First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 42
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
(Ichiko POV)
Two weeks had passed since I departed from the “White Mist and Black Swamp Forest” with Izumi. While sightseeing along the way, the public order gradually deteriorated and I noticed more and more people experiencing apprehensions over the food supplies and necessities of daily life. The source of the problem was not limited to the demons of the sky and the sea… was it? Our country was also an import powerhouse, so I suppose I ought to say that the damage caused by Demon Kings in other countries has begun to manifest themselves here in a full-scale manner.
Furthermore, it appeared that Izumi and I were prone to be attacked on sight, and for the past week or so, some sort of misfortune had befallen each day (including Kurokiri).
Yeah. It had been a real challenge. The ruffians who demanded food and money were decent experience points to us, but when Kurokiri abruptly called me out and engraved a “Long-distance Transportation” on me while sexually harassing me, I thought about slashing him to death with all my energy. Though I couldn’t do it due to the relationship between the kin and the master.
And so, we were now facing the ancient city in the west, the dungeon “Fox City of the Beasts of War” that surfaced near the ancient city, and a woman with blonde hair and fox ears standing before us. She looked to be in her early twenties.
“Nice to meet you, Hisano Ichiko and Kokoro Izumi. I serve the ‘Hundred Beast Clad Fox Princess’. I am Shiranui Mugi, the ‘Kitsunejin’[i]. Here is a message from the Fox Princess-sama to both of you.”
“Thank you very much for your courtesy.”
Izumi and I were inclined to respond in a respectful manner to those who behave accordingly, so we bowed lightly to Mugi.
“Yes. It is a good thing to be polite, isn’t it? Well, here’s the message: ‘I will not stop you from entering my territory. But I will not allow you to act arbitrarily in my territory. If you intend to hunt people, you shall only hunt those whom Mugi permits you to hunt, and if you dare to step into my labyrinth, I shall exert my utmost endeavor to hunt you’. That is what she said.”
In other words, it was permissible to sojourn, but they were not planning to let us earn experience.
“I understand. Even for our part, there is no merit in contending with Fox Princess-sama, and so we shall agree with you.”
“(I won’t fight you?)”
“I’m relieved to hear that. Even I wouldn’t wish to engage in a battle with the perpetrators of the ‘Purge of the Mist’. If you accept the arrangement, that would be ideal.”
Mugi’s face was flooded with a deep sense of relief.
“Ah, but, if you aren’t going to gain experience in Fox Princess-sama’s territory, where are you planning on earning it?”
“Well…”
It was, without a doubt, a dilemma. First and foremost, we did not want to upset the Fox Princess’s mood because of her effective control of the west side of the country and the fact that she was a potent force capable of thwarting Kurokiri’s forces’ expansion.
When it comes down to it…
“We are considering crossing the sea and earning the experience in the continent.”
“Haa!?”
Ah, I knew you would react that way. Well, based on the latest information, it was reported that even on the shortest route to the peninsula that led to the continent, six of the ten ships that set sail sank on the way there, another three on the way back, and only one ship made it back. Moreover, that last ship was in shambles.
“It can’t be helped because X-J5 is still reclusive and impenetrable, and the only way to avoid disturbing your territory is to go there.”
“That’s… that’s true, but… Eh, ah, wait a minute.”
“(?)”
“Yes. Yes. Eh…!”
It was likely a communication with the Fox Princess. That reminded me, was there any distance limit to the communication with the kin?
“Ah, Ichiko, right? I have just received a message from Fox Princess-sama that she would like to have a meeting with you, so for the time being, will you stay at our designated inn for the night?”
Mmm. This is an unexpectedly tricky offer. After all, here is the hostile territory. However, should I refuse the offer, there would be further complications…
“(Do you have any good food?)”
“Of course we do, Izumi-chan.”
Let’s go. For the present me, food was only an indulgence, but because it was merely an indulgence, it was also very significant. Besides, regardless of the quantity of food I consumed, it will all be converted into magical power in a Kirijin’s body, so there was nothing to fear.
“Then, I will gladly accept your offer. I will be delighted to do so.”
“Oh, thank you so much. Then you can count on me to treat you with the utmost hospitality.”
Thus, we stepped into the ancient city administered by the Fox Princess and spent the night at the inn they had appointed for us.
Of course, the inn itself proved to be stunning, and I was able to take a bath for the first time in a long time. All of the exhaustion I had been experiencing had swept away.
And then came midnight, the time when even the grass and trees were asleep. While I was watching over Izumi who was sleeping, she made her appearance before my eyes.
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T/N:
[i] Kitsunejin is Fox People but I won’t be using that. For future chapters, please remember that if there is a race that ends with ‘jin’ that would mean human/people in romaji and the word before jin is the attribute/characteristics of it, like Mist people is “Kirijin” and Fox People is “Kitsunejin”
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Check out other Outer World Story series in order: Outer World Story: The Black Mist that Devours (First series), Outer World Story: Pumpkin Sorcerer (Third series), Outer World Story: Basilisk of Ice Sculpture (Fourth series)