After helping Young Deer Man awaken the [Heart of the Forest] and purge the monsters and miasma ravaging the forest, Arata immediately chose to leave.
He had little time left to form contracts with yokai companions.
Besides, Enmusubi's first festival would be held within the next two days. A certain demon had never explicitly mentioned either the festival or that foolish goddess.
But Arata suspected that the boy still wanted to go.
At their pace, traveling from Seven-Horn Mountain to Enmusubi Shrine on the outskirts of Kyoto would take about a day and a half. Their schedule seemed tight, but since the festival was at night, they actually had plenty of time.
They could even find a clean inn to wash up and pick out a small present for that silly goddess.
Of course, before leaving, he left something behind for the forest.
He handed Komatsumaru several scrolls covered in obscure patterns.
These were not special Onmyoji Arts scrolls, but ninjutsu scrolls containing warning barriers.
"You aren't going to eat these, are you, little dummy?"
At those words, Kidomaru's expression changed instantly, a sharp gleam bursting from his narrow demonic eyes.
Because I earned those with my own hands!
Once I repay what I owe and regain my freedom, I can do whatever I want. Mere money? I have plenty of ways to get it!
And that unease came precisely from taking another great step toward freedom.
Under Arata's unwavering stare, Kidomaru felt uncomfortable. He wanted to snap that it was nothing, that he had merely called him that on a whim.
I don't want to remain under this damned onmyoji's thumb forever!
Yet as he watched Arata's retreating back, unease suddenly stirred in Kidomaru's heart.
Although the onmyoji had put no force into those taps, being the only one