Two Worlds, Starting with Kaguya of Penglai Mountain

White smoke was rising upwards.

Huge, heavy steam trucks, carrying massive iron plows, pounded across the wasteland outside the town, leaving deep furrows in their wake.

A number of villagers had gathered nearby, and their exclamations could be clearly heard.

Kazuya Kurokawa originally thought that the first appearance of the steam engine would cause panic among people, but it turned out that he had seriously underestimated the knowledge of ordinary people in the extraordinary world.

In this world with monsters, magical artifacts, and gods, a simple steam engine is really nothing special.

Not to mention that Kurokawa Kazuya, using the Yin-Yang Pavilion as a shield, announced that the steam truck in front of them could be rented out.

In the extraordinary world where martial arts are highly valued, ordinary people have a strong desire for such powerful-looking things.

When Yukari Yakumo followed Yuyuko Saigyouji to the so-called "City of Technology", the steam engine was still on display.

It was clear that a large crowd had gathered at the rented boarding gate, most of them asking questions about the steam engine itself.

A minority, however, are genuinely preparing to register and intend to use this device to reclaim land in the surrounding area.

At that time, clearing land was an extremely tiring task.

Clearing weeds from wasteland alone can exhaust a strong man to the point of being unable to straighten his back, not to mention the various large rocks that need to be dug out of the soil, then moved or crushed.

But now that we have this thing called a steam engine, it's like having an Onmyoji (a powerful Taoist master) helping us out.

The weeds could be rolled over by iron plows attached to steam trucks, while the fallen trees and huge rocks could be crushed and destroyed with the help of chainsaws or pile drivers linked to steam locomotives.

These features, combined with the promised rewards for land reclamation, make renting land practically a guaranteed profit.

"What's wrong, Zi?"

The young lady's clear voice rang in Yakumo Yukari's ears.

The now-renowned mediator, Boundary Demon, frowned as he looked at the distant steam engine after entering the town.

Unable to resist Yuyuko's insistence, Yukari Yakumo donned a black and white maid outfit. Her long golden hair swayed with her movements, and her cool demeanor, combined with the maid outfit, created a unique contrast.

Before arriving, Yuyuko had even made plans to ask Banami to help her take a picture with Yakumo Yukari. She would be even happier if Yukari could call out "Dog-shu-jin-sama" like the characters in the game.

However, things seem to have taken a different turn now.

"That thing was created by Kurokawa Kazumi?"

The blonde woman pointed to the steam truck in the distance and spoke.

"Oh, it was indeed Mr. Kurokawa who did it."

The gentle young lady looked in the direction Yakumo Yukari pointed and nodded.

Saigyouji Yuyuko: "Did you see the trick in this? I've never been able to understand Mr. Kurokawa's reason for making this thing. He gave up almost all the magical artifacts he had on hand to complete it. And all he got in return was this cumbersome machine."

The cost of this steam truck is currently far beyond what was imagined.

Kurokawa Kazuya hired four craftsmen in Heian-kyo who possessed extraordinary powers, and had them use many rare items to increase the strength of the steam engine's materials, ensuring that it would not break down midway.

When this item was completed, not only was Saigyouji Yuyuko puzzled, but everyone else in Heian-kyo was also puzzled.

What's the point of going to all that trouble to create such a bulky thing?

Although the monsters in this world are not very strong, they generally possess abilities related to concepts.

The steam engine, something completely unrelated to the concept, would break down if it encountered a slightly ordinary monster; it was just a big toy no matter how you looked at it.

Yukari Yakumo: "Is it useless?"

A wise light shone in his purple eyes.

The yokai, always contemplating the future, quietly observed the various functions of the steam truck in the distance and then began to inquire further about Kurokawa and Mi from those around him.

After gathering a large amount of information, the blond-haired monster let out a soft breath.

She turned to Saigyouji Yuyuko and gave her an apologetic look.

Yukari Yakumo: "I'm sorry, Yuyuko, I guess I'll have to break my promise."

Saigyouji Yuyuko: "?!"

Yukari Yakumo: "I will go and meet with Kurokawa, but I need to hide myself even more. Perhaps it would be better to keep some distance from you, Yuyuko."

A purple folding fan appeared in the monster's hand at some unknown time.

The demon in the realm waved its hand gently.

The surrounding light became blurry, and her figure and existence disappeared from the sight of those around her. Even their very existence began to fade from the memories of these people.

Yukari Yakumo revealing herself to Yuyuko Saigyouji does not mean she will easily trust anyone else. In fact, as someone who has lived for over a thousand years and has been betrayed countless times, Yukari Yakumo has long lost trust in others.

She believed that her trust in Saigyouji Yuyuko was solely based on the latter's harmlessness. If the latter possessed power sufficient to threaten her, she would certainly abandon her immediately.

Before meeting strangers, Yukari Yakumo needs to disguise herself and hide her identity.

Yuyuko's maid is a good disguise.

This is also why Yukari Yakumo felt she was willing to accept the other person's willful decision to wear a maid outfit.

She only needs to hide temporarily. By the time the other party realizes the flaw in her identity, she will have already left, so there is no need to hide too meticulously.

But now...

Yukari Yakumo: "The Boundary Between Humans and Youkai"

A crisp sound came from Yukari Yakumo's mouth.

Chapter 56 Yakumo was once a human

Boundaries are the dividing lines between things. Monsters that control boundaries can manipulate these boundaries, causing different things to become conceptually confused and transform into something else entirely.

The realm of "fast and slow" reverses the order of speed.

The "realm of beauty and ugliness" reverses beauty and ugliness.

The "boundary between memory and amnesia" makes one forget.

"The Boundary Between Humans and Yokai" transforms yokai, who are fundamentally different from humans in species, into humans.

—Marieluberly Hearn

This is Yakumo Yukari's human name.

Yukari Yakumo: "Yuyuko, you can also call me Merry."

The demon, who had transformed into a human, described his state.

However, before she could say anything more, Yuyuko, still quite surprised by her close friend's sudden change, spoke up.

Saigyouji Yuyuko: "Purple has become younger, how amazing."

If we were to describe the youkai Yakumo Yukari as a voluptuous, powerful, and aloof older sister figure, then...

At this moment, Yukari Yakumo, who has transformed into Merry, is a slightly naive and bookish girl. The killing intent that belongs to Yukari Yakumo cannot be seen in the girl named Merry.

A slightly aloof face, a youthful air.

The midday sun shone on the other person's young face, bringing a wonderful sensation that was different from the surroundings.

That was the mysterious elegance of a Western young lady, unlike the gentle and refined Eastern girls like Saigyouji Yuyuko.

The sudden change even made Saigyouji Yuyuko feel like she had become a different person.

Yukari Yakumo: "It's just a disguise. I infiltrated the human world under this identity for quite some time to learn. If that human named Kazuya Kurokawa is as I imagine, then it's only natural that I learn from him. Besides..."

The blonde girl looked at Saigyouji Yuyuko beside her with a slightly serious expression.

Kurokawa Kazuya's lie about coming from another city could fool Saigyouji Yuyuko and the people in Heian-kyo.

Because these people stay within their own small territory and never travel far.

But Yukari Yakumo is different. From her human alias, Mayrubelli Hearn, it can be seen that she has been to another western continent that is extremely far away from this land.

At the time, she only disguised herself as a human with the intention of temporarily hiding and gathering information.

However, after transforming into a human, with the change in its own concept, the combined effects of its hormones and the social atmosphere caused it to begin to think and act more and more like a human.

It was through this opportunity that Yukari Yakumo broke free from the limitations of a youkai's mindset and was able to think like a human.

Honestly, compared to the solitary monsters who are always alone, human society is infinitely better in terms of experience, whether it's living, traveling, or interacting with people.

Wisdom took shape in Yukari Yakumo's mind, and using her own wisdom to fight against people and the heavens became her daily routine.

Yukari Yakumo thoroughly enjoyed that period of her life.

Unlike the unleashing of power like a wild beast, this is about ingenious thinking, meticulous execution, and the ability to stir up trouble with just words.

If nothing unexpected happens, as she transforms into a human, her sense of self-identity will grow stronger over time, and she may even unconsciously come to truly consider herself a member of the human race.

Unfortunately, her time as a human was forced to end in just six or seven years.

In the western lands, under the guise of a witch hunt, a being named Maruebel Hearn was killed, and the youkai Yakumo Yukari was resurrected.

The monster embarked on its journey once more.

The boundary between humans and youkai was terminated. The concept of humanity, the secretion of human hormones, and various instincts faded from Yukari Yakumo, and she became a calm youkai again.

After quickly dealing with the church that had been causing her trouble, Yukari Yakumo resumed her journey.

Continuing along the road we came from, and after circling around, we returned to this familiar land.

To my surprise, the planet was round.

Along the way, Yukari Yakumo has seen a lot and gained a clear understanding of what the world is really like.

She was able to determine with absolute certainty that Kurokawa Kazuya was lying.

At the same time, she was also able to judge the value of that thing called a steam engine.

The emergence of the first written cultivation system in humankind has led to a shift in attitude. Initially, monsters and gods dismissed it, but now knowledgeable individuals are compelled to spend time imitating and studying it.

Things are bound to be rudimentary at their inception, but the potential for expansion from that rudimentary state is what is truly terrifying.

The steam engine before them resembled the first and most complex cultivation manual created by humankind, which had once been ridiculed by monsters.

They were so expensive at the beginning, and the requirements were so demanding, but now they have spread throughout the human world and the threshold has become lower and lower.

As a yokai who has also been a human, Yakumo Yukari possesses an advantage that allows her to see this race more clearly than most humans, gradually surpassing the yokai group.

The social group of a cluster supports the growth of the individual.

A battle between a monster and a powerful human is never a battle against the monster itself, but a battle against the group it represents.

Blacksmiths forged weapons, farmers cultivated herbs, and merchants came and went, making everything flow and interact, with countless people pursuing the accumulation of knowledge on the same subject.

Even if this so-called steam engine can create a large number of machines, it will not directly enhance the extraordinary level of any human powerhouse.

But it will increase the productivity of the entire human population.

Previously, a thousand people could support one low-level superhuman. Now, ten people can support one. And among the thousand low-level superhumans, there will be one or two who have advanced to a higher level.

This cycle repeats itself, and eventually, the number of people standing at the top of the pyramid will only increase, not to mention the knowledge they accumulate and pass on in the process.

"Human beings have grown fast enough in the last thousand years, but now it seems that they are about to accelerate again."

The wise demon seemed to see into the future.

Yukari Yakumo: "Yuyuko, remember to pretend you don't know me from now on. I'll probably be staying here for quite a while."

The mediator, disguised as a young girl, spoke to Saigyouji Yuyuko in front of her.

This time, her plan was to immerse herself in it and learn about the subject.

She initially viewed the other party's situation as merely a marriage arrangement between Saigyouji Yuyuko and another woman, but as she spent more time in the town, she learned more and more information.

The gathering of faith, the vast amount of unknown knowledge, and the steam engine before their eyes.

It's no longer just a small, casual pastime.

Even though she disliked the state of being influenced by human concepts when she transformed into a human, Yukari Yakumo still resolutely chose to transform into a human and merge into the other person.

As for what the other party said about everything about themselves coming from another distant town?

You should ask Yukari Yakumo, who has already traveled around the world, if she believes this.

Chapter 57 Kurokawa Kazuya: Let's be brothers instead.

“Marelle Hearn?”