"Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You'd better kneel down obediently."
With Ibuki's contract in place, Felix knew exactly what Shuten-dōji was planning.
He had never done anything so abstract before.
However, since that was what she was thinking, then let her experience it for herself.
"Waaaaah...?"
Despite being treated this way as she had expected, Shuten-dōji did not feel ashamed as she had imagined. On the contrary, she began to enjoy the feeling.
Even though her body had gained a lot of magical power that she didn't know when she would be able to digest, Shuten-dōji still greedily demanded it.
She wanted to become stronger.
Until she surpassed another version of herself.
Whether this was an excuse to conceal her desires or a way to fully display the instincts of the "dragon" remained to be seen.
She couldn't tell the difference anymore.
"Um... Master~ You, you?"
Shuten-dōji had temporarily lost the ability to speak.
High in the distant sky, Izanami looked hesitantly toward Felix's room.
Although she didn't know what had happened inside, she was still able to guess part of the truth from Minamoto no Yorimitsu's mutterings.
In particular, the scene she had seen not long ago!
"Wasn't the Nine-Tailed Fox seriously injured? Why was she recovering so quickly? I even feel like she has surpassed her peak."
Driven by intense curiosity, Izanami's mind was once again filled with images of the boy and the nine-tailed fox, and she couldn't help but cover her face.
They said they would forget everything, but that was impossible.
"No, why would I be curious about something like that? Humph!"
Izanami, who seemed to grow younger with each passing year, was annoyed. She was clearly the first deity to arrive here, so she simply refused to look at Felix.
They were definitely doing something bad!
To have a child, one must at least do what she did: combine energy with Gaia's divine power to create a new life!
You disrespect Mother Earth for how she created the gods.
Guilty!
...
Shuten-dōji's attempt to subdue Felix with her charm ultimately failed.
Even the methods meant for teenagers were used on her.
Shuten-dōji was so angry...
She got angry for a moment, and then it was over.
Fortunately, although it was a complete failure.
There was also a side that was a complete victory.
Shuten and Ibuki shared the same attitude towards Felix, both liking this strong and powerful boy who was completely different from his cute and handsome appearance.
To put it aptly, it was—
When discussing strength.
"Ibuki!"
"Shuten-dōji!"
Their eyes gleamed with a fierce light, so menacing that they could almost completely conceal their good looks, causing countless children to linger in the night.
When discussing Felix.
"Thank you... Ibuki."
Ibuki smiled with genuine joy, finally able to reconcile with Shuten-dōji.
Because if Shuten-dōji really couldn't hold on any longer, she would silently chant in her mind.
(It's up to you now, my other self!)
So did she.
Once she regained consciousness, Shuten-dōji still had a finger between her lips, as if she were savoring something.
"Oh, Daddy? I... I'm really going to break."
Felix, who was helping her wash, turned pale and hit that spot again.
"Don't say things like that!"
"But I can't resist. This isn't outside, so please let me indulge myself a little."
Shuten raised her eyes, which were still wet with tears, and two faint tear tracks could be seen. She looked pitiful, just like a fragile child who desperately needed someone to take care of her.
"Forget it; everyone else would love to be my mother. Why is it different with you?"
Felix couldn't be bothered with that brat Shuten-dōji; she might have just said that on purpose.
No, she must be enjoying it!
Evil Shuten-dōji, you win.
Seeing Felix like this, Shuten secretly made a peace sign.
She won this time!
Besides food, she finally found a more joyful and hopeful way to live.
She was already completely addicted.
"Rin, do you think that if Tamamo-no-Mae wakes up and sees us like this, she will be very angry and leave you in a fit of rage?"
Shuten-dōji spoke with apparent concern, but her eyes were filled with pleasure, and the smile on her lips looked deliberate.
"Get out of here; you don't need to worry about this."
After being slapped, she indeed stopped her madness and replied weakly.
"Waaaaah, so violent..."
She abruptly changed the subject, a delighted smile spreading across her delicate face as she glanced meaningfully at the fox girl, who seemed to have once raised her golden tail.
"However, who can blame me for being your sweet little cotton-padded jacket, like an irresistible little devil, forever by your side?"
---
"What the hell are you talking about, you little brat?!"
Sure enough, Tamamo-no-Mae had already woken up. Unlike her sleeping husband, she couldn't possibly have closed her eyes and fallen asleep without reacting to any noise around her.
At that moment, realizing that she had messed up, Shuten-dōji quickly raised her hands and looked in horror at the fox-tailed girl who was rushing towards her. She slapped her to the ground.
"No, no, I was wrong!"
The menacing Tamamo-no-Mae was almost ready to kill her on the spot.
Someone who enjoyed sowing discord should be taught a harsh lesson.
Go to hell and wait until I'm in a better mood to pull you out.
"Alright, that's enough for this idiot. I'll tell you how to teach her a lesson later."
Felix walked behind Tamamo-no-Mae, grabbed the fox who wasn't resisting much, and then threw Shuten-dōji, who was looking at him pitifully, onto his side.
Unmoved.
Shuten-dōji was completely dumbfounded; this was nothing like what she had expected.
Why was it that even though she had tried so hard, she still hadn't won him over?!
Could it be that the plan went wrong?
No, that wasn't right.
Just you wait, I will definitely beat you and fill Felix's heart with my image.
Then you'll all be envious!
"Humph."
Tamamo-no-Mae tacitly agreed but still didn't say much. She pouted, looking unhappy and in need of comfort.
"This time it was my fault; I acted impulsively."
He had thought that Tamamo-no-Mae would say more, but to his surprise, she just sighed softly, snuggled into his arms, and said...
"It's alright; we expected this, unless you're going to tell me… that all your skills are self-taught."
Even the most experienced person would make some mistakes in actual combat.
However, Felix did not have this problem.
She was so skilled that Tamamo-no-Mae couldn't handle it, and she had been mentally prepared for it for a long time.
She never expected it to be revealed in this way.
"Thank you for understanding me."
"But I'm still annoyed. That wretched brat is actually questioning my character! I'm your little darling wife!"
Tamamo-no-Mae said fiercely, clearly very angry.
"We'll teach Shuten a lesson later; otherwise, she'll become unruly."
Felix agreed with this point, given her personality that was always on the path of courting death.
Unsurprisingly, she would be hated by everyone.
"Hmm..." Tamamo-no-Mae raised her little hand, looking somewhat eager, and then she heard something that made her both laugh and cry.
"Aren't you angry about what I did to Shuten-dōji?"
This was the first time Felix had encountered a real harem crisis, and he asked with concern.
"Ah... Instead of asking about that, you should ask how we recovered."
"Right."
"How could we forget to repay your kindness? But we only have one request..."
Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly appeared even more worried than Felix, her fingertips landing on his thigh, gently pressing down.
"Never abandon me."
He was always there for me when I was at my weakest.
Furthermore, with recent developments, we could no longer live without him.
Therefore, knowing what was going on, Tamamo-no-Mae would ignore that annoying little brat.
She just hoped that Felix wouldn't leave her and become a fox wandering the streets.
"No, I will always be with you."
"Yes, I'll remember what you said. If I can't do it..."
The fox she once knew had probably reverted to its original nature, relying on even greater power to look down upon all living beings.
"Don't worry; if I did something like that, putting aside the moral issues, I'd probably become like Brother Cheng." (Referencing Cheng Gong, Three Kingdoms)
They clearly had a better path to develop, yet they still managed to achieve the success of a trio.
The result...
"What do you mean?"
Felix patiently explained to her, and after listening, Tamamo-no-Mae covered her mouth and chuckled.
We're completely different from them.