Chapter 183-3


    [Part 3/4]


    ''Oh my. What''s so funny? I''d love to know, you know? You can''t keep all the fun to yourself, especially not a monkey like you, right?''


    The fox cheerfully ordered me to confess everything I knew. Her smile was cold and merciless. She then dug her toes into my side, cracking a few of my ribs like Pocky. I coughed up blood, and her face lit up with satisfaction, like a full moon. She acted like a superior, a ruler, a predator.


    Beautiful yet terrifying. Truly, truly terrifying. and... that made it even more ridiculous.


    "Ha! Well, that''s... true, right? Ugh, you must have some idea... of your own fate. There''s no way the clever fox doesn''t understand it by now...!!?"


    My pointed remark was a gamble for my life, but the punishment for my arrogance never came. In front of me, the ck fox narrowed her eyes, creating a serious atmosphere.


    ...Ah. I knew it. She understands, doesn''t she?


    ''...My cute little step-sister. How will it end?''


    She asked with a sharp tone, like an interrogation. Shiro trembled and then began to speak. "I-I was injured by pursuers in... the barrennd..."


    ''Injured?''


    Shiro slowly and carefully formed her words, then fell silent. The ck fox urged her to continue. Silence was not allowed.


    "...I followed the fate and... you were devoured."


    Shiro took a moment of silence to share the truth in a shaky voice. Her face tightened with fear as she finished. It might have seemed weak, especially since she had once prepared for suicide. But Shiro was truly afraid and braced herself for her step-sister''s reaction.


    ''...Hmm. So.''


    A surprisingly light reaction. And then, the pressure of the footstep intensified, and I screamed like an animal.


    ''So you were trying to make some kind of deal, with the avoidance of my death as a condition? Too bad, I can see that you had nothing to do with my death.''


    She shrugged, mocking me. With her toes, she skillfully manipted and twisted her legs, forcing them into the gaps between my ribs. She was toying with me. Screams and cries filled the air.


    "Tomobe-san...!!"


    ''Nice melody. It''s like a meat instrument, isn''t it? Kouka would be delighted.''


    "Please stop...!! Ane-sama!? Please stop, I beg of you...!!"


    ''Be quiet!''


    Shiro rushed to stop the attack, but the ck fox red at her. That look was enough to blind Shiro, who was confused. She copsed, looking around in panic, as if she had lost her vision. She turned and screamed endlessly, but her voice didn''t reach me. Had she lost her ability to speak too? It seemed like all her senses were gone. She was a lostmb.


    ''...You''ve really fooled me thoroughly. You, my step-sister, with the potential to grow nine tails, are truly pathetic. Where did future me go wrong in your education?''


    She held her cheek, sighing deeply as if in great distress. The disappointing state of her supposed talented being, and her own failure in raising her that way, seemed to be giving her vertigo.


    ''Well then... what should I do with you?''


    "Killing this body... will just send my soul back to the original time, right?"


    I dere triumphantly to the fox, who seems to be deep in thought. I feel bad for the owner of this body, but the worst-case scenario can be dealt with that way. If anything, the moment she kill me or the princess, the ''end'' wille...


    ''Oh, how naive. Even if killing you is hard, I can make you suffer as much as I want, you know? I could let you experience a living hell without dying, or stretch out the time to the limit. The mind and body are one. Should I break your soul and send you back?''


    "A hopeless case. as expected of a fox... such a dirty mindset!"


    I can''t help but admire the wicked suggestion that spills out so easily. And then... I start to point something out.


    "Think about it... This technique is... something you teach to Shiro, right? Then, you should have been able to use it yourself. So... haha, why didn''t you use it?"


    ''What are you trying to say?''


    "It''s a continuation of my suggestion...!"


    Coughing up blood and gasping for breath, I demand further exnation. I hope she will go along with it...


    ''...Those are unpleasant eyes. It seems like breaking you will be tough. What do you want?''


    Looking down at me with a frown, the fox asks, seeming annoyed. Oh, is she interested?


    "It''s about bncing things out... Please alter the memories of that girl, your sister?"


    That was a proposal to cleverly exploit the loophole in the technique...


    * * *


    In the true history, Shiro''s past is a tragedy in a nameless vige on the outskirts. A small tragedy buried in the darkness of history.


    ...It was indeed, a very ordinary incident.


    In the original story, viges often got destroyed, especially during Shiro''s childhood. Half-youkai like her were killed too, and there were no records of it──only memories of those involved. So, Shiro''s memories are the only proof of her past.


    And personal memories aren''t always reliable.


    There are theories like Schr?dinger''s cat that say you can''t know the answer to something until it''s observed. Facts only exist through observation, which can change the event itself. This makes truth vague and unclear.


    So, can''t we think that the techniques we''ve used have already shaped official history? The history the white fox knows might not be the real truth.


    ''In other words, you want to manipte memories so that my little step-sister misunderstands the official history?''


    "Your understanding is quick... that helps...!!"


    The arrogant ck fox and the human being trampled upon shared a moment of understanding. But the ck fox snorted dismissively.


    ''What advantage do I gain from such adjustments? Rather, I think it would be more meaningful to do as I please and alter my ridiculous fate, don''t you think?''


    Her own death. And the foolish little sister''s upbringing. Those are certainly worth altering. Especially for the ck fox, who exists in the past and not in the future. She will change everything now and alter the future. It will be a stepping stone for her salvation... but I deny that.


    "That''s why, I told you earlier, right? Why didn''t you use the same technique when you were dying? Why didn''t you let your little step-sister use it?"


    That''s right. That''s what''s funny. They say youkai foxes should kill in one surprise attack, but it''s not just about illusions; it''s also about avoiding death through changing the past. That''s why it doesn''t make sense.


    There was time to let Shiro consume herself. So why didn''t she use the same technique during that time? Was she weak? If so, then couldn''t she have used her clumsy but strong little sister as a battery to help? The ck fox should be able to do that.


    Something feels off. It''s unreasonable. Illogical... no, that''s not it. It was probably reasonable and logical. Otherwise, it wouldn''t make sense.


    ''...So, I was epting my own death, right?''


    "You did it calmly... you let yourself be devoured. You even seemed satisfied. It''s not impossible, right?"


    Part of this is from Shiro and part from the original still images or lines... more like imagination. It''s a kind of delusion. But it wasn''t an impossible story.


    ''What''s the reason? If I was epting my own death, there must be some purpose, right?''


    "Sorry, but... I don''t know. It''s all my imagination. Just a guess. But you should know yourself best. Right? What do you think?"


    At my point, the fox falls silent. She rests her hand on her chin, thinking deeply. She looks troubled. and then...


    ''What exactly do you want me to do?''


    "I want you to make Shiro... recognize that her mother is dead."


    ''Isn''t that something you could actually do by killing her?''


    That was a cruel and sadistic remark, but I expected it. So I immediately respond without hesitation.


    "That''s true. But... she''s your sister, right? The sister you trained in the techniques and stayed with until the end? The sister you raised to be a softie?"


    That was the truth. The ck fox, who had many step-sisters, favored the white fox and could never kill her mother. It didn''t make sense, even practically. I wasn''t sure if she really spoiled her. She might see the The white fox''s brain miso pudding as a secret treat, but it also seemed like a weird way to torment a creature.


    "Anyway... If it''s found out, I might get stabbed? Don''t you think it''s a pathetic end to be killed by a sister you trusted?"


    ''You''re quite the silver-tongued devil, aren''t you? Of course, a male monkey, you''re an expert at talking your way around women.''


    The ck fox''sments on my ideas were sarcastic and spiteful, full of facts. It was like a bad salesman trying to sell spection as truth, built on a shaky foundation of sand.


    However, the ck fox also understood that she couldn''t deny it. And... her heart''s bnce had already tipped.


    ''...Hmm. Well, that girl over there. Good for you? I''ll let you go. Do your best to survive.''


    The ck fox spoke to the crouching woman, Ine or the lustful princess, with a coldugh. Her tone hinted at the tough future ahead. Even if the woman survived here, the challenges she would face after being driven from her homnd were endless. It was clear she would likely die somewhere soon, worn out and exhausted.


    ''So, if there''s a possibility, that''s good enough, is it? How irresponsible and hateful. I almost want to crush it.''


    "Ggh... That''s fine by me!"


    The sound of bones cracking echoed. The fox and Iughed at each other. Only the mother-princess had an indescribable expression, looking away. She couldn''t say anything, just silently epting her fate. Whose will was this, I wonder...?