Chapter 193: The Not-So-Smart Fox
The prayer beads in Hachiman Hikigaya's hand emitted a strong spiritual energy that far exceeded the power of any of the magical tools in Isayama Yomi and Tsuchimiya Kagura's strategy room. Only the family heirloom sword Shishio, held by Yomi, could slightly surpass it.
However, when Tsurumi Rumi took the beads from him, she immediately commented, "Kind of ugly."
"Ugly, ugly?!"
Hearing this ungrateful remark, Yomi's eyelid twitched.
Did Rumi realize the significance of these beads? This wasn't just a powerful magical tool—it was a gift from Hachiman himself!
"Isn't it?"
Seeing Yomi's reaction to her comment, Rumi hesitated. Had she just broken some taboo by speaking?
But to her eyes, the beads really were kind of ugly…
"Well, since it was made in a hurry, the design is a bit rough, but it still works."
Hachiman actually agreed with Rumi. Beads that had been infused with spiritual power but not modified by him didn't look particularly attractive.
"Remember, you must carry these beads with you at all times."
Hachiman carefully strung the beads around Rumi's wrist and added a special reminder.
"Um… do these beads have some special power?"
Seeing the intense reaction from Yomi and Kagura, and how seriously Hachiman emphasized not losing them, Rumi immediately understood that the beads she held were something extremely valuable.
"Yes. If something like what happened earlier happens again, these beads will fully protect you."
Children have a natural curiosity for adventure—or in other words, a tendency to flirt with danger. Though Rumi had always displayed a maturity beyond her age, Hachiman couldn't be sure that if he explained the beads' protective power fully, she wouldn't deliberately seek out evil spirits at night just to show off to her friends.
So he simply told her the beads could protect her from evil spirits. That was enough.
"Can it only protect me?"
Rumi asked thoughtfully after hearing Hachiman.
"Sorry, it can only protect one person."
Thinking Rumi might try to show off to her friends, Hachiman nodded expressionlessly.
"Is that so?"
Hachiman's answer was firm, and Rumi didn't suspect he might be deceiving her.
After a brief moment of disappointment and hesitation, Rumi mustered courage and looked up at Hachiman.
"Um, could I get another set of beads for my mom?"
"Huh?"
Rumi's request stunned Hachiman and the others. They had never expected that her inquiry about the beads' function was actually for her mother's safety.
"Because my mom often works late at night and comes home very late, I'm worried she might encounter something like tonight…"
"Of course. If there's an extra set, may I give the beads I have to my mom?"
Seeing Hachiman hesitate, Rumi thought she had upset him with her request. She quickly changed the way she asked.
"Since the beads were already given to you, you naturally have the right to give them to anyone."
Seeing Rumi's overwhelmed, nearly tearful expression, Hachiman smiled slightly. He placed his hand gently on her head and stroked it.
Then, he retrieved the last set of beads he had obtained from Takeda Sae. Infusing them with spiritual energy in front of Yomi and Kagura, he placed them into Rumi's palm.
"These are your mother's beads."
"Thank you…"
Rumi tightly grasped the second set of beads Hachiman had given her, looking at him with gratitude, trying to imprint his face into her memory.
"No problem…"
Hachiman shook his head, then stood and looked at the two who were dumbfounded.
"Then I'll leave this child in your care…"
With that, Hachiman activated the mark on his hand, intending to summon a fox to take him home.
"Master!"
As the mark was activated, a small snow-white fox bounced down from midair.
Yomi, Kagura, and the others, who had no resistance to fluffy animals, immediately had wide eyes.
"…"
The fox landed, bowed respectfully to Hachiman, and was about to ask why she had been summoned. Suddenly, she sensed three pairs of ill-intentioned eyes.
Her tail immediately shot up, and she dashed onto Hachiman's shoulder in a flash.
"S-sorry!"
The fox trembled on Hachiman's shoulder, only realizing too late that she wasn't in front of the usually gentle Inari God, but a human exorcist master. She then let go of him and fell freely to the ground.
"…"
This fox didn't seem very smart.
Hachiman quickly grabbed the nape of the fox's neck and placed her back on the ground.
The fox, relieved after surviving, glanced sideways cautiously. Seeing the three women staring at her intently, she inched closer to Hachiman and finally asked why he had summoned her.
"Could you take me home?"
Though she didn't know how the foxes viewed her, Hachiman was certain that they knew where his home was.
"No problem! Please wait a moment, master. I'll call my nearby sisters to help…"
The fox immediately agreed without hesitation. A golden light appeared before her. She leapt, ready to jump to the nearest Inari shrine to gather help.
However, tonight the usual smooth teleportation ran into a problem.
An invisible barrier seemed to block the fox from reaching the shrine.
The fox, sliding slowly from midair in a spread-eagle position, tilted her head in confusion and looked at the golden light she had opened.
"Is something wrong?"
Hachiman, who had been silently observing the fox's puzzling actions, asked curiously.
"No, I don't know why. I just suddenly can't teleport to the nearest Inari shrine…"
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