As if sensing Yakumo Yukari gaze, that bright light even gave a playful leap. Then, to the onlooker's disbelief, it streaked across the sky, grazed the treetops, and vanished below the horizon.
Amidst countless gasps and shouts for others to look up, the long-awaited flowing river of stars gradually stilled. It had only lasted for a few breaths.
In the pitch-black universe, countless brilliant stars shimmered as usual. The Silver River remained there, congealed, casting its eternal light upon all things, as if nothing had happened.
Everyone who had caught the change in those few breaths instinctively blinked, wondering if what they had seen was merely a hallucination, a dream-like bubble.
In the next moment, they firmed up their judgment, ecstatic over the change that had finally appeared in the sky after centuries. They ran to tell others, arguing over the meaning, deeply believing the world was about to undergo a great change, adding reasons for everything they desired... such were the demons and monsters.
Perhaps Ōkuninushi and Yakumo Yukari would be troubled by the situation in Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, which had just stabilized only to be destined for chaos, but these were not things Sū ěr could know for the time being.
He couldn't even tell if he was moving forward or backward. In fact, once those ribbons of light merged into a wall of light, Sū ěr didn't dare make any extra movements. Though he didn't know the exact reason, this situation might have been triggered by his instinctive two steps back. What if he turned around? What about other movements?
Sū ěr waited quietly for the ribbons of light to return to points of light, adopting his most alert posture since arriving in this world. However, in this place where the concept of time was lost, he and Think gradually grew silent, no longer speaking to each other.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel those endless ribbons of light. Sū ěr even felt an urge to vomit; his thoughts seemed contaminated... how long had he been here?
Ten minutes? An hour? A year? Ten years?
Or even longer?
The only certainty was that they had traveled far from the Gate of Takamagahara. But where were they being sent now?
Total darkness, yet with a few glimmers of light. It hadn't reached the point where he couldn't see his own hand.
"...?"
He wanted to say something, but seemed to have lost the ability to speak. Sū ěr body swayed slightly, barely avoiding a fall.
The light was gone. The Silver River was gone. Before him was only a glimmering darkness, so stark a contrast that his eyes stung slightly... fortunately, there was only darkness.
"...I'll go up and look first."
Think voice reached Sū ěr ears. While forcing himself to stand, he could only manage a wave to show he heard her.
He had never liked a dimly lit environment so much. After a long while, Sū ěr finally roused his stiff and numb brain.
Beneath his feet was dry earth. Though some clutter had accumulated, it wasn't exactly trash. It was covered in a thick layer of dust. Sū ěr could sense insects living among the clutter, cowering because of his sudden arrival.
The space around him wasn't large; it was a perfectly regular circle. Even though the surrounding walls were damaged and peeling due to the passage of time, the traces of human construction were clear. If Sū ěr had to describe it, it was... a well?
Sensing something, he looked up and saw a sliver of light illuminating this cramped space. It was likely a cover made of wooden boards nailed together. Light filtered through gaps less than a finger's width, looking mottled by the time it reached the bottom.
It looked more and more like a well.
"Feeling a bit better?" While Sū ěr was still pondering, Think dropped down through the wooden cover to ask.
"...Yeah, mostly." The flesh on his forehead was still twitching. Rubbing it hard, Sū ěr said tiredly, "Why didn't you have such a big reaction? Logically, if I was affected, you shouldn't have been exempt."
"Hmm~~~ perhaps it's because I'm a genius?" Think pondered for a moment before raising a finger and smiling.
"...Don't think I can't tell you're mocking my IQ... Anyway, what's up there? Any situation?" Sū ěr rolled his eyes. With the faint light emitting from Think, he observed the surroundings more closely.
It feels more and more like a well, but would a well be this shallow?
"Er, I think rather than listening to my description, it would be better for you to go out and see for yourself~" A rare expression of trouble appeared on Think face. "Maybe you'll be so happy you'll jump for joy?"
"What nonsense. Do you think I'm a child— Huh? Ah! Aaah! Aaaaaaahhhh!!!"
While speaking, he flew upward without any more banter. Sū ěr pushed aside the nailed-together wooden board and poked his head out. No wild beast or demon lunged at him, but his words suddenly jumped several octaves, eventually turning into a meaningless shout.
Think floated out behind Sū ěr with a smile, satisfied with the man's jaw-dropping shock.
An old building. The vermillion lacquer was peeling at the corners, revealing dark wood grain. A sharply angled roof. A shimenawa made of straw with white paper strips tied to it. And on the path in the distance, a torii gate half-hidden. Two tall pillars stood on either side, also bearing the marks of time. One look and Sū ěr was certain this was not a building that could be constructed by the humans of Yamato or Izumo, nor could it come from the hands of those gods and yokai.
Because the house looked exactly like the buildings known as shrines in his memory. Matching it were professions like Shinto priests and shrine maidens—which further proved Sū ěr judgment. Such buildings and professions were separated from those ape-like humans by countless eras, perhaps tens of thousands of years.
Where exactly was he now?
Or rather, what era had he reached?
What did that Silver River do?
Why?
Because of the excessive impact, Sū ěr couldn't even think for a short while. He could only stare blankly at the hole he had just climbed out of— Wait, it really is a well?