The Firearms Priestess

" Sakura." After a moment of silence, Kikyo spoke.

"Mm?"

"Do you want to become human, or a true demon?" Kikyo held the Jewel of Four Souls in her hand and turned to look at Yae Sakura.

"No!"

"Uh?" Kikyo was immediately surprised by Yae Sakura's decisive answer.

"I don't see anything wrong with being a half-demon without feelings. Besides... this jewel doesn't have the power to grant wishes at all."

This was what Flame Sakitama Yae Sakura looked like. Why would she want to change? Yae Sakura was at her best just as she was.

Besides, the Jewel of Four Souls wasn't the Dragon Balls. This whole wish-granting thing was a trap.

"It can't?" Kikyo looked at the Jewel of Four Souls in confusion.

"It's only a jewel formed from the souls of a great priestess and a great demon. How could it possibly grant wishes? So... Kikyo, don't make any wishes on it either. It will only grant them in the wrong way.

"If you wished for peace throughout the land, for example, it would kill everyone. Then the land would be peaceful."

"A twisted wish?"

"Yes! That's exactly it."

"Is that so..."

Kikyo did not know whether Yae Sakura was telling the truth, but after staring at the Jewel of Four Souls in her hand and hesitating for a while... she put it away.

If it was true...

Good intentions could become a disaster.

Kikyo had originally intended to give the Jewel of Four Souls to Yae Sakura. It was a dangerous object. It could bring no one good fortune, only calamity.

If it were used up, then nothing would happen, and no demons would come to fight over it, right?

After spending this time with Yae Sakura, Kikyo believed that even if Yae Sakura used the Jewel of Four Souls to become human again or fully transform into a demon, she would not become evil because of it.

But after hearing what Yae Sakura had said, Kikyo gave up on giving it to her.

After resting for the night, Yae Sakura and Higokumaru followed Kikyo toward the battlefield at the border between the two nations the next day.

"Big Sister Kikyo, Big Sister Sakura, Higokumaru, be careful on the road!"

The little girl Kaede stood at the village entrance, waving reluctantly at the three of them. They had only been back for less than a day, yet they were leaving again.

They still were not taking her with them this time, but Kaede did not complain. She knew she was too weak and would only be a burden if she went along.

"Go back. Watch the house."

"I will, Big Sister Kikyo." Kaede hurriedly nodded.

"And remember to practice with the weapon I gave you!" Yesterday afternoon, Yae Sakura had given her a one-star pistol, the kind with relatively low recoil. Kaede could barely use it now.

Then Yae Sakura had taught her for two hours. Compared to practicing archery, using modern weapons was undoubtedly far quicker and more powerful.

After all, no matter how skilled one was in martial arts, a single shot could take them down...

And unlike Kikyo, Kaede had very poor talent for both spiritual power and archery. Even if she trained for a lifetime, she would never achieve much.

She might as well change careers and become this world's one and only firearms priestess.

After all, times had changed. Who still used bows and arrows?

"Mm, thank you, Big Sister Sakura. I'll practice hard." Kaede touched the pistol tucked against her chest, her face full of excitement.

Kaede had trained in spiritual power and archery under Kikyo for a long time, but those things required talent. Even Yae Sakura had surpassed her later on, while Kaede was only a little stronger than an ordinary person.

If Kaede had not been Kikyo's younger sister, Kikyo would have stopped teaching her long ago. Not everyone could become a priestess.

But after receiving this gun with unlimited ammunition yesterday, Kaede saw new hope.

She had personally experienced the pistol's power. Even if her enemy was a samurai, as long as he had not cultivated sword aura, one shot could kill him outright.

It was somewhat lacking against demons, especially spirit-type demons, where it was practically useless. Still, it was a tremendous improvement over before.

After studying archery for so long, Kaede might not even be able to kill an animal with a single arrow...

And Big Sister Sakura had also said... if her marksmanship improved and she became physically stronger, she would give her laser weapons capable of harming spirits, perhaps even powerful grenade launchers.

Then she would become the first firearms priestess in this world.

"Keep it up. We're leaving."

"Goodbye!" Kaede waved with all her strength.

"Kaede seems very happy..."

After leaving Kaede Village, Kikyo watched Yae Sakura teasing the little fox and found herself understanding her less and less.

However, Kikyo's personality was not one to ask too many questions.

"Yes. You know it too... the path of a traditional priestess is far too difficult for Kaede. The difference between her talent and yours is simply too great. She can only take another path..."

"But... every one of those precious things could be called priceless. You just gave them away like that?"

"I don't mind, so you shouldn't either. Aren't we friends?"

"Friends..."

Kikyo stopped and looked at Yae Sakura. In this era... forget friends—even family members turning against each other over a small benefit was perfectly normal.

What were friends worth, then?

"Sakura, why do you keep staying by my side?" Kikyo stared seriously at Yae Sakura.

"..."

"What is it? Why ask that so suddenly?" Yae Sakura was confused. It had come out of nowhere.

"With your strength, no one could stop you no matter where you went. Why accompany me and suffer everywhere?"

"Suffer? I don't feel that way. I think it's quite interesting!"

"Do you want the Jewel of Four Souls?" Kikyo suddenly held out her palm, revealing the Jewel of Four Souls.

"Kikyo, what are you doing? You don't trust me?" The smile on Yae Sakura's face froze as she looked at Kikyo's gesture. Did she not trust her?

Even though...

"I understand now! Thank you..."

After looking at Yae Sakura for a while, Kikyo suddenly gave a rare smile. She put away the Jewel of Four Souls, then sincerely thanked her.

"Uh..."

Yae Sakura was completely baffled. What kind of riddle was Kikyo playing at?

"Let's go. We'll try to reach the border before nightfall."