After the Dragon God was eliminated, Gensokyo underwent some subtle changes.

Originally, Gensokyo was enveloped by a dual barrier, forming its own world. However, with the disappearance of the Dragon God, the Great Hakurei Barrier dissolved like smoke. Although outsiders still could not see Gensokyo, the clear demarcation between "common sense" and "uncommon sense" vanished, allowing the common sense of the outside world to begin seeping into the realm.

Naturally, this alteration was not visible on the surface, nor would ordinary people perceive it. Thus, the atmosphere of Gensokyo remained as placid as usual; the lives of both humans and youkai continued unchanged... But!

Anyone who understood the function of the Great Hakurei Barrier knew this tranquility was temporary. Once the common sense of the outside world fully infiltrated Gensokyo, the so-called paradise of youkai would cease to exist. The future Gensokyo... would only exist as a secluded haven.

"It is over." Yukari Yakumo hovered in the sky, gazing down upon all of Gensokyo, as if trying to engrave the current sight into her memory forever. Then, she closed her eyes and murmured softly.

Indeed, whether as the Great Sage of youkai or the guardian of Gensokyo, the moment the Dragon God died, her mission had concluded.

Her emotions at this moment were complex. On one hand, she felt a release from the heavy burden, a sense of lightness. On the other, there was a feeling of helplessness concerning the "disappearance" of Gensokyo. As for sorrow, that was absent; she had long grown numb to such feelings. Moreover, the miko who had died had returned, which should count as a joyous event... perhaps?

Yet, was the current situation truly worthy of celebration?

Yukari Yakumo did not know. She could not articulate what that feeling truly was, only sensing a vast emptiness inside, a listlessness that made it impossible to summon energy for anything—as if...

"I have lost my purpose in life?"

A voice drifted from behind her. Yukari Yakumo turned around. Seeing the person who had arrived, she couldn't help but manage a wry smile. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

"No, I just feel a bit of empathy," Rin Rogo walked up beside her. Gazing out at Gensokyo, a hint of nostalgia appeared in his eyes. "When I was still just an ordinary person, every time I finished playing my favorite game, I would experience this exact sense of hollowness. My heart would tell me that even if an equally or more classic game appeared later, I wouldn't feel such intense emotion again. I felt instantly robbed of my life's objective, utterly listless... Back then, my expression was exactly like yours right now."

Yukari Yakumo paused, then replied, "But you aren't feeling hollow now."

"Of course not. Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was then." Rin Rogo laughed, a touch of self-deprecation coloring his tone. "At the time, I thought the emptiness would last forever. But after only a few days of dejection, when another, even more classic game appeared before me, I immediately became full of energy again, throwing myself into it completely. That feeling of never loving again vanished without a trace... Do you understand what I mean?"

Yukari Yakumo fell silent. She certainly understood. Rin Rogo was trying to tell her that the feeling of emptiness was fleeting. But...

"...That was just a game." After a moment of silence, Yukari Yakumo spoke.

Rin Rogo nodded. "Yes, a game is ultimately just a game; it cannot compare to reality. The hollowness I experienced cannot be equated with the emptiness you feel now. But what I want to say is... emotions are the same. Because we genuinely cared for something. So when that thing vanishes, we struggle to accept it. But think carefully, what do we truly live for?"

"What do we live for?" Yukari Yakumo instinctively looked at him, her eyes clouded with bewilderment.

Rin Rogo turned to face her, staring steadily. "I certainly don't believe the meaning of my existence is for video games; in fact, I rarely play games now. What about you? Is the significance of your presence here solely for Gensokyo?"

"Ah!" The simple statement stunned Yukari Yakumo silent.

What was the reason for her existence? What was the meaning of her being here? She had never considered such questions. Since the word 'Gensokyo' formed in her memory, all her actions had been directed toward it. But surely, the reason for her birth could not have been for Gensokyo, right?

"Then, what exactly is my meaning?"

Yukari Yakumo murmured to herself, but when she looked up again, Rin Rogo's figure had already vanished from her sight.

She instinctively looked around. No one else was nearby; Rin Rogo had truly left. This caused her a slight disappointment. She had expected him to offer some substantial comfort, but instead, he had only spoken a few cryptic sentences that only served to further confuse her heart.

Yukari Yakumo let out a helpless laugh and floated back down to the ground. Just then, she noticed a spider's web strung between two nearby branches, a butterfly struggling violently within its sticky confines.

Seeing the trapped prey, the spider immediately emerged from the shadows, crawling along the web toward the butterfly. The butterfly clearly saw its predator, and its struggles grew more frenzied. Yet, the web's tenacity prevented any escape. As the butterfly's life seemed poised to end, Yukari Yakumo felt a sudden urge, instinctively reaching out a hand...

However, before she could act, the butterfly suddenly erupted with unexpected strength. With a chī lā sound, it violently tore the web apart, escaping the spider's grasp, and fluttered toward the vast sky.

Yukari Yakumo followed the butterfly's trajectory with her gaze, watching it fly farther and farther until it finally disappeared from sight. She still had not withdrawn her eyes.

Suddenly, she understood something. If she were that butterfly, then Gensokyo was the spider's web that bound her. But while the butterfly was trapped unintentionally, she had woven the net that restrained her with her own hands. If she wished to fly out of this web, she would have to rely on herself.

But the world held more than one web. If the butterfly escaped this one, it might fall into another, or be hunted by another predator. What about herself?

Even if she broke free from the restraint that was Gensokyo, if her heart did not truly let go, she would inevitably become entangled in a web of her own making once more.

"I see, you meant to tell me that you are not my net either. Is that right?"

A soft murmur escaped her lips. A look of relief spread across Yukari Yakumo's face as she looked again at the familiar sky. She finally saw it... The meaning of her existence was not for Gensokyo. Nor was it for anyone else. It was simply for herself!

Because she lived, she lived; no reason was required.

Freedom, ease, loving when she wished to love, hating when she wished to hate.

This was a youkai.

This was what a youkai ought to be.

She, Yukari Yakumo, should be precisely such a youkai!

...

Since the battle with the Dragon God concluded, Lili, Evangeline, Suigintou, and the others had returned to the Outside World with Touko Aozaki and the rest first. Currently remaining in Gensokyo, apart from its native residents, was only Rin Rogo.

He had mentioned the relocation to the Outside World some time ago, but everyone was still hesitant. After all, they had long grown accustomed to life in Gensokyo. To suddenly announce their departure... Even though Gensokyo had changed, they were still reluctant to leave the atmosphere here.

When one lives somewhere for a long time, affection for that place naturally develops. Rin Rogo understood this, so he only stated his intentions without forcing anything, waiting patiently.

Three days had passed, and no one had made a decision yet.

Under these circumstances, Rin Rogo bid farewell to Yukari Yakumo and headed for the Eientei.

Reisen and the cunning rabbit were nowhere to be found this time. Eirin Yagokoro, however, was sitting alone in the living room upon Rin Rogo's entry, sipping tea while reading a book on pharmacology.

Rin Rogo walked over and sat across from her, noticing that Eirin Yagokoro seemed oblivious to his presence, her expression intensely focused. He took the initiative to speak. "Have you made up your mind?"

Eirin Yagokoro did not look up, stating calmly, "We have no issues on our end. For the Princess, anyway, it makes no difference where she lives as long as she is undisturbed. And... sigh, since you have solved the Five Difficult Problems, I have no reason to object anymore."

Eirin Yagokoro's tone was laced with resignation, the sentiment of a daughter growing up and away.

The first time Rin Rogo came to Gensokyo, he had established an agreement with Kaguya: upon the solving of the Five Difficult Problems, a contract would be signed between him and Kaguya. Eirin Yagokoro was aware of this agreement.

However, Eirin Yagokoro understood the true implication of that pact better than anyone. In the era when Kaguya was still Princess Kaguya-hime, her beauty had attracted countless suitors. The Five Difficult Problems were established as hurdles to block these suitors, which resulted in the failure of the worldly scholars.

Although the Five Difficult Problems Kaguya-hime presented in that era differed entirely from the Five Problems she presented to Rin Rogo, the meaning was identical. Now that Rin Rogo had solved them, it effectively meant Kaguya was ready to marry.

As the saying goes, a wife follows her husband. Although Kaguya was once a princess, she was now a "commoner." Where her husband lived, she must live as well... Eirin Yagokoro understood this principle and felt there was no point in obstructing matters now, but she remained deeply conflicted.

"The Five Difficult Problems..." Rin Rogo muttered. It was true that Kaguya had mentioned the problems were solved after the battle with the Dragon God three days prior, but he had no idea when he had solved them, leaving him perpetually perplexed. When he asked Kaguya, she refused to say a word.

"Do you know the answers?" Rin Rogo couldn't help asking.

"The answers are not important," Eirin Yagokoro finally looked up, her expression serious. "The Five Difficult Problems Princess Kaguya posed to you were never meant for you to logically solve; they were a test of your character. The fact that you solved them without understanding the specific meaning of the questions is what mattered most. If you overthought it, you wouldn't have succeeded."

"That does make a certain kind of sense," Rin Rogo conceded.

He nodded, unsure if he truly grasped it or was merely pretending to. After a moment, he continued, "Since you have no objection to moving to the Outside World, what about the situation on the Moon? Do you intend to resolve that?"

"Resolve what?"

"Uh... Say, saying goodbye or something."

"What is there to say? We left the Moon over a thousand years ago."

"That might be true, but the next step involves two distinctly different worlds."

"It's the same everywhere. We have practically no connection to the Moon anymore," Eirin Yagokoro replied placidly. While she still cared about the safety of the Moon, setting foot on it again was impossible for her.

Seeing her expression, Rin Rogo did not press the matter, but a sudden thought sparked his gossipy curiosity, causing him to lean in and ask quietly, "By the way, I recall the two princesses currently on the Moon, Hourai Yumesen and Hourai Yutoki, are biological sisters, correct?"

"Why are you asking about that?" Eirin Yagokoro instantly regarded him with suspicion, like a guard watching a thief.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm just curious," Rin Rogo quickly explained. "Look, they are sisters, but Yutoki married the son of her older sister, Hourai Yumesen, essentially becoming her sister-in-law's daughter-in-law. By conventional standards, this would be considered incestuous, wouldn't it? What are your thoughts?"

Eirin Yagokoro examined him seriously for a moment. "I didn't realize your information network was so extensive. Yes, what you say is fact. But how is that incest? A younger sister marrying her older sister's son is clearly cementing kin ties. Don't speak rashly if you don't understand."

"..." Seeing Eirin Yagokoro's expression of disdain, Rin Rogo was left speechless.

He had originally intended to mutter something like, Your circle is truly messy, but now he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Indeed, his worldview remained narrow. To be the sovereign of a world yet still be bound by such a restricted perspective was unacceptable.

Therefore, Rin Rogo resolved to study the Moon's values, particularly its concept of kin cementing kin.

"Since a sister marrying a sister's son is considered cementing kin ties, does a disciple marrying a master, or a master marrying a disciple's husband, or sisters sharing one husband—do all these count as cementing kin ties?" Rin Rogo adopted a respectful learning posture, seeking instruction sincerely.

Eirin Yagokoro closed the book in her hands, seemingly considering the matter seriously. Then, resting her chin in her hand, she mused, "How to put it? We on the Moon do not have as many societal constraints as those on the surface. Generally speaking, besides father-daughter and mother-son relationships, which are prohibited, everything else falls within the scope of permissible unions. For instance, siblings—as long as there is mutual affection, there is absolutely no problem. Moreover, the parents would be delighted to have both their children close."

"..." Rin Rogo was rendered utterly speechless. The Moon... was truly wonderful!

"Speaking of which, you seem rather idle today, inquiring about such gossip," Eirin Yagokoro couldn't help but tease him back.

"No, no, this is highly useful knowledge," Rin Rogo waved his hands repeatedly. "I believe we should champion this spirit. Lunar culture is truly profound and extensive."

Rin Rogo ultimately couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

PS: Chapter two will be available tomorrow morning. (To be continued)