What would happen if youkais are extinct? Would it be beneficial or somewhat troublesome?

[Sir I]

^title post^

[waddlewaffle]

Iffy talk and all, youkais are integral to the cycle of change since the fathom of humans fearing youkai is etched in. If they were to be extinct, would the cycle... be dissect out? Humans won't have a primal fear in youkai anymore. They could live in peace and not worry about youkais anymore.

But, really, the cycle is like Yin and Yang already. The balance of Gensokyo itself without youkai is... a fascinating one, to say. Primal fear is what built up over years, but people can learn to suppress the primal fear and become friends with some youkai. Yes, that sounds outlandish in context, but... the thought of human and youkai working together can still be achieved. The primal fear still lingers of course, but they're not as egregious as before.

 

I'd say it is troublesome in a way, that the fear balance handle is basically gone, it'd become just a normal blandish world. It's not Gensokyo without youkai contributing to the thrive and falls, step by step, alongside humans. Crafting fear, beliefs and mutual respondance.

[AMT]

Canonically, the youkai protect the human village from natural disasters and such, as they require the fear of living humans to even exist. The youkai need humans more than the other way around really.