Chapter 18

After ensuring Kunou hides her youkai features, we get to the nearby ice cream parlor, where they serve many kinds of ice cream.

"What kind of ice cream do you want, Kunou."

"Um~"

Kunou looks around for a few seconds before she points at the choco mint option.

"Big brother! Can I get this one?!"

I pat her head and look at the old woman who is serving the other some ice cream. She looks at us and gives us a bright smile.

"Welcome! Which flavor do you like?"

"I will take the chocolate banana ice cream and chocolate mint for my little sister."

"Coming, right up!"

While she is scooping some ice cream, she looks at me and says,

"You are taking your little sister to play, huh?"

"Yeah. I just got out of college, and this little fox pulled me out of the house."

I tickled Kunou and heard her laugh at my actions. I kiss her forehead. She is just so cute. After a few seconds of waiting, the ice cream is done. I pay for them and give one to Kunou while I hold mine.

We get back to the college, where we sit underneath a tree to enjoy our ice cream. While enjoying our ice cream, I can see Yasaka leave the building with the chancellor coming with her. She quickly runs toward us when she sees Kunou sitting on my lap.

"Kunou!"

She looks at her and gives her a stern talk.

"Kunou! What did I say about running around without me?!"

The little fox looks down, and I can see her fox ear flopping down in sadness.

"Not to."

"And what did you do?"

"Running away with you. But! I'm with my big brother! See?! He took me to get some ice cream!"

"Even then! Make sure to let me know where you go first. You immediately run away, and you make me worried."

"I'm sorry…"

I pat Kunou's head and smile at Yasaka.

"I think she already got it, Yasaka. What about you forgiving her as she already learned her lesson?"

Yasaka sighs at my words and smiles a little.

"You are spoiling her, Ryan."

"Maybe I'm."

She kisses my cheek and sits next to me. I look at my chancellor and say.

"What can I do for you, chancellor?"

"Hmmm? I'm just helping Yasaka search for her daughter."

"I see."

I look at Kunou and say.

"Kunou, what do you say when you are making others worry about you?"

Urgh. I hold myself from hugging her when I see her looking down, biting her bottom lip, and her tail and ears plop down like that. What with this bundle of cuteness?! I cannot handle it!

"I'm sorry."

The turtle youkai smiles and pats her head.

"Don't worry, dear. You are a young youkai, after all."

After saying that, he looks at Yasaka and says,

"I look like you did not need my assistance, my lady."

"Thank you for the help, old friend."

"Hohohoho~ What do you mean by old?~ I'm as young as ever!"

After saying that, the Turtle Youkai walks back to the building. I look at Yasaka and say.

"Is he that old?"

"Oh, yes. He is ancient, even in the Youkai age. He is from the same generation as Abe no Seimei."

"Seriously?"

"Yup. Turtle Youkai have the same lifespan or even longer lifespan than the devil. The only reason why not many Turtle Youkai are left in the world is because they are a keeper of knowledge, and many people kill them trying to extract the knowledge they have."

"I see. That is unfortunate."

"Yeah. The last oldest Turtle Youkai, is about two thousand years old, but sadly, she died after a devil attacked her trying to get her potions that can boost a youkai and devil power temporarily."

"Are all problems started by the devil race? Every problem I witness or hear is either because of a devil or they are involved in the mess."

"Not all of them, but most of them. Lately, they have been very docile. When the Old Satan Faction is still in charge… They are nuts. They are all about destruction and chaos. If not for the leader of heaven interfering when we are about to attack them, their race will be gone by now."

"Wait. The big G? The one that spreads his presence across the world?"

"Yes, him."

"Why?"

Yasaka shakes her head and shrugs.

"I don't know. However, there is a theory that he was protecting them because he did not want others to destroy his creation. Devil race is born because of his so-called son, and that means the devils are his grandchildren or something. I try not to think about it too much as I did not want to get involved in their mess if I could, but lately, that mess is creeping toward me slowly but surely."

I look at her and say.

"What happened?"

"Do you know about the Nekomata massacre incident?"

"Yes."

"That. The main culprit behind it is supposed to be in prison, but our spies in the underworld manage to capture a bunch of photos of the culprit walking around the town as if he is not doing anything wrong."

"That… that is bad."

"Yes. If not for our current strength, I will declare war against them, but we cannot afford a war. Not yet. I just want a peaceful life, you know? But after I take that position as a leader of youkai, each day becomes something that keeps pressuring me. My husband died fighting for our children, many elders challenged my position by asking for a duel almost every week, rogue youkai want to revive the infamous Tamamo no Mae by offering my soul to her stone seal and now the devil."

She sighs and leans over the tree with a tired expression. I look at Kunou and nod at her. She quickly hugs her mother, and I follow suit.

"Keep fighting. That is all I can say, but this time, you can also count on us. You did not need to shoulder all that burden alone, Yasaka. Let us take some of it. Kunou might not be able to do it now, but I know that Kunou wants to make her mother happy, right Kunou?"

The small fox nods her head quickly. I lean over and kiss Yasaka's forehead before saying.

"Please tell me anything that bothers you, and I will try my hardest to help you."