Please, My Fox Spirit Kannushi

A light novel popular in Inazuma. It tells of a useless Shogun and an all-capable fox-spirit kannushi, a sister work to I Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun and Became Unrivaled—not by the same author; their greatest shared trait is that both are hugely popular.

"Welcome home, Your Excellency!"

Yae Masako in red-and-white miko garb knelt humbly before me; fluffy fox ears trembled slightly, and under the ears was that face gazed up at by tens of thousands.

"You're back. How went the patrol of the realm I asked half a month ago?"

"Ah—I shouldn't ask about work the moment you're home. As usual then—first meal? First bath? Or…"

"Hey, what do you mean 'as usual'! I've never said that cliché homecoming line before."

Hearing my reply, the red-and-white figure smiled with satisfaction: "Because you look low on energy. Then I'll keep cooking—today's your favorite Butter Crab!"

"Yay! Butter Crab, Butter Crab!"

I, the Raiden Shogun, say "Yay!" more than anything else! Eat Butter Crab more than anything else, see most often… uh, broadly speaking, my life has only two kinds of people: passersby, and the owner of those fluffy ears and soft voice.

Yae Masako, kannushi of the Grand Narukami Shrine, heir of the fox bloodline, attendant and friend of "Eternity"… titles so many they're hard to remember; to the people of Narukami she is almost as unapproachable and unfathomable as I.

And that same Yae Masako was right now watching the Butter Crab roast with relish.

Yes—to put it more simply, I, the Raiden Shogun, am being kept by kannushi Yae Masako.

I don't know when I got used to this life.

Even if I draw a sword and swing a few times, she claps with zest: "Good child, good child." Even if I want something to eat while reading I Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun, she swiftly brings delicious milk tea and cake. Like upholding Eternity, she carefully kills every chance of worry before it enters her sight. To me she is like the fox spirit of legend, fulfilling every wish.

"Butter Crab is ready~ Before you enjoy it, though—same question: the patrol…"

Masako turned, set down steaming Butter Crab; fragrance flowed through the room. But I could not answer her. Honestly, this was the root of my foul mood today.

As I said, in my world there is only Masako, and everyone else.

Except for Masako, everyone who sees me reacts the same: at once they prostrate respectfully, call "Your Excellency," and only after I walk far do they long exhale and straighten.

Whether that person is someone's wife, father, lover, hero, superior, or servant—before me they only show one face, which people call respect and awe for the Shogun.

But they don't know I fear that face too. Anyone would fear it: millions of people, all showing you only the same face.

That is why I depend so much on Masako.

That is why I cannot refuse her requests. Though I cannot do it, if she tells me to go out and work, I go out.

Yet I truly don't know how to face those ten thousand same faces—don't want to, cannot. As long as I can avoid contact with them, being called a useless Shogun is fine.

But even willingly playing the useless Shogun, questions from Masako cannot be avoided.

"Why don't you speak, Your Excellency? Could it be… today was the same—you only walked out the Tenshukaku gate, did nothing, and came back at dusk?" Masako's voice held not a thread of negative feeling, and precisely for that I knew even less how to answer.

"Very well—rest well. I still have things to do; I'll handle them first. Remember to finish the Butter Crab." Masako turned and left the room.

Somehow, today's Butter Crab had no taste at all.

Soon I knew the answer.

The Shogun is invincible under heaven—but the invincible Shogun can still be felled by a cold.

Not long after finishing the Butter Crab I collapsed on the bed; my head hurt, but that was nothing—for me a graver matter had arisen:

Normally I could pillow on Masako's knee and fall asleep to her song.

But today Masako did not appear. The palace was cold, my forehead burning, the Shogun's bedside empty.

She has her own business; she is not only my fox spirit but the shrine's kannushi.

Perhaps she is angry now—or wondering whether I, who only say "Yay!" all day, am worth so much of her energy?

With that doubt I sank into sleep.

I dreamed. In the dream Masako still wore her signature smile, tea bowl in hand.

"This is a drink I specially mixed, called 'Purple Aster Cloud-Rainbow.' I just went to Ritou and bought some Mondstadt Dandelions, plus mint—drink it and your cold will get better."

Perhaps because it was a dream, I hadn't strength enough to sit up.

"Ah, Your Excellency can't rise. Then allow me this discourtesy." In a way I would never dare imagine even in dreams, she fed me the "Purple Aster Cloud-Rainbow."

I woke with a start—that scene was utterly beyond my imagination; Masako should still be angry at my neglect of state affairs.

Only… why was the corner of my mouth sweet?