CH 53

When Kitsune was brought into the guild, as if he was outside the area of effect of hero’s “Ray of Hope”, “Near-death experience” immediately activated.

Then moment it was activated, to not let Kitsune died, he gained resistance stats equal to double of hero’s -who cornered him to the brink of death- strength stats. And then, since hero’s prowess was equal to that of an A rank adventurer, Kitsune received S rank self-recovery ability equaling to the time when he was attacked by Leila.

He was at a state which was worse than the time with Leila, but just in several seconds, all of his unjuries were rocevered. The hole at his shoulder was closed, the pierced wound at his abdomen was closed, and then his whole body -that was attacked numerous time and ragged- was recovered.

“Ah, I thought I were going to die.”

Saying so, Kitsune raised his body up, and moved his just recovered body.

Once “Near-death experience” activated, this skill’s effect would last till there was no danger to its wielder. The increased stats was temporarily turned into his true stats.

After it activated its effect, it would soon deactivate itself, and the moment there was no danger to its wielder, it would activate itself again to return the stats to its original value.

That meant, from the moment its effect surfaced till it disappeard, this skill didn’t always activate, and would deactivate itself in between.

That meant, till the end of this battle, its effect… wouldn’t be nullified by “Ray of Hope”.

“Kitsune-kun, Kitsune-kun.”

“What’s up, Leila-chan?”

“What are going to do?”

Leila asked so.

Floating his usual faint smile, Kitsune walked toward guild’s entrance. Leila trotted behind him as if to chase after him.

“That miko’s intention was to, snatch Finia-chan away. Ever since the moment she saw Finia-chan, her eyes said that she was always thinking about how to take Finia-chan to their party, after all. That was why she utilized it, I’m sure she realized this chance the moment the hero told his intention to save Lulu-chan.”

“Is that so?”

“Say, Leila-chan, since you come from this country, do you know anything about it? Is such duel really approved at this country?”

Kitsune stepped outside through guild’s entrance, and gazed and the hero and the miko who intended to leave while taking along Lulu.

“Hmm, I’ve never heard of it.”

“Thought so… if such duel is approved, not by war, this country would have crumbled long ago because of civil war.”

Hearing Leila’s answer, he walked again, and said so in scorn.

That was right, there was… ‘no’… such system for duel at that country.

The hero’s word about strength is everything, Cecil affirmed it. However, it didn’t mean that the strong could take everything as they pleased.

It meant, if you were strong enough, you would be able to more of less live prosperously and received great fame there. This time duel was that miko, Cecil’s self-stated thing,

—that so called duel was nothing but a cover, for her plundering scheme.

Kitsune just realized it. No, more precisely, he realized it midway. That was why, at first he thought about running away, but as if to block his escaping path, Cecil activated that circle of light.

Moreover, the most unexpected thing was, the hero’s “Ray of Hope”. If he could buy some times, that circle of light would surely disappear in a given amount of time, but because of that skill, he lost all means to buy time.

That was why he lost. Everything was according to that miko’s plan.

“I don’t like it, being schemed against isn’t my style.”

Murmuring so, Kitsune arrived at the petrivied Rishe’s side. Simulatenously, reacting to Kitsune’s word, the intending to leave hero and miko were floating surprised expressions. Similarly Lulu, who was being led away, and Finia were surprised as well. The only one who knew about “Near-death Experience” was none other but Leila, so there was no helping it.

“Wha… you, how….”

“Ah, I’m done with you, I’ve fully understood that you aren’t my enemy.”

“Wha….”

The hero talked to him, but Kitsune interjected and ignored him.

All of sudden, much less consideration, Kitsune didn’t even give the hero any thought. The hero’s thought, act, will, and resolution, were all insufficient to become Kitsune’s enemy. And Kitsune himself, didn’t have that much free time to waste to be bothered by a mere insect that had quite a bit of power.

Kitsune’s gaze was, focusing at the miko who held the mask.

“…do you need something?”

“Not at all, I just thought that you’ve done it pretty well… I take it back for calling you as a disgraceful follower. You, aren’t you quite a crafty one?”

“…thank you.”

“But, if you call yourself as hero’s follower, then… as I thought you’re still a disgraceful follower. Well, as a follower of that fake hero, you both are quite suited for each other, though.”

Kitunse said so while floating his usual faint smile. The miko’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“But, well, even if all of this are all merely your scheme, a lose is still a lose… either it Lulu-chan or Finia-chan, if you want to take them then just take them with you.”

And then continued so. What did they just do, who was the one they just made an enemy of, he wanted to make them realized it. With such a thought, he walked and activated “Eerie Constitution” toward the miko.

Seems like “Ray of Hope” wasn’t activated. Well, the one who realized the activation of “Eerie Constitution” was, Kitsune and his target, and since the hero didn’t notice it, that was why he didn’t activate “Ray of Hope”.

“But, I won’t ever forgive you.”

“….!?”

Closing his face to hers till their noses almost connected, Kitsune said so while faintly smiling. Together with the fact that “Eerie Constitution” was activated, Cecil was seized with fear that even made her wants to run away, however her body was frozen and couldn’t move even an inch.

“Just do your best to run away, since I’ll keep on chase, chase, and chase after you, and finally, I’ll beat you enough to make you regret what you’ve done. I’ll definitely give you enough fear that will make that pretty face of yours covered by tears and nasal mucus, that will make your legs limp and unable to stand up, and finally, it will force you to rub that head of yours on the ground in desperate for asking for my forgiveness.”

“Wha… a…!”

“Oi, you!”

“What is it, fake hero-kun?”

“…you!!!”

Up until just a moment ago, they were the superior one, and yet, somehow Kitsune’s word cornered them.

However, the hero brandished his sword and swung it at Kitsune. Kitsune was unable to follow the hero’s speed, he couldn’t see the sword at all,

“…!?”

“Too bad, that won’t be able to hurt me. Haven’t I told you before? That you aren’y my enemy anymore.”

With a dull sound, the sword stopped at Kitsune’s neck, much less flesh, it couldn’t even cut his skin.

Kitsune’s increased stat under the effert of “Near-death Experience” was something that couldn’t be compared to a stat that of an A rank.

“Well, let’s just leave it with this much. If I go any further, you both may cry, after all.”

“…!”

“…!”

Kitsune said so in scorn to provoke them, and took several steps away from Cecil. And then, both of them that couldn’t say a word at his provocation, could only grind their teeth in distress.

However, Kitsune’s gaze was already turned away from them.

“Lulu-chan, Finia-chan.”

“Kitsune-san….”

“Kitsune-sama….”

No matter how much words he said, a lose is still a lose. No matter how unfair it was, as the loser he couldn’t do anything about it. That was why, Kitsune wouldn’t disgracefully flounder them. By knocking them down at their own unfair game, that was the best way to humiliate them.

“Lulu-chan, I’ve told you before, didn’t I?”

“…yes.”

Kitsune was going to once again say the word that he said to Lulu just now, clearly. If he simply wanted to take them back, he could do it even now.

However, he wouldn’t do it now. That was the final struggle if he really didn’t have any other choice, but since it would seem similar like what that cowardice hero did, Kitsune wouldn’t do it.

To the bitter end, fair and square, challenging face on, that’s the right way to do it.

“Just wait for me… since I’ll definitely come and take you back.”

That’s why, for just a bit, I want you to wait.

With such a thought, he said so to Finia and Lulu.

“Yes… I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Yes…!”

Finia and Lulu, receiving his thought, they accepted it. If they waited for him, he would definitely come and take them back, he had promised so, that was why they decided to believe him.

Kitsune hugged Finia and Lulu, gently hugged them.

The promise he had to keep, increased by one.

◇　◇　◇

After that, Finia and Lulu are taken away by the hero. Seems like they are planning to leave the country and begin their journey to subjugate the demon lord immediately. I can’t accept the fact that they take them along to their journey, but with Finia there, she should be able to protect Lulu. We’ll definitely meet again later.

“Are you fine with it? Kitsune-kun?”

“With what?”

“Letting Finia-chan and Lulu-chan go, well, I don’t particularly care about it, though.”

There, Leila asks so.

Well, there’s no way I’m fine with it, but I’ve promised to take them back again later after all. I’ll definitely keep this promise.

Those two were really irritating, I’ll definitely take my revenge at them. I’ll make them bow their head in cry, and ask for my forgiveness.

For that sake, I need to be stronger. And a way to become stronger in a short amount of time, is to fight against strong opponents… hmm, should I do some bloody spar with Leila-chan, I wonder?

“I’m sure it would give Finia-chan and Lulu-chan quite a bit of suffering… but it’s fine since I’ll take them back again later, after all.”

“Hmm… ufufu, I see… yup, yup, a way that’s so like you, Kitsune-kun.”

“But, how are you intending to take them back? Leaving aside the miko, the hero is undoubtly powerful, you know?”

That’s surely right, right? No matter how high my resistance, even if I won’t lose, there’s no way for me to win either. Will, with such weak mentality, there’s an option to crush him mentally, but in the end, I want to repay them back in full.

That means, the best way is to rise my strength stat, but… sadly, since my strength stat has reached its limit already, there’s nothing I can do about it though. With that only means, my only choice if to find a more convenient  battle style for me, huh.

“Well, anyhow… leveling up is the top priority.”

“Well, that is surely the case….”

“Anyway, we have no reason to stay at this country any longer… let’s leave this country immediately, and go to some other place. We can return to Miniera, and we can also try to go to other place….”

Either way, I don’t want to stay at this country any longer. It’s the country that summoned the hero after all, it’s a country that oppress slaves after all, it’s a country that is harsh at me after all.

Moreover, it’s unlikely possible for me to infiltrate the castle. If I do it poorly, I might get imprisoned. Not just there’s a possibility that this country may restrict our movement, it would be bad if something happen at this country.

Moreover— my “Instict” skill, have been telling me that I shouldn’t stay at this country any longer.

“Perhaps, something worse than the hero may come, after… all.”

At my murmur, Rishe-chan and Leila-chan incline their heads.

◇　◇　◇

At the same time, hero and co. were at the Grandile Kingdom’s entrance. Hero and Cecil, as if to ran away from Kitsune, they immediately took Finia and Lulu to the country’s entrance, however, recalling their other party members who they were supposed to meet at the guild, they decided to wait for them there.

Magician Silphy and Swordman Jik, people who would undoubtly be helpful for their journey. After making such ruckuss at the guild, they were sure that if both them went to the guild later, both of them would definitely heard about what happened there from someone and then go to the country’s entrance. Or so Cecil thought.

And then, currently, Cecil and Hero were thinking about the existence named Kitsune.

Even though both of them won the duel, they weren’t happy at all. On the contrary, they were regretting the fact that they had made an enemy of the exinstence named Kitsune. Of course, it wasn’t because they took away Finia and Lulu, they regretted it exactly because they thought that Kitsune himself was fightening.

If possible, he was an existence they didn’t want to meet again, however he’d said that he’d chase after them even to the end of the world. With only that fact had made their face pale. That was just the extent of how much fear Kitsune planted at them.

“…Cecil.”

“…What is it?”

“For now, let’s not let it bother us too much, it isn’t like he’ll chase after right away, after all, right? Our duty is to subjugate the demon lord, we couldn’t just let something like it hinder us, right?”

“You are, right….”

Hero, Nagi, said so as if saying to himself, and then forcefuly floated a smile. Cecil also somehow pulled herself together as if got encouraged by his word.

And then, when Cecil somehow floated a smile, Nagi shouted as if to blow away the heavy atmosphere.

“Alright! Well then, for now, it’s finally journeying time, let’s enjoy it to the fullest!”

“There’s no way we’d be able to enjoy it, o false hero.”

“Eh… um… Finia, was it?”

“Could you please don’t call my name so casually?”

“Please don’t be angry like that, let’s get along well together, okay?”

“No way.”

At Finia’s act that didn’t open heart at him at all, Nagi floated a cramped smile. He understood that he was completely hated by her. With his sense of justice, prowess, kindness and appearance, Nagi, who was rarely hated by anyone thus far, receved quite a great shock by her blatant disgust.

However, he somehow held it out and turned his gaze at Lulu this time. She -who was always touching the collar which was the sign of her familial bond with Kitsune- showed an expression as if she had no interest to join the conversation at all. She also looked somewhat gloomy.

“Umm… Lulu-chan…was it?”

“…yes.”

“Are you injured somewhere?”

“…I’m fine.”

“I, I see….”

That was the so called one sided conversation. No matter how much words he threw at her, Lulu’d simply ward all of it off. The proof was the fact that she didn’t throw any word back at him.

And then, he noticed that Lulu was always touching her collar.

“That, it must be cramped, right? Let me remove it.”

“Eh”?

Then, brandishing his sword -that was rarely out except at a crucial time- without any hesitation he showed his polished swordmanship—

—and cut Lulu’s collar off.

“Ah… aaa…!”

The cut off collar was sliding down from her neck, and dropped to the ground with a ‘thud’ sound.

The collar, that tied her and Kitsune as a family. Of course, even without such a thing, their hearts were connected, and their familial bond wouldn’t be cut off even if the collar did.

—but, that collar was her sole treasured thing.

And right now, it had been heartlessly cut off, and dropped to the ground.

“Lulu-chan!”

“Ah, aa… aaaa!!!”

Lulu crouched on the ground, and desperately scraped up back the scattered collar. Without noticing that she was covered in tears, she moved her hand in try to attach each parts back into one.

However, no matter what she did, somehow it wouldn’t return like the one it back then.

“Aaa… aaaaa!!!”

Lulu was shedding tears. It wasn’t because she was sad since her collar was broken, but it was because the guilt she felt toward Kitsune. The sign of her bond with him was broken, she felt a very very guilty of it, and didn’t know what to do.

“Umm… could it be, you liked that collar? Wha, sorry! I’ll buy—“

“Just go away already.”

“Eh?”

At the misunderstood hero, Finia floated in front of the crying Lulu and said so in anger. As if saying to not approach Lulu any longer, she glared at the hero while positioning herself between Lulu and him.

“Just stop bothering us already… it’s only because Kitsune-san told us to go with you that we endure it and do so. That’s why you don’t need to do anything with us.”

“…haa… got it, I’m sorry.”

At Finia’s word, Nagi thought that no matter what he said, it would only bring the reverse effect, so he obediently pulling back.

It seemed like Finia and Lulu saw them at negatives side, with such thought, he dropped his shoulders.