"When it comes to Hagoromo-Gitsune-sama, how is your body recovering?"
Just as Hagoromo-Gitsune was gently stroking her rounded belly, imagining what life would be like after her child was born, she suddenly heard a sincere question.
Hearing the voice, Hagoromo-Gitsune turned her head and saw a hunched old man, seemingly blind at first glance, with a swollen head resembling an inflated balloon, slowly walking out from the cave tunnel.
If someone looked more closely, they would realize that the old man was not actually blind, because on his balloon-like head was a gigantic eye that had grown in an unnatural manner.
The eye had no sclera, being completely black, while its iris was bright yellow, making it unsettling at first sight.
"Jizō, what is the current situation with those onmyōji?"
Glancing at the old man, the tenderness in Hagoromo-Gitsune's eyes disappeared, replaced by the arrogance and coldness of a great yōkai.
In a cold voice, Hagoromo-Gitsune asked.
In fact, her child was supposed to return to this world seven days ago.
If it had not been for Minagoroshi Jizō's subordinates collecting livers for her during that period and failing to properly erase their traces, causing them to be discovered by the people of the Onmyōryō, she would not have been seriously injured by that man!
Had she not used most of her yōkai power to nourish her child and had she not yet fully recovered, she would never have been injured by those onmyōji.
As she thought about it, Hagoromo-Gitsune's expression grew darker and darker.
Once her child was born, she would definitely make those onmyōji understand that their so-called onmyōjutsu techniques were nothing but a joke in the face of absolute power!
Her injury was nothing special.
As a yōkai, she was not so fragile.
But delaying her child's return to this world was an unforgivable crime!
Fortunately, after escaping from those onmyōji, they could no longer find their trail, giving her enough time to rest, recover, and give birth to Seimei.
"I report, Hagoromo-Gitsune-sama, those onmyōji are still searching the entire city for your traces. However, according to this old man's observations, they are only going through the motions and are not seriously searching. I presume... it is human laziness."
Minagoroshi Jizō slightly bowed toward Hagoromo-Gitsune and replied.
Nodding in satisfaction, Hagoromo-Gitsune revealed a playful smile, snorted coldly, and said:
"Hmph, humans have always been like this. They call themselves the protagonists of the world, yet they gather all kinds of flaws upon themselves. Compared to yōkai, the difference is not small at all."
Hagoromo-Gitsune had never had a good impression of humans.
It should be known that several hundred years ago, it was humans who killed her.
If it had not been for the loyalty of the yōkai who served her, she, a great yōkai of her generation, would probably have already been swallowed by the wheels of time.
Death was not frightening to Hagoromo-Gitsune.
From the moment she took command of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, from the moment she agreed to give birth to Seimei once again, Hagoromo-Gitsune knew she would become the target of everyone.
But that was nothing special.
She had long been prepared for it.
"How is that girl, Yosuzume?"
As she thought about it, Hagoromo-Gitsune's expression softened slightly.
Looking at Minagoroshi Jizō again, she even showed concern for Yosuzume, the yōkai subordinate under Minagoroshi Jizō.
"Yosuzume has almost completely recovered. She only has some superficial injuries left and will be fully healed in a short time."
Minagoroshi Jizō's wrinkled face, sagging like a chrysanthemum, spread into a smile as he spoke.
Minagoroshi Jizō did not find it strange that Hagoromo-Gitsune valued Yosuzume.
After all, after what had happened, it would be strange if she did not.
If she failed to show gratitude, the subordinate yōkai might lose their loyalty.
"Mhm, that girl blocked a fatal attack for me. Fortunately, her ability is special. Take good care of her; don't let anything happen to her."
Nodding slightly, after learning that Yosuzume was recovering, Hagoromo-Gitsune rarely showed a smile in front of Minagoroshi Jizō.
Speaking of Yosuzume, Hagoromo-Gitsune had not been particularly familiar with her before.
She only knew that Yosuzume was a minor yōkai under Minagoroshi Jizō's command.
A yōkai of her level would normally never have the chance to come into contact with Hagoromo-Gitsune, the ruler of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
The reason Hagoromo-Gitsune was now paying attention to Yosuzume was related to the siege carried out more than seven days ago by the onmyōji of the Onmyōryō and the Keikain family.
Hagoromo-Gitsune had never taken those onmyōji seriously, because the power of yōkai far surpassed that of humans.
But just as she was about to slaughter all those onmyōji and distribute their livers among her subordinate yōkai, thirteen strangely dressed onmyōji suddenly appeared, whose strength and speed were no less than those of yōkai.
Those onmyōji claimed to be the Twelve Heavenly Generals of the Onmyōryō, and among them was one who appeared the most unreliable, full of flaws, yet at the same time was the strongest among the thirteen.
He called himself the "Onmyō Head."
If it had only been them, they would not have been able to harm her.
Hagoromo-Gitsune was completely confident of that.
But the problem was that a young woman from the Keikain family stepped forward among them.
The moment she appeared, that young woman immediately launched a powerful attack directly at her face, activating the secret technique of the Keikain family—Breaker.
Under the restrictions imposed by the other thirteen people, Hagoromo-Gitsune was unable to defend against the young woman's attack and ultimately had to take Breaker head-on.
However, that young woman was still far too naive.
When she activated Breaker, she only managed to seriously injure Hagoromo-Gitsune.
In the end, that strange man who called himself the "Onmyō Head" grabbed a short sword and rushed forward to deliver the finishing blow.
At the critical moment, Yosuzume stepped forward and used her body to block that fatal strike, buying them a sliver of hope for survival.
Immediately afterward, her Hundred Demons arrived as reinforcements, repelled the powerful onmyōji, and rescued them.
In Hagoromo-Gitsune's view, Yosuzume had been injured precisely because she saved her, so it was only natural for her to show some concern for her.
However, Hagoromo-Gitsune did not know that at this moment, Yosuzume, wrapped in bandages, was sitting on a tatami mat and gazing at the moonlight growing dimmer outside the window, while a trace of a smile flickered in her eyes.
As the evening breeze blew, Yosuzume's body instantly transformed into black feathers that scattered in all directions.
At the same time, within the Tsuchimikado family's residence, Tsuchimikado Arima was sitting at a tea table.
Two cups of hot tea sat on the table, obviously prepared for a guest.
"Aaah~ Hasn't that person arrived yet?"
Yawning in boredom, Tsuchimikado Arima muttered to himself.
Just as he finished speaking, a black feather descended opposite him, after which Yosuzume's figure suddenly appeared.
"Yo! Yosuzume~ We meet again, huh? How is that fox yōkai doing?"
Seeing Yosuzume suddenly appear, Tsuchimikado Arima's face was full of smiles as he asked.
"Hagoromo-Gitsune's condition is very stable. Abe no Seimei should be born within a few days.
Speaking of which, the Tsuchimikado family has a deep connection with Abe no Seimei. Aren't you afraid of being held accountable after Abe no Seimei is revived?"
Casting a glance toward Tsuchimikado Arima, Yosuzume had already become somewhat accustomed to his unreliable behavior.
After taking a sip of tea, she spoke.
However, in response to Yosuzume's question, Tsuchimikado Arima chuckled softly, narrowed his eyes, and said:
"Heh, Yosuzume betrayed the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, so why should I be worried? Besides, what is inside Hagoromo-Gitsune's belly is not the Abe that I know."
"...Strange man. It was a pleasure working with you."
Silently looking at Tsuchimikado Arima, Yosuzume tossed a letter onto the tea table, and her body once again dispersed into black feathers.
Watching Yosuzume leave, Tsuchimikado Arima muttered with a smile on his face:
"It was a pleasure working with you too, Yosuzume~"
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