Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 161 : Kitsune-sama Relaxes at Home

Several days had passed since Inari’s trip to Ikebukuro.

On the weekend, Hikaru came over to hang out at Inari’s room.

Although Hikaru was the mascot for Lion Communications—Fox Phone’s rival company—neither she nor Inari paid it any mind. Rivalries were corporate matters. For the mascots themselves, it hardly mattered. In fact, it wouldn’t do for them to be seen constantly at each other’s throats.

The ideal awakener corporations were those that could say: “We may be business rivals, but as awakeners, we stand together against monsters!”

Even if they kicked each other’s shins under the table, they smiled and put their arms around each other above it. Something like that.

So the fact that Inari and Hikaru were close was a good thing. Fox Phone didn’t object to Inari’s friendships, and Lion Communications—which had deliberately crafted Hikaru’s “cute character” image—even offered to send a company car whenever Hikaru visited Inari’s home.

Of course, business was never just play. Lion Communications no doubt hoped to strengthen ties with Inari through Hikaru. But leaving that aside, Inari’s home had become something of a healing retreat for Hikaru.

That day, listening to Inari recount her meeting with Shion and her trip to Ikebukuro, Hikaru let out a long “haa…” of amazement.

On the table, a large plate of rice balls sat waiting—homemade by Inari, though a few had been shaped by Hikaru.

Those had turned out round, while Inari’s were neat little triangles. A bit salty, delicious, and very much revealing the difference in skill. Hikaru noticed, but chose not to dwell on it.

“So that’s what Saitama No. 4 was like, huh.”

“Mhm. It truly felt like a dungeon that might exist in reality.”

“Still, the fact you went all the way to Ikebukuro to read up on it—that’s pretty funny.”

“One can never have too much knowledge.”

“Fair point.”

Hikaru would never dare say Inari lacked knowledge.

But… some of what Inari knew felt ‘ancient.’

Updating that knowledge was important. Luckily, Inari did learn what she needed for daily life, and she was diligent enough to go to libraries. In that sense, there was nothing for Hikaru to criticize. Especially since she never went to libraries.

“It’s strange. Someone like her ought to be famous already, yet I’d never heard a single rumor before… But hey, it’s not like I can pry into someone else’s past.”

A paragon of character. Strong. Talented. Armed with equipment that looked unfathomably powerful.

And yet—she wasn’t a “Disciple.”

Hikaru had never told Inari, but she herself had forged what was called an Apostle’s Pact with a being who named itself The King of All Beasts, Sovereign of Myriad Beasts.

Its true nature was unknown, but Hikaru assumed it was some kind of god.

Through that pact, she had grown immeasurably, gaining a job befitting her growth: Lion King.

A powerful body, enhanced further by its skills. In martial combat, she was now among the very best. Hikaru took pride in that.

The problem was—what exactly The King of All Beasts was thinking. The only directive it had ever given was: “Live as you please.”

Perhaps there was more to that statement. But aside from once saying it wanted to see Inari through Hikaru’s eyes, it had never again mentioned her.

“Could Inari also be a Disciple? …No. If that were the case, my Lord would’ve said something, right?”

Well, maybe not.

But Hikaru was sure Inari wasn’t a threat. Her Lord was very sensitive to things that might harm her, and often sent warnings.

Not long ago, it had even messaged: “Someone suspicious is tailing you.”

Because of moments like that, Hikaru had grown to trust this god greatly.

Though when she had once begged it not to watch her all the time, it had—apparently—looked quite sad.

Now, as she sat across from Inari, a new message came. Hikaru’s eyebrow twitched.

“Mhm? Something the matter?”

“…Nah.”

Only Hikaru could see it.

[The King of All Beasts warns you not to meddle with suspicious rumors!]

Hikaru couldn’t decipher its meaning.

Suspicious rumors? From their earlier conversation, that could only mean Saitama Dungeon No. 4—or urban legends themselves.

But why? She had no idea.

And yet… she couldn’t dismiss her Lord’s warning as nonsense. So she said only one thing aloud.

“Anyway, let’s drop the ghost stories. They say if you poke at that stuff, it comes closer.”

“Hm… my true desire is to deal with any survivors of the monster disasters that may still roam outside, but…”

“Ahh… I see.”

And Hikaru understood.

There was something.

Something dangerous enough for her Lord to send a warning.

But afraid of how Inari might react if she revealed that “a god told me so,” Hikaru said nothing more.

Only nodded.

“…Yeah.”