It was indeed Daigu. Sū ěr had to double-check several times to be sure. The child from back then hadn't just 'grown a bit'; he was fully grown. In this era, he would be considered the pillar of a household—though in modern times, he'd still be in school.
His once-bright reddish-brown hair had darkened with age. In the dim light, it looked little different from black. Sū ěr only recognized him by the freckle on the tip of his nose—the same little boy who used to come to him almost every day for cake.
Time flies like an arrow, and the sun and moon move like a shuttle.
After indulging in a few seconds of elementary-school-essay sentimentality, Sū ěr wasn't particularly shocked by Daigu's growth or the fact that several years had passed in this era. After all, he'd just traveled through time and space; a bit of a temporal offset was perfectly understandable.
The only thing that puzzled him was why he had appeared in front of Daigu and this woman with long, silver-white hair. To be honest, even Think found it bizarre. It wouldn't have been half as strange if they had appeared in front of Yakumo Yukari or Kazami Yuuka.
Sū ěr still remembered this woman's name. Compared to the matured Daigu, the woman named Eirin—born from the dying Tsukuyomi behind that pancake-like moon—had barely changed. The only differences were her hairstyle... and her clothes.
She was actually dressed properly this time.
"You are... Lord?!" Unlike Sū ěr, Daigu seemed as simple as ever. He immediately greeted him with a joyful wave of his arms.
"I have thought of you often since our last meeting. It has been a long time," Eirin greeted him respectfully as well.
Sū ěr felt a bit awkward. He felt as though he had interrupted a secret meeting or a romantic tryst. He couldn't help but look up at the sky. That Milky Way, which only existed in this era, was still hanging there peacefully. He wondered if it flowed when he traveled through time.
Or did it just send him from the inside of the box to the outside?
Was he traveling through time, or through space?
Sū ěr thought he was powerful, but in moments like this, he realized even he couldn't distinguish between the two. His power was anchored to the world, and thus he could be deceived by the world. However, considering he couldn't see this Milky Way when he looked up in the modernized world, it meant this river of stars would eventually disappear—or perhaps, it had to?
The world turned upside down. Sū ěr suddenly recalled Nurarihyon records of the ancient era passed down among Yōkai.
"Ah, long time no see, Daigu," Sū ěr waved back with a smile. "And Eirin. Um... how is Tsukuyomi doing these days?"
If Sū ěr remembered correctly, the amounts of black liquid that flowed from Tsukuyomi's left and right eyes weren't equal. Even if this Eirin looked more like a mature woman, theoretically, that Tsukuyomi should be the stronger one.
"Lady Tsukuyomi is well. Thank you for your concern," Eirin replied with her usual, flawless poise.
"I see... that's good. By the way, uh, what are you two... doing here?" He hadn't planned on asking, but his curiosity got the better of him.
After all, there wasn't much in this world that could make him restrain himself. A man should do what makes him happy.
Sū ěr had assumed the two were meeting in some remote corner, but he'd just realized they weren't far from Izumo City—arguably the closest thing to civilization in this box-like world.
"Ah, right!" Daigu had a look of sudden realization, though it wasn't clear what he had realized. "You've arrived at the perfect time, Lord! If it's you, you'll definitely know the best thing to do, right?"
"What? Do what?" Sū ěr was completely lost. Did this kid have some sort of misconception about him, or just a case of blind worship?
"Allow me to explain, Lord Sū ěr," Eirin said, her voice far more organized than the simple-minded Daigu's. "I am here on the orders of my mistress, Lady Tsukuyomi, to extend an invitation to Daigu and his branch of humanity. She wishes for them to live under her protection."
"Daigu? And his branch?" Sū ěr eyes widened in disbelief.
First, he ruled out the possibility that Daigu had become the progenitor of a new race. That meant it was more likely that this kid hadn't just grown older over the past few years, but had actually accomplished something significant.
At the very least, quite a few humans were willing to follow his lead.
"Indeed. Though their numbers are few, Lady Tsukuyomi values that very fact. More importantly, this youth and those willing to follow him are very... pure," Eirin praised him openly, unbothered by Daigu's presence. "Humans like them are rare these days."
"Ehehe, really?" Having no concept of modesty, Daigu just scratched his head and gave a bashful, sheepish grin. "The fact that you're willing to believe what I say is already moving enough, Sister Eirin."
"True, simpletons like him are indeed rare," Sū ěr noted, nodding in agreement as he looked at the goofy-faced Daigu.
"In truth, it is thanks to your teachings," Eirin continued. "According to Daigu, many of his ideas were things you once told him. However, because of those ideas, Daigu and those who believe in him have been marginalized."
"Marginalized?" Sū ěr froze. He looked at Daigu with a frown. "What exactly happened?"
"It wasn't really a big deal... Okay, fine. I just couldn't accept Brother Yezi... and the other Yōkai brothers dying like that," Daigu said, his energy visibly deflating as he spoke. He looked dejected. "They hadn't done anything wrong..."
'Brother Yezi' was the Yōkai who had once sold Sū ěr a bone-and-tooth souvenir, only to die when he risked returning to Izumo City to save his wealth and was stoned to death by humans. Sū ěr remembered him well.
"I really thought so, but when I told Grandma and my uncles, they yelled at me... and even hit me," Daigu looked more and more miserable. "There are comrades who think like I do, but... there are just so few of us..."
Eirin didn't speak. She just offered Sū ěr a small smile after Daigu's sigh.
Even putting aside Tsukuyomi's orders, she personally liked this young human. At the very least, such kindness and innocence weren't annoying.
"So now you're the leader of those who agree with you?" Sū ěr rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't call myself a leader. We're all family, aren't we?" Daigu scratched his head, perplexed.