Hearing Konkiku's words, Miketsu's mouth twitched, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She wanted to say something but couldn't.
Konkiku, feeling quite pleased with herself, didn't realize she had unknowingly caused her deity to suffer in silence.
“Hehe... her name is Asakura Hao, but I don't think tonight's incident was intentional on her part. Humans can never fully know the detailed situation within the Ghost Market, so this situation should have been beyond her expectations.” Listening to Konkiku's indignant words, Toga couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. However, another voice on his shoulder disagreed with his view.
“Master, sometimes you are too trusting of humans. This is Heian-kyo; the situation is not like in Harima.”
This slightly high-pitched voice immediately drew the attention of both Miketsu and Konkiku. At that moment, they both saw a very tiny yokai appear on Toga's collar at some unknown point.
With a pointed nose, four hands, white hair, and dressed in clothes, this was Miketsu's first time seeing such a small yokai. Miketsu had heard his voice before, but only now saw his true form.
“Oh!! What a tiny yokai, what exactly are you?” The moment she saw the small yokai, Konkiku's eyes couldn't hide her shining curiosity.
“He is Myoga, and like Totosai, he is also my retainer.” Toga explained. As soon as Totosai was mentioned, Myoga on his shoulder seemed to sink.
“Master... do you think that Totosai might have already been harmed by Oyakata's people?” Myoga said dejectedly. It was clear that the letter sent to Toga had no issues with handwriting or seal, but when they arrived at the agreed-upon location, they were indeed ambushed by the leopard cat yokai general Torin.
This meant that Totosai had likely fallen into the hands of those leopard cat yokai, and his current situation was completely unknown.
“Hmph... now we can only speculate. Perhaps they captured Totosai and forced him to write me a letter to lure me out. Or perhaps they intercepted the letter Totosai sent me, peeked at its contents beforehand, and then set up an ambush at the agreed-upon location, waiting for us to take the bait.” Toga let out a long sigh and slowly spoke. Hearing this, Miketsu, who had been silent, also formed her own thoughts. She opened her mouth and simply said,
“It was intercepted...”
Intercepted? Why so certain? Hearing Miketsu's words, Myoga and Konkiku looked at her in confusion. Only Toga smiled and said,
“Your view is similar to mine. I also lean towards believing that Totosai has not fallen into their hands.”
“M-Master, why do you say that?” Myoga asked, somewhat stunned after hearing Toga's words.
“It's simple. If Totosai was truly forced by them to write me a letter, why wouldn't the meeting place be in Harima, but here in Heian-kyo?” Toga slowly explained. Hearing him, Konkiku also realized,
“That's right... for yokai from Harima, if they were truly choosing an ambush location, why would they choose Heian-kyo? This is right under the Onmyoryo's nose, where the influence of the various Yokai Lords is weakest. It doesn't make sense!”
“Is that how it is? Master, does that mean Totosai might still be alive?” Hearing Konkiku's explanation, Myoga's spirits lifted.
Listening to Myoga, Toga smiled faintly. He then looked up at the bright moon outside the cave and slowly said,
“Of course, he's not only alive, but he also hasn't fallen into Torin's hands. I firmly believe he is still hiding near Heian-kyo, waiting for my arrival.
“At that time, he will surely forge the strongest demon blade for me, and I will take it to challenge Oyakata once more! To seek my revenge!”
...
After Toga finished his story, Miketsu and Tsuruha left together. Toga suggested using this cave as a temporary new hiding place, which Miketsu readily agreed to.
Riding Konkiku, Miketsu quickly returned to Inari Mountain. Along the way, she pondered the various grievances in Harima Province and ultimately decided not to get further involved. Although deep down Miketsu hoped Toga could eventually lead the yokai of Harima to successfully rebel against Oyakata's rule, it was ultimately not her concern.
Given Miketsu's current strength, she couldn't handle so many matters.
Lost in thought, Miketsu recalled Konkiku's previous words. Her expression at the time indeed showed great dissatisfaction, even hatred, towards onmyoji. And the first time she met her, Konkiku also had this attitude, showing a rather good impression of yokai instead.
Initially, Miketsu thought Konkiku might just be like rebellious teenagers, simply disobedient and going to extremes in the opposite direction. But now, it seemed things might not be so simple.
“Konkiku...”
“Hmm? What is it, Lady Uka...?” Konkiku, who was running, asked in confusion.
“Do you... have some prejudice against human onmyoji?”
Konkiku paused, then replied after a moment. Miketsu could hear a clear change in her tone.
“I'm just curious. As an Inari fox, having such an attitude is quite noteworthy.”
“Fox... Inari fox... Lady Uka, do you know how large our Inari fox population once was?” Konkiku didn't directly answer Miketsu's question, but instead asked.
“How large? That... should have been very large, right...?” Miketsu thought for a moment before answering. If they could have fixed strongholds in every area, then the Inari fox clan must have been very prosperous.
“Yes... the Inari foxes were once very prosperous, spread throughout the entire Kinki region, but now we can only huddle on Inari Mountain.” Konkiku said in a heavy voice, her words startling Miketsu.
If what Konkiku said was true, then the Inari foxes had suffered a large-scale disaster during the Inari Okami's slumber.
“What happened? Was it yokai?”
“If only it were just yokai...”
“Why do you say... ‘if only it were just yokai’?” Hearing Konkiku's words, Miketsu frowned, a bad premonition forming in her heart.
“Because if it were just yokai, we could face the enemy without hesitation and fight to our heart's content.”
...
Miketsu and Konkiku quietly ascended the mountain. After putting away her attire and lying on the bed, Miketsu's mind was filled with thoughts, and she remained awake for a long time. Konkiku's words echoed in her ears, and it was a long while before Miketsu finally fell asleep.
The next day, Miketsu woke up once again under Tsuruha's gentle gaze. After awkwardly listening to her advice, she got up and ate as usual. After getting ready, she and Tsuruha descended the mountain again. Miketsu was going to continue to the Onmyoryo to copy books, and then Yura had arranged to meet her in the afternoon.
Along the way, Tsuruha seemed to notice something unusual about Miketsu.
“Lady Uka, what's wrong? Is something on your mind?”
“Tsuruha, what do you think of Konkiku...?” Miketsu didn't directly answer Tsuruha's question, but instead asked her.
“Konkiku? Lady Uka, why are you suddenly asking about her...? Could it be, could it be that she accidentally overstepped her bounds with you?
“If that is truly the case, please forgive her. That child was born after your slumber and has not experienced your divine grace... If there was any transgression, it must have been unintentional.”
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