"Rice, huh."
After finishing her rice ball, Akai sipped her green tea—a high-end product she had carefully selected in anticipation of Inari's visits, and which happened to perfectly match Inari’s tastes. Setting the empty cup aside, Akai muttered, "Rice..."
Seeing her calculating expression, Inari tilted her head and asked.
"Art thou planning to start farming or sosuch?"
Inari had co to understand Akai Rina well enough by now to think that it wouldn’t be surprising if she really tried it.
"That sounds fun too, but agriculture is a completely different line of work from FoxPhone, after all. Of course, if you wished it, Miss Kogami, I wouldn't be against considering it."
"I have no such wish. I do love rice, but I have never thought of cultivating it myself, no."
"I was thinking, sothing tied to your fox image like Kitsunebi or Inari would actually sell pretty well."
"Cease such notions at once…"
If Inari gave even a slight nod here, Akai looked ready to seriously pursue it. So Inari firmly repeated, "I said nay! I do not need it, dost thou hear?"
Only then did Akai finally make a face like she was giving up, letting out a long, exaggerated "Ehh…" Even so, she still looked extrely dissatisfied and unconvinced. Inari, anwhile, honestly couldn't understand why Akai was so eager to start sothing like that.
"Thou dost look sorely displeased…"
"Because it would definitely sell! Kitsunebi rice! If we printed a photo of you, Miss Kogami, holding a bundle of rice on the packaging, the sales would be incredible."
"Thou hast already decided upon the na…! And leaving that aside, naming rice after fire seems most inappropriate."
"Then I'll reconsider that part before next ti."
"Thou dost let the conversation flow thy way most skillfully, dost thou not…"
"Also, thinking about it more, we could just fra it as a joint project."
It seed she really wanted to do this—her eyes were sparkling. Seeing that, Inari found herself unable to flatly refuse. Well, it wasn't as though Inari had any strong reason to oppose it either. Considering the long history of rice cultivation, a new variety appearing at this point likely would not make much difference... probably.
"Hey, hey, Miss Kogami. May I proceed with it?"
"Hmm... Do as thou wish."
"Yay, thank you so much! I'll draft a project proposal right away!"
Well, considering that Inari was the mascot for FoxPhone, perhaps this would also be counted as work... maybe. Incidentally, the rchandise FoxPhone had been selling featuring Inari was reportedly doing very well, often selling out. Inari had heard that there were plenty of new product ideas being pitched too, but she largely left all of that to others and kept out of it.
"By the way, Miss Kogami."
"Hm?"
"The other day, I received a detailed report from the Awakener Association... well, addressed to , about the 'incident' at Tokyo Dungeon No. 1."
The "incident" at Tokyo Dungeon No. 1 or Tokyo’s First Dungeon. It was an event involving the clan Echigo Trading Company and the entity referred to as the Bearer of Endless Agony and Delight—a so-called "god." Given the enormous societal impact that would co from publicly disclosing the existence of such beings, the information had been kept confidential. However, because Akai was the master of the FoxPhone clan and served as a kind of public shield for Inari, she had been given a degree of access to the details.
"It seems the Awakener Association doesn't believe there is only one 'god' involved."
"That doth make sense. I spoke not of eight million, but even System said naught of there being only one."
"Honestly, I get the feeling they're hiding even more... but digging too deep would be terrifying."
"Aye. There is no need to court danger."
Inari had considered that possibility too. Gods—or beings akin to gods. If such entities existed, assuming that the Bearer of Endless Agony and Delight was the only one would be both pessimistic and naive. Of course there would be others, and it would not be surprising if so of them, holding less malevolent intentions, were already involved with humanity.
As for Inari herself, she had no plans—at least for now—to actively seek them out. If a god like the Bearer of Endless Agony and Delight were to appear before her again, she might confront them head-on. But otherwise, it would be beyond her ans to handle on her own.
“The Awakener Association seems disinclined to spread fear about this matter. Which suggesteth there may be 'sothing' involved behind the scenes. They say one ought not poke a sleeping snake—but if 'tis a god that awaketh instead, then we are surely outmatched.”
Still... She needed to continue strengthening herself. Leveling up in dungeons and collecting magic stones remained necessary. After all, without being all-powerful, one could only do what one could.
“Speaking of which... wasn't there a dungeon in Saitama, next to Tokyo? Mayhap I should pay it a visit.”
As Inari mused, recalling her previous trip to Akabane, an employee suddenly burst into the room in a flurry.
"Rep-Representative! Quick, turn on the TV!"
"Huh? What is it now?"
Following the urgency, Akai turned on the television—only to find that a comrcial was playing.
—After all, it’s the age of high performance! There's no need to give up on the features you want! With Lion Telecom, you can have it all! Radiate majesty! Command the presence of a king! If you want the Awakener Phone, go with Lion Telecom!—
Onscreen, a girl appeared, dancing energetically. Visually, she looked a little older than Inari. Dressed in gear that clearly evoked the image of a lion, the martial artist-like girl was apparently Lion Telecom's new mascot.
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