CH 201.1

My most…… Precious thing?

I unintentionally frowned at his over-domineering request. He didn’t make such a request last time. The tall fox-mask that appeared had a thin smile on his face.

Apparently, the Phantoms in this Treasure Shrine are evolving, like the Phantom with her Aburaage.

I could feel Kruz’s heartbeat who was clinging to me. But, thanks to my Relic, I was comfortable.

My most precious thing…… It is, of course, Luke and my friends’ life. But they are not in this Treasure Shrine.

Maybe he read my mind, the fox-mask said in a calm voice.

“Yes, of course, it is within the limits of what you can offer now. By the way, this does not include your own life. This is――A fair deal.” (Fox Mask Representative)

I remember the last time I was here. Last time, I didn’t know that this was the 【Lost Inn】. Of course, I didn’t know about the Phantoms’ characteristics either.

We had wandered in unintentionally and were in a state of confusion at the presence of the Mana Material that was so far apart from us, when a fox mask appeared in front of us.

『You have entered our realm. It has been many years since anyone has entered our realm――But whatever the circumstances, you are an uninvited guest, lost one. But if you bow down now and offer your apologies――I will grant you forgiveness.』 (Fox Phantom)

I was the only one who could move.

There are individual differences in the amount of Mana Material you can absorb and accumulate, as well as the speed at which it leaves your body.

It can be said that this difference is one quality of the powerful, but it also makes the effect of Mana Material on you greater than others. As I am void of any talent, I was only feeling a little bad after receiving this ultra-high concentration of Mana Material and that’s it. To put it in another way, I am――A monkey.

I wasn’t comfortable at the time, but I didn’t hesitate and did a splendid Dogeza as the Phantom said. And we were forgiven.

It was at that moment that I realized how useful my apology skills were. And it was since then that I began to enjoy bowing my head a little more. (And Lucia punched me for being so pathetic)

The encounter with the 【Lost Inn】 left a profound effect on me. It was also because of this Treasure Shrine that I developed a tolerance for fear. Well, I am in a comfortable state right now, so it has nothing to do with the tolerance I have.

I can’t oppose him. I can’t win. What are you going to take from me?

The Phantom in front of me said anything except my own life.

Then my next most important thing――What if it is the Emperor? Are you going to take the Emperor’s life?

You are not going to forgive us with just a Dogeza this time? My current Dogeza skill is so far apart from what it was then. It has reached the level of art. It is at the level where you could decorate it as a frontispiece――.

The fox-mask approaches within arm’s reach. Its arm slowly rises.

I unintentionally took a step back. Just as his fingertips were about to touch me, the fox-mask stopped moving.

And just like this, as if it reflected my movement, he took a step back.

His thin lips opened. The voice that came out of it was terribly agitated.

“………… ????? Aaaaah…… Eh? Do not tell me, you are………… Are you not “Kikkikan no Nai Onii-san (No-Sense-of-Danger Onii-san)”?” (Fox Mask Representative)

“…… No, I am not.” (Cry)

I have at least some sense of danger, you know. Well, I am comfortable right now, so I am in a comfortable state, but I am aware that I am in a pinch. Won’t you forgive me if I do a Dogeza……?

For some reason, the fox-mask is in a panic. He checks his left and right sides, brings his face with a holeless fox mask close to me, and makes gestures as if he is really seriously staring at my face. Kruz was grabbing my back tightly.

“Nonono, eh? Why are you here? We are――In the sky, you know? It has not…… Even been a hundred years since then.” (Fox Mask Representative)

“…… Un, un, that’s right.” (Cry)

“How did you get here? We are flying through the air at high speed! It does not…… It does not make any sense.” (Fox Mask Representative)

That’s what I want to know. I also thought about it last time, but maybe it is not our fault, but it is yours as you guys ran over us. Like a carriage hitting a stone in the road.

But I won’t complain. The other side is transcendent. And if it is necessary, I will get on my knees and do a Dogeza.

Apparently, their side remembers me. If I apologize, he might forgive me. As I squeezed my hand tightly, the fox-mask held his head and made a pitiful quivering voice.

“Seriously, how on earth did you sneak in! Mother said 『We would never encounter each other again in your lifetime』, didn’t she! We have made doubly sure and have even changed our location to the sky where people cannot get in……” (Fox Mask Representative)

………… Eh?

§

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Sorry I missed Thursday’s release because I was too tired and got my vaccine shot…

And thank you Juan for the ko-fi. I doubt I will be able to release an extra chapter this Sunday so I will probably release it next Sunday.

The chapter was short but you learn that even the strongest Phantom is afraid of meeting Cry!

His plot armor is too strong.

Tchao à plus!