Ryūshiki stood before them—a slender figure with silver-white, tousled hair and compound white horns.
His outer horns were short and straight, while the inner pair stretched long, their rear edges curving out into a second branch. They were unmistakably the horns of a dragon.
Though not especially tall or broad, those majestic horns gave him an undeniable presence.
His attire was equally striking: a white robe in the classic Ōtsutsuki style, but tailored with pockets on both sides, a hood at the collar, knee-length hem, and a swallowtail split at the back. Intricate golden dragon embroidery shimmered at prominent points.
Around his thin neck hung a thumb-sized black magatama, stark against the pale skin exposed at his collar.
His eyes were Byakugan—blank and inscrutable, hiding depths of power no one could fathom.
Ryūshiki stood with hands in his pockets, cheeks moving as if chewing something.
He barely acknowledged Isshiki's reverent bow, casting a cool, indifferent gaze at Kaguya.
After a moment of chewing, Ryūshiki blew a bubble from his mouth—not bubble gum, but something else entirely.
Pop!
The bubble burst, sticky residue clinging to his lips.
With a sigh, Ryūshiki drew his small hand from his pocket, wiped away the remains, and, rather than toss it aside, rolled it into a tiny ball and tucked it back into his pocket.
The mishap didn't diminish his aura one bit. He asked, already knowing the answer, "You're Kaguya, right?"
Kaguya remained silent, her icy expression betraying nothing. A hundred years of peaceful life and hope for the future had been shattered—she was in full "Takamagahara disbelief."
Isshiki, still prostrate, hurried to explain, "Lord Ryūshiki, she—"
Ryūshiki cut him off coldly, "I wasn't asking you."
Isshiki bowed his head, silenced.
Seeing Kaguya's frozen demeanor, Ryūshiki scratched his head and glanced at Isshiki, making a request that sounded almost casual.
"She's your servant, isn't she? Mind if I borrow her for a few days?"
Isshiki hesitated. "We're supposed to head for the lower realm, to carry out the king's orders…"
Ryūshiki replied, "Just a few days. It won't interfere with your mission. Besides, in her current state, she's not fit for much. I'll take responsibility for 'training' her."
Isshiki seized the excuse, "Very well, I'll leave her in your care…"
Ryūshiki turned and called behind him, "Follow me."
Kaguya had no choice. She followed.
As Ryūshiki left, the suffocating pressure in the air finally faded.
Isshiki let out a long breath and staggered to his feet, legs still shaky. He laughed at himself, "Hah, so this is what 'rank' does to you. I can't believe I was so cowed I couldn't even stand. Pathetic!"
They walked in silence, passing a river whose surface rippled endlessly.
Ryūshiki broke the quiet, "You probably don't know, since you just arrived—this is the Amanoyasu River. It's a rare sight. And it's special: when someone walks by with a heavy heart, the river responds, and the ripples never stop."
He turned to Kaguya. "So, you've got something weighing on you?"
Kaguya's brows knit, her face dipping into shadow as she tried to hide her vulnerability.
Beneath the cold exterior, her heart was lost and helpless. She couldn't see a future, didn't know how to face this strange new world.
After a long silence, Kaguya lowered her head and spoke in a chilly tone, "That's none of your business."
Ryūshiki accepted it with a nod, then explained his purpose. "Your mother, Nayotake, once did me a kindness. When I heard you'd returned, I came specifically to see you."
Kaguya looked up. "Mother?"
It was only the second time she'd heard anyone mention her mother—the first had been Aiki, in her dying moments.
Ryūshiki's eyes grew distant with memory. "Yes. I grew up in a place called Dragon Palace Castle. Once, I lost control of my power and killed a servant who'd been with me for years. In despair, I was ready to end my own life—your mother happened to pass by and talked me down."
He shook his head, a little melancholy. "Not exactly something to brag about. Anyway, I mean you no harm. You can relax."
Kaguya seemed thoughtful, but didn't respond.
After a while, Ryūshiki ventured, "Let me guess—the thing you can't let go of is that human who served you for a hundred years. Aiki, right?"
Kaguya's eyes dimmed, grief flickering across her face.
Ryūshiki said quietly, "I'm not much for prying into other people's hearts, but I can't just ignore the way you are right now."
Using Nayotake as a starting point, Ryūshiki continued, "That human, Aiki—her mother also once served Nayotake."
Kaguya couldn't help recalling Aiki's final words:
"Lady Kaguya, you're just like your mother Nayotake—too kind. I worry you'll follow her path. In the god clan, you can't… have compassion."
At last, Kaguya couldn't hold back. She asked, "What kind of person was my mother?"
Ryūshiki smiled gently. "She was very kind. So kind, you'd never guess she was born into this tribe of 'natural coldness.'"
His smile faded, voice growing somber. "No one is born cold—but here's the exception. It's in the genes. After generations of survival-of-the-fittest, the 'cold gene' became this clan's true nature. Your partner Isshiki killed his servant at the age of ten—by his own hand."
"Other clan members are no different. So the kindness and compassion in your genes? It's seen as 'degeneration.' If you're weak, it's just more reason for them to want you dead."
Ryūshiki's tone shifted. "But I see it differently. The kindness and compassion in you—they're like gold glittering in the sand. Proof this clan hasn't completely fallen."
His words brought a rare warmth to Kaguya's heart—a feeling she hadn't known since her ordeal.
She found herself curious about Ryūshiki.
"What about you? Are you the same?"
Ryūshiki shook his head, almost amused. "Me? I'm just a cynical loner…"
Tap.
Ryūshiki stopped walking. Before them loomed a magnificent palace.
"We're here. The Palace of Watatsumi no Kami—my home, I suppose…"
Kaguya hesitated.
Ryūshiki gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. No mud-legs here. Human legs, though… you'll see a few."
Creak—
With a small hand, he pushed open the palace's great doors. They swung slowly wide…
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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