Lunarians [Tsuki no Tami].
Literally, people who live on the moon. But what shocked Sū ěr right now wasn't whether Daigu would accept the invitation, but the name itself.
"Lunarians? As in, the moon up there? You're going back?" Sū ěr pointed to the full moon in the sky. Though it looked no different in Ashihara no Nakatsukuni [The Central Land of Reed Plains] than the moon would millions of years later, both Sū ěr and Eirin knew what was actually on that moon.
If it were the moon of the modern world, Sū ěr could understand Tsukuyomi wanting to live there in seclusion, but the moon in this box-world... Sū ěr could only say it didn't look very auspicious.
You could drop dead on that 'pancake' for no reason at all. It didn't seem like a safe place.
"No, you misunderstand. Lady Tsukuyomi and I are not returning to the lunar surface," Eirin shook her head. "For the past few years, we have simply been living in seclusion in a safe place within Ashihara no Nakatsukuni. Finding people like Daigu is merely preparation for the future."
"The future?"
"Yes. If the opportunity arises, Lady Tsukuyomi will surely lead us back to the lunar surface... No matter what, that is our place of birth," Eirin stated candidly. "By then, the chaos of this land and the slaughter driven by desire will have nothing to do with us."
"Daigu, your answer?"
At the end, Eirin turned her gaze back to Daigu. For some time, the simple youth had been squatting on the ground in a daze, staring blankly at Sū ěr—looking at him, yet looking as if at something that didn't exist in the present.
"Don't you hate the atmosphere in Izumo City?" After thinking for a moment, Sū ěr looked at Daigu and said, "If you hate it, there's no need to stay there, is there? Based on what you said, if that atmosphere continues to develop, even you and your companions won't be safe."
It wasn't that the humans in Izumo were inherently evil. Having lived there for a while, Sū ěr could confidently say many were simple and yearned for goodness. They were happy to share what they had and were friendly enough to strangers... they were just ignorant.
Because of ignorance, they were easily led; because of malicious guidance, they became enraged. Their ignorance allowed them to be swept up by the local atmosphere, unable to extricate themselves, afraid to show sympathy or mercy even if they felt it.
They were just ordinary people.
"Everyone's... lives..." Following Sū ěr words, Daigu murmured to himself, his gaze gradually sharpening.
He truly didn't know what the right choice for the future was, but the one thing he knew for sure was that he never wanted what happened to Brother Yezi to happen to his current companions.
"I understand." Taking a deep breath, Daigu stood up abruptly. He turned to Eirin with a look of resolve. "Please, take us in, Lady Tsukuyomi! Sister Eirin!"
"As it should be." Eirin offered a satisfied smile, looking almost relieved. "Then, welcome to the fold... Go and tell your companions. Seek their opinions; if they are unwilling, do not force them."
"Finally, bring those who wish to join here. I will lead you to meet Lady Tsukuyomi," Eirin said calmly, her index finger lightly tapping Daigu's forehead.
"Okay! I'm going back now!" Unexpectedly impatient, Daigu turned to leave but then swiveled back to Sū ěr. "Um, Lord Sū ěr..."
He was fidgeting—clearly wanting to spend more time with Sū ěr but anxious to get to business.
"Go on, go on. We can talk slowly once you've finished," Sū ěr waved him off.
"Oh! Then I'm off!" Leaving those words, Daigu ran off excitedly.
"...In a sense, we have the gods and Oni of Izumo to thank for their efforts in clearing the Yōkai from the surrounding lands," Eirin remarked as she and Sū ěr watched Daigu's retreating back. "Nowadays, you won't see a single Yōkai for hundreds of miles around Izumo. Otherwise, an ordinary human like Daigu couldn't have made it here so late at night."
"The Oni, huh? How are they doing?" An image flashed through Sū ěr mind. In fact, part of his reason for returning was that fellow.
"They refuse to even call themselves Yōkai anymore—the Oni are just Oni," Eirin said, and for the first time, Sū ěr saw a mocking smile on her face. "Their power is clearly Yōki, and their bodies are undoubtedly Yōkai, yet they have severed themselves from the rest. They've even reached a point where they are like fire and water with other Yōkai. I wonder if it's for better or worse?"
"..."
It sounded like traitors to their own kind. Sū ěr didn't know how to judge it. In fact, wasn't the role the Oni played in that massacre of Yōkai exactly that of the collaborator?
It seemed that no matter the time or place, such roles were never rare.
"Would you like to go with Daigu to see Lady Tsukuyomi?" Eirin suddenly turned and suggested. "Lady Tsukuyomi has had many questions for you since she woke. Our village is quite cozy now; would you do us the honor of a visit?"
After a glance at Think, Sū ěr shook his head at Eirin.
"No, actually, I won't be staying long this time. I have a few things to take care of, and I'll be leaving as soon as I'm done." These weren't just excuses; Sū ěr and Think truly felt that way.
Compared to this primitive era, both preferred the colorful modern society. And in her heart, Think was even less willing for Sū ěr to find a way to summon Jibril here, but...
Regardless, it was better not to stay in this troublesome place longer than necessary.
"Then... Daigu?" Eirin pointed in the direction Daigu had left. Sū ěr had just promised him a long chat.
"Oh~, I'll leave Daigu to you. When he gets back, please tell him I had urgent business. I'll listen to his stories next time." Sū ěr shrugged. He... was stood him up.
"By the way, if I didn't know about it, it wouldn't matter, but now that I do... please, you and Tsukuyomi, take good care of Daigu and his people. Compared to some others, they're a rare breed of open-minded humans in this era. Their nature is truly pure," Sū ěr said seriously.