Chapter 57: Your Humble Servant Has a Treasure to Offer

Regarding Hojo Akitoki's request, Yunfa and Toki, whose attitudes had completely shifted, were extremely supportive.

However, when it came to the demonic blade Tōkijin, it was truly a case of a clever housewife being unable to cook without rice.

Simply put, it was outside their area of expertise.

The demonic blade Tōkijin was the creation of Totosai's rebellious apprentice, KaJinbo, who had also forged the Tetsusaiga.

The demonic sword itself was crafted from the skeletal remains of 222 ranked and powerful yōkai.

One could say that it was, in its own right, a peculiar kind of yōkai, with its source of power rooted directly in the yōkai themselves.

To purge the demonic aura while simultaneously preserving the original power of the blade—

Toki and Yunfa exchanged glances. They desperately wanted to tell Hojo Akitoki the truth.

Whether it was sealing the blade or completely destroying it, either task would be effortless given their combined strength.

However, to fulfill Hojo Akitoki's exact demands right now was simply beyond their abilities!

On the other hand, regarding Hojo Akitoki's other request concerning the Robe of the Heavenly Maiden and Kaguya, the two of them had already reached a consensus.

Drawing an analogy to the grand gift Kikyo had given Inuyasha—the Beads of Submission—Toki and Yunfa felt that they could easily invest a little effort here.

They would day and night imbue the Robe of the Heavenly Maiden with incantations until the garment possessed an efficacy akin to Kikyo's Beads of Submission.

After that, they would simply present it directly to Kaguya, the celestial being who had consumed a heavenly maiden.

Anyway, while the opponent's strength looked quite formidable on paper, the fact that she could be sealed by a Buddhist monk meant there were definitely openings to exploit.

Surely, an eminent monk like Yunfa combined with a shrine maiden like Toki, whose power rivaled Kikyo's, wouldn't fall short compared to the monk Miroku's grandfather, Mihatsu, would they?

With the plan decided, Toki and Yunfa conferred once more and ultimately reported the results of their discussion to the patiently waiting Hojo Akitoki.

"I see."

Hojo Akitoki, leaning back lazily on his daybed, nodded. Only one of his two requests could be fulfilled.

As a good leader, Hojo Akitoki expressed both understanding and satisfaction.

Just as the saying goes, every trade has its masters; when it came to capturing and banishing yōkai, Toki and the monk were true experts.

However, smithing and forging weapons was genuinely not their strong suit.

Glancing at the two figures below who still looked somewhat nervous, Hojo Akitoki offered a few generous words of encouragement that cost him nothing.

Gradually, his thoughts drifted to another person, and to a village that could barely be considered a faction.

There was a swordsman named Muramasa.

The prized sword Tsurugi currently in Hojo Akitoki's possession was forged by him.

In historical records, Muramasa swords were also illustrious presences, renowned as demonic blades that suffered severe crackdowns by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The reason was that Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandfather, father, and eldest son had all perished by Muramasa blades, and Tokugawa Ieyasu himself had been wounded by Muramasa weapons twice.

Aside from these instances, Muramasa blades had also injured his subordinates and more.

Given that Muramasa swords had such a fated connection with the old turtle, how could someone like Hojo Akitoki, who aspired to conquer the realm, possibly ignore it?

From a metaphysical standpoint, and from the perspective of the weapons themselves, Hojo Akitoki had long since recruited the fourth-generation swordsman Muramasa to his banner.

"It seems I can have Muramasa take a look at this blade."

Muttering this thought to himself, Hojo Akitoki figured that a top-tier human swordsman might just have better methods.

After all, weren't demonic swords like Dakki also crafted by an obscure human swordsman?

Furthermore, aside from the fourth-generation swordsman Muramasa under his command, the other "faction" Hojo Akitoki had in mind was a certain village.

It was the Slayers' Village where Sango, a female supporting character from the original timeline's Inuyasha group, resided.

Those mere exterminators who could not use spiritual power relied precisely on various techniques utilizing the bodily parts of yōkai.

They would re-forge these materials into weapons designed to combat yōkai.

In a sense, the scientific research capabilities of this village were quite impressive!

With a curious gleam in his eyes, Hojo Akitoki thought of Sango's Hiraikotsu.

And then there were the gas masks they wore on their faces—especially those gas masks.

They could practically be called products of black technology.

How ferocious was Naraku's miasma? By the later stages, it was practically like a natural disaster.

Ordinary trees and living creatures, merely brushed by the miasma, would instantly turn to flying ash and white bones.

Yet, by the finale, Sango and Kohaku wore those masks and were completely immune to Naraku's unreasonable miasma.

To borrow a trendy phrase:

Is there any justice in this?

Is there any heavenly law left?

Meanwhile, just as Hojo Akitoki was setting his sights on the black technology of the Slayers' Village, the close attendant who had been hurriedly dispatched under his orders had arrived at the quarters of those exterminators.

Initially, when the exterminators were summoned by the emissary to Odawara Castle, they had been filled with anxious anticipation.

Later, they heard that Hojo Akitoki had summoned the monk and the shrine maiden, yet had completely ignored them.

As fierce warriors who had battled yōkai for years, the exterminators naturally possessed a bit of temper.

Even constrained by the strict social hierarchy of contemporary Japan, while they dared not voice their dissatisfaction openly, grumbling behind closed doors was only natural.

Had it not been for the restraint of the exterminators' leader—Sango's father—

Some of these people would have already packed up and gone home.

Fortunately, a turning point arrived swiftly. Anyone capable of serving as a close attendant by Hojo Akitoki's side possessed sharp observation skills. With just a single glance at the exterminators' demeanor, he understood their thoughts.

Therefore, all along the way, the attendant sang praises to the skies, eloquently recounting Hojo Akitoki's grand ambitions within the hall!

Heh, by the time they reached the exterior of the central grand hall—

These exterminators, who possessed some cunning but not too much of it, stepped into the magnificent and majestic hall.

Any trace of lingering dissatisfaction toward Hojo Akitoki vanished completely; instead, they all dropped to their knees in deep, respectful, and utter submission.

Without requiring Hojo Akitoki to waste any more words, the exterminators, led by Sango's father, eagerly declared their willingness to dedicate their lives to their lord's grand enterprise.

"Rise."

With a gentle wave of his hand signaling this later group to stand, Hojo Akitoki could well understand their prompt allegiance.

After all, they were exterminators. While they might still command some prestige among commoners, their actual social status and standing in Japan truly weren't much better.

If their lives were good, why would they hole up in the mountains?

Enduring a life of licking blood from the edge of a blade?

Wouldn't living in a big mansion and holding a beautiful bride in one's arms be much sweeter?

If they swore allegiance to him now, not only would their social standing become incomparable to before, but at the very least, houses, wealth, and women were guaranteed.

Who knows, they might even secure an official rank and a stipend.

Having thoroughly figured out all these matters, Hojo Akitoki did not drag things out.

"Monk Yunfa, I intend to construct the Ankoku Temple within my domain."

"You shall be the abbot of Ankoku Temple, and all monks belonging to the Hojo clan will be placed under your unified command. You are responsible for subjugating and banishing all medium-tier yōkai and above."

"Understood. I thank my lord for his boundless grace."

Thud. Overcome with emotion, Yunfa pressed his forehead heavily against the floor.

"Shrine Maiden Toki, I will also establish a new shrine dedicated specifically to worshiping the heavens."

"This shrine will be entrusted to your care. Furthermore, you are a shrine maiden specializing in barriers."

"I hope that in the future, all the territories of the Hojo clan can be protected by barriers and remain unassailed by yōkai."

"Of course, this wish is currently just a wish, but I suppose that should at least be achievable around Odawara Castle, right?"

Hearing this demand, Toki hesitated slightly. Protecting the vicinity of Odawara Castle with her own power was already stretching her limits.

To achieve permanent and absolute perfection—how could she even dream of the entire Hojo territory?

Sacrificing her life wouldn't even be enough.

"Please forgive me, my lord, but Toki's power..."

"I know."

Raising a hand to signal that Toki need not panic, Hojo Akitoki was not a demon.

He had already considered the constraints Toki was worried about. With a wave of his hand, he instructed the attendant to bring over another tray.

"What if we use this?"

At these words, everyone present fixed their gaze on the tray, only to discover with a start that it held fragments of the Shikon Jewel!

"The Shikon Jewel is merely a tool; it has no inherent morality. As a tool, it is fully competent."

Hojo Akitoki had figured it out long ago. A treasure that granted wishes and a seductive hazard that corrupted hearts?

Away with all of it!

Just honestly serve as the power supply for the barriers across the Hojo territory!

"I beg my lord to provide sufficient manpower and resources; Toki is willing to give it a try."

Toki was well aware of the properties and might of the Shikon Jewel.

As a shrine maiden whose spiritual power was no less than Kikyo's, her competitive spirit was also stirred.

"Good."

With an approving smile and a few words of encouragement, Hojo Akitoki finally turned his gaze toward Sango's father, who was watching eagerly while harboring his own little schemes.

"Your name is Duzan, isn't it?"

(This name is a fabrication of mine; I couldn't find an official name for Sango's father.)

"I hereby bestow upon you the office of Extermination Commissioner, and establish the Extermination Bureau. All lesser yōkai within the Hojo domain shall be purged entirely by your bureau."

"From now on, you shall adopt the surname Extermination, and be known as Extermination Duzan!"

"Understood!"

Overjoyed to the point of disbelief, Sango's father—now named Extermination Duzan—bowed heavily, striking the floor with his head.

"May my lord be witness, Duzan, your commissioner, has a precious treasure to offer!"