Higokumaru Feels Like Ants Are Crawling on Her Body

*Chapter 14:*

Higokumaru's limp tails pressed tightly against the ground as she tried to shrink herself smaller, wishing she could immediately dig a hole and bury herself in it.

Seeing Jiang Liang toss the fried tofu puff over, Higokumaru's gaze flickered away for a moment, but she still covered her head, not daring to look directly at him.

"Waaah ! D-Don't hit me with that sword ! I won't do it again, I promise ! Please let me go ! My meat isn't tasty, you can't sell it for much money, my fur isn't smooth enough, and I don't have any family to pay ransom !"

Higokumaru's voice was high-pitched and tearful, completely lacking the majesty of the fierce beast from before. She was the very picture of a poor little thing scared out of her wits.
While crying out, she covered her eyes with both hands but couldn't resist peeking through the gaps at Jiang Liang's reaction, terrified that the next second would bring a sword crashing down on her head.
Her appearance was truly enough to make onlookers weep and listeners grieve.

Jiang Liang's mouth twitched involuntarily. The contrast between her previous and current states was so vast that he momentarily didn't know what expression to make.

"Perhaps... the greatsword seems too aggressive. Put it away."
Jiang Liang tried shifting the greatsword slightly behind him, eventually reverting Judgment of Shamash back to its dual pistol form. While the effect of this action was limited, it at least conveyed the intention: I don't plan on attacking right now.

"She does seem quite pitiful. Jiang Liang, don't do those cruel things to her."
Stelle wiped the corner of her eye with a fingertip, then gently picked Higokumaru up. "And you, don't be so self-deprecating. You could definitely sell for a lot of money."

"Thank you, big sister !"
Higokumaru sniffled twice, then felt something wasn't quite right with Stelle's words. She looked up and met Stelle's gaze. "Eh?"

"I didn't misspeak. I feel like many people would like this kind of posable figure."
Stelle revealed a kind and amiable smile.

"Nooo ! I'll be good ! Are you a devil? !"
Higokumaru's eyes were full of accusation.

Stelle single-handedly tore open the bag of fried tofu puffs. The aroma of the soy product immediately wafted out.
"Nuh-uh, see? Soft, golden yellow, smells really fragrant, right? Really not having a piece? In a moment, you're going to be put inside to be pickled too. Consider this your last meal."
As Stelle spoke, she plucked a plump, juicy tofu puff from the bag and tried to stuff it into Higokumaru's mouth.

Higokumaru's pale eyes stared intently at the bag of golden yellow, wondrously sweet-smelling tofu puffs in Stelle's hand, then glanced at Jiang Liang standing nearby.
On one side, the gray-haired girl who wanted to pickle her. On the other, the familiar-looking, white-haired big brother who tossed her tofu puffs and put away his big sword when he saw she was scared.
After a moment's thought, Higokumaru struggled and lunged towards Jiang Liang.

"Boss, save me ! Boss ! Higokumaru is willing to be your ox and horse ! Save me, meow !"
At the very end, Higokumaru even actually pretended to be a cat and meowed.

"Little kid, calling someone 'Boss' just to survive... I despise you !"
Stelle sneered, then pretended to stuff Higokumaru into the tofu puff bag.

"Alright, alright, put her down."
Jiang Liang took the bag, picked out a piece, and held it to Higokumaru's mouth. "Try it. It's sweet."

Stelle released her grip. Higokumaru carefully observed Jiang Liang's movements through the gaps between her fingers.
That swaying tofu puff did indeed emit an enticing aroma, a scent she had never smelled before but instinctively felt might be delicious. Her nose twitched uncontrollably, and a faint gurgle sounded in her throat—perhaps from hunger, or perhaps from craving.
The fox didn't move, but her ears quietly perked up.

Seeing that Stelle also wasn't saying anything, Higokumaru took a tentative bite. Mmph ! The sweet juices instantly exploded in her mouth. The unique rich texture of the soy product mixed with just the right amount of sweetness made Higokumaru's eyes widen instantly.

Delicious ! It's too delicious ! This wonderful taste, never experienced before, instantly captivated her taste buds, making her temporarily forget her fear. In just two or three bites, she swallowed the tofu puff, then looked up eagerly at the bag in Jiang Liang's hand, her pale eyes filled with longing. Even her tails couldn't help but wag slightly.

Jiang Liang looked at the little fox whose attitude had done a complete 180, feeling no inner turmoil, even wanting to laugh a little.
Indeed, there's nothing a good meal can't solve. If there is, then make it two meals.

Seeing Higokumaru staring at the bag, he shook it slightly. "Want more? Sure. But first, you have to answer a few questions. Like, what exactly is this place? Why are you here?"

"Wu..." Higokumaru lowered her head, pawing at the air with small hands, murmuring softly,

"I... I don't know... I've always been here... This is my home... As for leaving... I don't know how to leave either... No one has ever been able to leave here..." Her voice grew smaller and smaller, eventually becoming almost inaudible. Clearly, her knowledge regarding these questions was limited. But she still couldn't help stealing glances at the tofu puff bag in Jiang Liang's hand, the craving in her eyes still intense.

Want to eat.
Not eating for even a second feels like ants crawling on my hands.

"Do you remember what happened earlier?"
Jiang Liang chose his words carefully, trying to bring up the conflict that almost turned Higokumaru to ash in a relatively gentle way.
He pointed to Judgment of Shamash at his waist. The dual pistols still emanated a faint pressure, making the little fox subconsciously shrink her neck.

"R-Remember... some..." Higokumaru's voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, tinged with timidity. "J-Just... that really scary, really hot big sword... struck... and then... then I felt my body hurt so much... like it was going to melt... everything went black... flew really far... and then I didn't know anything... Wait... when I felt something again... I found myself back like this..."

She paused, seemingly trying to recall something deeper, her small brow furrowing. "Before that... I don't think I was like this... My mind felt chaotic... full of anger... wanting to destroy... wanting to burn everything... When I saw you two walking over... I just felt really angry... wanted to burn you too... I couldn't control that feeling... like it wasn't me..."

"But... after being hit by that sword... although it hurt a lot and was really scary... my mind seemed to... clear up?... That feeling of wanting to destroy everything disappeared... and I changed back... changed back to how I am now... I also remembered... remembered my name is Higokumaru... not that big thing that only throws tantrums..."

After finishing, Higokumaru carefully glanced up at Jiang Liang, then quickly lowered her head again, adding softly, "I... I'm telling the truth... I'm sorry... I really didn't mean to attack you... I couldn't control myself back then..."

"You guys came in, which means you can leave, right? Boss ! Can I leave here with you? I'm very easy to raise ! Just one bag of fried tofu puffs a day is enough ! Please, please !"
Towards the end, Higokumaru started floating, circling around Jiang Liang, her tails brushing against his face, making it slightly itchy.

"I have no objection."
Stelle fished out a tofu puff and started eating it too.

"Then let's go."

-----

The distant, indistinct outline of the dilapidated village flickered a few times like a screen with bad signal, and then the scene before them switched rapidly. One second it was scorched earth filled with the smell of sulfur and ash; the next, they were back in the simply furnished yet familiarly lived-in train room.

The refreshing scent unique to a young girl reoccupied his senses. The universe outside the window remained deep and vast. The soft lighting inside the room dispelled the gloomy feeling brought by the Stigma Space.
Jiang Liang stretched his body, confirming he had returned completely.

At his feet, a small ball of white fur was timidly lying on the floor—it was indeed the little fox, Higokumaru, who had just been munching on tofu puffs in the Stigma Space.
He turned around, preparing to say something to Stelle who had just exited the space with him, but froze the next second.

The room door was open. March 7th was standing in the doorway, her small mouth slightly agape.