Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 222 : Kitsune-sama Receives a Call

“Haah, so that’s what happened.”

“Umu.”

Four days after the assassination attempt. When Eri came to visit and heard about the incident, she wore an expression as though deeply moved.

“Here’s some tea.”

“Thank you. Ah, I’m Shikishima Eri. Pleased to meet you!”

“I am Kotoriya Eru. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

At Eru’s perfectly proper bow, Eri made a face as though she had found an uncut gem. Even that gesture alone was impressive—if Eru were unaffiliated, Eri would have immediately invited her into her Servant Uniform Workshop. Of course, she knew Eru belonged to the Takemoto Samurai Corps, so she said nothing.

“With names like Eri and Eru, it feels like we’re a little alike. Almost gives a sense of closeness.”

“Perhaps… so.”

“Now, now, do not trouble Eru with such things.”

Eru seemed perplexed by Eri’s little joke and looked troubled, prompting Inari to lightly chide Eri. But then, a question Eri had been wondering about since earlier slipped out.

“By the way, about that attack… It was aimed at you, wasn’t it, Ms. Eru?”

“Considering the situation, most likely.”

“And the Awakener Association took them away…”

“Umu.”

“If that’s the case, don’t you think they’re being slow? I mean, surely there should have been some report of progress by now.”

Yes, today marked the fourth day. It was about time they should have heard something. Inari sipped her tea, pondering.

Forgetting to make contact? Impossible. At least, it was hard to imagine Yasuno ever neglecting such a thing.

Then could it be they simply hadn’t learned anything yet? That was possible. Other possibilities certainly existed too, but nothing could be confirmed.

Inari had intended to wait until they reached out… but perhaps it was time she made the call instead. Just as she took out her Awakener Phone, it rang, as if on cue. The caller was… Yasuno.

“Hello, is this Miss Kogami!?”

“Umu, ’tis I. In fact, I was just about to call thee.”

“Actually… a problem has arisen.”

“A problem, hm. Is it one I can resolve?”

“I don’t think so.”

What Yasuno said next even gave Inari pause.

“Echigo Jiro… is dead.”

“…What?”

“A will was left behind. It states that he masterminded the assassination, and that his failure was the reason.”

“For the sake of caution, I must ask—how certain is this?”

“We don’t know. As you well know, with awakeners, matters like these vanish forever if they’re hidden. Echigo Trading Company claims the body was already properly handled and buried. But their swiftness was… suspicious. We tried probing them, but found nothing.”

“And the ones we captured?”

“They only confessed to having received orders from Echigo Jiro. Since that matched, there was nothing more we could press…”

To pursue further would mean war between Echigo Trading Company and the Awakener Association. The Association would never lose to a group like Echigo Trading Company—but the fact of such conflict itself would invite foreign exploitation, and create openings for the Superhuman League to move in.

“So, a dead end?”

“Not exactly. By resorting to such measures, we can now predict some of their hands.”

Indeed, the Awakener Association was not merely being strung along. With the possibility of the Superhuman League’s involvement, they had to prioritize this matter even above other duties. After all, it was the most troublesome organization in the modern day—if left unchecked, they could throw entire nations into chaos.

By comparing what they knew of the League’s past activity and behavior, they had reached one likely conclusion.

“Their true target is you, Miss Kogami.”

“Nu?”

“More precisely, they wanted to see what cards would be played if they provoked this. A succession dispute within one of the Ten Great Clans. Naturally, any awakener dispatched into such a matter would be significant.”

Someone highly trusted, or even a leader among the Ten Great Clans. The Association surmised that confirming this was one of the League’s goals. And then, Inari had charged in with Yasuno at her side. That had given them absolute certainty. The Japanese Awakener Association’s true trust lay not with the so-called “Hero,” but with Inari.

“Mm. So mine own actions backfired, is that it?”

“No. Sooner or later, they would have lured you out. That’s the kind of foe we face.”

The question now was—what did they hope to accomplish by drawing Inari out? Would they retreat here, or attempt something further? That much remained unclear. But one thing the Association was certain of—nothing good was in the works.

“There may be some sort of contact from them in the coming days. However—”

“I shall not heed any such invitation. Rest easy on that.”

“…Yes.”

“I do love the children of men, and would affirm them all… but notions of chosen blood, I like not at all.”

Thus, there was no chance whatsoever of Inari accepting any offer from the Superhuman League.