Hitoe. A Nine-tailed Fox (though she didn't have all nine tails yet). Yoko's daughter.
Morning arrived.
I gave my greetings once more to the now-awake Seiten and prepared to depart Sake & Meat Niz. The banquet itself hadn't actually ended; it looked as though the festivities were set to continue indefinitely. However, since the ceremonial purpose of the apology banquet had been fulfilled, there was no issue with me heading home at this point.
Saint Seles seemed determined to keep drinking with Pirika and Holy Knight Chelsea, who had joined midway through, as well as Kinesta, the acting manager of Kuro and Yuki. I told them not to overdo it. I also spoke to Niz, asking her to store the scale and the other valuable-looking divine offerings until I could come back for them later.
Worried about Yoko after the spiderlings had hauled her off, I rushed back to her mansion.
Zabuton's children met me at the door. Their presence was so overt and confident that I assumed everyone currently in the building was affiliated with the Great Tree Village. Following their lead, I was ushered into a Japanese-style room.
I stepped inside, only to find Yoko in a completely transformed state.
"You’re finally home-kon! You’re late—geez, I’m super-pouting-kon!"
I stood there, stunned.
She had her hair tied in pigtails with a headband, and she was dressed in a traditional Japanese outfit overflowing with excessive frills, topped off with a pristine white apron. Was she a waitress at a traditional restaurant? No, based on her tone and gestures, she was a Japanese-style maid cafe waitress. Since her fox ears and nine tails were the real deal, it wasn't exactly cosplay, but the "kon" at the end of every sentence certainly gave off that vibe. She was even striking a perfectly rehearsed "I'm angry" pose.
"...J-just kill me," Yoko whispered, her face a bright shade of crimson as she trembled.
I didn't know exactly what had transpired, but she seemed to have managed to keep her wits about her. "N-no, well, er... it actually suits you," I managed to say.
When I asked why she was dressed like that, she replied that it was the "result of a discussion-kon."
Glancing at the corner of the room, I saw discarded dresses, maid uniforms, and shrine maiden outfits scattered everywhere, which a spiderling was currently tidying up. It must have been a fierce negotiation. I apologized for taking so long to come to her rescue. She started to say it was her own fault for drinking until she passed out, but the spiderlings tapped their legs against the floor and glared at her.
Yoko quickly corrected herself. "...T-the drunken Yoko-chan was a bad girl. Don’t let it bother you-koon!"
She struck a cute pose.
"Understood," I said. "I'll try not to let it bother me. So please, stop trying to tell me to let it bother me with your eyes."
She seemed to have built up quite the persona, but I wondered if she was going to stay like this. When I asked Zabuton's children, they informed me she had to keep it up for about ten days. In exchange, she was exempt from the "squeezing" discipline Zabuton usually handed out. Apparently, she had also promised to greet Zabuton in this outfit the moment she woke up. If Yoko was satisfied with that arrangement, I wouldn't interfere.
Since I had been up all night, I decided to head back to the village to sleep. I told Yoko that Seiten was staying in Village Five for a while and that he’d come to say goodbye before he left. As for the Fox God... well, she already knew about that.
Yoko decided to come back with me. She claimed she had to explain why I had been detained in Village Five, then quickly caught herself and added, "I’m going with you-kon! I have so many things I want to tell everyone-koon!"
I could only wish her luck.
When we returned to the village, no one commented on Yoko's appearance. Pretending not to see it was a form of kindness, though part of me felt that pointing it out might have been kinder. Her daughter, Hitoe, just stared blankly.
"She’s not some random big sister, Hitoe. She’s your mother," I told her. I had to remind her not to do a double-take.
I woke up past noon. I received word that Kon had regained consciousness, so I headed back to Village Five.
Perhaps she couldn't return to human form yet, as a large fox with silver fur was looking incredibly dejected. I asked Yoko if she was reflecting on her actions. Yoko looked a bit conflicted, explaining that while she was indeed reflecting, she was mostly lamenting the fact that she had missed the banquet. Just as Seiten had said, being unable to attend was the real punishment.
"By the way, Yoko, what did Kon have to say about your appearance?" I asked.
It was Kon who answered. "I have come to realize the depth of my sins. Once again, I am truly sorry."
I wanted her to reflect on her actions, even if I didn't fully understand the weight of them myself.
"So, Village Head. What shall we do about Kon-chan and the others-kon?" Yoko prompted.
I didn't feel there was much I could do. If I had to punish her for directing bloodlust at me, it was difficult because I hadn't even felt it. According to Yoko, Kon probably wouldn't have gone as far as actually killing me, and since I had struck her before she could move, it was only an attempted act. Following Seiten's lead, I decided that "nothing happened" would be the best policy.
"If that is what the Village Head decides, I understand-kon," Yoko said, striking another cute pose. She then turned to Kon. "You understand, don't you?"
Kon hung her head in silence. I didn't quite understand the exchange, so I asked Yoko for an explanation later. Apparently, since we were acting as though the trouble never happened, her request for employment was also gone. She wasn't allowed to ask again.
I noticed Zabuton's children drumming their legs on the floor and asked them to forgive the foxes for now, given the serious atmosphere.
Yoko and I left the room, leaving Kon behind.
"That one won't be able to move for a while, but I think she'll be recovered by the time Seiten-chan goes home-kon!" Yoko exclaimed. She had ten days of this ahead of her. It was a rather intense punishment.
We headed toward the room where Kon's companions were staying. There, eleven silver-furred foxes were sitting in a neat row. They watched me with round, bead-like eyes.
"I am Kitsu of the Silver Fox Race," one of them spoke up. "We caused you much trouble. Once again, we offer our deepest apologies."
They all lowered their heads in unison. They were incredibly well-behaved. I knew they were capable of taking human form, but they remained as foxes to show their sincerity in reflecting on their actions. Everywhere I looked, there was silver fur and fluffy tails.
"This might be rude," I said, "but may I touch a tail?"
"Please, go ahead," Kitsu replied.
The texture was wonderful—soft and luxurious. It was a blissful experience.
"Yoko, are there any untouched mountains near Village Five? Not barren ones, but mountains with plenty of trees."
"There are several, but what do you plan to do-kon?"
I decided to turn one of those mountains into an Animal Protection Area. I would hire adventurers to clear out the hostile monsters and then propose that the Silver Fox Race migrate there.
"Is that truly alright-kon?" Yoko asked.
It was fine. Thinking back, when Hitoe first came to the village, I had considered naming her Kon and keeping her as a pet. Now, the leader of the Silver Fox Race was named Kon. It felt like fate.
Kitsu was overjoyed by the proposal. She asked if they could leave the room, but I asked if I could stroke their tails just a little longer.
I spent the next hour thoroughly enjoying myself. However, Yoko's mood turned a little sour. It was a bit much for her to start bragging about her own fur's texture in response. I couldn't exactly ask someone in human form to let me stroke their tail, after all.
While stroking Kitsu's tail.
Village Head: "Kon, Kitsu... the other foxes have names too, right?" Kitsu: "Yes. From the right, they are Buchi, Maru, Hana, and Gon..." Village Head: "Gon?" Kitsu: "Y-yes, he is Gon, but... is something wrong?" Village Head: "I see... So you are Gon..." Kitsu: "Um, why are you crying?" Village Head: "Don't worry about it. I just remembered a sad story." Kitsu: "Oh." Village Head: "By the way, Yoko. Why have you been pointing your tail toward me this whole time?" Yoko: "Don't mind it-kon."