Kiyohime Sees Through the Lies

She and the other Tamamo Nine have a fierce, irreconcilable rivalry. Back when they were all one, they went through all sorts of unpleasant and embarrassing experiences together.

Currently, the main body is nominally Tamamo-no-Mae a Miko, but in reality, no one submits to anyone else. Tamamo-no-Mae claims to be the purest Miko, while the other incarnations are her dark history that she doesn't want to accept, and her various flaws (and endearing traits) have been separated into divine aspects.

One tail represents extravagance and manipulation, like the tail of 'Daji' which splits into two. Another represents the wild side, like the tail of Tamamo Cat. Yet another represents cruelty and ruthlessness. And yet another represents holiness, and so on.

Because their origin is the sun, the original ancient goddess Nine-tailed Divine Princess, each of them is extremely powerful, with different personalities, but all are quite willful and reckless.

Devouring each other and returning to oneness is their instinct. Once they meet, they are destined to eat each other to fulfill themselves.

Yes, just like that Namekian became a god among Earthlings...

"No, no, so you could say I'm from the future too. I'm just an outsider who came here to resolve some issues. Actually, I already knew some things about you, and Tamamo Cat is also a partner. To be honest, I hope you can all get along peacefully," Shirou quickly explained.

The fox dancer rolled her eyes at Shirou and said irritably, "Well, I already knew that. Just from the fact that you seem to offer no benefit whatsoever, yet you still adopted those two children, it's clear you're just a harmless, good-natured person."

"Alright, alright, I won't dwell on this anymore. Being too unreasonable will only diminish a woman's value. I really have no luck in love. Where is my handsome soul?" The fox dancer waved her hand dismissively.

She seeks a love that is mutual and values the other person's happiness above all else. Therefore, if it's just unrequited love with no future, then she's putting the cart before the horse.

Based on her extensive experience in love over thousands of years, she believes that a relationship where one party gives too much, is arrogant and desperate to win the other's favor, and thus becomes disconnected from normal life, will always lead to bad results.

This is the result of thousands of years of experience in love. She has learned her lessons, and the nine-tailed fox woman has matured considerably. However, all of this is just tears, bloody tears...

Recalling her past experiences, Tamamo-no-Mae, already burdened with multiple emotional traumas, shivered, hugged herself, and revealed a deeply wounded expression.

"It's so good that you understand. By the way, has anything strange happened in this city, or have any strange people appeared?" Shirou breathed a sigh of relief and then asked.

The fox dancer pointed to the lower half of her lips with her index finger, pondered for a moment, and said, "To be honest, the atmosphere around here is indeed a bit strange. But even without those oddities, life in the human world is still just as difficult, isn't it?"

At this Tamamo-no-Mae's state of mind is different from hers in other eras. She is currently in a period of emotional trauma and is on a world tour to recuperate from her past relationship. She has finally found a responsible person, but he is completely unresponsive.

The woman rolled her eyes at Shirou and said, "Right now, all I want is to live quietly as a dancer, traveling the world. So please don't drag me into this."

"Thank you, that's enough." Shirou nodded, then looked at the other person, still feeling a little guilty. He encouraged her further, "Tamamo-san, you'll definitely be okay! The person who loves you is waiting for you in the future, it's just that the wait will be a little long. And the outcome might not be quite what you imagined..."

Life is full of surprises. Women who have experienced a lot no longer choose their ideal partners based on superficial things like looks, wealth, or talent. Gender is no longer important either. Instead, they look at the deeper, more essential soul—a handsome soul.

The woman had a unique fondness for souls, almost to the point of obsession; she was utterly powerless against a handsome soul.

However, the more outstanding a person is, the more others they tend to attract, such as Nero, the Great King, the Dragon Girl, Gil, Rider, Afu and Charlemagne, and so on...

"Of course! You can sense a handsome soul at a glance, Shirou- san! When I'm in love, I'm always completely devoted! If I don't love with all my might, then I can't be considered a good wife! So I believe that my ideal partner will definitely also love me very much~!" Tamamo-no-Mae said with mysterious confidence.

Shirou was speechless; he had been offering his advice with utmost sincerity. Even in the future, it seemed that the people Tamamo-no-Mae liked were all destined to be harem kings, while she always appeared as a newcomer.

By 2030, Zabith, the girl who shares her life on the moon with her, will be incredibly popular. And then there's Gudako, Chaldea in 2015. Thinking about it, her past messy lovers seem to have been emperors or King, all masters of harems... although some of them weren't dominated by her current Spirit Core.

'Of course, as a fox spirit of unparalleled beauty, she is also prone to attracting men. Countless men have fallen for her upon first sight, treating her as their wife, though many of these actions are not her own desire. Firstly, as a top-tier Servant, she has naturally participated in numerous Holy Grail War, during which she has had many encounters... Is all of this retribution?'

Shirou thought to himself, but it's best not to say these things aloud. Of course, he hoped that she could cause as little trouble as possible during this time...

"Shirou- san! Don't think I don't know! You're thinking about something rude. I don't know exactly what it is, but I don't think you have any right to say these things!" The fox dancer raised her eyebrows and looked at Shirou with great displeasure.

Huh? Come to think of it that way, this situation seems to apply to me too, right? No, no, that must be just my imagination.

Shirou shook his head, clearing his mind of these distracting thoughts.

"Waaah!" Just then, the sound of a baby crying came from outside.

"It seems Tasuke has woken up. Well then, goodbye, I'll head back to my room now." Shirou stood up, said goodbye to the dancer, and prepared to go back to his room to check on the child.

"What are you talking about? How can a clumsy man like you take care of a child? Let me help," Tamamo-no-Mae said, following behind.

Shirou's room, like the dancer's room, is on the second floor to the left. Just keep walking straight until you reach the end.

Pushing open the door, I saw that the little girl, Afeng, had already climbed out of the bed, picked up Tian-Zhu, and was wiping the baby's bottom with clean, warm water. Then she found a clean cloth and prepared to change his diaper.

"Little Afeng, Little Tianzhu, your big sister has come to see you." Tamamo-no-Mae and greeted them with a warm smile.

"Grandpa, welcome back! Ah~! The pretty older sister who was dancing on the street before~!" Afeng looked up and exclaimed in surprise.

"Yay!" Tsuke exclaimed happily.

"Oh, indeed, children are all adorable regardless of race. May they grow up to have beautiful souls." Tamamo-no-Mae took the baby and, with a quick and efficient motion, draped a diaper over Afeng's head.

"Oh, you're quite skilled. I underestimated you," Shirou said, quite surprised.

"Of course! Don't underestimate the bride's training results. Is there anything else I can help with?" The fox dancer turned to Shirou and asked.

"Actually, I was planning to research a recipe for porridge to make Tasuke like it," Shirou said after thinking for a moment. He remembered that the Miko maiden was quite good at cooking, although she was only willing to cook for her Master.

"Let me see. Actually, I'm somewhat interested in cooking, and I even signed up for a cooking class at Hell's Tongue-cutting Sparrow," the fox dancer said, sitting down beside her.

So the two began to discuss the recipe.

"I think something sweeter, like red date and red bean milk porridge, would you like? Even adult women rave about it," Tamamo-no-Mae suggested.

"If possible, I'd prefer something simpler, something that even Afeng can easily learn," Shirou said, resting his chin on his hand.

"Oh right, how about this one?" Tamamo-no-Mae said, putting her hands together and writing down a new recipe.

"Oh, this looks good. Let's give it a try," Shirou said.

"Yes, that's perfect for dinner." Tamamo-no-Mae readily agreed.

So the two of them cooked a pot of the simplest rice porridge, without any ingredients. They poured milk on top, added sugar granules, stirred it thoroughly, and, after controlling the heat, it became as exquisite as other porridges, very fresh and sweet.

Shirou took a bite, his eyes lit up, and he gave Tamamo-no-Mae a thumbs up, praising with a smile, "This tastes perfect! Tamamo-san, you are truly an amazing chef!"

Tamamo-no-Mae said modestly, "Well, that's about it. I'm still a bit lacking as a housewife."

Shirou said, "Eh? In my opinion, Tamamo-san is impeccable as both a housewife and a mother."

Tamamo-no-Mae- no-Mae said uncertainly, "Is that so? But is my skill level really good enough? I'm nowhere near as good as the Hellish Cooking Teacher, and I don't even glow."

"No, no, your expectations are too high. This dish is already excellent. By the way, just what kind of creature is that Enma-tei's Tongue-cutting Sparrow?" Shirou said in surprise. To be honest, he was really interested in the Hell's Cooking Class.

"Eh~ Is that so? I'm great... And what I long for is a two-and-a-half-tatami-mat room for two people. If we had a child, it would be a little troublesome..." Tamamo-no-Mae being praised.

After ladling out the porridge and letting it cool slightly, I scooped it up with a spoon, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to Tianzhu.

"Yay!" Tasuke tasted the new milk porridge and immediately smiled happily.

"Tensuke also said it was delicious. Thank you, Grandpa, and Sister Dancer," Afeng said, looking up with a smile.

"Really? That's great. Afeng, have some porridge too," Shirou replied with a smile.

"Speaking of which, what are your plans next?" Tamamo-no-Mae asked Shirou, glancing sideways at him. She muttered to herself, "How about this, the four of us living together or something..."

"Yes, I plan to take them out of the city tomorrow, find a safe place to settle down, and establish relationships with the surrounding villages. That way, even after I leave this world, they can still live a good life," Shirou honestly agreed.

"Leaving tomorrow!? Rice bin!" Tamamo-no-Mae exclaimed, devastated.

"Yes, I also have my own things to do, so the sooner I settle down, the better," Shirou said.

'Shirou- Tamamo-chan!' Tamamo-no-Mae despair, internally banging her head.

"Now it seems... Shirou- san's soul is indeed very pure, but too pure. In fact, it's too dazzling, to the point of light pollution. It's practically trying to illuminate the whole world, too reckless and too forced. This won't bring happiness, you know." Tamamo-no-Mae pouted and muttered softly.

I live here all by myself! And who says I can't live well by myself?

With tears welling in her eyes, the nine-tailed fox within Tamamo-no-Mae roared, spewing out Tailed Beast Bomb that destroyed countless ninja villages. After venting her anger, she finally recovered.

"I know, I know~! If it's something easy, then I'll help you out a little. Of course, that's only for the sake of the child," Tamamo-no-Mae said, crossing her arms.

"Ah, thank you. You really are a good guy." Shirou gave Tamamo-no-Mae a hearty smile. Regardless of the relationship between the Miko and the cat maid from the other world, the woman in this world was now a good friend to him.

"Rice bin!!"

Chapter 362 Kiyohime Sees Through the Lies

Behind the inn's counter, a middle-aged man dressed in a simple kimono counted his change, then bowed to Shirou and said:

"Yes, I'll accept the room fee. If you need to leave the city, I can help you contact a car fleet."

"Thank you, but no need. I'm going to take a closer mountain path," Shirou declined.

"Then, I wish you a safe journey," the shopkeeper said, bowing again.

Shirou led the children out of the inn, followed by a pretty woman in a blue robe and kimono with pink hair, carrying a blue cloth bundle.

"These are the rice balls and snacks we ate on the way, and a whole bag of milk for Tasuke to drink. I had someone buy it for us this morning."

"Thank you, Afeng. Take Tana and we're off." Shirou took the package and instructed the children.

"Yes, Grandpa," Little Afeng replied.

"If anything happens, just send someone to tell me. If you miss me, come to the city to see your sister," Tamamo-no-Mae said earnestly, holding the children's little hands.

"We understand, dancer sister, goodbye," Afeng said obediently.

"Yay!" Tasuke waved his hands with a smile.

"Be careful on the road. Tell the adults if anything happens. If they don't take good care of you, ask them to take you back to the inn so your older sister can take care of you," Tamamo-no-Mae instructed the children.

"I know, Tsuke and I think as long as we can be with Grandpa, it doesn't matter where we are," Afeng said with a smile, feeling the warmth on his head.

"What a good child, what a good child..." Tamamo-no-Mae hugged Afeng and Tsuke, but she wouldn't allow the older one to stay, and she couldn't even steal the younger one's boyfriend.

The fox dancer rolled her eyes, pouted, and glared at the man beside her, saying, "Shirou! I'll come find you when I have time. If you don't take good care of the children and they suffer, then I'll take them away myself!"

"I know, I'll send someone to let you know once things are settled. As for the rest, you don't need to worry about it for now. I'll be coming back to the city later." Shirou nodded and said.

Yesterday, when he was about to go out to investigate, he was stopped by Tamamo-no-Mae, so he didn't get to meet Kojiro. Moreover, it seems that there are some significant problems hidden in this city. Therefore, Shirou had already made up his mind, and after settling Afeng and Tasuke in, he began his investigation.

"Well, I'll wait for your news then. There aren't many people in this era who can rival you, so I have nothing to worry about," Tamamo-no-Mae said, arms crossed.

"Well then, see you next time. Afeng, give me your hand," Shirou instructed.

"Yes!" Afeng smiled and reached out her little hand to hold Shirou's.

After saying goodbye to Tamamo-no-Mae, Shirou took Afeng and prepared to leave the city.

When they reached the city gate, they found the exit blocked by the crowd. People entering the city were not stopped, but those leaving were blocked at the checkpoint. Residents going out of the city to run errands, merchants leading caravans, wealthy merchants riding in oxcarts, and villagers going to the market were all crowded together.

"What exactly happened?" someone asked the people who had entered the city.

"I don't know? It seems some important person is passing through, and they're only allowed to enter but not leave?"

"No way, are we going to be at war here too?"

The vendors setting up stalls along the roadside were whispering among themselves.

"Grandpa? We can't get out?" Afeng asked in confusion.

"No, let's go over and take a look first," Shirou said.

Just then, a pleasant female voice suddenly came from the side.

"Ah, I think I've heard what happened. They seemed to have suffered a defeat recently, so they sent a new general to lead the army."

Shirou turned around and saw that it was the silver-blue-haired Princess he had met yesterday. She seemed to be the Princess of Shimousa. Although she looked exactly like a certain problem child Servant from Chaldea, she was indeed human.

"You're the one with the child yesterday! Huh? This isn't your child?" The Princess looked at Shirou, then at Afeng and Tsuke, and said.

"How did you know?" Shirou asked in surprise.

"Sniff, you can tell just by smelling it," the Princess said smugly.

"... What exactly is the structure of your nose?!" Shirou thought to himself, utterly bewildered.

"Hmm? Are you going outside the city? I've heard there are some outside, I'm quite curious!" the Princess said, her eyes lighting up.

"No! They're bandits! I advise you not to go out," Shirou said.

"Hmm? You lied!" The Princess pulled out her fan and pointed it at Shirou's nose, declaring her judgment. However, she stared at Shirou, then tilted her head in confusion. "But it doesn't seem like you meant any harm? How strange. But even a lie without malice is still very bad, you know. If you lie to your wife, you'll be burned at the stake."

"What a terrible result! I was just warning you that there was danger outside, but your judgment is practically superpowered, isn't it?" Shirou said in surprise.

The Princess unfolded her fan, obscuring half her face, and a slight smile curved her lips as she said smugly, "Hmph, I'm quite confident in my ability to see through lies! Besides, I'm skilled with fire, and I can use explosives and gunpowder, so I'm quite confident in dealing with some bandits."

"Is that so? You're quite impressive. But it's not advisable to go on dangerous adventures alone. Well then, we'll take our leave." Shirou waved his hand and pulled Afeng along, walking forward.

"Calling them bandits is a lie, but they meant no harm... Hmm, I'm getting more and more interested in things outside, as long as I'm not alone, hehehe..." The Princess covered her mouth and laughed, following Shirou at a leisurely pace, seemingly planning something.

"Your Princess!" someone shouted as they ran up from behind.

"Oh no! I'm outta here!" The silver-haired girl in the blue kimono closed her fan and ran off in the other direction.

"..." Shirou watched the girl run away, finally feeling relieved.

"Grandpa~! Grandpa! That sister! She really is Princess! How wonderful! I wish I had talked to her more." Afeng's eyes widened, as if she had seen a celebrity she admired, and she said with great emotion.

"Haha, even if someone is Princess or goddess, they might not be what you imagine. Let's go," Shirou said with a laugh.

At this moment, the head soldier guarding the city gate brought over a wooden box, stepped on it, and shouted to the crowd.

"Line up! Line up properly! Listen up, everyone. Today, vehicles are only allowed to enter, not leave. The army sent by the Shogunate to suppress the rebels will pass through outside the city. Merchant caravans traveling on the official road are prohibited from passing today. Don't crowd here, those who need to go home, go home!"