The Nine-Tailed Fox Returns
The rabbit, who had nearly given itself a heart attack from sheer excitement on the first day, thankfully caused no major issues after that.
It spent its days faithfully serving as Suli's plaything.
Contrary to my private worries that it might break too easily, the little guy was adapting at a rapid pace.
In another sense, it was quite the rare specimen.
Suli seemed to like it a lot too—her gloomy mood from the past few days had completely vanished.
This meant I could breathe easy for a while longer.
Whenever we went anywhere, Suli always rode atop my head, and now her friend (toy), the rabbit, joined her there too.
The rabbit adapted to everything else just fine, but it struggled with this one thing.
It still trembled violently every time it climbed up.
Naturally, Suli would thwack my head each time, as if it were my fault.
I thought its reaction was a bit over the top, but it had improved a lot from the start.
The first time it rode up there, it straight-up pissed itself.
Thinking back still makes my blood boil.
If Suli hadn't stopped me, it would've been nicely roasted well-done.
Be grateful to Suli.
Anyway, the rabbit's adaptation was going smoothly.
It had even reached the point of enjoying well-done buffalo meat alongside Suli.
Though its favorite was wolf meat, from what it told me—it had gotten eaten by them plenty before.
Fair enough.
Suli and the rabbit's playtime came in many varieties.
Hide-and-seek was a favorite, mostly scampering around the cave or outside.
One peculiar thing: Suli was always the chaser, and the rabbit the chasee.
Why was that?
I had a vague idea but pretended not to notice.
As long as Suli was happy.
There were other games too.
Some involved my body, but the rabbit found them so daunting we didn't play often.
Ah, no need to force it.
Honestly, things were fine as they were. If it pissed itself again during play, it might end up as dinner.
...Kidding. Don't cry like that.
Yeah, sorry.
There, proper apology done. Suli, stop thwacking my head.
Not that it doesn't feel nice...
Thinking it over, teasing the rabbit now and then might be good.
Suli would counter with her paw attacks each time...
Just a little sacrifice, okay, rabbit?
It was one such day.
The weather was exceptionally clear, so we ventured quite far out to play. The rabbit, who had been frolicking happily with Suli, suddenly came rushing to me in a panic.
"Pii—! Piit! Piii—!!"
[Master, danger! Enemies, enemies are coming! Hurry, take the young miss and...!!!]
The rabbit apparently had impressive detection skills.
Beyond just playing well with Suli, it had other talents.
Quite the useful toy.
Seeing my nonchalant reaction, it flailed its limbs desperately.
Its frantic, pitiful look tugged at me, so I gave a casual response.
Shii──
[No problem.]
They had entered my detection range even before the rabbit spoke, so no need to worry.
From the feel of them, it was a buffalo herd—likely drawn by Suli and the rabbit's noise.
Did these things have no learning ability?
Ah, every buffalo that had shown up so far became our food, so yeah, makes sense they wouldn't learn.
Well, a delivery buffet had arrived. No reason to turn it down.
[Suli, meat's here.]
"Cung—?!"
To Suli's puzzled 'Cung? Meat? What meat?', I grinned inwardly.
[The beef our Suli loves.]
'Cung cung!' Suli cried happily.
I felt oddly cheerful too.
The only one still unadjusted was the rabbit.
"Pii..."
[There are quite a few...]
Shii──
[No problem.]
The delivery buffet tried a hasty U-turn upon spotting me, but once in my sights, they were done for.
We roasted and ate them deliciously.
The rabbit, seemingly enlightened, quietly enjoyed the beef too.
Besides that, the rabbit had several other abilities.
For an E-rank, it seemed sharp, but it turned out to be surprisingly versatile.
Time to acknowledge it as a proper pet.
Even give it a name.
After brief thought, I named it To Soon-i.
Sure, it sounded half-assed... but pet names are like that.
Simple ones feel more affectionate, right?
To Soon-i didn't seem to mind, so no issue.
For the record, To Soon-i was female.
We spent our faithful days like this until one day.
Finally, the nine-tailed fox returned.
After a full two months.
The raging blizzard had stopped, and a few days later, a clear moon rose in the late night.
Suli and To Soon-i, exhausted from playing all day, slept so deeply I could've carried them off unnoticed.
Smack smack— Suli suckled mercilessly on To Soon-i's ear.
To Soon-i's sleeping face twisted in discomfort, but I ignored it.
As always, Suli's happiness was what mattered.
Gazing warmly at the sleeping pair, I suddenly sensed an approaching presence at the cave.
A familiar one.
I moved quietly to greet it.
Waiting briefly at the entrance, a pristine white fox soon appeared.
Just as before, exuding noble mystery.
[You're late.]
Shii──
To my light chiding, the nine-tailed fox landed gracefully before me and chuckled softly.
[My apologies. There was much to handle.]
[And you look surprisingly unscathed. Surely you didn't fight?]
Her pure white fur gleamed without a scratch.
She shook her head lightly.
[I finished it perfectly. This lady does not halt once she sets her mind to something.]
[...Yet you're far too pristine for that. Was your 'worthy rival' actually weak?]
[He was undoubtedly my rival. His power was no less than mine. That I stand unscathed is solely due to recovery.]
I used recovery magic a bit.
Her calm addition made me vaguely understand her delay.
[You were late recovering from wounds.]
[Among other things. I'll explain in detail soon. First...]
Her gaze trailed off toward the cave.
I nodded silently and led the way inside.
She followed quietly.
After two long months, face-to-face with her child, the nine-tailed fox licked Suli gently, just as before.
She settled softly beside Suli.
And cradled her expertly.
"Kyuuung—" Suli murmured in her sleep.
I watched that maternal scene for a moment.
[What's that new thing?]
[...Ah, To Soon-i? Suli's toy... er, friend.]
Her glance flicked to the soundly sleeping To Soon-i, freed from Suli, looking quite at peace.
[I see. A friend for the child is no bad thing.]
[...You're not asking about it?]
[I too intended to procure a servant someday. No issue. Surely you chose well.]
She licked Suli again.
Watching, I realized for sure.
'She's fully back.'
She wouldn't leave Suli again.
No more need to entrust Suli to me.
Which meant I had to leave Suli's side now.
I quelled the rising killing intent.
I couldn't kill her even if I wanted to.
Beyond her being stronger, she was Suli's mother above all.
I wouldn't do what Suli would hate.
That was my sole guiding principle now.
[So, how'd it go with your trip? Seems there's more to the story.]
I asked to distract from the surging intent—better than letting anger take over.
[The fight with my rival wasn't quick. Roughly seven weeks, I'd say.]
[A long battle.]
[He was no mere rival... In any case, it ended in my victory. A tough foe, but this lady knows no defeat.]
[...You lose to Suli plenty, though?]
[...Suli is the exception. Don't interrupt! Listen quietly to this lady's tale!]
Her sharp retort made me shut up obediently.
Those nine swishing tails behind her were intimidating.
[Ahem... Anyway, after the grueling fight, I emerged victorious. But as my rival, his final wounds were severe. Even healing magic couldn't mend them at once.]
[Versatile, huh? You can use healing magic too...]
'Tempting.'
Healing magic was useless to me with Super Regeneration, but not for myself.
Suli might get hurt someday.
'...No, I must ensure she never does.'
Then again, no need?
I shook my head.
Considering Suli's antics, healing magic was necessary.
No monster attacks, but she tripped often playing alone.
Better learn it for those times.
[This lady's competence is a given.]
As I pondered, she continued.
A glance showed her nose haughtily upturned.
A bit smug, but her innate elegance made it natural, not tacky.
[So recovery took time? But you mentioned other reasons.]
[Recovery delayed me, but not this much. An unexpected incident on the way back.]
[What kind?]
[Met a new ruler.]
[...What? A new ruler?]
Did "ruler" mean floor boss?
If so, she fought one and met another?
[Yes. The ruler of the floor directly below mine.]
[...Newly born?]
She nodded silently in affirmation.
I swallowed a groan.
'Nearly disaster if I'd gone looking for her.'
Wouldn't have reached her rival's floor.
I'd be fine, but Suli could've been at risk—chilling thought.
[So what happened with this new ruler? Just meeting one wouldn't delay you this long.]
[Ruler of the land directly below mine. Couldn't leave it alive, considering the future.]
[...No way?]
[Newly ascended, so not too hard. Still a ruler, though. Delayed again treating wounds.]
She licked Suli once more as she spoke. I fell silent.
She'd felled two floor bosses in a row.
With recovery time between, but still impressive.
'Not mere floor bosses—more like area bosses? Reasonable suspicion.'
I eyed her oddly for a moment.
[On that note, I brought something.]
Ignoring my thoughts, she continued.
A purple gem emerged from her embrace.
Familiar shape, ominous mana.
Undoubtedly a monster core.
Two of them.
From context, clearly from those two floor bosses.
[Th-that's...?]
[Hm? You should be familiar. Cores from them.]
[...Why are you carrying them?]
[Obviously. To give to you.]
[......?]
I stared blankly.
Undeterred, she pressed on casually.
[Didn't this lady say before? I'd reward you. I speak no falsehoods. Hm, 'reward' sounds off. Think of it as thanks.]
[Thanks...? For those priceless things?]
Floor boss cores.
From floor 70+ rulers, unreachable by humans.
Sell outside, and the price would be whatever you named.
Valuable for monster growth too.
I'd gained Magic Eye from Wise Scale's core, evolved without setback using the queen's.
Such high-grade cores would surely jolt my stalled growth.
Handing over something so precious? Hard to believe.
[...Couldn't you give them to Suli? They'd boost her growth fast.]
[Too potent at once—her body couldn't handle it.]
[...Then you could've absorbed them. They'd help you greatly too...]
[Indeed, these two would elevate me further. Several times stronger, perhaps. But repaying your grace matters more than my power.]
I fell silent.
Gazing at her, she smiled faintly.
[No need to be so shocked. What you did deserves endless thanks.]
[......]
[Child. Suli is half my soul. Saving and caring for her—you saved me too. You're our benefactor, to me and Suli.]
Shii─
I gazed silently. Her blue eyes met mine steadily, unflinching.
[I see. No regrets, not even a twinge.]
[Did this lady not say she speaks no lies? Of course.]
With a proud smile, she offered the two cores.
Feeling their soft mana approach, I extended mine to accept.
Still felt a bit dazed.
An unfamiliar sensation all around. I stayed quiet a moment.
She spoke again.
[No need to feel burdened. It's thanks—and a bribe of sorts.]
[...A bribe?]
She grinned at my puzzled look.
[What else? About Suli, naturally.]
[......?]
[Please keep caring for her. You're oddly oblivious in strange ways.]
Her blunt words drew an exclamation. I stared blankly.
[I can stay? Even with you back?]
[Hm? Were you planning to leave? Suli would be heartbroken...]
[No, not planning to, but...]
She replied calmly to my hasty addition.
[Then it's fine, no?]
[...You know that's not what I mean. With you back, naturally I'd...]
[Enough. If you don't dislike it, don't refuse. This lady only wishes Suli not to grieve.]
She lay down smoothly.
Belly flat on the ground, she added.
[That's enough talk. Returning hastily left me weary. Time to rest. You should sleep too. Considering Suli's reaction come morning...]
[...Agreed there. But I can't sleep yet.]
Sighing, I indicated the cores with my tail.
She nodded.
[Absorbing their power fully takes time. Need a guard?]
[I'm good. Handled it alone so far... Just heading out a bit. Might not return till morning.]
[Hm. Understood. Still, return soon as possible. Suli will miss you.]
[Yeah. Be right back. Take care of Suli till then...]
[Who do you think this lady is? Suli's dam. No need for such words.]
She buried her head between her forepaws.
Looking fully asleep, I watched a moment, then moved.
[Go carefully.]
Her quiet voice followed as I exited the cave.
My body felt lighter than ever.
Many nagging issues resolved at once.
My stalled growth.
Daily life with Suli.
A deeply satisfying night.