Book 8: Chapter 16: Mother Fox’s Seduction Magic

“You don’t really change, Master, you always do things in an absurd way.”

“Is that so?”

“Mother already said stop. You ignored her, and forced her to receive more mana from you, so… it can’t be helped that she became like this.”

Kikyou’s body was twitching, so Youko supported her limp body while glaring at Halt exasperatedly.

“Ahm, is she alright?”

“I didn’t wake up for half a day back when Master entered me outrageously. Well, Mother’s mana control is a lot more excellent than mine, so she probably can manage the stuff from Master that entered her, but —”

She had to rest for a few minutes at the bare minimum, apparently.

“I see, then I’ll leave your mom to you, Youko. Anyway, her complexion is a lot better now, it seems. Elmia and Seira called me, so I’m going to pick them up.”

“I got it.”

Halt teleported to Elmia and Seira’s place.

—***—

After a few minutes, Halt returned with Seira and Elmia in tow.

Both the girls froze in their tracks at the sight of the dragon’s gigantic body that had been burnt black.

“Welcome home, Master.”

“I’m back. And you are… Youko’s Mother, I presume?”

The woman standing beside Youko bowed her head towards Halt.

“Indeed. My name is Kikyou, Youko’s mother. This concubine is deeply grateful to you for reviving me.”

That enraptured voice was enough to make somebody fall head over ears just by listening to it.

Kikyou raised her head and gazed at Halt, and she tucked the hair hanging in front of her face behind her ears.

Every single gesture of hers exuded elegance and beauty.

“No, it is but a fulfillment of my wife’s request.”

“Yes, my daughter told me about it. She said that you still willingly entered into a contract with her despite knowing that she is a nine-tailed fox…Aren’t you afraid?”

“Hm, no, I’m not afraid. Youko has been such a good girl ever since the day I first met her.”

Youko had been the second person to talk to him after Leaffa when he entered the academy of magic’s classroom for the first time.

At that time, Halt had been considering making a lot of friends and inviting them over to his mansion that had been quite lonely with only Tina and him in there.

Youko had talked to him first, so Halt easily thought of her as a good person.

It didn’t change even after he discovered that she was a nine-tailed fox. One of the reasons probably was because Halt didn’t really know the dangers of a nine-tailed fox in the first place.

“I see…My daughter might be lacking in many aspects, but please do treasure her.”

“Yes. I take an oath to bring happiness to Youko.”

“Ah, Master!”

Youko hugged Halt in her joy.

“This concubine is truly happy seeing my daughter’s like this… Well, then, I will now take my leave. Should there be a time that you need this concubine’s power, please do summon me anytime. This concubine will definitely repay you for this grace that you have given me.”

“M-Mother, won’t you live with us!?”

“This concubine is a nine-tailed fox that has achieved a perfected body. If my existence was discovered, people would come to subjugate me. That’s why Youko, I cannot be with you.”

Kikyou mournfully gazed at Youko.

“Please heed my warning, do not, at all cost, go to the battlefield. If you absorbed mana filled with evil emotions, you will not be able to remain by Halt-sama’s side any longer —”

“I also have a full-fledged nine-tailed fox now!”

“…Eh?”

“Master and Shiro’s mana filled me. That’s why I won’t do what Mother fears and go on a rampage. Besides, even if people come here to subjugate me, Master will definitely protect me!”

Youko whirled around to face Halt. He smiled and nodded, agreeing with her words.

“I want to live together with Mother.”

“This is Youko’s plea, and I also have too many rooms in my mansion. If it is alright with Kikyou-san, then —”

“Please drop the honorifics, Kikyou is fine. Being sheltered is indeed such a tempting offer, moreso because I no longer possess the power of my youth.”

Nine-tailed foxes were primarily a demonic race that used concealment and brainwashing magic in order to hide their existence until they were fully grown, and they would ensnare humans from time to time in order to accelerate their growth.

“Besides, your mana is truly pleasant and comfortable. However —”

Kikyou leaned her body to Halt, and she placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Please do not tempt this concubine any further. You love my daughter, do you not? If this concubine so wishes, I could make you forget everything about my daughter so that you will become this concubine’s captive.”

She was now brimming in seductiveness as she clung to Halt, wrapping herself onto him.

That was the true seduction magic that fully grown nine-tailed foxes possessed. If a person was ensnared in this, he would turn into a puppet who’s only focus would be Kikyou.

Of course, she didn’t have any plans of really seducing Halt.

She just wanted to warn him not to let down his guard against demons, but —

“I will never forget Youko. She is one of my precious wives, after all.”“—!? W-why!?”

Kikyou was shocked when Halt replied to him naturally, as if the seduction spell didn’t affect him in the slightest.

“Mother, seductive magic won’t work on Master. Hypnosis and brainwashing too, of course.”

“Eh, n-no way…”

“My own seductive magic didn’t even work on him. Not only that, Master is a MONSTER capable of arbitrarily breaking his side of our master-slave contract. Being with Master is the safest thing to do in this world!!”

The ineffectiveness of seduction magic, and the breaking of the master-slave contract seal was all due to Halt’s curse and his “fixed” status. 

It was precisely because of that that Halt wouldn’t be manipulated by anyone.

Kikyou also understood how powerful Halt was based on the extremely pure mana that he poured into her in copious amounts.

Moreover, even if Kikyou was a full-fledged nine-tailed fox, she still hadn’t recovered her health completely, so it was only natural that her heart was moved because of the proposal to take refuge under Halt’s care, being the powerful guy that he was.

There was one thing that bothered Kikyou.

What would happen if she were to fall in love with Halt for real —

Even if her seduction magic didn’t work, she already mastered the technique of ensnaring men.

She could use bedroom skills, or else make him fall by her little gestures. She was well-versed in the art of pleasing men.

Moreover, her beauty wasn’t inferior to Youko’s in the slightest.

If she truly went all out to make Halt fall for her, it might make her beloved daughter miserable.

Those thoughts ran through her mind, but — 

“Halt-sama. Can you please allow this concubine to stay in your mansion?”

Kikyou decided to stay by Halt’s side.

It was the first time that she tasted that kind of raw pleasure that was enough to overwhelm her — if she stayed with them, there might be another chance to experience that once again.

Kikyou decided to prioritize her gratification as a woman over her beloved daughter’s happiness.

Halt didn’t have an inkling about this.

“Yup, that’s fine. Welcome to Elnor family, Kikyou.”

“Please treat me well. Halt-sama.”

Kikyou left Halt’s side and walked towards her daughter. She whispered in her ear.

“Youko, do your best so that he won’t be stolen by this concubine, alright.”

“M-Mother, what did you say!?”

It was Kikyou’s declaration of war against Youko.

However, Kikyou was still in the dark.

She didn’t know her rival wasn’t just Youko.

There were ten more gorgeous ladies and beautiful girls around Halt aside from Youko.

No matter how hard she would try to seduce Halt, she was Halt’s twelfth woman, so she would have to spend her days agonizing over the conundrum of being treated equally with the other ten wives excluding Tina —

The thought never crossed Kikyou’s mind at all.

–––-

T/N: Ugh….mother-in-law eyeing her son-in-law (as a potential mate)…………………for real?? (@.@) (@.@) Youko dear, you made a major mistake and now I’m crying for you… imagine vying with your mom for some guy’s attention, ugh T.T This is the first time I’m glad that Halt has so many girls beside him, at least they could deter Kikyou lolololol.

I guess the way she addressed herself as “this concubine” stems from the era that she lived in before. Kinda reminds me of the CN women in the emperor’s harem waiting for him to ‘share his rain and dew’ among them, but the empress would end up monopolizing the emperor. Tina is the empress, of course. XD