Oni. In the world where Sū ěr had originally lived, he knew of quite a few famous youkai from the neighboring island nation, and Oni were among the most prominent—including Shutendoji, Blue Oni, Red Oni, and the like.
But in this world, Sū ěr was no longer certain. After all, the name "Hoderi" was something he had never heard of. Was he the source of the Oni? Or did he simply pioneer this category of youkai? Were the two worlds the same in this regard, or different?
For Sū ěr, it was like solving an unknown puzzle. Every step and every new discovery brought a sense of wonder to him and Think. At the very least, in this era lacking entertainment, they wouldn't be bored.
"According to that logic, the Tenson... I mean your father, is in that black hole at the very bottom of that monster?" Fun was fun, but the nauseating image from before had not yet faded from Sū ěr mind.
"I don't know," Hoderi shook his head. "Since falling to the status of Oni, I haven't seen Father's face for a very long time... but the essence he requires is always squeezed from that child's body."
"Better to say it's squeezed from the blood of those humans," Yuuka Kazami said casually, examining the room's interior.
"Wait, did you choose to become an Oni voluntarily?" Sū ěr suddenly raised an eyebrow, relaying a question noticed by the hidden Think.
"Ah, yes... that's right."
"Really? Regardless of why you are telling us this, you should think carefully before you speak. I'll ask once more—did you choose to become an Oni voluntarily?" As if he hadn't heard Hoderi reply, Sū ěr repeated the question with an intimidating tone.
Unlike the heavy pressure Yuuka had once felt, as if the entire world were pressing down on her, the Oni named Hoderi suddenly found that in the presence of this man who looked human but was anything but, his breathing was weakening. Even the torches on the walls flickered and shrank. His vision grew dim, as if he were being exiled by the world into this subterranean corner... spiraling downward...
"It was me... it was me..." Hoderi muttered, sweat soaking his exposed skin. "No, it was me... it wasn't me... it was Father... Father turned us all... into..."
"The answer is obvious, isn't it?" Aside from her momentary panic when she realized her "secret" scouting had been watched, Yukari was now remarkably composed. It wasn't surprising; ugly demons like that were far too common in this world.
"He was forcibly transformed into his current state by the Tenson. The reason is easy to guess—to resist the curse, to try and escape it—simply to survive."
When Yukari finished speaking, Hoderi collapsed onto the ground as if his strength had vanished. He slowly bumped his head against the steel floor; his powerful, massive muscles looked like a joke.
[Not only that, the number of humans in Yamato is clearly insufficient... these forcibly transformed Oni could also serve as an army to plunder the humans of Izumo... but aren't they already youkai? Would youkai really be so obedient?]
True enough, Sū ěr agreed mentally with Think.
And Think words were easily proven—the greatest evidence was currently sprawled before Sū ěr. If he didn't have other plans, why would this black-haired Oni have led Sū ěr group here in secret?
"Being an Oni... I mean, being an Oni isn't pleasant, is it?" Sū ěr offered a kindly smile, practically crouching down to pat Hoderi head. "To be a direct descendant of Amaterasu-Omikami, a brilliant Shinjin who should be revered, only to be in this lightless underground... you like flowers, don't you? Everything on the surface."
His gaze drifted over the dried flowers on the wall. Sū ěr spoke without hesitation, and his words struck Hoderi weakness. The sound of the Oni's head hitting the floor grew louder.
"Father knows... he knows everything... but he doesn't care at all," Hoderi mind was bordering on a trance, and he muttered to himself. "It's like there's another 'me' inside every part of my body. We are all cicadas... cicadas that have shed an outer shell."
"He speaks to me in my heart, all my memories, but from a different perspective... as if a second head has grown from my shoulder."
Hoderi neck cracked as he twisted it forcefully to one side, as if an illusory head had appeared there, smiling at him. He was so terrified his eyes rolled back.
"He said a lot... those were his thoughts... those were my thoughts..." Hoderi massive frame trembled. He clutched his face in agony, his sharp nails digging into his skin, nearly tearing it.
"—The Oni Hoderi—not a Shinjin, not a descendant of Amaterasu-Omikami, just a youkai—how about it?" Sū ěr asked softly. Hoderi slowly stood up from the ground, smiling strangely, as if all the pain and abnormality from before had never happened. He asked with such gentleness.
The black-haired Oni walked to the corner of the room and picked up a piece of sackcloth to wipe the sweat from his body. He was like a different person.
Standing here was merely a newborn youkai. His aura was no different from Yukari or Yuuka; the alien sense of a divine concept mixed in was gone.
The sugar had dissolved, and the salt had dissolved. They were no longer distinct; the two had perfectly merged into one. It wasn't sugar, and it wasn't salt—it was a unique flavor. The only difference was his individual Youki, just like the auras that distinguished different youkai, yet all were within the realm of youkai-kind.
He was a youkai, and only a youkai.
"Welcome~" Yukari smiled at this unexpected pleasant surprise and opened her arms graciously, as if embracing this newborn life. "Welcome to the world of youkai."
But her welcome was met only with the Oni Hoderi dreamlike reply.
"...It's not enough."
"Hm?"
Ignoring Yukari confusion, the youkai Hoderi walked to the edge of the room. The solid steel was as fragile as cloth beneath his hand, and he easily tore a hole in it.