I Was Nearly Killed by My Fellow A-Rank Party, but Now I Fed a Nine-Tailed Fox Deep in the Dungeon. ~ “My Master, I Shall Never Leave Your Side for All Eternity,” the Legendary Monsters Said While Doting on Me. Before I Knew It, I Had Become the World’s Strongest Lord of the Demon Realm~ - Chapter 30 & 31

My Real Friends Were the Youkai All Along

I couldn’t sleep at all, and before I knew it, morning had come.

Suzu had been stroking my head the whole time.

Youkai are seriously so warm… way warmer than any human, y’know…

I sat up and headed to the living room where Tamamo and the others were.

There, Yukime looked pale as a ghost while Tamamo was happily staring at the screen.

“Morning, Kuon! Looks like you didn’t get a wink, huh… poor thing.”

“Ugh… g-good morning. I’m feeling a little sick. Gonna lie down for a bit.”

With that, Yukime basically collapsed onto the bed like she was done for.

Guess even Yukime got so queasy watching that… Liliana must’ve been getting some pretty hardcore orders from her all the way till morning.

“Hmm, the current Liliana’s way too filthy to show Kuon. Here, put something on. Those rags on the floor should do. Go wash your body in that muddy puddle over there with all the trash floating in it. What? It’s cleaner than your skin right now. Hurry up.”

After giving Liliana her instructions, Tamamo turned the screen toward me.

There was Liliana, covered head to toe in cuts and bruises, looking like some homeless person.

Her eyes were completely lifeless, skin pale like a corpse.

All that noble, dignified aura she used to have as a saint was totally gone.

She was wearing nothing but some torn rags that barely covered the important bits, like the lowest level of Saradona’s slums.

Back then, Liliana had pinched her nose at the sight of Saradona’s slums and said, “Ugh, those dirty, gross people should just hurry up and die for the world’s sake.” But now here she was, practically naked in a place like that, and nobody even glanced her way.

Over the course of one night, Tamamo had completely stripped away every last bit of her value as a human being.

That same Liliana was now shivering from the cold as she prostrated herself toward us.

“Kuon-sama… I’m so terribly sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. Apologize to Fokko. From the bottom of your heart, for everything you’ve done up till now.”

“Fokko-sama… I’m really, really sorry…”

“Tamamo, I’ll make you breakfast. Something super delicious.”

“Whoa! That makes me so happy! But don’t push yourself, okay? Kuon’s been up all night, y’know.”

“I’m fine. Seeing Tamamo’s smile makes me feel like I might actually get some sleep now.”

“You’re saying the sweetest things♪ After we eat, let’s take a nap together!”

Fokko was inside Tamamo right now.

I felt grateful watching Tamamo happily eat my food while I cooked.

“Alright, Liliana. I gotta say, I never thought you’d actually go that far. I’ve seen your resolve. As a living being though, you’re utterly pathetic.”

“Th-this is… this is enough, right…? You’ll let me get revenge on that trash man… you’ll show him even worse hell than this…?”

“Yeah, I’ll help you get revenge on Zex. Don’t worry. For now I’ll set you free so you don’t die from some infection or whatever.”

With that, Tamamo turned the screen back into a talisman.

“What about Mike?”

“She headed back right after you fell asleep, Kuon.”

“Oh, right. She’s probably got guild work today too, huh.”

“Seriously, I don’t get why she’d work for humans of all things.”

“Ahaha, but you’re hanging out with me, Tamamo.”

“You’re different! Oh, and Suzu, thanks for staying with Kuon all night.”

“Ehehe, I wanted to be with big bro Kuon anyway, so it’s all good~”

I finished making breakfast for everyone and smiled softly.

“Thanks so much, everyone. Once I rest a bit, how about we head to the Adventurers’ Guild this afternoon? I wanna see Mike again, and maybe we can get some info on the other youkai too.”

The Nekomata Is Totally Head Over Heels for the Protagonist

“I’m home…”

After Kuon fell asleep, I—Micke—had come back to my own place.

It was this rundown apartment right next to the guild.

Of course there wasn’t anyone warm and friendly waiting to greet me.

Even when I tried to keep my youki suppressed, it still unconsciously affected humans.

As long as I lived in human society, nobody was ever gonna treat me with real love.

“…Wait, actually there was one person.”

Kuon… I finally understood just how warm your heart really is.

You made me that super loving meal even though I was a total stranger, and a youkai on top of that.

You respected my feelings and even scolded the nine-tailed fox for me.

I’m sure someone like you will never show up in my life again.

Still, I gotta admit I was shocked that you even managed to make the nine-tailed fox completely crazy about you…

(If that person wasn’t sitting right next to you… just kidding.)

I pulled out the sword I’d hidden under the kitchen floor—the Kusanagi no Tsurugi.

Then I gently stroked the sheath that was covered in a little dust.

(For some reason, big youkai just keep taking a liking to me… This was a huge treasure blade that Shuten-douji-sama gave me out of nowhere after my sword got broken during a fight. I tried to refuse but he forced it on me, so I ended up bringing it along…)

I hid the sword back in its spot and let out a big sigh.

“Like I thought, I really don’t like fighting. All I want is to sleep in, eat good food, and come home without overtime~”

I filled a bucket with hot water and wiped myself down.

Baths were too expensive because of the water bill.

I actually love them though…

After changing, I flopped onto the bed.

(Work sucks… but fighting sucks even more. That’s why I can’t go with you, Kuon. Sorry…)

While I was thinking that, all I could picture was Kuon’s face.

The time he saved me from those thugs.

The way he smiled watching me eat that delicious meal.

And that hurt expression when he found out someone precious to him had been wounded—it made my chest tighten up so bad.

(I really wanted to comfort you all night long. But since I can’t stay by your side, I can’t do something that irresponsible…)

Feeling this empty loneliness in my chest, I curled up alone again today under my thin blanket on the hard bed…

◇◇◇

“Hey hey, showing up late!? Come on, you’re getting way too slack, aren’t you!?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

The next morning, I was late for my guild shift.

The reason… I just couldn’t sleep.

The guy sighing right in front of me was my boss, Kenny.

He was a total jerk.

“I won’t ask for details, but seriously—if you can’t work here anymore, you’re screwed, right~?”

“…Yes.”

(That’s the truth… I’m a youkai. If they dig into my background it’ll be bad. This place is a black company, but they’re pretty lax about that stuff… so I have no choice but to cling to it.)

“Oh my, Mike’s always been so unfriendly and her only good point was being serious, but now she can’t even manage that?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The senior guild receptionist, Saria, looked at me and sneered.

She was another jerk—always dumping her work on me so she could go on dates with her boyfriend.

If I refused, she’d badmouth me to Kenny and bully me even more.

“You should get yourself a boyfriend too, y’know~? Oh wait, that’s impossible for a plain, hated girl like you lol.”

“Ahaha…”

“My boyfriend’s amazing, y’know~! He’s a B-rank adventurer and super rich! This bracelet? He got it for me—”

“Wow, that’s great~”

All I could do was force a pathetic, servile smile.

While I was handling reception work, I spotted him just before evening.

I quickly fixed my bangs with a hand mirror.

And then he—Kuon—came over to my counter with the nine-tailed fox and the yuki-onna.

“Mike, thanks for yesterday. Sorry I made you feel bad too.”

“I-it’s fine! I got to eat that… really delicious food after all.”

“Fokko’s a precious friend of mine. So I was really happy you got mad for me.”

“Of course I got mad! Did you… sleep okay?”

“Thanks for worrying. I actually overslept, that’s why it’s already this late.”

“Hey Mike. So you’re still not coming with us, huh?”

“Come on, Tamamo. Mike already said no.”

“Ahaha… sorry, nine-tailed-sama.”

Kuon really is kind, huh… Every other youkai just tells me “fight,” but he…

While I was thinking that, I suddenly remembered something.

“Oh right, I can’t go with you, but… instead, I can tell you about another youkai… or rather, I’d really like you to help this one if you can.”

“Help…?”

“Yeah. There’s a huge labyrinth north of here. I think the youkai called ‘Nurikabe’ is probably there.”

Chapter 30 – My Real Friends Were the Youkai All Along

I couldn’t sleep at all, and before I knew it, morning had come.

Suzu had been stroking my head the whole time.

Youkai are seriously so warm… way warmer than any human, y’know…

I sat up and headed to the living room where Tamamo and the others were.

There, Yukime looked pale as a ghost while Tamamo was happily staring at the screen.

“Morning, Kuon! Looks like you didn’t get a wink, huh… poor thing.”

“Ugh… g-good morning. I’m feeling a little sick. Gonna lie down for a bit.”

With that, Yukime basically collapsed onto the bed like she was done for.

Guess even Yukime got so queasy watching that… Liliana must’ve been getting some pretty hardcore orders from her all the way till morning.

“Hmm, the current Liliana’s way too filthy to show Kuon. Here, put something on. Those rags on the floor should do. Go wash your body in that muddy puddle over there with all the trash floating in it. What? It’s cleaner than your skin right now. Hurry up.”

After giving Liliana her instructions, Tamamo turned the screen toward me.

There was Liliana, covered head to toe in cuts and bruises, looking like some homeless person.

Her eyes were completely lifeless, skin pale like a corpse.

All that noble, dignified aura she used to have as a saint was totally gone.

She was wearing nothing but some torn rags that barely covered the important bits, like the lowest level of Saradona’s slums.

Back then, Liliana had pinched her nose at the sight of Saradona’s slums and said, “Ugh, those dirty, gross people should just hurry up and die for the world’s sake.” But now here she was, practically naked in a place like that, and nobody even glanced her way.

Over the course of one night, Tamamo had completely stripped away every last bit of her value as a human being.

That same Liliana was now shivering from the cold as she prostrated herself toward us.

“Kuon-sama… I’m so terribly sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. Apologize to Fokko. From the bottom of your heart, for everything you’ve done up till now.”

“Fokko-sama… I’m really, really sorry…”

“Tamamo, I’ll make you breakfast. Something super delicious.”

“Whoa! That makes me so happy! But don’t push yourself, okay? Kuon’s been up all night, y’know.”

“I’m fine. Seeing Tamamo’s smile makes me feel like I might actually get some sleep now.”

“You’re saying the sweetest things♪ After we eat, let’s take a nap together!”

Fokko was inside Tamamo right now.

I felt grateful watching Tamamo happily eat my food while I cooked.

“Alright, Liliana. I gotta say, I never thought you’d actually go that far. I’ve seen your resolve. As a living being though, you’re utterly pathetic.”

“Th-this is… this is enough, right…? You’ll let me get revenge on that trash man… you’ll show him even worse hell than this…?”

“Yeah, I’ll help you get revenge on Zex. Don’t worry. For now I’ll set you free so you don’t die from some infection or whatever.”

With that, Tamamo turned the screen back into a talisman.

“What about Mike?”

“She headed back right after you fell asleep, Kuon.”

“Oh, right. She’s probably got guild work today too, huh.”

“Seriously, I don’t get why she’d work for humans of all things.”

“Ahaha, but you’re hanging out with me, Tamamo.”

“You’re different! Oh, and Suzu, thanks for staying with Kuon all night.”

“Ehehe, I wanted to be with big bro Kuon anyway, so it’s all good~”

I finished making breakfast for everyone and smiled softly.

“Thanks so much, everyone. Once I rest a bit, how about we head to the Adventurers’ Guild this afternoon? I wanna see Mike again, and maybe we can get some info on the other youkai too.”

Chapter 31 – The Nekomata Is Totally Head Over Heels for the Protagonist

“I’m home…”

After Kuon fell asleep, I—Micke—had come back to my own place.

It was this rundown apartment right next to the guild.

Of course there wasn’t anyone warm and friendly waiting to greet me.

Even when I tried to keep my youki suppressed, it still unconsciously affected humans.

As long as I lived in human society, nobody was ever gonna treat me with real love.

“…Wait, actually there was one person.”

Kuon… I finally understood just how warm your heart really is.

You made me that super loving meal even though I was a total stranger, and a youkai on top of that.

You respected my feelings and even scolded the nine-tailed fox for me.

I’m sure someone like you will never show up in my life again.

Still, I gotta admit I was shocked that you even managed to make the nine-tailed fox completely crazy about you…

(If that person wasn’t sitting right next to you… just kidding.)

I pulled out the sword I’d hidden under the kitchen floor—the Kusanagi no Tsurugi.

Then I gently stroked the sheath that was covered in a little dust.

(For some reason, big youkai just keep taking a liking to me… This was a huge treasure blade that Shuten-douji-sama gave me out of nowhere after my sword got broken during a fight. I tried to refuse but he forced it on me, so I ended up bringing it along…)

I hid the sword back in its spot and let out a big sigh.

“Like I thought, I really don’t like fighting. All I want is to sleep in, eat good food, and come home without overtime~”

I filled a bucket with hot water and wiped myself down.

Baths were too expensive because of the water bill.

I actually love them though…

After changing, I flopped onto the bed.

(Work sucks… but fighting sucks even more. That’s why I can’t go with you, Kuon. Sorry…)

While I was thinking that, all I could picture was Kuon’s face.

The time he saved me from those thugs.

The way he smiled watching me eat that delicious meal.

And that hurt expression when he found out someone precious to him had been wounded—it made my chest tighten up so bad.

(I really wanted to comfort you all night long. But since I can’t stay by your side, I can’t do something that irresponsible…)

Feeling this empty loneliness in my chest, I curled up alone again today under my thin blanket on the hard bed…

◇◇◇

“Hey hey, showing up late!? Come on, you’re getting way too slack, aren’t you!?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

The next morning, I was late for my guild shift.

The reason… I just couldn’t sleep.

The guy sighing right in front of me was my boss, Kenny.

He was a total jerk.

“I won’t ask for details, but seriously—if you can’t work here anymore, you’re screwed, right~?”

“…Yes.”

(That’s the truth… I’m a youkai. If they dig into my background it’ll be bad. This place is a black company, but they’re pretty lax about that stuff… so I have no choice but to cling to it.)

“Oh my, Mike’s always been so unfriendly and her only good point was being serious, but now she can’t even manage that?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The senior guild receptionist, Saria, looked at me and sneered.

She was another jerk—always dumping her work on me so she could go on dates with her boyfriend.

If I refused, she’d badmouth me to Kenny and bully me even more.

“You should get yourself a boyfriend too, y’know~? Oh wait, that’s impossible for a plain, hated girl like you lol.”

“Ahaha…”

“My boyfriend’s amazing, y’know~! He’s a B-rank adventurer and super rich! This bracelet? He got it for me—”

“Wow, that’s great~”

All I could do was force a pathetic, servile smile.

While I was handling reception work, I spotted him just before evening.

I quickly fixed my bangs with a hand mirror.

And then he—Kuon—came over to my counter with the nine-tailed fox and the yuki-onna.

“Mike, thanks for yesterday. Sorry I made you feel bad too.”

“I-it’s fine! I got to eat that… really delicious food after all.”

“Fokko’s a precious friend of mine. So I was really happy you got mad for me.”

“Of course I got mad! Did you… sleep okay?”

“Thanks for worrying. I actually overslept, that’s why it’s already this late.”

“Hey Mike. So you’re still not coming with us, huh?”

“Come on, Tamamo. Mike already said no.”

“Ahaha… sorry, nine-tailed-sama.”

Kuon really is kind, huh… Every other youkai just tells me “fight,” but he…

While I was thinking that, I suddenly remembered something.

“Oh right, I can’t go with you, but… instead, I can tell you about another youkai… or rather, I’d really like you to help this one if you can.”

“Help…?”

“Yeah. There’s a huge labyrinth north of here. I think the youkai called ‘Nurikabe’ is probably there.”