Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Ryohei wiped the steam from the mirror, running a towel through his damp hair.

  The cool air against his skin provided a small relief, his mind momentarily clearing from the weight pressing on his shoulders. He felt a little more refreshed now—just enough to get back to work. He grabbed a clean shirt and threw it on before making his way back toward the living room.

  As he entered, his eyes immediately fell on the desk.

  The glass was empty.

  Ryohei froze. “...What?”

  His stomach lurched. A cold dread crept up his spine. His gaze darted across the desk, the floor—anywhere it might have spilled—but then his eyes landed on the couch.

  While his mom lay there, in silence.

  Ryohei felt his heart stop.

  His mind screamed at him, but his body refused to move. The air in his lungs turned razor-thin, and his pulse pounded like a war drum against his ribs. The world around him blurred at the edges as dread took hold.

  Then, his instinct kicked in.

  He dashed outside, feet barely touching the ground as he sprinted toward the small pond where Elder Korpokkur resided. His throat burned from the chill in the night air, but he didn’t stop.

  “Elder Korpokkur!” he yelled, his voice raw with desperation.

  If what he feared was true—

  Then his mother had just consumed something no normal human was ever meant to drink.

  “Elder! Elder Korpokkur!”

  The small, wrinkled figure turned toward him with a slow, deliberate blink, the soft glow of the pond casting shadows across his aged features.

  “Oh, you’re here. Done with the water?”

  “Emergency! Can you please check on my mother?! She accidentally drank the water!”

  “…What?” The old yokai’s expression shifted, his usual languid demeanor snapping to attention. “She drank it?! What are you doing standing there?! Hurry up and carry me there!”

  Perplexed but with no time to question, Ryohei scooped him up and bolted back inside.

  He scooped him up and immediately ran inside.

  Elder Korpokkur leapt onto the table the moment they arrived, and Ryohei wasted no time shifting his mother into a better position, laying her flat.

  With a sharp breath, the elder raised a withered hand. A soft blue light emanated from his palm, spreading over her body in gentle waves. The air grew thick with a strange energy, the scent of damp earth intensifying. Ryohei knelt beside his mother, hands trembling as he wiped away the thin streams of blood trailing from her nose and eyes. His chest tightened, as his throat sore.

  “How was she, Elder?”

  “Hold on… I’m still trying.”

  But as the seconds stretched into minutes, more blood welled at the corners of her eyes, trickling down her pale cheeks.

  Ryohei’s breath caught. “Elder?!”

  “I said SHUT UP! I’m focusing here!”

  The sudden outburst jolted Ryohei from his panic, and he bit back any further interruptions. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay composed.

  Elder Korpokkur continued to channel his energy, stabilizing her condition, before finally withdrawing his hand and exhaling a long, weary sigh.

  Ryohei hesitated but pushed past his anxiety. His mother was all that mattered.

  “H—how was she?”

  “Not good. Thanks to you.”

  His expression soured, shame settling in his stomach as he looked down in guilt. “I… I got too worked up. I’m sorry.”

  “Of course you should be ashamed!” Elder Korpokkur snapped. “I know you’re worried, but disturbing a doctor in the middle of treating a patient? Reckless.”

  “... I’m very sorry…”

  “Enough. What’s done is done.” The elder sighed, rubbing his temples. “I managed to stabilize her for now, but—”

  Ryohei’s head snapped up, his focus sharpening.

  “But what?”

  Elder Korpokkur’s brow furrowed. “It doesn’t make sense… Normally, any human consuming raw, unprocessed Pure Essence would die. Just like a yokai that consumes more spiritual energy than it can handle—they’ll explode.”

  Ryohei swallowed hard. “So… is she okay?”“... So is she okay?”

  “For now, yes. I stopped the worst of it, but something’s strange.” The elder’s voice grew thoughtful. “She should’ve died from this. But somehow, she was able to endure the Pure Essence.”

  Ryohei blinked. “How is that possible?”

  “The reason humans can’t consume spiritual treasures is that their spiritual energy pools are sealed. They haven’t been awakened yet.” Elder Korpokkur’s gaze darkened. “If your mother could withstand it… that means hers has already been awakened.”

  The words hung heavy in the air.

  Ryohei’s stomach twisted. “But that doesn’t make sense. My mother’s just… a normal human.”

  Elder Korpokkur’s eyes flicked to him, sharp and unreadable. “Is she? Are you sure?”

  Ryohei hesitated but remained quiet.

  Elder Korpokkur threw a glance at Ryohei. “Hey— is your mother by any chance an Ex–member of an Onmyouji?”

  This question throws Ryohei off, that came out of nowhere. “Her? An Onmyouji? I don’t think so. Why are you asking this?”

  “I already told you—only those who have an awakened spiritual pool can withstand Pure Essence. The fact that she survived proves it. Just like how you absorbed the Azure Divine Pearl, her body must have had somewhere to store the energy.” He paused, scrutinizing Ryohei’s expression. “The real question is—how was it awakened?”

  Ryohei frowned. “What do you mean? Can’t it just happen like… naturally?”

  Elder Korpokkur scoffed. “You really have no idea, huh? Awakening a human’s spiritual energy pool is a sacred ritual. It doesn’t just ‘happen’. The only capable group performing it among humans are the Onmyouji.”

  Ryohei’s breath hitched. “…The only ones? What about Yokai? How did they awaken it?”

  “Yokai are different from humans, they are born with their pools open. Humans, on the other hand, have to undergo the ritual to awaken theirs. Although it's rare, some humans do have those who were born with their pools opened. But it was respectively only for those with high spiritual sensitivity.” He crossed his arms. “Based on what I just examined, your mother isn’t one of them.”

  “Then how…” Ryohei’s eyebrow twitched as his thoughts raced.

  “Hey! Where are you going?!” Said Elder Korpokkur, confusedly.

  With a determined step, he strode into his room and grabbed his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen before he pressed the call button.

  The line rang.

  With each passing second, tension coiled tighter in his chest, as if he regretted relying on him.

  “Hello? Ryohei? It’s rare to see you call so early in the morning.”

  “Morning, father…”

  “How’s the situation there?”

  “Good... Ruri is recovering well,”

  “Thank goodness,”

  A brief silence hung over the call. Ryohei hesitated before speaking again.

  “...Father, does Mom have a connection to any shrine?"

  “A shrine? You mean like a Miko or something?”

  “Yeah… something like that.”

  His father hummed in thought. “Nothing comes to mind. As far as I know, she never had anything to do with a shrine. Back then, she was wild—energetic, and athletic, always on the move. Hanging around the kind of people with etiquette and rules never suited her.”

  Ryohei sighed as if relieved at that fact.

  “Why are you asking? If you need someone with shrine connections, I have a few acquaintances.”

  “No, it’s nothing. Just a small curiosity,” Ryohei said quickly. “That’s all I wanted to ask. I’ll be visiting Ruri in an hour, so…”

  That was just a lie to make his father end the call, but his father seems to have caught on to it and plays along.

  “Alright… Catch you later.”

  The call ended, leaving only the soft hum of the phone line before Ryohei lowered the device. He sighed, rubbing his temple.

  “That’s a very tense moment you have there, is he really your father?” Elder Korpokkur jumped in, trying to ease the mood.

  Ryohei felt irked at him for suddenly interfering. “You know it's bad manners to eavesdrop on someone while they’re on the phone.”

  “Hah! That’s human manner, doesn’t apply to us Yokai.” Elder Korpokkur snickers as he retorts

  Considering he helped his mother recover, Ryohei just let it settle down and move on.

  “Anyway, I called my father. He said no. She doesn’t have any sort of connection to Shrine or Onmyouji.” His voice was laced with doubt as he turned toward Elder Korpokkur. “Is it possible that you made a mistake?”

  Elder Korpokkur scoffed, his tiny form bristling with indignation. “How dare you underestimate my skill! I know what I sensed—she has something, something that stores the energy of pure essence!”

  “But that doesn’t explain how she could awaken her energy pool without—”

  Ryohei stopped mid-sentence. A thought struck him, freezing him in place. His brows knitted together as a question surfaced on his mind.

  ‘Hold on… since when did I awaken my energy pool? Was it during Hyakki Yagyo?’

  “Elder, this is ‘If only’ scenario, okay? If only, you obtained a drop of blood from a Yokai with a lifespan for over a thousand years… Is it considered as Spiritual Treasure?”

  Elder Korpokkur frowns, “I don’t know ‘How’ you managed to get that sort of thing. A yokai over a thousand years old must have skin as hard as Hihi’irokane, the Divine steel.”

  “Just answer the question please!”

  He sighed, “Yokai’s blood isn’t uncommon, it can act similar to any wonder drugs to strengthen any yokai, just like consuming magatama. But it only falls into the same level as Spiritual Herbs, nothing more than that. But if it's blood coming from a thousand year old Yokai, like you said… That’s considered as Spiritual Treasure.”

  “How can you determine which one is a spiritual treasure or not?”

  “Simple, it’s from the concentration of its spiritual energy. Any spiritual plants, material, or tools that bypass a certain threshold, it will be considered as Spiritual Treasure.”

  “...So, it’s fine if humans consume spiritual plants or herbs, but beyond that is dangerous?”

  “Yes. In order to withstand that level of concentrated Spiritual Energy, you need to have a spiritual energy pool. For example, it's like facing a gentle breeze—anyone can handle it. But when it turns into a raging storm, you need a sturdy shelter to endure it."

  After that clear explanation, Ryohei became more certain. He turned sharply toward the Elder.

  “Elder… What if it’s ‘hereditary’, would that make sense?”

  Elder Korpokkur’s expression darkened. “Hereditary?! What the hell are you talking about, it’s not—”

  “Please, hear me out first.” Ryohei’s voice carried a quiet urgency.

  And so, he told him everything. About his condition, a yokai energy inside of him that makes it possible for him to mutate into half yokai through Daitengu’s Ritual and consuming his Blood.

  The Elder listened in silence, his small face unreadable. When Ryohei finally finished, the old spirit let out a long, weary sigh.

  “I see, so that’s why you call yourself ‘Fake Yokai’ before a by–product of an accident…”

  He ran a wrinkled hand through his mossy hair, muttering curses under his breath.

  “That’s one hell of a revelation you’ve got there. Goddammit.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Ryohei frowned. “What’s wrong, Elder?”

  Another sigh. This one is heavier. “From that look on your face, I can tell you don’t understand… That kind of information? It’s dangerous. Too dangerous. I’m lucky my lifespan is already long enough, or I’d be terrified for my life.”

  Ryohei flinched. “Ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  “Yes, yes, I know you didn’t mean it.” From a total down, the corner of his mouth raised and turned into a smile, then he laughed while covering his eyes.

  “I guess I deserved this Karma for putting you in the spotlight too.”

  “Spotlight? What are you talking about?” Ask Ryohei, still confused on what he said.

  Elder Korpokkur’s gaze sharpened. “You do realize what you ate, don’t you?”

  “You mean the Azure Divine Pearl? Yeah, you told me it was precious… It has the power to grant whoever ate it the ability to create water… Something water yokai has always longed for.”

  The Elder let out a dry chuckle. “Oh, you’re way off, brat. It’s not just ‘precious’ It’s ‘Invaluable’. Have you ever thought that a yokai can consume that Pure Essence? A pure concentration of spiritual energy that could make ANY yokai stronger? And you—” his finger jabbed at Ryohei’s chest, “—just so happen to have the ability to create Pure Essence from nature itself, whenever and wherever you want.”

  Ryohei’s eyes twitched, and the grip of his hand tightened. ‘If he put it like that… yeah, not once have I thought of that’

  Ryohei was too focused on creating essence for the sake of curing his sister.

  “If word got out that you possess that kind of ability,” Elder Korpokkur continued, his voice grim, “let’s just say that dozens of powerful yokai clans from all over Japan would hunt you down, capture you, and force you to produce that essence for the rest of your life.”

  A cold shiver ran down Ryohei’s spine.

  “W…Wait! But that’s—”

  “Heh, too late for regrets.” Elder Korpokkur snickered. “What you just told me also works the same as putting a dagger up my throats too. But hey, you’re getting stronger, aren’t you? And now you have the power to cure your sister. Do you regret consuming it?

  Ryohei’s gaze lowered. His jaw tightened.

  “...No. I don’t.”

  The Elder smirked. “Then it’s fine. Just keep your mouth shut. No one else needs to know about this.”

  A pause. Then, he sighed, shoulders slumping.

  “Us Korpokkur have always lived with that kind of danger. So, another one won’t make a difference.”

  “You’re in danger too?”

  "You're usually quick to catch on, but this time you're way behind. Korpokkur can grow spiritual herbs—what yokai clan wouldn't want that? In the past, they burned down our homes trying to capture us, but we barely managed to escape and survive by staying hidden."

  Ryohei fell silent. He never realized how much suffering the Korpokkur had endured.

  “And now,” the Elder continued, “we share the same fate. Pure Essence can’t be used to grow herbs without us Korpokkur, while we Korpokkur can only grow a limited amount without Pure Essence. We both are in mutual danger. Why don’t we make a deal?”

  “A deal?”

  The Elder nodded. “We’ll offer you our assistance whenever you need it, but in return, you come to our aid when we need you.”

  Ryohei hesitated. ‘It sounds genuine… but it’s too soon. I’m just one yokai in the countryside with limited power. I can’t protect them.’

  Ryohei glanced at his palm. ‘Not to mention, this power…’

  With a heavy heart, he shook his head. “Sorry, but I can’t take that deal.”

  The Elder raised a brow.

  “I’m just a powerless yokai,” Ryohei admitted. “I’m alone. I wouldn’t be able to protect the Korpokkur clan. Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for your help. But…”

  His gaze softened as he looked toward his mother, sleeping soundly. “I need to prioritize protecting my family.”

  Elder Korpokkur studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I won’t force you. But if you change your mind, feel free to contact us. You’ve already proven yourself worthy of our trust.”

  Ryohei nodded in return.

  “Now,” the Elder said, stretching his tiny arms, “where were we? Oh, right! Your mother. Since you told me that story, I finally connected the dots. I wouldn’t believe it myself, but if what you said is true, then that ‘hereditary’ idea of yours… might just be real.”

  “So, it’s true that I got this yokai energy from my mother?” Ryohei’s voice was quiet, but beneath it, there was a weight—an uncertainty he wasn’t sure how to process.

  “Yep. You said she was always healthy and athletic when she was young, right? No wonder—she had yokai energy inside her, layered on top of her unawakened energy pool.”

  Ryohei furrowed his brow. “So yokai energy and spiritual energy are separate?”

  “Well… the answer is yes and no, since this is the first time I heard someone who had Yokai energy inside them, my explanation might be slightly off but bear with it."

  Elder Korpokkur controlled clean water from the kitchen faucet as well as puddles of dirt water outside.

  “Imagine this dirty water as Yokai energy. Normally, it should have mixed with the rest of the water, creating one big muddy water. But since your mother never really awakened her energy pool, it didn’t mix.”

  Elder Korpokkur blew a cold breath that froze the clean water. “See this? It didn’t mix right?”

  “But… What if it is mixed? What would happen?”

  Elder Korpokkur snickered, “Heh, that’s what happened to you, and any other halflings.”

  “Ah… I understand now, so that’s how it is.

  He continues, “For your information, A Yokai spiritual energy was slightly different from those Human Exorcists had. Yokai energy or imagine it as dirty water, will passively enhance your body. More Strength, greater stamina, better agility, and faster recovery. While the spiritual energy of a human exorcist is more dormant. You have to activate it manually, and that is why they perform external stuff they call Onmyou Arts or something, it is to manifest the spiritual energy within them.”

  A pause. Ryohei’s fingers curled slightly. “Then… the reason she fell ill was because of… me?”

  “Yeah. When she gave birth to you, all that yokai energy inside her was transferred into you. But energy isn’t just something you can remove without consequences. The space where it used to be didn’t just vanish—it left behind a void, like an empty vessel inside her.

  Elder Korpokkur let out a slow exhale. “Yeah. When she gave birth to you, the yokai energy she carried was all transferred to you. But the space where that energy once resided didn’t just disappear—it left behind a void, like a hollow vessel inside her.”

  "That’s why, even though her energy pool was unawakened, she was still able to store some of the energy coming from the Pure Essence she drank. Instead of being completely overwhelmed by it. Although she can take it, the concentrated energy in the essence was still too strong, and her body couldn't contain it all—so that’s why she bled from her nose and eyes, to purge the excess energy from her body.”

  Ryohei clenched his jaw, his heart pounding with a mix of guilt and worry. “I see… but she’ll be fine, right?”

  Elder Korpokkur’s lips curled into a reassuring grin. “Healthier than ever! And this is good news for you, too. You can supply her with small doses of Pure Essence to keep her healthy.”

  “Really?!” Ryohei’s eyes lit up with excitement, his previous unease momentarily forgotten.

  The elder waved a tiny hand in warning. “Yes, but only in small doses! And always dilute it in water. Give her too much, and you’ll just make her condition worse.”

  Ryohei took a deep breath, nodding with determination. “Right… Thank you, Elder Korpokkur.”

  “We’re done here, right? Carry me back before your mother wakes up.”

  Ryohei took him back to the pond, during the way out. He was silent and in deep thought.

  Elder Korpokkur glanced up at Ryohei, his keen eyes narrowing. “...What’s with you spacing out? Got something on your mind?”

  “Ah… no, nothing much.”

  The elder huffed. “Come on now, we just spilled each other’s secrets. Just spit it out, I might be of some help.”

  Ryohei hesitated before finally speaking. “You said any yokai that consumes Pure Essence can grow stronger, right? Like when they eat other yokai and absorb their Magatama?”

  “Similar? Hah! Of course not! Pure Essence is way more valuable than Magatama… Well, unless it’s a Magatama from a strong elder Yokai, it’s arguable.”

  A thoughtful expression crossed Ryohei’s face. “Then… can’t I just consume it myself to get stronger?”

  Elder Korpokkur went silent for a moment, then sighed. “Well, no one said you can’t… but I wouldn’t recommend doing it often.”

  Ryohei tilted his head. “Why not? It’s like a safe shortcut to power, isn’t it?”

  The elder folded his arms. “Sure, it is. But think of it like this—you’re used to eating regular food: yokai flesh, Magatama, or spiritual herbs. Then, out of nowhere, you get to taste a meal made from the purest, most divine ingredients. The flavor is unlike anything you’ve ever had before—so rich and overwhelming. Your body—or rather, your taste buds will adjust to the heavenly taste of that food. When the time comes where you have to go back to consuming regular food… it will just taste bland. Disgusting, even.”

  A chill ran down Ryohei’s spine. “So, I’d get addicted to it?”

  “Exactly. The more you consume, the more you’ll crave it. Then, you’ll start making more just to feed yourself. And before you know it, you won’t be able to function without it.”

  “…Like a drug.”

  The elder nodded solemnly. “Even the best medicine turns into poison if you take too much. So, if you want to consume it… feel free, but be aware of overconsumption of that thing.”

  Ryohei let the words sink in before asking, “Then what’s a safe amount? Once a week? Once a month?”

  Elder Korpokkur stroked his chin. “A full glass… once every two months. No more than that.”

  “Alright… Thank you.”

  Right after Ryohei carried him back and was about to return. Elder called him out.

  “Got it. Thanks.”

  As Ryohei carried him back, the elder suddenly called out, “Oh, and don’t forget about tonight’s batch! You’re still one glass short!”

  Ryohei froze mid-step, his face paling. He had completely forgotten. He let out a sigh, already dreading the extra work.

  After being unconscious for hours, Ryohei’s mother groaned as she slowly woke up.

  A warm, fragrant scent filled the air—ginger and leek. She blinked drowsily, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen, where she saw Ryohei moving back and forth.

  “...Ryohei?”

  He poked his head out from the kitchen, relief washing over his face. “Ah, you’re awake! Thank goodness—I was shocked to find you passed out on the couch.”

  “I… passed out?” she asked, still groggy.

  “Yeah. Looks like exhaustion finally caught up to you. Just rest for now and eat this porridge I made for you.”

  She slowly sat up as he brought the steaming bowl over. “Thank you… What time is it?”

  “It’s two in the afternoon.”

  Her eyes widened. “Two?! I need to get back to the hospital—”

  She tried to rise, but the moment she did, Ryohei’s hand pressed firmly against her shoulder, keeping her in place. No matter how much she tried to push against him, he wouldn’t budge.

  It wasn’t that he was using force. It was just… he felt stronger. Or maybe… she had just grown weaker.

  “Nope,” he said firmly. “You’re resting today. I’ll visit Ruri and keep her entertained.”

  She hesitated, then sighed as she admitted defeat. He wasn’t wrong—she had been overworking herself for months.

  But strangely… she didn’t feel sick anymore. In fact, she felt great. Even so, Ryohei still refused to let her move around, insisting she take it easy for the day.

  “Thanks for visiting!” one of the librarians called out as Ryohei stepped out of the library.

  Right after he came out, as usual. He took his umbrella out and transformed himself into Half Yokai, then sprinted through the air as he moved along the wind.

  This would likely be his last visit to the library. He had gathered everything he needed.

  Along the way he glanced at the river on the town's outskirts, hoping to see a glimpse of his target.

  “I’ve obtained all the pieces, all that’s left is locating the target… I have to strengthen my search from tonight onward.”

  That night, he stayed at the hospital until Ruri fell asleep, then took the long way home—following the river, searching for any signs.

  “Hey! You’re finally back!” Elder Korpokkur called out as Ryohei returned home.

  “What’s wrong?” Ryohei asked, walking toward him.

  “It’s done,” the elder grinned. “The Dokudami has fully matured and turned into a proper Spiritual Herb. We can start the treatment soon.”

  Ryohei’s face lit up. “Really?!”

  “Yeah, just to be sure, let me add another Pure Essence to strengthen it—”

  “Yeah, just to be sure. Let me add another Pure Essence just to make the herbs stronger—”

  Before he could finish, Ryohei had already bolted toward the house, eager to create the Pure Essence.

  Elder Korpokkur chuckled, watching him go. “Heh… such a simple kid.”

  A few moments later, Ryohei returned with a glass filled with Pure Essence.

  Elder Korpokkur took it and poured it directly onto the plants, chanting as he demonstrated the process to the young Korpokkur. The Dokudami leaves grew lusher, and several delicate white flowers bloomed all at once. With a careful tug, Elder Korpokkur uprooted the plant and placed it inside a wooden box for preservation.

  “…Shall we go, then?” Ryohei asked.

  “Pipe down, brat. I still have things to teach her,” Elder Korpokkur replied, waving him off. “Besides, don’t we usually move at night when no one’s around?”

  “…Right, sorry. I just feel uneasy. I want to cure her as soon as possible… And don’t freshly harvested herbs work best for recovery?”

  Elder Korpokkur smirked, lifting the wooden box. “No need to worry. I’ve got this.”

  Ryohei eyed it curiously. “What’s that?”

  “This is Yakubako—a low-grade spiritual treasure, a medicine box designed for preserving materials with spiritual energy. With this, the herbs will stay fresh for a long time, and their potency won’t diminish.”

  Ryohei leaned in for a closer look. The box was beautifully crafted, with intricate carvings along the sides and elegant calligraphy adorning the lid.

  “Alright, enough gawking. Go back inside. Your mother’s probably worried sick… We’ll cure her tonight.”

  “…Alright. See you later.”

  With that, Ryohei turned and headed back inside.