Chapter 136: Mashiro and Mahiru?

Western Lands.

The war between the dog demon clan and the panther clan once again came to a halt with Lynn's arrival.

But…

The outcome this time would clearly be different.

Inukimi had made up her mind, to purge the entire Western Lands.

Only Lynn's voice would remain here.

Cloud Palace, Dog Demon Clan.

Lynn sat high on the throne, gently stroking the soft white fur of Inukimi resting on his lap.

Kagura knelt at his feet, biting her lip.

Belong to him?

Yes…

Was he asking her to follow him?

But...

"I'm sorry, Lord Lynn..."

Kagura looked troubled. "My heart is still under Naraku's control. If I betray him, I'm afraid..."

The memory of that near-death feeling made fear flash in her eyes.

But...

If Lynn could help her...

Kagura raised her gaze, the red in her eyes carrying a glimmer of hope.

However...

Lynn remained calm, showing no sign of making a promise.

Seeing this, Kagura's heart sank.

That's right...

Why would such a powerful man go out of his way for someone insignificant like her?

Despair slowly spread from her eyes…

Suddenly, Lynn toyed with an Evil Piece and said, "Your heart…"

"Can't I just give you one?"

Kagura: "?"

She looked up in confusion.

Lynn curled the corner of his lips. "What? Do you want it?"

Kagura's breath hitched.

Give her... a heart?

Could that really happen?

She was skeptical—but...

She wanted to try.

Even if the odds were slim, she wanted to seize it with everything she had.

She wanted to break free from Naraku's cage!

Kagura bowed her head. "Please, Lord Lynn… Give me a new heart!"

Lynn's smile deepened. "Then…"

"Take off your clothes."

Kagura froze, then slowly removed her kimono.

There was no hesitation in her movements.

It made sense to reveal the location of the heart during the procedure.

That's what she told herself.

Then, Lynn pressed the Evil Piece against her chest.

"Ah…"

Kagura's breathing quickened. The cold touch made her shudder slightly, her body trembling with ripples.

During her transformation into a devil, the empty cavity in her chest began to fill.

Thump thump!

Kagura's eyes widened.

A heartbeat!

At the same time, she heard the crisp sound of shackles breaking in her mind.

The connection to the heart Naraku once held...

Was severed!

Tears streamed down her cheeks without her realizing it.

She was finally the wind, free once again!

At the same time...

A notification echoed from within her newly formed heart.

[Kagura]

Mid-Class Devil

Race: Devil

Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:

Strength: i0

Agility: i0

Durability: i0

Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:

[Dance of the Dragon and Snake]

Summons countless violent tornadoes, throwing enemies into chaotic winds and increasing their damage taken.

[Corpse Dance]

Controls corpses like puppets.

[Wind Devil]

— Wind's Blessing (In open areas, all abilities increase by 30%, able to sense airflow changes within 1 km, and automatically generates a reverse cyclone to neutralize wind-based attacks)

— Wings of Freedom (Burns vitality to briefly break limits. Flight speed increases to the speed of sound.)

— Absolute resistance to binding-type abilities

— Devil Transformation (Wind of Destiny)

---

Lynn was in a great mood after obtaining another special devil who came to him of her own will.

He made a copy of Kagura's Blessings.

Kagura blinked in confusion. "This is...?"

"A Blessing," Lynn explained briefly.

Kagura clutched the information with trembling hands, her heart racing.

Lord Lynn...

Not only had he given her a new life, but he'd given her a path to strength!

"Whew…"

Kagura exhaled softly, her slender fingers touching her chest.

She could feel it.

The new heart pulsing with life.

Tears stained her cheeks, but she smiled gently. She didn't even bother to put her clothes back on as she threw herself into Lynn's lap, crying in joy.

"Lord Lynn…"

"Lord Lynn…"

She kept whispering his name like she was trying to etch it into her soul.

Inukimi, who was lying on Lynn's thighs, cast a disdainful glance at the naked girl.

But then Inukimi froze slightly.

Wait…

Something was pressed against her stomach?

Her snowy fur instantly turned pink as she jumped up like a startled bird!

Kagura was also startled by the sudden movement, and when she saw the scene before her, her face turned red.

"Uh, sorry…"

She stammered, "I-I was too forward…"

"I'll take responsibility!!"

Kagura looked serious, like she'd made up her mind about something!

Inukimi's eyes widened. "Wait!!"

"What are you planning to do on MY throne!?"

She was dumbfounded, yet her body instinctively dashed to the doorway.

No way, she couldn't let some random person get close!!

---

The next day.

The sun rose.

Inukimi squatted outside the gate, pacing back and forth. Her snowy white ears were tinged pink.

Her sharp nose reminded her over and over of what had happened in her room yesterday.

They actually did it... on her throne!!

Could she ever sit there again?

Inukimi was in a daze.

Inside...

Kagura's beautiful figure lay across Inukimi's throne, sleeping soundly.

Lynn gently stroked her silky black hair.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes, her crimson pupils slightly dazed.

Then she saw Lynn looking down at her with a soft smile.

Kagura blushed and quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

She couldn't believe how bold she had been last night.

But…

There was no way to express the gratitude she felt for being freed from her cage.

And…

With the Blessing system, a fire ignited in her heart.

Maybe.

She could take down Naraku herself now!

Kagura's eyes sharpened.

She exhaled softly.

Then she stared at Lynn, completely entranced.

Everything now.

It was all given by Lord Lynn.

From today on...

She was the wind that blew only for Lynn.

…

After leaving the Cloud Palace.

Lynn recalled something important and had Inukimi summon Totosai in the name of the dog demon clan.

Before long.

Totosai arrived, nearly in tears. "This… it's all mine!"

Lynn flipped through the various forging techniques that Totosai had compiled into a book and nodded in satisfaction.

Totosai sighed helplessly in his heart.

What a fate!

After looting the dog demon clan's treasury, Lynn arrived in the Black Bullet World.

He handed everything over to Shiba Miori, who was visibly excited. "With this, we can definitely craft weapons that satisfy everyone!"

As the daughter of an arms corporation, Shiba Miori had some experience with weapon manufacturing.

Until more professional blacksmiths were recruited, she would take charge of the Peerage's equipment department.

But…

She seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

Elsewhere, Muroto Sumire, with her messy hair and lifeless eyes, began reporting her latest research.

"Based on the Proto-Enterogen principle Lord Lynn provided, I've extracted a gene fragment called the 'Yokai Factor' from a monster's body."

"Oh?"

Lynn was intrigued. "What can it do?"

This was unexpected.

"How do you plan to use it?"

Lynn grew interested.

Could it be possible to implant the same intestinal factor into his Peerage members like he did with the Proto-Enterogen?

Muroto Sumire nodded. "In theory, yes…"

"But…"

"There's an unstable component in the Yokai Factor. If injected into a human, it can easily lead to mental instability, like rage or mania."

She rubbed her temples, looking distressed.

Lynn was thoughtful.

Wasn't that the same as Inuyasha's berserk state?

"Hmm…"

"When Kikyo returns, you can discuss it with her."

Lynn touched his chin. "Maybe…"

"Her purification power might help."

Hearing this, a faint light sparked in Muroto Sumire's dull eyes, and she fell into deep thought.

After briefly checking in with Shiba Miori and Muroto Sumire, Lynn reviewed the condition of each of his Peerage members one by one.

Then, he returned to the main world.

Apartment.

Lynn stroked his chin. "The Peerage…"

"Is it too scattered?"

He had one base in the Zombie World, another in the Black Bullet World, and now he planned to develop Kaede Village during the Sengoku era.

It felt like…

"It's getting hard to manage."

Lynn muttered.

Just as he was thinking about how to resolve the issue, the apartment doorbell rang.

Ding dong.

Ding dong.

Lynn raised a brow and looked out the window.

It was overcast and lightly raining.

"Sona?"

An image of a refined, intellectual girl flashed through Lynn's mind.

He was about to call Midori and Mahiru to open the door, but remembered they were both busy leveling up.

With a small sigh, Lynn went to open the door himself.

Outside.

A girl with long light blonde hair and almond-shaped eyes stood with a blank expression, raising her head slightly.

"Not Mahiru."

Her tone was flat, but Lynn could sense it was a question.

She looked like she was searching for Mahiru… Did she knock on the wrong door?

But…

"Mahiru's not home right now. It's raining—please, come in."

She paused for a moment, then stepped into the apartment without hesitation.

Lynn: "…"

She really wasn't afraid he might be a bad guy?

But...

Lynn looked at her closely. She felt familiar.

"Mashiro."

"Shiina Mashiro."

She gave her name in a flat tone, eyes dull and expressionless.

Shiina Mashiro?

Lynn paused, running the name through his memory.

But…

"What's your relationship with Mahiru?"

He was curious.

Shiina Mashiro tilted her head. "Cousin?"

Lynn's eye twitched. That… actually sounded legit?

Click.

He closed the door.

After she changed shoes in the genkan, Lynn noticed she was soaked and snapped his fingers.

Whoosh.

Mashiro's clothes fluttered for a moment, then a wave of warmth washed over her.

"Eh?"

Mashiro blinked.

Her clothes were… dry?

She looked at Lynn with a slightly blank expression.

(To be continued.)