chapter 3. Yagokoro Eirin! Embrace me!

chapter 3. Yagokoro Eirin! Embrace me!

The voice sounded somewhat youthful and childlike.

Was it an illusion...?

Yagokoro Eirin didn't dwell on it much, and she pushed open the door to the princess's chamber.

"Eirin! Hold me!"

In the depths of the princess's room, Yagokoro Eirin saw an incredibly adorable child.

Her cuteness was enough to shake even the minds of the emotionless Lunarians.

Even Yagokoro Eirin, who had lived for billions of years, felt an impulse to hold her in her arms.

"Princess...?"

It was the now-shrunken Houraisan Kaguya.

A soft, pink-cheeked, childlike version of Kaguya.

With her tiny feet padding on the pristine floor, the little Kaguya ran toward Eirin, lifting the hem of her skirt as she went.

She spread her arms wide, her voice sweet and innocent as she begged, "Eirin, hold me!"

Her pure, untainted eyes were filled with nothing but joy and affection for the person she loved most.

Accompanied by her gesture of wanting to be held, Eirin felt as if something had struck her heart.

"Uh..."

For a moment, she didn't know how to react, but she bent down and picked up the little Kaguya.

"Princess, how did you end up like this?"

"What do you mean, like this?"

Little Kaguya blinked her large eyes, confused by Eirin's question.

"I mean, how did you get so small?"

"What are you talking about, Eirin? I've always been like this."

"..."

Eirin fell silent, but her expression subtly changed.

"Princess, did something happen?"

"Nope."

The reply was immediate and honest, without any hesitation.

But Eirin was already certain that something had indeed happened to Kaguya.

And not something minor.

She could see it now—Kaguya had deliberately made herself smaller and sealed away most of her memories.

She had turned herself into a true child.

A carefree child... carefree...

What could have driven the princess to such an extreme, to escape from reality like this...?

"I see. So, Princess, what would you like to do now?"

"Play with me!"

Eirin, known as the Eightfold Diviner, the deity of wisdom, had watched over Kaguya since she was a child, teaching and guiding her step by step.

But Kaguya was also more than that—a cherished companion, a confidante.

Someone Eirin willingly devoted herself to.

Their relationship was one of both teacher and friend, mentor and servant.

"Eirin, Eirin, Eirin?"

Little Kaguya snuggled against Eirin's chest, her affection for the one she loved most overflowing, with no attempt to hide it.

Even the normally composed and calm Eirin couldn't help but show a rare tenderness in response to Kaguya's constant affection.

"The Princess seems to be in a very good mood."

"Because I'm with you, Eirin."

"I see..."

Eirin's expression grew even gentler.

Perhaps because she had reverted to a child, little Kaguya quickly grew tired and fell asleep in Eirin's arms.

Eirin gently placed her on the bed. However, even in sleep, little Kaguya clung tightly to her sleeve, refusing to let go.

"..."

Eirin stood there for a moment, pondering.

She glanced at the bed, then at the child in her arms.

Her soft, round face was peaceful in sleep, and no one would want to wake her.

With a resigned sigh, Eirin lifted the covers and lay down beside her, cradling little Kaguya in her arms.

Making sure Kaguya hadn't woken, Eirin's gentle expression shifted into one of thoughtful concern.

The little Kaguya was cute and reminded Eirin of Kaguya's younger days.

But Eirin hadn't forgotten that Kaguya had transformed herself for a reason.

Still, she wasn't overly worried.

As a deity of wisdom and someone who had been by Kaguya's side since she was young, Eirin had already deduced quite a bit.

The key point was that Kaguya had summoned her when she transformed.

This was important.

Calling her specifically suggested that Kaguya could solve this herself—or, conversely, that the problem was so severe that even she couldn't handle it alone.

As for why she became a child...

There were two reasons.

First, Kaguya was communicating the gravity of the situation.

'Though becoming small is deliberate, if this issue isn't resolved, I might really seal away my memories and body to escape reality.'

Second, Kaguya could resolve the problem, but it might be challenging, so she used her childish form to soften Eirin up.

Thus, there was no need to worry too much.

It hadn't reached a critical point yet.

For now, Eirin just had to wait for Kaguya to return to normal.

The next morning, when Kaguya returned to her adult form, she lay on the bed, smiling at the just-awakened Eirin.

"Good morning, Eirin."

Upon opening her eyes, Eirin was greeted with Kaguya's ethereal beauty, a sight so divine that even the finest painting couldn't capture its charm.

Under that celestial allure, even Eirin couldn't help but lose focus for a moment.

"...Good morning, Princess."

Kaguya didn't linger in Eirin's arms. She naturally sat up on the bed, her graceful demeanor effortlessly returning.

"Thank you for your trouble. I hope yesterday's events didn't cause you too much inconvenience."

Her beautiful eyes gleamed with a smile as she lightly covered her lips with her wide sleeves. Just sitting there, she exuded the elegance and poise of the Lunar Princess.

"Not at all."

Eirin shook her head.

After getting out of bed and tidying her clothes, she finally spoke again.

"So, Princess, can you tell me what happened now?"

"Of course. Let me think of how to start..."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Kaguya shared her thoughts.

"I want to leave the Lunar Capital, and I hope to have your help, Eirin."

"Leave...?"

Though unexpected, it wasn't entirely surprising.

Kaguya had always felt out of place in the Lunar Capital.

Eirin furrowed her brow, thoughts racing in her mind.

Kaguya's words echoed once again.

"Yes."

With a soft sigh, the princess looked out at the unchanging landscape of the Lunar Capital, her gaze faraway.

"The Lunar Capital is too small. The minds of the Lunarians are constrained. This place, immaculate and unchanging, has remained the same for thousands, even millions of years. I've grown bored and tired of it all. If I stay here any longer, I might go mad from the monotony."

"Uh..."

It was actually because of boredom?

A flash of surprise passed through Eirin's eyes.

Yet, boredom wasn't an entirely trivial matter either.

For immortals like them, boredom could be easily endured.

But if that boredom grew to the point of being unbearable...

The consequences could be dire, potentially leading to self-destruction, like some short-lived beings who suddenly gained immortality.

So Eirin had no argument against this reasoning.

"And besides—"

"The Lunar Capital has changed."

Kaguya gazed out at the distant horizon, as if the entire capital lay within her view.

"My mother, who once sought to assimilate the Moon, can no longer be reasoned with. And under her loosening control, the once-wise sages of the Moon have grown twisted and obsessed."

Her voice was serene, devoid of any emotion.

"Everything has begun to decay, and no one can stop it."

"Eirin—"

She turned back, her eyes, dark as the night sky, filled with sorrow.

"I have no power to change this. All I can do is escape from this all-consuming vortex."