Summary
Abandoned by his destitute mother during his youth, Kouya was raised by a youma he referred to as Ǒkii-no, or big one, who in turn called him Chiisai-no, or little one. Their lives changed when Kouya met Rokuta at midnight. Rokuta bestowed the name Kouya upon his new friend, a moniker meaning midnight, and Kouya eagerly adopted it to avoid forgetting it, a fear stemming from his inability to recall the name his mother had given him. To ensure he never forgot Rokuta, Kouya requested that Ǒkii-no address him by this new name and began calling the youma Rokuta instead. During this time, Enki expressed a desire to journey to Hourai, believing it to be a tranquil realm where he might reunite with his mother. Later, Kouya encountered Atsuyu, the governor of En's Baku Province, who welcomed him with apparent kindness. In return for his loyalty, Atsuyu provided Kouya with housing and a formal education. This arrangement drew Kouya into Atsuyu’s plot to overthrow Shouryuu, the King of En, which took place one hundred years into the monarch's reign. After Atsuyu’s defeat, Kouya departed En and assumed the title of Kenroushin-kun (犬狼真君, Kenrōshin-kun), a heavenly sage dedicated to protecting travelers across the Yellow Sea. He has since waited for Shoryu to fulfill his promise of establishing a peaceful sanctuary where Kouya and Ǒkii-no could reside together.
