Chapter 17: The fox wants to repay the favor, do you believe it?
Hikigaya landed back on the ground, standing beside the dumbfounded nine-tailed fox. Under the gaze of one man and one fox, Kuafu had already embraced the sun and fallen into the earth. The once-green field turned into scorched land, then transformed into a sea of fire. But at the very moment this sea of fire formed, countless peachwood trees sprang up from within, forming a vast peach forest that completely extinguished the flames of the sun.
After taking just one glance at this lush peach forest, Hikigaya waved his hand, and the beast of Set in the sky roared and charged in with a violent storm.
From that moment, Hikigaya no longer looked in that direction. His gaze once again fell upon the nine-tailed fox, only to see her face turn red, then pale, then green.
"Don't you think there's something you ought to say to me?"
He asked.
In the nine-tailed fox's eyes, it was a terrifying sight. Behind Hikigaya, the peach forest was being relentlessly destroyed. The storm reduced everything to dust. As the forest was obliterated piece by piece, the ground was torn open, revealing the figure of a giant serpent. Under the assault of the beast of Set, it twisted madly, emitting shrill hisses. Chunks of flesh were torn off and immediately consumed by flames that burst out from within.
Eventually, the serpent collapsed, disintegrating like dust. Several of the beasts of Set also dispersed along with it.
Before the nine-tailed fox, Hikigaya suddenly seemed to be pressed down by some unseen force, causing him to bend slightly at the waist, though he straightened back up in the blink of an eye.
The nine-tailed fox knew that this young Rakshasa King had seized divine power from that god. It wasn't the first time she had seen such a scene.
This made her recall a time long ago, when she had been much stronger than she was now, only a step away from that realm. But unfortunately, she had failed.
And failed utterly — eventually ending up in her current state.
Sometimes, she really envied humans. Just one adventure, and they could obtain such power. In a sense, they were truly a race blessed by the heavens.
But there was no longer any point in pretending. After all, if the other party was displeased, she'd end up just like that Earth Mother Goddess.
With a soft sigh, she emerged from the body of the human girl she had possessed and revealed her true form.
"This humble one is Tamamo-no-Mae. Greetings, Lord Rakshasa King."
That's right — she was the infamous nine-tailed fox demon.
It sounded absurd, but that's how it was. A monster like her couldn't just be killed off that easily.
"Tamamo-no-Mae, huh…"
Hikigaya curled his lip. Despite her fame — or rather, her infamy — he wasn't particularly surprised, since he had already suspected it. If anything, his reaction was more like "as expected."
He walked over and picked up Miura, who had fainted on the spot.
She had passed out completely. Who knew what kind of pleasant dream she was having — she was even drooling. Talk about a carefree soul…
"The matter's settled. You don't seem to be my prey either. You'll disappear quietly now, won't you?"
Hikigaya figured he still had a soft spot for beautiful women. Even though — by human standards — this nine-tailed fox was basically an old hag, he couldn't help but treat her as a pretty girl, given her appearance.
When a pretty girl isn't your enemy, he was more than willing to display a bit of gentlemanly spirit.
Even though this fox had probably used him to escape danger, he hadn't faced too much risk and had even gained some benefits. So forgiving her wasn't out of the question.
"Um… if it's possible, may this one follow Lord Rakshasa King?"
"Why?" Hikigaya, who had been about to leave, looked at her in confusion.
She was a world-class yokai, after all — was begging to be taken in at first sight really appropriate? He found it rather odd that a nine-tailed fox, such a mythical being, wasn't considered a deity.
"Because I wish to survive. As you've seen, this is the extent of my power. You are a strong one, and you've shown me great mercy. I sincerely wish to serve you."
"In simpler terms — your reputation is terrible, but your strength is weak. So you're afraid people will find you and kill you, right?"
Hikigaya wasn't unaware of the rule against hitting people below the belt, but since she was a yokai, he didn't feel the need to follow human conventions.
"Yes. But my gratitude is genuine. Please believe me."
"Oh…" Hikigaya was a bit moved.
Stories of foxes repaying humans were common, and usually, they didn't scam people — well, sometimes they did.
Besides, she was such a famous yokai. Even if she didn't look like much now, longevity had its perks. This world was full of strange things, and having a living encyclopedia around wouldn't hurt.
"There's one question." Hikigaya decided to resolve a long-standing curiosity. "Did you ever act as Daji?"
"Nooo, I came from across the sea, but I never played any Daji role."
Hikigaya was a bit disappointed. If she had been Daji, he could've asked how much of Investiture of the Gods was real.
"Well, fine — but we have to agree on something. No randomly possessing people. And don't go groping people just because they have big boobs!"
He was deadly serious when he said that.
He just couldn't trust her… He had a feeling that this fox's pervy old man tendencies weren't entirely an act.
"Yes, Master!" Tamamo-no-Mae replied cheerfully. Hikigaya shivered — her voice was too sweet.
Yeah, he knew she was a fox spirit — but no seducing your master!
"Just call me Hachiman. Let's go."
He nodded and turned to walk away.
This time, he'd really run far. He had to recall which direction to go back.
"Lord Hachiman, may I sit on your shoulder?" Her voice, warm and soft, whispered in his ear.
What the hell, I told you not to seduce your master! Why won't you listen!?
But then again… maybe that's just a fox spirit's default setting? Maybe he misunderstood?
"Whatever." Hikigaya replied offhandedly — then suddenly remembered she said shoulder?
Just as he thought that, he felt a light weight settle on his shoulder.
Turning his head, he saw a white fox perched there.
Ah, that's what she meant.
He had clearly misread that.
Just as he thought that, Tamamo-no-Mae's voice came again.
"Lord Hachiman, you've taken the goddess's power just now, haven't you?"
"Oh, of course."
Hikigaya blinked, then answered.
He got the feeling this fox was quite familiar with the ways of god slayers. He had indeed gained an authority. It felt like his fate with Heretic gods was even tighter than that of Kusanagi Godou — and this was already his third.
Still, it was a long way back. Having someone to talk to — even if it was a fox — wasn't bad.
"In that case, you're one step closer to that realm," Tamamo-no-Mae said with a chuckle, eager to prove her worth.
"Don't you want to know what those so-called gods in that realm really are?"