Inazuma, Narukami Island.
"Come on, open your mouth, ah~"
Zebul picked up a piece of fried tofu with her chopsticks and brought it to Elliot's mouth.
"General... I can do it myself."
Although being personally fed by Zebul was something delightful, Elliot still felt it was inappropriate.
In his heart, there had always been a place for a white-haired woman.
To share such intimate gestures with Zebul again felt wrong.
"This is your reward. You can't refuse," Zebul said seriously.
"General..."
"Just one piece." She held up a single finger.
"..."
"All right then."
Elliot knew that if he kept refusing, the atmosphere would only become awkward.
He didn't want to get too close to Zebul and the others, fearing the eventual farewell would hurt too much, but he also didn't want to ruin the mood because of his hesitation.
He opened his mouth slightly, and Zebul fed him her "specialty dish."
"Mmm..."
"It's delicious!"
"It's been days since we last met, and you've managed to make something this tasty, General."
Elliot praised her sincerely after tasting the fried tofu.
This wasn't flattery—he genuinely thought so.
He still carried the memories of Sasayuri. Back then, after tasting one bite of Zebul's so-called "cooking," Sasayuri had fainted on the spot, then suffered vomiting and diarrhea for nearly a week before slowly recovering.
She had lost at least twenty jin during that time.
So when Zebul offered him her food again, Elliot's body instinctively resisted, even breaking out in goosebumps.
But unexpectedly, she had actually made something edible. That alone made Elliot see Zebul in a new light.
"Hmph, don't forget who taught you," Chiyo said proudly, puffing out her chest.
"You... can't you let me enjoy this a little longer!"
Zebul had just started basking in Elliot's praise, hoping to hear a few more compliments, when Chiyo suddenly butted in. How could she stand for that?
Zebul immediately grabbed Chiyo, pressing her head hard against her chest.
A burst of purple lightning flashed across Zebul's chest, and the handle of a sharp blade pressed directly against Chiyo's forehead.
"General, General, I was wrong! I can't breathe! And your sword handle is poking my head!"
Smothered by her chest and jabbed in the forehead by the sword hilt, Chiyo alone knew the agony of such double torment.
"Hehe, this is a new trick I just came up with. I was worried no one would test it out, but you walked right into it."
Pleased with herself, Zebul moved the blade up and down, making the hilt repeatedly knock against Chiyo's head.
Chiyo flailed her arms and legs frantically, struggling with all her might.
"I was wrong!!!"
"The dish..."
"The General learned it herself..."
"I don't know anything..."
Hearing her muffled voice, Zebul finally let go.
Freed, Chiyo gasped greedily for air. On her forehead was a square red mark, about the size of a mahjong tile, pressed in by Zebul's blade.
"Hahaha, now you see how strong I am!"
Zebul put her hands on her hips, beaming as she admired the mark on Chiyo's forehead.
"General, you're awful, always bullying me. If you're so great, try that on Sasayuri!"
Chiyo covered her throbbing forehead, eyes teary and cheeks puffed in frustration.
"What's there to be afraid of?" With that, Zebul turned to look at Elliot with a strange gleam in her eyes.
"General..." Elliot shivered under her teasing gaze.
"Sasayuri, come here and accept your punishment." She patted her chest, a wicked smile spreading across her face.
"I'd rather not..."
"Don't think I've forgotten. I remember very clearly."
"What are you talking about?" Elliot asked, bewildered.
"I remember—after your battle with Orobashi on Yashiori Island, you promised me that if something like that happened again, you'd tell me immediately."
At her words, Elliot suddenly recalled.
It seemed...
That really did happen.
Back then, covered in bandages and lying in bed, he had seen Zebul cry in front of him for the very first time.
"Tsk..." Elliot turned his head slightly, thinking, "How does this woman remember something like that so clearly?"
"General, Sasayuri just clicked his tongue. That means he's dissatisfied with you."
At that moment—
The little girl Yae Miko suddenly poked her head out from nowhere, even exposing Elliot's tiny reaction.
Hearing this, Elliot froze, the corner of his mouth twitching madly.
"Damn it, has this sly fox been this rotten since childhood!?" he cursed inwardly.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Zebul raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing as a faint killing intent flickered within them.
"N-no, Miko's just joking." Elliot quickly turned his head, then shot Yae Miko a wicked look and said, word by word, "Isn't that right, Yae. Miko."
He bit down hard on the last four syllables.
Miko met his gaze, the corners of her lips curling up slyly, a flash of cunning crossing her face.
"Waaah... you're threatening me... General... Sasayuri is being mean..."
In an instant, Yae Miko's expression shifted. With tears brimming in her eyes, she ran to Zebul, looking pitiful as she tattled.
Elliot's forehead darkened.
He hadn't expected her to become even more shameless instead of frightened.
He turned his head, trembling.
There was Zebul, smiling as she gently stroked Yae Miko's hair.
And the "crying" Yae Miko in her arms suddenly turned her head, stuck her tongue out at Elliot, then burst back into sobs.
This was bad. He had been outplayed by Yae Miko.
You couldn't deal with this little fox the way you did with ordinary children—she was far more cunning than most.
"I see..."
"How did he threaten you?" Zebul asked softly, still stroking Yae Miko's hair.
"I... I... I don't dare say..." Yae Miko shrank back, trembling as though frightened.
Her acting was good enough to win a dozen Oscars.
"Don't worry, he won't dare do anything. Tell me," Zebul coaxed.
"R-really?" She looked up at Zebul with wide, watery eyes.
"Really."
"He... he said... he said he'd catch me and feed me to the fish..."
This was pure fabrication—pulled straight from thin air.
After hearing her words, Zebul's gaze toward Elliot grew increasingly warm.
Even Chiyo cast him a sympathetic glance.
"General, wait, listen to me—"
Before Elliot could finish, Zebul suddenly said, "Good idea!"
Everyone froze for a moment, confused.
"W-what do you mean good idea?" Elliot asked cautiously.
"Catching Miko and feeding her to the fish sounds perfect. Let's do it right now."
With that, Zebul grabbed Yae Miko by the neck.
The little fox blinked, utterly dumbfounded.
Her mind filled with question marks: "What just happened?"
Even Yae Miko hadn't expected the reversal to come so suddenly.