It had been about 2 hours since I found the body floating down the river, in these 2 hours I had already dried out, largely due to the warm weather and the campfire which helped a lot.
"He's kind of taken too long to wake up already, any ideas on what's wrong with him?"
Hiding the furry fox ears, which were the last thing I needed to return to my normal person image, I turned to her face and asked the expert in strange situations, that is, Saya.
"Mmm... let me see... It seems to me that I already have an idea about the situation this young lady is in."
Placing Clouded Fang on my waist and grabbing the military yokai's head, it seems my tails didn't forget to carry it. He watched as Saya floated around the miko looking for the why of her situation.
"Most likely she was composed of more souls than she has at this instant. That would explain her weakened state and why she won't wake up, though it may also be related to Clouded Fang."
"Start explaining as we walk, I don't plan to spend another night out in the open."
Concluding my words, I picked up the young miko's body, before placing it under my arm and starting to walk along the river bank next to Saya.
Seeming quite familiar with people who have little patience, Saya calmly begins to give her explanation, while still hovering behind me.
"As I had told you earlier, Clouded Fang has the power to control hell. This causes its blade to consume 95% of the souls of those who die at its hands, while that remaining 5% remains in the slain body and revives it as an undead."
"You're telling me we've left a zombie plague in our wake. Good grief, Saya, there are things you say at the start of a relationship."
Although the last thing I said was in jest, the worry I'm feeling is completely real. An army of vengeful undead on the loose in the world, that's a no, no.
"Relax, that ability is active when a low-powered yokai wields Clouded Fang. In the hands of someone truly strong, Clouded Fang can directly open a gate to hell and summon its minions."
I was done being amazed at how broken the sword is, but a gateway to hell, is he serious? As I was silently surprised, we were getting closer and closer to reaching the village.
"Back to the subject of the young priestess here. Her situation may be due to the souls within her, they can sense the danger that Clouded Fang represents to her remaining on this plane of existence."
"Then the problem is me.... Wow and we've only just met!"
Letting out a joke about the situation and confirming that my mood has been better lately, haaa... the good thing about releasing stress by beating up other people.
In between chatting, we continue moving forward until we reach the entrance of the town, which is the same as when we left.
"Onii-chan!"
Running across the bridge that connects the village to the outside, Akemi moves at full speed towards my direction with open arms and a beaming smile.
She is the perfect example of someone who gets attached quickly, well maybe that happens to all little kids, but this girl is too curious and I am a stranger. Yes, like a bee to honey.
"Stop, stop, stop right there."
My first thought was to stop it with one of my tails, but being in this common human form I don't have them. Only a few hours and I have already become dependent on them.
The second way to interrupt her movement that came to my mind, was with my free leg.... Yes, you may have noticed that I'm not very good with children.
"Don't cry child. He really wants to hug you, he just can't because he has his hands full."
"Haaa, the spirit is back!"
Instead of stopping the tears that were about to come out of Akemi's eyes, his voice and semi-solid body scared her even more. Because of that, Akemi runs scared to my back and stands there holding my waist.
"Saya, are you serious? And Akemi lets go of my waist so that I can't move."
Scolding the two of them for their stupidities, I wait for Akemi to let go of my waist to start walking towards the entrance of the village. At the entrance, a few villagers gather, and inside, I walk along the dirt roads until I reach Izayoi's residence, where he is waiting for me outside.
"Let's talk inside"
"As you wish"
Few words that speak volumes. He gives me a look that lingers for a few moments on the head of the military yokai, resting in my right hand and the miko under my left arm, before nodding for us to enter his residence.