"Oh my, I haven't even said anything, and you've already gone on and on," Kitsune Saiguu said helplessly.
With a wave of her hand, Kitsune Saiguu actually undid the seal on Ioroi.
"I'm free! I can finally…" Ioroi roared loudly after breaking free, "finally scratch my belly!"
"Ahem, no, I mean, I could've escaped the seal on my own, but I just didn't feel like it before."
"This time, it's you who owes me, so I called you to undo it," Ioroi said, coming to his senses.
"Alright, alright, this time I do owe you," Kitsune Saiguu said, not upset.
But then, with a sly smile, she continued, "However, regarding the outcome of our hide-and-seek game, it seems I won."
"Huh?" Ioroi froze. Didn't I just say it should count as my win? I've been hiding for who-knows-how-many years!
"Our game didn't have a time limit, did it?" Kitsune Saiguu said with a mischievous grin.
"You, you're cheating!" Ioroi protested. No time limit? Then how could I ever win? By waiting for you to surrender?
"I figured you might not admit defeat, so I 'caught' all the little ones too," Kitsune Saiguu said, covering her face with her fan, her eyes full of amusement.
A few foxes approached her, with tanuki youkai sitting on their backs. The tanuki youkai actually seemed to be having fun.
"This… ugh, fine, I lost," Ioroi sighed.
He hadn't expected to lose so spectacularly right after being unsealed.
But it was fine—he'd long prepared himself for defeat. Sigh, he'd never lost so happily before.
"Since you've admitted defeat, you must face punishment," Kitsune Saiguu said, tapping Ioroi's head with her fan.
As if pondering what punishment to give, Kitsune Saiguu paused for a moment.
Then, with a smile, she said, "Your punishment is to continue serving as the 'Guardian of Sacred Life.'"
"For a troublemaking tanuki like you, taking up the duty of protecting Chinju Forest is a fitting 'punishment,' don't you think?" Kitsune Saiguu said, feigning contemplation.
Ioroi had once caused chaos in Chinju Forest and had already been punished, losing his position as the Guardian of Sacred Life.
After all, how could someone who wreaked havoc in Chinju Forest be entrusted with its protection?
But since Kitsune Saiguu said this, it meant she was confident she could convince Ei.
Or rather, as long as she brought it up, Ei would surely agree.
"…You smelly fox…" Ioroi lowered his head, and after a long moment, he looked up.
He declared, "Ioroi, Guardian of Sacred Life, accepts the command!"
After settling matters with Ioroi, Kitsune Saiguu arrived at the Tenshukaku. The Shogunate guards didn't recognize her, as they hadn't had time to read books after work.
But seeing her shrine maiden attire and fox ears, along with a smile that felt strikingly familiar, they hesitated briefly before letting her pass.
Kitsune Saiguu walked straight into the Raiden Shogun's residence, but before she could even catch a clear glimpse of the Raiden Shogun, Ei pulled her into the Plane of Euthymia.
"Saiguu," Ei said, staring directly at her, her eyes filled with nostalgia. Her expression remained composed, holding back her emotions.
Unbeknownst to her, tear streaks still marked her face—Lucian hadn't wiped them clean.
"I'm back. You've changed so much, Ei," Kitsune Saiguu said with a smile.
"Have I changed that much…?" Ei was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Yes, I suppose I have."
If even I, who pursued eternity, have changed so much, how can I chase an unchanging eternity?
Neither had expected to meet again, and there was undoubtedly much to say.
Lucian, ever tactful, had left early to give them space, so Kitsune Saiguu didn't see him this time.
"A bit of a shame, not seeing the person I wanted to meet," Kitsune Saiguu sighed softly before turning to Ei.
"Hm… I haven't even scolded you on Makoto's behalf yet, and you've already been crying?"
Ei blinked. I didn't cry… I wiped my face clean… didn't I?
Then it hit her. Lucian, my dear disciple! You didn't leave because you read the mood—you were escaping! "I love you"!
"Hahaha, crying like this—how could I bear to spank you now?" Kitsune Saiguu laughed so hard she could barely stand.
"…" Ei fell silent, wiping the tear streaks from her face.
But the marks were stubborn, and the more she wiped, the more they spread.
"Stop laughing at me!" Ei's tone carried a hint of embarrassment.
This was truly a rare sight. Kitsune Saiguu laughed even harder, and while Ei wasn't paying attention, she pulled out a Kamera and snapped a photo with a click.
"Mm, just as Miko said, this is a fascinating device," Kitsune Saiguu said, pleased with the photo.
When Yae Miko mentioned that Ei might have been crying and making a fuss after reading the story, Kitsune Saiguu had an idea.
She shared it with Yae Miko, and the two foxes hit it off instantly.
Ei sighed. What kind of people did she have around her?
But then she smiled. Still, it felt good to have people by her side.
The next day, Kitsune Saiguu met Lucian in Ei's Plane of Euthymia.
Though somewhat hesitant to ask, Kitsune Saiguu inquired if Lucian could provide another puppet body for her "revival."
Though she and Hanachirusato were the same person, they had differences, like their personalities.
Hanachirusato's body had vanished due to the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, but her consciousness remained.
Hanachirusato's memories and thoughts now resided within Kitsune Saiguu's consciousness, and Kitsune Saiguu wanted to separate Hanachirusato to give her a complete life.
Separating consciousness wasn't difficult; the challenge was finding a suitable vessel. Even the Hydro Archon used her own body to house the "human" part of her consciousness.
Lucian didn't refuse. He was wealthy now, and at his current level of strength, emotional value didn't boost him much anymore. Better to use it to buy "happiness."
This only deepened Kitsune Saiguu's sense of debt to Lucian, leaving her at a loss for how to express her gratitude.
Lucian didn't ask anything of Kitsune Saiguu. He had come to see Ei today for two reasons: Ei had ordered "takeout," and the book Lucian had arranged to release after The Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was going on sale today.
Two books, in fact: one was Seirai Stormchasers, the story of Seirai Island.
The other was Divina Vulpes Chapter: Act I: Narukami's Prayer Festival.
This was Yae Miko's Legend Quest, deliberately placed after The Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual by Lucian's design.
To add an air of mystery for Miko, this book was even kept a secret from her.
Keeping something from Miko was no easy feat, but the previous book, The Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, had successfully distracted her attention.
In exchange, Lucian said he'd manage "Yae Publishing House" for a while, which was what Miko meant by "sacrificing a lot."
During Lucian's "reign," he first secretly got Miko's story approved and printed.
Then he launched a writing contest themed around My Fox Subordinate, partly to let Ei vent her frustrations.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Lucian: About Raiden Ei · Extra Training
"Go tell the world to stop Raiden Ei from bullying me, waaah!"