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Volume 8 Chapter 204

Mother Fox’s Discipline

「Kikyo, are you acquainted with the Dragon God?」
「Well, not exactly……」
Kikyo approached my ear and quietly explained the situation that only I could hear.
「That guy used to be the weakest among the colored dragons. He was bullied by his fellow dragons, so he fled to the sacred mountain where I live」
At that time, feeling sorry for the crying Red Dragon, Kikyo took care of him until he gained enough power not to be ridiculed by his fellow dragons. In other words, Kikyo was the foster parent of the Dragon God.
「By the way, he claims to have become a god now. It would be pitiful if the truth were to be revealed to those who believe in him, so could you keep this matter confidential?」
「Uh, yeah. I got it」
「Thank you. Also, he is now a god. He’s struggling with where to direct his anger because he feels betrayed by someone to whom he granted a part of his power」
While saying this, Kikyo glanced at Ryuuka, who was bowing before her.
Because Ryuuka didn’t stop my attack, the Dragon God said he would take away Ryuuka’s power as a dragon priestess from her.
As for me, I was willing to accept that she would cease to be a dragon priestess if Ryuuka could not be harmed.
The Resurrection Magic, which Ryuuka can use to heal even objects, is useful, but that is not why I married her.
Even if she is no longer a dragon priestess, Ryuuka is still Ryuuka.
If she wants to stay by my side, I will do my best to protect her in the future —-that’s what I thought.
「The Red Dragon mentioned taking away her divine duties in anger, but I can see that she has a strong faith in him. It would be a shame to rob her of that faith. So, may I handle this situation for you?」
If Kikyo, the foster parent of the Dragon God, could take care of it, I would appreciate it.
「You can do that for me?」
「Leave it to me, Haruto-sama」
With an enchanting smile, Kikyo left me.
Approaching Ryuuka, who was still bowing on the ground, she squatted down in front of her.
「Ryuuka, right?」
「Y-yes」
「Raise your head」
「……Yes」
Kikyo stared straight at Ryuuka.
Ryuuka couldn’t tear her gaze away from Kikyo, who seemed to be reading her thoughts through the flow of magical energy.
「Hmm. You have deep faith in the Red Dragon. However, you couldn’t stop him because you were too shocked to move, right?」
「Yes, that’s right」
「Then, you’re not at fault」
「But, but it’s a fact that I couldn’t move to help the Dragon God!」
「That’s correct. You’re not at fault, but your heart was weak. Even if you have deep faith in a god, you lacked the mental strength to stop someone who was hurting that god. Regarding that, you should receive some punishment」
Suddenly, Kikyo raised her arm and struck Ryuuka’s head with her fist.
「Ouch!?」
Ryuuka held her head in pain.
「From now on, strengthen your mental fortitude and develop the strength to protect what is important to you」
「I-I understand」
「As for you, the problem lies with you」
Kikyo now turned her attention to Hakua.
「Hiii」
Unlike with Ryuuka, Kikyo emitted a palpable aura.
「I’ve taken the liberty of reading your thoughts. It seems the cause of this disturbance is you, isn’t it?」
「Y-yes」
While bowing her head, Hakua was trembling.
「Raise your face」
「……Yes, I will」
「It might hurt a bit more than Ryuuka, okay?」
「Kyaa!」
With a louder noise than when she hit Ryuuka, Kikyo’s fist descended onto the top of Hakua’s head.
「I understand that you were happy to see your beloved trying desperately to protect you. I even sensed some empathy touching your thoughts. However—」
「—What!?」
Kikyo grabbed Hakua’s cheeks.
「Reflect deeply on what you’ve done to your mentor who taught you to fight」
「G-gohufaha haho」
Tears streaming down, Hakua tried to speak, but due to Kikyo holding her cheeks, her words were unintelligible.
It was probably something like, 『I’m sorry』…….
However, Kikyo seemed satisfied with Hakua’s words. She let go of Hakua’s cheeks.
As a nine-tailed fox, Kikyo was a species sensitive to the thoughts of others. She likely sensed that Hakua was genuinely reflecting on her actions.
Smiling gently, Kikyo stroked Hakua’s cheek with her hand before standing up.
Then, facing the Dragon God, who remained prostate, she began speaking.
「These two have deeply reflected on their actions. I have given them their punishment. Will you forgive them?」
「Well, but……」
「What’s this? Two innocent girls, tearfully asking for forgiveness. Will you not forgive them?」
「But, because of those two—」
「Are you resentful just because those young girls couldn’t save you? Since when did you become such a spineless being? Are you truly a god with that attitude?」
「Gu!」
With a short groan, the Dragon God found himself unable to retort to Kikyo.
「Moreover, being beaten to a pulp by a mere human until you can’t move, what a pathetic sight」
「Stop! Haruto’s abnormal! A monster that can even interfere with divine letters can’t be an ordinary human!」
「Well, that’s true」
Kikyo mumbled in a very low voice, probably unheard by the Dragon God.
「For now, be silent. Let’s reform that spineless spirit of yours」
Reaching out to the Dragon God, Kikyo seemed to be doing something unexpected.
「Surely, you’re not planning to do that!?」
He probably had an idea of what she was attempting to do.
In a hurry, the Dragon God stood up, attempting to escape.
However—
Kikyo’s hand reached the Dragon God’s head faster than he could escape.
In the state of trying to stand up and escape, the Dragon God’s body froze as if time had stopped.
「K-Kikyo? What exactly did you do to the Dragon God?」
「Oh, it’s nothing much. I’ve confined him to a Mental Void where he has to continue battling an opponent of equal strength to himself. Well, considering it’s not the Red Dragon’s fault this time, I’ll let him out in about ten minutes」
「I-I see……」
Even if it’s only for ten minutes, battling an opponent of equal strength continuously seemed quite tough.
「A day in the Mental Void is about one minute here」
「Huh? Did you say something?」
Kikyo was saying something under her breath, but I couldn’t hear it.
「Fufufu. No, it’s nothing, Haruto-sama」