"Fox Saiguu, it's been a long—"
Lin Mo didn't even finish his sentence before the graceful figure in front of him could no longer hold back her longing. She threw herself into his arms.
"It's you… it's really you…"
"I can actually… see you again…"
"Sasayuri… I missed you so much… so, so many years…"
Her warm, trembling body nestled against him. Her shoulders shook as she poured out her years of yearning.
"Mm. I'm back."
Lin Mo gently stroked her fox ears, smiling softly. "For Inazuma, it was worth leaving my soul behind for a while."
"To be able… to see you again…"
"It wasn't hard. Every bit of it… was worth it."
Little Sayu, standing beside them, was already frozen in shock.
Fox Saiguu—this woman—
And her teacher… addressed as Sasayuri.
These two legendary figures, names only found in Inazuma's ancient history,
Were now standing alive right before her eyes.
But what stunned her most was:
Her teacher—the same person who spent every day teaching her stealth and escape techniques—
was actually the legendary Tengu General Sasayuri!
The one who once turned the tide on Yashiori Island, standing alone to halt the advance of the god Orobas, sacrificing his life in the process!
Only now did Fox Saiguu notice the wide-eyed, trembling Sayu beside them.
Sayu stared at them, her big eyes darting back and forth—
from Fox Saiguu
to Lin Mo
and back again—
completely stunned.
"Sasayuri… this little tanuki is…?" Fox Saiguu finally asked.
Sayu wanted to protest—I'm not a tanuki!
But remembering the terrifying power of the figures before her….
Her legs turned to jelly.
Just like when she faced Yae Miko, she didn't dare say a word.
"She's my student."
Lin Mo explained with a gentle smile, glancing at the timid Sayu. "Her name is Sayu. Not a tanuki."
"Ohhh, so she's your student."
"How adorable!"
Fox Saiguu's eyes lit up with curiosity.
She crouched down, reached out, and gently ruffled Sayu's hair.
As her hand stroked the girl's head, she smiled warmly:
"Hello, Sayu~
My name is Fox Saiguu."
"And you… can call me… Teacher's Wife."
"Sayu… is never going to grow taller at this rate…"
Sayu looked utterly wronged.
She desperately wanted to dodge that affectionate head-pat,
But she didn't dare refuse.
However, when she heard Fox Saiguu's last sentence, she blinked and looked up in confusion.
"T–Teacher's… wife?"
"Mm. Good girl."
Fox Saiguu nodded with satisfaction, even adding gently,
"But remember—don't use that confused tone next time."
"But…"
Sayu turned to Lin Mo, still puzzled.
"But… in the legends…"
"Tengu General Sasayuri…"
"was said to have had a child with the oni ancestor Lady Chiyo…"
Fox Saiguu's smile froze.
Her teeth clenched.
"That… was an accident.
A beautiful accident…"
Then, slowly, she turned her head toward Lin Mo.
Her gaze—full of grievance—looked ready to bite him.
"Ahem…"
Lin Mo coughed twice and reminded her awkwardly,
"You said that if we ever met again, you'd let bygones be bygones…"
"Hmm!? Did I say that~?"
"You did! Absolutely! Ask Sayu!"
Lin Mo quickly shot a pleading look at his little tanuki-not-tanuki student.
Sayu became unusually serious.
"Mm. It was Lady Hanachirusato—that is, the inheritor of Fox Saiguu's memories—she said it herself."
"At the time… I remember she said…"
Sayu put on a heartbroken expression and recited dramatically:
"Chiyo… you know how it was. I was furious back then."
"She was my best friend…"
"But… I've made peace with it."
"After all… it was just a drunken accident between you two… wasn't it?"
"Sasayuri… as long as you set foot on this mountain again… I promise, this time I'll be the one to ask for reconciliation."
"…I think that was how she said it."
Sayu nodded earnestly, then looked up at Lin Mo to confirm:
"Right, teacher?"
Fox Saiguu: "…"
That shrine maiden…
Why did she reveal my memories to a child!?
Her expression at this moment was indescribably complex—
awkward, angry, embarrassed.
"Ahem… Fox Saiguu~"
Lin Mo patted her shoulder, speaking earnestly:
"You see, based on your promise… shouldn't you reconcile with me?"
"In your dreams!"
Fox Saiguu's face flushed with anger.
Seeing Lin Mo's smug smile only made her more unwilling to let him win so easily.
But then—
she suddenly remembered the most important question.
"Speaking of which…"
"How did we, who were never gods, return to this land at all?"
Lin Mo sighed softly, his gaze drifting toward the cave's entrance.
The distant, sorrowful look in his eyes carried the weight of countless years.
"Back then, I died on Yashiori Island."
"But my soul… lingered at Inazuma's border between life and death."
"I stayed only because I longed for you."
"Perhaps my feelings moved the heavens."
"The Primordial Goddess of the Empty Moon descended upon the boundary."
"She made me a promise."
"If I endured a hundred lives of suffering—
and proved the sincerity of my love—
she would grant me rebirth."
"And she would bring back… the woman I loved most."
Lin Mo's voice was solemn, tinged with sorrow and devotion.
Fox Saiguu stared into his eyes—
and her anger dissolved completely.
A hundred lifetimes.
All to revive the woman he loved.
What woman wouldn't be moved to tears by such a story?
And only a being with authority like the Primordial Goddess could possibly achieve such a resurrection.
So she believed him without hesitation.
"Um… teacher… were you really that devoted…?"
Sayu blinked innocently.
"Because when Sayu reunited with you…
I smelled Lady Yae Miko's scent on your hands."
Lin Mo: "…"
Sayu!!
Do you WANT to lose your favorite napping spot!?
"And… when you carried Sayu earlier…
your whole body smelled like Lady Yae Miko."
"…What!?"
Fox Saiguu's eyes narrowed.
She leaned in and sniffed lightly—
and immediately recognized the familiar scent.
A slow, dangerous smile curled on her lips.
"Heh… and it's not just Miko."
"You also smell like Chiyo, you know…"
"That unique fragrance of hers…"
"Sasayuri."
"Ba."
"Hyaku."
"Ri."
She spoke each syllable with chilling clarity.
Lin Mo was doomed.
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T/N:
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