When I left the bathroom, an elderly woman named Tamamo was smoking in the dark.
She seemed lost in thought as she gazed at the manicured garden.
“How was the bath, young man?”
“Don’t call me young man. I’m 25 years old, or maybe 26?”
“You’re still a boy to me. All I see is a snotty-nosed kid.”
I sit down next to the older woman.
“Do you know anything about the history of this place?”
I shake my head.
I know nothing about this unknown continent. Let alone its history.
“A long, long time ago there was a great war on this world. It was started by the dragons. The battle lasted hundreds of years and many weapons and races were used. The land became a hell filled with corpses.”
“Who were the dragons fighting?”
“Other dragons. A common conflict of ideas. If it had ended in a childish fight, we would have been fine, but because of their vast knowledge and technology, it became an unimaginably massive battle.”
Before the war that lasted hundreds of years, there was a war that lasted thousands of years, the old woman said.
The war of the dragons ended once, but then a war involving other races began.
I’m tired of the story of endless conflicts that go back in time.
“They also learned. That’s why there were hardly any dragons left in the second war. They controlled things from far away, while divine beasts, humanoid weapons and other races fought… And I was also summoned and fought against the Demon King on many occasions.”
“You mean the ancient Demon King?”
“The survivor of the Great War. The children born at that time were given extremely long lives. Thanks to that, they have lived until this era.”
Long life seems to be an exclusive characteristic of Tamamo and Grandfather Yazufusa.
I always thought that all divine beasts had extremely long lives.
Suddenly, I was curious as to why the old woman was telling these stories.
“War leaves something deeply rooted. Because of my foolishness, I still have enemies in various places. At that time I was full of energy and youth. I didn’t think about the consequences and let myself go.”
“Those who attacked this place…?”
“I have lived long enough. It doesn’t matter when I die. But Kaede still has her future ahead of her. I want to leave her many things. She will inherit all this.”
Her words sound as if she will die soon.
I can’t read her mind, but it’s clear that she wants to leave everything in Kaede’s hands.
She also indirectly suggests that I give up.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“He may return soon. If that happens, there may not be time for Kaede to hear my feelings. So I thought of telling you my feelings.”
I became angry with the old woman.
I stood up and expressed my anger with emotion in my voice.
“You should tell her yourself. Defeat your enemies, survive, and tell her your feelings directly. Kaede should hear it from you, not from me.”
“As you get older, you can no longer express your feelings so sincerely in front of someone. Besides, I raised this girl as a surrogate mother and was hard on her.”
“I don’t care. I am on Kaede’s side, not yours.”
I leave the old woman and return to the room.
****
The sound of a hammer resounded.
In just a few days, most of the building had been constructed.
The portal, the entrance to the territory of the Divine Beasts, was supposed to be there.
Apparently, it was destroyed during the battle between the attackers and the old woman.
“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Grandpa’s face around here.”
“Yazufusa-sama left early this morning. It seems he had a sudden craving for fish and went to the nearest coastal town.”
Obi, who was in charge of the place, apologized ruefully.
“Leaving work for something like that? Besides, do you realize how far it is to the coast from here?”
Even though I say that, I can’t belittle Grandfather while I’m relaxing in the sun like this.
“How are you, master?”
“Very well.”
I was lying on the porch of a building within the compound, using her soft thighs as a pillow.
The soft rays of the sun make me feel sleepy.
Kaede seems happy with a relaxed expression on her face.
“Hehe, Master looks like a cat today, so cute.”
She gently strokes my head.
It’s nice to experience this every now and then.
“Nom nom, delicious.”
“Kyuu.”
On the same veranda, Frau continues to eat mochi without getting tired.
Panda is also eating, but her appearance is a bit strange, as if she is cannibalizing.
However, it is definitely happening.
“You’ve gained weight, haven’t you?”
“!?”
That’s right, you have gained weight.
You have grown a little larger, at least two sizes larger than before.
Both her arms and legs, and even her belly have grown to the point where her belly button is visible.
I have seen them walking more often in the last few days.
They probably couldn’t fly because of their weight.
“K-kiki.”
“Kyu?”
“It’s just your imagination! Frau is perfectly slim.”
Hmm, is that true?
But I feel like you have gained weight.
But it doesn’t really matter. There’s nothing wrong with gaining weight.
She looks pale and is sweating profusely.
“Alright, enough with the mochi…”
“Kyu?!”
“You, eat it.”
The panda opens his eyes wide in surprise as Frau hands them the candy without question.
“Oh-oh, it seems like you’ve gained quite a bit of weight while I’ve been away.”
“Gained weight?! Lady?!”
Tamamo, who suddenly appeared, utters these words upon seeing Frau.
So they really did gain weight, it wasn’t just an optical illusion.
Kaede reacts slightly.
“Who is that person…?”
“Huh? Who are you talking about?”
As Kaede says these words, an unknown man climbs up the stairs.
He has a challenging smile and wears an imposing armor that clearly shows his high status.
He has gauntlets on both hands.
He is a man who seems to be of the demon race.
“You…”
“Are your wounds healed, Nine-Tailed Tamamo?”
Tamamo’s fur bristles and her fingers clench.
Her nine tails ripple and create a gust of wind.
“Nuwaaaah!”
Carried by the wind, the round Frau rolls on the ground.