Chapter 92.1


    [Part 1/4]


    As a general rule, it is believed that values be more conservative the more isted a society is, and the less it interacts with the outside world.


    Naturally, this is to be expected. In sparsely popted areas with limited external stimuli, where life bes routine and fixed, there are not many factors that actively contribute to changing values.


    Furthermore, themon notion that young people reject rural customs and outdated values does not easily take root unless they are aware ofpletely different cultures existing outside their own. People, for better or worse, have narrow perspectives. They can only measure the world by what they know. If they don''t even have fragmentary knowledge of the world, they won''t have doubts about the society they are in, let alone rebel against it.


    Therefore, in many cases, changes in values and trends tend to spread from urban areas where interaction with the outside world is more active to rural areas.


    ...That''s why our current situation was also an inevitable consequence.


    "You better disappear quickly, you filthy outsiders!! The moment you set foot in this vige, I''ll tear you apart!!"


    On the other side of the fence stood men holding hoes, sickles, naginatas, and bows and arrows. Each of them exuded a clear sense of killing intent and, at the same time, stared at us with fear. And the old man who emerged from that crowd dered arrogantly and disdainfully towards us. It was an overtly hostile reaction... that was how we were received in Shinkaki Vige.


    "..."


    I look at Iruka beside me. She shrugged her shoulders as if she were exasperated. I followed suit. At first, I was taken aback, but upon closer thought, it wasn''t that strange, and if we encountered the same kind of situation repeatedly, it was only natural that we would eventually get used to it.


    This was not the first time we received such treatment in a nearby vige we passed by while searching for the Namahage. It was ratherical how everything followed the same pattern.


    (Well, considering the members we have)


    A half-youkai fox girl known for her cunning, apanied by a masked-man with ck horse, and a wolf-human with a Ezo''s appearance. Moreover, we were armed, which could be considered a full house. It is inevitable that the vigers in this rural area, where contact with the outside world is limited to asional peddlers or small officials of the county who collect tribute, would be on maximum alert, as it would be impossible not to be cautious.


    But we still had to do our job, even if it was just for appearances...


    "That''s fine," I replied, my voice steady andposed, "We only came here to deliver a warning based on the instructions of the County Governor and the head of the family."


    "A warning, you say...?" Vige Chief murmured, his toneced with skepticism.


    I showed the promissory note that I received from the County Governor and made my deration. Perhaps due to the influence of the promissory note, the vige chief showed a slight interest in our words. However, his expression still contained suspicion and distrust. Well, it''s understandable since it''s unnatural for the County Governor or the exorcists'' family to send such a group as messengers.


    "Yes... How prepared are you for the arrival of the Namahage in this vige?" I inquired, my voice carrying a note of concern.


    "Hmph! I have no obligation to teach the likes of you, who are nothing but unknown nobodies!"


    After a moment of hesitation, it was entirely expected for him to dismiss my question in such a way. Yeah, they probably haven''t made much preparation.


    "That''s fine. We are traveling through this area to prepare for the Namahage. As a side task, we havee to deliver this warning. It is the appropriate time, and we kindly request that you be vignt for any abnormalities."


    "No need to tell me. Although, as far as I know, that monster has never actually visited the vige."


    In response to my warning, however, the vige chiefughed derisively. He looked to be around sixty years old. It''s likely that the tradition of evacuating to the vige had be an empty gesture by the time he reached adulthood. There was not a trace of crisis awareness, and it seemed like he would forget about my warning the next day. If there had been no significant damage in the past two hundred years of negligence, it would make sense.


    (And I can''t mention that the vige was attacked or that the whereabouts of the Namahage are unknown...)


    The condition the County Governor presented for lending the seal to a mere servant was the obligation of confidentiality. On the surface, it was to maintain the authority of the imperial court and to prevent unnecessarymotion before the preparation of supplies and the discovery of the Namahage. However, the real reasons are self-evident. They took the precaution of involving a curse, with Murasaki involved as a witness.


    (Ah, I can see a disturbing motive...)


    The fact that The GovernorGunji-dono and his group agreed to make Iruka apany me may have been a calcted move to gauge the vigers'' reactions.


    Even if it''s just for show, a warning was given, but the vigers didn''t react... There''s a possibility that our suspicious group was assembled to maintain that appearance. I see, if the ones giving the warning are suspicious, no one would follow them. I can''t speak for others in this matter, but it''s quite an unpleasant situation.


    "Hey, should we get going soon?"


    "Hmm? Ah, yes. That''s right. Well, since we''ve informed you and we have a duty, we''ll take our leave."


    In response to Iruka''s call, I bow to the vige chief and retreat with the dark-blue-horse in tow. Iruka and Shiro do the same. On the other hand, the vigers continue to hold their farming tools and weapons with a hostile aura until we disappear from their sight...


    "What do you think? If they remain cautious around the vige, there might be some hope for survival..." I asked, my voice filled with anticipation, hoping for a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.


    If everything goes ording to the scenario, this ce should be the next target in line. Although, since the event has been moved up by almost a week, I can''t say for sure...


    "Well, considering the mess we made... there might be a possibility that they''ll be on guard and keep watch over us."


    "Yeah, that''s possible."


    Despite Iruka''s reluctant remark, I unconsciously agreed. The GovernorGunji-dono probably didn''t calcte that far... If that''s the case, it''s convenient in its own way. Not enjoyable, though.


    "Anyway, what are we going to do from here?" Iruka inquired, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.


    "Ah, right," I replied, my tone shifting to one of focus and determination. "If we follow the city road that continues north from here, we''ll reach a mountainous basin. For now, we''ll warn the three viges there and explore the surrounding areas." I carefully unfolded the map, pointing out the path to Iruka as I exined, my voice steady and purposeful.


    Specifically, I''m referring to the three viges: Sekine, Mongai, and Shikawa, which are surrounded by mountainous terrain. Although thend is limited, the water supply is good, and in this respect, the area is rtively suitable for rice cultivation. Thebined poption of the three viges is approximately over 800 people, and... they are also the viges where the protagonist was screwed in the original scenario.


    To be precise, these three viges were faced with the choice of evacuation, abandonment, or protection during the final stages of the Namahage surveince mission, as it was revealed that they would be the next target after the Namahage. The result is as I mentioned before.


    (Although it''s uncertain how much will change by warning earlier than in the original...)


    Just imagining the oue made me sigh. Or rather, I did sigh. I let out a deep breath, feeling my body growing sluggish.


    "Um, Tomobe-san... Are you okay?"


    Seeing my demeanor, Shiro, who was leading the chestnut horse, anxiously asked.


    "Hmm? ...No, there''s no problem."


    "But... aren''t you tired? The blizzard was strong yesterday, and maybe you should take a break somewhere..."


    Shiro''s remark refers tost night. We spent the night in a mountain hut set up on Mount Hiyake but that night was the strongest blizzard since we set out to search for the Namahage.


    Originally, the n was for Iruka and me to take turns keeping watch, but especially yesterday, encountering the human-faced dog required heightened vignce and concentration. There was no certainty about the size of the pack. SI surveyed the surroundings of the hut where we had spent the night several times. Needless to say, it was freezing cold.


    However, I''m not so weak as to be discouraged by that alone.


    "Hey. Don''t worry about it. I''m just a bit fed up with the viges'' predictable responses. They have no creativity, you know? It would be nice if they came up with more imaginative answers."


    "Uh, um. Well, that''s..."


    As I jokingly made my statement, Shiro wore an expression that couldn''t be described. The fact that she didn''t deny it indicated that she had simr thoughts.


    "Kekeke, don''t act all innocent. Foxy brat, you''d get annoyed too if you were subjected to those kinds of stares every time, right? You were receiving quite a curious gaze yourself, weren''t you?"


    "H-hey, Iruka-san! Why are you...!!"


    "Curious? What do you mean?"


    Interrupting the conversation, Iruka interjected, and Shiro hurriedly protested. However, as for me, I tilted my head with suspicion at that statement.


    "Well, um... That''s..."


    "Think about it," Iruka chimed in, her tone patient yet matter-of-fact. "This brat is a youkai fox, even though she''s just a kid. And look at her clothes, they''re quite fancy, aren''t they?" Her words carried a hint of realization, as if she had just pieced together a puzzle.


    "That''s... Ah, I see," I responded, my voice tinged with a mix ofprehension and surprise. The pieces were slowly falling into ce, and I began to grasp the significance of the situation.


    It could be considered a kind of characteristic. Youkai foxes, both male and female, often take on a beautified human form that mesmerizes and humiliates humans, and the same is true of the half-youkai fox people.


    Considering that in continental dynasties and imperial courts, stories and even historical facts abound about foxes seducing and corrupting emperors and ministers through their allure, it was not surprising that the vigers looked at Shiro with both disdain and curiosity.


    While not as tant as Shirowakamaru, Shiro certainly had moments where, despite her youthful appearance, she exuded a bewitching aura that could deceive men. ...I had be ustomed to it, of course.


    "Well, well, as expected of the youkai fox. I''m sure the fox that caused amotion on the continent rendered the high-ranking officials powerless with just their gaze and voice, right? You don''t let your guard down."


    "P-Please don''t mock me! I-I don''t really pay attention to that kind of thing! Besides, I can''t use word curse!"


    Shiro retorted, her face turning red. Well, from her perspective, it must be an unpleasant usation. Iruka probably didn''t know, but being a part of the soul of a wicked and tyrannical cmity youkai, Shiro must have felt the need to vehemently deny it.


    "Oh? So you unconsciously deceived those guys? Truly the youkai fox. Quite fearsome," Iruka remarked, her voice tinged with a mixture of admiration and amusement.


    "Hey, Iruka," I interjected, my tone stern and reproachful. "Stop mocking her so much... Shiro, don''t worry about it. Just take what this guy says as a joke." I scolded Iruka, my words carrying a protective edge, shielding Shiro from further taunts.


    "Uuuh..." Shiro stammered and looked at me with some tears in her eyes.


    Maybe I was a bitte in stopping it?


    "Hey, hey, don''t cry. Iruka wasn''t serious."