That Zashiki-warashi could bring happiness to people was something everyone knew.But compared to something as abstract as "happiness," what the elderly couple cared about far more was the child's safety.
When the Zashiki-warashi heard what the two elders said, his face instantly filled with panic. He hurried back to their side and wrapped his small arms tightly around them, clinging on with all his strength—clearly unwilling to leave them behind.
"Child… we don't want to part with you either," the old man said gently, his voice trembling. "But you have to understand—we're just two old folks, and we probably don't have many years left.If you stay with us, you'll keep running into dangers like what just happened. You're different from us. We want you to find a proper home of your own… a place where you can live happily and safely, forever."
The elderly couple's faces were filled with unbearable reluctance as they looked at the Zashiki-warashi.Even so, they believed their choice was the right one.
If the nekomata had been some cruel or evil yokai, they would never have entrusted the child to her so willingly.After all, even ordinary humans like them had heard the saying that among yokai, it was a world of the strong preying on the weak.
But judging from what the nekomata had done just now, it was obvious that she truly wanted to save the Zashiki-warashi—from the bottom of her heart.Even toward humans, she possessed clear boundaries she would not cross. A yokai like that—no matter how "bad" she might be—how bad could she really be?
After a long moment that felt no different from a family's final farewell, the Zashiki-warashi ultimately chose to say goodbye to the elderly couple.
Because deep down, he understood it too.If he stayed, he would no longer bring them happiness—only disaster.
"Nekomata Onee-san… the Lord Yūdō you keep talking about—he really is kind, right?"Walking beside the nekomata after leaving the house, the Zashiki-warashi finally voiced the unease that had been growing in his heart."Would someone like him really be willing to accept a yokai like me?"
Though he had only known the nekomata for a short time, he had already heard the name "Lord Yūdō" more than ten times from her mouth alone.
And the "Lord Yūdō" she described was practically flawless—gentle, benevolent, powerful, and unfathomably wise.The way she spoke of him was nothing short of reverence, as though she were describing a god.
That only made the Zashiki-warashi more nervous.
The reason was simple: standing before someone like that, he felt deeply inferior.
Even though he was technically a B-rank yokai, when it came to actual combat, he would struggle to defeat even a C-rank opponent.
In the current age, when yokai activity was flourishing, powerful yokai gathered vast Night Parades of a Hundred Demons.And the ones they chose were always those that were both vicious and strong—because such yokai could rapidly gather Fear, expanding their influence with ease.
Yokai like the Zashiki-warashi, while extremely popular among humans due to their ability to bring good fortune, were practically unwanted among yokai themselves.
In fact, most strong yokai factions wouldn't recruit them at all.
The reason was painfully simple.With his childlike appearance, the Zashiki-warashi couldn't extract much Fear from humans. His combat ability was abysmal, bordering on nonexistent. This wasn't a kindergarten playground fight—bringing a yokai like him into a Night Parade would be downright embarrassing.
"Lord Yūdō isn't that shallow," the nekomata replied confidently."If all he cared about was strength, he himself is already the strongest existence there is.And when he first accepted me into his Night Parade, I was even weaker than you are now."
She paused, then added with a small smile.
"No—actually, aside from a handful of comrades, most of the Hundred Demons under Lord Yūdō were once just weak little yokai that anyone could bully."
Before long, the nekomata began moving through the city with the Zashiki-warashi, rescuing other harmless, vulnerable yokai caught in the chaos.At the same time, she spoke with the fervor of an inspired missionary, passionately preaching the greatness of Lord Yūdō to every yokai they saved.
Because her admiration was completely genuine—and because her own strength was undeniable—her words carried overwhelming persuasive power.Those yokai who were rescued quickly became fiercely loyal believers, practically worshipping Lord Yūdō without question.
And scenes like this weren't limited to just her corner of the city.
Elsewhere, the yokai known as Hook-Needle Woman was just about to step in to save a yokai called Firefly Grass, when she suddenly felt a massive surge of demonic power erupt in the distance.
"Didn't that girl always say that a true yokai assassin has to perfectly suppress their aura and demonic power?" she muttered."Looks like someone really pissed her off. She even let loose the power she's always been hiding."
On another street, Cliff-Monk had just driven back an exorcist with a torrent of water, shielding a young merfolk in the process.When he sensed that familiar demonic presence, he too turned his gaze toward the horizon.
Meanwhile, Samurai Spirit had just clashed blades with a member of the Kusuka family before disengaging. He also looked toward the direction where the nekomata was fighting.
"Lady Nekomata seems to have gotten serious," he murmured."In that case… for the sake of fulfilling that lord's command, it seems this old warrior cannot afford to lag behind."
Behind him stood several spirit-like yokai, their eyes filled with raw, desperate will to survive.
Seeing this, Samurai Spirit calmly sheathed his blade once more. His expression turned solemn—and in the next instant, a surging wave of blue demonic power erupted skyward.
Previously, Samurai Spirit had been puzzled.He understood that Lord Yūdō was kind, but he couldn't comprehend why his lord would go to such lengths to save these weak, unfamiliar yokai.
As a retainer, it was his duty to offer counsel. Mercy in a ruler was admirable—but excessive mercy could easily become a fatal flaw.
He had even planned to advise Lord Yūdō after this mission was complete.
But now…
Now he realized that the wise lord had been thinking far further ahead than he ever had. His worries had been completely unnecessary.
The moment he saw the looks in the eyes of those tsukumogami behind him, everything became clear.
All of this… had already been within Lord Yūdō's calculations.
"So, you finally realized Lord Yūdō's true intention," a soft, amused voice said.
From the small spider resting on Samurai Spirit's body, the voice of Spider Princess rang out.
Because Spider Princess was Lord Yūdō's shikigami, her identity was far too conspicuous for her to participate directly this time.Instead, she coordinated the entire operation through the familiars she had placed on Samurai Spirit and the others, acting as the unseen commander.
As for Lord Yūdō's "true intention," she had been among the first to grasp it.
"Tokyo is in chaos. Exorcists have launched large-scale yokai hunts.Given the strength of the human factions here, the yokai entrenched in Tokyo have no way to resist."
She continued calmly.
"Lord Yūdō is certainly powerful, but compared to the other Yokai Kings, he has one fatal weakness—his Hundred Demons are far too few in number.Even using contract magic to summon you from another world, the difference in numbers is still insignificant."
"If he wants to change that, the only option is to make more yokai in this world become part of his Hundred Demons.But the balance of power elsewhere is already fixed. Other regions are firmly controlled by other Yokai Kings. Recruiting there would be nothing but a fantasy."
"Only Tokyo is different. Because it's primarily human territory, there are no overwhelmingly powerful yokai—but there are a large number of yokai living here."
"Lord Yūdō could simply suppress them by force," Spider Princess said."But that would be the worst possible choice—it would draw the attention of both humans and other Yokai Kings."
"But now? When these yokai are at their most desperate, Lord Yūdō appears and saves them."She chuckled softly."If you were one of those yokai… what choice would you make?"
Samurai Spirit had no rebuttal.
Because what Spider Princess said was exactly what he had already concluded himself.
And he also understood why Lord Yūdō had instructed them to save only the harmless and weak yokai.Only yokai of that nature would feel true gratitude after being saved. Violent, bloodthirsty yokai might submit temporarily—but would inevitably become unstable liabilities.
"Lord Yūdō's wisdom truly is as vast as the sea," Samurai Spirit said in awe."Perhaps from the very moment he stepped onto that snowy mountain, he had already begun laying out this plan."
"Winning the gratitude of the Snow Woman, then deliberately letting certain exorcists escape… all to bring about the current situation."
As this realization fully sank in, Samurai Spirit couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Power alone was terrifying enough—but combined with such unparalleled foresight?To serve a lord like that… they were unimaginably fortunate.
"Lady Spider Princess," he asked carefully, "should we inform the other comrades of Lord Yūdō's true intention? Just in case someone doesn't take this seriously and delays his plans?"
The reason Samurai Spirit asked her was simple—he genuinely admired her insight.She, who had followed Lord Yūdō from the very beginning, had seen through his intentions far earlier than anyone else.
Of course, if Ren Kuroda were here to hear this, he would absolutely complain that it wasn't superior intelligence—just an overactive imagination.
"That would only be unnecessary," Spider Princess replied calmly."Not all yokai are fools."
"The people Nekomata saves out of genuine emotion will be far more moved than those saved through calculated performance.If some of them haven't realized Lord Yūdō's true intention… then letting them remain unaware is actually the better choice."