The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

The Kazami Yuuka she knew was a very powerful yokai who appeared indifferent to everything in the world and was so cold that it was hard for anyone to approach her.

Even though she followed the other party to the unfamiliar Eastern world to repay the life-saving grace and guarded the gate for the other party for hundreds of years, the total number of words the other party said to her in those hundreds of years was less than ten.

Sometimes, she would doubt herself, wondering if it was really necessary for her to stay here all the time. To be honest, she didn't know the answer herself.

But none of that matters anymore. After living here for hundreds of years, she has developed the most basic habit: to live out the rest of her life peacefully here, in front of the Dream Pavilion, as a gatekeeper. In fact, this is quite a good choice.

Although she sometimes felt lonely, the newspapers published by the tengu of Youkai Mountain made her life in Gensokyo much more fulfilling over the past few years.

"I wonder when the snow will stop... I hope the Dream Museum won't be flooded before the snow stops."

Looking at the swirling snowflakes before her, Ellie rested her sickle behind her back, glanced down at the now-cold steamed bun in her hand, and sighed softly.

Then a figure fell from mid-air in front of her and landed in the snow.

"So you're saying I get teleportation sickness? Why don't you just do it yourself... really."

A somewhat familiar voice, full of complaints, came from the wind and snow in front of them, and at the same time, a figure swayed and sat up from the snow, covering his head with his hands.

"...Shibai...sir?"

Seemingly taken aback by the way the other party appeared, Ellie, who was sitting in front of the Dream Pavilion with her lunch in her hands, was quite stunned as she looked at the snow-covered figure sitting up in the snow.

"It's good that you're here. Hurry up and pack your things, we're heading somewhere... Is this what you're having for lunch?"

Shi Bai glanced at the cornbread in the other person's hand, rolled his eyes, and then fell backward into the snow.

"It wasn't me who remembered it, it was Yuuka who thought of it. I mean, I feel like I've forgotten something... but she didn't want to come over, so she asked me to do it for her. Hurry up and pack some everyday items."

"...Are we leaving Gensokyo?"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Ellie stood up from the ground in a daze.

"Who said we were leaving Gensokyo? We're settling down here from now on, okay? We're heading to the Human Village now. It snowed heavily this winter, didn't it... Anyway, hurry up and get going."

"But the Dreamland still needs me..."

"If you keep dawdling, I'll knock you out, stuff you in a sack, and carry you back."

Interrupting the other person's words, Shi Bai lay down in the snow, raised his head to look at the graceful snowflakes in the sky, and spoke softly.

Ellie: "..."

And so, the number of people in the small shop reached 11.

..................................................................

At the same time, on the Mountain of Monsters.

Even though snowflakes are falling and the mountains are blocked by heavy snow, the level of vigilance on Monster Mountain becomes even stricter at such times.

After finishing his morning patrol, Inuzoki bought some food at the market reserved for the Tengu and then hurriedly headed home.

This is probably the coldest winter Gensokyo has ever had.

She knew that her younger sister and Aya Shameimaru had joined forces to run a newspaper. As the older sister, she naturally wanted to support her sister. However, due to the newspaper's huge losses, she hadn't saved much money.

But dreams are something that never cease.

"This winter is a bit tough..."

On his way home, Inuzoki Kaba looked up at the snowflakes that had suddenly intensified since morning, his face filled with worry.

Because all the family's money was invested in the bottomless pit of the ever-loss-making newspaper, there were times when they couldn't even afford to eat, and her younger sister, Inuhachi Momiji, had to join the guard squad...

The family was already destitute, and this sudden cold winter has made their already difficult situation even worse.

To be honest, Inuzoki Kaba himself hadn't figured out how he was going to get through this winter...

"It seems I still have to work hard. Clothes, blankets, food—these things all cost money. And with such terrible weather, some of the monsters around Monster Mountain will inevitably take the risk of invading it..."

Thinking of this, Inuzoki Kaba's brows furrowed even more.

The level of vigilance on Monster Mountain will not be relaxed but will be strengthened, which means that her rest time will be greatly reduced. After all, as a member of the patrol and guard team, this is a responsibility she must bear.

"Hmm... I have to apply for a raise from above..."

P.S.: Good morning (^_^)／

Chapter Twenty-Three: Inuzoki Kaba's Love

Snowstorms swept across the land, and Gensokyo ushered in its coldest winter ever. Not every youkai has the habit of storing food for winter, so when such extreme cold weather arrives, it often marks the beginning of chaos in Gensokyo.

Therefore, the Monster Mountain area had to strengthen its vigilance, otherwise the other monsters outside the Monster Mountain might unite and attack the Monster Mountain to steal food.

This kind of thing isn't unprecedented, but it will seem to be more serious this winter.

As a member of the patrol and guard team of the Youkai Mountain, Inuzoki Kaba already foresaw that her workload would be greatly increased in the future.

"...Unfortunately, I don't have any money (＞＜)."

Dragging his body through the swirling snow, a white wolf tengu, who had just finished his morning work, sighed heavily.

"What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?"

Just then, a hand reached out from behind and patted her shoulder, and then a familiar voice, accompanied by the sound of wind and snow, entered her ears.

"……senior?"

Turning around, Inuzoki Kaba was slightly taken aback when he saw the black-haired girl standing in front of him, carrying a flask of sake.

"What? We've run into each other by chance. How about you treat me to a meal?"

The black-haired girl waved the wine jug she was carrying at the other person and began to speak with a smile.

"With the arrival of the snow, the patrol and guard teams must be having a tough time lately, right? Why don't you tell me about it?"

..................................................................

Gensokyo is not peaceful right now.

A vivid way to describe this is that various warlords rose up in rebellion and declared themselves kings, with no unified ruler and a chaotic struggle for supremacy.

Apart from the relatively peaceful human village, which is thanks to the rule personally established by the sage of demons, the rest of the world is engulfed in war and chaos.

Of course, the sunflower field is an exception.

Because unless you have the strength and confidence to defeat that Flower Tyrant, no monster will return alive if it invades the sunflower field with malicious intent.

Even the Mountain of Yokai is not peaceful. After all, the Mountain of Yokai is too big, and almost every once in a while, there will be foreign yokai invading the Mountain of Yokai.

The Youkai Mountain is not like the Sunflower Field, and Hiragain Hana is not like Kazami Yuuka. Kazami Yuuka can act without restraint to intimidate the entire Gensokyo, but Hiragain Hana cannot. She carries too much on her shoulders, and the high and mighty Tenma-sama cannot act casually.

This is inevitable, and it is also a tragedy.

However, ever since that day when Hirain returned from his first trip, not only Ootengu, but also the elders in the council could see that this demon had undergone a significant change.

Having abandoned his lofty identity as the Heavenly Demon Lord, Hirain Hana picked up a disguise he had used long ago once again.

—The responsibilities she used to bear have become increasingly heavy, and she hasn't used this pseudonym for a long time.

So when she went to greet her former friend, Inuzoki Kaba, she was speechless to discover that the other person thought she was long dead. Not only did he build her a grave, but he would also go to offer incense to her every autumn when the maple leaves turned red...

"It really is tough..."

Walking side by side with the other on the mountain path, the white wolf tengu sighed helplessly.

"But compared to your work, my job is probably quite easy, right? Your job is the most dangerous."

"I've told you so many times, don't call me senpai, just call me by my name... My name is Hirain Hana."

Nichirain had a solemn expression on his face.

"By the way, speaking of which, I heard that your sister started a newspaper? How is that newspaper doing these days?"

"It should be...okay, right?"

The white wolf tengu hesitated slightly as it scratched its cheek with its finger.

"I heard they were on the verge of bankruptcy, but somehow they managed to get sponsorship and barely managed to come back to life..."

As if reminded of something by what Hirain Hana had said, Inuzoki Kaba's expression clearly darkened.

Long, long ago, when she was just an ordinary and clumsy white wolf tengu in the Youkai Mountain, she met someone who possessed great power, yet treated her, a weak being like dust on the roadside, with an attitude of equality.

After that, although she didn't have much contact with him, she didn't know when it started, but she found herself secretly falling in love with him.

...But that's impossible, isn't it?

The other party was so powerful, while his own strength was so weak. Several times he made up his mind to express his feelings, but in the end, he failed because of his hesitation and inferiority complex.

In the end, she could only bury this feeling deep in her heart, hoping that one day it would take root and sprout.

—She still held onto that hope in her heart.

However, after seeing the news reports about the other party eloping with her own Heavenly Demon Lord, she was in a daze for several days.

The other person did indeed return, but she was not the protagonist of this story; she was merely an insignificant supporting character who silently observed from the sidelines.

...That makes sense, after all, the only one worthy of him is the mysterious and powerful Heavenly Demon Lord, right?

At that moment, she sat on the mountaintop, looking up at the gray sky. She imagined in her heart where the other party and her Heavenly Demon Lord were in the world at this time, and a somewhat relieved smile appeared on her face.

Later, the other person returned and, according to his sister, settled in Gensokyo. He is currently living with the Flower Tyrant, and the two have a close relationship.

I saw him a few more times after that. He was still the same as before, just as gentle and lazy. But I could clearly see his image reflected in my eyes, but I never saw myself in his eyes.

We're just friends.

...but perhaps that's enough.

P.S.: Good morning! ╰（‵□′）╯

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Night Was Gentle and Silent

Inuzoki Kaba's home is not far away, located in the outer area of ​​the Tengu clan's gathering place.

When Luo Yuan and Inuzoki Kaba opened the door and entered the courtyard that day, the increasingly fierce snowstorm had become quite heavy.

Then, right in front of the two of them, a figure fell straight down from mid-air.

A dozen minutes later, the number of people in one of the small shops reached 13.

And so, as more and more people arrived, what was originally an ordinary lunch turned into a small banquet.

The banquet was very lively, with plenty of drinks. Despite the freezing weather, everyone enjoyed the meal immensely.

...except for someone who was suffering from the aftereffects of teleportation dizziness.

After the banquet finally came to an end, night quietly fell. Naturally, since it was late and the snow had intensified, everyone stayed overnight... except for the Detective Hishikami, who had quietly left sometime later.

"Looks like I'll have to build a big house..."

Turning his head to look at the back room, Shi Bai, who had to sleep on the floor in the front hall because there wasn't enough room, looked resentful.

This flower tea shop is divided into two halls and a front and back yard. The front hall is basically similar to the structure of a regular flower shop, except that there is a table and a chair placed behind the screen, and a few rattan chairs are placed near the window.

As for the rooms in the backyard, they were simply hastily built by Tokihaku because of the sudden arrival and overnight stay of Aya Shameimaru and the others.

Night had fallen, and the snowflakes outside seemed to have lessened slightly. An oil lamp was lit on the table, illuminating a small area. Shi Bai, sitting at the table, was flipping through books under the lamplight.

These books are the manuscripts of "The Origin of Gensokyo" that Hieda Ashichi brought over to organize. Because so many people gathered here this afternoon, the manuscripts have become an even thicker stack.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Hieda Shichi's pen practically never stopped. If it weren't for Shibai, she would have been planning to stay up all night organizing these manuscripts.

"Hmm, are the most recent records about the Snow Woman from several hundred years ago?"

Shibai picked up the manuscripts that Hieda Ashichi had specially taken out of the box and sorted out, which were records of the previous generations of Miyako no Rei's sons. He flipped through them, and Shibai's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Lady Horvatlock, the Snow Woman, is a powerful youkai who existed near Youkai Mountain and monopolized the Lake of Mist before Gensokyo was actually established. She is commonly known as 9-Mama.

He had interacted with the other person for a period of time in the past, but the other person disappeared after that. Several times when he returned to Gensokyo, he went to the Lake of Mist to look for the other person, but he could never find any trace of them.

Could the unusually severe weather and almost incessant blizzards that have occurred in Gensokyo this year be somehow related to the other party who has been missing for a long time?

Turning his head to look out the window, Shi Bai looked thoughtful.

The other party was already a powerful demon a long time ago. After so much time has passed, its strength should have increased even further. Logically speaking, it should be capable of stirring up this blizzard... Could it really be the other party?

Shi Bai felt that this matter needed to be considered.

"Forget it, let's not think about these things for now. I promised Ah Qi I would help her organize these manuscripts..."

Turning his gaze away from the window, Shi Bai stretched wearily and then turned his attention back to the manuscript in front of him.