My flesh churned and my soul screamed.
God is an existence too far removed from man. Leaving aside its real existence, even if it is an 'illusion', the being I once encountered had a majesty that I could recognize as God at a glance.

The reason why I, who was not even comfortable, was able to endure it in front of me back then, and the reason why I, who was a small fish, was able to keep my sanity, was because I was used to the fear of death.
For me, a god or a sub-god, a dragon or a sub-dragon, there was not much difference.
The treasure house is very scary, not just the [lost inn]. That's why I didn't antagonize the god.

And now, unlike before, I can stand before the god because I'm comfortable.

It took the form of a glowing white fox. The size of its body was too small for the immensity of its presence. Even so, it was about the same size as a dragon, and was probably ...... packed full of flesh. There were many shining thick tails stretching out behind it.

It's a beast. A beast, but a god. Its form was too unreal.
We can't defeat it. Not even with Luke and the others. This is not a being man can defeat.

"Oh, ...... greedy one. ...... will you challenge me again. ......

Will the warding fingers really work against a god? I don't know because I have never been attacked, but there is no point in thinking about it. If you're attacked, you'll die anyway.
I'm not proud of it, but the number of mines I've stepped on is second to none.

Your eyes are bright. I felt like I was going to lose my mind if I stared at him, so I quickly looked away, and since I felt it would be rude to just do that, I got down on my knees right there.
The god slammed his tail on the floor with a snap. That was enough to make the air tremble.

'I had no intention of coming back.

"Bullshit. ......

Really, it's bullshit. A flying treasure house is not something you normally encounter by chance.
But it's happening. Why would anyone want to visit a place of death again? But you can't tell that to a transcendent being. This is not the time to be upset with Mr. Gark. Help me.

The fox god said to me as I lay prostrate. The voice was grave.

"Do you remember my words?

I couldn't remember any of it, but the tall foxface had said it. I fished through my memory and answered in a mysterious voice.

'I'll never see you again,' he said.

'You'll never see me again in your lifetime.

...... It's the same. I don't know what the difference is. I want to complain, but my position is too weak to do so.
This is a encounter.

"This is not a ...... encounter."?

This is not an encounter? Not an encounter? No, it's an encounter. What are you talking about, ......?

No, wait. ...... Oh, I see.
I got down on my knees and looked up. Today I'm--I'm brilliant.

In this treasure house, illusions can't lie. But unfortunately the apparition in front of me lied. So he's trying to make up for it.
In other words, to get him in a good mood, you should affirm it.

I smiled to show that I was not hostile, and said clearly.

'Yeah, you're right, this isn't an encounter. I'm here to meet you!












'Ah, ............ has come out, sir.'

The door opens. I staggered out.
I had just left him a few minutes ago, but for some reason I felt like it had been a long time since I heard his voice. Humans are good after all. Not with a god. I'm more comfortable now thanks to the power of my treasure, but that doesn't mean the tension is gone.

Krus supports my wobbly shoulders. Then he notices what I'm holding in my hand and opens his eyes.


'Oh, hey, what's that?

'Oh, ............ are you there?


What he was holding was a shiny white tail. It was truly the one that had grown on the boss. It shrank the moment I pulled it out, so it's much smaller than when it was growing. .......

It looks exactly like the one I got last time. I said I didn't want it, but it was forced on me again. I attached the tail to the end of a stick and gave it to Lucia as a broom, but what should I do with this tail? I want to throw it away somewhere.


'No, I don't want it! Don't, don't let it near me!

It's not just a tail in the eyes of Crus, or so it seems, and it lets out a high-pitched scream.

I wonder who this tail is a gift for.
This tail is said to be a mass of power. But I had no idea what exactly to do with it.

The tall foxface knotted his mouth for a moment and said grimly.


'So, my mother lost .......'

'No, I don't think so. I don't know what God thinks. ......'

I surrendered. I got down on my knees. There was no way I could win from the start.
I've always been the type of person who gets wrapped up in the long game. I played by the rules of my opponent and stood up for him.

But for some reason, God was in a bad mood.



Apparently, he was annoyed to be stood up by a helpless bottom like ...... me. I wonder what I should have done.


'...... It's life. Regardless of the circumstances, Mr. Crisis has won.



Life ......? This tail is life? The boss had twelve tails. Now that one is here, there are eleven left.

'......Does that mean we can defeat it if we repeat the process eleven more times?

'Do you want to try ............?'

The foxface smiles. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
...... It was just a question that came out of my mouth.

'I'm not going to come back again. So what about the airship?

Last time I was released on the spot, but this time the airship got mixed up.
The foxface sighs at my question.

'We have a rule to release Mr. Crisis safely. The airship is back. I'd really like to destroy the vehicle that's chasing us into the sky, but that's not going to happen.

Oh? Oh?

I think I can manage. The visions in this treasure house don't lie.
I've had a rough time of it, but I'm lucky in a weird way to have encountered a [lost inn] and gotten away with this.



I breathe a sigh of relief. The next moment, the fox face smiled cruelly.


'But we're safe, and the only one we're releasing is Mr. Crisis. We have no intention of releasing the others.


What?

That's .................. very troubling. My first priority is my life and Luke's, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to let anyone else die.
This request is for an escort. I'll give you back your tail, if you'll forgive me. .......



'These are the rules. I'm in the inn, I have to pay for it or my mother will punish me. Come on, Cr e Argen.'



Krus pokes his head out from behind my back. But the hand that grasps my back is trembling.
The foxface says in a whispered voice. It's a gentle voice, but that's why it's so terrifying.




'If you want to be freed--I'll take your most precious thing......'




What's the most precious thing you have ......?

We're up in the sky. Her party members and spirit companions are not here. The demands of this foxface are heavier than getting down on one's knees, but fair enough to be unfair. After all, it excludes your life and what you don't have here.
If I were in Chrysus's position, I'm confident that I could offer him almost anything without hesitation. Even if he said something like warding fingers,......, well, I'll give it to him.

And that's when I realized.

We have the Emperor. I'd be in a lot of trouble if you asked me to give you the Emperor. We'd fail the mission, and even if that's okay, Zebuldia would be after us.
He's not here, so he can't be taken away? No, of course not. Foxface's bargaining is fair. You don't exclude what you can take.

The key is that it's not your life. It's a pretty vicious rule.

Krus didn't say anything. He just grabbed my clothes with all his might and glared at the foxface.
The foxface was silent for a moment, but then quickly turned his mouth into a pout, as if troubled.

He hesitantly opened his mouth.






'This is a ............ disaster, Cr e Argen. You can't take away his sense of danger. We have to release him safely.'



'............What?



What are you talking about, you fox?
Before I could even think of saying anything, Crus, who was attached to my back, let out a shaky voice.


''What, huh? I'm not sure what you're talking about.


...... You and I are thinking the same thing. We're kindred spirits.


'I'm saying you can't take away what's most important to you. He's protected by the rules.'

'I'm the most important person in the world to you? No, of course not!

'No, I'm sure. It's no use trying to fool me. I can read ...... people's minds. It doesn't matter if you know it or not. You care about Mr. Crisis, and Mr. Crisis doesn't care about you.'


Criss came off my back with a jolt. His face is red up to his ears, and his hands are white as he grasps the round world.
'Don't be embarrassed, ......, I didn't know Crus thought I was important.


I'm not sure what to say, but I'll try. It's because Lapidus and the others aren't here, sir!

'...... higher than the Emperor?

I'm not sure where you got the points for ...... when you've been told so much about it. I'm not sure what to make of it.


The foxface looked thoughtful for a while, then sighed and said.



'It can't be helped,......, Mr. Crisis. I'll take what's most precious to you. But this is a serious violation of the rules. Instead--let's release Mr. Crisis and all of his friends.


...... So it comes. Convenient or not, ...... but I'll check one thing just in case.


'What if the most important thing to me is Crus and the Emperor?

''What?

Crus gasps, his face turning red. The foxface cowered and said.

'I can't help it then. I've lost, let your people go. It's a fair deal.




I'm convinced I've won. I hadn't been able to think of anything important before, but now I was shaken by the words of Crus.
I mean, it's Crus. The most important thing is Crus. I'm sorry, but the Emperor is a close second. You're a disqualified bodyguard.


No, wait. ...... Then I realized.

Isn't this all a ruse by the foxface in front of me?

What this foxface wants to take away. That would be this tail, for sure. Isn't that why he made the deal with Crus, knowing that he would fail?

But we're both going to lose. This tail is said to be a lump of magical power that can exert tremendous power if it is released where it is needed, but I don't care about the tail. But I don't care about the tail. I can't let them take it.


I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and prayed.

My most precious thing is this tail. This tail is the most important thing. It's more important than the crus. Well, maybe not always. Just a little bit.
It's rather valuable and I like that it's shiny. I like that it grows fox ears when you put it on your hip. Lucia punched me for looking at the ears.






I make up my mind and open my eyes. The foxface had the same annoyed look on its face as before.
............ Apparently, it didn't turn into a tail.


Then the foxface said clearly.







'All right. Mr. Crisis seems to be the most important .................. 'carpet'. ............ I'm sorry to say this, but you're out of your mind, aren't you?'