Chapter 47: Yukari Yakumo Doesn't Understand the Human Heart.
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Aya Shameimaru's escape speed was no joke. Even when Kihara tried to catch her off guard using Faiz's acceleration mode, he still couldn't grab that gossip-loving tengu reporter.
Left with no choice, he took Rikka Takarada and Akane Shinjo and quietly slipped away from the banquet. He had already noticed Suika Ibuki wandering around with her gourd, actively looking for people to drink with.
She had a rather terrifying ability, once she invited you to drink, no one could refuse. And once you started, you wouldn't stop until you were completely drunk.
On top of that, Suika was one of the Four Devas of the Oni. Combined with her straightforward and easygoing personality, almost no youkai would ever turn her down.
But drunk youkai were a disaster.
When they lost control, they didn't just make a scene—they fought. And given their overwhelming strength compared to humans, those "drunken brawls" could easily turn destructive.
Kihara had no intention of letting his girlfriends get dragged into that kind of chaos and risk getting hurt. So he decisively chose to retreat.
"Are you sure you're not going to talk to him, Kaguya?"
"There's no need. You saw it too—he gets along pretty well with that 'turkey girl.' If I go over, we'll probably end up fighting again. I'm not about to pull another woman's hair out in front of him, that'd be way too embarrassing."
Kaguya spoke casually, but when she remembered that Kihara didn't even come over to talk to her when he delivered the gift, a trace of irritation crept into her heart.
"This place is too noisy. I'm going back to play games."
"I'll chat with Yukari for a bit, then head back."
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
Beside Yukari Yakumo sat several empty bottles. Yuyuko had long since disappeared—probably off somewhere eating again.
Under the cold moonlight reflecting in her sake cup, Yukari let out a soft chuckle.
"How rare. You actually came to see me?"
"I'm just curious. Why did you arrange things for the Hakurei shrine maiden? None of the previous shrine maidens ever had engagements."
Eirin Yagokoro's gaze was calm.
"Eirin… the world is changing. The outside world is changing as well. Yet Gensokyo, this eternal paradise for youkai—remains the same. Do you really think that's a good thing?"
"And why wouldn't it be?" Eirin replied indifferently. "All we seek is a place to live in peace. Isn't it better if nothing changes?"
"I used to think that too."
Yukari silently downed her sake and turned her gaze toward Pelican Town.
"Youkai are constantly drawn here by fate. They settle down, build lives—but that in itself is a form of change."
"Their lifestyles, beliefs, habits, personalities… all of it pushes them to carve out spaces that suit them. Their cultures collide, spread, and eventually blend into Gensokyo itself. That's change—subtle, but inevitable."
"I've done everything I can to keep Gensokyo stable… but after all these years, the time for change has finally come."
"And the key to that change… is Kihara."
"He has been chosen by the core of Gensokyo as the one who will bring transformation."
"I don't want that change to shatter or divide what already exists. So I chose this method—to bind him to Gensokyo's past."
"Heh."
Eirin suddenly laughed.
Having lived for so long, she had almost forgotten—she was once a Lunarian, not a youkai.
"Yukari Yakumo… you don't understand the human heart."
"The human heart?"
"You're a youkai. Naturally, you interpret humans the way you interpret your own kind."
"Youkai value strength. The strong dominate territory and rule as they please. Your idea of an 'engagement' likely came from observing the Human Village—something to tie Kihara down, wasn't it?"
"…Correct."
Yukari admitted it without hesitation.
"That's exactly why I say you don't understand humans."
Eirin took out a bottle of sake and sat across from her, pouring herself a drink.
"Kihara may have an unusual fondness for beautiful girls… but he's not the type to conquer or rule."
Her tone shifted as she casually brought up Pelican Town.
"I heard that town was created by Gensokyo specifically for him?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it? That Gensokyo would go so far as to create a living area for a human."
"But why a desolate, ruined countryside town? Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
"Youkai don't concern themselves with digging into a human's past or inner world," Yukari replied calmly. "All I need to know… is that he can fulfill the role I require."
She didn't say it outright, but Eirin understood.
Pelican Town was clearly tied to Kihara's past—perhaps even his inner self.
Eirin recalled something Kaguya once said:
"That guy acts carefree all day, like he doesn't have a single worry in the world. Honestly, if I didn't graciously keep him company playing games, he might've disappeared already. He's seriously the kind of person you can't help but worry about."
"The more carefree someone appears… the more likely their past is something they'd rather never face."
Eirin muttered softly.
As if recalling something from her own distant past, she suddenly lost interest in the conversation. After finishing her drink, she stood and left.
"Wait—you came all this way just to tell me I don't understand the human heart, and now you're leaving?"
"Of course. It's rare to see the great sage of youkai misjudge something. I just came to laugh at you."
"Hmph."
Yukari pouted slightly, choosing not to press further.
After all, she had been observing Kihara every day. Even without Eirin's explanation, she would eventually find the answer herself.
She was the great sage of youkai—she had her pride.
No way she'd hand Eirin something to tease her with.
After thinking it over, Yukari decided that today's loss was entirely Kihara's fault.
So she made up her mind.
In a couple of days, she would secretly empty his fridge—and have Ran cook her a lavish meal.
That fish last time had been delicious…
Chen had nearly swallowed the bones whole.
Meanwhile…
After Reimu announced her engagement, her supposed fiancé immediately ran off with his girlfriends—without even giving her a chance to "earn anything."
Watching Aya still running around spreading rumors and gathering material for tomorrow's newspaper, Reimu felt a surge of irritation.
"Hey, you tengu reporter! You scared my fiancé away—pay up!"
"Hahaha! What are you talking about, Reimu? Wasn't it your greedy aura leaking out that scared him off?"
"Who are you calling greedy?! I was in perfect shrine maiden mode just now!"
Click!
Aya snapped a photo of Reimu's teeth-gritting expression and waved it smugly.
"Perfect! Tomorrow's front page is ready. Caption: 'Hakurei Shrine Maiden Sets Up Engagement Trap to Scam Money from Kihara.'"
Reimu's momentum instantly deflated.
"Y-You can't just make things up! I wasn't trying to scam anyone!"
"Oh? Then why do you sound so guilty?"
"That's it, you lousy reporter! If I don't beat you up today, I'm not the Hakurei shrine maiden!!!"
Flushed with embarrassment and rage, Reimu grabbed her gohei and shot into the sky.
Seeing things go south, Aya immediately spread her black wings and fled.
"Fight! Fight!"
The surrounding youkai cheered enthusiastically.
Another lively day in Gensokyo unfolded as chaos filled the night sky.
....
Thank you for reading.