Chapter 763 – Silver Fox Kon (II)
Eeto, let’s start with….
Youko-sama, why are you working here?
「Why? It’s so easy. The food is good and the drinks are better. We didn’t serve them yet because it there’s still the apology but you’ll definitely like them once you tasted them at the banquet.」
You were lured by food?
「That’s not all. There are many people in the vige who are not afraid of me. Some are even stronger than me.」
No way, how could there be people stronger than Youko-sama?
「Think about why I’m the acting vige chief. The vige chief is way stronger than me.」
………
「I work here to be of use to the vige chief. You have to keep that in mind.」
U-understood.
「Ah, I know I don’t have to tell you this but, if you dare touch the vige chief, I won’t forgive you. Don’t act recklessly.」
Of course.
There’s no way I’ll make an enemy out of Youko-sama.
However….
「What?」
Will it be alright if we serve the vige chief too?
「Hnn? What do you mean? Aren’t you guys supposed to be hired but never be subordinates?」
We’re in a situation where we can no longer do so.
「Is it already that bad?」
Compared to thest time Youko-sama met us, things have be so much worse.
The number of job offers suddenly decreased since a few years ago.
「Thus, you wish to be the vige chief’s?」
Youko-sama pretended to think for a moment.
I know why she’s doing that.
I know that it’s impossible to get a positive reply.
We are the silver fox after all.
We are infamous for being notorious.
If we serve as a race, the vige chief will bear that infamy.
To put it simply, the vige chief will be med as the one who manipted the silver fox race.
Even so, I can’t let this opportunity go no matter how small the possibility is or else, our race will perish.
「Kon, the vige chief will gain nothing even if you serve him. On the contrary, he’ll suffer big time. I won’t even dare tell your request to the vige chief.」
……..
「However, I’m indebted to Kon….I mean the previous generation Kon. That guy took care of me. I owe him(?)(gender neutral) a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid. Therefore, I can’t refuse a request that involves the fate of your whole race.」
Then…..
「I will let the vige chief decide. However, I will not say anything to back you up that time. Is that alright?」
Yes.
Thank you very much.
All I have to do now is to show my excellence.
By the way, Seiten-sama?
Why have you been covering both of your ears since the end of the meal?
Preventive measures in order to not get involved in something dangerous?
Is that the monkey’s famous for? The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude?
I’m learning a lot.
-0-
A littleter, Youko-sama went out to call the vige chief.
In the meantime, I will decide on the deployment of guards.
….
The ones who would be left in the room are only Seiten-sama and me.
The other guards will wait in the room prepared by Youko-sama.
However, if we really set it up like that, what’s the point of us being hired as guards?
Only three should wait in the room that was prepared for us.
Of course, I will get angry if you just take it easy there.
Always be on alert.
Be ready to move at any time.
Be prepared for surprise attacks.
The three of you, stay inside the mansion.
I’ll leave the ce where you’ll stand guard to you but don’t go inside any room.
Yes, stay hidden in the corridor.
The five of you will stay outside thepound.
This is to secure an exit.
If anything happens to me, Kitsu will take over themand.
Alright, good reply.
Hnn?
I thought it will take more time but Youko-sama has already returned.
Was the vige chief nearby?
…….
My impression of the vige chief is….a normal human.
I can’t believe she’s stronger than Youko-sama.
However, given Youko-sama’s attitude towards the vige chief, it is obvious who’s the boss and who’s the subordinate.
That alone shows he’s not a mere human.
Is he a sage then?
He and Seiten-sama greeted each other and finished the formal apology.
It seems like the vige chief has no intention of making a big deal out of it.
Perhaps he was encouraged by Youko-sama to just let it go.
I’m grateful for that.
-0-
Seiten-sama’s apology is over.
Seiten-sama is going to Niz-sama’s store first.
The three who are waiting in the room prepared for us and the five outside thepound will be Seiten-sama’s guards.
Buchi will be inmand until I rejoin them.
「Kon-sama, wouldn’t it be better if I go?」
Kitsu asked me.
It’s true that if we’re going into a separate group, the other group should be led by Kitsu.
However, the fate of our race is on the line with my meeting with the vige chief.
If we do not show our resolve, we will not be able to serve him.
If pushes to show, I’ll die with the infamy of the silver fox on my shoulders.
If I do that, perhaps Youko-sama will show mercy.
After that, the rest of our race will just have to negotiate with the help of Youko-sama.
I beg she’ll do so.
Then, let’s begin my discussion with the vige chief….
I have been warned.
It would be wrong to start at the main topic immediately.
Let’s talk about something different first.
Before I say what I need to, there is something I would like to confirm.
「Hnn? What is it? 」
Is vige chief Youko-sama’s boss?
「Boss? I am the vige chief of Vige Five and Youko is the acting vige chief. In terms of job grade, yes. 」
I see.
Thank you for answering.
I would like to ask 2 – 3 more questions to understand how the vige chief thinks but….
The vige chief was away from the vige.
Maybe he still has something to do after this.
It’s a bad idea to waste his time.
I’ve taken one step closer to the vige chief. That’s enough.
Let’s do it.
Eh, then, the reason I’m here today is to ask Hiraku-sama a favor.
「A favor? What is it?」
This is it.
I took one step forward.
Yes.
There are a total of 92 silver foxes in existence including me.
Of these, only 23 can transform and work as a person but if you turn blind eye to a few inconveniences, 84 can fully work.
Would you please hire our whole race?
「Hire?」
Yes.
「You’re not requesting to relocate to Vige Five? 」
The silver fox race is not very good at living among other races.
「Okay, but you said you can work, right? What kind of job can you do? 」
Well, we are silver fox so isn’t it obvious?
Assassination desu.
「……」
Was my voice too low?
Assassination desu.
「No, it’s not like I didn’t hear you.」
Is that so?
Hnn?
Why is Youko-sama holding her head?
Did I do something wrong?
Ah, the vige chief is going to open his mouth.
It looks like he’ll give us an answer.
「Ehto, please leave.」
The moment I heard the answer….
I released bloodlust toward the vige chief and made my move.
I released bloodlust but I have no intention of killing him.
It would be meaningless since we’re the ones who are asking favor and it will turn Youko-sama into an enemy.
I will only show my strength.
And then, I will apologize with my death.
After that, Kitsu will request him again.
Yeah, I’lly my life for this desu.
The fate of our race is at stake.
I will not choose any means.
Ah, since I, a bodyguard, attack, it will cause trouble to my employer, Seiten-sama.
I should tell them that Seiten-sama has nothing to do with this before I die.
I can only apologize to Seiten-sama in the afterlife….
It seems like Youko-sama noticed that I’m trying to make my move, however, it’s already toote.
……..
Areh?
I’m not in the ce where I’m supposed to be.
My view has not changed at all.
In other words, I didn’t move?
Eh?
Why do I feel like I’m being pierced by something?
It was by the spear held by the vige chief.
When did he take that spear out?
Also, when he entered the room, he didn’t have that, right?
While I was puzzled, Youko-sama gripped my neck.
There’s no way I can move now.
I give up.
The part pierced by the spear also seems to be quite injured.
….Kitsu, I’m sorry.
This is the worst situation.
Me dying without even being able to show off my ability…..
Escape and protect our race.
After this, anyone who has ever been involved in assassination work should die.
The rest will be praying for Youko-sama’s mercy.
Youko-sama is a strict person but she takes good care of us.
I know it’s pathetic but we can only rely on her.
The silver fox canmunicate with each other mentally if they are close enough.
That’s what I told her…..
However, I didn’t expect her reply.
「…..S-sorry. We’ve been caught. Spider desu.」
Spider?
I slowly turned my face upward and looked at the ceiling of the room.
Ah, there are many big spiders.
I didn’t notice them.
And they are not just any spiders.
They are demon spiders.
There’s nothing we can do about this.
It seems like the spiders have captured everyone.
Even those who escorted Seiten-sama?
They are very thorough, aren’t they?
I guess I could only say as expected.
「Kon, I told you that if you dare do something to vige chief, I won’t forgive you.」
Ehto, I don’t think I managed to do anything.
I didn’t even move.
「Think of what you have done. If you continue to speak nonsense, I’ll annihte your entire race.」
….I know what I did.
Even so, I’m in a position where I have no choice but to do it.
This is our only hope.
「I understand. Vige chief, I’m sorry. Let me exin what’s happening.」
I guess we were able to avoid the worst of the worst.
However, I didn’t expect the vige chief to be this strong.
He seems to be concerned about me too. I guess he’s also kind.
「She’s okay. This much damage isn’t enough to kill her.」
Ah, I have to say something, Youko-sama.
「What is it?」
Actually, I received quite a lot of damage and I’m already reaching….my limit desu.
I coughed up blood and copsed.
I can’t even maintain my human form.
This….can’t be.
-0-
Author’s Note 1
What Kon tried to do.
Request
↓
If rejected, will attack to show ability
↓
「I’m sorry, I’ll bring the infamy of the silver fox to the grave with me.」
Thenmit suicide.
「Ah, Seiten-sama has nothing to do with this.」
Then, the next person(Kitsu) will ask to be hired again, showing her will to attack again to make the other party think they will continue to do so until they all die.
If the other party’s mentality is strong, the number of person who’ll die in vain will increase but Kon thought that the vige chief would be moved by her alone so she decided to do it.
The silver fox values the whole race more than their own lives so they won’t hesitate to die for their race. (It is simr to the samurai society of old Japan where family name is more important than one’s own life.)
-0-
Author’s Note 2
An exchange around the time when Youko’s holding her head.
Kon: The silver fox is a famous assassin race. Anyone is an expert assassin.
Youko: (Appealing to vige chief as an assassin is counterproductive!)
Kon: It shows that we don’t mind risking our lives.
Youko: (You think too much! Sorry but, you’ll die in vain!)
-0-
Author’s Note 3
Youko-san cheating
「 I will not say anything to back you up that time.」
↓
「She’s in trouble (Important hint, Vige chief, notice!)」
-0-
Q&A corner
Q: Kon-san, aren’t you being too short-sighted?
Kon A: I will not hesitate to do anything if our race is at stake. Youko-sama is also there and she’s like the trump card for a fox race. Why hesitate? Do it now!
Q: I think your expressions are a bit outdated……
Kon A: The silver fox lives in the forest so we are not familiar with worldly affairs.
Q: Can’t you just ask to be hired by Youko?
Kon A: Eh? By Youko-sama? Eh? Are you serious? That Youko-sama? You want to be hired by that Youko-sama? Ano, that, you’re….courageous aren’t you? (Youko-sama is merciful and the trump card of the fox race but if you ask anyone if they want her to be the boss for the sake of the race, anyone would shake their heads. The previous generations are still crying.)