After receiving these memories, Yuuko fell into contemplation.
At the same time, thanks to these memories, he learned more about the events of five hundred years ago.
The attack by the Abyssal Monsters five hundred years ago could truly be described as despair for Inazuma.
Where the Dark Army engulfed everything, survival was impossible.
The one who sacrificed herself was not just Kitsune Saiguu; many, many Inazuman warriors were swallowed up in that battle.
After contemplating for a long time again, Yuuko finally moved.
He walked toward the exit of the cave.
It didn't take long before he left the bottomless cave.
Yuuko's next destination was Chinju Forest... At this moment, inside Chinju Forest.
Ioroi was muttering to himself there:
"Thinking back now, those two humans were indeed very strange, both wearing fox masks..."
"And the human wearing the yellow fox mask gave off a very dangerous feeling..."
Speaking of this, Ioroi tried to cover his tracks:
"Nuo... Of course, it's not that this venerable one is afraid of him, I'm just purely curious about his identity..."
"If that human comes again next time, this venerable one will definitely let him witness the might of Gogyozo the Tanuki!"
Ioroi had just finished speaking.
A voice came from behind him: "You said you want to let me witness your might?"
Behind Ioroi, a figure had appeared at some unknown time.
That person was wearing a white fox mask on their face.
That person was none other than Yuuko, who had just completed the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual.
Yuuko's sudden appearance gave Ioroi a huge fright.
"Eek! Who! Who! Who!"
This silly fool was as foolish as ever... Yuuko sighed helplessly, walked up to Ioroi, and lamented, "I came to see you, Ioroi."
Only after Ioroi clearly saw Yuuko's appearance did he calm down:
"What the heck! It's you! Don't suddenly appear behind me and scare me, nuo!"
After speaking, Ioroi said suspiciously, "Huh, why do I feel like you've changed somehow?"
"What's different... Nuo! This venerable one understands! It's your appearance and temperament!"
"The feeling you give off is more like that Stinky Fox, nuo, and as for the change in appearance... you changed your mask!"
Hearing these words, Yuuko remained silent and did not immediately reply.
Having obtained some of Kitsune Saiguu's memories, Yuuko now understood.
The 'Stinky Fox' Ioroi constantly talked about was Kitsune Saiguu, who had died five hundred years ago.
And Ioroi had been staying here all this time, waiting for Kitsune Saiguu to return because of their original bet.
After a long time, Yuuko spoke:
"Ioroi, if the seal on you is ever lifted in the future, what will you do? Will you go straight to settle the score with Kitsune Saiguu?"
"Huh, why does your tone suddenly sound different, nuo... Never mind."
Ioroi said puffing out his cheeks:
"Of course! That Stinky Fox is truly infuriating, nuo! If the seal couldn't be broken, this venerable one would have gone to settle the score with her long ago! She tricked this venerable one for so many years!"
After speaking, Ioroi added:
"Nuo... Actually, this venerable one can break this mere seal myself, but I just don't want to break it. This venerable one, Gogyozo the Tanuki, will not be restricted by this trivial seal."
This Ioroi was as concerned about saving face as ever... However, Yuuko didn't complain this time.
Yuuko thought for a moment and said, "Ioroi, Kitsune Saiguu entrusted me to bring you a message."
As soon as these words were spoken, Ioroi immediately became energetic, his tone extremely excited:
"Stinky Fox? Is that Stinky Fox finally willing to come out, nuo!?"
"Nuo nuo nuo~ Is that Stinky Fox coming over to admit defeat to this venerable one?"
"I told you long ago that Stinky Fox is no match for this venerable one. She's still too young to compete with me in sorcery!"
After speaking, Ioroi continued to let out strange laughter: "Nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo~"
Yuuko shook his head and sighed, "No, Kitsune Saiguu said... the bet she made with you before doesn't count."
"Nuo?" Ioroi paused slightly, then became furious, shouting and yelling nonstop:
"How can that Stinky Fox be like this! She's going back on her word! She clearly knew she was going to lose, so she made up an excuse not to acknowledge it!"
Yuuko shook his head again and explained:
"Don't worry, Kitsune Saiguu also said that next, she wants to have one last confrontation with you, the ultimate showdown."
"All previous wins and losses won't count. If you win against her in the end, she will admit how formidable you, Ioroi, are."
"If you lose to her in the end, it means you, Ioroi, are incompetent, and she will mock you thoroughly afterward."
When Yuuko said this, Ioroi didn't get angry; instead, he calmed down:
"Nuo? This suggestion... seems pretty good, nuo... If the previous wins and losses don't count, then all the times this venerable one lost to that Stinky Fox in sorcery also..."
Halfway through his sentence, Ioroi realized he had let slip a secret and quickly changed his words:
"Nuo! This venerable one has never lost to that Stinky Fox before! In past sorcery battles, this venerable one won most of the time!"
"Nuo... Since that Stinky Fox insists on a final decisive confrontation, this venerable one, Gogyozo the Tanuki, will naturally be merciful and agree!"
"So, what kind of sorcery competition does that Stinky Fox want to have?"
Facing this question, Yuuko was silent for a long time before speaking:
"Kitsune Saiguu's final bet with you is a competition of patience."
Ioroi asked doubtfully, "A competition of patience?"
Yuuko nodded:
"Yes, this time Kitsune Saiguu wants to compete with you to see whose temperament is steadier."
"After this, neither of you should inquire about the other, nor seek the other out. You must pretend you don't know each other at all."
"The first one whose patience runs out will be considered the loser."
Hearing this, Ioroi immediately let out a strange laugh:
"Nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo! That Stinky Fox's ultimate showdown with this venerable one is just this? Nuo nuo nuo nuo nuo! Then she's definitely going to lose, nuo!"
Yuuko fell silent again, and when he spoke, his tone had become very bitter:
"Kitsune Saiguu also said that the loser will be a complete coward, a total weakling, unworthy of the name Ioroi."
Facing such provocation, Ioroi immediately became enraged:
"Nuo! That Stinky Fox really dares to say that! This time, this venerable one absolutely cannot lose again, nuo!"
Looking at the agitated Ioroi, Yuuko shook his head and let out a heavy sigh.
He then turned around, preparing to leave.
"Are you going back?" Seeing Yuuko about to leave, Ioroi sounded reluctant.
Yuuko turned his head and smiled:
"Yes, I have other matters to attend to, but..."
"If this forest is troubled by monsters in the future, I will come to help."
Ioroi didn't stop him, but said:
"Take a message back to that Stinky Fox, tell her that this venerable one forgives her for the last incident, but this time, I will definitely defeat her honorably! She should watch closely!"
Yuuko paused for a long time before nodding.
Following that, he waved his hand, turned, and departed into the distance.
Thus, yet another bet that could never truly end had begun.
-------------------------------
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