CH 228.1

A mask dropped by a Phantom in the 【Lost Inn】 was certainly valuable. However, from the looks of it, it does not seem to have any special power.

When a Phantom dies, it disappears without leaving behind even a piece of clothing, but in rare cases, a piece of clothing or an item worn by the Phantom may remain.

It is said that the probability of this happening increases in proportion to the Phantom’s power, but these drop items have often fewer abilities than Relics. Drop items are, so to speak, pieces of the Phantom.

If you ask me if it was rare or not, it was rare, but to me, the mask did not look like one that would make members of the Fox Mask Fan Club obey without question. Its design sense, for example, was quite good, but it would be quite easy to reproduce it with modern technology.

At my question, Sora’s expression changed dramatically. The somewhat sacred atmosphere that was enveloping her had dissipated, and she was blinking in amazement.

When she turned around and looked behind her to make sure that the other foxes were not there, she said in a quivering voice.

“W-What are you talking about “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”? You must be joking…………” (Sora)

“You see, I got this mask the other day when I defeated a Phantom in a Treasure Shrine, you know.” (Cry)

“!???? !? Hue!? !? Eh??? Eeeeh!?” (Sora)

Sora’s complexion turned blue, then red, then blue again. So funny……

But what on earth did Sora and the others think this mask was?

I removed the mask and checked it sternly. It was just a mask. It was just a fox mask.

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The design was excellent and it certainly had a strange atmosphere on it――But rather than this fox mask, I would have preferred to have a mask with the ability to change your face like the 『Reverse Face (Transforming Mask)』. Am I asking too much……?

“Eh? Ermmh…… Mumumumumu……?” (Sora)

“Hey, could it be possible that this mask could be sold for a lot of money? Is it something valuable?” (Cry)

“!? S-Sell!?” (Sora)

Sora, who was groaning while crossing her arms in front of her and dripping cold sweat, pulled her cheeks back.

I see…… It is so valuable that it would be inconceivable to sell it. But, you see…… I don’t know the value of this mask.

I wore it because it was the only way to hide my face, but either way, I prefer a mask with holes at my eye level. So that even without Relics, I can see in front of me.

When I was carefreely thinking about this, the only girl in the Fox Mask Fan Club who was not wearing a mask approached me and said in a hushed voice, as if she was talking about a secret.

“S-So, what you mean………… Is this what you are telling me? I am not the “Byakko (White Fox)”, I got this mask, from a Treasure Shrine……?” (Sora)

When she told me this as if she was at her wit’s end, I finally realized something.

Maybe…… She is mistaking me for someone else?

“Didn’t you maybe take me for someone else?” (Cry)

“Kuh…………………… No wayyy…………… Tell me it’s a lie…………” (Sora)

Sora let out a thin scream and put her hands on her head and twisted around as if she were trying to run away from reality. Her behavior was different from when I first met her, and this was more appropriate for her age.

I put my mask back on and comforted Sora, who seemed to have made a careless mistake.

“Oh well, this kind of thing happens too, you know……” (Cry)

“Why… Didn’t you say something, When I pulled your handddd!!” (Sora)

“…………” (Cry)

Even if you say that, I am stumped. She was the one who suddenly said, “This way” and took me to the Fox Mask Fan Club meeting. I was just confused from the beginning to the end.

“T-Then what does the Fox Mask Fan Club mean?” (Sora)

“Eh? ………… Was I wrong? It looked like everyone was wearing a fox mask tho’.” (Cry)

“Huh……………… Is that possible? Is that even possible? Would you normally say something like that? …… No, no. I have never been taught that!” (Sora)

Sora was *purupuru* shaking. Even if you say that…… Then, when I was in that place, what was the right thing for me to say?

For once, it was not my fault at all. It was Sora’s fault. And it was the (Temp1.) Fox Mask Fan Club’s fault for letting such a child run around as their errand boy. However, it would be immature to point this out to Sora.

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I showed my badass side and the leeway of an adult.

“Oh well, if you confess honestly and apologize, they will forgive you.” (Cry)

“Huh!? Forgiven!? Are you saying that they will forgive me? No way that will be true! I have said it, you know!? I have declared it, you know!? I clearly told them that you are “Byakko-sama (White Fox)”!” (Sora)

“Eeeeh………… That is not good, you have to clearly do the “Ho-Ren-So2“. “Ho-Ren-So”――Report, inform and consult, do you know about it?” (Cry)

“Whyyyy, do you have the real mask! Even though only the sacred “Byakko-sama (White Fox)” should have itttt!” (Sora)

“Eh? It is just a trash-tier Phantom 3 drop from the 【Lost Inn】 tho’.” (Cry)

“!?” (Sora)

Well, in the first place, there was also the question of how many people wander in the 【Lost Inn】, but the Phantoms over there disappeared after just a conversation. So it wasn’t surprising that there are a few masks out there.

“I mean, isn’t it strange that just because you have a white fox mask you are a “Byakko (White Fox)”? Isn’t the system itself strange? I am sure there are some people who got the wrong person, so I think the system needs to be changed. Why don’t you consult this with them?” (Cry)

“Huh――――!!!” (Sora)

Sora covered her ears and sat down when I pointed this out.

There are probably plenty of white fox masks out there. So, it would be possible to make as many fake masks as you want.

“This time it was an accidental identity mistake, but there might be people who will wear the mask and approach you with malicious intent, you know.” (Cry)

“P-Please, stop talking for a moment!!” (Sora)

“Ah, okay.” (Cry)

It was a suggestion that was made with the (Temp) Fox Masks Fan Club in mind, but apparently, she won’t listen to it at all.

Without a choice, I crossed my arms and waited for Sora’s decision.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Funny how Cry is still thinking that Phantoms from a Level 10 Treasure Shrine can die just by having a conversation.

And that people can normally survive a Treasure Shrine like the Lost Inn.

But poor Sora, she is just a victim of Cry’s mastermind.

Now, she doesn’t have any choice but to follow Cry!

Tchao à plus!

FootnotesTemp: As in Temporary nameHo-Ren-So : It is the abbreviation of Report (Houkoku), Inform (Renraku) and  Consult (Sodan). This is something in the Japanese business culture to report on a process or a result of business from a subordinate to a superior.Here I put trash tiers Phantom but in fact he said something like Mob Phantom rather than trash tier.