Chapter 70: Isekai talk and "the adventures of a fox girl…prologue."
– Haru –
Rikuo and Tsurara were slumped in a booth, both completely knocked out. They'd managed to stay awake for maybe two hours, but the heated discussions back at Yasaka's palace dragged on for so long it was now well past dawn, and they still weren't done.
Politics was a nightmare.
I yawned, fighting off exhaustion despite the borderline supernatural coffee I'd brewed for myself all night. I'd enhanced it with a touch of yokai magic, figuring it would keep me alert longer, but even that wasn't enough. My eyelids felt heavy.
Naruko had surrendered to sleep a while ago and was now curled up comfortably in my bedroom down the hall. She wasn't much of a coffee drinker—a tragedy, really, since coffee was the greatest beverage ever created–according to Tanya at least...
A gentle creak sounded from the restaurant's front door, pulling my attention away from my thoughts. Lupusregina Beta poked her head in, those cute wolf ears of hers twitching lightly beneath her signature hat. Her eyes brightened when she saw me sitting alone at one of the tables, nursing my coffee.
"Haru!" she said brightly, stepping fully inside and waving enthusiastically. "Hey! Long time no see! Sorry I've been so busy lately—Ainz-sama's had me running around nonstop. We haven't even had a chance to play together!"
I chuckled softly, giving her a casual wave. "Don't worry about it, Lupusregina. Life's been a little chaotic here, too."
Her eyes flicked toward the two sleeping teens in the booth and then back to me, an amused smile on her lips. "Looks like it," she giggled softly. "Did you have some kind of sleepover party without inviting me?" she jokingly pouted.
"Not exactly," I sighed, smiling despite myself. "Just an attempted assassination followed by politics. Nothing fun or exciting, unfortunately…"
She tilted her head curiously, taking in my tired expression. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should get some rest?"
"I'll manage," I assured her. My eyes lingered briefly on Lupus's playful expression. Her company was interesting, though our relationship was still ambiguous at best.
We'd had exactly one date, and while she seemed genuinely interested in me, part of me wondered if that was just her werewolf instincts trying to find a suitable mate. Either way, her playful teasing kept things interesting.
Just then, the front door behind her opened wider, and Ainz stepped calmly into my restaurant. He was in his human form. He glanced around quietly, noting Rikuo and Tsurara's slumped forms before returning his gaze to me.
"Ah, good. You're here," Ainz said, his voice polite and calm as always. He then glanced at Lupusregina and told her that'd hed like to talk to me alone.
Lupusregina pouted dramatically but nodded obediently. "Right, right, Ainz-sama. You boys want privacy. Lame…." As she backed out through the dimensional doorway, she shot me a playful wink, her tail swishing behind her. "Catch you later, Haru," she teased softly, before closing the door behind her.
Ainz watched the door click shut, then turned to me with a thoughtful look. "Who are those two over there?" he asked, gesturing toward Rikuo and Tsurara as they slept in the booth. "I don't recall meeting them before."
I rubbed my tired eyes. "They're Rikuo Nura and Tsurara. Rikuo's the grandson of Nurarihyon, which makes him the future head of the Nura Clan. Tsurara's his Yuki-Onna attendant and sometimes guard. Long story short, an annoying fallen angel tried to kill them and me and now everyone is all worked up about it…"
Ainz nodded slowly, taking that in. "Your life is strange," he said evenly, "though I'm probably not one to talk. I've had my fair share of bizarre experiences myself lately."
He made a subtle gesture with his hand, and a shimmering barrier appeared around the teens' table. I recognized it as a silencing spell, no doubt meant to keep our conversation private and avoid waking them.
I raised an eyebrow at him curiously. "So what's on your mind, Ainz?"
For a moment, he seemed uncertain how to start. Finally, he exhaled softly and looked me in the eye. "You're a good friend, Haru."
That caught me off guard. My chest tightened in a strangely pleasant way. "You're a good buddy too, man," I replied with a grin, genuinely touched.
Ainz hesitated, like he was weighing his words. "I used to have a lot more friends, but they all left me. Life happened, or maybe they just moved on. Either way, I ended up alone. So meeting you… it meant a lot more than you might realize."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said gently. "I can relate, though. Before I opened this restaurant, I never really had any friends either. Most of my time was spent with my family. Sometimes I wonder if that makes me some kind of mama's boy." I shuddered dramatically at the thought.
Ainz let out a quiet chuckle. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. But, actually, that's part of what I wanted to talk about. Lately, I've realized I probably wouldn't have liked the person I would've become if this restaurant—if you—weren't here."
I tilted my head, my ears flicking with curiosity. "What happened?"
He glanced at me, expression grim. "I was on a battlefield, looking down at hundreds of thousands of soldiers forced to fight me. I seriously considered wiping them all out. My old friends would've been ashamed if I had gone through with it."
I swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in. "Damn, Ainz. That's heavy." After a brief pause, I shrugged helplessly. "I can't really judge, though. None of the soldiers sent to attack Carne survived either. Sure, I didn't kill them, but I didn't save them when a dragon swooped in and devoured them all."
Still gross to remember…
Ainz looked slightly disturbed, clearly wanting to ask more. Instead, he seemed to push the thought aside and blurted, "Haru… I used to be human."
That made me freeze for a second. "Wait—seriously?" I stared at him for a long moment, trying to process what he'd just said. "You went through an Isekai?" I finally asked, my voice sounding more curious than shocked.
Ainz nodded, looking strangely relieved to share this. "Yes. I used to be a human in a different world—one that was pretty harsh, to put it mildly."
I rubbed my forehead, letting out a small laugh. "You know the first rule about Isekai is that you don't talk about your Isekai," I joked, half to lighten the mood. Although I was a firm follower of that rule myself…
He managed a quiet chuckle. "I'm well aware. I was quite the otaku back in my old life, despite how terrible the world itself was."
I gestured for him to go on. "Terrible in what way?"
Ainz sighed, his tone turning grim. "Evil corporations basically ran everything. People worked for almost no wages, the environment was destroyed by World War III, and everyone had to wear masks outside. Real food was a luxury—most people got by on this processed paste." He paused, seeming to recall the taste with disgust. "The only good thing was gaming. Technology reached a level where virtual worlds were basically real."
I frowned. "Damn. That sounds rough."
"It was," Ainz confirmed. "But there was a game called Yggdrasil. That's where I met all my friends. We built a guild together, and it was like a second home for us, until real life eventually pulled everyone away. One by one, they all quit, leaving me behind."
"Sorry to hear that," I said quietly.
Ainz waved a hand dismissively. "I don't blame them. They had lives and responsibilities. I just ended up loving the guild too much to let go. Then, when the servers shut down, I was transported to this new reality—along with the entire place we'd built. That's how Nazarick and all my subordinates came to life. I made them with my friends."
My eyes widened. "So you're telling me Nazarick wasn't just something you found, you actually created it… along with every loyal servant inside?"
He gave a small, proud nod. "Pretty much."
"Damn, that's impressive," I muttered.
"Yeah," Ainz replied, letting out a soft breath. "Thanks for listening, Haru."
"I'd never betray a bro. My lips are sealed." I gave him a playful salute.
He smiled slightly, looking relieved. "I appreciate it. Honestly, I've been feeling the pressure lately. My subordinates see me as a supreme being, and it's… a lot to handle sometimes." He took a moment, gathering his thoughts. Then he spoke again, voice quieter. "There's one more thing. If your restaurant ever connects to my old world, I want to save it. I want to take down those evil corporations that ruined everything—and give my old friends the lives they deserved."
My lips curved into a grin. "That's a noble goal. Count me in."
Ainz nodded firmly. "There's no rush. It's only been a few months since I left, and it's not like conditions there can get much worse. My friends had jobs, so they should be safe for the time being."
"Well, whenever it happens, you've got my support," I said.
Ainz let out a relieved sigh, as though shedding a heavy weight. He glanced me over again, his eyes lingering on my tails. "So," he said in a lighter tone, "what have you been up to since our last party? You have ten tails now. I can't even get an accurate reading on your power level anymore. What happened?"
I chuckled, giving my tails a quick glance. "It's a long story. And it's mostly Rimuru's fault."
He raised an eyebrow. "I've got time. Albedo and Shalltear are both asleep—apparently I wore them out." He smirked slightly.
"Nice." We shared a quick fistbump.
…
About an hour later, we had a fresh pot of coffee sitting between us. Rikuo and Tsurara were still out cold in the booth. I finished explaining my latest adventures—everything from meeting Milim Nava to the evolution process that gave me the extra tail and then being "named" on top of that.
"Umu," Ainz murmured thoughtfully, sipping his own cup of coffee. "So, just how strong would you estimate this Milim Nava is?"
I shrugged, leaning back in my seat. "Hard to say for sure, but way stronger than me or my mom. She's got twelve tails now, I've got ten, and we're roughly equal in power. But even together, I doubt we could so much as scratch Milim."
Ainz gave a low whistle. "That's something, all right. Maybe I should visit that world myself if it's handing out level-ups for free." He chuckled, no longer bothering to hide his gaming jargon now that I knew he was an isekai video game character.
"Not gonna lie, the free power-up was nice," I admitted, "but the evolution process itself is freaky. You hear this 'world voice' in your head, and you can't move at all while it's happening. Closest thing I can compare it to is sleep paralysis."
Ainz looked intrigued but also a little uneasy. "I guess nothing in life comes without a catch."
I was about to suggest we could head to that dimension sooner rather than later, but suddenly the restaurant's front door swung open.
My little sister, Kunou, burst inside with an energetic shout. "I'm here for breakfast, onii-chan!" Her multiple tails swished happily behind her as she raced across the room.
I couldn't help but smile, even through my fatigue. Kunou was too adorable to turn away. No matter how worn out I felt, I'd never be too tired to cook for her. Still, I was hoping to collapse in bed with Naruko soon.
But Kunou wasn't alone. My mother Yasaka entered next, followed by Azazel, Nurarihyon, Serafall, and Sirzechs. They all had dark circles under their eyes. Apparently, the palace discussions had finally ended.
Nuraihyon immediately made his way towards his grandson. Nurarihyon carried Rikuo and Tsurara over his shoulders like sacks of rice, looking only slightly inconvenienced by their weight. He gave me a nod of thanks. "I appreciate you looking after my grandson and his attendant," he said politely.
I waved a hand, trying not to yawn in the process. "No problem at all."
Nurarihyon glanced around my restaurant with mild curiosity. "You have a nice setup here, Haru. I'd like to check it out more, but I'll get out of your fur for now." He cast a sidelong look at Azazel and smirked. "I've gotten all the information I wanted, not to mention certain reparations."
Azazel winced slightly, but said nothing. Damn, they all must have all really reamed him in the discussions. That's what he gets for not looking after his subordinates though.
Although, Kokabiel was always going to be an asshole regardless.
Nurarihyon then turned his attention to Ainz, studying him for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. "Interesting," he murmured, then he headed for the door, carrying Rikuo and Tsurara as he left.
Sirzechs caught my eye, noticing how I could barely keep my head from drooping. "Haru, if you want to get some rest, we can leave."
"Absolutely not!" Kunou interjected with a pout, stamping her foot. "Haru-nii has to cook breakfast for me first!"
Yasaka gave her a scolding look. "Your brother is exhausted, Kunou. He was up all night."
I held up a hand, offering a tired grin. "It's okay, Mom. I don't mind making everyone a meal. I'll sleep after." I enjoyed cooking too much to say no, and I was kind of hungry myself.
With that settled, I slipped into the kitchen. As I started prepping ingredients and cracking eggs into a hot pan, I overheard Serafall and Sirzechs greeting Ainz.
"It's nice to meet you both," Ainz replied in a relaxed tone. "Haru is my best friend." I nearly tripped when I heard him say that. I couldn't help but grin though.
"Don't let Agnar hear you say that," Yasaka teased from the dining area, pushing two tables together so everyone could sit comfortably together. "We wouldn't want him getting jealous."
I chuckled under my breath, plating the first of the omelets. My exhaustion wasn't going away, but hearing Ainz call me his best friend gave me a welcome boost of energy. Sometimes, it was the little things that kept you going…
I made everyone breakfast before I decided to head to bed for a few hours.
– Kunou –
Kunou pouted deeply when breakfast ended and everyone began rising from their seats. She wasn't ready for breakfast to be over yet, but it seemed nobody else shared her enthusiasm.
Her mother Yasaka stood up, gently rubbing her temples and yawned. Even Haru, who usually spoiled her with attention, trudged off to the back of the restaurant with a sleepy wave, heading straight to his bedroom without another word.
Kunou blinked in disbelief as everyone started to leave. They'd completely forgotten about her! She crossed her arms, scowling fiercely at Haru's closed door.
On top of that, Tanya—her best friend and usual partner in crime—was busy spending the day with Viktoriya. Whenever those two were together, Tanya became all lovesick and boring….
Kunou sighed dramatically. She couldn't even get to tease Rikuo since his grandfather had whisked him away before she had the chance. She still had plenty of ideas on how to torment him stored up, but it looked like those would have to wait until his next visit to Kyoto!
He got lucky this time…
"I need something fun to do," she muttered to herself.
Recently, both her mom and big brother had become a lot stronger. Kunou could feel their new strength whenever they were nearby—it practically buzzed in the air around them. When she'd asked her mother about it earlier, Yasaka had mentioned visiting another dimension—the world of someone named Rimuru, whoever that was.
Kunou glanced thoughtfully at the door. Well, why not?
Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she skipped toward the doorway. If her family could power up there, then she could too. She didn't need anyone's permission for this—after all, they'd all abandoned her for sleep anyway.
…But her excitement quickly turned into panic. The moment she stepped into the new world, her body froze completely!
"Now commencing evolution…"
…
After what felt like forever, the paralysis suddenly ended. Kunou stumbled forward, barely managing to catch her balance.
Her breath came quickly as she examined herself. She still had nine tails, so physically she seemed mostly the same. But she sensed a new power coursing through her body—a strange, warm energy that her instincts told her was called magicules. She'd also apparently received a "Unique Skill," whatever that meant. Kunou wasn't much of a gamer, preferring real-life mischief, so the concept felt vague and abstract to her.
Still shaky, Kunou straightened up and looked around. The village was completely empty. Not a single person was nearby.
"How boring…" Kunou sighed. Where was everyone?
Suddenly, a cheerful voice called from behind her, nearly making Kunou leap out of her skin. "Hey there, little fox girl! Where'd you come from!?"
Kunou spun around, tails puffing up defensively. She stared up into the bright eyes of a smiling girl with long twin tailed pink hair.
Kunou raised a finger, silently pointing at Haru's restaurant door behind her. "I came from there."
The pink-haired girl tilted her head curiously, her smile growing even brighter. "Oh? Are you related to Haru, then?"
Kunou nodded quickly, feeling a spark of pride. "Yeah! He's my big brother." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "But right now he's asleep and being super boring. He was awake all night, so he's ignoring me!"
"Awww," the pink-haired girl groaned dramatically. "That's no fun. I was hoping to play with Haru today, too." She smiled again, placing her hands on her hips. "My name's Milim! But you can call me 'Big Sister Milim-chan!'"
Kunou blinked at Milim for a moment, then smiled in return. "I'm Kunou. So, you came here just to play with my brother?"
He sure had a lot of new friends lately. Sometimes it made Kunou a bit jealous. She wanted more friends too!
"Since Haru's being lame right now, how about you and I play instead?" Milim suggested.
Kunou's tails immediately began wagging with excitement. Finally, someone who understood her priorities. "Really? That sounds fun!"
Milim nodded energetically. "Of course! What do you want to do first?"
XXX
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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters on there:
The Fallen Gamer ch 326-330
The Fox Hole 76
A Systematic Tale: The Hero 4
The Fox Hole 75
The Fox Hole 74
The Blood Queen 42
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 3
The Fox Hole 74
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 2
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 1
Thunder and Black Wings 17
The Fox Hole 73
The Fox Hole 72
The Blood Queen 41
The Fox Hole 71
Thunder and Black Wings 16