The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

"Well, that's why I can't have such thoughts."

Sitting sideways in a chair, with one hand supporting her head on the table, Yukari Yakumo looked completely at ease.

"I'm a demon, so having such thoughts is perfectly normal, isn't it? I happen to need a few helpers, why don't you come and lend a hand? If we succeed, I can bestow upon you a title..."

"Don't even think about it, your idea is impossible to achieve."

Rolling his eyes, Shi Bai leaned back against the wall.

"And you even said you wanted to imitate humans and unite all the monsters to create a kingdom that belongs only to monsters... Are you sure you haven't gone mad?"

"why not?"

Yukari Yakumo had a strange look on her face.

"In every aspect, monsters are many times stronger than humans. If humans can establish their own country, why can't monsters do the same?"

"The idea is good, but it's not very feasible."

Shi Bai's face remained noncommittal.

“Zi Ma, you’re getting on in years, so don’t worry about this. Based on my judgment, you must have contacted other people before you came to me, right? How many people would be willing to help you with something like this?”

"...If you agree, then you will be the first."

She subconsciously clenched her fist and then slowly relaxed it, revealing a very kind smile on her face.

"Also, could you please stop calling me that malicious nickname?"

"Okay Zi Ma, no problem Zi Ma."

"........."

"Since you are long-lived beings, you shouldn't care about age, right? I adhere to the principle of respecting the elderly and caring for the young. You must understand that I am only eighteen years old. I need to express my respect for you, Mother Zi."

"...You were already eighteen years old many years ago."

"Yes, but I'm forever eighteen, a dashing young man, a youthful beauty who never ages—that's me!!"

With his hands clasped and fists clasped, the man looked triumphant.

"I'm sorry, I'm only seventeen years old this year."

Faced with this shameless person in front of her, Yakumo Yukari turned her head away expressionlessly.

"If you calculate it this way, you're actually a year older than me, so what should I call you? Aunt Shi?"

"Hey, wait a minute, shouldn't it be Shi's father who should be here..."

"Okay, Mom, no problem, Mom."

"........."

"Getting back to the point, are you willing to help me or not? If things continue as they are, in a few hundred years at most, humanity will be extinct or completely ruled by monsters. At that time, the whole world will be a kingdom of monsters."

Turning her head to look at the person sitting on the bed, Yukari Yakumo had a serious expression on her face.

"You should know, right? In recent years, the number of monsters has been increasing, and their strength has also been growing stronger. Although many powerful humans have emerged, human lifespan is simply negligible compared to that of monsters. Perhaps in the future, humans will become pets or food kept by monsters."

"...Do you know how many ways there are to be born as a monster?"

After thinking for a moment, Shi Bai asked the other party this question.

"Aside from a small number of monsters like you, the vast majority of monsters rely on human fear to survive. Based on this alone, it is absolutely impossible for humans to become extinct."

"It's okay, we just need to keep a portion of the humans in captivity."

Yukari Yakumo looked completely unthinking.

"Humans reproduce very quickly, so this is not a problem. Just as humans raise chickens and ducks as their food source, monsters can also raise humans as their food source. In my opinion, the two are completely equivalent."

"You're still far too naive... I'm asking you, between monsters and humans, which side do you think I'd stand on?"

Seemingly letting out a silent sigh, Shi Bai asked Yakumo Yukari a question.

"I think you'll be in the middle."

As if she had done her homework well in advance, Yukari Yakumo answered very quickly.

"Given your personality, you would never step in to help anyone; that's not the way you'd expect. The relationship between monsters and humans is like that of wolves and sheep. If you help the sheep avoid being harmed by the wolves, it would be a catastrophe for the wolves. However, I'm not asking you to help the wolves, but simply to help me remove some obstacles..."

"Haven't you already got the answer?"

The exit interrupted the other person's words, and Shi Bai shook his head with slight disappointment.

“That’s right, my perspective doesn’t lie in that, so I’ll only stand in the middle. But the problem is, this isn’t just about the relationship between humans and monsters; you’ve overlooked another group… This world is actually much bigger than you imagined.”

"Those gods?"

Yakumo Yukari narrowed her eyes slightly.

"It's alright. There's actually no direct conflict between monsters and gods. Monsters need humans to fear them, while gods need humans to believe in them. Gods and monsters can actually unite to herd humans together. It's a win-win situation."

"Being too confident is not a good thing. What do you have to offer to convince those arrogant gods to cooperate with you?"

"It's very simple. All I need to do is become the king of the yokai, and then I can represent the entire yokai community to negotiate with the gods. And in this regard, I need your help."

"...In your eyes, what are humans to you?"

"It's probably just ants by the roadside."

After thinking for a moment, Yukari Yakumo nodded.

"Although there may occasionally be a few powerful ants among them, ants are still ants after all, weak ones, and ultimately there is no need to communicate with them on an equal footing."

"While people do change, you're completely unqualified right now. With those thoughts in your heart, you have no right to be a so-called 'Idle Yokai.' Perhaps only after you meet her will things start to change a little..."

Shaking his head, Shi Bai sighed helplessly.

"What do you mean?"

Although she still had a smile on her face, Yakumo Yukari's words had clearly turned cold.

"What do you mean? What I mean is that you are too naive right now and need to receive training and guidance from me before you become a sage of monsters."

Shi Bai still had that same lazy look.

"You first went to Matara Okina, right? But she rejected you without hesitation. The second person you went to was the oni clan you had deliberately befriended in Hell, but Hoshiguma Yuugi and the others had already left Hell, so you returned empty-handed. The third person you went to was the Tenma who ruled the entire Youkai Mountain, and after fighting her, she drove you out of Youkai Mountain. Perhaps you went to find Shinki afterward, but Shinki basically doesn't care about things outside the Demon World anymore... So in the end, you chose to come to me."

"........."

Yukari Yakumo didn't reply, but the smile on her face had disappeared without her noticing.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm telling the truth. I'm a very honest person. You really don't have the qualifications to become a sage of monsters right now."

Facing the gaze fixed on him by Yakumo Yukari, Shi Bai shrugged indifferently.

"Your idea is good, but it has no practical value. If you continue to hold that idea, then you should leave."

"Since that's how you see me, then what exactly am I lacking?"

After a brief silence, Yukari Yakumo suddenly laughed again.

"I don't think I did anything wrong at all. Since we yokai are stronger than humans, isn't it only natural for yokai to enslave humans? In the yokai world, strength determines everything; this is the principle we yokai follow. You know the profession of Onmyoji among humans, right? Do you know why the shikigami they control can go berserk and backfire? If the Onmyoji subdued the yokai and made it their shikigami through their own power, then that yokai will never rebel until the Onmyoji dies. But if the Onmyoji subdued the shikigami with the help of others, then that yokai will eventually turn against them. Strength determines everything; it's that simple."

"If that's the case, then I'm stronger than you, so I can also consider you my shikigami?"

Someone raised an eyebrow, seemingly quite interested.

"Of course, but only if you can truly impress me with your strength. But if I want to run, no one in the world can catch me."

She subtly shrank back a little, and Yukari Yakumo smiled nonchalantly.

"Over the years, I have been thinking about completely unifying the groups of yokai, but yokai are inherently unruly, and some of the great yokai are even troublesome for me, which is why I thought I needed your help... for example, the sword you took out earlier."

"I told you, I won't help you until you figure out what kind of being can be called a sage of monsters."

Shi Bai noticed the other person's subtle movements and pursed his lips.

"You are not qualified right now."

"Then let me ask you, what do you think I'm lacking?"

Yukari Yakumo stared directly at him.

“You are lacking in many ways. First of all, you are seriously unqualified in just the first point, which is that you don’t understand human beings at all.”

Yawning, Shi Bai lay back down on the bed with a listless expression.

"You're being too presumptuous and taking things for granted, or rather, you don't even understand monsters properly. Come back to me for help when you've learned more about these things."

"Understanding...human beings?"

Yukari Yakumo frowned slightly.

"I don't understand what you mean, and I don't think I need to understand humanity. There may be some strong people among humanity, but they are not worth my understanding."

"You'll understand eventually. Once you meet the one destined for you, you'll want to actively learn about humanity..."

The man's voice gradually faded until it disappeared completely. In those few short seconds, he had already fallen asleep.

"...Destined...?"

Yukari Yakumo suddenly frowned deeply.

………………………………………………………………………

For Shi Bai, Yakumo Yukari's sudden visit was just a minor incident.

Although Yukari is the main creator of Gensokyo in later generations, a sage of youkai, and one of the sages of Gensokyo, her vision is undoubtedly too narrow now, and her desire to create a kingdom unique to youkai is too idealistic.

The current Purple Mother doesn't even know the existence of Luna, let alone anything else.

In Shi Bai's view, Yakumo Yukari is now just a pure youkai, a unique youkai in the world. But even if a youkai is a unique youkai of one person and one clan, it is still just a youkai.

However, the Sage of Yokai is not simply a yokai.

What Shi Bai didn't expect was that after that conversation, for reasons unknown, Yakumo Yukari transformed into a human and went to Fujiwara Kyoto... to tell fortunes.

With Yakumo Yukari's abilities, if she intentionally concealed herself, it would be impossible for those Onmyoji or monks to discover her true identity. In addition, she intentionally concealed her appearance and possessed the unique ability to manipulate realms. Thus, within a few days, the reputation of a diviner in Fujiwara Kyo spread throughout the entire city.

Shibai first learned of this news from Hieda Arie, then overheard the rumor from Fujiwara no Mokou, and later heard it from a constant stream of nobles... Finally, out of curiosity, he went to Fujiwara no Kyo to investigate and discovered that the other party's true identity was actually Yakumo Yukari.

Shi Bai: "..."

After discovering this astonishing fact, he turned around and silently went home alone.

—Then, right at her doorstep, she ran into Fujiwara no Fuhito, who was using the excuse of picking up Fujiwara no Mokou but actually wanted to visit Kaguya of Houraisan.

As Fujiwara no Mokou's father, Fujiwara no Fuhito initially didn't care about the rumors surrounding Princess Kaguya. However, one day when he and his close friends visited her and happened to meet Kaguya of Houraisan, he was immediately captivated by the legendary Princess Kaguya... no, I mean, he fell in love at first sight.

Among all of Kaguya Houraisan's suitors, he could be considered one of the most proactive.

At their age, they still shamelessly come here every day... Shameless.

P.S.: Good morning! ヽ(ー_ー)ノ

Chapter Thirty-Five: Kaguya's Five Difficulties

In Fujiwara Kyoto today, the Fujiwara family can definitely be called the number one powerful clan in Fujiwara Kyoto, and Fujiwara no Fuhito is the current head of the Fujiwara family, who has reached the pinnacle in terms of both wealth and power.

To have single-handedly led the Fujiwara clan to its current state, Fujiwara no Fuhito can indeed be considered a talent... aside from being a bit of a scoundrel.

Ever since he caught a glimpse of the legendary Princess Kaguya that day, Fujiwara no Hitoshi has fallen madly in love with Houraisan Kaguya and has launched a rather ardent pursuit of this NEET princess. Moreover, through his connection with Fujiwara no Mokou, he has subtly taken advantage of the situation, making Fujiwara no Mokou, who is caught in the middle, extremely uncomfortable.

After all, the friends you've worked so hard to make might one day become your new mother... It's hard for anyone to accept that, so for a while, Fujiwara no Mokou's visits to the bamboo house noticeably decreased.

Despite this, Fujiwara no Fuhito showed no sign of backing down. On the contrary, he intensified his efforts, seemingly determined to achieve his goal. After all, he had already reached the pinnacle of wealth and power, and he was even more determined to possess the most beautiful woman in the world.

However, in Shi Bai's eyes, his so-called proclaiming of unwavering love for Princess Kaguya was nothing more than lusting after a certain NEET princess's body. He was already quite old, yet he still wanted to eat young grass like an old cow... How shameless.

However, if we compare their actual ages... it seems that Kaguya Houraisan is several times older than the other person?

To be fair, aside from his lecherous nature, Fujiwara no Mokou is actually quite a good person in other respects... because she once suggested marrying her daughter, Fujiwara no Mokou, to him.

—To be honest, someone did have a fleeting moment of attraction.

After discovering that Yakumo Yukari had also settled in with Fujiwara Kyo, Tokihaku abandoned his previous languid demeanor and had a rather earnest conversation with Houraisan Kaguya.

As the saying goes, it's better to guide than to block. Continuing like this is not a solution. It would be better to think of a good way to get rid of those annoying flies once and for all... The last sentence is a quote from a certain NEET princess.

Shi Bai suggested that Kaguya Houraisan present five impossible challenges to test the suitors, while Kaguya Houraisan suggested that every single one of them should be tied to a large rock and thrown into a well to destroy the evidence...

After listening to the words spoken by a certain NEET princess as she slammed her hand on the table with murderous intent, Shi Bai remained silent for a while.