I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"You're worried about me? But... if you're worried about me, can't you just come find me to help?"

Yae Sakura was speechless. Didn't she know she was a burden? Coming out here wouldn't help her at all, and if anything unexpected happened, she'd only be a hindrance.

"I... I..."

Xia Ji was rendered speechless by Yae Sakura's words, but she felt incredibly wronged.

At this moment, Kikyo walked over. She glanced at Xia Ji, then at Yae Sakura, seemingly lost in thought.

"Lord Yae, who is this Miko...?"

Xia Ji also noticed Kikyo. She quickly wiped the wronged expression from her face and looked at Yae Sakura with curiosity.

"I don't know."

Although Yae Sakura recognized Kikyo, this was their first meeting, and she hadn't even asked her name yet, so of course, she couldn't reveal it.

"I am the Miko Kikyo. I've been commissioned to come here to vanquish yokai," Kikyo said, not wasting many words but still introducing herself.

"Kikyo..."

Xia Ji was taken aback. Wasn't this the person Yae Sakura had asked her about earlier? Xia Ji immediately looked at Yae Sakura in surprise.

Then, she quickly introduced herself, "My name is Taniwara Natsu."

"Xia Ji's guard was eaten by a yokai, and I'm just escorting her back," Yae Sakura added immediately.

"Taniwara? The one from the Taniwara family?"

Hearing this, Kikyo recognized Xia Ji as the daughter of a local Daimyo.

After exchanging information with Kikyo, Yae Sakura learned that this was Musashi Province, but... it was still a long way from Kikyo's village, Kaede Village.

Kikyo had been commissioned by the village chief of a nearby village to come and exterminate yokai.

At this time, Kikyo had not yet taken possession of the Sacred Jewel. While her reputation was significant... it wasn't overwhelmingly so.

Her fame was primarily localized within Musashi Province, especially around Kaede Village.

Her name was known in certain circles in other provinces, but commoners were unaware of her, or only knew her through stories.

After all, this wasn't modern times, and many people never left their villages in their entire lives.

As for why Xia Ji didn't know Kikyo, it was because Xia Ji was unaware of such matters.

As a princess, she had been taught etiquette, calligraphy, and painting since childhood, leaving her no extra time to concern herself with such things.

"So there's a village nearby? Could you take us to the village to stay for the night?"

If there was a village, they wouldn't have to sleep in a cave.

Kikyo glanced at Xia Ji, considering that she was the daughter of nobility and it was too dangerous to be in the wilderness. She nodded and agreed.