CH 78

(Kurokiri POV)

Five years before the present ・”White Fog and Black Swamp Forest”.

[Please help me!!]

Buuuuuuuuuuuu!

An alarm was suddenly sounded alerting the presence of an intruder accompanied by such cries.

After I halt the physical training I have been doing from time to time since that day and tell the members with me to take a break, I inspect the situation with my magical visual field of view.

It turns out that there is a lone woman with a hood pulled up over her eyes in a room entering the second level from the Nasu family basement, which had not been used for several years, and I spot her grasping Fog’s body and holding him in her arms.

Apparently, the earlier screams and alarm were originated from this woman.

If anything, I feel that the hood she is wearing is slightly inflated. On top of that, she is wearing a skirt, which also seems to be subtly bulging.

Hmm. I should check it out.

“You guys, have a look at this.”

After inviting the members of the training group who are currently taking a break to come closer, I bring out the monitor and present them with the image of the woman.

Incidentally, Aria, Chirito, Tori, and others are among the training team members.

“Do you guys recognize this woman? Chirito, please analyze this woman.”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

“I don’t know.”

“I mean, how can anybody recognize her face if she’s covered up so deeply?”

“She’s obviously hiding something.”

“Even so, how could she have known about this route?”

“Who knows? I don’t recollect disclosing this information to anyone. So, Chirito, what’s the analysis result?”

“Well…”

So this is the result of Chirito’s analysis.

・Her name is Nagarebi Mibako.

・Her race is Kitsunejin.

・Occupation: Explorer

・Her status is split between sensing and agility.

・She has the titles of ≪Explorer≫ and ≪The Pursuer≫.

・Skills: ≪Fox Fire≫, ≪Life Detection≫, ≪True/False Judgment≫, ≪Covert≫, ≪Escape≫, and ≪Escape Proficiency Ⅰ≫.

“Wow. As expected of Chirito. To think you could discover this much from just a glance…”

“I’m blown away by your analytical expertise.”

“Or rather, you’re already at the level of grossness.”

“Will you shut up? Can you stop it?”

[[How frightening!!]]

Chirito is spinning his arms around, ready to charge at any time.

But well, the fact that this degree of information is revealed with merely a glance is… unbearable for the other party, isn’t it?

“By the way, do you know her measurements?”

“I have no idea!”

Chirito denies my words to the hilt.

“Hmm. Aria. For now, please bring her to me so I can find out what’s going on.”

“I understand.”

With that, Aria heads over to pick up Mibako after receiving my instruction.

(Chirito POV)

In front of me are Kurokiri-san, Aria-san, and Tori-san. Plus Mibako-san is seated, who is explaining how she ended up here and how she was aware of that route.

And it seems that the conversation is over.

“Hmm. So this is what the story is about.”

When the conversation has settled down, Kurokiri-san bends and stretches his fingers, summarizing his thoughts in his head, followed by sharing what he has organized. Well, if I were to summarize simply the gist of it, it would be this:

・While Mibako-san was studying under the Fox Princess, a friend from her human days came to visit her.

・That friend has a crush on Mibako-san.

・However, his approach was aggressive and insidious, and to be frank, stalkerish.

・At last, the friend targeted her for everything but her life.

・For this reason, she consulted with the Fox Princess, who advised her to pay a visit to the Fog King.

・As for the route to the Nasu family’s basement, she was informed of its whereabouts by the Fox Princess.

“Please! Whatever it takes, other than surrendering my life, please lend me a helping hand!”

“Hmm. Whatever… you say?”

Ah, Mibako-san? The word “anything” is prohibited when dealing with that guy, you know? In fact, there are several girls in the off-limits area who stated they would do anything. And none of those girls have emerged out of the dungeon anymore.

He’s wearing an extremely obnoxious smile, isn’t he? That’s evidently a face sparked by some kind of scheme.

“Then, how about this?”

“Y-yes.”

Mibako-san answers tensely.

“For the time being, it is forbidden for you to step outside of the ‘White Fog and Black Swamp Forest’ from now on. You know the reason for that, right?”

“Because I have reached the depths of the forest. Right?”

Indeed, from the standpoint of safety, the information about the depths of the “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” cannot be divulged to the outside world.

“Afterwards, Chirito, come here.”

“Y-yes.”

I reply and then approach Kurokiri-san, who is beckoning to me.

“Chirito. You will marry this girl.”

“Huh?” “Eh?”

I involuntarily let out a strange voice. Even Mibako-san couldn’t help but utter a peculiar tone.

“Then, make a baby.”

[[Whattttttttttttttt!?]]

When Kurokiri-san delivers the bombshell remark, Mibako-san and I both unintentionally raise our voices in unison.

After that, leaving Mibako-san and me clueless as to how this has occurred, Kurokiri-san and the others depart, while we exchange a dazed look at one another’s faces.

(Kurokiri POV)

“Well, Princess Fox. Why?”

[Your words are insufficient. If you only ask me ‘why’, how could I possibly understand what you are referring to?]

After leaving Chirito and Mibako in the room and separating from Tori and the others, I made contact with the Fox Princess.

There is only one question I want to ask.

“Why do you want me to handle Mibako’s problem? You could have dealt with the stalker at your place.”

[Oh, you mean that. It’s a simple matter. It is beyond my capacity. That is all.]

“Tsk, you’ve introduced me to a hassle. Let me tell you this, in exchange, I’m not releasing Mibako to the outside anymore, and she’ll be stuck with my Chirito.”

[I’ll oblige you at least that much. It’s a small price to pay compared to my life or being married to you.]

“Send me a note later to reassure Mibako.”

[Mm-hmm. Then I’ll be counting on you for the rest of the matter.]

With these words, my contact with the Fox Princess is over.