So... why can't I hide these ears, even with all this power?"
Reaching a clear stream, Yae Sakura (to avoid confusion, she would now be referred to by the name befitting her current identity) sat down on the bank, removed her shoes and white stockings, and immersed her slender, beautiful feet—which felt utterly foreign—in the cool water.
Ah, this feels so good!
Back in her world, winter still reigned, but here it already felt like summer.
Yae Sakura gazed at her reflection in the stream, tugging at her long ears. Calling them "fox ears" just didn't feel right.
Fox ears aren't supposed to be this long, are they?
But that wasn't the most important thing. Yae Sakura not only had a pair of fluffy fox ears, but also her original human ears.
So... Yae Sakura had four ears... quadruple ears!
This felt... incredibly cool!
It was like an entirely new experience, with hearing vastly improved...
Now, even faint sounds were easily audible if Yae listened carefully. While it wasn't as extreme as having "ears that can hear from miles away," it was still pretty amazing.
However, if she wasn't careful, she could easily be overwhelmed by noise.
If this enhanced hearing was a minor inconvenience, the impracticality of her new attire was far worse.
Having transformed into the Gyakushinn Miko, she was naturally dressed in Yae's signature miko outfit. The off-the-shoulder top was somewhat tolerable, but what was up with this red plaid miniskirt? It barely covered the tops of her thighs!
Back in the game, she used to wish their skirts were even shorter, but now that it was her own...
...come to think of it, it was kind of thrilling...
Ugh! Slip of the tongue...
Thankfully, she was wearing safety shorts underneath, not just panties. This slightly improved Yae Sakura's mood.
What if you suddenly woke up as a beautiful girl one day? What would be your first move?
Give your friends a thrill?
Indulge yourself first?
Or go out and use your newfound looks to make a fortune?
For Zhao Baiyou, the answer was clear: self-indulgence first!
Sure, he had a younger sister who swore she'd never marry anyone else, but... she was flat as a board!
Ugh! How frustrating!
"No one's around... maybe I could..."
Zhao Baiyou glanced around and placed his hand on his chest...
"Save me!"
Just as Zhao Baiyou was about to move, a piercing scream rang out from nearby.
Who could be out here in this desolate wilderness...?
Zhao Baiyou froze, then quickly stood up. He pulled on his socks and shoes, grabbed his sword, and hurried toward the sound.
-
Before long, Zhao Baiyou reached the scene. He found a young girl in a kimono running desperately, pursued by several yokai brandishing weapons.
"Help me! Please, help me!" she gasped, panic in her voice. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and exhaustion shone in her eyes. The yokai closed in on her like predators cornering their prey, quickly surrounding her.
But then Zhao Baiyou strode forward, sword in hand. All the yokai turned their attention to him.
"A human? No, a yokai..."
"Looks like a miko... but her robes are so indecent!"
"I sense a human aura... a half-demon! Hahaha..."
As Yae Sakura emerged, the yokai warily eyed the approaching fox-eared miko. But when they sensed the human aura emanating from her, they burst into laughter.
"A half-demon... Just a lowly half-demon dares to disturb us? Let's devour her whole!"
-
In this world, yokai despised half-demons, humans shunned them, and all half-demons were destined for tragic fates.
"A half-demon..." The kimono-clad young girl, surrounded by yokai, stared at Yae Sakura. She had initially thought she was being rescued, only to realize that another yokai had arrived.
Though this one is undeniably beautiful!
The revelation that this stunning yokai was actually a half-demon sparked a strange flicker of anticipation within her.
-
"A half-demon? Indeed, just a mere half-demon!" Yae Sakura replied nonchalantly, paying the taunt no mind. Not that she was even a half-demon herself, but even if she were, so what?
Rikuo Nura was also a half-demon, yet he reigned as the Lord of All Yokai.
"How dare a lowly half-demon brat act so brazenly! Seize her!"
An evil oni roared, its cyan face contorted into a fierce snarl, its tusks bared, exuding an invisible aura of primal terror.
Several yokai advanced toward Yae Sakura.
"Hmph!"
Yae Sakura watched the approaching yokai, her expression betraying none of her inner turmoil. Despite possessing the power of an SSS-class Gyakushinn Miko, she had never faced legendary yokai before! Combat itself was rare enough; slaying demons was unheard of.
She had practiced her Gyakushinn Miko skills earlier, but training against trees was nothing like this.
No time for hesitation now. Yae Sakura gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on the advancing yokai, and gripped the hilt of her Spiritual Blade with one hand.
As the yokai closed in, she focused on the most menacing creatures among them, locking onto them with the sword techniques she had learned.
"Strike!"
When the yokai were just meters away, Yae Sakura drew her blade in a flash, unleashing a massive arc of sword energy that tore through the air.
The yokai before her were instantly cleaved in two at the waist, the sword energy continuing onward to slice through the rocky mountain behind.
"What...?"
The remaining yokai were stunned by the half-demon's single strike. The cowards among them couldn't resist the urge to flee.
"You... can all die now!"
After slaughtering the yokai, Yae Sakura felt no discomfort whatsoever. Instead, she experienced a strange, exhilarating thrill.
The thrill of killing terrified her. Have I always been a monster?
Shouldn't killing make people sick to their stomach? Why do I feel so... satisfied?
Yae Sakura pushed these thoughts aside for now. Gazing at the remaining yokai, she couldn't suppress a bloodthirsty grin. With a morbidly pale face and a feverish gleam in her eyes, she stalked forward.
"Don't come any closer!"
"If you take another step, I'll kill her!"
Watching Yae Sakura's movements, the yokai couldn't help but feel fear. Some even grabbed the kimono-clad girl, hoping to use her as leverage against Yae Sakura.
But Yae Sakura was completely unfazed by their threats!
Sword flash!
Locking onto the yokai threatening her, she unleashed the sword techniques of the Gyakushinn Miko, instantly appearing behind the creature.
Then... she plunged her blade into the yokai's skull.
Ignoring the terrified young girl, Yae Sakura turned to face the remaining demons and slaughtered them as easily as mowing grass.
After cutting down all the yokai, Yae Sakura's Spiritual Blade remained its beautiful cherry blossom pink, unstained by a single drop of blood.