Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Looking at the corpses scattered on the ground, Kousaka Kyosuke realized that there were few familiar faces, and almost all of them were Genji members, which put his mind at ease.

It's better for those comrades to be alive.

Of course, Kyosuke Kosaka met them soon after.

"Kyosuke-sama!"

"Master Michizuna!!"

Even after the fierce battle, the group was still inevitably happy to see each other again.

Two Onmyōji (yin-yang masters) from the Fujiwara clan and three military commanders from the Taira clan surrounded them.

Kousaka Kyosuke smiled.

People in important positions are indeed very hard to kill.

That same day, he received news that Fujiwara Yasumasa had been seriously injured while fighting a certain monster.

Day 104 of crossing

Not long after the defeat of the Demon King Shuten-dōji.

It's incredible that something that wasn't easy was accomplished in less than a month.

It was fortunate that Shuten-dōji was too confident, or rather, he didn't care about any schemes or tricks.

Otherwise, if it were just about killing, the Genji would probably have to send another 10,000 men to support them.

A protracted war is truly no match for superhuman beings like monsters and demons.

"I plan to have Onikiri escort Shuten-dōji's head to the capital. Who among you wants to participate?"

During a meeting that brought together many officials involved in the extermination efforts, Minamoto no Yorimitsu took the initiative to inquire.

The moment the words were spoken, many people's breathing became rapid.

Offering up the head of the infamous Ghost King will surely leave a mark on history, won't it?

This is a great honor!

Kousaka Kyosuke could even sense Taira no Shiryu panting beside him.

This is understandable.

For military generals, honor is also very important.

"I don't need to. I need to recuperate after using the secret technique, and I need to rest for the next two days."

Noticing the gaze that Minamoto no Yorimitsu was looking at, Kousaka Kyosuke politely declined.

Although Minamoto no Yorimitsu found it strange, he did not investigate it further.

After all, his impression of Kyosuke Kosaka was that he liked women, and as for other things, he didn't seem to care much.

He then assigned the task to Da Yi and Xiao Yi from several legions.

The journey to Kyoto is safe.

They only need to block the road from Mount Ōe to Kyoto, preventing other yokai, including the most powerful Ibaraki-dōji, from passing through.

Then the escort mission should be fine without any problems.

The personnel were decided very quickly that same day.

Among them was Fujiwara Yasumasa, who was seriously injured and needed to be taken to Kyoto for treatment.

Day 105 of crossing

The monsters launched a large-scale attack, and Kyosuke Kousaka ultimately led his men to meet them.

For the next few days, I did volunteer work for free.

However, this led to me getting to know my comrades better and meeting many more people.

They even knew that Minamoto no Yorimitsu was quite good at composing waka poems.

Day 108 of crossing

The number of attacking monsters gradually decreased.

Everyone noticed that something was wrong.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu immediately sent people to investigate, and they discovered that the yokai had stopped attacking.

Then, realizing that he hadn't seen Ibaraki-dōji for two days, he immediately realized something was wrong!

Day 109 of crossing

Kyosuke Kousaka received the information—

Ibaraki-dōji led the Ōeyama yokai to the Rasōmon Gate and successfully seized Shuten-dōji's head.

Onikiri went in pursuit, but his whereabouts are unknown.

Many were killed or injured, including Fujiwara Yasumasa, who should have been receiving treatment.

Kyosuke Kousaka was deeply saddened.

That evening, I introduced Yaodao-hime to another way for men and women to communicate.

Unfortunately, there's still one door missing.

Day 110 of crossing

Kyosuke Kosaka led a group of people to prepare to return to Kyoto.

Having killed many of the monsters of Mount Ooe, they would not easily attack again.

Therefore, it's time to leave.

The matter concerning the extermination of Mount Oeyama has basically come to an end.

Day 111 of crossing

He rode his horse along, his arm around the Demon Blade Princess the whole way.

Day 112 of crossing

He rode his horse along, his arm around the Demon Blade Princess the whole way.

Day 113 of crossing

Kyosuke Kosaka finally returned with more than a hundred surviving noblemen.

The Fujiwara and Taira clans' legions, which had escorted the Demon King's head, had already returned long ago.

He himself is slow.

But it doesn't matter, since the Ghost King's head is gone, my sense of honor and battle merits will be halved.

If you anticipated this, don't panic.

At the city gate, Kousaka Kyosuke encountered Fujiwara Michitsuna, who was there to pick him up.

Kousaka Kyosuke sent Yaodao-hime back first, while he followed Fujiwara no Michitsuna to see the Taoist priest.

Even though it was almost nightfall.

Surely the Taoist priest has the means to host a banquet?

……

Two avenues lead to the long house.

The mansion, which resembled a palace, was brightly lit, and the busy figures of maids were reflected on the clear, water-like floor.

Kousaka Kyosuke sat at the table, chewing slowly and deliberately, his manners much more refined than usual.

Upon discovering that many nobles and high-ranking officials had also attended the banquet, he naturally tried his best not to be impolite.

He didn't see himself as the main character.

He thought the banquet was specially arranged for him by the Taoist priest.

It's probably one of those incidental things.

I didn't really care at all.

"Kyosuke, I heard you killed over a thousand monsters this time..."

"Which 'Kyosuke' are you talking about? I've only heard of Kyosuke who killed several monsters with other people."

When his friend Fujiwara Yukinari leaned over to whisper something and wink at him, Kousaka Kyosuke simply brushed him off.

A thousand-man kill?

Hmm... Thousand Demon Slayer?

This title just feels a bit strange.

I cannot agree to that.

And this treats other people's achievements as worthless?

Fujiwara Yukinari pursed his lips, too lazy to argue.

"Regardless, your achievements this time are remarkable, because you killed a lot of monsters in full view of everyone."