To be honest, the deeper Sū ěr looked into this world, the more he doubted if this was truly the mythology he had heard about. There were too many anomalies. Setting aside the ignorant gods and youkai in Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, both Takamagahara and Yomi held a sinister air.
First, there was the grandson of Amaterasu becoming that disgusting monster. Back then, the Celestial River hadn't fully frozen, yet the Tenson received no help from the heavens despite a life-threatening curse. The gods above acted as if they knew nothing.
Even stranger: every god and youkai knew it was Oyamatsumi who cursed the Tenson and his lineage, yet Sū ěr could find no trace of this "Great God Oyamatsumi." A being powerful enough to curse the bloodline of the Sun Goddess seemed to have never existed; he had left no mark on the land.
Then there was the recent event of the fox being impaled by her own trusted Kusanagi. The disbelief, release, and hatred in her eyes before death were real. Even her fully demonized self was still wandering the land.
Everything related to the Amaterasu lineage ended poorly, hidden behind layers of mist. It made Sū ěr, despite his power, unable to relax—he was afraid Takamagahara was plotting something in secret. What if he got caught in the crossfire?
He didn't want to be sitting at home one day only to be struck by some divine calamity. Regardless of whether the outcome was good or bad, he preferred to keep destiny in his own hands.
"I see." Yuuka didn't probe into Sū ěr hidden thoughts. She just nodded and continued, "If you're hoping to learn secrets from Okuninushi, you'll be disappointed."
"?"
"The god who founded Izumo is technically of the Susanoo lineage, but only because he married Susanoo's daughter. Whether it was passing Susanoo's trials or defeating his brothers to build this nation, he couldn't have done it without his wife... The only thing worth mentioning about him is his personality, I suppose?" Yuuka was definitely mocking him. "Gentle? Kind? Indecisive? But it was precisely those traits that won the love of Princess Suseri."
"...What kind of Japanese 'Kind Male Lead' story is this?" Sū ěr couldn't help but complain. He hadn't expected to find such a trope in this primitive era. He added dryly, "Well, whatever. Being gentle and kind shouldn't be a reason for criticism."
"I get your point. But from that perspective, this Okuninushi shouldn't have the guts to suddenly decide to purge the youkai, right?" Sū ěr asked doubtfully.
"Certainly not right away. Both gods and youkai have long lifespans... though I suspect it won't be a long wait," Yuuka took a sip of tea.
"...Thanks." Sū ěr sighed.
If he were in a game, he'd be holding a vital quest item but the quest chain was broken, with no hint on how to restart it. The downside of reality was showing itself again.
He agreed with Yuuka judgment. He didn't think Okuninushi knew the secret of the frozen river, nor how to get to the moon. Had he known, he probably wouldn't have watched his son be hounded to death when Amaterasu claimed the land; he could have just taken his family to live on the moon.
It was a stain on Izumo's pride, a shameful event known to anyone with ears—though that stain had finally been washed clean recently... even if Okuninushi had to sacrifice another son as the price.
Sū ěr didn't care about the politics of the Izumo high command. Since the clue to the moon had gone cold, he and Think simply settled down in Izumo. Only then did he realize that "seclusion" was a lie. Just as he had refused Think offer to hide away in the derelict Elf city, Sū ěr knew he actually liked this bustling atmosphere.
With Yuuka help, they got a small empty house next to her flower shop. Even with the doors shut tight at night, they could smell the flowers next door. The city of Izumo was surprisingly clean; specific youkai came by daily to collect waste, which shocked Sū ěr when he first saw it.
Every morning, the shouting of humans and youkai filled the streets. Aside from finding it noisy at first, he didn't get angry; he quickly grew used to the bustle. He liked this feeling; compared to the bamboo cottage, it felt more like living, less lonely and cold.
They didn't open a shop like Yuuka. Sū ěr and Think mostly stayed inside, researching the black magatama. When night fell, they would shoot into the sky to the edge of the Milky Way.
They tried infusing it with spiritual power and even metaphysical attempts with positive emotions. Unfortunately, after months, the most reaction they got was still near the river; when facing the full moon, the magatama would vibrate so hard it almost flew out of their hands. But that was it.
No gates, no bridges. Sū ěr felt as if Ashihara no Nakatsukuni was inside an eggshell, while the sun and moon were outside. Those inside couldn't get out, and those outside couldn't get in.
"...Should we go find that fox?" Think asked one day, frustratedly clutching her hair after another failed technique. "Even if she's turned black, she's still Tamamo-no-Mae, right? She must know what she gave us."
"The fallen one? This land is massive; finding her won't be easy," Sū ěr was also a bit drained by the lack of progress. "And even if we find her, there's no guarantee she'll talk."
"Then we beat her until she does!" Think slammed the table.
Sū ěr couldn't have raised a hand against the jade fox, but he could for the one filled with that black aura. One look at her "kill-everyone" debut was enough to know she wasn't some benevolent being.