Help! I changed the gender of the male protagonist in the yandere game

Inside the walls of Kasumi City, Katsura glared at her visitor.

Anyone could feel the anger radiating from her, the surrounding air seeming to ripple with her rage.

“This tea is truly excellent. It's Ureshino tea from Saga, isn't it? The lord of Kasumi City is truly thoughtful, sending such a precious tea.”

The speaker was a slender and petite young woman with long, raven-black hair cascading from her shoulders, giving the impression of a zashiki warashi.

She had a beautiful, doll-like face, and her large, dark eyes were particularly striking. She wore a narrow-sleeved kimono that resembled mourning attire, adorned with a Sayagata pattern—a type of swastika design—typically reserved for non-celebratory occasions. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that her delicate features closely resembled Katsura's, almost as if she were a miniature version of her.

She was clearly very surprised by the appearance of the “former head of the family,” Kurokami Yama Misumi.

Of course, she couldn't reveal this "surprise," and could only feign anger.

—That old hag, isn't she usually completely uninvolved? Does she want to interfere now?

Kurokami Yama Misumi had rarely interfered in family affairs since her daughter, Miyuki, took over.

However, Misumi still held immense power within the Kurokami Yama family and was the greatest supporter of the clan's leader, Miyuki.

“Katsura, are you perhaps thinking—‘Why has that old hag come here’?”

The black-haired young woman, with a physique like a child, held a ceramic teacup in her hands. As she leisurely sipped her tea, she said softly, “Oh, right, right now, you must be thinking, ‘That old hag, isn't she usually completely uninvolved? Does she want to interfere now?’ Isn't that right?”

“So, what brings your esteemed self here?”

Katsura wasn't particularly surprised that her thoughts were read, and simply asked calmly, “I don't recall doing anything that would warrant your concern.”

“Is that so?”

Misumi smiled. “Speaking of which, just now… your little lover, and the young leader of the Tsukigahara clan, have both been captured by me.”

“You!”

Katsura instantly flew into a rage.

She revealed a face burning with fierce anger, glaring menacingly at her opponent.

“Do you wish to die?”

In that instant, Misumi, who had been sitting and drinking tea, noticed unnatural black spots appearing on her right hand, spreading rapidly.

“This, have you cursed me?”

As Misumi spoke, red-black blood gushed from her mouth—Katsura's power had been activated.

Almost instantly, deadly pathogens and curses were implanted within that body.

“However… you cannot kill me.”

Misumi smirked, and her body began to crumble. No, not crumble, but transform into countless paper talismans.

“I apologize… this is merely an avatar.”

From the scattered paper talismans, a small paper doll shikigami floated out.

“After all, when meeting a granddaughter skilled in curses and hexes, a little caution is not a major fault… Also, you, child, have a habit of not letting people finish speaking.”

“Old hag, what exactly are you up to? Are you really going to tear apart our relationship?”

Katsura spat out the words with a demon-like face.

“I would never do anything bad to my cute granddaughter… Am I not asking you to let me finish speaking?”

Misumi sighed deeply. “The reason I rushed here this time is merely to protect them. First of all, Miyuki has already returned to the main family from Kyoto. As far as I know, she has made thorough preparations for this return.”

The paper doll shikigami spoke softly, “In addition, I have received new information. Miyuki intends to marry again, and the person she is marrying is said to be ‘the young leader of the Sugatsuki clan.’ Little girl, do you understand what that means?”

“That's impossible!!!”

Katsura shouted with a furious expression, “The Sugatsuki clan is clearly already…”

“Yes, it is impossible.”

Misumi said with a sneer, “However, that is what Miyuki is saying. She has also brought back a young man and announced to the Kurokami Yama clan that he is the young leader of the Sugatsuki clan, and her future husband.”

“…”

Katsura suddenly thought of something, lowered her head, and fell silent.

“Miyuki must have her reasons for doing this.”

The paper shikigami sighed again.

“Although she is my daughter, even I cannot understand the intentions behind some of the things she does.”

“You're not here to help me, are you?”

Katsura remained cold and sarcastic.

“I only care about the affairs of the clan and will not deliberately favor any side.”

The paper doll shikigami replied calmly, “In a few days at most, Miyuki will definitely send people to Kasumi City to demand their release. Her first target is Tsukigahara Yomei, and the next person she will target is you. Without your protection, one can imagine what will happen to that person.”

“So, you captured them in advance.”

Katsura frowned.

“That's right. I can temporarily detain her under the false pretense that Tsukigahara Yomei poses a threat to the clan, and lock her away in the ‘House of Lost Ways.’”

Misumi explained calmly, “Although that is a place where even Miyuki's power cannot interfere, she probably won't give up so easily… Therefore, my protection can only be maintained for a while and cannot protect them indefinitely.”

“I understand.”

After falling silent, Katsura quickly understood Misumi's intentions.

“In other words, this part has to be handled by me…”

“If nothing unexpected happens, Miyuki will also send the Kakuhebi-shu to interfere. Next, you will need to find a way to contribute.”

Misumi said slowly, “I have said all that I need to say. How you act is up to you.”

The paper doll then burst into flames in an instant, burning to ashes in the blink of an eye.

“That old hag!”

Although Katsura knew that Misumi was not hostile, she was still impolite. At the same time, her mind was racing.

“The young leader of the Sugatsuki clan… Heh heh, that woman is truly shameless…”

She rested her hand on her chin and suddenly revealed a sneer.

Very well, this is also a good opportunity to defeat that woman.

“Then, I'll use a little extra power.”

Katsura thought to herself, a cold smile appearing on her lips, and the surrounding scenery twisted in an instant.

This was some kind of space-altering technique, transforming the Japanese-style room into a space resembling an alchemical workshop.

The walls here were engraved with numerous runes and Western-style magical circles.

Shelves held a large number of beakers and alchemical instruments, as well as jars containing youkai and strangely shaped organs immersed in liquid.

Scattered on the ground were papers covered in complex formulas and diagrams, revealing that their owner had pondered them hundreds, even thousands of times. These discarded drafts were the remnants of those crystallizations of thought.

In the very center of the room was a device resembling a spherical glass container, within which, faintly visible, was a wriggling human figure.

Anyone sensitive to spiritual power would feel, upon entering this place, that this container was filled with immense power, steadily taking shape under the guidance of the runes and formulas engraved on the glass—this was a “crystallization” created using spiritual power, imitating the fetal development process in the womb.

“It's developing nicely.”

Katsura smiled cheerfully.

“Heh heh… Does that insidious woman want to create a child using surrogate techniques? That method is too time-consuming. If you're pursuing efficiency, wouldn't the homunculus technology of alchemy be more convenient?”

—What is the need to specifically seek out a maternal body?

—With my abilities, even without the help of Tsukigahara Yomei, I can still cultivate a child.

Of course, she didn't plan to create artificial humans lacking a soul.

According to Western alchemy, Homunculi are flawed, inferior humans because they are made by human hands, not by God, and are inherently inferior to humans.

Gehua craved a child of her own and 'his'; she only intended to borrow the Homunculus's technology of nurturing life.

—That's right, a method of creating life by using external instruments without relying on a mother's womb.

"Grow up quickly, my child…"

Gehua said ecstatically. Her eyes sparkled.

'Papa and Mama need your help.'

A lifeform combining her and his bloodline, fusing their blood and cells, was emitting intense pulsations within the container—as if responding to her expectations. Strong waves of energy transmitted out in bursts.

……

"I'm exhausted."

Hyakusuke rubbed his shoulders.

He had spent the entire day battling the Five Vajra Generals.

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This wasn't an ordinary "battle," but a trial passed down through generations of the Black Princess Mountain clan, or rather, a ritual.

"This is the 'Subjugation' of the Five Vajra Generals."

Black Princess Mountain Mikado explained, mentioning a Buddhist term: "Subjugation."

—Subjugation, in Buddhism, refers to harmonizing the three karmas of body, speech, and mind to subdue all evils. Similarly, through supreme Dharma power, gods and Buddhas can also subdue demons and spirits, making them their protectors.

The Five Vajra Generals are protector demons and spirits, also "Divine Generals." Hyakusuke's battle with the Five Vajra Generals was a ritual of subjugation.

"This subjugation method is called the Five Vajra Ritual. The Five Vajra Generals possess the five Vajra essences of Qi, Fire, Earth, Water, and Void. Each time you defeat a General, you can absorb a portion of their essence."

Black Princess Mountain Mikado continued, "Although your talent is not high, absorbing the Five Vajra Essences will rapidly enhance your mastery of the Five Vajra Arts, saving you about ten years of time."

The subjugation process involves first defeating the Qi Vajra General, then successively defeating the Fire, Earth, Water, and Void Generals.

"These guys really don't hold back when they start fighting…"

Hyakusuke took off his clothes and headed to the hot spring behind the forest.

His body was covered in wounds, both old scars from the past and new injuries. Since they were injuries sustained before consuming the mermaid flesh, the old wounds hadn't healed.

"Mikado said this hot spring also has healing properties."

Besides the old wounds, he also had some new injuries, but thanks to the effects of the mermaid flesh, most had healed. However, more than physical wounds, he felt mental fatigue.

"Soaking in the hot spring should alleviate it a bit, right?"

He wrapped a towel around his lower body and dipped his toe to test the water temperature.

"It's alright; the temperature isn't too hot."

Hyakusuke muttered to himself, slowly lowering his body into the water.

He looked up at the sky. Above the hot spring, constructed with natural rocks, where the ceiling should be, he could see the outdoor starry sky.

'This should also just be a false creation, right? Probably created with magic or something…'

His eyes held a hint of confusion as he pondered in his heart.

The Five Vajra Generals didn't try to kill during the battles because they belonged to the category of "Guardian Deities," lesser gods with relatively high intelligence. Although they considered holding back, they were still quite brutal when they attacked.

He had been beaten quite a bit during the subjugation ritual these past few days.

Black Princess Mountain Mikado claimed this was only natural. Cultivating the Five Vajra Arts took a lot of time; it was easy to learn but difficult to master. Few exorcists of the Black Princess Mountain clan had ever fully mastered the Five Vajra Arts.

"Without spending time, it's difficult to gain experience and wisdom. However, the means of subjugation can overcome the time constraint, or rather, compress time at high speed."

That was her explanation.

"The subjugation ritual, simply put, is a shortcut to mastering the Five Vajra Arts."

"Since it's a shortcut… are there any side effects?"

"Yes."

Mikado explained with a smile, "Summoning the Five Vajra Generals and completing the subjugation ritual also requires the participant's essence. Each time you initiate the ritual, it consumes your own life essence. The longer the battle drags on, the greater your essence depletion. Simply put, it's a race against time."

Participating in the subjugation ritual had its risks. If the exorcist couldn't defeat the Five Vajra Generals or dragged out the time for too long, their stamina and essence would be completely drained.

"Huh?"

Only now did Hyakusuke understand why he would quickly collapse after each battle lasting less than an incense stick's time. So that's what was happening.

"A normal exorcist can't initiate this kind of subjugation ritual more than a few times a day because their essence would quickly be depleted."

Mikado praised, "You, on the other hand, are surprisingly able to endure over thirty subjugation rituals a day. You really have abundant stamina."

No, it wasn't abundant stamina.

Hyakusuke realized that it was because he had consumed the mermaid flesh, and his essence was quickly restored each time it was absorbed.

'Could it be… Mikado knew that I had consumed the mermaid flesh and that's why she adopted the subjugation ritual? After all, this ritual is more beneficial than harmful to me…'

He exhaled.

"The Qi Vajra General, one of the Five Generals, has also been subdued by me."

Hyakusuke looked at his right hand. A tattoo-like pattern appeared on the back of his hand, the Qi Vajra Mark, part of the Five Vajra Marks.

According to Mikado, after defeating a General in the subjugation ritual, one would obtain the Five Vajra Marks. If completely successful, one would gain the qualification to summon the Five Vajra Generals.

"So, by passing this subjugation ritual, not only can I successfully cultivate the Five Vajra Arts, but I can also summon five guardian-level demons and spirits?"

Hyakusuke understood the purpose of this subjugation ritual.

He leaned back against the large rock at the edge of the hot spring, soaking his body in the faintly greenish hot water, only his head exposed.

The temperature difference between the cold outdoor air and the warm spring water was pleasant, seemingly washing away the previous fatigue.

Hyakusuke closed his eyes and completely relaxed.

It had to be said that he was completely relaxed at this moment—

Suddenly, he heard someone humming softly in his ear.

Then, a "splashing" sound came, and a shadow was moving over the misty water surface.

Wait, at this time, besides himself, the only one who would come here to bathe would be—

"Wait! Is someone here?"

Hyakusuke exclaimed in alarm.

However, what emerged from the mist was a huge shadow.

It was a bear.

It was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"A bear, a bear demon?"

Hyakusuke breathed a sigh of relief.

He remembered that this was the House of the Lost, and besides himself and the others, many other youkai resided here—many of the youkai here were like Black Princess Mountain Mikado's pets, harmless to humans.

This bear youkai seemed to just be here for a bath as well. It leisurely sat down, submerging its entire body in the deepest part of the water.

"Hoo…"

Hyakusuke breathed a sigh of relief, glad that no scandalous situation had occurred.

Suddenly, a voice reached his ear.

"Lord Hyakusuke… are you there?"

Hyakusuke was stunned. He turned his head and saw a blue butterfly, fluttering its beautiful wings, floating in the night.