Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 110 : Kitsune-sama Challenges Shizuoka Dungeon

The next morning. With dried fish, rolled omelet, small side dishes to accompany rice, and miso soup—a breakfast that left Inari fully satisfied—it was time to set out for dungeon conquest.

Their destination this time, Shizuoka Dungeon No. 1, was located relatively close to the shopping street known as Atami Ginza.

Atami Ginza, lined with all sorts of shops, remained lively even after the city’s recovery from the Monster Disaster.

This was proof of the strength of Atami—a town that had once achieved a miraculous recovery. But perhaps it was also because the people of Atami had gained the courage not to shrink back, even in the face of the dungeon gate that was the very cause of that disaster. Of course, evacuation manuals were firmly in place—life was precious, after all.

“Oh, how bustling it is.”

“Atami is a strong city. Look, they’re even selling Dungeon Mochi.”

“Mochi that embodies perseverance that shall not lose to a dungeon…? Oh, a true symbol of human strength.”

The aroma of soy sauce wafted through the air. The mochi was grilled fresh upon order, and even though they had just eaten breakfast, the smell was temptingly irresistible. The savory fragrance seemed almost crafted to stir human appetite.

“Perhaps I should try one…”

“You just ate breakfast.”

“Yet such things are charms of fortune.”

“Well, hmm…”

In the end, Inari prevailed, and they went to buy Dungeon Mochi. The options included “Isobe” (soy sauce with seaweed), “Sugar Soy Sauce,” and “Grated Daikon with Soy Sauce.”

“Mostly soy-sauce based, I see. I shall have Isobe, if you please.”

Isobe-yaki: grilled mochi brushed with soy sauce and wrapped in seaweed. Simple though it sounded, it was a classic way of enjoying mochi, beloved for generations. The sweet-salty soy sauce and crispy seaweed, combined with the chewy base of mochi, made for a flavor cherished by many.

“Ohh, delicious… this be my first time eating mochi, and what a marvelous taste it is.”

“Outside of New Year’s, I don’t usually eat it either… but it really is good.”

With the mochi eaten, it was time at last for Shizuoka Dungeon No. 1. After showing her ID and passing through the fence, the formalities were complete, and this was where Akai’s role ended.

“Then, good luck, Miss Kogami.”

“Mm. I shall return anon.”

Seeing her off, Akai watched as Inari stepped through the dungeon gate. Just as they had heard in the previous day’s meeting, inside lay rocky mountains. A steep mid-slope, enclosed on both sides by towering cliffs. Looking back, the dungeon gate could still be seen.

“No matter how oft I gaze upon it, this be a most peculiar place…”

When she looked up, the sky appeared overcast. Yet it seemed so real, so much like a true sky. And yet, this was undeniably within a dungeon. A strange space, as though a fragment of the world had been cut out. Inari reflected once more on the existence that sought to distort this world—only for her gaze to shift toward the source of approaching, thudding footsteps.

“Oh. Well… Atsuage is far cuter, methinks.”

Standing there was a rock monster known as a Rock Golem. Its body looked like an assemblage of rocks piled into humanoid form, a giant roughly three meters tall. Lacking joints, eyes, mouth, or any biological features, it was a strange sight. In that sense alone, it shared something in common with Atsuage, the block-stacking golem.

“Well then, it looks sturdy… I shall strike a bit harder!”

Foxfire burst from Inari’s fingertips, striking the Rock Golem’s head, shattering it in an instant. Unlike Atsuage, which would have new pieces fly in to repair itself, this golem crumbled with a crash, leaving behind only a magic stone.

“…Mm? Far frailer than I expected.”

Not having anticipated a one-shot victory, Inari revised her estimation downward. It seemed that, as golems went, Atsuage was far superior. Then again, since Atsuage—the Stacking Block Golem—had been a boss, that was only natural.

Inari picked up the magic stone and tossed it into the Hidden Shrine Hole. If the destruction of the head meant death, then this monster was no different from the others.

She loosed another foxfire at the next Rock Golem that appeared, blasting apart its head.

“Oh?”

Head destroyed, yet the Rock Golem still charged, delivering a kick that sent Inari tumbling. She suffered no injury, but her expression turned surprised.

“Well now… so it lives even with its head gone?”

“Gwooooooooh!”

“Oh, oh, indeed. ‘Twas my folly for taking thee lightly.”

Though it was not true conversation, she felt as though it had roared, “Do not underestimate me!”

With a spring, Inari rose and unleashed a barrage of foxfire at the oncoming golem. The blasts pierced its chest, smashed its arms, tore apart its body piece by piece. Only when its entire form was destroyed did it finally drop its magic stone.

“The last part I shattered was the waist… Hm. Could it be that each hath a different weak point?”

Yes—golems perished once their core part was destroyed. Though, in truth, it made little difference, as breaking them until they could no longer move amounted to the same. Thus, it was an unknown fact. The world at large simply knew: “Golems are insanely tough, so smash them apart until they stop.”

This difference in observation stemmed from the desperate battles of ordinary awakener, compared to Inari’s calm detachment.

Incidentally, the Stacking Block Golem had no core part at all. Which meant that the “core” concept had never become common knowledge. Considering that, it was only natural that golems remained under-researched, enigmatic monsters.