Miss Hebe is Slaying Her Way Out of the Lostbelt!

Before her body started to heat up, Hebe withdrew her tail.

71 Problems Surface

Miss A-Long had been unconscious for two days and a night.

At first, Hebe thought she had developed some kind of symptom, so she went over and beat up Shuten-dōji again.

But it seemed that Shuten-dōji's sake fumes had actually promoted Miss A-Long's dragon transformation progress... Thinking back now, the Eastern Lands legend of Yamata no Orochi, who was killed by Susanoo after getting drunk, was due to its fondness for fine wine.

Shuten-dōji also went by the alias "Shuten-dōji," which directly pointed to Mount Ibuki Great Myojin.

Mount Ibuki Great Myojin was, in fact, a divine name for Yamata no Orochi.

The reason Shuten-dōji could be linked to Yamata no Orochi was quite absurd—both were fond of wine and had their heads cut off.

It was like saying Zobayan and Kobe could be considered the same person just because they died in the same way.

Perhaps it was for this very reason that Shuten-dōji's sake fumes could help a dragon about to transform grow.

After learning this secret, Hebe began visiting Shuten-dōji more frequently.

Shuten-dōji readily lent her the fine wines of the oni, believing that the environment of Mount Ōe would eventually change the celestial fox.

And clearly, indulging in alcohol was the beginning of such a decline and regression.

Shuten-dōji's expectations were doomed to be disappointed before they even began—because Hebe's second tail had also fully grown.

The first tail represented power; the second tail represented Fox Fire.

In the previous Lostbelt, the azure flames that erupted when the Demon King's Mark was fully activated had left a deep impression on Hebe, and thus her Fox Fire also took on a similar appearance.

It wasn't designed to burn opponents, but rather to cover her own body, isolating external negative influences.

The environmental influence of Mount Ōe was already minimal for Hebe, and when the Fox Fire ignited, even this faint influence disappeared.

In just two days, more than half of Shuten-dōji's private stash of fine wines had been consumed.

"Koko, this is Mount Ōe!" Miss A-Long said excitedly.

Hebe nodded, casually swatting away Miss A-Long's hand reaching for her tail.

This was the true inner sanctum of Mount Ōe.

The oni used to hold banquets here, engaging in fights and duels. The victors enjoyed fine wine and honor, while the losers were trampled and devoured by their companions.

However, after Hebe and the others took up temporary residence here, the oni had fled in disarray.

The weak were subservient and the strong were dominant. The fact that Hebe had crippled both great Demon Kings clearly indicated that she was now the strongest.

Hebe led Miss A-Long to the central courtyard of Mount Ōe. Here, a mountaintop had been leveled, leaving a raised stone platform on the ground—this was where Shuten-dōji spent her days getting drunk and where the lord of Mount Ōe issued commands.

Seeing Hebe and Miss A-Long arrive together, Shuten-dōji quickly understood what had happened.

The Demon King sighed without pretense, "Oh my... so Miss Tamamo's request for my fine wines was actually for Miss A-Long, which makes me quite jealous."

Upon hearing this, Miss A-Long clenched her fist and shook it in front of Shuten-dōji.

"Hmph, do you want to compare fists with Miss A-Long?"

Although Shuten-dōji's complexion was still pale, she didn't fear Miss A-Long.

After all, Miss A-Long had not yet completed her true dragon transformation, and there was still a difference in status between her and Shuten-dōji, who also possessed the power of a dragon god.

"What's the point of fighting and killing?"

Shuten-dōji's crimson eyes flickered towards Hebe, and the wine bowl in her hand swayed slightly. Clear wine swirled within it, then poured into the Demon King's mouth.

"Besides, I was defeated by Miss Tamamo a long time ago... Heh, I even lost Ibaraki's share along with mine," Shuten-dōji said with a smile. "It's the first time I've seen that child Ibaraki cry so heartily. It will probably take some time for her limbs to regrow. But I think even when Ibaraki's limbs have grown back, she'll be much more well-behaved from now on."

"After all, Mount Ōe's expansion has indeed been too rapid. Even if it hadn't attracted a powerful figure like Miss Tamamo, it would have surely incurred the wrath of the gods and Buddhas in the heavens, wouldn't it? Heh, how many oni would survive then?"

"As the saying goes, 'A blessing in disguise'... wouldn't you agree?"

Hebe's long, slender eyebrows twitched slightly.

Hearing this, did it mean Shuten-dōji was truly from Zhendan?

No, that wasn't important. What Shuten-dōji had said earlier seemed to have a hidden meaning.

"You are determined to push forward with the plan for human-oni cohabitation?" Hebe broke the silence, speaking suddenly.

The wine bowl at Shuten-dōji's lips paused slightly. She glanced at Hebe in surprise, then smiled and shook her head.

"You really can't hide anything from me, can you? That's right, no matter what, I won't stop this plan, because..."

"Let me say it."

A creaking sound came from not far away.

Ibaraki-dōji hobbled out of the doorway, leaning on a staff.

Hebe had destroyed her limbs even more thoroughly. Even though two days had passed, Ibaraki-dōji still hadn't grown complete arms and legs.

At this moment, Ibaraki-dōji had tied wooden sticks to her stumps, walking like she was on stilts.

This short Demon King slowly stood before Shuten-dōji. "That's right, it's because both I and Shuten foresaw the imminent doom of the oni—even if we hadn't met you, we would have eventually been hunted down by a strong human. After I and Shuten die, the remaining oni would inevitably be slaughtered, and the surviving oni would also die miserable deaths due to environmental changes... That's right, not a single oni could escape."

Hebe smiled playfully. After all, in her opinion, the complete annihilation of the oni would be the best outcome.

Ibaraki didn't dare look up at Hebe, and thus missed the smile that annoyed her.

"I know the Oni have no right to beg for mercy, but who says the Oni can't save themselves?" Ibaraki's speech was remarkably coherent at this moment. "Therefore, I arranged for the Oni to live amongst humans, precisely to continue the Oni bloodline. Even if it's impure compared to us, it's still a form of continuation."

Ibaraki-dōji spoke without lifting her head, her neck stiff as she said, "That's how it is. At first, I sent my subordinates to use wine, meat, and rice to get those commoners to willingly settle on Mount Ōe. But then the news spread, and more and more commoners wanted to live amongst the Oni! Hmph, even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to send them all away. How could the Oni possibly accommodate so many?"

"Oh? So, according to you, I've wronged you?" Hebe narrowed her eyes, gazing at Ibaraki-dōji.

Startled, Ibaraki-dōji instinctively flinched, losing her balance and falling beside Shuten-dōji.

"Alright, alright, Miss Tamamo, don't be too hard on Ibaraki. She's just a child, after all," Shuten-dōji said with a smile. "And now, you can leave Mount Ōe for Heian-kyō whenever you wish."

Shuten-dōji's gaze shifted, landing on Miss A-Long behind Hebe.

"Are you planning to take Miss A-Long with you to Heian-kyō as well? Forgive my directness, but that's hardly a wise decision."

The issue that had been hidden between Hebe and A-Long was finally brought to light by the Demon King.

72 Parting After Parting

Miss A-Long could not enter Heian-kyō.

Hebe had known this all along.

The Scarred Father would not permit "Beasts" to tread upon human territory, let alone the fact that human society had never tolerated the "non-human"—regardless of whether Miss A-Long had transformed into a Dragon or not.

So, from the very beginning, the destination Hebe had arranged for Miss A-Long's journey was outside of Heian-kyō.

As long as Miss A-Long followed Hebe's plan, there would be no mishaps. She would be able to maneuver through the gaps between the two rulers' power struggles, successfully transform into a Dragon, and even be worshipped by the world.

This was, of course, a bright and glorious future, but was Miss A-Long the kind of yokai who would obediently follow arrangements?

A flicker of worry suddenly arose in Hebe's heart. She knew the answer.

"Miss A-Long," Hebe said, taking A-Long's hand proactively. "Can you listen to me carefully?"

"Yes, I can," Miss A-Long replied.

Mount Ōe was expelling the unassimilated humans, but Hebe and Miss A-Long still remained there because Miss A-Long's transformation into a Dragon had reached a critical juncture.

In Zhendan's descriptions of Dragons, there is a saying: "A Dragon without measuring wood cannot ascend to heaven."

Here, "measuring wood" refers to dragon horns. For Dragonkind, horns are not only a symbol of power but also a crown that displays their own life level, and even a source of wisdom and strength.

Miss A-Long's current transformation into a Dragon meant she was about to grow dragon horns—and once she completed this step, she would completely shed her serpentine form and enter the ranks of "Dragonkind."

For the past four days, Miss A-Long had reverted to her original form. She hung listlessly from the room's crossbeam, resembling a waterlogged rope.

Melancholy, sorrow. These emotions spread and grew like weeds in A-Long's heart.

She wasn't worried about whether she could transform into a Dragon, but rather about Hebe's impending departure.

Unhappy, extremely unhappy.

The paper sliding door opened, and a petite figure stood outside.

It was Shuten-dōji.

The Demon King's complexion was still somewhat pale. She smiled at Miss A-Long, then sat down cross-legged on the floor.

A-Long eyed Shuten-dōji warily, but strangely, she didn't dislike Shuten. In fact, she felt a sense of familiarity from her.

"Heh heh, there's no need to be so wary of me," the Demon King said, pouring herself a drink outside the door. "After all, I'm quite happy to see you bring that noble Celestial Fox lady into this fleeting world."

"What... world?" the great serpent hissed, flicking its tongue.

Shuten-dōji narrowed her eyes, not engaging A-Long on this topic.

"Don't you want Miss Tamamo to accompany you forever?" Shuten-dōji whispered. "Don't you want to completely possess her, entwine her, consume every inch of her blood and bone, so that she can never leave you?"

"Don't you want that?"

"We all know Dragons are powerful and greedy beings. They never allow their treasures to be shared with others," Shuten-dōji said softly. "Someone like Miss Celestial Fox, are you content to let her be a pearl in someone else's palm?"

A-Long did not respond.

Shuten-dōji continued speaking to herself.

"My divine sake can extend the time you take to grow your dragon horns," Shuten-dōji said, finally finishing the wine in her cup. She rose gracefully. "During this time, Miss A-Long, use every means possible to keep that Celestial Fox by your side... If she goes to Heian-kyō, my plan, and your wish, will all be wasted."

She slowly tilted her gourd, pouring out clear liquor.

There was no strong aroma of alcohol as expected, nor any bizarre illusions. Only clear liquid sloshed gently in the bowl.

Shuten-dōji placed the bowl filled with wine inside the room and then left with a light laugh.

The great serpent coiled on the roof gazed at the bowl, its eyes closing slightly.

The wine bowl was overturned.

In the evening, moonlight flowed like water in the courtyard. Hebe saw Miss A-Long standing by the window, gazing at the bright moon high in the sky.

"Are you leaving?" she said. "A-Long still hasn't protected Fox Fox well."

"No, that has nothing to do with you," Hebe walked over and took her hand. "I have something I must do."

Hebe had prepared many explanations.

But A-Long said nothing at all.

"Mmm, A-Long knows. Fox-fox has to do something very important. But A-Long is still so sad."

Miss A-Long desperately wiped away her tears.

She didn't know what the fox was going to do, only that Hebe would be parting from her.

But Miss A-Long was clever and sensible, and would never cause trouble for anyone.

Hebe took a deep breath.

She stood on tiptoe and wiped the tears from Miss A-Long's face.

"Everything will be alright, Miss A-Long. I promise you, everything will be alright."

Hebe said softly to Miss A-Long, "Go back to the mountains of Takachiho and wait for me there—wait until the mountain flowers bloom, and I will return."

She tore a tuft of fur from the tip of her tail, tied it with red thread, and handed it to Miss A-Long.

"Take this, and you'll see me when you look at it."

The green-eyed girl said this.

"A-Long has a gift for Fox-fox too!"

She fumbled around on herself, searching, and pulled out three slightly shriveled berries.

A-Long remembered Hebe saying she didn't like eating frogs or mice; she remembered it very well, so she had brought the most delicious berries from the mountains of Takachiho.

She had originally planned to share them with Hebe along the way, but she never had the chance.

Miss A-Long looked at the berries, and her heart grew even sadder.