Chapter 14: A Pure Heart
After identifying the problem within himself, Shen returned to the Yokota clan alongside Yokota Kiyomi. He had originally expected the matter to take an entire day to resolve, but due to his relentless and merciless slaughter, everything had concluded in barely half a day. Even with that unexpected surplus of time, Shen had no intention of searching for the entrance to Shikkotsu Forest just yet.
Setting aside the fact that the Slug Sage would undoubtedly be displeased by the heavy scent of blood still clinging to him, the recent conflict between the Yokota clan and the Fūma clan had only deepened her disdain for humans. While the Great Sage would not go so far as to kill him, if Shen wanted her assistance, he first needed to resolve the instability within his own mind.
Back in his courtyard, Shen sat quietly beneath the pavilion, his posture relaxed as he gradually drew his consciousness inward. Within moments, his awareness sank into the depths of his mental world. Gazing upon the endless expanse of blue that stretched before him, he allowed a faint smile to form.
"Still not coming out?"
His voice echoed across the empty inner world, but no reply followed. Silence lingered.
Shen shook his head slightly. Still refusing to give up, huh?
With a light tap of his foot against the ground, ripples spread outward across the blue surface. As he lowered his gaze, the color beneath him shifted, the vast azure dissolving into a boundless, pitch-black void. From within that darkness, a figure gradually emerged—standing directly opposite him.
A boy dressed in white.
Looking closer, Shen saw that the youth bore the exact same face as his own.
"Heh… I didn't expect you to find me after all, outsider," the white-clad figure said, his expression layered with complexity.
"First time meeting you, Ōtsutsuki Shen. My name is also Shen," Shen replied with a calm smile.
The presence standing before him was none other than Ōtsutsuki Shen—the one who should have already fully fused with him.
"First time meeting you, Shen. My name is Ōtsutsuki Shen." The other smiled faintly, echoing the introduction.
They stood face to face, indistinguishable in appearance—like reflections in a mirror. Yet there was no hostility, no explosive confrontation. Only a quiet exchange between two consciousnesses that understood one another too well.
"Thank you… for allowing me to see a different world," Ōtsutsuki Shen began, his tone calm and steady. "That night, I should have died. Although Ōtsutsuki Hien was only slightly stronger than me, that single strike left me with no chance of survival. And yet, because of your arrival, I was able to cling to life until now."
Shen remained silent, making no effort to interrupt. After all, he had taken over this body. Letting the other speak a little longer was only fair.
"At first, I only intended to watch—observe how you would live on this planet," Ōtsutsuki Shen continued. "But I never expected that such a savage world would contain something so extraordinary… those mountain-like giant beasts. You seemed to know their origin, and you were certain they could heal our injuries."
"You also understand this world far too well… as if you had lived here before. Even though I was the one who merged into you, I still glimpsed fragments of your memories. The world within those memories was completely different from this one."
"And then there's Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. You already knew she would consume Momoshiki's chakra fruit. When you heard the mission was to capture her, you were genuinely pleased. Even someone as dull as Hien could tell that mission wouldn't be simple—naturally, I could sense it as well. Yet you accepted it without hesitation. You hid it well on the surface, but inside… you were truly delighted."
"You almost instantly formulated your plan after arriving on this planet—from allying with others, to quietly practicing that strange technique in a different dimension, to seeking out the great slug after arriving here. Your attitude toward the Ōtsutsuki clan, toward Kaguya, and toward that great slug... it all made me far too curious."
"So you influenced my emotions from the shadows," Shen said calmly, finishing his thoughts. "You accelerated my actions so you could observe more clearly. Is that it?"
Ōtsutsuki Shen gave a faint, resigned smile.
"Well… we understand each other. So you should also understand this—we are both the type of people who cannot tolerate others interfering with us. Since I crossed that line…"
"…then there's no reason for you to continue existing."
Ōtsutsuki Shen nodded.
"I know. I knew it the moment you arrived. But I still wanted to struggle a little… hide myself, stop interfering with you, and simply watch in silence until I disappeared completely."
"You just didn't expect that I'd be so certain of your existence—and willing to expend the effort to drag you out directly," Shen said.
"That's right," Ōtsutsuki Shen admitted. "How were you so certain I still existed?"
"It seems you only saw fragments of my memories—and not the important ones," Shen replied with a faint smile. "If you had seen everything, you would understand. You would also know why I understand this world so well."
His tone remained calm, but there was no intention of explaining further.
"And don't expect me to tell you. I came here for one reason—to erase you completely. The fact that you've lasted this long is already a stroke of fortune. Now… it's time to say goodbye."
Having listened long enough, Shen no longer intended to wait.
He had no need for a second will.
Ōtsutsuki Shen gave a bitter smile as he felt the chakra beneath his feet begin to surge.
"You really are decisive."
He had no means of resistance left. The fact that he had managed to hide within the darker recesses of Shen's mental world until now was already nothing short of luck. Now, with Shen exerting full control—and with himself unable to manipulate chakra at all—there was nothing he could do.
So he simply stood there, watching as the chakra gradually began to erase him.
After all… there was no pain within the mental world.
"Then… farewell."
With a simple wave of his hand, Shen directed the chakra to dissolve the remaining imprint of Ōtsutsuki Shen, breaking it down piece by piece.
He had no intention of absorbing even this residual spiritual energy.
If there were any hidden contingencies left behind, even the slightest emotional flaw could become a fatal weakness in the future.
In his previous life, he had seen too many examples—stories where incomplete fusion led to eventual betrayal, where the original soul seized control at a critical moment.
He would not allow such a possibility.
Not even a trace.
After confirming that Ōtsutsuki Shen had completely vanished, Shen did not stop. He swept through his mental world again and again—over ten times—meticulously inspecting every corner, every crevice, leaving nothing unchecked.
Only after absolute certainty did he withdraw.
In truth, the influence Ōtsutsuki Shen exerted was subtle.
Shen himself had always been somewhat cold by nature—just not to that extreme. He cared only for those truly important to him. In his previous life, there had not been many such people. His parents. Fatty. A handful of close relatives and friends.
As for everyone else—classmates, teachers, neighbors—they were merely acquaintances. People he might greet in passing, nothing more.
Still, even if he did not care deeply, he would not completely ignore them. If something happened and he was in a position to help, he would. Not at great cost—but within reason.
Kiyomi was a clear example.
He had no particular attachment to the Yokota clan itself, but since they had sincerely chosen to cooperate with him, helping them resolve the threat of the Fūma clan was only natural. Driving the enemy into fear would have been sufficient.
But today's slaughter…
That endless killing, that cold-blooded detachment bordering on inhumanity—that was not who he truly was.
At first, Shen had not been entirely certain something was wrong. But the moment he asked Kiyomi how she perceived him, everything became clear. He was not someone who placed himself above all others. Even if distant, he would never give off the impression of a god. Only the Ōtsutsuki… with their innate arrogance, carried such a mindset.
Now, looking upon his cleansed mental world, Shen finally returned to reality.
As he opened his eyes, the vibrant colors of the world flooded back into his vision. Everything felt sharper. Brighter. More alive.
A faint smile curved his lips.
Because of Ōtsutsuki Shen's lingering influence, he had never fully integrated into this world—or into his own humanity.
But now…
Everything felt real.
"My lord, lunch is ready. Would you like it here, or inside your room?" Yokota Yūko's voice came from nearby.
"I'll eat here."
Shen turned and smiled at her.
Yūko froze for a brief moment, caught off guard by that gentle expression, before hurriedly lowering her head and retreating to prepare the meal.
She didn't know why—but Shen felt different now.
Warmer.
More approachable.
It was no longer difficult to stand near him.
Before long, Yūko returned carrying a tray. Shen glanced at the food and found himself in unusually high spirits. His appetite was noticeably better than before, and he ate with quiet satisfaction.
After finishing quickly, he prepared to wash up.
He still intended to spend the afternoon searching for Shikkotsu Forest—but whether he found it or not no longer felt as urgent.
Returning to his room, Shen entered the bathing area.
Calling it a "bathroom" was inaccurate—it was more like a private hot spring.
After removing his clothes, he stepped into the steaming water, letting out a quiet breath as he sank in. His muscles relaxed, tension dissolving as warmth enveloped him.
He closed his eyes.
Before he realized it, sleep claimed him.
His body gradually drifted, floating lightly on the surface of the water. Even in his sleep, a faint snore escaped him.
Outside, Yūko waited.
After more than half an hour passed, unease began to creep in. Normally, no one soaked in a hot spring for that long—staying too long could easily cause dizziness.
She hesitated for a while, then finally made up her mind.
Carefully, she slid open the door and peeked inside.
There, she saw Shen floating on the water, asleep, a towel loosely wrapped around him. The faint sound of his breathing—and soft snoring—confirmed he was completely at ease.
Yūko quietly closed the door again and led the other maids away.
"Hey, Yūko… how's my lord's figure?" one of them whispered mischievously.
"Hm? W-Why are you asking that?" Yūko stammered.
"Come on, don't be shy. Just tell us—is my lord's body impressive?"
Yūko hesitated, then answered honestly.
"Um… how should I put it… my lord is quite lean. His skin is very pale… almost too pale. It makes him look a bit unhealthy. But I heard Lady Kaguya is also like that, so maybe it's just a trait of their clan. Still… he doesn't seem to have much muscle. He looks… rather weak."
"You're not wrong."
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Lord Shen is indeed weak at the moment."
The maids stiffened as Yokota Kiyomi stepped forward.
"This is not his peak condition. He said it himself—he's injured. That's why he needs our Yokota clan to locate Shikkotsu Forest… and the Great Slug Sage who resides there."
"Miss Kiyomi!" The maids immediately straightened, their earlier chatter vanishing.
"Where is Lord Shen?" Kiyomi asked calmly.
"In the hot spring room, Miss… but… he fell asleep."
"Asleep?" Kiyomi paused, then shook her head slightly. "Then don't disturb him."
She had originally planned to accompany Shen in the afternoon to search for Shikkotsu Forest.
But now… it was better to let him rest.
She could simply send others in his place.
"Whew… I thought Miss Kiyomi was going to punish us," one maid whispered after she left.
"She's not that petty," another replied. "But… it really seems my lord is in poor condition…"
Their earlier curiosity quickly turned into concern.
So that was the reason he looked so thin.
He was injured.
They could only hope the Great Slug Sage would be found soon.
"What is it? Where is Lord Shen?" Yokota Ruma asked when he saw Kiyomi returning alone.
"Lord Shen is exhausted. He fell asleep in the hot spring. I believe it would be best if our Yokota clan conducts the search for Shikkotsu Forest ourselves," Kiyomi suggested.
Ruma was briefly surprised, then nodded.
"I see… very well. We'll dispatch the clan's warriors."
After issuing the order, he personally led the group toward the outer courtyard, preparing to take charge of the search himself.
Meanwhile, Shen remained in the hot spring, floating peacefully in deep sleep.
Fortunately, this was a naturally flowing spring—not one heated artificially as in his previous life.
Otherwise, once the water cooled, he might very well have caught a serious chill.