Chapter 175-2

Chapter 175-2

[Part 2/4] Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

"..."

"Yes, yes. Please cut the white fox's portion into bite-sized pieces, and I'll take care of it later, okay?"

The maid's expression turned dubious with the additional order from the young lady of Miyataka's family.

"But what about Household Member Coordinator-sama?"

"Eh, he's busy, so it's like that, okay?"

The young lady brushed off the maid's remark as if it was nothing, and left the scene with the kids. She was really carefree, like a child.

"...Yeah, he's stuck on me now~♪"

The young lady licked her lips, and, without anyone noticing, curled up the corners of her mouth...

* * *

Korishiraki. A half-breed kid with human and youkai fox blood. A fox with 9 tails, a marvel that grew them all within a short span of 400 years. A white fox with extraordinary abilities, fond of cruelty and violence.

An existence that was already erased from the past... it was supposed to be that way.

"What's with that stupid face? What's wrong? Is it that surprising that I'm here?"

The fox, wrapping her own tail around herself, curling up like a chair, and sticking out her limbs, looked down at me with an arrogant grin, her tail wagging like a metronome. She puckered her lips, showing a glimpse of her red tongue. This was the very same cruel fox that appeared in "Firefly of the Dark Night".

"Why... why are you...?"

"Why? It's already decided. Because I'm me. Is there a problem with that?"

A condescending answer, mixed with mockery, in response to my question. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

(Has Korishiraki revived? Is this some kind of bad end route? What a ridiculous idea?)

The surroundings of Korishiraki were almost completely broken from the original story. Especially Korishiraki from the original story was already defeated. I saw it with my own eyes. Is this... was I deceived all along?

"What do you plan to do? What are you plotting...?"

The answer to my question was a flick of her tail, which scratched my cheek. The fox's left cheekbone was exposed, and her muscles bulged.

"Are you in a position to ask questions, monkey?"

(Murasaki is leaving, or has she already left? If the fox notices her, she'll get killed. I can't rely on her.)

I could easily imagine a scenario where she enter the room and get ambushed, with her head blown off. It's like one of those bad routes in a visual novel where the protagonist gets reversed and blown away by a sudden attack.

As for Miyataka, it's like they're all chatty and friendly the moment they meet. Even the Youkai Salvation Organization has some fox spirits joining in. In the original story, they indirectly know each other through Shiraki... or rather, one of the routes has the Youkai Salvation Organization using Shiraki and then discarding her. In other words, there's room for negotiation since they can deceive and manipulate her to some extent.

...Checkmate. That word flashes in my mind for an instant.

(No, wait. Isn't that ridiculous?)

Only now do I realize what I've been overlooking. Yeah, that's right. Why isn't this fox eating the captured Brats? Why isn't she escaping from here? Why is she staying in this room?

(Is it a curse...!!)

I've found a glimmer of hope. The harm to the brats is the condition for the curse to activate in this orphanage. Then, the hostage isn't the brats, but me. And... I'm also a dangerous liability, a time bomb waiting to go off. In other words!

(Is this fox also confused?)

For Shiraki, this orphanage is both a prison and a hideout. As long as she's inside, she can keep her existence hidden from the outside world. At the same time, she can't interfere with most of the people inside. Except for the bomb that is me, only the people from Ako and Miyataka's young lady can take action. And Shiraki probably doesn't have the confidence to win against top-class exorcists in a direct fight. That's why this situation, this stalemate...!!

"Hmph."

"Whoa, what's going on?!"

My analysis of the situation and my focus on finding a way out are interrupted as I'm suddenly grabbed by the ear. I turn my head to the side. The fox, now on all 4s like a beast, has moved beside me and is sneering.

"Because you had a difficult expression, I was thinking about how to eat you a whole bowl. Do you think I'd let you off that easily?"

"Ku...!?"

If I mess up, my disguise will be ripped off and I'll be face to face with a monster. So, I need to think carefully and not be careless... it's that kind of situation.

"You have quite a sweet and pleasant taste, don't you? Lick... It's truly a top-notch delicacy."

"Gu...!?"

This time, her tongue crawls down to my throat. She was collecting the sweat that I had sprayed out from tension. Her canine teeth were digging shallowly into my throats. It was a sweet bite. I couldn't help but tremble with fear. The sensation of my life being grasped...

"Kuhahaha. It's a great taste. Remember how you got crushed last time? I was waiting for that pitiful expression on your face!

The white fox, who was clearly an evil youkai, was delighted to see me suffering from pain, anguish, and fear. There was no trace of the young, innocent white fox I knew.

Where was the real Shiro? That was what worried me the most.