Fox-colored hair. A pair of large, pointed ears.
The girl, clad in an outfit resembling a Miko (shrine maiden) uniform, slowly tilted the cup she held while dangling her feet in the lake. A sigh escaped her cherry-blossom pink lips and vanished into the pouring moonlight. Her fluffy tail swayed, indicating her enjoyment of the sake.
Ren, sitting beside her, held his own cup with both hands and couldn't help but gaze at Shion's beauty. Noticing his stare, the girl blushed self-consciously and protested, "Please don't look at me so much."
"It's fine, we're alone, aren't we? Besides, it would be a shame to miss seeing Shion's cute side."
"Oh, my. Ren-sama always teases me like that."
"I'm not teasing. Shion is truly beautiful, and I think you look picture-perfect. You look lovely under the sun, but you shine under the moon like this, too."
Tonight was Ren's night alone with Shion. While using the sound-absorbing magic item on the bed was nice, they decided to try something different and came to the lake. The vast lake, devoid of trees, allowed a clear view of the starry sky. Few people ever ventured into the forest at night, and their current location was currently sanctified by Shion's skill. Even without the skill, forest animals wouldn't attack Shion. Animals seemed to instinctively know when an opponent was stronger than them.
"Ugh."
Shion groaned and tilted her cup again, hiding her embarrassment. They had brought plenty of sake. As long as they drank responsibly, they had enough wealth not to be stingy.
Ren took a sip of the seishu (refined sake), enjoying the taste and flavor, and looked sideways at the girl's face.
"If you say the moon suits me, doesn't it suit Ren-sama even more?"
"Hmm... Does that mean, perhaps, in a demonic way?"
"Well, yes... in the sense of 'shining,' that might be true."
His black wings and tail, his indigo hair and eyes, easily blended into the night, while his pale skin provided a good contrast, making him stand out in the moonlight. The silhouette of a bat flying toward the moon is a frequently depicted motif, symbolizing how iconic and impressive the subject is.
"I'm a succubus, you see. I'm a bit different from a demon, but I suppose I'm a resident of the night."
"Ren-sama seems unchanged even during the day, though."
"Mh. Shion, you said that to get back at me, didn't you?"
"Please allow me a little revenge."
There was no need to raise their voices in the quiet forest. They exchanged words in whispers, listening to the sounds of insects, the wind, and rustling leaves.
Their snack was fried tofu, stored in his storage space. Since both of them could use fire magic, they could just lightly roast and eat as much as they wanted. Fried tofu, a Japanese ingredient, naturally paired well with the seishu.
"It's quiet."
"Truly. ...Being able to forget the hustle and bustle of the city is one of the good things about this world."
"It's hard to get this in Japan, isn't it?"
In this different world, there were no TVs, cars, or smartphones. As a result, time flowed slowly. It probably wouldn't suit everyone, but Ren quite liked it. He knew, without having to ask, that Shion felt the same way.
"I bet it's going to be tough when we go back."
"It really will. A life chasing deadlines and schedules is definitely difficult."
"And we can't exactly fly when we're running late."
When he was a student, he desperately wished for a certain robotic cat's Anywhere Door. If pursuing time efficiency, that's what's needed, not flying. As expected, the Sage's Teleportation is a cheat. Perhaps he should change jobs to one that grants him Teleportation magic eventually.
"Ren-sama, is there anything you'd like to do when you return to Japan?"
"Me? ...Well, I suppose being a model or a waitress. What about you, Shion?"
"As for me... I think it might be nice to be a Miko at a countryside shrine."
"If that shrine had a Miko this cute, it would be incredibly prosperous."
If she put her mind to it, she could even turn the shrine into a genuine power spot. The Miko might be so capable that the chief priest would be rendered obsolete.
Shion let out a sigh,
"That won't do. I'm imagining it under the premise that I remain as I am now. If the goal is to blend into Japan, it should be better for me to return to a human form."
"You don't have to force yourself to go back. Especially in your case, Shion, you wouldn't feel out of place at all in Japan."
After all, she was a fox spirit (O-kitsune-sama). She might even be worshiped and enshrined. Even in her black-haired human form, she was a critically endangered Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman), so she was a perfect fit for a Miko.
"Hearing you say that puts my mind a little at ease."
Shion smiled.
"Do you like your current body?"
"Yes. I was confused at first, but now I almost regret the thought of going back to my old one. That is thanks to all of you who affirmed and protected me."
"Were we able to help even a little?"
"I received a debt of gratitude I can never repay."
"We've been helped a lot by Shion too. We might be dead if it weren't for you."
The girl chuckled and said, "Then we are even."
"The road ahead is still long. ...Will we be able to remain together like this for a while longer?"
"Of course. It's too early to get sentimental. We still have to face opponents tougher than monsters."
"That's right. ...I have almost no experience with children myself."
The child in Ren's belly is Huri's, so they plan to raise it primarily as a pair, but they will inevitably need help from everyone. In return, if Shion's child is born, everyone else will help them. That was an advantage unique to Ren's group, unlike normal families with only two parents.
"Then, perhaps we can only relax like this for a little longer."
The girl gently leaned her head on Ren's shoulder. Feeling Shion's light weight, softness, and body warmth, Ren smiled and emptied his cup. Shion quietly poured him a refill. The early summer night air was very pleasant, and the slightly damp atmosphere of the lake further enhanced the peaceful mood.
"Ren-sama. May we stay like this all night long...?"
"Of course. We still have plenty of sake and snacks, after all."
Their night together slowly deepened.
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