke that one.
"…Remain hidden for now."
Wait until that man leaves…
Not far away, Kagura stared at Naraku in stunned silence.
He's… trembling?
It was the first time she had seen Naraku like this.
Was it because of that man?
Her thoughts stirred.
She recalled the man who radiated divine power.
Yeah…
So even Naraku has someone he's afraid of…
Exhale…
Kagura let out a quiet breath, her ruby eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
Kanna silently watched her sister.
Kagura… do you want freedom?
…
A few days later.
Using Kagome as the link, Lynn's Peerage opened a time-space portal and arrived 500 years in the past for training.
"So this is what the world looked like 500 years ago?"
When Utaha received the news, she arrived immediately.
Maintaining her Blessing growth had been mentally exhausting.
She heard there was a nice hot spring here?
Maybe she could finally unwind.
If only I could be with Lynn…
Utaha breathed a little heavier, clearly imagining something suggestive.
Saeko looked around and frowned slightly when she didn't see any monsters. "I wanted to cut some down…"
Utaha: "…"
This woman's getting more and more twisted.
"Don't worry, you'll get your chance."
Lynn's voice immediately brought calm to Saeko.
"Master~"
"Midoriko, Kikyo—take the Peerage and explore the area. Find a few Great Youkai to help Saeko sharpen her skills."
Lynn gave the order.
The Gastrea in the Zombie World could no longer help Saeko level up as a High-Class Devil.
This chaotic era was just right for her.
Even if she had trouble dealing with Great Youkai, she had Midoriko and Kikyo, both natural enemies of demons.
Lynn wasn't worried.
Utaha eyed the three shrine maidens thoughtfully.
Their miko outfits were unexpectedly alluring…
She suddenly felt the urge to buy a few sets of "interesting" costumes herself.
Yukino glanced at Kagome, her expression complicated. "Kagome… you really became part of the Master's Peerage…"
"Ahaha…"
Kagome rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.
Not only was she in the Peerage, she had also been "taken" on the very first day.
But—
There was no helping it…
Serving a god was a miko's duty…
She quietly tried to convince herself.
After wrapping things up, Lynn stroked his chin, preparing to visit the Underworld of this era.
But—
"How do I get there?"
Lynn paused.
At present, the Underworld was in chaos and most routes were blocked.
Traveling directly wasn't easy.
He'd have to consult the all-knowing Miss Rias.
---
Rias: "You want to go to the Underworld?"
Private Kuoh Academy, Occult Research Club.
"Lynn… why do you want to go to the Underworld?"
She sounded curious.
Still—
Rias: "Sending you the coordinates."
Lynn: "Thanks! I won't forget your kindness.
Rias pouted.
This guy… only good at talking.
She had been looking forward to the date he promised.
But.
Nothing came of it.
So…
Was it just empty words?
Rias felt a little disappointed.
---
Warring States Period.
Lynn received the coordinates from Rias.
He hesitated.
"Can coordinates from 500 years in the future be used here?"
He gave it a try.
And then.
"Nope. Doesn't work."
Lynn: "Any other methods?"
Rias: "?"
(To be continued.)