"You are strong. Stronger than any yōkai or god I have ever seen. At least with my current strength, I am no match for you." Yūka let go of the frame obediently. She didn't show much emotion after her defeat, but her words were resolute. "When I am strong enough, I will challenge you again."
"Even knowing you're no match, you'll still persist in challenging me?" Sū ěr asked.
"Naturally," Yūka replied. Though she found the question strange, her answer was unwavering.
"Enjoying the battle itself? Not the result of victory, but constantly improving yourself through the fight?"
"...Naturally?" Yūka grew more puzzled.
These words resonated with her so much she wondered—was he like her too?
"...You're remarkably like a friend of mine. Remembering how she looked when she spoke of such things feels like just yesterday." Sū ěr expression turned subtle. How was it that even in a new world, he still ran into this kind of battle-crazed mindset? And this was a world so peaceful it would make Riku weep.
Was this the definition of "taking a blessing for granted"?
"Never mind. In any case, your chance to challenge me might be limited to just one more time." Thinking of that pink-haired Flügel, Sū ěr felt his interest wane. "Now that I know you're a flower yōkai, I won't make that low-level mistake again... Honestly, tossing you down there seems to have had the opposite effect..."
"Ah, I know," Yūka nodded in acknowledgment, then grinned. "As I said before, your taste in fertilizer is excellent."
Tsk. Being complimented like that made Sū ěr feel strangely annoyed. He retorted mockingly, "Go clean yourself up first. The smell is becoming unbearable."
The area under Sū ěr field was mostly buried yōkai corpses. The smell of various microbes decomposing and fermenting was enough to choke someone, and there was even corpse fluid clinging to Yūka's tattered clothes.
"I have no objection, but could I borrow some clothes?" As a flower yōkai, Yūka didn't have much of a reaction to the "scent of nature." She made the request quite naturally. "Otherwise, if I simply strip, the soul beside you might find it hard to accept... though I personally don't mind."
"Quite right. I would mind," Think agreed with a smile, her eyes fixed on Sū ěr.
"I don't have women's clothes here," Sū ěr replied at light-speed, his gaze shifting to Yukari, who had been silently watching the show.
In the blink of an eye, Yukari, who had been happily "eating melon" [watching the drama], was pinned down by three sets of eyes.
"Ah? Eh? Uh... fine? I do happen to have extra clothes..." The fake smile on Yukari face grew stiff. "I'll give them to you, then."
Sū ěr thought he heard her grinding her teeth, but he hoped he was just imagining things.
After washing with melted snow to remove the stench of rot, Kazami Yūka sat in the bamboo house wearing Yukari purple robe. Sitting next to Yukari, the two yōkai looked like sisters.
"Is this a bit small? It feels restrictive," Yūka said, stretching her arms and back with a frown. She turned to Yukari. "Do you not find this uncomfortable to wear daily?"
"...If you don't want to wear it, you don't have to, alright?"
Sū ěr could finally confirm it wasn't his imagination; that was definitely the sound of teeth grinding.
Regardless of whether Yukari current demeanor was a facade, Sū ěr was genuinely struggling to hold back a laugh.
"Thank you," Sū ěr said with a smile to Zashiki-warashi, who came running over with a teapot held over its head. He watched as it poured tea for him and Think, then reached out to pat its head.
The tiny green figure jumped happily and then trotted over to Yukari and Yūka to pour for them as well. However, it ignored Yukari "thank you" entirely, finishing its task as quickly as possible before running back to hide behind Sū ěr.
"Tell us. In that warning you left after our first meeting—what's the deal with the Nine-Tailed Fox?" Think asked directly, taking a sip of tea.
"Actually, my visit today was indeed intended to warn you both to be extremely careful of the Nine-Tailed Fox," Yukari expression turned serious as they got down to business. "Please do not assume that being on the edge of the world makes this none of your concern. That fox does not tolerate even a grain of sand in her eye."
"Tell us the details first. Her abilities, her origin?" Sū ěr pressed, unfazed by Yukari "impending doom" act.
"Ah, the Nine-Tailed Fox," Yukari sighed, dramatically stroking the corner of her eye. "Unlike Yūka and me, who were born of chance as minor yōkai, that Great Yōkai was fated to be born. She was the center of attention from the start, possessing power that almost scorns all things."
Was the Nine-Tailed Fox really that fierce?
Sū ěr quickly searched his memory. Though the fox had different identities in various stories, and Japan had a unique cultural connection to foxes and the Nine-Tails, surely it hadn't reached the status Yukari was describing?
He suspected the blonde yōkai might be trying to play him.
"Before 'minor yōkai' like me appeared, in the era when gods were not blocked by the Heavenly River and could walk Ashihara no Nakatsukuni at will, traveling freely between Takamagahara and the Underworld... from the nose of Izanagi-no-mikoto was born Susanoo-no-mikoto. From his right eye was born Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto, who has now become the full moon in the sky. And from his left eye was born the current Amaterasu-ōmikami—the Sun."
Knowing Sū ěr distrust and suspecting the pair's knowledge of this world was a blank slate, Yukari began explaining patiently from the beginning.
"Izanagi-no-mikoto was the one who solidified Ashihara no Nakatsukuni and created new lands. He is the father of all third-generation gods," Yukari added, emphasizing for Sū ěr benefit. "Such world-creating power naturally needs no further description."
"Yes, I know. But aren't we talking about the Nine-Tailed Fox?"
"Indeed. The point is that the Nine-Tailed Fox is essentially a 'facet' of Amaterasu-ōmikami. You could even call her—The Nine-Tailed Fox of Amaterasu."