An extraordinarily fierce battle was unfolding before her eyes. Layer upon layer, the entire screen was filled with dogs surging towards the center of the screen like a tsunami. Standing in the middle of the battlefield was a tall and mighty executioner. To him, the oncoming dogs were like ants to a giant. Every retaliatory strike from the executioner created a sea of blood, wiping out dozens of dogs at once. But in the blink of an eye, this sea of blood was covered by even more dogs.
She could see that the number representing the executioner's health was irretrievably dropping until it finally hit zero. Then the executioner's towering figure shattered into pieces, leaving nothing behind.
However, this wasn't actually a real battlefield but just a game her master was playing. Normally, one wouldn't be able to experience such scenes when dealing with source code alone. However, to give her master a slight understanding of the game, Yukari Han had made a simple and clean screen to simulate the game she herself was simulating.
Although the crude graphics couldn't truly capture the charm of the game, the nine-tailed fox still felt that someone might be able to sense its value. An infinite confrontation using the most primitive and brutal method to crush the most arrogant opponents and trample their pride into pieces.
Even though in reality, Yukari Han didn't fear such opponents who win by numbers. With her world-defying powers, these bugs would be as insignificant as clouds to her. But what about her master? The demon who played games without even touching the controller, how would he fare?
The fox didn't think too much, she just quietly stood aside. She had always been so calm, silently watching this demon, observing his every move greedily for years. Later, when she realized she could learn nothing more, this habit stuck.
The game had ended, Yukari Han put down the controller and stretched lazily, satisfaction written all over her face.
"Hey, you're still here," she noticed the deity beside her. "How's the game? Though I doubt you can even experience a fraction of it."
"It's passable," the fox replied indifferently, though an idea suddenly came to her mind, making her feel quite amused.
"What would happen if such an insect army faced off against a beautiful shrine maiden?"
"Hmm, let me think," Yukari closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself out of the game's world and pondering this uninteresting question about the shrine maiden, which made her somewhat reluctant.
"A slightly improved shrine maiden would result in a similar conclusion: A beautiful shrine maiden is not meant to lose. As long as humanity exists, she may be destroyed but will never be defeated."
Indeed, this point was also understood by Yukari Han. Can be destroyed, cannot be defeated—this phrase isn't merely praise for strong willpower; it also has a solid practical foundation. In truth, there's nothing mysterious about the essence of a beautiful shrine maiden, but in fact, very few truly understand this. Beautiful shrine maidens have always been too famous in human society and the monster circle. Perhaps this is because everyone finds such boring questions uninteresting?
"So using numerical superiority and tactics to wear down a beautiful shrine maiden is utterly meaningless, especially with this uninteresting shrine maiden."
"She's pretty strong, right? Why do you say that?"
"Not pretty strong, she's quite strong." Talking about this shrine maiden made Yukari dissatisfied again; this person always caused her trouble. She had once thought about giving the shrine maiden some special training, but eventually gave up. If one day her luck runs out, then it's unfortunate, and she'll just find another.
"There are exchanges after all."
"In gaming terms," the demon played with the controller, "Sakura Leaf's skill points were incorrectly allocated, all focused on attack—her body can't even withstand her own attacks. Although she can't even hold onto the Yin-Yang Orb, precisely because of this, she absolutely cannot be overwhelmed by numbers."
Yukari considered it for a moment and clarified her thoughts. No matter how powerful an attack may be, it will eventually fade away. But why say she cannot be worn down? Then she reached a conclusion.
"Because of enlightenment?"
"That's correct. Not because of power, but because of enlightenment. Abandoning everything excessive and focusing solely on one's strength, bringing it to its peak. The usual end for beautiful shrine maidens comes not from the fading of power but from the fatigue of the heart. But a shrine maiden who fully believes in herself, with such enlightenment, cannot be drowned out by numbers. Although, if she encounters a particularly talented demon, she'll have trouble."
That's the problem. In the world of demons, there are far too many with bizarre talents. So as a shrine maiden, as a demon-fighting shrine maiden, Reimu Hakurei is truly strong—this was what the current Yukari Han thought.
"Alright!" The demon who had been sitting around playing games for days finally stood up, stretching her sore arms. "What's for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Oh, Miss Purple is finally ready to eat? Unfortunately, it's already past breakfast time." Regarding the food issue, Yukari Han was rather annoyed. The meals she had prepared for Yukari over the past few days had all been wasted by the demon obsessed with gaming.
"Ah! What a hassle! I'll just rummage through the fridge and see what's left. My neck really hurts. After eating, I should go to sleep tonight, www.guilin86.com," she walked while hammering her lower back and neck, looking like an old lady.
But Yukari Han was somewhat uneasy. When did her master become so lazy? Instead of asking her to make breakfast, she went straight to the kitchen?
Indeed, she could sense it—over the past few years, her master had become increasingly gentle. Thinking about this, she became even more anxious.
"Hey, Han," just as they were leaving the game room, the fox faintly heard something like, "Keep staring, don't let me out of your sight."
What did that mean? Or was it just a hallucination? Yukari Han was confused. Well, let's just assume it was a hallucination. The nine-tailed fox quickly followed closely behind Yukari Han, waiting for orders.
The heat had long since disappeared, and the night wind brought a bone-chilling coldness. Listening to it, it sounded eerily ghostlike. The yellow earth was stained with an indescribable color, and the sun began to set. The extreme temperature difference between day and night was unbearable for ordinary people. But there were no ordinary people here, only a demon and a non-ordinary person.
The insect demon sat motionlessly. His previously slightly moving claws now remained still. He seemed frozen, like a lifeless statue.
Black Lotus watched silently beside him. This state had lasted for quite some time. She sensed that something monumental was happening...no, it had already ended. At the same time, the mage clearly understood that she had accomplished nothing.
"You...are you still waiting for something?"
Finally, the demon broke the silence.
"An outcome, I want to witness the outcome." Even as a bystander, she was unwilling, but she still wanted to see the end.
"Cheers, we lost. Your witch girlfriend is still alive—at least when we retreated, she was still alive." Previously, he had sworn to tear the shrine maiden limb from limb, but now, without hesitation, he admitted defeat. Everything happened so naturally, his enthusiasm and stability completely unchanged.
"And that's it?"
"What else should there be?" This human was indeed perplexing. "This time, we lost, our intentions were too extreme. If we still want to survive, it's our awakening. Losing is natural. We must reassess thoroughly, and if there's another chance, it won't be as easy as this time."
"What about your previous tracks?" Black Lotus asked. Without seeing the battlefield, she could still imagine the carnage, the countless deaths. Could all that just be summed up in a single sentence?
"...No point in letting past mistakes affect the future."
"So they...your comrades, are they all dead?"
"Yes, they're all dead. But we can't let more comrades die because of that." The demon spoke without emotion. A ruthless evaluation of tools that were none other than his comrades, those who had just been fighting fiercely moments ago. "But isn't that your concern?"
How could anyone rejoice over death? Completely incomprehensible, something Black Lotus could never understand! She clenched her fists tightly, wanting to destroy something, yet there was nothing to hit, leaving her to struggle alone.
"What do you consider life to be?"
"Life? Besides being consumed, is there any second possibility? We can't understand you." Seeing the pain carved deeply on the human's face, the demon also felt confused. But they had never tried to understand others, so he stopped thinking about this human's thoughts.
"The fight is over, I won't bother with that shrine maiden for now. If you have no interest in my life, please leave. This is our territory."
"But aren't you still hating each other?" Black Lotus was very unsatisfied, extremely unsatisfied. In the end, what...
Hate? The demon thought. That's true. But does it matter? Do humans care so much about others' opinions? Whether loved or hated, does it matter so much to them?
"If you're not planning to leave...as the leader of this failure, I must take responsibility."
Then the demon raised his scythe-like claw and placed it on the back of his neck. In front of Holy Black Lotus, with a calmness hard for humans to comprehend, he severed his own head.
A dull thud echoed as the headless body fell into the sand. Blood continued to spurt from the wound, soaking the ground.
Under the dark moonlight, the cold wind howled. Only Holy Black Lotus stood alone, gazing blankly at the traces spreading beneath her feet. Her only companion was a small creature perched on her shoulder.
Inside the shrine, Reimu Hakurei slowly woke up. It seemed like she heard a song, ethereal like a dream.
"Am I at the River of Three Crossings?" the shrine maiden asked, her voice barely audible. But the presence nearby noticed her revival and stopped humming.
"No, sorry to disappoint you." The Grim Reaper said while peeling a black fruit and tossing it into her mouth. "You're still alive."
"Still alive...how ugly!" The shrine maiden pressed her forehead. She found herself wrapped in red bandages, like some kind of wooden thing she couldn't recall. But the dry sensation on her body made her feel better.
"Did you do this? Did I lose?"
"The answer to the first question is 'yes,' but the bandages were done by a fox. I said I'd pay, she said to charge it to your account, so I just took them, all tied around you."
"To my account?"
"I don't know. Judging by the name, probably peeling your skin layer by layer."
"How terrifying." The shrine maiden said this, but there was no visible sign of fear.
"The answer to the second question is—regretfully, though the insects got nothing, neither did you protect anything. Everything inside is already thoroughly messed up. Get up and take a look at what's outside...you should be able to stand up, right? Need help?"
The presence moved forward to support her, but the shrine maiden refused with a wave of her hand, so she did nothing. Shrine maidens and Grim Reapers alike preferred pointless formalities www.pbala.com.
Reimu Hakurei swayed slightly, but she managed to stand steady. Wearing clothes, leaning against the thin walls, she entered the shrine, only to find everything in the distance looked unfamiliar.
The lush forests that used to exist were gone. Centered around the shrine, a desolate yellow spread endlessly in all directions, extending miles beyond. It was like a grotesque scar carved into a green carpet, making one feel nauseous.
"Is this...my shrine?" The shrine maiden whispered to herself. The insect army had withdrawn for unknown reasons, but their marks would not disappear. They had turned this place, this piece of land belonging to the shrine maiden, into scorched earth.
"Why...did they retreat? Clearly, they paid such a great price, victory was within reach."
As it stands now, there is no winner. The shrine maiden lost her homeland, and the insect army paid a heavy price. A meaningless farce, with no winners except destruction.
"Perhaps they thought continuing the fight would cost more than the benefits. You were quite formidable back then." Despite appearing vulnerable, the shrine maiden would never fall, gradually eradicating life bit by bit, with no clear end in sight. Factually speaking, it was the demons who gave up first.
"Was I that weak?" Reimu Hakurei couldn't remember properly; she only felt possessed by something at the time, controlled by some unknown force, with no knowledge of what happened.
"Then perhaps they realized destroying you would be utterly meaningless." There would always be another shrine maiden to rise if one died. As long as humanity existed, as long as humans retained their imagination, this cycle would never cease.
"That human is fine, he often visits you these days; the cats are fine too, living quite comfortably. Sorry though, the row of ginkgo trees you entrusted me to protect, I failed. Only a little was saved." The Grim Reaper pointed to the distance where the black fruit she was eating had only half a bowl left. "Want some?"
Facing a severely injured patient, she showed no particular consideration. This is how the Grim Reaper operates—whether human or demon; whether rich or poor; whether healthy or near death—it makes no difference.
"Is that so?" Reimu Hakurei felt a bit sorrowful but didn't say much more.
"...Just kidding!" The Grim Reaper laughed, "Their main target was you, I sprinkled two layers of insect repellent, and they circled away. But honestly, you're really boring."
"Is that so?" The shrine maiden repeated the same words, showing no excessive joy. It seemed the mountain hadn't entirely withered after all, at least there was still a row of trees. But perhaps, as the Grim Reaper said, she really was quite boring.
"You don't need to look so down." The presence approached and stood next to the shrine maiden, handing her a peeled black fruit. "Though this place looks ravaged now, next year, it will grow again. Even if there won't be tall trees anymore, shrubs will sprout again, and it will look much better then."
Completely unlike the barren courtyard, new green life will emerge here next year... Amidst the recent devastation, even the shrine maiden who failed to protect her home, quietly felt this. Her cheeks remained expressionless, unreadable. This season, the weather was already quite cold. Soon, the shrine would be filled with cool winds again, and everything would be covered in white snow, erasing all traces, as if nothing ever happened. After some time, no one would remember what occurred here.
Thus ended Reimu Hakurei's first encounter with the insect demon. Life would continue. The newly reopened Hakurei Shrine would welcome its first winter.
End
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ORZ! The title is about the Bug Princess and Holy Black Lotus, but their relationship hasn't been revealed at all, and the Bug Princess hasn't even appeared, what a failure. It will only be explained when writing "Satoko and the Grim Reaper and the Dead Courtyard" later. Specifically, the Bug Princess here is unrelated to Ririgurun, completely original. The Dead Courtyard is Mayu Kujou's stagnant boundary, I'm just borrowing the name.
Some parts should appear in "Satoko and Ghosts and the Undying Smoke", which won't be slow-moving, but Sister White will definitely appear. However, what I want to write is the Ponytail God... ORZ, what nonsense!
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