Why can't humans do it too?

Suer wondered if it was just her imagination, but it sounded like she was gritting her teeth. She hoped she had misheard.

--------------

After washing her body with melted snow water to remove the rotten smell, Kazami Yuuka, wearing Yakumo Yukari's purple robe, sat in the bamboo house next to Yakumo Yukari. The two youkai sat together like sisters.

"It seems a bit small? I feel like it's restricting me," Yuuka Kazami said, frowning and stretching her back and arms a few times. She turned to Yukari Yakumo and asked, "Don't you feel uncomfortable wearing it normally?"

"...If you don't want to wear it, you don't have to, okay?"

I can finally confirm that it wasn't my imagination; that was definitely the sound of clenched teeth.

Regardless of whether Yakumo Yukari's current demeanor is a deliberate act of disguise, Sull is definitely suppressing a laugh.

"Thank you," Suer said with a smile to the house-daughter who came running over with the teapot held high above her head. As she poured the tea into her and Xin Ke's cups, Suer reached out and patted her head.

The little green figure jumped happily, then ran over to Yukari Yakumo and Yuuka Kazami with her short legs, and poured tea for them. However, she seemed not to hear Yukari Yakumo's thanks. After pouring the tea as quickly as possible, she ran behind Suer.

"Tell me, what's the deal with that nine-tailed fox you left behind when we first met?" Xin Ke asked directly, taking a sip of tea.

"Actually, I did come here to remind you two to be very careful of the Nine-Tailed Fox," Yakumo Yukari's expression turned serious as she spoke about serious matters. "Please do not think that just because you are on the edge of the world, it is none of your business. That fox cannot tolerate even the slightest imperfection."

"Tell me in detail first, about the abilities of that nine-tailed fox you mentioned, and her origins?" Sur asked, unfazed by Yakumo Yukari's tense demeanor.

“Ah, the nine-tailed fox,” Yakumo Yukari sighed deeply as she touched the corner of her eye, “Unlike me and Kazami Yuuka, who were born by chance, that great yokai was destined to be born. She was the center of attention from the very beginning and possessed power that could almost defy everything.”

Are nine-tailed foxes really that powerful?

She quickly searched her memory. Although the nine-tailed fox had different identities in various stories, and the Japanese people had different feelings towards foxes and nine-tailed foxes, it shouldn't have reached the status that Yakumo Yukari mentioned.

Suer was somewhat suspicious that the golden-haired monster was trying to trick him.

"Before a little monster like me appeared, before the gods were hindered by the Milky Way and could travel freely in the land of reeds and the land of the dead, Izanagi-no-Mikoto's nose became Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and his right eye became Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, who is now the full moon in the sky. As for his left eye, it became Amaterasu-no-Omikami, which is the sun."

Knowing full well that Sull distrusted her, and also roughly aware that the strange pair of youkai in front of her had virtually no understanding of this world, Yukari Yakumo patiently began to explain from the very beginning.

"Izanagi-no-Mikoto is the one who repaired the Ashihara no Nakatsukuni and created a new land. He is also the father of all the third generation of gods," Yakumo Yukari added, fearing that Sull might not know. "Such a power to create the world needs no further description."

"Ah, I know, but aren't we talking about the nine-tailed fox?"

"Yes, the key point is that the nine-tailed fox is actually a side view of Amaterasu no Omikami, so you can also call her—Amaterasu no Nine-Tailed Fox."

Chapter Nineteen: A Myth That Is Unlike Any Other

Amaterasu's Nine-Tailed Fox.

The yokai, who should have existed in the mortal realm, was directly given the name of the head of the Three Noble Children. Just the name Amaterasu made everything that Yukari Yakumo had just said seem less exaggerated and more threatening than it appeared.

"The side view...is it a real side view, or just a description?" After a moment of contemplation, Suer asked further.

“It’s not a description, but a true aspect of Amaterasu Omikami,” Yakumo Yukari’s expression was already quite solemn. “She foresaw the blockage of the Milky Way before any other god. In the last era when the gods could still barely descend to the mortal realm, Amaterasu Omikami had already foreseen the end of the age of gods.”

"After careful consideration, He turned His body to the side, so that the sun was half-covered in shadow, and the whole world was plunged into darkness." Yakumo Yukari made a circle with her hands to represent the sun. "Flowers withered, rivers dried up, and demons roamed. It was not as dark as when Amaterasu Omikami hid behind the Heavenly Rock House, but it was a different kind of despair. After seven days of this darkness that caused everything to wither, the world changed once again."

“These are the exact words I heard from those old demons,” Yakumo Yukari chuckled, half-covering her lips, and continued in the tone of telling a bedtime story to a child: “In an instant, the whole world brightened up, or rather, it almost blinded the eyes of the beings who had adapted to the dim light of the past seven days. And when those newborn demons and the beings that had not yet died looked up at the sky with tears in their eyes, they understood why this was so—there were two suns hanging in the sky.”

"Then, one of the smaller suns fell into Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, landing in the location of Yamato Province. That is what we now call the Nine-Tailed Fox," Yakumo Yukari said, revealing a clear, mocking smile for the first time since her visit today. "Amaterasu no Omikami's original intention was to perpetuate the gods' rule over Ashihara no Nakatsukuni through her own presence, ensuring that the gods' influence wouldn't be completely severed after the Milky Way was completely blocked, thus becoming just a myth passed down by mortals, no longer revered or worshipped... But now it seems that all her efforts have been in vain~"

"So, part of the reason why demons are rampant now is because of the seven days that Amaterasu darkened the world?" Su'er said thoughtfully.

“That’s right. The number of demons that emerged during those seven days was so great that even Amaterasu Omikami herself did not expect it. The era of mortals did not arrive after the Milky Way was blocked. Instead, the demons, whose numbers had increased dramatically, suppressed the entire world. Even the kingdoms established by the descendants of the gods could only barely survive,” Yakumo Yukari mocked the miscalculated gods.

"What's going on with the Milky Way being blocked?" Noticing the undeniable issue in this series of questions, Xin Ke immediately followed up: "Why can't the gods set foot on earth anymore?"

"This is something a lowly youkai like me wouldn't know, although I'm also very curious about what kind of secrets lie behind it all," Yukari Yakumo sighed and continued, "But if one day we youkai can travel along the Milky Way all the way to Takamagahara, then all our questions will surely be answered, won't they?"

This was the second time she had said such a thing, but each time Yukari Yakumo's expression was the same: an expectation, a longing, a bloodthirsty smile—the golden-haired banshee yearned to create such a glorious era with her own hands.

The flames of ambition are burning fiercely.

Her purpose has never been concealed, and the reason why she is revealing all the information she knows now is obvious: to arouse the interest of Suer and Xinke and then join this expedition. It is precisely for this reason that Yakumo Yukari would never lie at this time.

"It seems that the nine-tailed fox did not act according to Amaterasu's plan?" Su Er calmly took a sip of tea and continued to ask.

He neither praised nor criticized Yukari Yakumo's intentions, nor did he praise or criticize her ambitions.

“Ah, that’s right,” Su’er’s calm response showed no disappointment in Yukari Yakumo. She continued without pausing, “Although it is a side view of Amaterasu, it is ultimately just a side view. The sun half-hidden in shadow is perhaps her symbol; there is light, but also shadow.”

"After only three days in front of the Heavenly Grandson, and in just three days, the nine-tailed fox stole the jewel that the Heavenly Grandson brought with him when he descended to earth according to the command of Amaterasu Omikami, which was a symbol of ruling the earth. It defied the will of the gods and chose to become a demon."

"Jade?"

“That’s right,” Yakumo Yukari nodded and said, “The Kusanagi sword that Susanoo offered represents strength, the Yata no Kagami that once lured Amaterasu out of the Ama-iwaya represents holiness, and the Yasakani no Magatama represents loyalty.”

"Why did they take away the jade that symbolizes loyalty?" Xin Ke murmured to herself, feeling that there was some hidden story unknown to outsiders, but she really couldn't figure it out because she lacked understanding of this world.

"I know what you're thinking. In fact, most intelligent yokai are speculating whether there is some deeper meaning behind this, given that the fox's origins are too profound. That's why, even now, not many yokai have gone to join the Yamato Kingdom when that fox raised its flag there." Yakumo Yukari was undoubtedly suppressing a laugh when she talked about the nine-tailed fox's predicament.

It's ridiculous that someone born into such a noble family and with impeccable abilities is still in a state of being a lone commander.

However, it's not entirely unreasonable to feel this schadenfreude. After all, given Yakumo Yukari's openly stated ambitions, if that nine-tailed fox were to establish her own power base, she would indeed be an enemy, not a friend.

"Should we go and fight her?" The "her" naturally refers to the nine-tailed fox. Kazami Yuuka, who had been silent since the beginning, finally spoke for the first time, but her words implied that she wanted to take me along.

"Ah no, it's not that reckless," Su Er waved his hand and said, "So, according to your previous reminder, Yukari Yakumo, the strange behavior of that nine-tailed fox is related to the fact that no yokai are going to seek refuge with her?"

So you mean... you got angry out of embarrassment, right?

The legendary saying goes, "If the mountains don't come to me, I'll go to the mountains."

What's with this cute yet slightly funny feeling?

Chapter Twenty: Mao Sui Recommends Himself

“That must be it,” Yukari Yakumo said, suppressing a laugh as she echoed Sue’s assessment. “After all, the current golden age of yokai is indeed related to her birth. Perhaps that’s why that nine-tailed fox has placed herself as the ruler of all yokai, yet no yokai have paid her any attention… Maybe she’s gotten a little angry about it.”

By the end, Yukari Yakumo's words had turned into a tone of pure contempt.

"In the world of yokai, birth doesn't matter. If loyalty is based on birth, how could there be yokai formed from a change of heart?" Yuuka Kazami calmly concluded while sipping her tea.

"Ah...it seems that no matter where you are, it's always the gods causing trouble..." Xin Ke suddenly sighed deeply.

“No, they’re far inferior to the divine species, aren’t they?” Suer had a different opinion.

"It's just about strength; I'm talking about the various troubles they cause."

"Ah, that's true... they're all a collection of troubles."

Very well, after a brief exchange, Suer and Xin Keda reached a consensus.

“Oh right, and the names are different too. You see, one is a god and the other is… okay, I was wrong,” Su’er’s flash of inspiration was rudely suppressed by Xin Ke’s smiling smile.

Very scary.

"...Other places?" Taking in the actions of the two people opposite the stove, Kazami Yuuka suddenly caught a very interesting piece of information.

“Ah, yes, there were gods in the place we were in before, and how should I put it? They were all troublesome fellows,” Suer said with a smile. “I’m sure the person next to you has already guessed that.”

In a world where gods truly exist and can be seen with one's own eyes, the gods that Suer and Xinke spoke of were not a strange thing.

“Indeed, whether it’s the unfamiliarity with various matters in Ashihara Chugoku, the novel powers, or these little things in the room that I’ve never seen before… the answers are quite obvious,” Yukari Yakumo didn’t deny. “Ah~ perhaps we should also add…”

The words were still unfinished, but judging from the gestures that Yukari Yakumo kept making to her own ears, it was clear what she was referring to—although she was already in a spirit form, Shinko's spirit stone on her forehead and her long ears showed that she was different.

For this monster, whose vision was rather narrow in a certain sense, she couldn't even imagine the level of another world. Her understanding was that Suer and Xinke came from overseas, or from some unknown island or something like that.

"So the friend you mentioned who looks a lot like her is the place you were in before?" Kazami Yuuka suddenly understood everything.

“Uh, yes,” Sue scratched his head.

"Could you introduce me to someone? It would be fun to meet someone who shares your passion." Just like when she politely praised the fertilizer when they first met, before they started fighting, Kazami Yuuka showed no signs of her bloodthirsty and battle-hungry madness. She was quite polite.

“That would certainly be interesting, but unfortunately you probably won’t get to know each other,” Sur said dryly. It’s not even worth thinking about what would happen if two or more war maniacs got together. Just look at the God of War and his Winged Race; it would be a disaster for world peace.

That pink-haired Skywing would definitely be happy to promote their Skywing motto to Yuuka Kazami, such as "Kill if you want to" or something like that.

"Why?" Kazami Yuuka asked, somewhat curious.

"For some reason, she doesn't exist in this world right now... Do you understand this explanation?" Before Suer could answer, Xin Ke had already started talking with a smile.

"I see, that's a real shame." Kazami Yuuka wasn't just making excuses; she genuinely regretted not being able to befriend a youkai who was likely stronger than her and shared similar values. Yakumo Yukari chimed in with a few perfunctory words of condolence.

It was obvious that the two demons had misunderstood Xin Ke's statement that she no longer existed in this world as meaning that she had been reduced to ashes without leaving a trace. As for the reason, they didn't dare to ask any further. Just by looking at the strange smile on the semi-transparent soul's face, they knew that there must be a lot more to this than met the eye—maybe it was this soul that had personally scattered the ashes.

Fighting for love is not uncommon even in this era. Rather, for those gods and various supernatural beings who are more like humans than gods, physically seizing love is perfectly normal.

"Ah, yes, that's really a pity," Xin Ke sighed regretfully. "But seeing that there are monsters who agree with her ideas, she must be very gratified no matter what."

Great! It's her!

Yukari Yakumo and Yuuka Kazami fully understood.

As for Suer... Suer is serving tea.

The tea is incredibly fragrant and tastes absolutely wonderful.

"So the human figure in that picture is her?" Suddenly turning her head to look at the cabinet in the corner—a distance that posed no obstacle to a youkai's eyesight—Yukari Yakumo asked curiously, "Excuse me, I've never seen anything like this before..."

It was immediately obvious that the marks were from flames. Between the charred edges and the overall yellowish-brown color, Yukari Yakumo could see two blurry human figures and a very large and distinct wing. The entire object was so badly burned that its features were no longer visible. However, the fact that such a severely damaged object was protected by an unknown transparent object within an exquisite bamboo frame already spoke volumes.

In this bamboo house filled with exquisite interiors that she had never seen before, this was the only thing that Yakumo Yukari could see that could be equated with trash, and the fact that it was so carefully preserved meant that it was very precious to the two youkai.

What kind of monster has such large wings?

Yukari Yakumo was trying to guess the race of the monster in the picture and hoped to use it to determine where Sull and Shinko would appear, but unfortunately she couldn't get it right.