Hagoromo Gitsune said there were remnants of the original owner's memories in this body?
Whose memories?
Yamabuki Otome's?
Preposterous! What 'remnants of the original owner's memories'?
Those memories were fabricated by Minagoroshi Jizō's abilities and implanted by Abe no Seimei as a failsafe to control Hagoromo Gitsune.
In essence, this body of Hagoromo Gitsune was created by Minagoroshi Jizō using powdered bone from Yamabuki Otome's skull, combined with Abe no Seimei's secret arts to craft a false personality—a fabricated existence.
Its purpose was to assassinate Nura Rihan and, at critical moments, control Hagoromo Gitsune's unpredictable power.
But now, Hagoromo Gitsune wanted to abandon this vessel and create a new one? Unacceptable!
Thinking this, Minagoroshi Jizō hurriedly said, "Lady Hagoromo Gitsune, preparing a new vessel now would waste too much of your power. If your strength diminishes, it could affect Nue's birth."
"Perhaps we should stick to the original plan and let this body mature for ten years until it reaches optimal childbearing age?"
Hagoromo Gitsune's expression remained unchanged, as if Minagoroshi Jizō's words meant nothing to her.
That Luo Shu was already threatening her with Nue—why should she cling to this weak body that needed a decade to develop?
What she needed now was power!
Power to ensure her child's safe birth!
"Minagoroshi Jizō... are you instructing me on what to do?"
Hearing the undisguised threat in her tone, Minagoroshi Jizō's face froze.
"This subordinate wouldn't dare."
'Damn it. Though I used my memory manipulation to replace the Great Tengu's position as a senior officer in the Hagoromo Group, the Great Tengu clearly held little standing in Hagoromo Gitsune's eyes. I should have replaced Kyokotsu instead...'
At this thought, Minagoroshi Jizō couldn't help glancing at the curly-haired little girl standing beside Hagoromo Gitsune.
Noticing his gaze, Kyokotsu tilted her head. Was Minagoroshi Jizō asking her to persuade her elder sister, too? Did he also think her elder sister looked adorable like this?
Hesitantly, Kyokotsu peeked at Hagoromo Gitsune before whispering:
"Elder sister... it would be such a shame to abandon this body."
Kyokotsu gazed at Hagoromo Gitsune's exquisitely enchanting face and added softly:
"After all, this vessel is truly beautiful."
Hearing this, Hagoromo Gitsune hesitated slightly. After all, she had to consider her adopted daughter's feelings to some extent. As for appearances, while she didn't particularly care, she still disliked ugly faces:
"If Kyokotsu likes this vessel, then when I create a new body, I'll model it after the adult version of this shell."
Upon hearing this, Kyokotsu was overjoyed:
"Yay!! Big sister is the best!!"
'Damn it! This isn't about looks! This is about whether I can control you at critical moments!!'
Minagoroshi Jizō was internally screaming.
But clearly, Hagoromo Gitsune paid no attention to him as she strode straight into the shrine:
"Guard the outside. Don't come in. I need to process this body."
"Also, Minagoroshi Jizō, gather intelligence on the SDS for me, especially that man named Luo Shu."
"I have a feeling that man will be a more troublesome obstacle than the Nura Clan!"
Seeing Hagoromo Gitsune's attitude, Minagoroshi Jizō wavered but ultimately decided against activating his contingency plan.
Without Nue present, he feared he wouldn't be able to control Hagoromo Gitsune. If things backfired and he got killed instead, it would be utterly ridiculous.
'Damn it!!'
Burning with resentment, Minagoroshi Jizō could only stare longingly at the shrine entrance for a while before reluctantly accepting Hagoromo Gitsune's decision to create a new body herself. He then turned and left the hideout.
He needed to investigate thoroughly and find out exactly who this Luo Shu was—the man who had ruined his plans.
If possible, Minagoroshi Jizō would teach him a lesson he'd never forget!
...
"Achoo~~"
Luo Shu put the spoon back into his bowl of red bean soup and muttered suspiciously:
"Is someone badmouthing me?"
After this remark, he turned to Kisara, who was sitting across the table holding a spoon and feeding Mira Tsubakihara a bowl of red bean soup:
"Honestly, Kisara, you don't need to silently criticise me like this. I can handle feeding the patient myself."
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara couldn't help but giggle.
Kisara, however, darkened her expression and said stiffly:
"No need. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of a patient."
She emphasised the word "patient" heavily, as if Mira Tsubakihara were genuinely ill.
In reality, she was just feeling some discomfort between her legs and was too lazy to feed herself, hence her desire for Luo Shu to feed her the red bean soup.
Nodding solemnly at Kisara's explanation, Luo Shu said:
"If Kisara is so good at caring for patients, perhaps I should ask for your help more often? To take care of more patients?"
At these words, Kisara's face went blank...
Take care of more patients like Mira Tsubakihara?
Could he even hear himself? Was that something a normal person would say?
At this thought, Kisara gaped: "Am I the demon here, or is it you, Shu-kun?"
"Guess."
Luo Shu blinked, then smiled:
"Alright, enough joking. I really do suspect someone is plotting against me behind the scenes."
'Are you sure that was a joke and not your true thoughts?' Mira Tsubakihara silently complained before asking curiously:
"Why do you think so?"
She expected Luo Shu to say something like "divination told me" or "it's a god's intuition."
But she never expected Luo Shu to say:
"My physical condition—shouldn't you know all about that, Mira?"
"For someone like me to sneeze uncontrollably is abnormal in itself, don't you think?"
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Yet she had to admit Luo Shu's physique was indeed formidable—just last night, he'd nearly worn her out several times.
"Then why don't you consider who might hold a grudge against you?"
As Mira Tsubakihara said this, Kisara, standing nearby, blinked and suggested:
"Could it be that Hagoromo Gitsune from before?"
"Most likely her."
Luo Shu stroked his chin with playful amusement:
"Among those in this world who bear me grudges yet still draw breath, she's the only one left."
"The others might resent me, but they probably don't realise I'm the one who screwed them over."
'Should you really sound so proud about that...'
Kisara blinked repeatedly, staring at Luo Shu for a long moment before speaking:
"So Luo Shu, what do you plan to do?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes with an amused expression:
"Of course, I'll find something to keep Hagoromo Gitsune and her group busy!"
"And maybe try to snatch a Familia member while I'm at it."
Luo Shu's thoughts drifted to Chika Fujiwara and Moeha Fujiwara.
Since the Nura Clan would likely impersonate the Hagoromo Group to kidnap a noblewoman later, wouldn't it be reasonable for me to do the same and kidnap them, too?
As Luo Shu entertained this thought, Kisara and Mira Tsubakihara exchanged glances, both arriving at the same conclusion simultaneously:
'Luo Shu, your so-called "while I'm at it" is actually your main goal, isn't it...'