Moonlit Night

Late at night in Heian-kyo, the moon hung high in the sky.

Unlike Choyo-machi in the demon realm, Heian-kyo in the human realm was plunged into silence as soon as night fell due to the curfew. Aside from patrolling soldiers and Onmyoji, no one else was active outside.

Inside a high-class inn, in a lofted room, Kaguya was fast asleep. Her quilt had been mostly kicked aside, leaving half her body exposed. Standing by her side, Eirin watched the scene and shook her head silently.

Eirin did not use her fists to wake Kaguya and lecture her on her sleeping habits. Instead, she quietly pulled the quilt back over Kaguya. Looking at Kaguya's sleeping face, Eirin sighed softly. She stood up without a sound and walked out of the room. After closing the door, she placed a soundproofing barrier around it.

Then, Eirin walked silently to the end of a corridor, pushed open a window, and leaped out. She flew straight to the roof of the inn, where someone was already waiting for her.

With a floating ritual tool, ink-black hair, and a majestic, extraordinary presence, the man standing on the roof was none other than Kou, who had recently visited the Inari Shrine.

"It has been a long time, Omoikane-no-Mikoto."

Seeing Eirin fly onto the roof, Kou spoke slowly. Eirin bowed slightly upon seeing him and spoke in a respectful tone.

"You may just call me Eirin. Yagokoro Eirin—that is my name now. Having completely lost my divine status, I can no longer be addressed by such a title..." Facing Kou, Eirin spoke softly. Her words caused a slight stir in Kou's expression, and a subtle light flickered in his eyes.

"Completely lost your divine status... Have you been influenced that deeply by that thing? You should know the consequences of an orthodox god having excessive contact with it," Kou continued, his voice carrying a hint of stern reproach.

Hearing Kou's words, a trace of helplessness appeared in Eirin's expression. She responded with a bitter smile.

"It couldn't be helped... Every orthodox god, with the exception of the Chief God, is inevitably influenced by the divine virtue derived from their office. We are all pure manifestations of our divine roles, and I was no exception." As she spoke, Eirin pressed a hand to her chest.

"The one known as Omoikane-no-Mikoto is the God of Wisdom. My office is wisdom, and the divine virtue it brings me is the discovery, organization, and creation of knowledge and information. Under the influence of such divine virtue, as a deity, I could not resist the temptation of knowledge—even taboo knowledge...

"Although your previous encounter made it clear that Its power would have irreversible negative effects on orthodox gods, and I understood this deeply, I still could not suppress my curiosity when I truly began my research. I knowingly delved deeper and deeper, eventually reaping what I sowed... Heh, you could say I brought this all on myself." As she reached this point, Eirin spread her hands quite casually, yet there was no hint of regret in her expression for losing her divine status.

Seeing Eirin like this, Kou fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Looking at you, you don't seem saddened by the loss of your godhood."

"Of course not. Looking at it optimistically, although losing my divine status has reduced me to a mortal and greatly diminished my power, I am no longer restricted or influenced by a divine office. I don't have to be that pure God of Wisdom anymore." As she spoke, Eirin's expression darkened, and she continued in a serious tone.

"Furthermore, it was fortunate that I lost my divine status. Without that infinite desire for knowledge, I was finally able to restrain myself from delving deeper into the research. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable..."

"You aren't exactly a common mortal now, are you? Your research into that thing must have yielded some results—for instance, your current state of existence." Kou spoke slowly as he looked at Eirin, seemingly sensing something unique about her body.

"Yes. My research into It allowed me to create an elixir of immortality, which I named the Hourai Elixir. Without the help of this medicine, it would have been impossible for me to survive this long as a mortal..." At this point, Eirin's expression turned thoughtful. She suddenly remembered the girl from the Fujiwara family she had seen during the day.

"So, what is the current situation in the Plain of Night? Since even you fled to the living world, it proves they haven't stopped researching and utilizing that thing, right?" Kou asked. Eirin nodded and replied.

"First, let me correct you. To assert their independence and sever ties with you, those people no longer call that land the Plain of Night. Now... it is called the Lunar Capital."

"The Lunar Capital..." Hearing that the Plain of Night had been renamed, a trace of complexity once again appeared in Kou's indifferent expression.

"The Lunar Capital is indeed still conducting research on It, even after I lost my divine status and gave them a solemn warning. It can't be helped. The rise and prosperity of the Lunar Capital were entirely built upon stealing Its power. No matter how risky the path ahead, they will move forward at all costs..."

"So you fled?" Hearing Eirin's words, Kou seemed to have guessed her thoughts.

"Correct. Rather than being coerced by them to continue the research, it was better to find a way to escape quickly. Along the way... I also took the most important research results with me, bringing their entire project to a standstill." As Eirin spoke, a mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"The important result you speak of... is that child?" Kou said, pointing downward. The room directly below him was the one where Kaguya was sleeping.

"Yes, it is that child, Kaguya... Hundreds of years ago, I used my position as the head of research to find an opportunity to send Kaguya from the Lunar Capital to the surface. Afterward, I came to the living world under the pretext of searching for her. I took the chance to eliminate the monitors following me and went into hiding with the Kaguya I found, evading the Lunar Capital's search until thirteen years ago..." At this point, Eirin's expression became extremely grave.

"I thought that by taking Kaguya and having myself, the Chief Sage, defect, the Lunar Capital's research would remain stalled for a long time. But I didn't expect those disciples I left behind to be so capable. In just a few hundred years, they moved past the stagnation. Using their own power, they created a second Kaguya—a second princess..."

Kou was momentarily stunned by Eirin's words. Then, as if realizing something, he looked toward the heart of Heian-kyo.

"Could it be that the so-called Asakura Kaguya from the Great Onmyoji family is..."

"Precisely. She is likely the Second Princess of Kaguya created by the Lunar Capital. Although I don't know why she also ended up on the surface, we must keep her under our control and protect her to prevent the Lunar Capital from getting their hands on her."