Chapter 5: Cunning Seizure
In the end, Hikigaya decided to let the woman called Yuko go.
The most mysterious power in this world is human thought—it is what creates gods.
The woman called Yuko was also a product of this power, though she was born not from the collective, but from the spiritual power of a single individual.
That contradicted the common sense about the world Hikigaya had always held.
It was precisely because of that curiosity that he finally left, under the uneasy and puzzled gazes of Yuko and the two blonde girls, and once again set off on the road home.
When he returned home, the first thing he saw was Komachi's busy figure in the kitchen, and a certain fox-dog drooling at the sight of the ingredients.
Hikigaya glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already past nine.
"Komachi, don't cook so much, we won't be able to finish it all," he said as he walked into the kitchen, lifting up Tamamo-no-Mae. But the fox's eyes never once moved from the ingredients, not even when she was picked up.
"I know, just a little more and it'll be ready," Komachi answered without turning her head.
With Hikigaya's sudden outings becoming more frequent, Komachi seemed to have completely grown used to it. Even if he disappeared for quite some time, she was quick to fall back into their usual mode of interaction upon his return. And perhaps it was just his imagination, but there seemed to be a little unspoken understanding between them now.
Hikigaya didn't disturb her further. He turned and went to the living room, tossing Tamamo-no-Mae onto the floor. The fox merely shook out her white fur nonchalantly, then happily picked a spot to sit and continued staring expectantly toward the kitchen, occasionally licking her lips, practically radiating canine vibes.
Is it really that delicious? Hikigaya looked at Tamamo-no-Mae a few times in puzzlement, then turned on the TV.
The program airing was, as always, unbearably boring. In this era where skin exposure had become the norm, Hikigaya thought nothing could attract his attention unless it was like a mudslide—abrupt and overwhelming.
"Of course I like delicious food," Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly answered, surprising Hikigaya.
That was unusual. Very unlike a fox-dog. Hikigaya couldn't help but shoot her a massive side-eye.
As she spoke, a barrier-like power spread around them.
The gluttonous fox climbed onto the sofa, wagging her tail as she met Hikigaya's gaze.
"Never saw you pull that trick before," Hikigaya said, glancing at Komachi to confirm that neither the sound nor the sight here would reach her. As for what she might see if she happened to turn around, he had no idea.
"Because I've got a good master, my power has recovered quite a lot," Tamamo-no-Mae replied, her voice carrying obvious happiness and satisfaction.
Hikigaya carefully parsed that sentence. He had to admit, all this time he had indeed been letting this fox bask under the moonlight.
Even though, once she lowered her head, she became nothing more than a glutton.
"I notice you're calling me 'master' more smoothly these days," Hikigaya clicked his tongue, "Aren't you supposed to be a great youkai? You've eaten all your dignity?"
"Because without a master, youkai are actually pretty terrifying beings," Tamamo-no-Mae licked her paw indifferently and continued, words layered with meaning. "For a great youkai, a Demon King is a rare and excellent master."
"And why didn't you ever mention this setting before?"
"Because it's common sense. Didn't you know, Master?"
As she said this, Tamamo-no-Mae leaned closer to Hikigaya, sniffing him relentlessly.
"Master met someone special today… such a strange scent."
Hmm. Beautiful, long black straight hair, big chest, long legs. Yeah, stack those attributes together, and it does make for someone "special."
Hikigaya had always respected the fox-dog's nose, even if most of the time Tamamo-no-Mae used it only to hunt for food.
Now that she had reclaimed some semblance of her dignity as a great youkai, Hikigaya felt quite gratified.
"She was special, yes. I met a person whose time had stopped," Hikigaya said, giving her a look of approval. "Though I don't know if someone who died long ago can still be called a 'person.'"
"Other than you Demon King, someone else can wield time?" Tamamo-no-Mae looked shocked, as if she couldn't believe it—like she was silently accusing him of bullying her for never reading books.
"What, that's so special?" Hikigaya asked, the slayer-of-gods himself.
"Of course! That's a realm even many gods cannot touch. Only you, who directly seize divine powers and change your essence, could possibly wield it. Beings of the earth may sometimes claim to have such power, but most rely on special tools or specific places to even brush against it."
"What about youkai? Among the other great youkai like you, are there any with such abilities?" Hikigaya asked. He suspected the one who created Yuko's existence might be a great youkai.
"No way. Any youkai who saw you would've run away already—none would dare to use such power here."
"…." Hikigaya felt that wasn't a very friendly statement. Was he really that unlikable?
He, Hikigaya Hachiman, was obviously a very reasonable slayer of gods.
But if that was the case, then the person who had brought Yuko into existence intrigued him even more.
Right now, he sorely lacked insight into the power of time. If this was some kind of sorcery, he had to get his hands on it.
That woman gave him a mysterious and powerful impression. But so what? Time was her fatal weakness. Even if she were stronger than a god, Hikigaya could kill her in an instant.
Hikigaya had already learned from his trip to ancient Egypt just how fragile time was as a power.
This thought was still lingering in his mind when Komachi came out of the kitchen carrying dishes.
Before Hikigaya could say anything, Tamamo-no-Mae instantly shut her mouth, reverted into house-dog mode, and scampered over happily. The barrier dissolved at once.
Damn! What speed! What flawless timing!
Hikigaya rolled his eyes, then smiled as he stood up and headed to the dining table.
Komachi had just set down the first dish. She looked oddly at Hikigaya's smiling face and asked, "Onii-chan, why are you smiling so creepily? Komachi's getting goosebumps."
That made Hikigaya choke on his breath.
"Komachi, look carefully—this is the righteous smile of someone who cultivates and nurtures people!"
"Really?" Komachi seemed to recall something, then pulled a strained, displeased face.
"Onii-chan, you'd better not smile. The more you smile, the weirder it looks." After saying this, she visibly relaxed, like she'd been suffocating and finally got a breath of fresh air.
Hikigaya, meanwhile, suddenly felt the urge to go out and find someone to fight.
Maybe use that idiot sword, its size would be just right.
Still, despite her sharp tongue, Komachi had clearly prepared quite a feast. It was obvious that deep down, she cared about her brother's stomach.
The proof was in the way she sat across from him, smiling as she watched Hikigaya eat heartily… along with Tamamo-no-Mae, who was also devouring food with the same gusto.
Watching this scene, Hikigaya felt a strange, stifling tightness in his chest.
Why did he suddenly feel, for no reason, like he'd been knocked down a peg?
It had to be his imagination. Probably just the result of burning too many brain cells tonight.
With that thought, Hikigaya's mood lightened again. His mind turned fully toward plotting how to use that woman called Yuko in his grand scheme.
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