My flesh trembled violently, and my soul let out a scream.
Gods were beings far too removed from humanity. Setting aside their true existence, even if they were merely Phantoms — the being I had once encountered possessed a majesty that made it unmistakably divine at a single glance.
The fact that even a miserable wretch like me had managed to endure standing before one back then — the fact that a pathetic bottom-feeder like me had kept his sanity — was solely because I was accustomed to the fear of death.
For a creature whose rank scraped the very bottom of existence, gods and lesser gods, dragons and lesser dragons — none of them were all that different.
The Treasure Hall was terrifying, and that went beyond just the Lost Inn. And so, I had managed to avoid making an enemy of that god.
And now, unlike before, I could stand before a god — because I was comfortable.
It had the form of a fox, gleaming white. Compared to the sheer enormity of its presence, its physical body was far too small. Still, it was roughly the size of a dragon — but its body was probably packed dense with power. Behind it, several thick, luminous tails fanned out.
It was a beast. A beast, but a god. Its appearance felt utterly unreal.
Defeating it was impossible. Even with Rouk and the others, it would be impossible. This was not a being humans could overcome.
"OOOOH... Greedy one... Do you challenge me once more...?"
Would the Barrier Ring even work against a god? I'd never been attacked by one, so I couldn't know — but there was no point thinking about it. If it came to blows, I'd die regardless.
It wasn't something to boast about, but when it came to the number of landmines I'd stepped on, I was second to none.
Its eyes were glowing. Staring into them, I felt myself losing my sanity, so I quickly averted my gaze — but thinking that alone might be rude, I boldly prostrated myself on the spot.
The god slammed its tail against the floor with a sharp crack. The air itself trembled from just that.
"I had no intention of coming here again."
"What nonsense...?"
It truly was nonsense. A Treasure Hall flying through the sky — normally, you wouldn't encounter one by chance.
But here I was, encountering one in reality. Who in their right mind would willingly visit a death trap a second time? But, of course, I couldn't say that to a transcendent being. This was different from snapping back at Gaark. Help me.
The fox god spoke to me as I groveled. Its voice was heavy and solemn.
"Do you remember my words?"
I hadn't remembered a single thing, but the tall fox-masked one had briefed me. I rummaged through my memory and answered in a respectful voice.
"That we would never meet again."
"That you would never encounter me again while alive."
...That was the same thing. What was the difference? Before I could voice my complaint — restrained by my weak position — the god spoke.
Its voice, strangely, seeped right into my heart.
"This... is not an encounter."
Not an encounter? No, this was definitely an encounter. What was it talking about...?
No, wait... I see. Of course.
I raised my head while still prostrate. Today, I was — sharp.
In this Treasure Hall, Phantoms could not lie. But, unfortunately, the Phantom before me had just told a lie. And so, it was trying to recover somehow.
In other words, to curry favor, all I had to do was affirm it.
I showed my lack of hostility with a smile and spoke clearly.
"You're absolutely right — this isn't an encounter. I came here to see you!"
§ "Ah... he came out."
The door opened. I stumbled outside.
Even though we had only just parted, Klyus's voice felt like it had been far too long since I'd heard it. Humans really were the best. Dealing with gods was no good. The power of the Treasure Weapon kept me comfortable, but it didn't erase the tension.
Klyus supported my swaying shoulder. Then, noticing what I was gripping in my hand, her eyes went wide.
"W-what... what is that?"
"Yeah... is it there?"
What I was holding was a gleaming white tail. Genuinely the one that had grown on the boss. It shrank the moment it was pulled out, so it had been considerably larger when still attached...
It was nearly identical to the one I'd obtained last time. I'd said I didn't want it, yet it had been forced on me again. The previous tail, I'd attached to the end of a stick like a broom and given to Lucia — but what was I supposed to do with this one? I wanted to just throw it somewhere.
"I-I don't want it! Stop! Don't bring it near me!"
From Klyus's perspective, it clearly wasn't just an ordinary tail — she let out a piercing shriek.
Who exactly was a tail supposed to be a gift for?
I'd been told this tail was a mass of power. But as for what I was actually supposed to do with it, I had absolutely no idea.
The tall fox mask pursed its lips briefly and spoke, looking displeased.
"So Mother has lost after all...?"
"No, I don't think that's the case. I can't claim to understand what a god is thinking, but..."
I surrendered. I prostrated myself. There had never been any chance of winning from the start.
I was the type to go with the flow from the start. I'd played by their rules and shown them respect.
And yet, despite all that, the god had somehow taken offense.
Apparently... the fact that someone as hopelessly bottom-tier as me could stand before it had been a bother. What should I have done instead?
"...That is a life. Regardless of the circumstances, Weakling, you've won."
A life...? This tail was a life? That boss had twelve tails growing on it. One was here now, so eleven remained.
"...So if I do this eleven more times, I can defeat it?"
"...Would you like to try?"
The fox mask smiled. At that expression, Klyus — who had been supporting my shoulder — quickly ducked behind my back, nearly tripping.
...The question had just slipped out, that's all.
"I have no intention of coming here again. So, what happens to the airship?"
Last time, I'd been released on the spot, but this time the airship was caught up in it.
At my question, the fox mask sighed.
"We have a rule requiring us to safely release Weakling. Your so-called airship will be restored as well. Honestly, I'd love to destroy a vehicle that followed you all the way up here, but that's not how it works."
Oh? Ohhh?
It seemed like things would work out after all. The Phantoms of this Treasure Hall could not lie.
I'd had a rough time, but to encounter the Lost Inn and come out of it with only this much — I really was lucky in the strangest of ways.
I let out a sigh of relief. The next moment, the fox mask wore a cruel smile.
"However, the only one we will safely release is Weakling. We have no intention of releasing the others."
What... did it just say?
That was... extremely problematic. My own life and Rouk and the others' lives were my top priority, but that didn't mean I thought everyone else deserved to die.
This mission was a bodyguard job. If I returned the tail, maybe they'd let it slide...
"This is — a rule. You entered the inn. If I don't collect payment, Mother will scold me. Now, then — Klyus Argent."
Klyus peeked out from behind my back. But the hand gripping my shirt was trembling.
The fox mask spoke in a near-whisper. It was a gentle voice — which was precisely what made it terrifying.
"If you wish to be released — I'll take the thing you cherish most..."
Klyus's most cherished thing... what was it?
We were in the sky. Her Party members and Spiritfolk companions weren't here. The demand this fox mask was making was heavier than prostration, but it wasn't unfair — it was, in fact, fair. After all, it excluded one's own life and anything not present.
If I were in Klyus's position, I was confident I could hand over just about anything without hesitation. Even if asked for the Barrier Ring... well, I'd hand it over.
And then, I realized.
We had the Emperor. If told to hand over the Emperor, I'd be in serious trouble. The mission would fail, and even setting that aside, I'd be hunted down by Zebuldia.
The Emperor wasn't here — so maybe he couldn't be taken? That was ridiculous. The fox mask's negotiation was fair. There was no way it would exclude what could be collected.
The catch was that everything except your own life was fair game. It was a rather ruthless rule.
Klyus said nothing. She simply tightened her grip on my clothes and glared at the fox mask.
The fox mask was silent for a moment, then quickly pressed its lips into a thin, troubled line.
It hesitantly opened its mouth.
"This is... a real puzzle, Klyus Argent. I can't collect from Weakling. I'm required to release him safely."
"...What?"
What was this fox talking about?
Before I could blurt it out, Klyus — plastered against my back — cried out in a shaking voice.
"Wh-what?! What are you saying, you fox?!"
...She was thinking the same thing I was. We were on the same wavelength.
"I'm saying I can't take your most cherished thing. He is protected by the rules."
"M-me, cherishing... Weakling, the most?! There's no way that's true!"
"No, I'm certain. Trying to deny it is useless. I... can read people's hearts. Whether you're aware of it or not doesn't matter. You cherish Weakling, and Weakling has no sense of danger at all."
Klyus sprang away from my back with great force. Her face was flushed crimson all the way to her ears, and her tightly clenched fists had gone white.
Don't flinch... so Klyus had thought of me as important.
"Ugh, don't look so happy about it! It's only because Lapis and the others aren't here!"
"...Above the Emperor, even?"
After all those times being called "Weakling, Weakling"... where on earth had I earned those points? The same Clan bonus?
Klyus was trembling, face bright red, pounding the floor with her fist.
The fox mask wore a contemplative expression for a while, then sighed and spoke.
"I suppose there's no helping it... Weakling. I'll take your cherished thing. But this is a major violation of the rules. In exchange — why don't I release you and all of Weakling's companions?"
...So it was coming to this. Convenient, or perhaps not... but just to be safe, I had to confirm one thing.
"What if my most cherished thing turned out to be Klyus, or the Emperor?"
"!?"
Klyus, face still crimson, choked on her breath. The fox mask shrugged.
"Then there's nothing I can do. I lose — I'll release your companions. It's a fair deal."
I was certain of my victory. Until a moment ago, being asked for my most cherished thing wouldn't have brought anything to mind, but now my heart was shaken by Klyus's words.
Actually, it was Klyus. Klyus was the most cherished. Sorry, but the Emperor came in second. I guess I was unfit to be a bodyguard.
No, wait... and that was when I realized.
Was this all a scheme by the fox mask before me?
What the fox mask wanted to collect — it was undoubtedly this tail. And that was exactly why it had known it would come up empty and made the deal with Klyus, wasn't it?
But as things stood, we both lost. This tail was apparently a mass of magical power that would unleash tremendous force if deployed properly, but I couldn't care less about a tail. In this state, they wouldn't take it off my hands.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and prayed.
My most cherished thing is this tail. This tail is the most important thing. Far more important than Klyus. Well, maybe not far more... just a little more important.
It was relatively rare, and I did like its lustrous sheen. I also liked how attaching it to my rear made fox ears sprout — though Lucia had punched me when she saw those ears.
Steeling my resolve, I opened my eyes. The fox mask wore the same troubled expression as before.
...It seemed the tail hadn't worked after all.
And then the fox mask spoke clearly.
"I see. What Weakling cherishes most is... 'a carpet,' it seems. ...I know I'm one to talk, but are you out of your mind?"