Chapter 43 - Temptation.

Miketsu looked at Konkiku, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, and a sense of foreboding rose in her heart. She couldn't help but feel that this little fox, who couldn't even transform, was plotting something.

Although she thought this, Miketsu still nodded silently, acknowledging Konkiku's guess. She didn't think wanting to eat meat once was anything to be ashamed of. Now, she wanted to see what kind of mischief this little fox was up to.

“I knew it! Konkiku has seen the food Sister Tsuruha prepares for you every day, and it's super boring~ Those humans simply don't understand what real deliciousness is!” Seeing Miketsu admit her guess, Konkiku excitedly wagged her tail, as if she was extremely happy that Miketsu shared her opinion.

“What exactly do you want to say?” Seeing the unusual behavior of the white-furred little fox in front of her, Miketsu couldn't help but frown.

“Hehe…”

Seeing Miketsu's question, a playful smile appeared on Konkiku's fox face. She stood up, walked in front of Miketsu, and deliberately lowered her voice as she spoke.

“Konkiku knows where you can eat meat~”

Hearing Konkiku's words, Miketsu's eyes lit up. A sudden eagerness appeared in her gaze towards Konkiku, and her previously listless demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by a surge of energy.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course it's true! Konkiku knows a place that sells delicious meat with first-class cooking techniques, and it's not far at all~”

Seeing Konkiku's confidence, Miketsu, who had been excited, suddenly felt a hint of doubt. She had never imagined that there would be a place specializing in cooking meat around Heian-kyo. Don't humans in this era not eat meat? How could such a place exist?

“No way… I remember Tsuruha saying that there are no humans selling meat around Heian-kyo, let alone cooking it. Are you mistaken?” Miketsu expressed her doubts to Konkiku. She didn't believe that this little fox, who couldn't even transform yet, would have more knowledge than Tsuruha.

“That's because humans don't eat meat, but Lady Uka, don't forget, there's a type of being in this world that loves to eat meat.” Konkiku looked at Miketsu with a knowing smile. The moment Miketsu heard Konkiku's words, she immediately understood what she was referring to.

“Are you perhaps referring to… yokai?”

“Congratulations, you got it right~ Lady Uka, meat is rare among humans, but it's a staple among yokai. We can get meat from yokai.” The little fox gave a small hop, declaring Miketsu's answer correct.

“No! Absolutely not! Isn't all the meat from yokai human flesh?” Hearing Konkiku confirm her answer, Miketsu immediately and repeatedly rejected Konkiku's suggestion. Although she wanted to eat meat, she would never consider human flesh.

“Lady Uka, you're overthinking it. There are many types of yokai; only a portion of them eat humans. A large number of yokai primarily eat animals, and some are even vegetarians like monks, or even eat dirt and stones. Some yokai are even skilled at cooking and make dishes to sell, just like humans. Lady Uka, you can go there to buy from them.” Seeing Miketsu's reaction, Konkiku quickly explained.

Hearing Konkiku's explanation, Miketsu's previously drastically changed expression clearly softened, but the wariness in her eyes had not yet disappeared.

“Even if they don't eat humans, they are still yokai, aren't they? It must be dangerous to interact with them.” Miketsu continued, ever since she transmigrated, her impression of yokai and all beings from the Demon Realm hasn't been good. Both the One-Bite Yokai and the Demon-Faced Centipede almost took her life, which led to Miketsu having a very poor impression of yokai now.

“There are also big differences among yokai. Not all yokai are malicious, just like humans. Aren't there treacherous individuals among humans too?” Seeing that Miketsu still had concerns, Konkiku continued, and her words seemed to touch Miketsu, making her nod thoughtfully.

Although both encounters were extremely dangerous, it seemed too rash to definitively label all yokai based solely on those experiences.

Not to mention the countless heinous criminals she had seen on television in her previous life, even after coming to this world, hadn't she encountered scoundrels like Morimura Saemon? If evil exists among humans, there's no reason good can't exist among yokai.

Thinking this, Miketsu's wariness towards Konkiku's suggestion lessened.

Although her wariness towards Konkiku's suggestion was decreasing, Konkiku herself was now making Miketsu ponder. Seeing that Miketsu seemed to be shedding her concerns about yokai matters, Konkiku immediately struck while the iron was hot and continued.

“Let me tell you, Lady Uka, that yokai izakaya I know is famous far and wide, especially for its grilled meat, which is absolutely superb. I'm telling you, especially the texture of the roasted wild boar…”

Konkiku began to continuously describe to Miketsu how delicious the grilled meat dishes there were, piling on lavish adjectives, vividly depicting the appearance, color, aroma, and taste of the dishes, leaving Miketsu utterly stunned.

Feeling saliva continuously welling up under her tongue, Miketsu swallowed several times. Through Konkiku's meticulous descriptions, various delicious meat dishes continuously materialized before Miketsu's eyes.

This subjected Miketsu, who was almost unfamiliar with the taste of meat, to wave after wave of assault.

This is truly unbearable!

“So, where can I eat these dishes?” Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Finally, Miketsu could no longer resist the temptation of delicious food and asked Konkiku. Konkiku, as if victorious, spun around twice in place, then continued, “Don't worry, Lady Uka, that place isn't too far. With Konkiku leading the way, we'll arrive quickly. However, before you go, you must make some preparations.”

“Preparations? What kind of preparations?” Hearing Konkiku's words, Miketsu asked, puzzled.

“Of course, preparations to enter the Demon Realm. That place is a gathering spot for yokai, and Lady Uka, as a deity, you absolutely cannot go there as you are. If your divine identity were discovered, it would cause a huge commotion.”

“Therefore, Lady Uka, you must disguise yourself as a yokai. Only then can you blend in among the yokai and quietly enjoy the dishes there.”