How did I, an Onmyoji, become the Lord of Yokai?

Although I've kept up with his usual wake-up time, he sometimes wakes up even earlier than usual.

So she didn't care too much.

However, as she finished dressing and prepared to wash up, she inadvertently noticed a solitary piece of paper on the low table in the room...

Reiko's eyes showed a hint of doubt. 'How did a letter end up in the room? Did Shimizu put it there?' The girl walked over with this question in mind.

She picked up the letter and glanced at it casually, but when the contents came into view, her expression suddenly changed...

......

"At this time... Reiko should already be up."

Beneath the boundless blue sky, a giant paper crane flew silently by. The black-haired boy quietly withdrew his gaze from the distance, and then smiled gently.

Before leaving, he left them a letter. The letter was short, simply explaining his reasons for leaving and his thoughts, and telling them not to worry about him.

He didn't want to disappear without a trace, nor did he want to leave them without even a thought of him, even though he knew that doing so would cause them to concentrate their resentment on him.

But as long as he can leave behind a sliver of hope, he doesn't care even if they resent him three hundred years later.

so...

"I'm sorry, Ye Zi, Ling Zi... Let's meet again in three hundred years..."

......

Time flies, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye. Shimizu Asahi, who left Suzuka Mountain, finally arrived in Shinmon County. He paid no attention to the bustling and ancient city and headed straight for Izumo Taisha Shrine.

A short while later, he arrived outside the main hall.

Since the Yamata no Orochi wreaked havoc in Izumo, the defenses of Izumo Taisha have been greatly strengthened, and even some areas near the walls are now guarded by soldiers.

It's virtually impossible to sneak in without becoming invisible.

Therefore, not wanting to attract anyone's attention, Shimizu Asahi concealed his figure and carefully set up an illusion barrier to ensure that no one would notice his movements.

After the barrier was set up, the black-haired boy gently pushed open the door to the room in front of him.

A crisp creaking sound rang in his ears, and then a crack appeared in the temple door.

Without much hesitation, he slipped into the temple and closed the door.

"call......"

Having been there once before, he walked confidently toward the statue. Surprisingly, as if sensing his arrival, the Yasakani no Magatama, which had been lying quietly in the temple, began to move.

A golden light pierced the air, and the divine artifact arrived before him like lightning, gently circling around him.

Although he could not hear the artifact's voice, he could feel its 'joy'.

The eight-foot-long jewel was delighted by his arrival!

"The divine artifact possesses a spirit; the Yasakani no Magatama... is it missing me?"

He was taken aback for a moment when he first saw this situation, but he quickly laughed again.

"It is my honor to be your partner and fight alongside you, Yasakani no Magatama."

His hand gripped the hilt of the divine sword once more, and then a feeling of perfect harmony arose within him.

There was no barrier, no unfamiliarity; it was as if it were meant to be. The power of the Yasakani no Magatama perfectly merged into his body.

"This should be the last time I hold you. After this, I will no longer be your master."

The image of Ōtakemaru riding the Yasakani no Magatama flashed through the boy's mind. Then, he murmured, "He will be a good master. Although I don't know how Ōtakemaru got you, I hope you can help him well."

"This is the last bit of help I can give him before I leave."

Shimizu Asahi never imagined he would say these words to the Yasakani no Magatama before leaving. He originally planned to use the power of the Yasakani no Magatama to return directly, but the moment he saw the Yasakani no Magatama express its emotions, he couldn't help but think of Ōtakemaru, and then, as if possessed, he said these words.

After saying this, the boy, who himself felt somewhat bewildered, shook his head. Although he was curious, it didn't matter anymore. After giving his instructions to the Yasakani no Magatama, the boy's spiritual power flowed into the artifact.

Then, a dazzling light appeared. The Yasakani no Magatama emitted a powerful light as bright as the sun, instantly engulfing the figure of Shimizu Asahi and everything else in the hall.

About two or three seconds later, the light disappeared, and the hall returned to calm. However, Qing Shui Chaoyang vanished under the light...

Knowing where Shimizu Asahi had gone, the Yasakani no Magatama circled the spot where he stood, and then flew out of the main hall...

......

The dazzling light made Shimizu Asahi raise his arm to block it. Then, the world began to spin, and the black-haired boy once again experienced the feeling of entering a rapidly spinning vortex. The crazy spinning sensation stirred up a feeling of nausea in his heart.

Even though he was mentally prepared, he still felt a strong urge to vomit.

Fortunately, the dizziness came on and went quickly, and when he could no longer bear it, the dizziness quietly subsided.

"Is it over...?"

Taking a few deep breaths, Shimizu Asahi tried to calm his emotions... He raised his head.

—Black, deep and quiet darkness swallowed his eyes, the familiar yet strange scene stimulated his nerves, and a strong sense of incongruity suddenly surged from all directions.

Exactly the same... The scene before me was exactly the same as the scene when I left and returned to three hundred years ago, without any change.

"Are you back...?"

The boy's slightly diffuse murmurs, which sounded like both a question to others and a self-answered question, echoed in the quiet room.

But the next second, firm words rang out again...

"Ah, I...I'm back!" Chapter 398 You've grown up, Ōtakemaru

In the quiet room, the sounds of breathing and heartbeats echoed. The initial disorientation and excitement of returning had gradually subsided, and Qing Shui Chao Yang had regained his composure.

"I remember that I came here six years ago because of a trace of the Yamata no Orochi's aura. I notified everyone before I went back in time, but why didn't anyone come?"

"And the aura of the evil god... also disappeared."

Looking at the quiet room, the black-haired boy instinctively pondered, and then his gaze fell on the divine artifact in his hand.

Did you do this?

"..."

A brief silence gave Shimizu Asahi an answer, and the unresponsive Yasakani no Magatama in his hand made him smile involuntarily.

"Indeed, three hundred years have passed. You probably don't even recognize me now. Besides, your current master is Ōtakemaru."

"However, it must have been you who did it. No one else could have dealt with that trace of the evil god's aura except you."

"Thank you, Yasakani no Magatama."

With a relieved thank you, Qingshui Chaoyang stood up.

The problem has been solved, and it's time for him to truly return to this world.

The black-haired boy placed the artifact back into its holder and left silently.

Little did he know that the moment the door closed, a golden light flashed across the blade of the Yasakani no Magatama...

Leaving the room, Shimizu Asahi, guided by the memories deep within her, returned step by step to her own house.

He closed the door and then lay down on the tatami mat.

Although he returned in the early morning, he still felt a bit tired due to the nauseating dizziness, so he went to sleep in accordance with the local time.

......

Time slips by unnoticed, and before we know it, night has vanished and day has arrived.

After resting, Shimizu Asahi slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and was instinctively stunned, but after a while, he came to his senses.

"...Yes, I'm back..."

He got out of bed with an indescribable feeling, washed up quickly, and then went to the dining room.

He opened the door and went in, and then many familiar faces came into his view.

Ibuki, Aonobo, Ari, Ootakemaru... For a moment, he was somewhat dazed.

He's back! He really... returned to this era!

Although he had already realized this when he returned yesterday and reminded himself of it when he woke up this morning, his heart still couldn't help but tremble when the figure he hadn't seen for so long reappeared in front of him.

"I'm back... I'm really back, from the era three hundred years ago, back to this era!"

He clenched his fists tightly. The composure and calmness he had cultivated over the past six years helped him suppress his inner turmoil. He greeted the crowd with a familiar yet unfamiliar "Good morning" and sat down in his seat.

However, as soon as he sat down, Ibuki, who was to his right, came up to him.

The demon king of Mount Ooe squinted his amethyst-like eyes and looked him up and down. "Master, you seem a little different today?"

"no the same?"

The strange words made Qingnvfang and Ali look over instinctively. Although their senses were not as sharp as Ibuki's, they still discovered the problem after careful observation.

"Indeed, things are different now."

"It's as if they suddenly matured."

After a moment's thought, Ali gave a definite answer.

Six years ago, Shimizu Asahi was steady and mature, but he still had the vigor and liveliness of a young man. However, those six years of life three hundred years ago washed away his vigor and liveliness, and he truly transformed into a man who had experienced the ups and downs of life.

If I had to describe him in one word, it would probably be "mature beyond his years."

only......

'Becoming more mature?'

The black-haired boy touched his face as he listened to Ali's words. He remembered that he had also changed over the past six years. The boy had truly become a man, but... why didn't they notice?

"Indeed, although the appearance has not changed, the feeling it gives people has changed dramatically yet subtly."

The moment this question arose, Qingnvfang provided the answer.

'My own face...hasn't changed?'

'Wait, does that mean the six years he spent in that era returned to him after he returned to this era?'

'But if that's the case, then why has my strength steadily increased?'

More doubts arose in his mind, but these doubts obviously could not be resolved in a short time, so he chose to keep them in mind for the time being.

After suppressing her inner thoughts, Shimizu Asahi put on an expression that said, "Is that so?" and replied, "Really? I didn't feel anything."