Chapter 24: Tanuki is a master of trick
Should he feel sorry for her, then offer her a place to stay by his side?
Yet, why was he so cold and told her to leave?
Initially, she thought that everything would be so easy, especially when she saw how innocent and gentle his appearance was. But, frankly, his image was different from what she imagined.
Even if he rarely appeared, his name was often talked about by many youkais since he had conquered many youkai clans. More importantly, he had fought Nurarihyon in the past, killing many members of the Nura Clan, yet, even so, he could come out alive and became a legend since, at a young age, his power could match such a famous youkai.
Lastly, while it was only a rumor, many said that the reason why the big war of Youkai happened two years ago was because of him. He was the one who planned the destruction of the Nura Clan by manipulating many Youkai clans to take them the Nura Clan down.
While in the end, the Nura Clan won, the damage caused by this war was immense.
Yet, the planner of this war wasn't even seen, hurt, and perfectly fine. He even conquered many youkai clans, bringing the Shikoku Youkai to a new height.
However, when she saw him, she knew that she had underestimated him, especially when she knew that he was a little pervy. She thought she could use her charm as an advantage, but as expected, he wasn't easy.
"Please let me serve you."
She bowed her head once again, pressing her head against the tatami floor, showing how much she wanted to serve him.
"Sure."
"Eh?"
"Why are you so surprised?" He smiled. "If you want to join my group, then just join. As long as you are a youkai, I welcome you to my group." He didn't lie since he accepted anyone who wanted to join his group as long as they were a youkai.
Whether they were lying, had a hidden agenda, or anything else, it didn't matter since if they betrayed him, the price was death. He could kill them anytime, so he didn't fear anything.
"...that's all?"
However, she was a little helpless.
"What's wrong?" He looked at her curiously.
"I..." She hesitated, confused, wondering whether he was testing her, but regardless, she said, "I only want to serve you. I want to stay by your side."
"Why?"
"You have saved me. I owe you my life. While my life is useless for you, I want to use it to serve you as my master."
She bowed again, showing her wish to stay by his side. Her voice was so soft, verge of crying, hoping he could accept her since she wished to repay him.
Oh, woman...
A woman was born an actor.
Even this cold female youkai was the same, yet it surprised him that she could show such an act.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't asked your name. What's your name?" He changed the topic of the conversation with a bland expression without showing the slightest emotion that he was moved by her devotion and loyalty.
"Yosuzume."
"Yosuzume? That bird youkai?"
"Yes."
His knowledge of youkai was good, and he knew all the names and characteristics of the youkai in this country.
Yosuzume (Night Sparrow) is a rare bird youkai found on Shikoku and in neighboring prefectures. As their name suggests, they are nocturnal, appearing on remote mountain passes and forested roads late at night. Like ordinary sparrows, they are usually found in large flocks and are very noisy.
It was said that Yosuzume was a sign of very bad luck and was thought to bring terrible evil to those whom she swarmed around.
So, since she was by his side, would she bring him bad luck?
If this was the original story, then yes, but he didn't fear this bad luck since the reward from the system was just too delicious.
Still, even though she was a youkai from the Shikoku, it was his first time seeing one, but it was normal since her race was relatively rare.
"I will be useful to you."
Even if he didn't say anything, she was eager to show her worth.
"...what can you do?"
While he was speechless, he asked.
"My feathers have the ability to make anyone become blind."
"Oh?" He was curious. "Can you put your ability on me?"
"Huh...?"
"Is that not okay?"
"No... I mean... is it okay? It's dangerous."
"Will it kill me?"
"...no."
"Your ability will only make me blind, right?"
"...yes."
"Then, you don't need to hesitate. Use your ability on me."
Youzume hesitated for a moment, but she gritted her teeth and used her ability on him.
The black feathers scattered on the air before some of them touched him.
Quickly, the world turned black. He could see nothing, and it felt like he was swallowed by the darkness, but soon, his eyesight recovered.
"Hmm... interesting ability."
He nodded and thought that her ability was useful.
"....." Yosuzume blinked her eyes and asked while unable to hide her surprise, "...you have broken my abilities?"
"Yes." He nodded calmly.
In the end, what mattered the most in the fight between the two youkai was their "Fear." When one "Fear" was stronger than the other, the effect of the opponent's ability was rather negligible or even useless.
The exception was Nura Rikuo and Nurarihyon since his ability affected himself, and the plot armor was working hard on it.
'Fear, huh?'
In the end, he knew that the amount of "Fear" mattered the most, but his "Fear" was already at its peak, and it was impossible to increase even more. His "Fear" might not be low, but it wasn't as big as those legendary monsters such as dragons, Leviathan, Behemoth, or even God.
Yosuzume's ability was powerful since it could rob the eyesight of anyone who touched her feather. Unfortunately, the amount of her "Fear" was too low.
Yet, when he was in deep thought, he heard a rustling noise as if clothes were taken off. He was awoken and suddenly noticed that Yosuzume had taken her clothes in front of him and presented her naked body to him.
"..."
He widened his eyes and stared at her as he nodded, appreciating her body, but he quickly became sober and showed a scolding expression.
"What are you doing?! Don't you know no shame?"
"..."
Yosuzume stared at him for a moment, feeling speechless about his shamelessness. Before, he appreciated her body intently, yet now, he seemed like to reprimand her as a shameless woman. Still, she might be a good actress, but he was simply a godly shameless actor!
"As I have said before, I will give you everything. Whether it is my strength and body, everything is yours, so please let me be the use for you and use me as you see fit."
She tidied up her clothes on the side, naked, before she moved to him, helping him to take off his clothes.
Was he going to lose his virginity?
When he was struggling, he was quickly attracted by the notification from the system.
<Congratulations, you have received a reward>
<Even though you know that she is a spy and will betray you in the future, you don't need to worry. As long as you take advantage of her, everything is worth it, especially when you don't even love her. When she thinks that she has taken advantage of you, you are the one who has taken advantage of her>
Really?
Was his virginity worth nothing in the system's eyes?
He wanted to protect his virginity for the woman that he loved, yet why had it become like this?
"..."
Was it his imagination, but why he felt like the system despised him?
Still, he wondered why Yosuzume took so long to take off his clothes. Even though he took his time and pretended like he was a boy who knew nothing, it made him a bit disappointed that she took a lot of her time, but when he looked at her, he realized that she was nervous. Even though her expression was as cold as ever, a blush appeared on her cloth-covered face.
He wasn't sure why he thought of this, but he suddenly thought of a certain scene where a woman ate a lollipop deliciously while wearing a facemask, which was a new genre of educational book.
Yosuzume was nervous since it was her first time, but her hand was suddenly held by him. It made her desperate, and she quickly said, "Gi-Give me a time! I will do better!" She thought that he was angry when she took too much time.
"It's your first time. Let me teach you."
"....."
Yosuzume only realized that as a tanuki, her master was full of tricks.