A few days later
Inside the secret room of the Video Store
"En-na, en-na!" Look, look! There's news!
Eous stood on the sofa, jumping up and down while pointing at the TV.
Ling, who was listening to music, had her attention drawn; she took off her headphones and began to listen carefully.
Zhe was busy in the back, moving a stack of documents.
Hoshimi Aya was practicing her blade in the garage out back; after a while, she was called into the secret room by Eous.
Afterwards, the three of them gathered near the sofa to listen to the news report about the sudden Void disaster on Fourteenth Street.
Security Officer Bringer was giving a speech about the incident and mentioning the Red Fang Gang. Then, a "highly cultured" reporter snatched the microphone and went on a wild tirade against the Red Fang Gang.
The three of them:...
"That's some really foul language."
Hoshimi Aya said, frowning.
But then again, it's a 16+ game plot, so it's normal.
However, she seriously suspected that the 16+ rating was just to make swearing easier; she hadn't seen anything else justifying it while playing the game.
"Yeah, indeed."
"But it looks like we'll have business coming our way soon."
Saying this, Ling opened her phone to check Inter-Knot, seeing if there were any commissions on their Phaethon account.
Usually, in situations like this, they would receive some commissions.
"Ling, do you think my pricing might be a bit too expensive?"
"To the point where no one is placing orders for me?"
Hoshimi Aya said.
They had done two or three commissions these past few days, but none gave her a chance to appear.
"How could that be, Aya?"
"Your strength is worth this price; I actually think this price might be too low."
Ling said, looking at Hoshimi Aya.
"Alright then..."
Having said that, Hoshimi Aya continued watching the reporter on TV "blossoming with fragrance."
Gotta say, this reporter's insults are really something.
However, to find out what happened next, she didn't change the channel despite the reporter's little interlude.
About ten minutes passed like this before the secret room's door was suddenly pushed open, and a pink-haired girl rushed in.
Hoshimi Aya instinctively placed her hand on the hilt of her blade.
"Stop watching; I'm the one involved!"
"Phaethon, I need your help!"
Just as Belle finished speaking, she noticed Hoshimi Aya standing beside Ling.
"Martial Arts Maniac Fox?!"
"Why are you here?!"
Belle said, looking at Hoshimi Aya in surprise.
"You've got the wrong person; I'm not the one you know."
Hoshimi Aya reminded her, knowing that Belle knew Hoshimi Miyabi.
The first time they met, she had swindled the Hoshimi Family's heirloom blade, prompting Hoshimi Miyabi to install a fingerprint lock on it.
Come to think of it, her own blade seemed to be the same, with a fingerprint lock.
"Never mind that for now!"
"Phaethon! I need your help!"
"This is the request of a lifetime!"
Belle pleaded, looking at Ling and Zhe.
As for Hoshimi Aya, she could look into that later, but Anby and Billy had fallen into The Hollow, and the situation was critical; every moment of delay increased their danger.
"..."
"Belle, rushing in so frantically... are you being chased by debt collectors again?"
Ling teased, looking at Belle.
"Of course not!"
"I was set up by that unscrupulous reporter in The Hollow!"
Saying this, Belle pointed at the reporter on TV, then recounted what happened with them and the Red Fang Gang inside The Hollow.
"Because of that accident, Billy and Anby both fell into The Hollow."
"It's an emergency; you're the only one who can help me now."
"I need you to help me retrieve the client's items and rescue Anby and Billy."
Belle explained.
"...Do you need me to go along for this?"
Hoshimi Aya asked.
To be honest, she really wanted to go into The Hollow to get some practice.
For some reason, she had been feeling a constant urge to cut something lately.
However, the feeling wasn't very strong.
"No need!"
"Aya, Eous can handle this kind of thing."
Ling declined, then handed Eous, who was on the sofa, over to Belle.
Seeing this, Belle immediately left with Eous, heading toward The Hollow on Fourteenth Street.
"Then I'll go upstairs to rest."
"Call me if you need me."
After saying that, Hoshimi Aya walked upstairs.
After all, there was nothing for her to do.
Regarding assisting Ling, Zhe was by her side, so she wasn't needed for anything; staying there would just be watching.
She already knew the subsequent plot, and since she wasn't personally involved, she didn't need to pay much attention.
...
In her dreams.
Hoshimi Aya arrived at a clean lake surface.
"Where is this?!"
"Wasn't I just sleeping?"
Hoshimi Aya wondered, looking around.
Hoshimi Aya stood in the center of the lake; the surroundings were very open, and in the sky above was a pale blue aurora.
Just as Hoshimi Aya was wondering, a giant Nine-Tailed Fox appeared before her.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was entirely pitch black, with black Fox Fire burning around it.
Then, the Nine-Tailed Fox spoke in human tongue:
"Only with power can one sever cause and effect!"
"Only with power can one weed out the strong and the weak!"
"Only with power can one distinguish good from evil!"
"Hoshimi! Draw your blade!"
"Draw your blade! Prove to me that you are worthy of possessing this sword!"
"Draw your blade! Strike!"
"Sever everything!"
After the Nine-Tailed Fox finished speaking, Hoshimi Aya suddenly felt a surge of impulse to draw her blade.
Without her knowing when, Hoshimi Aya's hand was already gripping the hilt.
The blade was slightly unsheathed, emitting pitch-black flames.
"Dammit!!"
Hoshimi Aya quickly slammed the blade back in and cursed at the Nine-Tailed Fox.
If she really drew it, it would definitely be over!
Not that she would be finished, but the people nearby.
At that moment, the Nine-Tailed Fox spoke again.
"Hoshimi, do not hesitate!"
"Draw your blade! Swing your most prideful strike!!"
"Prove that you! Are the strongest!!"
Listening to the Nine-Tailed Fox, Hoshimi Aya kept suppressing her impulse to draw the blade; the sword kept sliding in and out of the scabbard.
"Who are you trying to fool here, a three-year-old?!"
"Draw my blade? Are you kidding me!"
"Don't even think about making me draw my blade!!"
Hoshimi Aya said, gritting her teeth at the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Although she didn't know who or what this Nine-Tailed Fox was...
...it was absolutely impossible for her to draw her blade!
"Most prideful strike" my foot; if she swung that, the house would probably be split in two.
Seeing this, the Nine-Tailed Fox turned and left, glancing back at Hoshimi Aya once before dissipating within the space.
After the Nine-Tailed Fox vanished, Hoshimi Aya also emerged from that space.
Upon coming out, she found that she had somehow gotten out of bed without knowing it.
She was still holding a drawing-sword stance.
"Holy sh*t!!"
Hoshimi Aya hurriedly moved her hand away from the hilt.
Then she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
Thinking about it now is terrifying!
Thankfully she controlled herself; if she had drawn it...
She couldn't even imagine the consequences of drawing the blade!
...
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