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The Fox Hole 84
🕑 Added 2025-04-16 22:00:55 +0000 UTCChapter 84:
– Haru –
I gazed down into the enormous crater I'd carved right into the heart of Tokyo. My foxfire had erased the entire Umbrella facility, along with several city blocks above it, leaving behind nothing but glowing embers, molten rubble, and scorched earth.
Did it make me feel a little better about nearly being vaporized by an antimatter bomb? Yeah, kinda. Explosions always cheer people up—at least they usually did for me. Still, I couldn’t shake the lingering sense of unease I felt after everything that just happened.
Alice gently bumped her shoulder against mine, her voice soft and concerned. "Hey, why the long face, Haru? We just kicked Umbrella's ass and blew up half their goddamn secret lair. I'd say that's a win."
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, my tails swishing restlessly behind me. "I just… got a bit too cocky down there, thinking there was nothing these assholes could possibly throw at us. I underestimated them."
Alice shook her head slowly, giving me a wry smile. "Come on. Technically, you weren't wrong. Even after taking a hit from the single most powerful weapon I've ever seen, you were back on your feet in less than a minute. You're way tougher than anything they had planned for."
I glanced down at the small red and gold flask now hanging comfortably at my hip, gently glowing with warm energy. The Flask of Crimson Tears. I could vividly recall that gentle, sad voice—the goddess who'd whispered to me in my dreams. Without her intervention, I might not have recovered from that explosion.
"Only because that goddess had my back," I muttered softly, more to myself than Alice. My eyes narrowed thoughtfully, my mind reaching into memories just beyond my grasp. Her name… I was certain I almost had it now. Something beginning with an R…
"Hey, Haru!" A familiar voice broke through my distracted thoughts. I blinked and turned around, watching with amusement as Ainz strode confidently toward us. His Guardians followed closely behind, their arms overflowing with bulging sacks and heavy crates of loot.
Ainz wore a triumphant grin, obviously pleased with himself. His bony wings shaking behind him in a way that looked happy.
"Looks like you guys had some fun," I commented with a smirk, eyeing their haul.
Ainz chuckled proudly, gesturing grandly toward his Guardians. "We hit the jackpot, Haru. Games, collectibles, boxed sets—everything we could possibly want! Now we just have to thoroughly cleanse it all with decontamination magic. Don’t want any nasty T-virus slipping back into our worlds."
I nodded appreciatively, letting out a relieved breath. "Yeah, no kidding. Last thing we need is for that shit to spread around my restaurant."
Before I could say anything more, Rimuru arrived with a casual stride and a smug expression plastered across his annoyingly cheerful face. He held his arms confidently crossed, eyes practically sparkling with excitement. "My slime body naturally purges away harmful viruses," he declared proudly. "So no worries about contamination on my end!"
I gave him a flat look, already guessing what he was about to brag about. "Let me guess—you managed to raid a whole bunch of historical museums?"
Rimuru nodded enthusiastically, eyes practically glowing. "Exactly! And now I have a huge assortment of rare Japanese artifacts—things Yasaka will absolutely love! Armor, katanas, scrolls, pottery, everything!"
I sighed deeply, massaging my forehead. Of course he'd succeeded. Now there was absolutely nothing stopping him from his insane attempt to court my mom. "Alright then," I muttered, resigned. "You know what? Go ahead, Rimuru. Give it your absolute best shot."
He pumped his fist victoriously in the air, clearly taking my exhausted comment as enthusiastic encouragement. "Hell yeah! Thanks, Haru! I'm gonna go visit her right now!" He spun eagerly, already forming a magical portal. "Wish me luck!"
"I'd really rather not…" I grumbled softly, shaking my head as Rimuru disappeared through his glowing portal. Alice let out a quiet chuckle beside me.
"That guy really doesn't give up, huh?" she asked with a smirk.
…
After everything that had gone down in Tokyo, flipping pancakes was exactly the kind of calming, mundane task I needed to ground myself.
I stood comfortably in front of the stove, humming quietly to myself, my tails swishing lazily behind me as I expertly flipped each golden pancake. They were turning out perfectly fluffy today—probably because I was in a good mood after personally reducing Umbrella’s biggest base to molten slag.
Sure, getting nuked by an antimatter bomb had kinda sucked, but all's well that ends well.
A light smile crept onto my face as I drizzled blueberries onto one batch and chocolate chips onto another. Victory pancakes deserved all the toppings. And after what we'd been through, these pancakes definitely counted as victory pancakes.
I glanced up from the stove and spotted Alice sitting at the expanded table alongside every single redhead in my life. Rias, Aela, Jane, Irene, Naruko, Sansa, Catelyn—they’d literally dragged the Stark mother daughter duo away from Winterhold to celebrate together. Seeing them all chatting happily made warmth spread through my chest.
I turned back to my cooking just in time to catch a loud, sniffly sob echoing dramatically from the bar counter.
Rimuru was sitting hunched over on a bar stool, tears streaming down his pale cheeks. The slime-turned-bishonen was bawling his eyes out, making loud, pitiful sobbing sounds that probably would’ve been hilarious if he didn’t look so genuinely heartbroken.
"Bwaaaaaaaa—! She… she said she wasn't looking for a committed relationship right now!" Rimuru wailed, slumping forward and burying his face into his arms dramatically.
Next to him, Ainz awkwardly patted his back, clearly trying his best to comfort Rimuru despite looking extremely uncomfortable about it. "There, there… It's alright, Rimuru," the newly ascended Undead God said soothingly, his deep voice sounding unsure. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. You're still a very impressive and respectable slime… person."
Agnar, seated on Rimuru's other side, wasn't even attempting subtlety. The tall Nord warrior was grinning widely, his thick arms crossed over his broad chest. He let out a loud laugh, clearly entertained by Rimuru's melodramatic suffering. "Hahaha, gods above, Rimuru," Agnar chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "The mighty conqueror of orc armies, brought down by one pretty fox lady. You've truly made my day, friend."
Rimuru raised his head to shoot Agnar an indignant glare through red-rimmed eyes. "She's not just any fox lady—she's Yasaka! Queen of Kyoto! The most beautiful Japanese woman I’ve ever seen! You just don't understand…!"
Agnar snorted and took another deep drink of his ale, completely unmoved. "Eh, can't say I do. I'm happily married, after all. Wouldn't trade my vampire wifey for anyone."
As they bantered, I glanced across the restaurant and caught Shion sitting with Benimaru, Shuna, and Souei at another table. Shion wore an ecstatic grin, and as our eyes briefly met, she discreetly pumped her fist in triumph. Clearly, Rimuru’s failed courtship with my mom was good news for her..
Honestly though, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't secretly glad my mom had decided against immediately jumping into anything serious. I wanted her to be happy, of course, but imagining Rimuru as my stepdad was still just… weird.
I finished flipping the last batch of pancakes onto their plates and carefully stacked them high. Pancakes piled, blueberries and chocolate chips glistening beautifully—I nodded to myself with satisfaction.
“Alright! Victory pancakes are up!” I called cheerfully, picking up several plates and balancing them easily on my arms and tails.
The girls at the expanded table cheered excitedly, all of them eagerly helping themselves as I set plates down in front of them.
As I turned away, a weak voice called to me from the bar counter. Rimuru was slumped over the wood, still miserably sniffling, looking up at me with pleading blue eyes. "Haru… can I have pancakes too?" His voice cracked with emotion.
I rolled my eyes, chuckling softly as I walked over. "Alright, alright. Don't die of heartbreak on my counter, Rimuru. Here you go." I placed a tall stack of chocolate-chip pancakes in front of him.
He sniffed loudly and immediately began to shovel them into his mouth, mood swinging dramatically from sobbing to eager pancake-eating. "Thanks, Haru…" he mumbled around a mouthful. "You're the best chef in all the worlds…"
I smirked. "Obviously."
…
Alice walked up to the counter, flashing me a sly, playful smile as she leaned against it casually. "Hey, Haru," she began sweetly, raising her empty syrup container and shaking it lightly, the glass clinking softly. "Can we get a refill on some victory syrup? We're celebrating pretty hard back there, and I'm afraid we've run dry."
I laughed, reaching beneath the counter and retrieving a fresh bottle.. "Here you go—take the whole thing and go wild," I told her.
Alice chuckled warmly, her fingers lingering gently over mine for just a second longer than necessary. "Oh, trust me, I'll make good use of this." Then her expression shifted slightly, more contemplative, and she glanced over her shoulder toward the table where the rest of the girls laughed and chatted.
Curious, I tilted my head and leaned forward slightly, elbows propped on the bar. "So… what are your plans now, Alice? I mean, now that you're officially done going back to your world?"
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching mine thoughtfully. "Honestly? I haven't really thought about it much," she admitted softly, tapping her fingers lightly against the syrup bottle. "I've been hanging around here unofficially as your security guard for a while, but…I don't think that’s what I want long-term. Don't get me wrong—I love your restaurant and everyone here—but..."
I nodded slowly, understanding perfectly. Alice was an incredible woman. She deserved something more fulfilling.
Before I could say anything, though, Jane Shepard strode up confidently beside Alice, flashing us both a wide grin.
"Don't worry, Haru," Jane declared cheerfully, sliding one arm warmly around Alice's shoulders and squeezing her affectionately. "I've already got this covered."
I raised an eyebrow, curious at Shepard’s confident tone. "Really?"
Jane's expression became a little more somber. "Well, as you know, the Normandy crew completed our mission—we finally stopped Saren. Saved the galaxy. All the hero stuff." Her voice grew a little quieter, tinged with sadness. "Problem is, now that the mission's finished… pretty much everyone is moving on. Most of my crew is splitting up, finding other opportunities, going home…"
I frowned sympathetically, genuinely sorry to hear that. Shepard had always spoken fondly of her crew, losing them all at once must have felt like losing part of herself. "Ah, shit. I'm sorry, Jane. That sucks."
She waved off my concern gently, her lips quirking into a smirk once more. "It's alright, Haru—because I'm recruiting new crew members, starting with Alice here." Jane squeezed Alice's shoulder again, grinning enthusiastically. "I've officially asked her to join me full-time aboard the Normandy. We'll cruise around the galaxy kicking alien asses and taking names. It’ll be badass!"
Alice smiled warmly. "You know that doesn’t sound half bad. I can go from shooting zombies to shooting space zombies." She gave Jane a playful hip-check.
I grinned, genuinely happy to see Alice excited about her future. Then, my smile faded slightly, concern creeping into my expression. If two of the women I cared about would be off exploring dangerous alien worlds together, then I wanted them to have every advantage possible.
I leaned forward a bit more seriously, meeting Jane's curious gaze directly. "You know… if you're really going to be out there risking your lives all the time, you might want to talk to Irene before you leave. I'm betting she could magically enhance your ship—make it tougher, boost your weapons, shields, or whatever else you might need out there."
Jane's eyes practically glowed with excitement at my suggestion. “Holy shit, that's brilliant, Haru!” Her entire face lit up with enthusiasm as she released Alice abruptly, spun around on her heels, and sprinted back toward the girls' table. "Irene, I need you!"
I watched with amusement as Jane grabbed Irene’s startled hand and practically dragged her across the room. Alice shook her head in playful exasperation, her smile affectionate as she watched Jane excitedly harass Irene for magical upgrades.
Beside me at the bar counter, Rimuru let out a loud, depressed sigh, resting his chin miserably on his folded arms. "You're so lucky, Haru," he groaned dramatically, his voice filled with exaggerated sorrow. "Your love life is going so well… Mine is a goddamn trainwreck."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head at him. I reached beneath the counter again, sliding him another towering stack of pancakes, dripping with chocolate chips. "Here, Rimuru. Have some extra pancakes. They'll help drown your sorrows."
He perked up immediately, tearing into the fresh stack eagerly. His mood shifted instantly from miserable heartbreak to pancake-fueled bliss. "Thanks, Haru," he mumbled gratefully around a huge bite, syrup dripping down his chin. "You're the best."
I smirked slightly, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, I know. Don't choke yourself now."
– Yasaka –
Yasaka let out a long, exhausted sigh, sinking back into the soft cushions of her private chambers. Her golden twelve tails, usually elegantly poised, now twitched irritably behind her in agitation.
Today had been one of those days when being a queen, future goddess, and mother all simultaneously seemed far too demanding.
Kunou had finally drifted off to sleep after hours of patient reassurance. Yasaka’s daughter came first, and if Rimuru’s feelings were genuinely hurt by her polite refusal, well, he was just going to have to deal with it. Despite showing up earlier with some–admittedly very nice gifts–Yasaka decided to temporarily turn him down. Maybe they’d see how things go in a few months or so but for now it was a no go.
That minor drama aside, the news that Haru had nearly been obliterated by some absurdly powerful human weapon had rapidly drained Yasaka’s remaining patience and composure. Her long, delicate fingers clenched into tight fists, claws lightly pressing into her palms.
How dare some pathetic mortal try to harm her precious boy!?
Even though he’d already been reduced to ash, Yasaka briefly wished that Wesker creature were still alive—just so she could personally introduce him to the true fury of a vengeful Kitsune mother…
And that wretched AI—the "Red Queen," as they called it—had better never show itself near her family again.
Still, despite the rage that simmered beneath her skin, Yasaka also felt an undeniable pang of worry. Haru was getting increasingly busy, and more power inevitably meant more dangerous responsibilities. Even though her son was strong—stronger than she’d ever dreamed he’d become at such a young age—it didn’t change the simple fact that he was still her child. She was proud, certainly, but she worried too. Perhaps it was time to slow things down, even if just for a little while.
Perhaps what their family truly needed was a break—a real vacation, away from the chaos of her son’s bustling interdimensional restaurant, the demanding supernatural politics of Kyoto, and whatever other ridiculous adventures Haru kept finding himself dragged into.
The only question was, where could they possibly go?
Kunou had recently developed a fascination with outer space, no doubt thanks to Jane Shepard’s dramatic stories about fighting galaxy-wide battles against space pirates and genocidal robots.
…No, definitely not yet. Kunou was far too adventurous for that particular vacation—at least until she grew a little older and developed some common sense.
The world of Pandora was briefly considered too—beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly lush—but the thought of encountering yet another group of greedy, manipulative humans quickly soured that idea as well. The humans there reminded her far too much of the vile Umbrella Corporation that had nearly killed Haru earlier today.
She tapped her finger thoughtfully against her chin, ears twitching slightly as she considered other potential destinations. There had to be someplace beautiful, peaceful, and safe—somewhere Haru could truly relax.
Then, a faint smile spread slowly across Yasaka’s lips. Perhaps it was finally time to properly explore Westeros.
Haru had barely spent any quality time with his betrothals, Sansa Stark, and her mother, Catelyn Stark, lately.
Yasaka was quite fond of both women herself—especially the dignified, intelligent Lady Stark—and knew they’d probably welcome a visit. It was a good opportunity to strengthen the bonds between Haru and his ever-growing entourage of romantic partners. Her son had accumulated a surprisingly diverse harem of impressive young women. It was remarkable they got along as well as they did currently, but Yasaka was no fool. Eventually, relationships inevitably grew complicated—especially among supernatural beings with intense, passionate natures.
It was essential to build a strong, healthy foundation from the very beginning, long before the inevitable storms ever threatened. A little dedicated quality time would undoubtedly do wonders for everyone involved.
Decision made, Yasaka nodded to herself. Tomorrow morning, she’d march directly into the Fox Hole and personally drag Haru away from his beloved restaurant—kicking and screaming, if necessary. He could surely spare a few short days away peacefully with his family.
XXX
Westeros will be totally peaceful…right? Right? Surely no insane humans will try and fuck with an overpowered Kitsune family on vacation…
Comments
Cmols897
speaking as someone who only watched the first season and has no idea who he actually gets with if anyone Rimuru either didn't notice with the Oni or choose to no respond to them at that time due to other complications rising up for him to deal with
Ototsu_Yume
Kinda curious if asoiaf world has a fantasy Japan in there somewhere since they already have a fantasy China with Yi Ti, kind of fantasy Australia with those shadowlands too.
WhatAFungi
Rimiru complaining about Haru having a love life is so funny to me. Doesn’t he have like 2 hot Oni chicks and like 6 elf girls that all want his dick? Is he stupid or does he just have a kitsune fetish? Thanks for the chapter! (I hope more of your worm fic is on the way.)
Jeff Roy
Who is the next Red Headed waifu going to be? I vote for Jessica Rabbit. The original Drawing all these other girls are modeled on.
Meepers Jeepers
I’m glad Rimiru didn’t get together with Haru’s mom that would be far too weird besides he already has his own harem back in tensura
The Milf Emperor
The woman with the luck devil fruit is a hot redhead
ya_smerti
Most of shepherds crew are military, only the "contractors" would be going. A magically buffed Normandy is going to be funny as shit.
Meruem Astro
What red-haired waifus we had in one piece?
