He decided to hold off for now and wait until he happened to pass by. Takeminakata wasn't worth a special trip.
"So, all the humans from Yamato were brought to Izumo?" Sū ěr asked. "And what about the Oni?"
"There are no humans left in Yamato. To prevent another encounter with you on the way back, the youkai were ordered to reveal their true forms and carry the humans on their backs. The youkai were so terrified of you they didn't dare object," Yuuka laughed, likely picturing the ridiculous scene. "As for the Oni, if you walk toward the inner city later, you'll see them. Those fellows are currently the honored guests of the Izumo gods."
"They just abandoned the underground city they spent centuries building?" Sū ěr recalled that magnificent subterranean world.
"Haha, their city? Calling it a cage would be more accurate. After being locked away for centuries, those Oni didn't feel a shred of reluctance when they left... They are full of fighting spirit for the outside world~" Yuuka cracked her knuckles with satisfaction.
There was no doubt the newly arrived Oni had already clashed with this flower demon. From Yuuka demeanor, she had probably sought them out herself to test their strength.
From the way Hoderi had unhesitatingly betrayed Tamamo-no-Mae on the battlefield, it was clear the Oni had reached an agreement with Izumo. It was as if they wanted to completely sever their ties with Yamato; the part of their bloodline originating from Amaterasu had become the part they loathed most, yet could not remove.
It was understandable, though.
"Walking through the city made me think life in Izumo was very peaceful. A climate of universal terror can't produce a bustling market like the one outside. Now it seems things are about to get even more 'lively'?" Sū ěr remarked.
The addition of the Oni was like dropping two catfish into a pond; the ecosystem had suddenly become much more active.
"Isn't 'lively' good?" Yuuka had already envisioned the future, her face showing anticipation. "And thanks to what you did, all of Izumo is currently a whirlpool of undercurrents~"
"Me?" Sū ěr pointed at himself.
"Exactly. After all, the sword that had been hanging over Izumo's head for so long has vanished. Okuninushi no longer has to worry about the Amaterasu lineage from Yamato invading his lands or driving him and his descendants to a desert island... Do you know what that means?" Yuuka smiled wickedly. The green-haired youkai was hungering for scenes of slaughter and flying flesh.
"It means... the gods are going to war with the youkai," Think chimed in from her seat on the table, her legs crossed. She wore a similar smile; for her, the world was finally getting a familiar scent, rather than being so dull.
Sū ěr knew exactly what Yuuka meant. A "nation of gods and youkai ruling together" didn't sound nearly as good as a "nation of gods ruling alone."
Whether it was a case of "killing the hounds once the rabbits are caught" or "burning the bridge after crossing," with Yamato gone, Izumo had lost its reason for inviting the youkai to coexist. Both the gods and the sharper youkai knew this perfectly well. From this perspective, the Oni joining Izumo at this specific juncture was quite telling.
"They carry such miraculous titles as 'God' and 'Youkai,' yet their actions are no different from humans..." Sū ěr sighed. "Well, I suppose it shouldn't be surprising."
"Humans?" Lacking a transcendent perspective, Yuuka was confused by the sudden mention of those weaklings. She shook her head and asked, "Whatever. So, why have you two suddenly visited Izumo?"
Sū ěr and Think exchanged a glance. Instead of the lie about being tourists, Think thought for a moment and asked, "What do you know about that moon in the sky? Specifically... how do we get up there?"
During their journey to Izumo, Sū ěr had tried simply flying upward, but he proved it wasn't feasible. The moon remained in their sight, but no matter how long they ascended, the distance never changed. Aside from the sensation of flying into the Milky Way, there was no progress.
Even Sū ěr attempts to communicate with the world had no effect. For this world, the sun and moon existed as they did; Sū ěr could not force something beyond the world's limits.
The closer he got to the Milky Way, the more he felt a sense of restriction. The world was like a small bubble covered in plastic—the film of the "Frozen Milky Way."
"And what's the deal with the god representing the moon, Amaterasu brother, Tsukuyomi?" Sū ěr continued. "Why is there zero presence for him among gods and youkai, even though his siblings are so active?"
"Brother? Shouldn't it be sister?" Yuuka asked, surprised, before shaking her head. "Actually, that deity has never manifested. Whether they are male or female hasn't been determined. Why do you suddenly want to go to the moon?"
"It's not so much the moon we want, but Takamagahara," Sū ěr rubbed his temples. "According to what we heard from Tamamo-no-Mae, to reach the heavens that haven't opened in centuries, one must swim against the frozen current of the Celestial River. But..."
But the magatama given by the fox—the one supposedly linked to navigating that river—had turned black. Even flying toward the stars produced no change, except for a slight vibration when pointed at the moon.
It was as if the fox was using this cryptic method to tell Sū ěr something... something she herself was unable or afraid to do.
It wasn't exactly being "used"; Sū ěr was curious himself. Moreover, near that river, he had seen a possibility—a possibility of calling back Jibril.