Kikyo Shrine.
Guest room in the rear courtyard.
Cold brown tea reflected Kikyo's silent expression.
"That's essentially the situation."
Having explained at length until his throat was dry, Luo Shu lifted his teacup only to find it empty, pausing for a moment.
He'd just detailed his and Chisato's origins, explained the differences between the Abyss and the mortal world.
Particular emphasis was placed on how the Abyss naturally consumed all pocket dimensions within it, compressing them until they stabilised at minimal size.
With so much to convey, Luo Shu had naturally talked himself hoarse.
At that moment, Chisato Nishikigi casually picked up the teapot, poured Luo Shu a cup, and said to Kikyo:
"Shrine Maiden-san must have touched my specially made school uniform earlier, right?"
Hearing this, Kikyo looked up with a puzzled expression.
Chisato then prompted: "What did you think of the fabric?"
Realisation dawned on Kikyo as she murmured: "Indeed, even the ceremonial robes of Musashi Province's daimyo pale in comparison to that material."
Chisato chuckled, but her smile vanished at Kikyo's next words.
"It just looks rather... provocative when worn."
Flushing red, Chisato retorted: "Provocative?! It's JK style, Japanese high school girl fashion!"
"For students to wear such clothes..." Kikyo's expression grew slightly uncomfortable, as even courtesans in her time wouldn't dare dress so revealingly.
"Well..."
Recognising this as a cultural gap, Chisato sighed helplessly:
"Anyway, clothes made from that fabric are commonplace in our world, as ordinary as a shrine maiden's broom. Understand?"
"I grasp your meaning."
Kikyo nodded slightly, realising Chisato was supporting Luo Shu's earlier claims.
"Another world's humans... and the world five hundred years hence..."
Kikyo sighed softly and shook her head:
"According to Luo Shu-kun, is the era I belong to... doomed to destruction?"
"Based on current information, yes."
Luo Shu patted Chisato's shoulder, prompting her to pour him tea, then cautioned Kikyo:
"Kikyo-san must have noticed it too - how yokai are becoming increasingly frenzied."
Kikyo shook her head:
"To me, yokai have always been thus. Though I understand your point, being the Shrine Maiden tasked with purifying the Shikon Jewel."
Luo Shu nodded and drew a parallel: "Then imagine all yokai will start hunting humans as voraciously as they pursue the Jewel."
"My theory is this change stems from automatic dissipation of Demon Power."
"Which likely relates to environmental degradation."
"Just as humans breathe, so does nature."
"And now, with this era's Japan sinking into darkness, constantly draining energy..."
"The Demon Power naturally emitted by yokai gets absorbed like breath, compensating for the loss."
"Kikyo, try releasing some Spiritual Power to observe the consumption rate."
Kikyo sighed:
"No need. These past months, my Spiritual Power expenditure during exorcisms has noticeably increased."
As the Warring States period's strongest recognised Shrine Maiden, Kikyo had proper training and understood Spiritual Power consumption intimately.
Previously, she'd disregarded the increased drain, easily recovering with brief rest.
But now, considering weaker humans and yokai with limited Spiritual/Demon Power... she grasped the severity.
"This situation is indeed an apocalyptic catastrophe."
Setting aside Luo Shu's final point about the world perishing once the energy sustaining it is depleted, just the automatic dissipation of yokai's Demon Power alone would be enough to bring about humanity's doom.
The top-tier Great Yokai who can freely control their Demon Power are one thing—with their immense power, they can endure such losses for a short time without fear.
But the Small Yokai, with their limited Demon Power, would face a one-way drain. If this persists, wild yokai would start devouring each other, giving rise to stronger Great Yokai. Once these new Great Yokai exhaust the yokai population, they would naturally turn to attacking humans.
In this vicious cycle, the entire world would descend into a nightmarish landscape of cannibalism.
"Is there really no solution left?" Kikyo asked with a sorrowful expression.
Luo Shu and Chisato Nishikigi exchanged glances.
At this point, Chisato pursed her lips, signalling Luo Shu to take over—after all, some intel couldn't be disclosed to outsiders.
But since they were trying to recruit Kikyo, this exceptional circumstance called for Luo Shu, the highest-ranking official present, to make an exception.
Noticing Chisato's gesture, Luo Shu rolled his eyes before adopting a solemn tone to address Kikyo:
"What I'm about to say must not leave this room."
Seeing Luo Shu's seriousness, Kikyo nodded in agreement.
Luo Shu then explained:
"Based on our SDS investigations into the alternate dimensions controlled by the clandestine organisation Truth Astronomy, the findings indicate that maintaining a large-scale alternate dimension requires a specific ritual—sacrificing at least one Demigod Rank Abyss Artefact as a pillar to stabilise it."
"However, the exact nature of the ritual and the requirements for the Demigod Rank Abyss Artefact remain unclear."
"Yet judging by Truth Astronomy's history of extensively collecting lives with specific Demon Bloodlines—none of which have resurfaced since—it's highly likely the ritual involves blood sacrifices on a scale exceeding ten thousand."
"The finer details, however, remain unknown."
Chisato chimed in at this point:
"In short, there's a method, but it's impossible for us to meet the requirements."
"You couldn't do it either, could you, Kikyo-san? Sacrificing ten thousand lives?"
Kikyo responded with a self-deprecating smile. Indeed, she couldn't bring herself to do such a thing, even if it were framed as saving the masses.
"So, that's the current situation."
Having said this, Luo Shu was about to propose measures to protect Kaede's Village from this apocalyptic disaster, with the obvious goal being the radiant Shrine Maiden before him.
But before he could speak, a sharp bang echoed—the sound of a firework exploding.
Chisato started beside him: "Huh? Is that... a signal flare? Has Takina arrived?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced at Kikyo, who seemed to read his thoughts and softly said:
"Please allow me a few more days to consider."
Seeing her stance, Luo Shu said nothing more. After all, this concerned Kikyo's lifelong commitment—it warranted careful deliberation.
"In that case, let's go receive our guest first."
With that, Luo Shu stood up and headed for the door.
Five minutes later.
Luo Shu first looked at Inuyasha, who was tied up in a tortoiseshell bondage with vines, then at the smug Fumonshichi, before finally glancing at Yukari Oikawa, who was eyeing Fumonshichi with disdain, and Takina Inoue, who stood expressionless, quietly distancing herself from the scene.
His mind completely baffled, Luo Shu finally managed to ask:
"...What's going on here?"