>>92325>So this means it's not only Aya who writes misinformation>misinformationYou make it sound as if Aya (or tengu at large) is some fifth column or the Evil Genius of Cartesian fame. The Bunbunharu that was presented in AFiEU has never been never published exactly because it featured straight up misinformation and outlandish manipulation (but still not only, there were honest articles there just as well). In LE the only example of purposeful misinformation would be Red Snow. All other cases of misalignment with truth, from BAiJR till now, are either an example of honest misinterpretation of gathered evidence or some light colorisation of facts. And this goes both for Bunbunmaru and Kakashi.
>Most tengu think only about themselves and their own profits, as proven by them trying to capitalise off the Moriya ropewayThis is oversimplification. Or rather, it's like saying that most humans think only about themselves and their own profits. Which, I wager, if someone tried to make an average of all decisions any person makes throughout life, would probably be more or less true. But at the same time I think we all acknowledge that most people aren't egoists just because only sometimes their morals cause them to act in spite of their own interests.
As an actual example, there is the oft mentioned article on Yukari from BAiJR, in which Aya stands up against gap-hag on purely moral grounds, but she also warns and tries to hide Marisa from other tengu whenever the ordinary witch sneaks into Youkai Mountain, as evidenced by both hers and Hatate's comments in DS. You could probably create some uncharitable explanation behind such concern, but I think its hard to do it even semi-convincingly. Hatate, while much less occupied with plights of non-tengu, seems to care about her fellows beyond her own gains. And we still don't have enough of insight into Megumu to tell for sure if she is nothing more than another Machiavellian 2hu she appears now. And frankly speaking, I've just reread LE chapter 38 just to make sure and I think some more charitable interpretation of Megumu's actions, as deceptive as they were, is possible. An interpretation that allows for her to care beyond her own and even tengu profits.
I would also hesitate a bit before using Hatate's comments from DS about anything as absolute truth beyond showcasing what she thinks about something. She has less background knowledge than Aya (who can be wrong at times too), she is excited about finally going out of her house and practicing proper reporting instead of thoughtography, she is notably more idealistic, all of those things probably skewing her judgement. There should be another source, even Aya's comment, mentioning something similar before using Hatate's comment as something more substantial. The political landscape of Youkai Mountain has been complicated ever since MoF and it only gets more complicated as other factors are added, yamanaba and Sanctuary being an example.