The hallway vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer void, a sight so incredible it defied belief. That intense visual shock would have staggered an ordinary person, but for Lin Luo and the others, it remained within the realm of the acceptable. This book is from ⒗к.Яg

Standing on nothingness, the staircase behind them had utterly disappeared. Lin Luo and the rest paid it no mind, their gaze fixed forward. Kaguya was no longer in her usual casual attire; instead, she wore the formal robes of her days as a princess in the Moon Capital. The voluminous kimono enveloped her, lending her an aura of profound gravity. Her black hair streamed out behind her, dancing without wind, perfectly silhouetted by a crimson full moon. Five orbs of varying colors pulsed beside her, radiating an air of supreme mystery and nobility.

“See? I told you I could find it,” Suika laughed, taking a long draught from her sake gourd.

“What in the world is all this theatrics?” Reimu frowned, staring at Kaguya opposite her. Suddenly, a chilling recognition dawned. “Ah! This feeling is exactly like the last incident! You aren’t planning on stirring up trouble again, are you?”

The incident Reimu referred to was the Everlasting Night Incident. During her efforts to resolve it, she had been affected by Kaguya’s power of eternity, leading to a situation mirroring the present one.

“Heh,” Kaguya smiled faintly. “I have no intention of causing trouble. Today is merely a rare occasion, so I have allowed the illusory moon to manifest briefly, and I have something interesting to share.”

“Share what? I don’t understand a word, and I certainly don’t find anything about this interesting,” Reimu complained.

“Truly an idiot,” Kaguya chuckled, covering her mouth.

“Yes, an idiot,” Suika agreed.

“Indeed a bit slow,” Lin Luo nodded in turn. It was generally acknowledged in Gensokyo that the red-and-white girl was single-minded and dense; she was constantly called names like idiot, fool, slow-witted, or stupid whenever she had to resolve an incident.

“Hey! Which side are you two even on?!” Reimu immediately bristled.

“Heh, no one needs to take sides here,” Kaguya laughed before Lin Luo or Suika could reply. “Because this isn't some grand affair; it’s just a special meeting ceremony.”

“…Even if you say so, I still feel uneasy,” Reimu murmured, stroking her chin thoughtfully.

On the other side, after hearing Kaguya’s words, a thought suddenly struck Lin Luo, prompting him to ask, “Others can’t see this scene, right? Or rather, only we can see this corridor, and you deliberately brought us here, correct?”

“Precisely. This is the Corridor of Eternity I conjured using my power of eternity. I sealed it the moment you stepped in,” Kaguya confirmed with a nod. “Because there are certain things I prefer not to share widely, I used this method. Frankly, I find this place rather poetic. Don’t you agree?”

Lin Luo was momentarily speechless. Poetic, yes, but poetic to the point of feeling utterly surreal.

“So, what is it you wish to discuss?” Lin Luo inquired again. He suspected he knew what Kaguya wanted to say, but why bring Reimu and Suika along? Reimu made a degree of sense, being a host of the World Heart—regardless of whether Kaguya knew that or not—but Suika was not.

“Heh, about this matter…” Kaguya let out a soft laugh, though a mischievous glint flashed across her face as she looked toward Suika. “Before I speak of it, the Oni’s promise should still stand, correct?”

“Ah, what are you getting at?” Suika blinked, then answered instinctively, “Oni do not lie.”

“That’s good,” Kaguya nodded. “Because this is something difficult to keep hidden from you, I brought you along to prevent future complications. So, as payment for hearing this secret, how about keeping what you hear today to yourself for now?”

“Is it something important? Well, it doesn’t matter much to me,” Suika replied easily, nodding her assent.

Having secured her promise, Kaguya dropped the mystery. After all, Oni never broke their word; if they gave a promise, they absolutely adhered to it. “I trust everyone has noticed some recent shifts within Gensokyo? What I need to discuss relates directly to that.”

Just as I thought! A flicker ran through Lin Luo. He knew his guess was correct; Kaguya was already preparing. While she might not fret over her own life, Eirin Yagokoro surely would not take such matters lightly, and even at Eirin’s behest, Kaguya couldn’t just let things drift.

“Yes, some strange things have been happening. I’ve seen creatures in Gensokyo recently that I’ve never encountered before. Sometimes I try deliberately to catch them, but they always manage to escape…” Suika frowned.

Reimu stroked her chin, considering for a moment. “If even you sense it, then my feeling wasn’t wrong? You seem to know a great deal, Kaguya. Is some culprit trying to instigate another incident? Honestly, Gensokyo has enjoyed peace for a while; if you’re going to cause trouble again, I won’t hold back.”

“You are also involved in this matter,” Kaguya replied with an eerie smile directed at Reimu. “It could be termed an incident, perhaps, but the instigator cannot be dealt with peacefully. Furthermore, you and I are both central figures.”

“What do you mean?” Reimu looked utterly bewildered, but Lin Luo felt a chill of alarm. Kaguya’s words revealed she knew not only about the God War but also that Reimu was a Host. And now, she seemed ready to announce it… Although Lin Luo had tried to overestimate her, the current situation suggested he had still underestimated her depth. This woman was deeply concealed!

Should he allow her to speak? Lin Luo hesitated slightly. If Kaguya could turn a passive situation into an advantageous one, that was good for him. Suika knowing wouldn't matter much either, as he hadn't intentionally kept it a secret; once the Dark King truly appeared, it would be time to reveal the truth anyway. Revealing it slightly early wouldn't hurt. However… Reimu was notoriously difficult to manage.

After a brief moment of internal debate, he decided to let Kaguya continue. Regardless, Reimu had the right to know these things, and giving her a mental heads-up wouldn't be a bad idea.

Kaguya’s gaze swept over Lin Luo for a moment. Seeing he made no move to stop her, she smiled. “This situation is rather incredible, even to me. Well, I shall summarize everything simply…”

She then proceeded to recount everything she knew about the God War and the Hosts. Not only were Reimu and Suika left gaping in astonishment, but Lin Luo was also greatly surprised, realizing that Kaguya knew just as much as he did, and perhaps even more concerning details that were hazy to him.

Could a Host with a one-hundred-percent compatibility rate truly be this formidable?

Lin Luo was shocked but quickly reconsidered. The previous Host of the Heart of Corruption only had 99% compatibility, and she knew less than he did at that time. Therefore, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible that Kaguya, in her perfect state, would possess such extensive knowledge.

“Reimu, are you getting married?” After hearing Kaguya’s revelation, Suika paused, then looked at Reimu with unconcealed excitement coloring her surprise.

“Huh?” Reimu shot her a look, annoyed. “Don't talk nonsense! Miko don’t marry. Besides, I never had that thought. What God War? I have no interest in that.”

Lin Luo had anticipated Reimu’s reaction, but it still stung slightly.

“Now that we’ve discussed everyone else’s matters, let’s talk about mine,” Kaguya interrupted abruptly, stopping the two shrine maidens’ conversation about marriage. She then turned to Lin Luo. “You came seeking me out because you want to form a contract with me, right?”

“Yes.” At this point, there was no need for further concealment; Lin Luo admitted it outright.

“Reimu, you need to move faster, or you’ll end up being the younger one,” Suika whispered slyly to Reimu after observing their exchange.

Lin Luo was momentarily speechless. This Oni’s remarks were truly beyond ordinary comprehension.

“Move faster… Faster your head!” Veins popped on Reimu’s forehead as she snapped back angrily.

“Why are you getting so angry? I’m looking out for you,” Suika seemed genuinely wronged.

“Go drink your sake!” After speaking, Reimu turned her head away, clearly unwilling to engage further. She did, however, feel a faint sense of pressure… What was this God War, and why did it involve her? It sounded exhausting!

Despite her thoughts, she still tilted her ear forward, discreetly listening to the conversation between Lin Luo and Kaguya.

“I can agree to a contract with you…” Kaguya’s words brought a surge of joy to Lin Luo, which was immediately dashed by a splash of cold water. “…But I have one condition. If you can meet it, I will agree.”

“What is the condition?”

“It’s very simple,” Kaguya smiled faintly, then extended her hand forward. The five luminous orbs orbiting her instantly flew toward Lin Luo. “The beautiful puzzle I present—a challenge that has defeated countless people until now. If you can solve all five of these riddles, then I will grant any request you make.”

“Oh my, this is truly difficult,” Suika sighed, shaking her head, then looked at the shrine maiden beside her. “It seems Reimu here has a better chance of being the elder one. Go for it, I’m rooting for you, Reimu!”

“…” Reimu couldn't be bothered with her, but her gaze toward Lin Luo held a hint of sympathy.

Similarly, grasping the five multi-colored pearls, Lin Luo felt an immense pressure. Kaguya’s five great riddles… How could she call that simple?!

P: Three chapters left, the climax is approaching. Please reserve your guaranteed monthly votes for the coming month. RH