The Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox. Otherwise known simply as—the Fox.
The largest antisocial organization in existence for ages untold was now caught in a quiet chaos.
Reports flowed in from operatives across the land to the central command, which formulated plans and issued directives. That was the Fox's method.
Multiple "central command" hubs existed, and aside from the supreme leaders, no one knew their full scope. That ruthless secrecy had been one reason the organization had grown while evading the grasp of investigators—but now, it was backfiring.
Operatives held a certain degree of discretion based on the number of tails they'd been granted. Gafu, who had been slated to execute the plan at the Martial Emperor Festival, was one such senior member—a man lauded for combining caution with charisma and excelling at commanding subordinates to achieve objectives. But the events unfolding at the current Martial Emperor Festival were a touch too dramatic.
Deep within the Fox's operational headquarters—its central nervous system, so few people even knew it existed—individuals wearing fox masks toiled away sorting information centered on the vast region around Imperial Capital Zebuldia.
"Fried tofu production? Which operation is that?"
"From the Thief King, we have a report that operations are proceeding without issue—"
"Information that the Fox is gathering and hunting other organizations—"
"It's probably part of Gafu's operation. Remind them to file a report whenever plans change."
A certain degree of information discrepancy was expected. Authority was delegated to the field so operatives could adapt flexibly to any trouble.
It had worked well until now. The Fox's organization valued quality over quantity, and there were no incompetents among its ranks.
"We've received word from the Zebuldia side that the Fox destroyed a room at an inn the Clan had taken. The Beginning Footprint—what unit does that belong to?"
"A fake imperial princess appeared...?"
Unplanned reports kept flooding in one after another. They wanted to verify the truth, but units stationed in Crito were on mission operations. Without reports from them, there shouldn't be any problems with the plan.
This plan was the largest-scale operation the Fox had ever undertaken. The execution teams were all elites, and the man leading them—Gafu—was extraordinary in both skill and ambition. He, of all people, should have understood this operation's importance better than anyone.
However, setting aside the inn's destruction and the cutting loose of other organizations, the fake imperial princess could not be ignored.
"Just in case, send a new unit. It shouldn't affect the operation, but there may be someone interfering. Also, have the research division check whether any idiot let a manufactured fake princess loose. And send word to the Boss."
This operation was critically important—the supreme leader, who could be called the very symbol of the organization, was personally participating.
The supreme leader who had brought back a fox mask from the ultra-high-level Treasure Hall—the power held by the Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox dwarfed everything below that rank.
Power, charisma, and—individual combat ability. Display incompetence, and no matter which side you were on, you could be purged.
Just then, one of the fox-masked figures standing nearby rose to his feet and, unusually, spoke in a panicked voice.
"An urgent contact from the Boss who headed to Crito—what happened to the 'item'—"
"What...!? Gafu already reported that he'd handed it over—"
The fake imperial princess was not particularly relevant to the operation, but the "item"—that Treasure Weapon—was arguably the centerpiece of this entire plan.
They had already received a direct report from Gafu that he had personally delivered it to the Boss. This inquiry was clearly suspicious.
Gafu should have had the Fox Goddess's shrine maiden with him. There was no way he could have mistaken the Boss's face.
Considering all of that, there was only one conclusion— "—Could it be... this is... an internal power struggle!?"
"!?"
The shocking words silenced the room for an instant.
Because of the extreme secrecy, even the information hub didn't know the full picture—but the supreme leaders who wore fox masks, collectively known as the Boss, were not a single individual. The Bosses apparently maintained regular secret contact with one another, coordinating the organization's guiding principles.
They were generally believed to be stationed in different regions overseeing the organization, but on very rare occasions, their orders could come into conflict.
But this matter went far beyond mere conflict of orders.
This was a critical operation. For another Boss to swoop in and snatch away "that"—the item the Boss was meant to use—was absolutely unforgivable.
It meant that a power struggle, something the organization had been free of until now, was on the verge of erupting.
"What do we do?"
"...We report the unvarnished truth. This is... beyond our ability to handle."
It wasn't Gafu's fault. Of course, headquarters bore no blame either.
The Bosses' identities were classified secrets, and their authority within the Fox was absolute. There was no defying them.
The organization had always grown this way.
If an internal war broke out, the Fox's functions would be paralyzed, and casualties would be enormous.
The fox-masked figures who had been coordinating with各地重新开始运作. But the atmosphere hanging over them had shifted dramatically.
A war of blood for blood was now looming right before their eyes.
§ § § "The Fox's conspiracy, huh... honestly, that's a pretty terrible matchup for me."
"You've come this far—what are you saying now!?"
Franz cut down my hard-boiled surrender declaration in a single sentence.
I forced my reluctant, motionless body to move and followed after Franz. Citry was tagging along behind with a grin on her face, and it looked like the "bathroom escape plan" wasn't going to work this time either.
Why am I always so unlucky? Just getting swept along by the current again.
I'm kelp drifting on the ocean floor. The sea is beautiful.
No, no, no, no, wait. It's too early to give up. If I give up here, I'll end up being pitted against the bad Fox.
I appeal to Franz with all the emotion I can muster.
"Franz, it's about compatibility! Hunters have compatibility! The Fox and I are a terrible match! The ones who are good matches against Foxes are Gaark and the Burning Hag!"
"The Burning Hag!? No—before that. What do you mean bad compatibility—do you know the Fox's true identity!?"
I'd dug my own grave. Franz's eyes went wide and he pounced on me.
Instinctively I grabbed Citry and tried to hide behind her, but it was so pathetic that I stopped myself and settled for just putting my arm around her shoulder.
"I don't know! I don't know, but I can make an educated guess!"
"A guess!? What does that mean!? Stop being so roundabout all the time and state it plainly!"
Well, you see... there's no one I'm actually compatible with. Quite the opposite—if there were someone like that, I'd love to meet them.
When I averted my gaze, I happened to lock eyes with Citry.
Citry nodded as if to say "I know exactly what you mean," then told Franz with a hint of pride in her voice.
"Calm down, Franz. This is precisely the divine strategy and brilliant scheming of Thousand Transformations—the one who perceives all things and thus sees the future!"
Citry... what exactly do you think you know about me? When have I ever seen the future? I can barely see what's right in front of me...
I ruffled Citry's hair in retaliation, then declared with full confidence.
"Ah, that's right. I can see it—I can see the Fox who faces me being utterly destroyed!!!"
"………………! Fine. Either way, the fight can't be avoided! They are enemies threatening not only Imperial Capital Zebuldia but every nation!"
"No, no—I'm not saying we won't fight! But people have compatibility! What I need is—an Ark!"
I said this while pinching Citry's squishy cheek.
Is it this mouth? Is this mouth the problem? I trusted Citry! Don't mess around! Don't just sit there grinning! You, you!
"…Take this seriously!"
"I am being serious!"
"That makes it even worse!"
What do you want me to do...?
§ Trailing along with the mood of a convict moments from execution for over ten minutes, we arrived at a large mansion situated just off the main streets of Crito.
Foot traffic was sparse, but armed military police patrolled the roads in obvious fashion. The same sort of burly soldiers stood guard in front of the mansion as well.
When Franz strode forward without hesitation, the soldiers saluted in unison.
"I'd heard the rumors, but this is quite imposing."
"Mm-hmm, yeah. I'd heard the rumors too."
Once I'd fully become a person who just nods at everything without thinking, Franz came back.
Weren't we supposed to be having a strategy meeting? Where was he planning to take me?
Without letting it show on my face, I filled my head with questions—until Franz said something unbelievable.
"His Majesty will see you."
"!?!?"
Wait... the Emperor has free time?
Eva had indeed said I needed to inform His Majesty the Emperor, but I never expected to actually have an audience... I really... really didn't want to see him.
"Her Highness Mullina is also present. You've already been appallingly rude enough—mind your manners!"
"...I just thought something very rude but didn't say it out loud."
"………………Are you testing my patience? Hm?"
I don't want to see him, I don't want to see him, I don't want to see him, I don't want to see him.
Maybe the Emperor will get a stomachache and cancel the audience.
Citry was inexplicably sparkling with excitement, but I was terrible at facing important people like this.
Let me be clear—I have absolutely zero manners! I've lived a carefree, flaky life. It was to the point where Lucia, unable to watch any longer, told me to just stay quiet.
That's right... maybe I just shouldn't say anything? Leave everything to Citry—no, that won't work. I can't trust today's Citry with anything.
Walking through the heavily guarded mansion, we stopped before an impressive set of double doors.
When Franz spoke to the knight standing guard, a voice came from inside before long.
"Enter."
On the verge of vomiting, I followed Franz inside.
I desperately prayed "don't be here, don't be here, don't be here"—but inside, sure enough, the Emperor who had given me a ticket sat waiting with perfect comence. Princess Mullina, standing beside him, stiffened and twitched when she saw me, but seemed to restrain herself and went still.
Inside the room were security personnel in numbers that dwarfed even the airship—the atmosphere was suffensely tense and oppressive.
As expected of a great nation's Emperor, the room had no windows and thick security. But still, if the Fox attacked, they'd be helpless, wouldn't they?
What could they possibly want me to do? Ah, right—first, I should kneel.
"This is a state of emergency. Formalities are unnecessary, Thousand Transformations."
If formalities weren't needed, I could have stalled for time... but my body—my body wanted to prostrate itself.
"I've already heard from Franz. You rescued Mullina's double from the Fox's clutches. Well done."
"…It's, it's nothing, really."
It really was nothing. And the one who'd caused all the trouble was Citry.
At that point, Citry stepped forward, met the Emperor's gaze firmly, and declared with dignified resolve.
"We are Hunters who became so in Imperial Capital Zebuldia. To serve the Zebuldia to which we owe so much is only natural."
I wanted to rip her tongue out.
The Emperor's gaze shifted to Citry as she spoke in that earnest, pleasant voice.
"I see... You are Citry Smart, correct? By all accounts, your skills as an Alchemist are quite formidable."
"It is my honor, Your Majesty. However, my skills are nothing compared to those of Thousand Transformations."
I'm going to be sick. Hey, cut it out.
She might be thinking of me, but please stop with the pointless flattery.
"Hm... By the way, what is your relationship with Thousand Transformations?"
"My wife."
I smacked Citry on the back of her head almost reflexively.
Franz, the escort soldiers, Princess Mullina—even the Emperor—all stared in shock.
Crap... no, no, but still. She'd been doing nothing but lying since a while ago!
I put on the most dignified face I was capable of and smoothed it over.
"Shall we set the jokes aside and get to the real matter, Your Majesty?"
"…Ah, you're right. Franz."
At the Emperor's direction, Franz stepped forward. Citry, whose head I'd just smacked, had already returned to a perfectly serious expression as if nothing had happened.
Franz cleared his throat and then said, fixing me with a glare.
"Ahem. Come to think of it, Thousand Transformations was a Treasure Weapon collector, wasn't it? Do you know of a Treasure Weapon called the 'Key of the Earth'?"
"Hm? Oh yeah, I have it."
"Oh my—you actually have it? That's impressive, you actually… HAAAAAAAAAHHH!?"
"!?! N-no, I just happened to come across it recently. It's only the one."
Crap... should I have hidden it?
New work (remake of the old work) currently being serialized.
In a sense, the precursor to what became Lament, so if you're interested, please check out the link below!
*** Activity Report: Stogri Newsletter (85) has been posted!
It includes a review of all Citry illustrations so far, plus the reveal of the Volume 5 insert illustration. Please take a look!
Also, the simultaneous book and manga release commemorative full-play campaign has been extended to a postmark deadline of 10/7, so if you haven't entered yet, there's still time. Thank you!
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