โAre you planning to live here?โ
The hero changes the subject, seeming to have given up on the matter of the tanuki.
โThe scenery is nice, but I havenโt done anything with this place yet, and thereโs no specific reason for me to stay here. If itโs a bother, I can move.โ
Iโd prefer a place where neither humans nor demons would come. Less hassle that way.
โTo the north of here, no humans, nor demons, live. The mana concentration is so high that even those who have become demons canโt maintain their consciousness here, and itโs mostly overrun by spirits and magical beastsโฆโ
He stops speaking, glancing at me.
Looks like that wonโt be a problem for me!
โFor me to come this far, I had to make certain preparations and had a time limit. But with the [Saintโs] power now, it seemsโฆ balanced, and Iโm no longer affected.โ
So until now, he couldnโt counteract the dense mana even with a holy mark, and it seems he was being worn down by itโor perhaps he used a barrier device. Short-term stays might be fine, but itโd turn him into a demon over time.
Is the extra power from the [Saint] making this mana tolerable? Hmm, maybe I should venture further in?
โI rarely come here either. Staying there was a gambleโeither Iโd gain extraordinary resilience or lose my mind. Seems Iโve adjusted now.โ
The tanuki seems to have powered up as well. Short legs, round body and all.
โYuhi, have you no doubts about your current appearance?โ
โโฆโ
The heroโs question leaves the tanuki silent.
Itโs fine, honestly. Being soft and round suits a tanuki.
Regardless of the hero, a harsh environment wouldnโt be good for a tanuki. No lazy days to spend together. I suppose this area will do.
โAlright then, Iโll set up a base around here.โ
Guess Iโll start with dismantling the old house.
The foodโs already stone cold, so might as well give up on it. The fat on the retort-packaged meat has solidified into a white lump, and honestly, itโs inedible cold. Maybe if I warm it up again and eat it over hot rice later?
โBy the way, tanuki, have you eaten? Would you prefer something like dog food? Or can you eat human food since you can take human form?โ
Since he was human before becoming a magical creature, he might prefer human food, but what about a tanukiโs health?
โMana will suffice.โ
The tanuki mutters softly.
โMake it human food, please. Dog food with mana, even if itโs fine for Yuhi, wouldnโt work for me.โ
The hero presses his forehead with his pale fingers.
I thought he didnโt need food, but it seems he does eat. Guess dog food is a no-go.
โAlright then, Iโll start working. Just relax and have a biscuit.โ
Now that heโs gained the [Saintโs] power, his wounds seem healed, but with his short arms and legs, the tanuki canโt really help.
I set him down by my bag and hand him a stick-shaped biscuit, slightly salty and filling. Iโd like to head to town before we run out of regular food.
Iโll finish one room first, set up a teleportation device, and take my time with the rest later.
โHey, wolf-kun, can you arrange a ride to town for me in about five days? Alright, dismissed.โ
As I turned to leave, I noticed the boy and wolf-kun, who had been tense, relax visibly as if relieved. Was it my face? Sorry about that.
Letโs start by collecting unneeded fittings. Just have to toss them into a separate space, so it shouldnโt take long.
โAllow me to assist,โ the hero says, taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.
โโฆCould you break down that wall?โ
Honestly, as much as the heroโs presence might feel bothersome for someone who prefers taking it easy, I could use the help.
Until my lounging palace is complete, any extra help is welcome. Plus, a meticulous partner can be great to work with, as long as he doesnโt push his neatness onto me!
โThe wall seems to contain a fair amount of mana,โ he notes.
โItโll be easier to store once itโs broken away from the building. Could you separate the materials if possible?โ
Iโll figure out what to use it for later.
As the soil crumbles, bamboo framework becomes visible.
โUnderstood,โ he says, nodding, and begins breaking down the wall.
With a single swipe of his sword, cleanly done.
The hero seems pretty good at demolition! But please, donโt get carried away and destroy everything. Given his skill, Iโm sure heโll be carefulโฆ though heโs left no soil on the pillars. Alright, you donโt have to be that preciseโฆ or maybe heโd hate anything less.
โHmm? Whatโs up, tanuki?โ
While watching the heroโs neat destruction, the tanuki approaches me.
โAre you here to help too?โ
With those short limbs, probably not. Maybe he can fill the holes the heroโs been making in the ground?
โLord Yuhi! Allow me to help!โ
The boy comes over as well.
And wolf-kun, watching from behind! Does this count as child or animal labor? Should I go by actual age instead of appearance? Different species have different growth stages, after all.
โAlright then, could you remove the thatch from the roof? Iโll need to replace it later. If thatโs not possible, you could also hunt nearby magical beastsโIโd appreciate the materials. Iโll leave the decision to the tanuki.โ
The wolf-kun seemed to scare off the small magical creatures, so it should be manageable, right? Iโm not sure how strong he is, so pick whichever task is easier. The tanuki is a tanuki demon lord, so he should be good at giving orders.
Oh, but donโt wander into the traps Iโve set up, okay?