Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 240 p2

Chapter 240 Byakko ②
Part 2
　When they heard about her disappearance, the villagers gathered together while having anxious faces.

　The miraculous forests were all created by a girl wearing a fox mask.
　They don’t know who she is. All the villagers know is that it was the famous 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 who brought her to them and that the girl will use her strange power in exchange for Aburaage.

　She was probably not a god, but the girl’s power was mighty.
　In an instant, a plantation that had never been established before, no matter how many renowned Magi were invited, was established.

　A man who is the head of the tree plantation village looked up at a tree that exists in the center of the village.

　It was a huge tree that would normally take thousands of years to grow. It was so thick that ten people could barely circle around it while holding each other’s hand, and its height was outstanding compared to the forest, which continues to grow day and night. If one were to look at the forest from afar, it would probably look like a giant tree sticking out like a joke.

　The tree grew directly above something which seemed like a tail that was given to them by 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. As he advised just before he left, a small shrine had been built nearby and the girl should have always been taking naps there.
　However, there wasn’t even a shadow of the girl who should have been lying there for most of the day until now. Only three pieces of *kapikapi* crisp and dry Aburaage were placed there.

　Obviously, this is an unusual situation. There is no way that Kitsune-sama, who loves Aburaage and eats it as soon as you give it to her, would leave Aburaage on a plate until it is completely dry.
　Even if she goes for a walk, that Kitsune-sama will never forget to eat.

“……” (Villagers)

　The villagers, however, did not make any further noise, but only confusedly looked at each other.
　A land full of greenery was what people of the desert have always longed for. Everyone was grateful for the miraculous forests, and there were more and more people saying that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 should be given a medal.

　However, even they have a limit on how much greenery they want.

　The growth of the forest knew no bounds. Although no trees had been planted, the forest was expanding with each passing day, turning the desert green at a tremendous rate.
　The wooden houses are the result of that attempt to stop the forest from swallowing the village.

　Plants and animals that had adapted to the desert had been pushed away, and some caught a cold due to the temperatures that have dropped several degrees due to the sudden appearance of the forest.

　And most of all, it was frightening that there was no end in sight. Even if they asked Kitsune-sama to stop the expansion, it wouldn’t stop.

　Eventually, one of the villagers says bitterly.

“………… Wasn’t it 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 who took her away?” (Villagers 1)

“!? T-That’s right. N=There’s no doubt about it!” (Villager 2)

“That man, took Kitsune-sama with him!” (Villager 3)

“I saw her fiddling with a square board! That must be how they were communicating with each other!” (Villager 4)

　Voices rose one after another after what that man said, and eventually, it turned into cheers.
　They didn’t care about the truth of the matter. The encroaching of the forest has stopped. Toizant was saved.

　The relief and excitement did not stop after nightfall, and then a thankful feast began.

§

　Phantoms are memories of the past reproduced by Mana Material. Therefore, unless there is a particular reason, Phantoms do not have a lifespan.
　Because they are not living organisms, they do not have any biological desires. Even the habits that exist in each individual are based on their reason for existence, not on the experience they have.

　Therefore, a Phantom that came from the 【Lost Inn】――The nameless Imouto Kitsune, created by powerful Mana Material, was now moving as if driven by something.

　I had to move.

　Phantom does not require food. I don’t even know if it tastes good or bad. Nor would I take sides with that “Kikkikan-no-Nai1” human.
　However, the habit deeply engraved in my being is in desperate need of the object called Aburaage.

“B-Byakko-sama, it’s, it’s going to be okay, right?” (Sora)

　A woman dressed as a Miko asks the Imouto Kitsune who was sitting in the kitchen.
　No matter how many times she asked the question, the Imouto Kitsune answered in a cold voice.

“It’s okay. Everything is based on precise calculations. I have a grasp on everything.” (Imouto Kitsune)

“Y-Yes…… This is…… This is, the Boss’s order. The Boss’s, order――” (Sora)

　She is not interested in human activities. The Imouto Kitsune is a Phantom, created as a god’s familiar. In other words, she is a god.

　God is overbearing. God does not take mere mortals into consideration.

　The Imouto Kitsune just wants to eat Aburaage.

　The reason my brother obeyed that human he called 『Kikkikan-san』 was just because of the result of a negotiation.

　No matter how many thousands of people die, no matter how many organizations crumble――The Imouto Kitsune is a fox. The ones in the wrong are the fools who had been deceived by something like deception and a little mind-reading.

　Learn from that Kikkikan-san. That person is――Not thinking about anything productive at all at an unbelievable scale.
　It was like from the beginning he had voluntarily turned his brain down to a foolish point. No wonder my mother lost. In the contest of wits, those kinds of people are surprisingly the most troublesome.
　Even the Imouto Kitsune doesn’t know what to do.

　The opportunity to masquerade as a human being was something that rarely happened when I lived in the Treasure Shrine.
　And as I wagged my tail, which had come out, in a good mood, the Symphonic Stone that I had gotten from the priestess trembled.

　I answered, but no voice was coming out.

　???

　As I tilted my head and looked at the stone for a while, I suddenly heard a voice.

『Who――Are you?』 (Symphonic Stone)

“…………” (Imouto Kitsune)

　I realize my failure. Even the Imouto Kitsune’s power has its limits. I can’t do everything, and there are things that I am more suited to than others.

　I am not good at deceiving opponents that are far away. It is hard to read their minds without facing them. Especially this time, the opponent seems to have a very high mental defensive ability. I can hardly read its minds.
　There was strength in its voice. A powerful force that could threaten the Imouto Kitsune who comes from one of the world’s top Treasure Shrines.

　Now then, who do I masquerade as……

　Sora? Gaff? Sora’s Sensei?

　I don’t care what the situation is, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t know what is going on.

　I think as I stroke my tail. Then the Imouto Kitsune changed her voice and said.

“Nice to meet you, Boss. No, it is weird to say nice to meet you since I have been watching you for a long time. You who have no sense of danger, I am 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》――Your enemy.” (Imouto Kitsune)