Tiki doesn't seem to be coming back, so I better head up quickly.
For ghosts like these, a little salt and bare hands will do just fine.
It's great that once I learn to use salt in my attacks, I can take down ghosts in one hit.
But… aren't there too many ghosts around?
They're really coming at me!
It's like all the evil spirits in the area have gathered...
Wait, they really are gathered!? They are swarming in front of the shrine!"
It seems the shrine itself is protected by some kind of barrier that prevents ghosts from entering, but a group of restless spirits has gathered just outside, yearning to slip through. It's like a monster room in a video game. Facing them alone would be reckless. Plus, if I need to escape, I'd have to head down the stairs, leaving me with no choice but to charge in.
I pull out some salt and sprinkle it over myself. The grains fly high into the air, enveloping me entirely. Just like my title suggests, I'm not afraid of ghosts! Here I go, full speed ahead!
I bolt up the stairs, weaving through the throngs of spirits. A few reach out to grab me, but as soon as they touch the salt, they scream and recoil. I launch myself into the swarm, salt-covered and unstoppable, barreling through until I burst past the red torii gate.
Wait, did something just change in the sky? I glance back to see a mass of floating spirits stuck against the boundary of the torii. Ugh, that's disgusting! Hey, miss over there, you've got an old guy's leg attached to your head. Is that really okay?
Ignoring the malevolent spirits, I turn my attention to the direction of the shrine. It looks like if I just follow the stone path, I'll reach it quickly. Leaving the ghosts behind, I make my way toward the shrine. I wonder how I'll manage to get back—right now, it feels like my only option is to sprint down.
Well, I'll figure out a way to handle that later; for now, it's the shrine. I wonder if there are divine AIs in this world? For the moment, there are the guardian statues… or rather, this is an Inari shrine. Instead of the usual komainu, there are fox statues on either side. I figured as much.
Thank you, Tamamo. I'll offer some aburaage. Is it two bows, two claps, and one bow at the end? I feel like there's a prayer format with four claps, but this should be fine. Okay, here goes—clap, clap! I hope to become closer with Hannah.
"Ah, very good, indeed! Well done, young monk."
"…Huh?"
Startled by the sudden voice, I opened my eyes. A fox mask was right in front of me. Wait, why is it so close?!
"Hello there! I really like aburaage!"
Ignoring my stunned silence, the figure bounded back a bit and snatched up the offering of aburaage. Oh, it's surprisingly cute. The one behind the mask, after moving it to the side, began to munch on the fried tofu with delight—she was a small girl. What was that hairstyle called again, a hime cut? I think it was trendy in old Japan.
Her outfit looked rather old-fashioned too, a cheap, dyed kimono, simply cinched with an obijime, resembling the attire that commoners might have worn during the Edo period or thereabouts.
The girl wearing red-strapped sandals finished devouring the deep-fried tofu and began to lick the grease off her fingers.
"Oh. She has fox ears."
So, she's one of those fox spirits. I had thought the deity worshiped at this shrine was Tamamo, but it seems this girl might be something divine herself.
"Ah, my apologies. I got carried away because it was my favorite snack."
"I'm glad you liked it! Uh, can I ask you something?"
"What is it? Normally, I'd be gearing up for a battle as the boss, but since I've received this tofu from my master, feel free to ask anything. If I can answer, I will."
"Thanks! First question: Is this shrine connected to Tamamo?"
"Tamamo? Ah, you mean Tamamo-no-Mae? That's a different matter. I am Inari; she's a yokai."
I see, so the nine-tailed fox and Inari are not the same.
"So, you're the deity of this shrine?"
"Yes. I take on the role of testing those who come here, granting divine powers to those who succeed."
Got it—so a challenge comes with visiting the shrine.
"I arrived here completely unaware of that. Is it possible just to visit and leave without engaging in battle?"
"Oh, you won't die or anything. If you lose in the fight here, you'll just wake up in the same spot. As long as you pay your respects, you can try as many times as you like. But once you receive the divine gift, you can't have it again. You can choose to fight or just visit."
So, does that mean I absolutely have to fight the first time?
"What do I get for it?"
"I'll tell you if you win. Now, get ready for battle!"
"Um, can I bring my tamed creatures into the fight?"
"That's fine, but it seems your tamed friend isn't around, is it?"
"It ran off after Terra."
"Well, well..."
"How about we just take it easy until it returns?"
"What's that? You want to relax here? There's nothing to do!"
"I have deep-fried tofu snacks."
"What? What are you planning by trying to raise my favor? Come here and sit! Where are the snacks?"
She looked incredibly delighted.
Inari's tail was showing, and she was happily wagging it.
I was told to sit on the stairs behind the shrine's donation box, so I did.
Then, unexpectedly, Inari jumped onto my thigh.
She eagerly snatched the deep-fried tofu from my item box and started devouring it with delight.
Is this also considered lucky perversion?
Given our heights, we were about the same as two kids, and her black hair filled my view... Wow, she's surprisingly soft. She smelled like sunlight, and I felt a bit shy.
"Warning: That action... belongs to the Lucky Pervert, does it?"
"Could you please stop with the warnings that aren't really warnings? It makes me jump every time an alert goes off."
"Huh? What's wrong? Oh, my bad. I forgot you vanish when I get too close."
"Are you serious? You've been banned, haven't you? Are you a natural landmine or something?"
"...Well, if you're not disappearing, then I guess it's fine."
"Wait, you have zero intention of running away, huh? Your tail is so fluffy. I wonder if I could pet those fox ears."
"By the way, Inari-sama, do you have a name?"
"Hmm? My name? Unfortunately, I can't reveal my true name. It's something only those I truly recognize as my master are allowed to know. So... Inari-sama works, right?"
"I see. Then I'll stick with Inari-sama."
"Let me ask you in return, what is your name?"
"I'm Henry. Humans don't have those dangerous true names like in stories."
"That's not entirely true; humans must have true names as well. You just aren't informed of them. They say that if you find out, you can be manipulated."
Isn't just knowing one name a bit too much? But, then again, knowing an account number is definitely bad. If someone were to hijack it, they'd have control over me. So perhaps it does relate to a true name. I don't even know my own registration number. Should I check that once I get back?
"Ah, there you are! Why is it that the moment I look away, you're getting cozy with another girl? Come here and hug me!"
Oh, Tiki's here. It seems she managed to catch up and brought Terra with her, but when she spotted Inari perched on my thigh, she shouted while holding Terra in her hands. Then she scooped up Terra again and rushed over using both hands.
"Oh wow. So that's a tamed creature of the master? You sure picked an impressive one in more ways than one!"
Well, Tiki, it certainly is a peculiar creature in various aspects.
"Hey, Hiro."
"Yeah, but what am I supposed to do with Terra?"
"You need to defeat it. Rare species like this drop unique items or skills when vanquished, but only the one who defeats them can acquire those."
Ah, so I have to take down Terra if I want to get those skills. Terra looks strangely defeated, almost resigned to her fate. She has this look that says, "If you're going to kill me, do it as you please."
"She looks kind of pitiful..."
"You're aware that Terra is extremely rare, right? You should definitely take her down."
Now Terra is on the verge of tears. How skilled she is at invoking sympathy!
"Seems like Terra might have a bit of AI in her. I wonder if she'd be happy if she were tamed?"
Terra reacted with a sudden jolt, an expression of unexpected hope on her face.
Wait, could it be...?
--- Terra seems eager to join as a companion. Will you tame her? ---
Well, here we go. Since she's here, I might as well tame her.
"Huh? No way, you can actually tame this snake?!"
"Isn't that something…"
The moment I tamed her, Terra snuggled up to me as if she realized she had been saved. She looked less like a snake and more like a chubby little salamander.
"So Terra is actually a unique AI boss character, even if she can't talk."
"Wow, another boss character has joined us."
--- Terra has bestowed a blessing upon Henry! Henry's luck has increased! Henry's Lucky Pervert skill has increased! ---
Something just went up!?
--- Terra has given Henry a skill! Henry has learned Heat Sensing! ---
Did I just receive a bizarre skill!?
Wait, isn't that a snake's ability? Is it safe for a human to sense heat?
Well, whatever. For now, I'll swap it with my kicking skill and activate it.
"I never expected to witness a taming right in front of me. Now, Henry, I would like to set up a trial soon. Are you ready?"
"Ah, yes. Shall we begin?"
"Huh? Huh? What are we doing? What's happening?!"
"Tiki, get into battle stance!"
"Huh? Yes!"
Tiki was momentarily taken aback but quickly readied herself, moving closer to me and keeping an eye on Inari. Terra perched on my shoulder, full of enthusiasm. But just so you know, I'm not counting you as a combat asset.
"That's the enemy, right?"
"I think so?"
Inari distanced herself from me, hovering in the air as a thunderous effect crackled around her.
"Uh-oh, this feels really dangerous."
"Oh, wait! It seems Inari isn't the one fighting. Something's coming!"
A pentagram appeared directly beneath Inari. Rising up from it was a single fox.
And this wasn't just any fox—it was huge. Its color was unusual too. A green fox?
With a loud roar, it charged straight at me.
"Henry, get into the habit of checking the opponent's stats first!"
"Huh? Oh, right! Checking stats!"
**Name:** Wind Fox
**Species:** Fox **Class:** Familiar
**Title:** Vegetarian
**Level:** 10
**HP:** 547/547
**MP:** 83/83
**TP:** 84/84
**GP:** 63/63
**Status:** Normal
**Skills:**
??? Level 10: ???
??? Level 13: ???
??? Level 4: ???
"Once you develop the habit of checking enemy statuses, skills in that area will improve too."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Um, isn't that something you shouldn't be sharing?"
Inari suddenly interjected, realizing something.
Tiki jolted as if she had noticed something too.
Turning around quickly, she drew my gaze along with hers.
Tamamo, wearing an angry expression, was waving at us with a smile.
Ah, this means Tiki is about to get an earful after the battle.
It seems I unintentionally revealed another key insight that only players should discover for themselves.
I mean, even without the appraisal skill, you can still use related abilities.