Swordsmaster Fox-girl

My…. My swords! However much I hit myself on the head, they were there, eating food as if they needed it. 

I staggered forward. One step, Aerin turned to look at me.

Two steps, she recovered from her surprise and forced Nira to look my way.

Three steps, total silence.

Only after I took my fourth step did they stand up and shout my name.

“Nova!”

“Nira!”

I couldn’t believe it! All those years and yet I reunited with them in this random ass inn. Giggling like a madman, I made a dash toward them.

“Aerin!”

“Nova!”

“Nir— What—!”

Nira suddenly grabbed my collar and pinned me against the wall. Before I could do anything, her palm made contact with my butt forcefully.

“Owww! What are you doin—”

Slap—!

“You stupid bitch!”

“What did I do—”

Slap—!

Seeing as she wasn’t listening to reason right now, I held my breath and shook my body. I looked to Aerin to seek help.

“A-Aerin! Help!”

But she averted her eyes guiltily.

You traitor—

Slap—!

Slap—!

Slap—!

I closed my eyes shut and waited for another smack. But nothing ever came. Opening my eyes, I could see Nira standing there and staring at me intensely.

“E-Eh? Is it over already?”

“So you want more?” She gave me a smile.

“W-Wait! N-No—”

Slap—!

“Auhh! It hurts!!!”

“It should be!”

Slap—!

“Please! I’m sorrryyy!”

“What are you sorry for?”

I paused for a second before shaking my head. “I-I don’t know—”

Slap—!

“Ahnnn~”

My voice suddenly became a bit wet. Nira let me go and sat back on her chair with a frown.

“Enough now?”

“A-A bit m— No! I mean no! That’s enough!”

“Alright.” Nira smirked. Then, probably sensing something amiss, she glanced around the room. Seeing that basically everyone was staring at us, she picked me up again. “We should go to our room.”

“Y-Yeah….”

—

While Nira went out again to bring my dinner here, I pulled down my pants and glared at Aerin. Lying down on the bed, I threw her a bottle of medicine.

“That fucking hurts.”

“Y-Yeah….”

“I’m disappointed, Aerin. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

The room shimmered into silence as Aerin moved closer to me to apply the medicine to the reddened parts of my butt. I let out a low groan and sighed.

“I’ve never seen Nira that mad before.”

“M-Me neither….”

“....Why did she do that?”

Aerin took a deep breath before answering. “T-To be honest, Master, I’m a bit mad too. You… You didn’t even try to summon us….”

“Eh?” I quickly pulled up Status. It still said that they were disconnected. “B-But I did though, right after I was exiled.”

Aerin stayed silent for a few seconds before parting her lips. “And after that? Have you even tried doing it any time after that?”

“I… I didn’t.”

“Do you know how big sis Nira cries herself to sleep every night!?” Aerin’s voice cracked. I could feel her tears dropping onto my body. “We missed you! We’d been counting the days until we could meet you again!”

“Aerin….” I flipped around and reached out for her.

“Don’t—” She slapped my hand away but quickly widened her eyes in realization. Wiping her tears, she grasped my hand. “I’m sorry! B-But don’t talk of this to big sis Nira. She doesn’t want you to know….”

“I see.” I pulled Aerin into a hug. As she purred in my embrace, I patted her back. 

Now this was the reunion I’d expected, not whatever that was a few minutes ago. 

Soon, Aerin’s body glowed and she turned into a sword. It was obvious what she wanted me to do.

But I…. I couldn’t. 

I stared at Requiem on my waist. W-What would they think if I told them what this sword was capable of? A-And even now, I could sense that Requiem was much more powerful than my two Gifts combined. I—

No.

Shut the fuck up—! What the fuck is wrong with me? Just for a little bit of power, I….

That’s it.

“Theodore.”

[Whassup?]

“Tell me how to get rid of this thing. I’ll give you the next precious thing I find for free.”

{Master? Who are you talking to?}

“Not now, Aerin.”

Theodore thought for a bit before letting out a mysterious smile. [I dunno. It’s not really for free if you exchange it for my information]

“....Please.”

[Damn, now you’re making me feel bad. Wait for a second]

Theodore left his post. He soon came back with Ast in tow.

[Heya!]

[Ast, tell her what you know. I’m gonna talk a break now]

[Hehe, long time no see!]

Only Ast was in the window now. I waved back at her. “Yeah…. Can you help me?”

[Sure! But under one condition]

I clenched my fists. “Let’s hear it.”

She raised her fingers up.

“Five?”

[Five. In addition to your earlier promise with Theodore, you must reach the other continent in five years or I’ll take away allll~ your power and revert you back to 1-star]

“But that’s—”

[Impossible? Hah, not really. Get creative and you’ll find out. So, what do you think?]

I nodded after giving it a thought. “I accept. Just tell me already.”

Ast rubbed her hands and gave me a playful smirk. [Oh, and another thing. You can’t contact us again until you find your next precious item. Is that fine?]

“That’s… reasonable, I guess.”

[Great! Thank you for doing business with ‘Gray’s House of Finance’! Your product will arrive shortly!]

“...”

[Ding! Your information will now arrive. Do you notice how Requiem’s blade is essentially jelly?]

“....Yes.”

A jelly-like substance that was sharp when on Requiem’s hilt. When broken, the fragments would act no different than normal jelly.

[So, all you have to do is….]

I leaned in and listened carefully. As soon as Ast finished her sentence, my face went red as I gave her a punch.

“W-What!? I can’t do that!”

[Hehe, your choice. But you’re already doing it with your sister—why the hesitation now? Anyways, bye!]

As soon as the window disappeared, I noticed Aerin and Nira staring at me weirdly. I froze and only moved when Nira spoke.

“Nova, it’s only been a few years and yet….”

“I-I’m Esther now.”

Nira nodded and accepted it immediately. “Alright. Esther, I know a Healer of Mental type. Maybe he can cure you—”

“There’s nothing wrong with me!”

Fuck! That’s what an insane person would say!

I coughed and quickly changed the subject. “A-Anyways, I-I’m curious. How did you guys find me?”

Nira exchanged glances with Aerin before she spoke.

“We incidentally met your maid girl and asked her. And we’d also been checking rumors of every Winter Fox in the continent.”

Winter Fox? Is that what I was before I became the Nogi something?

Huh, neat. But….

“How did you get Violette to tell you about me? I don’t remember you guys ever meeting before….”

To my question, Aerin pulled out a photo. 

I froze and opened my locket and pulled out the same photo. It was of Aerin, Nira, Ihwa, and me, all inside a photobooth that one time we got to Vetrix’s Capital. 

Seeing it melted my heart, and I realized something. I’ve been a bitch, haven’t I? If I had cared about my swords like I claimed I did, I would’ve tried to summon them every single day.

I’m a bad owner.

Now, every hesitation I had about telling them about Requiem was gone. But before that….

“W-What happened, Nira? What about the years after we lost contact?”

Nira furrowed her brows and sighed. She placed the plate of food she got right in front of me and got me a fork.

“Gobble up. It’s gonna be a long story.”