"For Youkai, mutual slaughter and predation... is also a way to become stronger, so, what do you think... is the meaning of 'eat'?"
Yakumo Yukari looked at Baal's nervous expression, an inscrutable smile on her face. She found that Baal's emotional fluctuations were much stronger now than before, or rather, her will to live was much stronger than before.
If before, she was in an indifferent state of not caring whether she lived or died,
Now, Baal's restless, wandering little eyes
Showed that the girl had a motivation to live.
"..."
Baal unconsciously moved a distance away from Yakumo Yukari, then, looking at Yakumo Yukari with a smile, she asked as calmly as possible,
"Why? Is it because I... have more nutrients?"
She was only... not even a small Youkai. Even if they wanted to cannibalize, they shouldn't be coming for her.
"You're not wrong in saying that." Yakumo Yukari's eyes gazed at Baal playfully, a charming and alluring smile appearing. "The more correct choice should be to 'imprison' you as a collectible for viewing."
"That holds no meaning for you." Baal looked around, her voice flat. "With abilities like yours, it's very convenient to see anything you want, isn't it?"
"...Ah, I thought you'd be happy." Yakumo Yukari showed a disappointed expression, opening her folding fan to cover half her face. "Last night, I even dreamt of me, and it seemed I was the passive one. I thought Baal liked to be treated a bit more forcefully."
"...Dreamt?!"
Baal's delicate body trembled slightly, then her pretty face flushed instantly, her eyes revealing shame and a hint of defiant fierceness.
"In the middle of the night... do you also secretly peek at others sleeping?!"
She had indeed had some dreams related to Yakumo Yukari last night. If the content were as ambiguous as the author's novel,
It would probably be banned for a whole day.
"Isn't it... normal for Youkai to be active at night?" Yakumo Yukari chuckled, then whispered as if shy, "Besides, I was so moved by Baal's dream story that I almost shed tears."
"...Forget it for me!"
Baal couldn't help but stomp her foot in a loss of composure, feeling like her sense of shame was about to explode.
No, more accurately, it had already exploded.
"That's impossible~" Yakumo Yukari showed a joyful smile, gently fanning herself. "I am a Youkai Sage. My memory is so good that I'll never forget it for my entire life."
"Then... I can only choose to commit suicide!"
Baal showed a desperate expression.
Now, she felt as if she had had a spring dream, but unfortunately, the object of her spring dream had discovered the content of her dream...
This was simply... so shameful that she wanted to die.
"...Actually, it's not impossible to forget." Yakumo Yukari looked at the girl's shameful, suicidal expression, and gently tapped her head with her fan. "However, you'll have to give me something that can make me lose my memory."
"...Then what do you want?"
Baal asked somewhat resignedly.
She just wanted to get past this matter.
"Hmm... let me think..." Yakumo Yukari pretended to ponder for a moment, then showed a cunning smile. "Just give me ten thousand taels of gold, and that'll do."
"...Are you making fun of me?"
Baal asked expressionlessly. The most valuable thing she had was the gold bars Yakumo Yukari gave her. Even with the ability to exchange items from the system's shop, she could only get instant noodles and panties.
Therefore, providing ten thousand taels of gold was impossible.
"Then just bring a few interesting-looking things." Yakumo Yukari smiled. "As long as I think they're valuable, that's fine."
"Sorry, maybe in the future."
Bal shook her head, giving an honest answer. Although her system contained many powerful items, they were meaningless if she couldn't… exchange them.
As for the self-heating ramen and panties, Yakumo Yukari had already eaten the self-heating ramen, and she probably wouldn't care for 'panties.'
After all, Yakumo Yukari was already wearing a Western-style dress and white stockings, so why would she care about mere panties?
Moreover, taking out panties… would truly be social death.
"…Is that so?" Yakumo Yukari smiled indifferently, her expression becoming slightly serious. "Then, let's consider that a pending condition for now. As for what happened last night, I'll temporarily 'forget' it."
She never intended to… covet the girl's belongings.
She just wanted to tease the girl a little.
"…That works too."
Bal nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Ultimately, her skin wasn't thick enough. Otherwise, she could have flirted back with Yakumo Yukari. But for a girl who used to have social anxiety, the difficulty… was undoubtedly high.
In short, the girl was unexpectedly pure.
"Hehehe… Then you must remember your promise today," Yakumo Yukari said with a pleasant smile, leaning close to the girl's ear. "If you truly want a lap pillow, or a gentle kiss… it's not entirely out of the question."
"…"
Bal felt the warm breath on her ear and smelled the faint, lingering fragrance, causing her body to stiffen slightly.
This hateful female youkai… was too good at this.
"…"
Yakumo Yukari noticed the girl's reaction, a sly smile appearing on her face, then suddenly opened the gap's exit.
She sent Bal out of the gap before she could even react.
"Bal… what will your future be?" she murmured softly, looking at the closing gap. As a Youkai Sage, she naturally wouldn't spend so much time observing an irrelevant youkai. However, some special individuals were worth her attention.
For example, a few favored by fate, who often drove the progress of an era. Bal… was a similar existence.
Her revival after death… becoming a unique youkai.
That usually meant Bal carried some special destiny, perhaps symbolizing the decline of an era, or another future possibility.
That's why she was somewhat interested in Bal.
However, that was only 'somewhat interested.' Even if Bal had the potential to influence the great tide of an era, it would likely be hundreds of years from now.
Hmm… that should have been the case.
But she miscalculated.
Bal, who had only recently revived, encountered the strongest Miko and, intentionally or unintentionally, established the Hyakki Yagyō. This made it hard for her not to believe… that the girl had already begun to fulfill her destined mandate.
But what mandate was she fulfilling?
That still required more observation.
*
*
Outside.
"…I'm back."
Bal let out a soft sigh, glancing at the closing gap. She felt very unaccustomed to Yakumo Yukari's meaningful, discerning gaze, feeling as if all her secrets had nowhere to hide.
She was truly bad at dealing with someone like Yakumo Yukari. After all, being completely controlled and constantly in a passive state was very unfamiliar to her.
However, once she grew stronger and could punch Yakumo Yukari until she cried,
she believed she would be able to get along well with Yakumo Yukari.