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Volume 8 Chapter 195

Wives’ Bustle (7/9)

Yoko was on the verge of being consumed by dark emotions.
Kill the humans.
No, stop.
Eradicate humans who took my mother’s life.
No, the adventurers who killed Mother are already dead.
The current 『us』possesses the power to annihilate humans.
Stop it, stop!
Within Yoko, two conflicting wills clashed.
The desire for revenge against humans drove Yoko’s will to release the stored magic power in her tails, transforming into the Nine-Tailed Fox, with the intention of destroying the human village near the sacred mountain.
The will of Yoko, who had no intention of going on a rampage, lacked control over her body. However, the release of magic power was impossible.
「What is this?」
Every time she tried to release the magic power and return to the Nine-Tailed Fox form, severe pain shot through the back of her right hand.
It was the human-subjugation pact that prevented Yoko from going berserk.
「This thing!」
In an attempt to annul the pact, Yoko tried to cut off her own right hand—-
Then, a voice echoed in her mind.
『I forbid you from attacking humans with malicious intent unless I permit it』
「Ah, Master……」
With those words from Haruto, control of Yoko’s body shifted back to her own will.
That human!
Let’s kill him first.
—You can’t do it.
『I』am a full-bodied nine-tailed fox.
There is no way I can be defeated by a human.
—Even if you are whole, you would be no match for him.
Sh-shut up!
Don’t you hate humans?
—Certainly, humans are detestable.
Then!
—The adventurers who killed Mother are already dead.
That’s why we’re killing other human beings!
—My master won’t allow it.
—Even if you try to take over my body, my master will surely stop you.
—Moreover, it was just a slight influence from my master’s command that made you surrender control of my body to me.
Enough, be silent!
You should hate the human race more!
Then『I』will destroy the human race.
—Resenting all humans is impossible.
—Because I love my master.
Her love for Haruto prevented her from baring teeth against the whole human race.
But it was not the only reason.
Having seen Haruto’s unusual power and various abilities all this time, Yoko believed that if she relied on him, she could manage almost anything.
She had hope that she could manage.
「……He might be able to revive Mother……」
No, that’s impossible.
Mother is dead, murdered!
One hundred and ninety years ago!
「Certainly, that’s true. However, I sealed Mother’s body immediately. While Mother took away my memories, she also gave me all the remaining power, so I used a sealing technique that even binds the soul」
Yoko touches Kikyo’s seal.
「Here lies the soul of Mother」
The soul of Kikyo was trapped in the seal, she could feel it.
「Mother, I am sorry for keeping you here for so long」
She didn’t intend to do it on purpose, but she truly apologise from the bottom of her heart for binding the soul for about two hundred years
「But it is because of this that I am able to bring mother back to life」
E-even if there were remnants of her soul, it’s impossible to connect a body and soul separated for over a hundred years!
「What! Still around, huh? Isn’t it about time to disappear? I won’t go berserk anymore」
Shut up! Resurrection of Mother is an illusion.
It’s impossible!
You realise just how much magic power and complicated manipulation of magic power you’ll need!
「Of course I do. On the other hand, do you also know what it takes to revive your mother? …… Well, of course you don’t. You are not me」
Yes, that’s right!
Besides, you didn’t really understand your power at the time when you placed the seal.
And because of that, it’s a seal that even you can’t break now!
「Hmph. My poor seal, Master, can break it without any difficulty」
What?
B-but even if the seal is broken, there is no guarantee he will be able to revive my mother.
It would require an enormous amount of magical power.
That is to say, more magical power than even the fully formed『I』would be able to muster!
Besides – Mother is a Calamity class, a nine-tailed fox. ……
「Hah, you really don’t understand. My master’s magic power is undoubtedly monstrous. And my master is an unparalleled womaniser. He accepts any woman. Therefore, there’s no way my master, upon seeing a beauty like Mother, wouldn’t attempt to revive her」
Yoko placed her hand on her own head.
「Thus, I have various things to do from now on. I’ll let the『evil me』 who harbours ill will toward humans sleep」
What!? Stop—
By brainwashing herself, Yoko sealed the part of herself that was trying to go berserk, consumed by negative emotions.
「Well then, let’s go back」
Yoko lifted the ice pillar containing Kikyo’s seal and left the cave, just as she had come.
This cave contained several books left by Kikyo, and Yoko had come to search for hints on the duplication magic. However, it would be best to ask the person herself if she could resurrect her mother.
Exiting the cave, Yoko transformed back into the Nine-Tailed Fox. Then, gently enveloping Kikyo’s seal with her tails, she soared through the sky, leaving the sacred mountain behind.