I transformed into a demonic spider lily.

However, Kikyo regretted it as soon as she said those words, because she had never joked with anyone before. What if the spider lily got angry? Should she apologize now? Maybe the other party could forgive her.

Kikyo's eyes held a hint of melancholy. The Lycoris Radiata noticed this and quickly explained, "Me, her, the comb, the red one, you combed my hair, and then she..."

Despite the chaotic explanation from the other flower, Kikyo understood it perfectly and said, "So, after I combed your hair with that comb, I turned into a monster?"

"Mmm, mmm mmm mmm!"

Although the actual situation was not like that, this was the only explanation the other shore flower could give, so she nodded frantically.

"……I see."

To be honest, Kikyo felt it was outrageous, but the other party had a precedent of that gossipy broom, which she still wanted to spit out. She just hoped this comb wouldn't be too troublesome.

"Even if it's a monster, it's not good to wear so little in the cold winter."

Kikyo put the bowl aside and, while talking, put the floral jacket that she thought looked pretty on Yura.

Jieluo, who originally had some elegance, now looked like a simple village woman, and it seemed that she had not been able to pull off the dress.

To be fair, even Jieluo, who has only been born for a short time, understands that her demon life has already collapsed before it has even begun. Rather than making her wear this outfit, it would be better to just drape a piece of black cloth over her body.

"That comb was left to me by my mother. She used to use it to comb my hair. She said she would take it out when I got married, but I became a witch, and witches can't get married..."

Kikyo suddenly said nostalgically.

No way! I thought that comb was just an ordinary object, but it turns out it's a relic? It was nurtured by Kikyo's spiritual power since it was a child, no wonder it has such a high compatibility.

Upon hearing this, the spider lily lowered her head and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Do not."

Shaking her head slightly, Kikyo picked up the bowl and said, "There's nothing for you to apologize for. In the end, it's just a comb. What reminds me of the past is enough, isn't it?"

The spoon stirred the rice porridge in the bowl, then the bellflower scooped up a spoonful and brought it to the spider lily's lips, opening her mouth to indicate, "Ah~".

"No~"

She took a mouthful of the red spider lily, and the aroma of the grains gave off a slightly sweet feeling. There was clearly no big fish or meat, but the rice made by the bellflower always won her heart.

When Kikyo saw the expression of enjoyment on the spider lily's face, a sense of satisfaction naturally arose within her as well.

……

Jieluo next to her tugged at her floral jacket. For some reason, once you stop thinking and accept this aesthetic, it's surprisingly appealing.

That kind of distorted art resonated with her!

Chapter 129 Who should tie the red thread between Hagoromo and Asagi?

After a satisfying meal, Higanbana ignored Yura admiring the flower-patterned jacket beside her and asked Kikyo with a puzzled look, "By the way, where are Yukiji and Kaede? Could it be that Yukiji has already gone home? But Hagoromo and Hookami aren't in the yard either. It feels a bit strange."

Inside the vast mansion, on a day when it was snowing heavily, the other shore flower was truly puzzled. She didn't really like the quiet atmosphere.

At least she felt that this kind of atmosphere shouldn't be here. It wasn't her flower field. Even if it were her flower field, as long as she was there, Tu Bi and Bai Lang would make it lively. Come to think of it, it had been a while since she had seen those two guys.

"Because it was snowing, they started running around and I thought it was a bit noisy, so I let them go outside to play."

The main reason was that Kikyo didn't want Yukiji and the others to disturb the spider lilies' rest, so after sweeping them out of the house with the broom god, she also threw the broom god out.

"Oh, I see. Let's go out then!"

After eating and drinking her fill, she should be sleeping soundly, but for the Lycoris radiata who had been sleeping for seven days at a time, she was more eager to stretch her muscles and get things done, otherwise she felt suffocated.

"Shouldn't you rest a bit longer?"

Kikyo's expression showed slight worry.

"I've been on leave for so long, it would be a problem if I didn't show some activity."

The other shore flower patted her chest. She had not suffered any fatal injuries. She had only exhausted her demonic power and had to overdraw her life force, which led to her near death. After seven days of deep hibernation, she had fully recovered. It was because of the complete recovery of her demonic body that she was able to wake up.

So Kikyo's worries were completely unnecessary. Higanbana hugged Kikyo's neck and said, "Besides, Kikyo, you don't sleep with me, so why should I waste my demon life?"

"I have to wait until tonight."

"Will you sleep with me tonight?"

"Yes, but it has to be in separate beds."

"Not in the same bed?"

"Of course not."

"Eek~"

Upon hearing this, the Spider Lily made a disgusted sound. This silly-looking shrine maiden was too innocent; she couldn't even tell that the shrine maiden was trying to take advantage of her.

He's a piece of trash!

……

Outside the mansion, Xue Lu sat under the old, crooked tree in front of the village, his chin resting on his hand, in a spot not covered by deep snow, shaded by the tree branches.

At this moment, she was looking at more than twenty children in front of her with a warm smile, feeling like a kindergarten teacher herself, even though some of the children were older than her.

Yes, the children "older than her" mentioned here refer to Asagi and the other half-demons.

In the end, the power of the Roaring Cauldron was used up by the Spider Lily. The Crimson Lotus Fire inside it had been extinguished because there was no fuel to refill it in time. As the heart of the island stopped beating, the island, whose existence was already unreasonable, fell into the abyss before dawn.

The homeless Asagi and the other half-demons were brought back by Kikyo. In fact, even if Hourai Island hadn't sunk, she couldn't let these children stay any longer, since she had promised Kanade and the "Fluorescent Ones" who had helped her that she would take good care of them.

Maple Village, a village that gradually developed into a harmonious coexistence between humans and yokai thanks to the combined efforts of the spider lily and the bellflower, is quite suitable for Asagi and other half-yokai to live in.

However, they did not live in the mansion, since although the mansion was large, it could not accommodate so many people. Instead, they built a spacious thatched hut not far away. After all, they were half-demons who had lived for several decades. After the death of the Four Gods, the power that had been taken from them gradually returned. This power, even if it was not as strong as that of ordinary demons, was still stronger than that of strong humans. Therefore, they could still live a self-sufficient life.

Although Asagi and the other half-demons are older than Yukiji, they are still children at heart. After all, the silly dog ​​next door is nearly four hundred years old but has the mentality of a nineteen-year-old. So it's good if a half-demon in his fifties or sixties has the mentality of a ten-year-old.

A villager, wandering through the snow, looked down at the only bird beside him that wasn't playing. The bird was holding a nest in its arms, and the baby bird had grown up, with bright orange-yellow feathers. However, it was winter, and the feathers weren't warm enough, so the baby bird had to stay inside the bird's clothes.

"What a beautiful little bird! Is this your sister?"

As the eldest sister, Asagi was mindful of her image and didn't want to play with the other children. However, she noticed Hagoromo, who was also standing to the side, and curiously approached her.

"Ah."

"Itori said softly."

"Chirp, chirp..."

The little bird kept chirping towards Asagi.

Get away, get away.

Don't come near my brother!

"...Huh? Are you hungry?"

Asagi couldn't understand bird language, and could only think of this one aspect when she heard birds chirping. So she quickly rummaged through her pockets and found only small shrimp that she had caught while fishing in the river yesterday. She had already soaked them in warm water and dried them to make snacks. However, since the other party had a need for them, she certainly didn't mind sharing them with them.

"..."

Hagoromo didn't reach for it, and remained silent without saying a word, clearly having listened to Yukiji's words that one shouldn't touch a stranger's things.

Boys need to protect themselves when they're out.

Seeing this, Yukiji looked at Hagoromo and Asagi's wrists and thought to himself: Damn it! At such a young age, they are not learning good things and are actually playing this early romance game?

"Hagoromo, do you know? Your sister is still growing, and she can't just eat bean flour and vegetables every day. She should occasionally have some minced meat. I think dried shrimp would be a good choice for your sister." In the end, Yukiji decided to play matchmaker.

Upon hearing this, Hagoromo looked at Asagi, whose eyes were full of sincerity, so he quietly reached out a hand and took the snacks from her.

"Chirp, chirp!"

Even if I jump into a snow pit from here today, I won't eat a single thing from you!

The little bird called out with exceptional determination.

It would never sell its own brother to the other party for a little food.

While it was chirping happily, Yu Yi stuffed dried shrimp into its mouth. The little bird chewed it symbolically for a moment, but then couldn't stop. The fresh and fragrant taste was more than a hundred times better than the bean powder it used to eat.

Wow, it smells so good!

"Chirp—!"

I want more!

The little bird spread its wings and flew into Asagi's arms. Suddenly, it felt that the person in front of it was not bad. It didn't seem so bad to hand over its brother to him.

"Don't worry, I have plenty more here."

We caught plenty of shrimp and snails from the riverbed, and because this river connects to the sea, squid and other seafood occasionally swim by.

In short, Asagi prepared a bunch of strange but edible snacks to feed the bird, and the bird was very happy.

"My sister seems to like you very much."

Seeing this, Yu Yi tilted her head.

"really?"

Asagi was overjoyed and patted the little bird's head. Even after living on the island for decades, she had never encountered such a fluffy and adorable creature.

"Ah."

Hagoromo approached Asagi, his face expressionless, his eyes fixed only on his sister. His silver hair fell beside her cheek, looking slightly cold in the winter season, but the latter's slightly flushed face dispelled the chill.

Ah, youth is wonderful.

Yukiji stood up and left, but she had only taken a few steps when a snowball hit her squarely on the back of the head. She wasn't angry; she simply smoothed her hair, turned around, and said, "Don't throw snowballs at people who aren't participating in the fight, or I... I might get a..."

--Snapped!

Before she could finish speaking, another snowball hit Xuelu in the face.

"Very well, sister is completely enraged, prepare to receive... Ah! The Red Spider Lily?"

As Xuelu was wondering who was being so cheeky and preparing to retaliate, he saw Higanbana launch a double snowball attack with her left and right hands in slow motion.

—Seal, the Rite of Beginning!

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Chapter 130 Snow Road, a crushing defeat!