Black thorns were crossing the river. The moment Kagome saw them, her feet stopped. The night wind brushed through her hair. The sound of the river echoed in the distance. But that wasn't all. Something like mist—something black—was quietly flowing toward her from across the river. (What... is that...?) Kagome stood on the veranda, her eyes narrowing. --- Two months had passed since Kagome arrived at Murakumo Village. This settlement, situated right beside the Kawatare River, had a population of around twelve hundred people. But it was different from an ordinary village. Every fifteenth night of the month, youkai would bring medicinal herbs and ore to set up a market. Humans and youkai conducting business in the same place—what they called an "Ayakashi Market." Kagome still remembered the day she first saw that market. When she went to the village square at dusk, a beast-like youkai walking on two legs was carrying bundles of medicinal herbs. Beside it, an ordinary merchant was negotiating prices. Children ran around them, gazing curiously at the youkai's tail. No one was afraid. That had surprised her. In this world, humans and youkai lived on the same land. Apparently, about eight hundred years ago, a covenant called the "Tsuki no Chigiri" had been established, and both sides had sworn not to invade each other's territories. Murakumo Village was one of the places that benefited most from that covenant, which was why humans and youkai could live peacefully here—or so Otone, the proprietress of the inn Yadorigi, had told her. "Though lately, that balance has been getting shaky," Otone had said quietly while preparing dinner, stirring a pot. She'd stopped her hand and gazed into the distance for a moment. "It was much more peaceful long ago. We never had strange youki drifting from across the river, and there were no stories of travelers disappearing. Now... it feels kind of ominous." Kagome hadn't known what to say in response at that moment. She'd simply nodded and arranged the bowls of miso soup. --- Otone was fifty-five years old. Small and plump, she always tied her salt-and-pepper hair back tightly. When she smiled, her eyes would narrow and wrinkles would spread across her entire face. There was something nice about that smile. Despite her dignity, she was approachable, treating youkai guests and human guests with the same attitude. The inn Yadorigi charged fifty mon for one night with two meals and didn't refuse youkai customers. That was Otone's way. Kagome had ended up here because she had nowhere else to go. Or rather, to be precise—she'd wanted to be useful to someone, but no matter where she went, she always ended up placed slightly "out of step" with her surroundings. So she'd kept walking westward, westward, until she arrived at this village. That was how it was. Kagome had the blood of a shrine maiden flowing through her veins. Her spiritual power had only recently fully awakened, and she'd become able to gather light in her palm and knock youkai flying. But even before that—since she was old enough to understand—she'd been accustomed to the atmosphere around her changing. "She's a shrine maiden's child." Just that was enough to change how adults looked at her. --- That afternoon, on her way back from running an errand at the village blacksmith "Tatara no Tsuchi," Kagome passed a group of children. One boy's face lit up the moment he saw Kagome's neck. "Oh, a shrine maiden!" There was a pale blue mark on her neck—something like proof of shrine maiden bloodline, and it was quite noticeable. The child started to run toward her happily. But his mother quickly pulled his shoulder back. "Come on, go over there." Her voice was gentle. But it was quick. Kagome laughed. She thought she'd managed to laugh properly. "It's fine," When she said that, the mother bowed apologetically and hurried away. (I'm used to it. I'm used to it, but...) Kagome adjusted her load and started walking again. It had always been like this, even before her spiritual power awakened. Just because of her shrine maiden blood, people were a little afraid. Gratitude and fear in equal measure, never quite tipping to either side. She'd come here wanting to be useful to someone, yet she kept being placed one step back. (Well, I suppose it can't be helped.) The sky was turning red with the sunset. Her shadow stretched across the stone pavement. Kagome gazed at it absently as she returned to the inn. --- And then night came. After helping Otone clear the dinner table, Kagome sat down on the inn's veranda. The sound of the river could be heard. The night breeze was cool. It should have been an ordinary night. At first, Kagome thought it was a trick of her eyes. The far bank of the river seemed dark. Or rather, not dark—black mist was slowly flowing toward her. Her feet moved toward the river on their own. (What? A youkai? But this feeling is different...) Her palm tingled. Her spiritual power was reacting. That wasn't ordinary youki. It was heavier, older, and somehow—it had a will to it. When she reached the riverbank, Kagome caught her breath. Thorns were crossing the river. They were thick. As thick as a child's torso. Pitch black, with the tips curling as they scraped across the ground and extended. Not just one. Five, ten—they came crossing the river one after another, crawling toward the village. "What is that?!" A voice came from behind. Several villagers had come outside. "Run!" Someone shouted. She could see people running with children in their arms. An elderly person rushed past, nearly stumbling. (I have to stop it.) Kagome held both hands forward. She gathered light in her palms. That sensation of drawing up spiritual power—she'd only recently gotten used to it. The light gathered in her palm, shining white. She drove it toward the thorns. The moment the light made contact—the thorns trembled. (Did it work?) The next instant, the thorns exploded. "Ugh!!" As if bouncing back the light, the black thorns suddenly expanded. One became ten, ten became a hundred, spreading like a wall toward one section of the village. A black wall. Its height exceeded the roofs of houses and began to cover the sky. Screams rose from the villagers. The wall of thorns swallowed the village. People were trapped inside it. Voices came from beyond the wall. Children crying. Adults shouting. (Did my spiritual power trigger this? Is this my fault?) There was no time to think. Something wrapped around her ankle. Cold. Hard. Painful. A thorn. One of the thorns crawling across the ground grabbed Kagome's foot—and pulled. "Ah—!" Her body lifted off the ground. She was dragged. Into the black wall. There was something like an entrance, and the next moment, Kagome was slammed into it. --- Inside, it was dark. A space as dark as night even in daylight. Black thorns extended overhead, and the ground beneath her feet wasn't soil—it had a squishy, yielding texture. A distorted space stretched ahead. She immediately understood this was a place different from reality. Several villagers were there. Huddled together nearby, trembling. Children, elderly people, young women. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" Kagome stood up and called out to them. Everyone looked at her with frightened eyes. Then a voice came from deeper within. A voice, or rather a sound—it resonated directly in her mind. '...I shall take that power of yours.' A low voice, sounding amused. Not a human voice. Kagome turned her head, but she couldn't see anything. She didn't even know where it came from. But she definitely heard it. (Take? My spiritual power?) Her palm crawled with unease. Before she could think, something began to move in the darkness ahead. The sound of movement. Zaza, zaza—like the footsteps of insects. But there were far too many of them. Light appeared first. Eyes—small lights. They multiplied. Two, four, eight—countless eyes floated in the darkness. Goblins. Small-bodied youkai, about the size of children, with greenish skin and sharp claws. One wouldn't be much trouble. But there were—more than ten. Behind them was a larger shadow. Something with four legs and white fur on its body. Tsuchigumo soldiers—spider-like youkai that spat poison thread. Even one was troublesome, and there were multiple here too. They charged toward the villagers. "Get back!" Kagome spread both hands forward. She gathered light in her palms. The leading goblin leaped at her the moment she thrust out a wall of spiritual power. With a heavy impact, the first three flew backward. "Yes...!" One of the villagers let out a small voice. But this wasn't the time to celebrate. The knocked-back goblins quickly got up. And the next wave came from behind. (This is endless.) The light in her palm gradually dimmed. Each time she used her spiritual power, she was depleted. Her feet began to tremble slightly. This was bad. At this rate, she wouldn't last. But when she glanced back—she could see the villagers' faces. Frightened, trembling, but looking at Kagome. Clinging to her like a lifeline. (I can't run away.) Kagome gritted her teeth and held her ground. While retreating, she deployed a wall of light, protecting the villagers behind her. She knocked back goblins, burned away Tsuchigumo threads with her spiritual power. She was being depleted. Depleted. Her feet wavered. In that moment, something wrapped around her left arm. Thorns. Black thorns crawling up from the ground coiled around Kagome's left arm, slowly tightening. Gradually, coldly, inexorably. Her breath caught. Her arm went numb. The light in her palm wavered. (This is bad—) "Kagome-san!" One of the villagers cried out. But there was no one to help. Only Kagome had spiritual power. But that power was running out. Her left arm wouldn't move. The light was about to disappear. (Is this the end? Not yet—) At that moment. The barrier wall was sliced in a straight line. Not a sound. A sensation. Something like a blade ran through the black wall—and a crack appeared. From that crack, an overwhelming youki poured in. Cold, sharp, with pressure. Strong enough to stop her breath. But not evil—just an overwhelming "power." The goblins all retreated at once. The thorns coiled around Kagome's arm trembled. Beyond the crack, something—someone—was there. --- A little earlier, while confirming the villagers' condition while retreating, Kagome's eyes were drawn to something at her feet. A small stone was glowing. A faint, moonlight-like white glow. A stone lying on the ground, about half the size of a fist. It had an ordinary shape, yet she couldn't take her eyes off it. (Why is it glowing?) Her body moved before she could think. She crouched down, picked it up, and put it in her hakama pocket. For just a moment, warmth spread through her palm. Like receiving moonlight in the palm of her hand—a gentle warmth. It disappeared quickly. She wondered what it was, but before she could think further, a goblin leaped at her and her consciousness returned to battle. --- The crack in the barrier wall continued to expand. The youki grew even stronger. The villagers cowered and retreated further, but Kagome couldn't move an inch. The thorns around her left arm loosened. Just slightly, but definitely. As if pushed by that youki, the thorns contracted. Kagome pulled her arm free from the thorns. Her left arm tingled. But it moved. She stared beyond the crack. Who was coming? What kind of being possessed such overwhelming youki? The villagers trapped with her held their breath. The goblin swarm retreated from the crack, backing into the darkness. The Tsuchigumo stopped moving. They were afraid. The youkai that had attacked so vigorously were now immobilized by just the youki leaking from the crack. (Who are you...?) Kagome gathered the remaining spiritual power in her palm and took a stance. She didn't know i