The Nine-Tailed Fox of Amaterasu.
A yōkai that should have belonged to the mortal realm was directly labeled with the name of the chief deity of the Three Noble Children. The name "Amaterasu" alone made Yukari description stop sounding like hyperbole and gain a tangible sense of threat.
"A facet... is it a literal facet, or just a metaphor?" Sū ěr asked after a moment's thought.
"It is not a metaphor, but a physical manifestation of a facet of Amaterasu-ōmikami," Yukari expression was now grave. "Sensing the blockage of the Heavenly River before the other gods did, in the final era when gods could still barely descend, Amaterasu-ōmikami foresaw the end of the Age of Gods."
"After careful thought, she turned her body aside, letting the sun be covered by half-shadow. The entire world fell into gloom," Yukari traced a circle with her hands to represent the sun. "Plants withered, rivers dried up, and monsters swarmed. It wasn't as dark as when she once hid in the Heavenly Rock Cave, but it was a different kind of despair. And after seven days of this world-wilting gloom, the world changed again."
"These are the exact words I heard from the ancient yōkai," Yukari said with a light smile, her tone like one telling a bedtime story. "In an instant, the entire world brightened. Or rather, it almost blinded every living thing that had adapted to the seven days of gloom. When the newborn monsters and the survivors looked up at the sky with tears in their eyes, they understood why—there were two suns hanging in the sky."
"Then, one of the smaller suns fell to Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, landing in the region of Yamato. That is what we now call the Nine-Tailed Fox." Here, Yukari allowed herself a clear, mocking smile for the first time since entering. "Amaterasu intention was to use her own facet to extend the gods' rule over the land, ensuring their influence wouldn't vanish once the Heavenly River was blocked... preventing them from becoming mere fairy tales told by mortals who no longer feared or worshipped them. But now, it seems her plan has failed completely~"
"So, part of the reason monsters are rampant now is because of those seven days of gloom Amaterasu caused?" Sū ěr said thoughtfully.
"Exactly. The number of monsters that bred in those seven days was something even Amaterasu herself didn't anticipate. The Age of Mortals didn't arrive after the Heavenly River was blocked; instead, the drastically increased monsters suppressed the entire world. Even the nations founded by the descendants of gods can barely manage to survive." Yukari was mocking the gods for their miscalculation.
"What is this 'blockage of the Heavenly River'?" Think caught an unignorable point in the narrative and pressed. "Why can't gods set foot on the earth anymore?"
"That is not something a 'minor yōkai' like me would know, though I am curious about the secrets behind it," Yukari sighed. "But perhaps one day, when we yōkai can fight our way up the Heavenly River to Takamagahara, all questions will be answered?"
This was the second time she had said this, and each time, her expression was the same: anticipation, yearning, and a bloodthirsty smile. The blonde yōkai craved to create that era with her own hands.
The flames of ambition were burning bright.
Her goal was never hidden. Her reason for sharing everything she knew was obvious: to pique Sū ěr and Think interest and bring them into this crusade. Because of this, she wouldn't lie about such things.
"It seems the Nine-Tailed Fox didn't follow Amaterasu plan?" Sū ěr asked calmly, sipping his tea.
He didn't judge Yukari intentions or her ambition.
"Ah, exactly." Yukari wasn't disappointed by Sū ěr calm reaction; she simply continued without pause. "Though she was formed from a facet of Amaterasu, she is ultimately just a facet. The sun half-covered in shadow is her symbol—there is light, but there is also shadow."
"She stayed before the Heavenly Grandson for only three days. And in those three days, she stole the Jewel from the regalia the Heavenly Grandson brought to rule the earth. She defied the divine will and chose to become a monster."
"The Jewel?"
"Yes," Yukari nodded. "The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi [Grass-Cutting Sword] offered by Susanoo represents might. The Yata-no-Kagami [Eight-Span Mirror] that once lured Amaterasu from the Rock Cave represents sanctity. And the final one, the Yasakani-no-Magatama [Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel], represents loyalty."
"She took the Jewel representing loyalty?" Think muttered to herself, feeling there was some hidden story outsiders didn't know. But lacking knowledge of this world, she couldn't grasp the thread.
"I know what you're thinking. In fact, most intelligent yōkai speculate whether there is some deep meaning from Amaterasu behind this. After all, the fox's origin is far too deep. Because of that, even though she raised her banner on Yamato's side, not many yōkai have gone to join her." Yukari was clearly stifling a laugh at the fox's predicament.
Born so noble and possessing impeccable strength, yet remaining a "commander without an army"—it was quite a joke.
But her schadenfreude was understandable; given Yukari own ambitions, the Nine-Tailed Fox was a rival, not an ally.
"Are we going to fight her?" Yūka, who had been silent, spoke for the first time. Her tone made it clear she wanted in.
"Ah, no, let's not be so reckless," Sū ěr waved it off. "So, according to your warning, the Nine-Tailed Fox's recent movement is because she's upset that no yōkai are joining her?"
In other words... she was throwing a tantrum?
The legendary "if the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain"?
Why did this feel somewhat adorable and funny at the same time?