The casual and free drinking feast continues.

With the cherry blossoms in full bloom in the background, there's no more relaxing view. It was as if all the dust in my heart had left with the fluttering petals, and all my troubles were no longer important at this moment.

In such a beautiful atmosphere, just drinking in silence is too monotonous. Although it is an exaggeration to describe it as a so-called narration, it is certainly not enough for anyone to refuse to talk to others.

If you're chatting with your friends, that's even better.

"Hmm...... I seem to be causing you trouble."

The undead princess's always unpredictable face showed a look of apology and chagrin.

She seems to be expressing her inner apologies to someone, just like her own servant.

But to make this guy as elusive as a breeze and clouds show such a straightforward look, sure enough, there will be no second person except for the monster sage.

"You don't need to apologize."

Faced with Yuyuko's frowning expression, the blonde beauty smiled as a matter of course.

…… Should I say that I deserve to be an elder? Compared to the three girls next to her, the conversation style between the undead princess and the monster sage is far less unbounded. Compared to the witches and apprentice magicians whose minds seemed to be floating outside the clouds, Yakumo's reaction was still traceable.

It's just that Yakumo's reaction is not the same as usual.

The curves of the corners of her mouth were unexpectedly warm and soft.

It's not a fake smile, and it doesn't contain sinister malice. Snooping, contempt, hostility, conceit, hypocrisy...... Gone were the vile emotions that had filled her with cheers under her smile.

The smile that was revealed purely because he wanted to smile at his friend,Unexpectedly, people are deeply aware of the fact that Yakumo Purple is a beauty.。

But...... What's even more surprising is that such a clean smile can appear on this monster who gives people a sense of scheming.

"It's been a bit of a twist and turn, but everything hasn't changed much from the same thing. So you don't need to apologize to me—even if you do, you shouldn't apologize to me."

The heavy snow that closed off the entire Gensokyo undoubtedly brought a lot of trouble to the human race. The inconvenience of travel, the destruction of houses, and the fact that some unfortunate people must have died in this sudden snowfall. These are the weaklings to whom the undead princess should apologize.

But at the end of the day, Yakumo didn't really care how many humans had died in this mutation. Because she knew very well what a vile and difficult creature humans were, and that as long as there were no predators capable of shaking their foundations, this kind of natural disaster that would eventually dissipate would not have a real effect on them.

There may be some loss of companions, but humanity will survive eventually. If it weren't for this despicable trait that made youkai fearful and like a cockroach, Yakumo Purple would not have impulsively launched that war. She was an early adopter of the potential of the human species.

"Hmm...... Indeed it is. But ......"

Although he nodded in agreement with Zi's words, Yuyuko of Saigyu Temple couldn't help but show a sad look on his face.

「…… I'm a little disappointed."

Her gaze drifted to the huge dead tree standing in the middle of the courtyard, the Westward Demon.

The withered plants, which the undead princess had placed inexplicable hopes on, still do not bloom, and only a few pure white buds with buds waiting to be set up on the dead branches, which can be regarded as some comfort for her efforts.

Unfortunately, this is not any comfort at all for Yuyuko. Up to now, the hole in her heart has not been filled, she is like a cicada after shedding her shell, with no appearance, and the inside has long been swallowed up by emptiness.

…… Is that really the case, though?

On the other hand, the youkai sage knows where Seikyoji's sadness comes from.

Even if she didn't follow her gaze, Yakumo knew what was stealing her attention.

As Yuyuko's first and last friend of Seiyukiji during her lifetime, Yakumo Murasaki witnessed her death firsthand.

The tragic development is due to the great will of Yuyuko herself in the Saigyoji Temple. sealed the Westward Demon as a living sacrifice, in exchange for the current ending.

In the past, it was like the embodiment of magnificence, attracting mortals to come to the self-destruction of the yokai Sakura, but today only the huge body of this decaying branch can make people recall its past magnificence a little.

There were no intense emotions such as sadness or remorse -- Yakumo Purple was now just a trace of loneliness like a thin cloud.

The human girl she missed was no longer in front of her. When she realized this fact, she felt a heart-wrenching sadness in her heart.

However, when he saw the dead spirit with the same voice and smile as the girl, Yakumo held back her tears and showed a cheerful smile that she didn't expect.

Yuyuko of Seogyoji Temple and Yuyuko of Seogyoji Temple are not the same existence.

It sounds like a ridiculous sentence, but when it really comes to all this, Purple can't laugh at all.

They may have the same appearance, but their personalities are subtly different. The Necromantic Yuyuko is far more ruthless than the Yuyuko of the human era. It was a kind of indifferent coldness.

However, what really made Purple feel lost was the blank memory of the undead.

In the beginning, she could feel the emptiness that had completely forgotten her from the words of Yuyuko in Saigyoji Temple. No matter how she spoke, the other party treated her as a stranger.

From that moment on, Yakumo finally knew the ruthlessness of forgetting.

Yuyuko of Saigyoji Temple forgot about Yakumo Murasaki.

It's not that I forgot what I did with Yakumo, but I forgot the name Yakumo, this existence.

No matter how much chance they have, they will not return to the same relationship as before.

The fact that the person named Yuyuko of Saigyoji Temple was dead had made Yakumo's heart cold.

However......

"But—people always have to look forward."

"Huh?!"

A faint smile hung on the corner of her mouth, and the undead princess suddenly said something that surprised Purple very much.

Although the appearance of opening her mouth wide is very inconsistent with her usual wise posture, but at this time, the monster sage is not estimated so much, she looked at Yuyuko carefully.

It's not a very bright smile -- but it's certainly a cheerful smile.

"I don't know why, though, I want to see the Westward Demon in full bloom...... But it doesn't matter if you don't see it. 'Cause I'm still with you."

「…………」

Faced with Yuyuko's smile, Purple opened her mouth to speak, but found that she didn't know what to say.

Her emotions went blank. Only the blood in his body seemed to be boiling.

The undead princess tilted her head to look at the silent purple and clapped her hands.

"Oops, Purple, you're shy."

"Nope!"

P.S: I'm ashamed to break my promise.