On a distant hill.
Chiyo stood there with his arms crossed, watching the Wasteland shrouded in dark crimson light.
The Four Souls Jewel floated in midair at the center of the Wasteland. The pure black orb slowly rotated, like an eye gradually opening.
Evil aura surged in from every direction.
Like mist.
Wherever that mist reached, the earth began to crack, plants began to wither, and animals began to go mad.
Kagome stood beside Chiyo, her face pale.
"...The Four Souls Jewel is still absorbing evil aura?"
"Mm."
"How long do we have to wait...?"
His gaze fell upon the Four Souls Jewel, the pure black orb reflected in his scarlet pupils.
"Until it has absorbed enough."
Chiyo's voice was calm.
"Until it has absorbed all the evil aura within a thousand miles."
"And then?"
Kagome's voice trembled slightly.
"And then..."
Chiyo turned around and looked at her.
"Then this world will slowly get better."
Kagome looked into Chiyo's eyes.
Within those scarlet eyes was something that would never change no matter what happened, something ingrained deep in his bones, as immovable as a mountain...
Conviction.
"Chiyo."
"Mm."
"I believe in you."
Kagome's voice was soft.
But resolute.
Chiyo looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
Then he reached out and placed a hand on Kagome's head.
Gently ruffling her hair.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To see those children."
"Children?"
Kagome froze for a moment.
Chiyo withdrew his hand, turned, and walked down the hill.
Outside the village.
Sesshomaru stood amid a heap of demon corpses, and blood had finally stained his blade.
It was not his blood.
It was the demons' blood.
He had killed more than seventy demons in succession, including Great Demon-level ones as well as ordinary demons.
He had expended quite a bit of