Chapter 500: Digging for People

According to the agreement reached through friendly consultation between both parties...

Hakurei Shen She was officially designated as Gensokyo's sole external cooperation window.

Although this decision was as subtly compromised as the faded shimenawa hanging from the shrine's eaves.

Because everyone knew this natural choice was not a good one.

The very existence of Hakurei Shen She was as subtle as the Great Barrier; from the perspective of Shinto rituals, this shrine was even difficult to define its affiliation—

its geographical location lay in the blurred zone at the boundary between Gensokyo and the Outside World.

Although parts of the shrine were connected to Gensokyo, strictly speaking, it belonged neither to Gensokyo nor to the Outside World, but was more like a special node defining the border line.

However, facing reality, this decision seemed inevitable.

After all, apart from this, there were no better choices.

Moreover, considering that the one opposite was a Supreme Existence capable of destroying a world of heaven and earth with a mere thought, this would not change regardless of where the other party was...

Thus even the Dragon God Lord, who overlooked the mortal world from the clouds, had to, after deep consideration, finally tacitly accept this arrangement.

Just place it at Hakurei Shen She.

After all, that place was ultimately the shrine enshrining itself, at least ensuring all movements were under its own gaze.

Although it usually paid no attention to shrine affairs, not noticing the Hakurei Miko changing generations, and had never listened to the miko's prayers for thousands of years...

But special times called for special measures—occasionally making an exception was not unacceptable.

The cooperation window was naturally not merely nominal.

It also had its own business.

Xia Zhi, adhering to the principle of "one task, not two masters," smilingly called the red-white miko over and entrusted her with a heavy responsibility under her confused gaze.

"Eh? Me?"

Reimu Hakurei was full of doubt, pointing at her own nose.

Immediately after reacting, she shook her head like a rattle-drum, the motion turning her hair ribbon into an afterimage: "I don't want to!"

——For a miko salty enough, there was nothing that could stop her from slacking off...

——Even if the one opposite was a Supreme Existence above all beings, she remained unmoved...

——After all, she had no reverence for the deity in her own shrine, so what was there to fear...

Beside them stood a girl who was the Dragon God Lord taking human form, also looking like Reimu.

Her golden pupils rippled, her gaze flashing slightly.

How to put it, there was a faint sense of relief.

Although her own miko had no faith in her, she herself did not need such things, so it was not a problem at all.

What truly mattered was that this generation's Hakurei Miko displayed a pure mind and soul—that when facing absolute spiritual pressure, the unyielding spine in the human soul still existed.

She would not easily submit just because the opposing power was strong.

This refusal was as clean as the motion of driving away sparrows while cleaning the shrine every day.

Listen to that categorical answer, not a bit of hesitation.

How could the Dragon God Lord, who had felt suppressed all night until now, not feel somewhat relieved at this moment.

However...

"Ten thousand yen!"

Xia Zhi didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he had long expected this miko lady to refuse, lightly uttering a word.

"Ugh—!!"

Reimu Hakurei, who had been shaking her head, abruptly froze, her beautiful eyes suddenly widening.

And this was not all; in the next moment—

"Every day!" Xia Zhi added, the additional modifier like a mountain crushing the camel, "Ten thousand yen every day."

"......"

"......"

Silence.

The Dragon God Lord suddenly felt something was wrong, glancing sideways—

Huh? No one?

The miko who should have been standing there had vanished without a trace.

She turned her gaze back, only to see Reimu Hakurei, who had just categorically refused, clinging to that person's side at an incredible speed, as if shrinking the earth.

"Ten thousand yen every day! Right!"

"It's settled on the spot, right? No delays, right?"

The red-white miko held a sake jar with both hands, diligently pouring wine for the youth's sake bowl.

Her slender fingertips seemed to tremble slightly from excitement; as she poured, she didn't even notice the clear cold wine splashing onto her sleeve, her eyes shining as if filled with stars.

Seeing the youth smile and nod, gently lifting the sake bowl and taking a sip.

The red-white miko became even more delighted; she spontaneously went behind Xia Zhi, massaging his shoulders with just the right force, even instinctively kneading his cervical vertebrae, muttering under her breath.

"Is the strength suitable?"

"Do you want it harder?"

"That... the contract... that's called a contract, right—can we sign it now?"

"......"

"......"

The Dragon God Lord watched the figure bowing for ten thousand yen, suddenly letting out a long sigh.

Tired.

Let's leave it at that.

Hearts in Gensokyo have scattered, the team's hard to lead now.

——————

——————

The banquet ended.

Day passed, and another night arrived.

Of course, it was a normal day-night cycle phenomenon, no longer an anomaly or anything.

But to say nothing happened at all, that definitely wasn't true either.

Spiritual Energy surged like a tide, pouring down from higher dimensions, silently overflowing among the stars of the Mortal World.

That energy resembled the Heavenly River hanging inverted, gushing forth from unknowable dimensional rifts, transforming into a formless torrent that, with Earth as its axis, scoured the universe.

Beyond Gensokyo, the Underworld, Moon Capital, Old Hell, Higan, Heavenly Realm, and other regions — who knew how many people could sense it — all looked up.

"This power……"

Seated upon a gap like a waxing moon, letting the night wind blow through her golden long hair, the Great Youkai of Boundaries gently extended slender, fair fingers.

As if to feel the night wind, yet also as if to catch the moonlight.

"No wonder Tsukuyomi would be moved; never mind some other universe's lunar laws, just sensing this aura……"

"Would make one unable to resist rushing in like a moth to flame, to embrace this power."

"Even I can't help but want a piece of the pie."

Yukari Yakumo's fingertips coiled with dissipating motes of Spiritual Energy light; her pupils reflected that wondrous sight resembling a Star River pouring down.

"You're right, I can sense it too……"

Below, on the vast, continuous Sunflower Fields, Yuuka Kazami stood amid a cluster of sunflowers.

When the night wind brushed past, ten million golden petals swayed in unison, as if responding to the halo of Spiritual Energy light flowing from her fingertips.

She also pulled down a strand of Spiritual Energy——

"Like seeds dormant deep in the soil……" the Master of Flowers murmured, she gently clenched her hand, and rainbow ripples burst from between her fingers.

The next moment, as the ripples dissipated, the entire flower field suddenly grew wildly.

Stems elongated until they could touch the moonlight, flower disks unfurled like jade cups catching heavenly dew, and from deep within the root system came tremors of the earth's resonance.

That Spiritual Energy was not a simple infusion of power, but a gift of something more essential——

As the incarnation of nature, Yuuka Kazami could feel that those sunflowers' cells were cheering, every chlorophyll molecule reorganizing into a more perfect form.

Even the Youkai Power aura belonging to her, which had coiled among the flowers year-round, melted away in this process.

It could not be simply defined as "thick" or "pure"; it was as if the most primal pulse of life had been made manifest as an entity.

But when she raised her head to gaze at the night sky where Spiritual Energy surged, and the sunflowers raised their heads with her, it was as if she saw her myriad reincarnations of plant life unfold before her eyes.

From the first sunflower sprout struggling to break through the soil……

To the Master of Four Seasons Flowers who governs the laws of nature……

"Seeds? That description's not bad either." Yukari Yakumo thought a moment, then nodded in deep agreement: "I feel this is the Key of History, the ladder of spiritual ascension."

As long as one absorbs this higher-dimensional energy.

She could be certain her own Youkai Power would soon undergo a qualitative leap.

No special reason; the Youkai Sage just knew — this was information she could naturally confirm upon sensing the Spiritual Energy tide.

If this isn't evolution……

——Then what is evolution?

"Oh, you've made up your mind?" Yuuka Kazami seemed to hear the implication, looking with interest at the Seventeen-year-old Girl on the gap.

Normally, that fellow opposite wouldn't casually intrude into her flower field.

Because that often signaled the start of a fierce battle.

Just that the current situation is special; even Yuuka Kazami lost her former inclination, or rather temporarily lost interest in her old rival.

"It's not us who made up our minds, it's him who made up his mind."

Yukari Yakumo smiled charmingly, her smile very bewitching: "We both know, although he changed his mind, the change is irreversible……"

"The difference lies only in whether it's a Gentle Approach or a Forceful Approach, but regardless of the process, the new era has ultimately arrived."

"I respect the Dragon God Lord very much, but……"

She paused, gently shaking her head: "The Dragon God Lord can't change this either."

Yuuka Kazami fell silent.

"Think about it, Yuuka, if you and I don't choose to embrace the new era, what about others? Ordinary Youkai need only indulge themselves in it——"

Yukari Yakumo's eyes shifted, and she put it another way.

"Then they'd very easily catch up to the Great Youkai threshold, even approach your and my current strength…… imagine what a scene that would be?"

"If you've truly made up your mind, you should act decisively, or go straight to Hakurei Shen She to find Reimu Hakurei for registration, instead of insisting on dragging me along."

The Master of Flowers looked at this purple-haired old hag who likes to pretend to be young with a face full of disdain.

How novel, acting like no one knows what she's thinking.

"In any case, I believe it's time to seek a new Way Out."

Yukari Yakumo pretended not to hear, continuing on her own: "Merry told me, the main race on the Canghui Galaxy side seems to trend toward Servant Transformation, Mentally Body tendencies……"

"For us, this might be an opportunity."

Because Youkai in essence are Mentally Body constituted.

They appear to have physical bodies but in truth do not, different from Humans imprisoned in the material world.

So a youkai's body is sturdier than a human's; even if it is torn to pieces, it can recover very quickly.

Moreover, they do not need a brain or any simple chemical thinking center.

—From that point of view, they do indeed satisfy the requirement.

………………

………………

"Hundred Flowers Bloom isn't bad either……"

Xia Zhi stood on the boat, calmly withdrawing his gaze.

This is an extremely calm river, flowing slowly, with almost no sound to be heard.

As far as the eye can see, the river is surrounded by dense fog; light flickers within the mist, and many moss-covered sharp rocks protrude from the water.

There are also huge shadows gliding past——

Those are the extinct fish dwelling in the river, including giant ancient fish and plesiosaurs.

This is the San Tu River.

The river that separates This Shore from Higan.

Inside Youkai Mountain in Gensokyo, passing through Naka no Michi leads to the San Tu River; Xia Zhi is currently crossing via the normal fare, heading for Higan, preparing to visit Shikieiki's Court.

As for the reason for coming……

"Komachi Onozuka——"

Rudely calling out the ferryman girl's surname directly, the youth lightly tapped the gunwale, producing a crisp sound, and spoke with a gentle expression:

"Ever thought about switching platforms? The Underworld River on my end is short of oxen and horses like you…… cough cough, short of talent like you."

(Chapter End)