CH 42

Two weeks have passed since I departed from the “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” with Izumi. While sightseeing along the way, the public order gradually deteriorated and I noticed more and more people experiencing apprehensions over the food supplies and necessities of daily life. The source of the problem is not limited to the demons of the sky and the sea… is it? Our country is also an import powerhouse, so I suppose I ought to say that the damage caused by Demon Kings in other countries has begun to manifest themselves here in a full-scale manner.

Furthermore, it appears that Izumi and I are liable to be attacked at first sight, and for the past week or so, some sort of trouble (including Kurokiri) has befallen each day.

Yeah. It has been a real challenge. The ruffians who demanded food and money were decent experience points to us, but when Kurokiri abruptly called me out and engraved a “Long-distance Transportation” on me while sexually harassing me, I thought about slashing him to death with all my energy. Though I couldn’t do it due to the relationship between the kin and the master.

And so, we are now facing the ancient city in the west, the dungeon “Fox City of the Beasts of War” that surfaced near the ancient city, and a woman with blonde hair and fox ears standing before us. She looks to be in her early twenties.

“Nice to meet you, Hisano Ichiko and Kokoro Izumi. I serve the ‘Hundred Beast Clad Fox Princess’. I am Shiranui Mugi, the ‘Kitsunejin’[i]. Here is a message from the Fox Princess-sama to both of you.”

“Thank you very much for your courtesy.”

Izumi and I are inclined to respond in a respectful manner to those who behave accordingly, so we bow lightly to Mugi-san.

“Yes. It is a good thing to be polite, isn’t it? Well, here’s the message: ‘I will not stop you from entering my territory. But I will not allow you to act arbitrarily in my territory. If you intend to hunt people, you shall only hunt those whom Mugi permits you to hunt, and if you dare to step into my labyrinth, I shall exert my utmost endeavor to hunt you’. That is what she said.”

In other words, it is permissible to sojourn, but they are not planning to let us earn experience.

“I understand. Even for our part, there is no merit in contending with Fox Princess-sama, and so we shall agree with you.”

“(I won’t fight youー)”

“I’m relieved to hear that. Even I wouldn’t wish to engage in a battle with the perpetrators of the ‘Purge of the Fog’. If you accept the arrangement, that would be ideal.”

Mugi-san shows a deeply relieved expression on her face.

“Ah, but, if you aren’t going to gain experience in Fox Princess-sama’s territory, where are you planning on earning it?”

“Well…”

It is certainly a problem. In the first place, the reason why we do not desire to spoil the mood of the Fox Princess is because of her effective control of the west side of this country as well as the fact that she is a formidable force that can thwart the expansion of Kurokiri’s forces.

When it comes down to it…

“We are considering crossing the sea and earning the experience in the continent.”

“Haa!?”

Ah, I knew you would react that way. Well, based on the latest information, it is reported that even on the shortest route to the peninsula that leads to the continent, six of the ten ships that set sail sank on the way there, another three on the way back, and only one ship made it back. Moreover, that last ship was in shambles.

“It can’t be helped because X-J5 is still reclusive and impenetrable, and the only way to avoid disturbing your territory is to go there.”

“That’s… that’s true, but… Eh, ah, wait a minute.”

“(?)”

“Yes. Yes. Eh…!”

It is likely a communication with the Fox Princess. That reminds me, is there any distance limit to the communication with the kin?

“Ah, Ichiko, right? I have just received a message from the Fox Princess-sama that she would like to have a meeting with you, so for the time being, will you stay at our designated inn for the night?”

Mmm. This is an unexpectedly tricky offer. After all, here is the hostile territory. However, should I refuse the offer, there would be further complications…

“(Do you have any good food?)”

“Of course we do, Izumi-chan.”

Let’s go. For the present me, food is only an indulgence, but because it is merely an indulgence, it is also very significant. Besides, regardless of the quantity of food I consume, it will all be converted into magical power in a Kirijin’s body, so there’s nothing to fear.

“Then, I will gladly accept your offer. I will be delighted to do so.”

“Oh, thank you so much. Then you can count on me to treat you with the utmost hospitality.”

Thus, I step into the ancient city administered by the Fox Princess and spend the night at the inn they have appointed for us.

Of course, the inn itself proved to be stunning, and for the first time in a long time, I could take a bath. All the exhaustion I have been feeling has been swept away.

And then comes midnight, the time when even the grass and trees are asleep. While I am watching over Izumi who is sleeping, she makes her appearance before my eyes.

T/N:

[i] Kitsunejin is Fox People but I won’t be using that. For future chapters, please remember that if there is a race that ends with ‘jin’ that would mean human/people in romaji and the word before jin is the attribute/characteristics of it, like Fog people is “Kirijin” and Fox People is “Kitsunejin”