When I open my eyes, it looks like the same place I came from in my previous ordeal. However, there is a love fire next to it.

''I'm anxious to know what kind of ordeal I'm going to go through...''

You'll be fine, Koibito... let's go.

Yes!

As I walked with Koibito, I saw Kutenkusama.

It's good to see you. It's been a long time.

''Long time no see. Long time no see, Lord Kutenzu.

"Oh, Mr. Sky Skylark.

Love Fire is too jumpy. I wonder if he's okay. Then Kutenmu-sama laughed.

You don't need to be that nervous. It's just a matter of drinking this, even if you say it's an ordeal.

I was served a sake cup filled with clear water. It's not alcohol, is it?

It's a special type of water called sensui water. In order to become a hermit, you have to drink this water.

Are you sure you want to just drink this?

Yes.

Okay, okay!　I'll take it.

When Love Fire drinks all at once, Love Fire falls over. It's still alcohol!

However, something happens to the fallen love-fire. The black miasma overflows from her body and her hair turns black. And even the miko's clothes turned black.

What is this? It doesn't look like it's a runaway... but the blackened love fire gets up.

'I'm finally out. Totally...it's a tangled mess of playing nice.

Ren... love fire?

Hmm?　What the hell are you looking at? You can't pat me on the head if you don't have time to look.

Um... well... what do you want me to do, pet him?

Mmm... and the tail as well.

No, if you asked me to pet you, I would.

"...

"Oh, love fire?　It's about time I got tired, okay?

Permission for someone to take a break? Just keep going.

Don't be ridiculous.

No, that's just not possible.

You've got guts, don't you?

You couldn't do it even if you had the guts. What's more, what's this? Love Fire's use of language is weird...

You are the shadow of love, the hidden side of love that you don't usually show.

Is that what you really think? I wanted to, but I couldn't...

What is this old hag trying to explain to me? It's dumb.

Love fire...I don't think that's a good word to say.

I'm sure you wouldn't understand, but it's part of our job...bear with me, please. You can't be a little girl, but this is my job. Your ordeal is to keep her from going out of control.

What if we don't let this kid run wild? Then it's easy. I sit down on my haunches.

"What the hell are you sitting on? Stand up and stroke me, sir.

I told you I was tired.　Now come on over here.

What do you plan to do? Are you s*xually harassing me?

You know the hard word. But you're worried about s*xual harassment when you're begging me to pet your tail.

I force a wary love fire to kneel down and stroke his head.

''Oh...this...this...is...that...is...who told you to do the knee pillow?''

Or would you rather not?

...... I didn't tell you to stop.

Somehow I think I know how to handle this love fire. It's a bit of a mouthful, but I guess it's basically love fire.

Love Fire's pampered character is also found in the naming, Black Love Fire. It's just that she can't be spoiled honestly, but still feels like she's going to say it out loud.

When she says it out loud, she'll spoil it honestly, but sometimes she'll be hesitant. As a result, Black Love Fire must have become this kind of personality. If the essence is a pampered child, if you let her be pampered, she won't go out of control. The rest is up to Love Fire.


On the other hand, Love Fire was watching the whole thing with his other self.

''Hey, what are you doing!　It's not fair to have your brother Takuto petting your head and tail like that!

That's not true. That's what my brother Tact did to me. If you want me to do it, you shouldn't say it out loud.

Well, that may be true, but...

It's time to stop worrying about the people around you. The important thing is to be honest... you can't protect your brother Tact with this kind of situation. If you can't protect it, how will you take responsibility for it?

Love Fire can't say anything back. It's because Love Fire knows her own weakness. I'm afraid of others...I don't want everyone to hate me. That may be an emotion that everyone has.

But that's a weakness, Black Love Fire told him clearly. And he told her that that weakness would hurt him one day. That's what Koibito also thought, and it was something he had always turned his back on.

''If you want to be strong, you should throw away that weakness here and now. If you can't do that, then from today I'll protect your brother Takuto.

''...I don't want to. That's the only thing I can't give up!

Intense flames are released from the love fire.

''I'm the only one who can protect big brother Tact and spoil big brother Tact, and I'm the only one who can spoil everything!　No one can beat me for this feeling!

The black love fire smiles at the love fire that hits him head on. Then he pulls out the sword at his waist.

''That's fine. But I can't give up either. If you want brother Takuto, you can take him away from me by force.

'I understand!　I'll show you how to get it back!

Love Fire takes a stance for an iai-slash.

''Haaah!''

A momentary intersection... it was Love Fire who won.

''Ha... ha... ha... yay...''

It's a nice sword with a lot of heart... now I can trust my strength.

The black love fire is disappearing.

'I...'

Don't look at me like that... if you disappear here, I'll still be inside you. If you show any weakness, I'll take your body and you'll be ready for it.

"...yes!　But I won't let it be taken away from me!

The black love fire was sucked in by the love fire that told him that, and a bright red light emanated from the love fire that was sleeping in the lap of reality, and the love fire evolved. That's where the info comes in.

''I have cleared the hermit's ordeal.''
'Love Fire has evolved into a Hermit Beast. I have acquired the Sacred Art [Airborne Levitation].''
The fox technique [Shrinetail] has evolved into [Hermit Tail].
''I've obtained the Sacred Qi, Other Mind Street, Divine Foot Street, Magic Disconnection, and Physical Disconnection.

The evolved love fire wakes up and gets up. The evolved love fire returns to its original form and adds a feather coat to its clothing. Both her tail and the number of tails have been increased to eight.

''Hmm...I...''

"Looks like you cleared the ordeal. Now Koibito is one of the Immortal Foxes.

"....Kutenkuse-sama...big brother Takuto...A...

Love Fire looks at my lap and goes back to sleep.

'Tact brother, pet your head and tail, please.'

Do you still do that?

I've been watching the whole thing. I'm not retreating until you pet me instead of me in the shadows.

Something about Love Fire has evolved and its atmosphere has changed. If that's what Love Fire says, I guess it can't be helped... When I was thinking that, Kutenkuse-sama grabbed Love Fire's tail and lifted it up.

''Ku...Kuuten Fox-sama!　What?

If you saw it all, you'll remember what we said, won't you?

Love Fire's face is tinted with despair.

''That wasn't something I said.

Shut up. It's a solidarity responsibility. From now on, I'm going to train you as a fox, so be prepared.

No.

That's a great deal...well, I'll give you a lap pillow when I get home. Now, let's check out the evolved Love Fire.

Name Love Fire Shrine Beast Lv 30 -> Hermit Beast Lv 1

Vitality 105 to 155.
Magic power 150 to 200
Strength 165 to 215.
Defensive Strength 65 to 100
Agility 190 to 250
Dexterous value 110 to 150

Swords Lv 28 Nito Ryu Lv 8 Wind Blade Lv 11 -> Scythe Lv 11 Flame Magic Lv 12 Spacetime Magic Lv 1　
Evil Flame Lv 17 -> Black Flame Lv 17 Abomination Lv 26 -> Holy Fire Lv 26 Flame Manipulation Lv 1 Anticipation Lv 29 -> Heavenly Hearing Lv 29　
Interpersonal communication Lv 1. Danger prediction Lv 29. Distraction Lv 1. Magic disconnection Lv 1. Physical disconnection Lv 1.　
Spiritual power lv12 Sacred energy lv1 Sacred art lv1 Illusion lv2 -> Illusion lv2 Shinto magic lv7　　
Foregoing Lv 12 Shunsuke Lv 19 -> Shrinkage Lv 19 Divine Footpath Lv 1 Bewitchment Lv 5 Blood Awakening Lv 9　
Cooking Lv 22 Shrinebreath Lv 3 -> Hermitbreath Lv 3. Fox technique Lv 4. Divine descent Lv 2. Beastification Lv 4.

You're getting stronger. You're a full-on samurai type.

I guess the focus is on the new Senjutsu. I'm not sure what the difference is between airborne and divine foot traffic, but there must be some difference. And you got the magic disconnection first. Well, I knew that Love Fire would learn it.

After that, it's Senki and chi chi blocking. For what it's worth, Love Fire didn't have any enhancements, and with a sword, the chi chi blocking should be pretty strong. There's also shrinkage, and even with hard enemies, I've learned physical cutting, so it should be effective to some extent.

The magic system feels like the fire skill has been powered up and is now operable.

While I'm checking, Kutenkuse-sama is coming.

I'm sure you'll be back first. I'll deliver the love fire to you right away~

With that said, I went back to where I came from.