The stinking fox Ioroi referred to wasn't Yae Miko but Kitsune Saiguu.
Just like Kamuna Harunosuke, Ioroi's tragedy also began with Kitsune Saiguu's death.
[Ioroi: "When I thought about smashing that fox statue to vent my anger, I found that comb inside and came up with a brilliant plan!"]
Thankfully, he didn't go through with it, because that statue was formed from a Sky Kitsune—breaking it would kill a fox.
As for his so-called brilliant plan, it was to use the comb from the fox statue to lure Kitsune Saiguu over.
Ioroi had noticed that the fox statue bore the likeness of the 'Hakushin Clan,' and thinking of Kitsune Saiguu's white fluffy tail, he assumed the comb was something she used to groom her tail fur.
If her precious tail-grooming comb went missing, that fox would definitely come looking for it, right?
She came! But it wasn't a fox—it was a human.
That human showed up and promptly beat Ioroi and his little tanuki buddies to a pulp, then crack crack, turned them all into stone.
That's why Ioroi was so scared when he saw the Traveler, a human.
[Ioroi: "Hmph! Humans—such short-lived creatures who can't even transform. I don't know why that stinking fox favored them so much."]
["The guy who sealed me was especially outrageous, saying stuff like, 'Well, well. I posed you nicely during the sealing. You could be a nice landmark!' It infuriates me!"]
Now readers were even more certain it was that enigmatic man who did it, because 'well, well' was his catchphrase.
That aside, Ioroi's pose was indeed pretty good—a fine landmark.
And it wasn't just the readers who thought so; at that moment, the Traveler was in sync with their thoughts.
[Traveler: "It really is a nice landmark…"]
[Ioroi, slightly annoyed: "What? You young'un, how dare you…!"]
The Traveler quickly threw in a few compliments to soothe Ioroi's feelings, but the more Ioroi listened, the more excited he got, even asking her to praise him more.
Under the Traveler's flattery, Ioroi agreed to give her the comb, but only if she first played with the little tanuki for a while.
Kamuna Harunosuke had been thorough when sealing Ioroi, as he was a great youkai.
But he wasn't as careful with the little tanuki youkai, and by now, some of them had broken free from their seals.
Ioroi, the big tanuki, was still stuck and couldn't move to play with the little ones, who were driving him nuts with their restlessness.
The request wasn't hard. Big sister Traveler was quite good at playing with kids, earning her the nickname 'Preschool Teacher Lumine.'
This time, the three little friends Preschool Teacher Lumine had to entertain were Shousei, Kichiboushi, and Gyoubu Kohan.
After the Traveler finished playing with the three little tanuki youkai, she returned to report to Ioroi.
Ioroi asked a question on behalf of the little tanuki, who couldn't yet speak human language.
["'Gyoubu Kohan' wants to ask you: 'You're clearly human, so why do you have the scent of a tanuki?'"]
Paimon didn't catch on, but the Traveler had already figured it out.
She told Ioroi it was because of the dishes Hanachirusato had given them, made with magic stolen from the tanuki clan.
Hearing someone had stolen his clan's magic, Ioroi immediately thought of one person… one fox.
[Ioroi, relieved but a bit annoyed: "What's that? That stinking fox. If she's still alive, why didn't she come say hi to me sooner?"]
Paimon told Ioroi that the masked shrine maiden said 'you're her old friend.'
[Ioroi said: "Mask? I don't know anything about a mask or a shrine maiden. I do know a certain fox, though."]
Paimon and the Traveler described Hanachirusato's appearance: short black hair, wearing a shrine maiden outfit, and a mask.
Ioroi said he didn't know her. The fox shrine maiden he knew had white fur, not short black hair.
[Ioroi asked again: "What do you want with that comb? To brush your hair? It might have fox stench on it, you know."]
Some particularly eccentric Inazuman readers thought: Fox stench? Really? Where's that comb?
Good thing Kitsune Saiguu and Kamuna Harunosuke couldn't see this, or they'd come back to give Ioroi 'trouble' again.
Saying a beautiful fox lady has fox stench? Outrageous.
Is that stench? I'd dilute it with water and drink it for a year! Ahem, just kidding.
Yae Miko did see it, but she had no intention of giving Ioroi trouble, because she knew what Lucian was up to.
When this book reaches Kitsune Saiguu, I'll get spanked, and you won't escape either.
In the story, Paimon explained to Ioroi what they were doing—and what the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual actually was. It wasn't edible daifuku.
Now Ioroi finally understood why he'd been sealed for so long. Turns out, the comb he stole was such an important item.
Though, to be fair, Kamuna Harunosuke had acted with a bit of personal bias back then.
Ioroi told the Traveler the location of the barrier. He'd seen that Sacred Sakura ley line while dueling with the fox.
Back then, Ioroi was worried other monsters might emerge from it and harm the forest he protected, so he sealed it up.
Now, Kichiboushi could help the Traveler undo the seal. Kichiboushi was the strongest among the currently mobile tanuki youkai.
Before the Traveler left, Ioroi said:
["If you see that stinking fox, pass on a message for me. Say… let me think…"]
["'You rotten jerk, you're driving me nuts! Hurry back and duel me—we haven't settled the score yet! And unseal me while you're at it! Oh, and it's not like I can't break the seal myself, but you, stinking fox, still owe me a few favors! "Gyoubu Kohan" says he misses you!'"]
Sealed in this place, Ioroi didn't know about Kitsune Saiguu's fate. He was still hoping she'd come back to find him.
But he wasn't a fool. Deep down, he had a faint suspicion but refused to accept it.
Notably, Lucian's book hadn't yet mentioned Kitsune Saiguu's name or her story.
So, most readers assumed the fox friend Ioroi mentioned was still alive.
If she was alive, she could still meet Ioroi, so most readers didn't feel much emotion at this point.
They just quietly read on. Later, under Kichiboushi's guidance, the Traveler reached the barrier, undid the seal, and completed the purification of the evil spirits.
For the Traveler, clearing the evil spirits was the easiest part of the purification process—easier than playing with tanuki kids.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Kitsune Saiguu: About Hanachirusato
"She is me, but not entirely me. She has her own will and personality, so… sigh, I haven't repaid my debts yet, and now I owe another one. I really don't know how to settle them all."