Can I Touch Your Ears?

"Yes..."

"I am the daughter of a noble. I was attacked by demons while traveling to and from Kyoto, and all the samurai protecting me were killed," Xia Ji replied hurriedly.

"I see... You don't need to be afraid of me! I am a shrine maiden, and I only deal with slaying demons. I won't do anything to you."

"A shrine maiden?" Xia Ji looked at Yae Sakura before her. Setting aside the fox ears on her head, even if she were a shrine maiden... there were no shrine maidens who dressed so provocatively, were there?

The skirt was actually that short?

How shameless!

It was even more... revealing than the women in the pleasure houses.

"..."

Seeing the look in Xia Ji's eyes, Yae Sakura immediately guessed what she was thinking. This outfit might not be much in the modern era, but in ancient times, it was definitely far too revealing.

However... that was how the game design was set up! And besides... she didn't have any other clothes to change into. She couldn't exactly walk around naked, could she?

After chatting with Yae Sakura for a few moments, Xia Ji realized that this half-demon in front of her didn't seem like a bad person; they could actually communicate peacefully.

Although she didn't know why the girl insisted on calling herself a shrine maiden, as long as she didn't eat people, she was safe!

Thinking of this, Xia Ji's guarded heart relaxed significantly.

"Lady Demon, I..."

"Don't call me Lady Demon! I am not a demon. My name is Yae Sakura, Flame Sakitama Yae Sakura!" Yae Sakura interrupted her directly upon hearing this.

"Flame Sakitama... Yae Sakura?"

"Yes!"

"Wait a moment... Flame Sakitama?" Xia Ji paused. The name sounded intimidating just to hear.

"What? Is there a problem?" Yae Sakura looked at her calmly.

"No..." Hearing this, the girl in the kimono recalled the bloodthirsty expression Yae Sakura had worn while slaying the demons earlier. Her body shivered, and she shook her head quickly.

"Right! I have some questions for you..."

"What is it? Please, Lady Yae, speak." Xia Ji lowered her head quickly.

"Have you ever heard of a shrine maiden named Kikyo?" The name Kikyo should be quite famous, right?

"Kikyo? No..." Xia Ji shook her head.

"I see..."

"Lady Yae..."

"Hmm?" Yae Sakura looked at her in confusion.

"Could I ask a favor of you?" Xia Ji looked at Yae Sakura with a pitiful, pleading expression.

"What is it?"

"Could you please escort me home? Of course! I will have my father reward you."

Now that her samurai and guards were all dead, it was impossible for her to return home alone...

Who knew when a few more demons might jump out? To the demons, she was far more tempting than hundreds of ordinary girls.

Due to the unique nature of this land, the daughters of nobles seemed to hold a temptation for the local demons that far exceeded that of ordinary people.

However, because noble daughters were protected by powerful samurai, monks, and onmyoji, they were difficult to catch.

A lone noble girl like Xia Ji was like a drug, attracting all the nearby demons.

"I..."

Just as Yae Sakura was about to say something, suddenly...

[Quest Received: Escort Xia Ji home]

[Reward: 5 Crystals]

[Accept?]

"Uh... fine! I accept."

Yae Sakura had been planning to accept anyway, and getting 5 extra crystals was a pleasant surprise.

Right now, Yae Sakura needed to farm crystals. Aside from quests... she would likely have to hunt demons, but searching for them one by one was too much of a hassle.

With Xia Ji as bait, she could simply wait for them to come to her.

"Thank you so much!" Xia Ji looked at Yae Sakura with gratitude.

Even though she was a half-demon, she... actually seemed like a decent person!

And... she was a very beautiful half-demon. Watching the long ears on Yae Sakura's head twitch from time to time, Xia Ji fought the urge to reach out and grab them.

Fluffy... so cute!

Her fear of Yae Sakura vanished in an instant.

"Let's go!"

"Yes... Ouch... Sss!"

Xia Ji nodded and looked at Yae Sakura, preparing to follow, but she hadn't taken two steps before she frowned, let out a pained cry, and collapsed to the ground.

"What's wrong?"

Yae Sakura stopped and turned back to look at her, puzzled.

"My foot... it hurts so much," Xia Ji said, frowning.

"..."

Yae Sakura frowned upon hearing this, feeling that this was quite troublesome!

"Let me see..."

However, she still returned to her side, lifted Xia Ji's foot, and took off her shoe...

Looking at her bruised, purple-black foot, it was likely caused by her desperate running while being chased by demons earlier. She had always been a pampered noble daughter; she had never run for her life like that before.

It was only natural that it had turned out this way.

But... Yae Sakura didn't know how to heal.

"Does it hurt a lot?" She looked up at Xia Ji.

"Yes..." Xia Ji nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed, and also... afraid that Yae Sakura would just leave her behind.

Alone in this place, even if no demons appeared, she would be eaten by wild beasts.

"What a bother..."

Yae Sakura was speechless! Although this wasn't her fault.

"I'm sorry!" Xia Ji apologized with a pitiful look.

"Forget it! I'll carry you!" With that, Yae Sakura crouched down in front of Xia Ji.

"Is... is that okay?"

"Hurry up!"

"Oh..." Xia Ji quickly climbed onto Yae Sakura's back.

She felt... quite light.

"Lady Yae, are the ears on your head rabbit ears?" Xia Ji asked, lying on Yae Sakura's back and looking at the pair of long pink ears that swayed back and forth as she walked.

She couldn't help but ask.

"These are fox ears!"

"Fox ears? Do fox ears get this long?"

"..." You'll have to ask miHoYo about that.

"Can I touch them?"

"No!"