Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

The prototype of Inazuma is Japan. Therefore, famous Japanese cultural elements such as tengu, foxes, and onmyoji all exist in Inazuma. The oni tribe is one such element.

The oni tribe is not a spiritual entity or a soul, but rather a non-human race—a distinct species.

This race once experienced a split, and the entire process was recorded in a fairy tale in Inazuma.

"Once upon a time, there were two oni in a village. One was called the Blue Oni, who looked human but had a bad temper. The other was called the Red Oni, who had a good temper but looked monstrous.

Because of this, the Red Oni wanted to play with the human children but was rejected. To help the Red Oni integrate into the group, the Blue Oni decided to play the villain, allowing the Red Oni to drive him away and thus gain acceptance.

The Red Oni successfully integrated into the community. But when he went back to find the Blue Oni, the Blue Oni had already left. He left behind a note, telling the Red Oni to live well.

And that's the end of the story."

An elderly man was happily telling this story to a group of children. Even though they had heard it countless times, the children never grew tired of it. Perhaps it was because the old man was such a good storyteller.

Li Mo and Yae Miko stood in a corner, listening to the story.

This fairy tale perfectly described the historical split of the oni tribe.

"Is this the fairy tale that's been passed down orally in Inazuma? I'm starting to wonder who wrote this story," Li Mo said.

On their way back from Ogura's shop, Yae Miko had brought up the topic of the oni tribe. Soon after, they came across someone telling the fairy tale about the oni. The two of them found a corner and listened as the old man told the story to the children.

"Little brother, your focus is always so strange. Shouldn't you be more concerned about the current state of the oni tribe? Who cares about the origin of a fairy tale?" Yae Miko said.

"It was Lady Kitsune Saiguu, right?" Li Mo said. "Using the fairy tale as a medium, she subtly changed people's perception of the oni tribe, preparing for the eventual return of the Blue Oni."

Upon closer examination of the fairy tale, it was clear that both the Red Oni and the Blue Oni were portrayed as positive characters. The Red Oni was innocent and kind, wanting to play with the human children. The Blue Oni, for the sake of his friend, willingly played the villain and left his homeland.

The tone was set.

It was like how modern people hear the story of Snow White. If one day Snow White and the Evil Queen were to appear before them, those influenced by the fairy tale would naturally side with Snow White.

In Li Mo's view, the story of the Red Oni and the Blue Oni was laying the groundwork for the return of the Blue Oni.

Hundreds of years later, with the foundation laid by the Red Oni and the influence of the fairy tale, when the Blue Oni finally returned, people would think, "This is the child who left his home for the sake of his friend."

Then, Li Mo thought of the advertising effect.

Advertising isn't meant to make you buy something immediately. Rather, it's meant to make you think of a brand when you want to purchase a certain product. Faced with a sea of unfamiliar brands, you'll choose the one you're more familiar with.

This is a tactic that plays on human nature. It can be explained as "making yourself familiar."

Yae Miko said, "You actually thought of that? As you said, this fairy tale was passed down by Lady Kitsune Saiguu."

The head shrine maiden leisurely said, "Lady Kitsune Saiguu did this as a casual move. At the time, she probably thought, 'Let's improve the image of the oni tribe,' and then she did it. After all, she had plenty of time back then."

"A casual move?"

Kitsune Saiguu had passed away, and there was no way to ask her about her thoughts at the time. The only person who could answer this question was… Li Mo looked down at the fox mask hanging from his waist.

Hanachirusato's consciousness was still sleeping inside.

Back then, Ioroi had entrusted Hanachirusato with the matter of the Blue Oni and the Red Oni. Was it because he understood the nature of Hanachirusato's existence and wanted her to first resolve the oni tribe's issues before conducting the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual?

Or perhaps Li Mo was overthinking it. He always tended to overanalyze things in a nested manner.

Li Mo began to miss the world of Demon Slayer, where the goal was simple: kill Muzan. The days in the Service Club were also nice, with straightforward Yukinoshita Yukino, the ordinary high school girl Yuigahama Yui, and the awkward high school boy Hikigaya Hachiman. They were all interesting.

"Where there are people, there will be conflict."

The adult world is just that cruel.

"What's 'jianghu'?" Yae Miko asked.

"Too lazy to explain."

"Is that so? How annoying, little one. So, how do you plan to handle the oni tribe's matter?" Yae Miko asked.

With the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual completed and Hanachirusato gone, it seemed that only Li Mo could handle the oni tribe's affairs.

He had promised Hanachirusato.

And Li Mo never broke his promises.

"The answer is right in front of us, isn't it? First, we need to find the Blue Oni tribe in the wild, and then discuss bringing them back. How do we find them? We'll leave that to the young oni we met earlier."

The Blue Oni were watching over the Red Oni.

Li Mo recalled scattered bits of information from his memory. The Blue Oni tribe still existed, but they were elusive and lacked resources.

Entrusting this task to Arataki Itto was the most suitable choice.

"Lady Yae, what do you think about continuing that fairy tale?" Li Mo said. "We could write about how the Red Oni wanted to find the Blue Oni but couldn't locate him in the forest. So, he left a note inviting the Blue Oni to watch the village festival, knowing the Blue Oni wouldn't attend. Then, when the Blue Oni secretly watched the festival from a corner, the Red Oni surprised him from behind and dragged him into the celebration."

"Not bad. At least you've completely grasped the mindset of the oni tribe. Those guys are proud people," Yae Miko said. "So, how do you plan to proceed?"

"Isn't that something for later? Right now, we need to have the Red Oni make a trip into the forest."

Li Mo didn't explain to Yae Miko who the candidate was. Their earlier encounter at Ogura's shop was proof enough.

Arataki Itto—his identity made him the best person to step forward. As for his personality, Li Mo believed it was well-suited for this task.

Yae Miko said, "Then, little brother, accompany me to visit the local power. Let's go meet that Red Oni."

"Local power?"

"We're going to Komore Teahouse."

"The Kamisato Clan? To meet the Yashiro Commission?" Li Mo lowered his voice.

Komore Teahouse was a Kamisato family business in Inazuma City, and the Kamisato Clan was the head of the Yashiro Commission, one of the Tri-Commission.

Earlier, the two of them had been discussing the Kanjou Commission and the Tenryou Commission. Now, they were going to deal with the Yashiro Commission?

Li Mo looked at Yae Miko beside him, feeling that this fox was trying to push him into the spotlight.