"Kitsune Saiguu, we're here!"
Zebul called out excitedly.
But Kitsune Saiguu, still facing away, merely glanced back at her with a huff before turning her head away in a proud, sulky manner.
"Don't be mad~ I was wrong. Look what I brought you!"
Zebul walked over with a cheerful grin, Chiyo following close behind.
Kitsune Saiguu gave a curious glance at the box in Zebul's hands, but still turned her head with a pout. "Hmph, don't think you can win me over that easily. I'm already mad!"
"It wasn't easy, you know. Chiyo and I spent the whole day making this."
That caught Kitsune Saiguu's interest. She finally turned around, still pretending to be annoyed, and asked with mock disdain, "What is it?"
"Tada!!"
Zebul opened the box, revealing the fried tofu inside.
"Fried tofu?" she blinked in confusion.
"I made it myself!" Zebul said proudly, puffing out her chest.
Kitsune Saiguu froze, then recoiled in horror, stumbling backward in a panic.
"No—don't do this…"
"Let's talk this out! I forgive you! I forgive you!"
Her face twisted in fear like she was facing a nightmare. In her eyes, Zebul had brought this as some twisted form of torture.
It'd be a lie to say she wasn't scared.
Zebul stood frozen, her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
"It's… not that bad, right?" Her confidence, freshly built up, instantly took a major hit.
Chiyo, trying not to laugh, had turned beet red from holding it in.
"Just try it! I swear it's fine—really tasty!" Zebul said as she stepped closer.
"Stay away!!"
Kitsune Saiguu shrank into a corner, her eyes wide in terror like there was an earthquake happening right in front of her.
"Pfft…"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Chiyo couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
Both of them turned to look at her.
"I mean… hahahaha…"
"Kitsune Saiguu's reaction is pretty reasonable, but…"
"But this time, it really is safe. I taught the General how to make it."
Chiyo tried to explain, but laughter still slipped through.
Thanks to Chiyo's reassurance, Kitsune Saiguu looked only slightly more convinced.
"Exactly! We worked all day on this. Just try it—you'll see, I'm not messing with you," Zebul said, stepping even closer.
"Wait!" Kitsune Saiguu suddenly shouted.
A sudden thought struck her—Chiyo had grabbed her neck earlier too.
These two…
They were probably in on it together!
She looked suspiciously at Chiyo's grin.
That smile...
It looked way too shady.
And Zebul's smile? Even more terrifying.
Something was off!
Her gut screamed danger. She immediately transformed into a white fox and prepared to bolt.
"Chiyo! Grab her—don't let her escape!" Zebul shouted, reacting instantly.
Chiyo moved fast. Before Kitsune Saiguu could flee, she had her firmly in hand.
Feeling the end was near, Kitsune Saiguu struggled like mad, but Chiyo went with the flow and grabbed her by the scruff again.
She immediately went limp.
"Hehe... Run all you want. Let's see where you go now…"
Zebul's voice curled into her ear like a devil's whisper.
With each step Zebul took, Kitsune Saiguu's fear only grew.
Zebul knelt down beside her, picked up a piece of fried tofu, and slowly brought it to her mouth.
"It's over… this is how I die…"
Kitsune Saiguu braced herself, nerves taut as steel wire, preparing for a flavor-induced apocalypse.
"…Huh?"
But when the tofu touched her tongue, she blinked in surprise.
"It's… not as bad as I expected?"
As Chiyo let go, Kitsune Saiguu stopped resisting. She chewed and swallowed, then shifted back to human form.
"Chiyo… you made this, didn't you?" she asked, still in disbelief.
"Nope. I just taught her. You have no idea—it took ten tries to get it right. We've been cooking nonstop since you left. I'm exhausted…"
Hearing that, Kitsune Saiguu turned to Zebul, stunned.
"This… General Makoto really made this?"
"Of course I did!" Zebul said proudly, hands on her hips.
"Tastes good, huh? Hmph! I can cook now too!"
"When Sasayuri comes back from his break, I'm gonna blow his mind!"
...
"Ah… ah…"
"Achoo!"
Back on Yashiori Island, Elliot suddenly sneezed.
"Who's talking about me…?" he muttered, rubbing his nose.
As he spoke, he continued doing his one-handed push-ups.
His body was lean and muscular—not the bulky kind, but packed with flexibility and strength.
Powerful, agile, and easy on the eyes.
Meanwhile, over on Watatsumi Island, under Orobashi's rule, the waters were beginning to stir. The scouts had all returned, and the eastern invasion plan was steadily unfolding...