Chapter 239: The Fox Playing with Fire
Of course, in Tamamo-no-Mae's eyes, her actions were definitely not courting death.
She was confident.
"My Main Body now occupies the seat of Amaterasu. The very land of Japan is my domain!"
Tamamo-no-Mae reached out and pulled Rowe up from the train seat.
Her dark blue ancient robe swayed with the motion of the train, and through the split hem, her legs, encased in sheer stockings, shifted their stance.
She stood lightly on her tiptoes, smoothing the lapels of Rowe's coat. Her palms stroked him gently, tenderly, like a wife fussing over her beloved husband—or rather, in front of Rowe, she fully committed to the role of a 'devoted wife'.
Rowe touched his face.
The mask she had placed there had disappeared. It hadn't vanished into thin air, but rather, it had sunk into his skin, merging with his very concept of self.
"A mask materialized from a concept?"
"That's right. This fox mask was prepared by me over countless years, forged from concepts gathered across two millennia. It is a top-tier Noble Phantasm!"
Tamamo-no-Mae rested the hand that had been tidying his clothes on his shoulder, her petite and slender figure leaning into him.
Their bodies pressed together, full and soft against hard and stoic. Her vermilion lips brushed against Rowe's ear. "Now, only in my eyes are you still 'Rowe'."
"To the rest of the world, you are my nominal younger brother, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. One of the Three Precious Children in Japanese mythology."
"This is the Spirit Origin I have prepared for you."
The Mask of the War God.
Without Tamamo-no-Mae needing to explain further, the moment the mask merged with him, the name of the Noble Phantasm surfaced in Rowe's mind.
The original texts of Japanese mythology were incredibly chaotic, woven from contradictory oral traditions. Yet, no matter how chaotic they were, the status of the Three Precious Children remained absolute: Amaterasu, representing Heaven and the Sun; Tsukuyomi, representing the Moon; and Susanoo-no-Mikoto, representing the Earth and the Storm. Together, they governed the structure of the world.
In this specific texture of reality, however, Amaterasu was Tamamo. And Susanoo-no-Mikoto was also her—or rather, a derivative authority she had carved out using the Mask of the War God.
Whoever wore the mask became Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
For a long time, Tamamo-no-Mae herself had worn this mask, playing the role of Susanoo to maintain the balance of the pantheon.
But in truth, this mask was a Divinity she had prepared specifically for Rowe.
At this moment, the fusion was complete. It was no longer a simple act of wearing a disguise; it was a conceptual overwrite.
"For this, I have also woven many legends into the Human Order," Tamamo whispered. "Legends of Amaterasu and Susanoo-no-Mikoto uniting to birth gods, forming a heavenly couple. Legends of Susanoo manifesting as Emperor Toba in the Heian period and falling in love with Amaterasu's incarnation, Tamamo-no-Mae..."
In her script, the historical Susanoo was empty. Emperor Toba was empty.
They were all hollow vessels Tamamo-no-Mae had prepared, waiting for Rowe to fill them.
Rowe could only sigh. "You really put a lot of thought into this..."
Judging by the sheer scale of the preparation, Tamamo-no-Mae truly intended to bind him to her side permanently. She had spent two thousand years laying the groundwork for this single checkmate.
If it were anyone else, they might have surrendered to the temptation. Becoming a Divine Spirit, an apex god of a nation, was a meteoric rise.
But for Rowe, titles were meaningless.
"Hm-hm? Everything I said is true. And my love for Rowe is also real, you know?"
Tamamo-no-Mae pulled back slightly, interlacing her fingers with his. She blinked her golden eyes innocently.
"Love that was beaten into you? Are you some kind of masochist?"
"Precisely because I was beaten, I intend to 'beat' you back in bed!"
"..."
A heavy rumbling sound came from beneath their feet, and the forward momentum of the train began to decelerate amidst the rhythmic clacking of the wheels.
Rowe looked out the window.
The view was a sea of myriad lights, a forest of towering concrete and glass.
It was a scene far more prosperous than Fuyuki. A metropolis vastly larger than the quiet city on the coast.
The Greater Tokyo Area.
The capital of Japan, its political and economic heart.
And simultaneously, the city where Amaterasu presided over the Human World.
The City Beneath the God.
"Let's go, my 'younger brother'. Let me show you the scenery of this modern era!"
Tamamo-no-Mae led Rowe off the train. As they stepped onto the platform, Shinto priests lining the path bowed deeply, their heads almost touching the ground in respectful welcome.
Tamamo's sleeves fluttered as she walked, her smile relaxed and charming.
The mortals beside her kept their heads down. Even though Tamamo-no-Mae was currently manifesting in a downgraded Servant container with only three tails, the weight of her Divinity was too great for them to bear directly. Yet, upon hearing her words, a ripple of surprise went through them.
Following the manifestation of Amaterasu... had Lord Susanoo also descended upon the human world?
"Lady Tamamo-no-Mae, the banquet is ready," a figure stepped forward, bowing low. "Lady Xu Fu has already gone ahead to entertain the Esteemed One from the Divine Land."
"I know."
Tamamo-no-Mae tightened her grip on Rowe's hand. "Tell them—my husband and I will arrive shortly."
"And when we do, I presume no one will be foolish enough to interrupt us if we decide to be... intimate?"
Rowe watched the excited fox with an expressionless face.
*Keep going.*
*Just keep digging that hole.*
The moment he stepped into Tokyo, Rowe sensed the aura of the 'Esteemed One'.
Not just her.
Other Servants had also reacted.
Having separated from Altera, Rowe's aura was no longer concealed by the White Titan's void. He was a beacon in the night.
---
"The direction of Tokyo, huh... Enkidu, let's go!"
"Lady Artemis, illuminate my path forward with your power!"
"Bad guy. Yes, mine!"
"Nfufu~?"
"What? All the Servants went to Tokyo—???"
"Kiritsugu. Do we investigate?"
"We go... and see."
In Fuyuki City, the players of the Holy Grail War moved as one.
---
Tokyo, despite its neon brilliance, felt strangely quiet under the moonlight.
"Yu... Lady Consort Yu, long time no see."
The banquet was held in a spacious hall where soft light flickered across a plush red carpet. The room was adorned with exquisite decorations, yet the attendance was sparse.
The VIP from the Divine Land did not tolerate noise.
Thus, the 'banquet' was restricted to a handful of individuals.
The girl named Xu Fu was one of them.
She stood under the lights, wearing a traditional square hat and loose ancient robes that failed to hide the modern, tight-fitting garment beneath, which outlined her youthful curves. Her legs, clad in sheer black stockings, shifted nervously.
She lowered her head, clutching a small 'Rowe' doll, and spoke with a hint of trepidation.
The person opposite her sat on a high-backed red chair, her jet-black hair flowing like a river of ink, framing a face of inhuman beauty and vermilion eyes.
"You too. Long time no see, Xu Fu. You've worked hard all this time."
"But it looks like you really haven't changed at all... Actually, in many ways, I'm quite envious of you. To be able to walk freely in the World of Man."
"Mm," Xu Fu responded softly.
She cautiously raised her gaze. The woman before her crossed her legs, her graceful form radiating a dignity that felt heavy, ancient.
Consort Yu. Yu Mei-ren.
Having presided over the Mysteries of the Divine Land for countless years, she was the administrator of the Texture—the *Zhenren* who controlled the source. Even if she was currently manifesting in a downgraded form to conserve energy, she was not someone to be trifled with.
*Yes, she surely isn't like before, self-destructing at the slightest provocation...*
Xu Fu tried to comfort herself, but the fear lingered.
Consort Yu swung her leg idly, looking out the window at the skyline.
A smile touched the corners of the True Ancestor's mouth. "Humans... such a pathetic and short-lived race, yet they manage to construct such a brilliant civilization?"
Consort Yu seemed to realize her faux pas. "Oh, I suddenly remembered. You were technically the first ruler of this place, weren't you?"
Xu Fu showed a shy, awkward expression.
Centuries ago, following Consort Yu's command, she had brought Tamamo-no-Mae—who had been reduced to a single tail—across the sea to this archipelago.
At that time, Japan was a wild frontier with only scattered human settlements.
The three thousand boys and girls Xu Fu brought with her injected vitality into the land. They were regarded as 'messengers of the gods' by the indigenous people.
Xu Fu imitated the systems of the Qin Dynasty and established the proto-nation of 'Fusang'.
Over countless years, Fusang evolved into modern Japan.
Of course, the original Xu Fu did not call herself 'Emperor Jimmu'. She merely used the characters 'Jimmu' as a regnal name, never claiming to be a king, much less an Emperor. It was later generations who deified her and attached the title.
"But no matter what, you fulfilled my command. That deserves praise."
Consort Yu smiled. "As for the reward, we'll talk about that later."
"Now, the host has arrived." She stood up, her figure swaying gracefully as she looked toward the entrance.
Xu Fu followed her gaze.
From the night outside, a figure stepped into the light. Sleeves fluttered, revealing fair, beautiful skin.
Tamamo-no-Mae had arrived.
The ruler of Japan smiled. "When did Consort Yu arrive? You didn't send word in advance so I could welcome you properly..."
"Send word in advance? So you could hide Rowe first?"
Xu Fu's body instantly froze.
*Did Consort Yu already know!?*
Tamamo-no-Mae's expression didn't waver. "Hmph? You shouldn't joke about such things."
"I have a lover, you know."
"Lover?" Consort Yu paused. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed the figure standing behind Tamamo-no-Mae, hand in hand with the Fox. "This is..."
"This is my 'younger brother', and also my husband, Susanoo-no-Mikoto."
"Oh?" Consort Yu scrutinized the man. He seemed familiar, but the conceptual interference of the mask made it difficult to pinpoint his identity immediately.
She withdrew her gaze, disinterested. "The War God of Japan?"
"That's right. This is my beloved—" Tamamo-no-Mae swayed her three fluffy tails, her fox ears twitching happily.
She pulled Rowe to her side. As if to prove her point, she stood on tiptoe and brushed her red lips against his cheek.
"What do you say, my dear?"
Rowe: "..."
He looked at the curve of Tamamo-no-Mae's smile, so close to his own, and then at Consort Yu, who was deep in thought.
The Fox's spell made it difficult for him to speak, but Rowe had no intention of resisting.
He felt... the Fox was doomed.
*I hope she survives this.*
However, Tamamo-no-Mae was brimming with confidence.
She was the supreme god of this island nation. Even if Consort Yu was powerful, she couldn't possibly see through a deception crafted by Amaterasu herself within her own domain.
"Sit down." Consort Yu, having failed to recognize him immediately, waved her hand dismissively and sat back down.
Tamamo-no-Mae gently pushed Rowe into a chair first.
Then, with a casual flick of her tails, she sat directly on Rowe's lap. Her flowing robes draped over them both as she hooked her arms around his neck, her soft hips shifting and grinding against him.
Consort Yu's brow furrowed. A wave of inexplicable irritation washed over her. "Can you be a little more restrained?"
"Oh my, I apologize. My lover and I have such a passionate relationship, I simply can't help myself."
The implication was clear: *Deal with it.*
Tamamo-no-Mae raised her head and kissed Rowe deeply on the lips before pulling back just an inch, smiling.
Xu Fu, standing to the side, looked from Tamamo-no-Mae to 'Susanoo-no-Mikoto'. A look of horror slowly dawned on her face.
"Hmph. A fox is a fox. An uncivilized beast."
Consort Yu's displeasure deepened.
"Is being uncivilized a bad thing?" Tamamo-no-Mae pressed her chest against Rowe, turning her head to address Yu. "With the sky as a canopy and the earth as a bed, indulging in pleasure... isn't that the greatest joy?"
"Or perhaps, having been 'Empress' for so long, Consort Yu has forgotten that she herself is a creature of nature? An 'uncivilized' Elemental?"
"Shut up, you stinky fox! I don't want to hear your sophistry!"
Consort Yu bared her fangs. Her composure was cracking under the inexplicable rage bubbling in her chest.
She wanted... to self-destruct.
To blow this smug fox into oblivion!
"The Holy Grail War. You should know about it." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to focus on her mission.
However, this reaction was exactly what Tamamo-no-Mae wanted.
For the Fox, nothing was more exciting than stealing food. And stealing food right in front of the owner? The thrill was exponential.
"Of course I know. It's a very interesting ritual... its origin seems quite special, doesn't it?"
"Of course it's special." Consort Yu's eyelashes trembled. Her throat tightened. "The Spiral Hall of the Divine Land reported a signal to me recently."
"They detected Rowe's signature in the coastal area of Japan."
"I believe his presence is linked to this Holy Grail War."
"Rowe? That's a familiar name." The Fox was a consummate actress. Even while lying in Rowe's arms, occasionally teasing his ear with her breath, her expression of nostalgic recollection was flawless. "The 'Taiyi' of the Divine Land?"
"However, as far as I know, the Holy Grail War summons heroes who have died in the past."
"The 'Taiyi' cannot die."
He's dead.
He's being crushed to death by you right now.
Rowe remained expressionless, faithfully performing his duty as a human cushion.
He deliberately didn't move. He wanted to see the exact moment the Fox's luck ran out.
"Stop playing dumb, fox," Consort Yu snapped, opening her eyes. "Just like you and me right now, living beings can also respond to a summons!"
Tamamo-no-Mae gasped in mock realization. "I was blind to the obvious!"
"But so what? That doesn't seem to have anything to do with me, does it?"
Nothing to do with her?
"I'm just here to inform you." Consort Yu's crimson eyes glowed with mana. "This time, the Divine Land will intervene in the Holy Grail War."
"If any force dares to stand in our way, we will crush them with thunderous intent!"
The Fox's playful smile faltered.
She knew the strength of the modern Divine Land.
Unified for two thousand years, the civilization had spiraled upward, blending ancient Mystery with cutting-edge technology. If the Divine Land hadn't chosen isolationism, the global texture would have been overwritten long ago.
And now, that superpower was intervening in a backwater magical ritual.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious." Consort Yu stood tall. "We will bring back our Heavenly Emperor."
"This is a matter of National Priority."
"Since that's the case... then do as you wish." Tamamo-no-Mae sighed, seemingly resigned to fate. She slumped against Rowe's chest, but then twisted her body, her three fluffy tails wrapping around him protectively. Her voice swayed with hidden mockery. "Leave. I will not stop you."
Consort Yu frowned. The Fox had yielded, yet the irritation in her heart didn't subside. It only grew sharper.
"Shameless fox." She flicked her black sleeve and turned to leave.
Xu Fu breathed a sigh of relief, though she cast an envious glance at the bundle of tails wrapping Rowe.
"Tamamo-no-Mae. Consort Yu has left."
"I know. Let me finish what I'm doing first."
"Can you let go of me?"
"No. I'm going to 'eat' you now, you see?"
Despite her words, Tamamo-no-Mae slowly uncoiled her tails.
She stood up, her robes disheveled, her face flushed with the thrill of the game.
Rowe shook his head and sat upright, adjusting his collar.
"Emperor... is that you?" Xu Fu asked, her voice trembling.
"Ah, it's me." Rowe looked at Xu Fu, whose appearance had remained frozen in time. "Long time no see, Xu Fu."
The Emperor. It really is the Emperor!
Xu Fu had suspected it the moment she saw 'Susanoo'. Unlike Consort Yu, who relied on intuition, Xu Fu had known Tamamo left to find Rowe. The pieces fit too perfectly.
"How was it?"
Tamamo-no-Mae flashed a proud, hazy smile. She looked exceptionally smug. "I didn't lie to you, did I?"
"If I had let him speak to that woman, Rowe would be on a flight back to the Divine Land by now!"
"Then neither you nor I would have him!"
"No—"
Xu Fu shook her head firmly. "He wouldn't."
"Because wherever the Emperor goes, I go."
"Going to the Divine Land is also fine!"
As expected, she's still a good child. Not led astray by the Fox. Rowe felt a pang of emotion.
Restored to his freedom, he reached out and ruffled Xu Fu's head through her large hat.
A faint blush appeared on Xu Fu's delicate face. She beamed with happiness.
"Hmph. You only speak after I've done the hard work," Tamamo-no-Mae grumbled. "If he had been taken by Consort Yu, you would have been crying your eyes out."
"I-I wouldn't."
"You wouldn't? Then who was it who cried so terribly after dreaming that Rowe left her? The second night after we left the Divine Land? You even forced me to make a voodoo doll for you..."
Xu Fu's face turned crimson, and she fled the conversation in a panic.
*No matter how much time passes, this child never changes,* Rowe thought.
Tamamo-no-Mae, however, was basking in her victory. "Consort Yu is really stupid, isn't she?"
"What Empress? What Mistress of the Divine Land? She couldn't even see through my little trick..."
"I think I am more suitable to be the Empress of the Divine Land."
"What do you say, my dear?"
Tamamo-no-Mae leaned in close to Rowe again. "Now, the Heaven of the Divine Land is in my hands!"
Rowe didn't speak.
He just looked at Tamamo-no-Mae... or rather, he looked past her.
The room fell into an eerie, suffocating silence.
Tamamo-no-Mae's body stiffened.
The silence was heavy. But what was heavier was the reflection of Consort Yu in Rowe's eyes.
She was standing right behind the Fox.
"I felt something was off... 'Stupid', am I? 'Mistress of Heaven', am I?"
"You damned fox... how dare you trick me!?"
"If I don't beat you to death today, my name isn't Yu!"
Consort Yu's reason snapped.
"Miiiguuu!!!"
A shrill scream echoed over the Tokyo skyline.
It was as if a meteor had launched from the earth into the heavens.
Rowe, eyes downcast and demeanor calm, glanced out the window at the trajectory of the 'fox-meteor'.
Hmm.
The weather is nice tonight.
---
"How beautiful..."
On the balcony of the prestigious Sajou estate in Tokyo, a golden-haired girl looked up at the night sky, a serene, omnipotent smile on her face.
"Has he arrived... in Tokyo?"
"That special anomaly."
---
The storm arrived on wings of light.
Pegasus cut through the clouds, faster than sound. But even faster was the Knight King.
Artoria, arriving first, raised her sacred lance. From miles away, she aimed Rhongomyniad at the source of the magical explosion.
The Tower at the Ends of the World began to spin.
.....
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