Chapter 556: The Demon Hunting Ceremony Begins
A few days later, by a secluded lakeside on Ruskaina Island, Kai and Kikyo strolled together.
They walked quietly, hands casually intertwined.
Kikyo's cheeks bore a faint flush.
Time passed swiftly.
At the lake's end, a gentle breeze stirred the forest leaves, creating a rustling melody.
"Is the time up?" Kikyo asked.
"Just as the wind cannot linger in one place, the moment to part has arrived." she said, her tone turning poetic.
Hearing Kikyo's words, Kai smiled broadly.
"I think the wind can go wherever it wishes. You're welcome back anytime, Kikyo."
Despite his words, a teleportation array appeared near Kikyo the next moment.
Seeing the array before her, Kikyo's previously flushed cheeks reddened further, not from shyness, but from irritation.
She felt her blood pressure rise slightly.
Her beautiful dark eyes glared at Kai.
So impatient! Was he eager for her to leave so he could indulge in other tender moments?
After a moment of silence, Kikyo spoke again.
"Kai… is there anything else you wish to say?" she asked.
Observing her cold figure with a subtle, gentle smile that seemed slightly forced and oddly familiar, Kai sensed a resemblance to Unohana Retsu's expression.
"How about… I recite a poem?" he suggested.
"Just kidding. I actually feel I have nothing more to say."
Kikyo fell silent and walked toward the teleportation array without another word.
"Wait." Kai called.
His voice halted her steps.
A gentle force pulled her hand, drawing her into his arms.
"Sure enough, it feels incomplete without a hug before parting." Kai said.
His head leaned close to Kikyo's face; her eyes darted away, her cheeks slightly red.
"Up close, you're truly beautiful today, Kikyo. That bright lipstick looks stunning."
"But, Kikyo… this lipstick has a secret I must share."
Kikyo's eyes locked onto his deep gaze, her composure masking her shyness.
"What secret?" she asked calmly.
"This lipstick!" Kai emphasized.
His face nearly touched hers.
"It's… edible!"
With that, he gently kissed her bright, soft red lips.
Whoosh!
The breeze stirred again, and the leaf elves played their rustling rhythm once more.
Their embracing figures reflected on the lake's surface.
Moments later, ripples from a fallen leaf scattered the image.
After an indeterminate time, the two slowly parted.
"The taste is indeed good. Worthy of the lipstick I gave you, strawberry-flavored." Kai said.
"Kikyo, if you get peckish, you can eat that lipstick. It's really sweet."
"Plus, it's all-natural, free of heavy metals, and good for your health."
Facing his bright, smiling face, Kikyo, panting and flushed, suddenly radiated a murderous aura.
Who would eat lipstick?
From that kiss, he concluded it was sweet?
Listening to Kai, the seemingly holy Kikyo couldn't suppress a fleeting urge to strangle him.
She took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
Then, she turned and walked into the teleportation array, leaving only a calm, "Goodbye."
As the array dissipated, Kai smiled lightly.
"Running off so fast before I could finish talking, Kikyo!"
Then he turned and left.
Separation was no issue for him; if he wished, he could appear before Kikyo in an instant.
With her two shikigami, she wasn't alone if she didn't want to be.
There was no need to cling.
And no, it wasn't because he craved tender moments elsewhere.
Time flew like an arrow.
Over a week passed in a blink.
Alabasta buzzed with activity that day.
The Demon Hunting Ceremony, hosted by the Magic Pattern Association, was set to begin.
People from all walks of life arrived in droves.
Not all were magic pattern users; many came to spectate.
Especially from nearby islands, crowds flocked via merchant ship services.
In this vast desert island, a large magic mine, unique to the magic pattern era, lay deep in the sands.
This mine wasn't controlled by Alabasta's kingdom but by the World Government.
Alabasta hosted three magic pattern guilds: Oasis, Cactus, and Orchid.
Oasis, the strongest, was Alabasta's official organization and its primary guardian force.
It controlled a small magic mine, a rarity in a desert-dominated island rich in sand and stone magic ore.
The largest, most valuable magic mine was held by the World Government.
Alabasta's possession of a small mine resulted from a compromise driven by multiple factors.
The royal family, descendants of one of the twenty kings, benefited from the World Government's need to maintain appearances and avoid trouble from other forces.
Thus, Alabasta gained its high-level power, birthing the Oasis Magic Pattern Guild.
Cactus, the weakest guild, wasn't officially tied to Alabasta.
It was a civilian organization, labeled illegal by the World Government.
Composed of ambitious individuals, Cactus aimed to resist the World Government's tyranny and claim Alabasta's rare resources.
The guild received covert support from certain forces, notably the Emperor faction of the Dark Curtain Tarot Totem, led by the code-named Emperor.
The Emperor thrived on global chaos, manipulating and controlling regional powers.
The faction excelled at stirring unrest, loudly championing resistance against injustice to rally supporters.
It was a notorious troublemaker in the industry.
(End of this chapter)