Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 88

　Fusō-kuni is built on the belief in human superiority, rejecting the existence of evil and monsters. Yet, humans are often weaker than those they cannot understand, so they use cunning tactics to maintain an advantage in the Far East. This balance is precarious and could be lost if vigilance is not upheld.

　And this Namahage is an embodiment of this perspective in Fusō-kuni. Originally a youkai from the Northern region, Namahage terrorized children and was seen as a deity. Despite how youkai are sometimes misrepresented in history and folklore, Namahage in this world is a sentient, conscious being aware of these theories.

　In the game 'Firefly of the Dark Night (Yamiyo no Hotaru)', Namahage is a semi-divine calamity youkai that appears in certain parts of the northern region of Fusō-kuni and has been allowed to continue unchecked by the imperial court due to its characteristics.

　Like the original story, it was set up as a deity whose origin is rooted in the northern land, and did not participate in the "Great Human Youkai War" even after being debased as a youkai. After all, this youkai did not care about such things.

　This particular youkai follows a set path for a period of time and showcases its abilities in the villages it passes through. However, there is a marked difference in maturity between these youkai and both humans and deities; in fact, it is akin to the difference between adults and children. This disparity is largely due to the influence that human beliefs and fears have on these supernatural beings, and it causes their values and thought processes to differ greatly from those of humans.

　Not to mention the example of Greek mythology or any other mythology, it's known that in polytheistic religions, particularly in myths, the deities may test themselves and easily bring calamity to people if they are neglected. In the same way, Namahage is honored as a deity in the villages it visits, and those who don't offer sacrifices are punished as 'bad children' for their wrongdoings. If sacrifices aren't made, villagers are devoured one by one.

　As Fusō-kuni is a land where even the gods are used as fertilizer for the land, it is impossible to respect and worship Namahage and to authorize any actions that increase its power, which is out of the question since sacrifices are required in the first place.

　Moreover, if villagers are devoured, Namahage transforms into a powerful youkai presence, and the court couldn't allow such a presence.

　The court repeatedly issued an edict for exorcist families to eliminate Namahage, not once but several times, but they all failed. After repeated unsuccessful attempts and significant casualties, the court eventually compromised. Only one option left.

　The court believed in the superiority of humans, but was also practical enough to make temporary compromises with non-human monsters when needed. However, this approach eventually backfired, leading to the establishment of numerous forbidden zones within and outside the court's jurisdiction.

　To prepare for potential future defeats, the court carefully monitored the powers of the calamity youkai residing in these forbidden zones and reduced their numbers to a certain level. This was not a compromise with the youkai, but rather a strategic move to ensure future victory. Although the court's policy was an excuse, it was at the same time a realistic one.