episode_0235

A very long time ago.

There was a small fox.

The power this small fox possessed was that of a weak animal with nothing special, but there was no doubt that it loved peace.

However, the environment in which the fox lived was far from peaceful.

Two large islands.

Two great yokai who ruled those islands.

And countless yokai who followed them. Factions formed around the two great yokai, and they were engaged in fierce battles.

Days filled with a thick scent of blood, where the stench of blood could not be erased.

In this situation, the small fox prayed earnestly.

‘Please, may this world be peaceful.’

Just… just a small and humble wish, but one that was incredibly difficult to achieve.

But it was definitely a correct and pure wish.

As the fox lived with that wish in its heart, it happened to gain the ability to create a fox orb that contained yokai power within its body.

In other words, it had become a yokai from an ordinary animal.

But even as a yokai, the fox’s power was still weak.

The power of the two great yokai dividing Tayo Country was so strong that it could overturn heaven and earth.

The fox yokai’s weak power was nothing more than an ant in the face of a storm.

But the fox had already surpassed its limits once and become a yokai from an ordinary animal. Therefore, the fox waited for the moment to surpass its limits once more, accumulating its power again and again. The moment when it would surpass its limits once again.

* * *

“…Sorry, but I think I’ve heard that story for the fifth time now?”

I sighed and looked at the wolf yokai in front of me.

The wolf yokai with black hair clicked his tongue as if he was very displeased and glared at me, saying.

“So, don’t be rude, human. Realize deep in your heart how great the person you are facing is to us.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”

“…You…”

What should I do about this situation…?

I heaved a sigh that welled up several times and looked at the sumptuous feast in front of me.

First of all, I was invited to the White Mask Castle.

I came to White Mask Castle on Tamamo’s carriage, and I was guided by the maids to a large tatami room.

But in the process, Tamamo herself left with the words, “I’ll go get ready,” while being attended to by the maids.

From here, the plan to keep Tamamo in my sight went awry….

The problem started when several maids crowded into the tatami room where I was and placed various banquet foods, and the black wolf yokai in front of me came.

This guy, who seemed to be one of Tamamo’s closest aides, kept telling me Tamamo’s biography (which was probably greatly exaggerated).

I closed my eyes, listening to the biography that I had heard so many times that I could almost memorize it, with one ear and letting it out with the other.

‘Something was strange.’

Tamamo.

A fragment of the Demon King, an existence called a Yoma.

Listening to the story, you could summarize it by saying that she eventually defeated the two great yokai in Tayo Country and became the ruler of Tayo Country.

‘But that yokai I met earlier, I could barely feel any power from her.’

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the surrounding atmosphere, I would have had a hard time thinking of her as a Yoma, that’s how little I felt.

At best….

About the same level as the little yokai I met when I first came to Tayo Country? That’s what I would have thought.

You could think that the opponent was very good at managing their energy….

‘Something doesn’t feel right.’

Could it be that the Tamamo I met was not the real one but a ‘fake’?

Just an elaborately made fake.

If that’s the case, I’ve been completely fooled.

I have no choice but to turn the entire White Mask Castle upside down.

Just as I was about to get up from my seat with that thought, the tatami door opened and a woman with beautifully decorated golden hair walked in with the maids.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“…I’ve been waiting long.”

“I’m sorry about that. I was a little late because I put some effort into my clothes for the first time in a while. Please understand.”

“…”

Certainly….

As she enters the room, a sweet perfume scent that is different from the smell of food, a scent that comes from a mature woman, brushes the tip of my nose.

Tamamo gracefully sits down and looks at the banquet food placed in front of her.

“You’ve hardly touched it. Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“No, your subordinate over there was glaring at me so hard that I would have gotten indigestion if I had eaten it while he was telling me your biography.”

“What?”

At my words, Tamamo tilted her head and looked at the black wolf yokai.

The black wolf yokai, who had been acting prickly as if he would never bow to anyone, immediately lowered his head as soon as Tamamo looked at him.

“I’m sorry, Tamamo-sama. This human was too disrespectful to Tamamo-sama… I told him the story in the hope that he would know even a little about Tamamo-sama’s greatness.”

“Haha, I see. But it’s okay. The other person is a human, so they are different from us yokai. I don’t want to force anything on them.”

“Understood.”

Tamamo, who spoke as if rebuking him, soon turned her gaze to me and said.

“I’m sorry. It seems my subordinate has committed a rudeness. I took that child in when he lost his parents and was wandering around when he was young. That’s why he sometimes acts like that…. I hope you understand.”

“Yeah, I’ll just keep it in mind.”

“Hahahaha.”

Tamamo laughed loudly and picked up a plate and put the banquet food in her mouth.

In each and every one of her actions, I could feel a strange sense of ease and nobility.

I still can’t feel any power from her.

But the other person’s attitude is extremely relaxed.

What is it? What are you aiming for?…

“Huhu, how about having a meal first? Delicious food brings peace of mind.”

Whether she’s trying to hide her intentions or being sincere, Tamamo says nonchalantly and encourages me to eat.

It seems like there’s no poison in it, since she’s picking up and eating whatever she wants….

But just in case, I picked up and ate the foods that Tamamo had picked up and eaten.

Perhaps realizing my intentions, Tamamo smiled slightly while eating.

“Haha, you have such a strong power, but you also have quite a cute side to you.”

“No matter how strong you are, if you take one wrong step, you’ll die.”

“You’re a very cautious man.”

We continued our meal while having these trivial conversations.

* * *

Cold sweat starts flowing on its own.

I tried to calm my trembling body, but this trembling wouldn’t stop easily.

Even so, I pretended to be relaxed somehow, chatted with them, and returned to my room.

‘I’m screwed.’

I wanted to scream and make a fuss right away, but I couldn’t because I was conscious of the maids waiting outside.

So, I swallowed all the words in my heart and rolled on the floor.

‘Kuaaaaaaaak!! How did this happen to meeeeeeee!!!’

I really feel like crying.

No, I must be crying.

It’s not that I’m crying outwardly, but I’m screaming in my heart and crying enough to fill the ocean.

“What should I do, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do!!!!”

I couldn’t hold back and my voice came out of my mouth.

“Tamamo-sama. Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

Did my voice reach the servant outside?

I quickly composed my voice and told the servant, who was asking with a worried voice, that I was okay, and then staggered to my feet.

“Aaaah…, I don’t want to… I don’t want to fight… I didn’t become a great yokai for this…”

If I had fought any longer there, all my innocent subordinates would have died.

The energy I felt was so strong that I was certain of it.

So, as a temporary measure, I suggested to the other person that we have a conversation. Of course, it seemed like the other person had almost no intention of doing so, but I somehow managed to coax them into inviting them to this White Mask Castle.

“But I didn’t think about the aftermath!!”

Can I persuade them with words?

How could that be possible? The other person attacked me first, right?

Should I say that I’m not feeling well today, so eat and come back later?

Would they do that? It would be a blessing if they didn’t take advantage of my weakened state and try to cut me down right away.

I agonize over and over again, but there is no suitable solution.

“Tamamo-sama.”

“U-uhng?! What’s wrong?”

“The guest is asking when Tamamo-sama will be coming…”

“Ah, aaa~! T-tell them I’ll be there soon.”

Has time passed so quickly while I was worrying?

I quickly change my clothes.

I put on ornaments to make me look as beautiful as possible to a man, but not cheap like a young girl.

At the same time, I prepare a few protective amulets in case something happens, and then leave the room.

“Guide me.”

“Yes.”

Following the guidance of the attendant, I head to the banquet hall, and the Hero, exuding a very unpleasant atmosphere, is sitting right across from me.

‘Hieeek, why are you so upset?! W-were you upset because you had to wait?!…’

“Have you been waiting long?”

“…I’ve been waiting long.”

“I’m sorry about that. I was a little late because I put some effort into my clothes for the first time in a while. Please understand.”

“…”

My heart sinks at his words.

At the same time, I feel his gaze scanning me up and down.

Scary! I’m sorry!! Please don’t glare at me like that!!!

I roll my eyes to try to change the subject, and the untouched food comes into view.

“You’ve hardly touched it. Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“No, your subordinate over there was glaring at me so hard that I would have gotten indigestion if I had eaten it while he was telling me your biography.”

“What?”

Why are you doing that!!

Why are you doing that!!

“I’m sorry, Tamamo-sama. This human was too disrespectful to Tamamo-sama… I told him the story in the hope that he would know even a little about Tamamo-sama’s greatness.”

We’re all going to die if that person goes wild!!!

“I’m sorry. It seems my subordinate has committed a rudeness. I took that child in when he lost his parents and was wandering around when he was young. That’s why he sometimes acts like that…. I hope you understand.”

“Yeah, I’ll just keep it in mind.”

“Hahahaha.”

I feel like I’m going to die.

I feel like I’m going to die.

I feel like my heart is going to stop and I’m going to die.

‘I really… I really hate itttttttttt! Someone save meeeeeeeeeee~!!!’