Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 197 : Kitsune-sama Challenges Nagano Dungeon No. 2

The next day.

Inari and her companions stood before the entrance of Nagano Dungeon No. 2.

This dungeon, located just off the main street of Old Karuizawa Ginza, was a particularly troublesome one to manage. Many of Karuizawa’s residents were wealthy or influential, so any failure in management here would spiral into a far greater mess than usual.

Of course, there was a gulf between the power of non-awakener and awakener—so vast it could be called “different worlds.” A determined awakener could easily brush aside that kind of pressure. But not all awakener were like that. Many preferred to live in harmony with society, or at least not antagonize it. The master of Clan Ryokufuu was one such person.

As an awakener corporation, Ryokufuu also ran a café. Its main clientele were the non-awakener residents of Karuizawa. In short, they had many ties they could not ignore.

Now standing before them, the clan master wore a haggard look, dark circles under his eyes impossible to hide.

“Thank you very much for answering our request this time. We are truly saved.”

“Ah, yes. Um…”

“Thou lookest weary. Hast thou not slept well?”

As Eri hesitated over what to say, Inari bluntly cut to the point. The master of Ryokufuu managed a faint, troubled smile.

“Yes… you could say I was overwhelmed by unforeseen circumstances. We’re the only clan with headquarters around here, so somehow we’ve managed until now, but…”

“I see…”

Inari had seen news on regional disparity, but this was more serious than she’d expected. In truth, in Karuizawa’s case, it was more due to many awakener wishing to avoid involvement with worldly power. But either way, the friction clearly hadn’t disappeared.

“Please rest assured. We shall handle this dungeon thoroughly.”

“Yes, I beg it of you.”

Bowing deeply, the master of Ryokufuu saw them off as Inari’s party entered the dungeon.

Inside—it was dark, like night. No, it ‘was’ night. A pale moon floated in the sky, casting its bluish glow upon the ground. Around them stretched a forest, with empty-looking houses scattered within. The call of an owl, hoo, hoo, echoed faintly.

It was not unlike the nights of the abandoned village Inari had once lived in—though here the houses were Western-style, not Japanese.

“[Lighting].”

At Ririka’s chant, a small glowing orb, the size of a fist, floated up and cast soft light across the area.

“Beginning reconnaissance!”

“No hostiles in visual range!”

“Same here, no hostiles confirmed!”

“Good!”

At Eri’s signal, Shizuna and Jane checked their surroundings. No monsters. Eri exhaled a heavy sigh.

“At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryokufuu’s master resigns soon…”

“He was giving off ‘I can’t take this anymore’ vibes all over.”

“Honestly, with Kusatsu so close, everyone’s probably just moving their bases there.”

“No, if they’re moving, it’d be Nagano City.”

Eri, Ririka, and Shizuna traded remarks. And indeed, they weren’t wrong. While Nagano had no shortage of awakener as a whole, within the prefecture, there were sharp concentrations and gaps.

“Well, it’s not really our place to interfere…”

“Mei is right. Best to report everything to the Master later.”

“Fumu… the world truly is harsh.”

Mei, Jane, and Inari all nodded. Harsh indeed. Even awakener preferred to avoid hardship when they could. It was the sort of problem that existed in every age.

“Alright, enough grim talk! Everyone, you’ve memorized the dungeon details, right? Ririka!”

“Yes! This is a village-type dungeon, nicknamed ‘The Ruined Lumberjack Village’! We’ll be facing Woodmen and Wood Golems!”

“Good. Shizuna, our operation objective?”

“Annihilate the monsters if possible—or at least reduce their numbers to near-annihilation.”

“Then with that in mind, Inari, please act as a free-roaming skirmisher.”

“Umu, leave it to me.”

In other words, Inari was free to fight as she pleased. They’d already decided this the previous night. Eri had tried assigning her a specific role, but hearing just a little of her capabilities, the team concluded she was an all-rounder best left unbound. A correct decision.

“Then let’s begin the search. First, we’ll explore every corner of this ‘village.’”

Eri raised her shield and took point, pushing open the door of a nearby house.

The instant it opened—out lunged a crudely built humanoid monster, its body made from lashed-together logs: a Woodman!

“Ho.”

As it charged, Inari slipped past Eri’s shield. A burst of foxfire struck the Woodman’s head, shattering it. The creature, still clutching its axe, tumbled back into the house, rolling away.