Ch.96Is Revenge What Princess Wants?

# The Kitsune Family’s territory was about half the size of Yeouido when compared to Korea.

And in the middle of this vast estate stood the grand castle symbolizing the Kitsune Family.

Deep beneath this castle, where only the family head was permitted to stay, lay an ancient place passed down since prehistoric times.

It was an underground fighting arena where direct descendants of similar ages engaged in deadly combat against each other.

This was a story unknown to ordinary people.

It was the dark aspect of one of the World’s 10 Great Families, known only to the Kitsune Family elders and certain privileged supporters who fervently backed the family from behind the scenes.

‘This is ridiculous, it’s not like we’re in some Roman Colosseum…’

A nonsensical scene of slaughter that still existed in the 21st century, an era that had developed concepts of human rights.

Surrounding the arena where direct descendants battled was a spectator stand built for those who came to witness the spectacle.

To an uninformed visitor, it might have appeared like a traditional wrestling match.

However, how nice would it have been if there were actual “rules” and “principles” in this place?

“The family head selection process works like a tournament. The most promising candidate for family head gets a bye to the final round, while the rest of the direct descendants fight their way up.”

“It sounds just like a sports competition… But how is skill determined…?”

“There are only two outcomes. Either you forfeit without a scratch, or you win or lose when you’re on the verge of death. If you don’t forfeit immediately when the match begins and get attacked even slightly, you can no longer forfeit after that point.”

We were able to enter the underground arena under the pretext of being Princess Kurumi’s entourage.

Lorensky, who had no prior knowledge of this facility’s true nature, seemed rather shocked that such a place existed.

“I might have expected this during the Soviet era when I was born… but this is quite shocking.”

“I know. No matter how many times I see it… it’s truly a horrific place.”

This venue was used not only for the family head selection ceremony among direct descendants but also for duels and life-or-death battles between family members.

So many incidents carried out under the pretext of honor killings.

Since Kurumi had been forced to watch these since childhood despite her aversion…

“The family head selection will take about three days, with one match per day.”

With a desire to leave quickly…

Since she was scheduled for the very first match, Kurumi was taking deep breaths and preparing to go out soon.

“Then, Shinwoo, Mr. Lorensky, I’ll see you shortly.”

“Take care, Princess.”

“I wish you good fortune, Princess Kurumi.”

As the match time approached, people wearing traditional Japanese kimonos began gathering in the spectator stands.

Here, Shinwoo realized that these people were the cousins who assisted the current head of the Kitsune Family.

They were the elders who effectively ran the family.

“So it’s finally beginning…”

“Mr. Lorensky, that person…”

“I felt it too. With that level of energy, he must be the current head of the Kitsune Family.”

Beyond the spectator stands we were watching.

A man who sat down confidently in the most elaborate seat, receiving deep bows from all the cousins who had risen from their seats.

A being emanating such powerful energy that it was impossible to believe he was an elderly man.

“Kitsune Hosen, the current head of the Kitsune Family.”

I immediately realized that he was Hosen, the leader of the Kitsune Family who had only been mentioned in the original work.

“Who’s in the first match?”

“Ah, yes! Master, it’s Young Master Kitsune Rokyu versus Princess Kitsune Kurumi.”

“Kurumi? She’s participating in the family head selection? I was planning to make her bear children soon as a good vessel for Amaterasu. Who on earth put her in this position?”

“W-well, according to tradition, all direct descendants are allowed to participate in the family head ceremony…”

“Tsk! Tell Rokyu before the match. Absolutely no attacks to the lower abdomen. Just breaking her arms and legs should be enough for a win.”

“Y-yes, yes! Understood!”

Perhaps because this was a solemn duel arena rather than a sports stadium for entertainment.

Despite being at some distance, I could hear Hosen’s words by focusing and listening carefully.

‘So this is the man who sold Princess Kurumi to Korea when she was near death…’

Crunch.

I had somewhat expected this since hearing she was treated as an illegitimate child within the family.

“Grrrr…”

I simply couldn’t forgive that bastard.

No matter what, she would still be one of his grandchildren, so how could he view a person like breeding livestock just for that position of family head?

“Shinwoo. Are you alright?”

“…! Ah, yes. I’m sorry. I got a bit carried away for a moment.”

I hadn’t even undergone kaijufication, yet I was grinding my teeth and nearly let my emotions drive me to do something rash.

Lorensky placed his hand on my heated shoulder as if to calm me down.

“Calm yourself. If simply killing that old man would solve the problem, I would have assassinated him long ago.”

“Mr. Lorensky…”

“However, what you and Princess Kurumi are planning from now on isn’t such a bloody revenge plot, is it?”

“…No, you’re right.”

Hearing his words, I recalled our original plan.

It was a much more complex and roundabout path than a one-dimensional story of simply killing everyone, but that’s what made our plan so much more valuable.

“Princess. Good luck.”

After completely calming down, I simply endured while looking toward the entrance on the opposite side of the arena where Princess Kurumi would soon appear.

***

In the waiting room before the family head ceremony.

Kurumi, who was waiting for her turn there, received a visitor.

It was none other than her younger sister, who would be the next to leave this waiting room.

“Asuna…”

“Sister, so you ended up participating in this family head ceremony too.”

Asuna continued speaking with a bitter expression, facing Kurumi with just a sad smile.

“I understand. You’ve been through a lot, so wanting revenge is only natural in a way.”

“Asuna.”

“Oh, I’m not here to declare war or anything like that. I just have my own goals, so if we end up competing, I came to ask you to end it quickly and cleanly…”

“Asuna!”

However.

“K-Kurumi sister?”

Before her younger sister could finish speaking, Princess Kurumi stepped forward and silently embraced her tightly.

“S-sister, why are you suddenly acting like this?! It’s not like us…”

“What’s ‘like us’? Since childhood, I’ve always wanted to hug you like this at least once. So since you came to me first, I’m doing what I want. Is that so unlike me?”

“N-no! I-I mean! That’s not what I meant…”

We have more important things to discuss.

Such a sudden development might be fatal to both of us because of what’s to come.

With such thoughts, Asuna tried to stop her, but.

“You’re wrong, Asuna.”

“Sister…?”

“I didn’t come here for revenge.”

“…What?”

“I just wanted to ‘forgive,’ that’s why I came. So trust me and watch with me.”

Incomprehensible answers.

After leaving these words, Kurumi patted the head of her confused sister, who had question marks floating above her head, and then slowly walked out of the waiting room.

“See you tomorrow, Asuna.”

“Ah, yes… Alright, sister…”

Left alone in the waiting room, Asuna’s face showed she had no idea what those words meant.

As the match began and Kurumi entered the arena, both Asuna and the elders in the spectator stands simply watched her quietly.

Only one person.

Only Shinwoo was smiling brightly at her.

Murmur, murmur, murmur.

“Isn’t Princess Kurumi that illegitimate child of the Kitsune Family?”

“According to recent news, she secretly attacked her sister and brother who went to find her in Korea in cooperation with the Hunter Association.”

“Wasn’t she Amaterasu’s vessel?”

“No, if so, she wouldn’t live more than a few years, so why is she even here?”

“Obviously for revenge. Sigh, there should be limits to being vicious…”

When Rokyu appeared from the opposite gate, the spectators in the arena finally began to speak up.

Naturally, harsh judgments were being passed on Kurumi, who wasn’t properly recognized as a direct descendant.

Logically, it made no sense that an illegitimate child had supposedly overpowered not just one, but all of the family’s proper direct descendants.

The elders in the spectator stands naturally predicted Kitsune Rokyu as the winner of this match.

And.

“You properly informed Rokyu, right?”

“Ah, yes! I told the young master not to touch the uterus area in the lower body!”

“Good. As long as she can bear children properly, it’s not bad if she loses a few legs so she can’t move around unnecessarily.”

The Head Master Hosen signaled to the referee in the center of the arena with a nod of his chin, as if telling him to start quickly.

“…! T-then! The first duel of the family head ceremony will now begin!”

With this, the referee immediately announced the signal for the duel to begin.

“Now, let the duel begin!!”

With the referee’s resounding shout.

Thud.

“?!”

“…?”

“What…”

Everyone in the underground arena could see it.

“I… have lost.”

Kitsune Rokyu kneeling down as if conceding defeat the moment the duel began.

“Brother Rokyu… why?”

Naturally, the most shocked by this sight was Sakura, who supported the same person as the next family head.

This was because forfeiting before a match in the family head ceremony was a kind of signal only permitted toward the next family head candidate one supported.

If he had faced Brother Katsuo, it might have made sense.

What Brother Rokyu was doing now essentially meant he had switched his support for the next family head to Kurumi.

And since Head Master Hosen couldn’t possibly be unaware of the agreement between Katsuo and Rokyu.

“…You there.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Make sure a bloodbath befalls Kitsune Rokyu’s household for his unauthorized defeat in this morning’s family head ceremony.”

“Master! D-does that mean…!”

“Yes.”

Hosen clicked his tongue in disappointment and decided to impose severe punishment according to tradition.

“Kill everyone in his household, whether family or servants, and sever all the tendons in Rokyu’s limbs so he becomes nothing but ‘meat’ capable only of producing offspring.”