Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 10

The 'Great Human -  Youkai War'... it was an upheaval as nightmarish as the collapse of the continental dynasties, at least for the countries in the East.

No wonder it could be called like that because a great Youkai or Calamity Youkai with some power could lead a flock of hundreds or even thousands of them. But is that the only reason?

Well, hundreds of thousands are very much. No, if it was just that much, it would not be so surprising. Then, what if the other reason to be called like that is because they have a command hierarchy just like a human army, and they are controlled and could attack humans with a clear strategy?

This question is answered by a youkai called "Kuuban". It has high intelligence and a deep understanding of human society and its ecology.

This "Kuuban" used its power to hide in the sky and commanded other Youkai to ravage the farming villages and attack the city streets to disrupt food production and distribution, causing food shortages and resulting in starvation and deaths in great numbers.

On the other hand, those with spiritual power and skill are cut off by cutting off their limbs, and their ability to think is taken away by some kind of illusion to be used as resources for the infamous "human farm," while those without power or skill are left as refugees, and Youkai transformed them into dolls or they are planted with a parasitic Youkai. They then sent the refugees to well-protected cities where supplies were tight.

They also burned down mines and industrial areas, no matter how small, and interfered with the production of armor and weapons for human soldiers by eating and killing miners and craftsmen.

Then, after the youkai had overwhelmed the humans, the "Kuuban" would say: '... Now, humans, give me everything you have. I promise you a wonderful world in which all life will begin and end happily, without the suffering of hunger, the pain of labor, or the fear of death, for your children and grandchildren'. These words were, in a sense, true. In exchange for... all human dignity.

But what's not helped is that even such a proposal for "emptying the world" was quite "moderate" in the face of this ferocious Youkai.

...This "Kuuban" who tried to terrorize and despair humans both materially and psychologically with his brutal, cold, and rational strategy, and on the other hand, tried to force them to "surrender" with his devilish sweet talk... Its strategy destroyed some small countries or actually forced them to surrender, but on the other hand, it made Fuso-kuni, which was now the largest power in the East after the death of the continental dynasty, to strengthen its will to fight against the war. Because of this, many Youkai sneered at the choice. But soon they were gone.

The monsters underestimated human malice and hostility. Fuso-kuni, like the Youkai, countered the Youkai attack with ruthless strategy and by developing new weapons and techniques by cutting open the heads of captured Youkai while they were still alive and studying them, or by using criminals, refugees and orphans who volunteered or had no family to be used for forbidden sacrifices, decoy bombs, and human experimentation.

In the end, the humans won the tragedy by a paper-thin margin with enormous sacrifices due to their malice and hostility that exceeded those of the Youkai.

And since then, Fuso-kuni's and the human side's (on thin ice) victory in the Great War reversed the balance of power between humans and Youkai in the East. The "Kuuban" itself was a powerful monster, and many old and infamous "Calamity Youkai" and "Great Youkai" who had belonged to it were defeated.

Of course, it is still a national issue for Fuso to deal with the surviving monsters, and they are not easy to be dealt with... but at the same time, it was also a fact that the Monsters who had suffered great damage could not easily attack humans anymore. Even now, it is not unusual for them to attack people on city roads, or devour lumberjacks and hunters who go into the forests or devour an entire mountain village in the countryside. Although the human influence area appears as an area on the map, in reality, it is nothing but dots and lines, except for a few areas. Even so, only the most vigorous Youkai or the most reckless fools would have the guts to attack a town or a city of a certain size.