The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 54 - 50-50 or 5-95 Chance?

Chapter Fifty Four

A-K-I-R-A.

"Akira?" My blood froze in my veins as I looked up at her in confusion. That was the name of the Kitsune in the book in my past life.

No... Could it be the name... She’s actually the daughter of a Kitsune. There’s too much coincidence for it to be just labelled as coincidence anymore.

"Do you know your father’s name, Lune?"

I watched as she shook her head, slowly before staring at me with teary eyes.

Ugh... I can’t directly ask her if her mother is a Kitsune. She doesn’t even know her father’s name. She doesn’t know about their whereabouts.

Such a headache...

What to do? What to do?

Wait... If she’s really Kitsune’s daughter shouldn’t she be a SSS Rank character? Sysi?

[Ping!]

[She’s not a SSS Rank Character, Host. Even if she is. We can’t say for sure. The black magic is creating a variable and we can’t precisely calculate her potential. If you break her curse, we can figure that part out. But, for now we can’t call her a SSS Rank character.]

Hmm...I see. Lemme try another way in that case.

"Lune, have you ever seen your mom?"

The fox kin shook her head yet again as a sigh passed my lips.

No luck, it seems. There’s a high chance she’s Kitsune’s daughter. But, also a chance she’s not.

I don’t think anyone will cast black magic on a random fox kin.

[Ping!]

[People are petty. They can. Plus fox kin’s have this ughh... beautiful body. It would make sense if the curse was cast by a man because she refused to sleep with him or something. And, even if that isn’t the case, fox kins have a lot of people hunting them either way.]

I see... So, it’s 50-50?

[Ping!]

[What Host has read is a mythological tale... it could be someone from the fox kin named her like that and her mother was named like that. To simply conclude she’s daughter of a Kitsune because two names match doesn’t seem reasonable. Plus, this is a different world, Host. Basically, it’s a 5-95 chance.]

Hmmm...

"Master!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Kaelen’s voice cut through the hut, sharp and far too energetic for my current mood.

Where does he get all this energy from, Sysi?

[Ping!]

[He’s a man in his prime while Host is living his second life.]

I guess... I really just want to sleep while money keeps increasing in my vault without me having to do anything.

I sighed as I closed my eyes in frustration.

"What is it, Kaelen?" I asked, still crouched, my attention lingering on the scared foxkin in front of me.

"Please hurry up!" Kaelen urged, making me want to rip off the speaker in his throat. "Everyone is ready. The supplies are packed and the perimeter has been checked. We can start moving towards the fief with the refugees."

I rubbed my eyes with my other hand as a yawn passed my lips.

"I got it," I replied lazily. "You start leading. I’ll join in a bit."

There was a brief pause on the other side of the door.

"...Okay, Master."

Crunch. Crunch.

His footsteps retreated, boots thudding against the earth outside until the sounds blended back into the noise of a moving camp.

Silence returned.

I exhaled slowly and shifted my gaze back to Lunethrix.

She was watching me closely now with her ears upright, tail wrapped tightly around her leg.

Adorable. She’s not as cute as Lily but she’s definitely adorable.

"We’re leaving. I’m leaving," I said calmly. "Somewhere safer, Lune."

Her ears flicked as her doe eyes snapped in my direction full of confusion.

"Krrh?"

"My estate," I clarified, keeping my hand still. "My house. Do you want to come with me?"

"Krrh..."

I let out a quiet breath and gestured toward the door. "I know it’s frightening out there. There will be people. Humans." I paused, weighing honesty against reassurance. "Some will stare. A few might whisper. I can’t really stop that, Lune."

Her claws curled into the floorboards, leaving shallow grooves.

Poor fox.

"But," I continued, my voice cooling as I offered her a smile, "no one is allowed to touch you. No one is allowed to speak to you without your consent. If someone does—" I met her eyes, unblinking. "—you tell me."

My statement earned a reaction from her as her gaze sharpened, pupils narrowing, though her furry ears drooped again soon after.

I tilted my head slightly, trying to understand what was going on in her life brain. "Or... are you planning to stay here alone?"

"Kkrhh..."

Figures.

A sigh left my lips as my shoulders slumped while I watched the fox kin wrap her tail further around her.

"Lune," I said quietly, the fatigue bleeding through now, "this hut isn’t safety. It’s a pause. You can’t hide here forever."

I crouched lower so we were level. "The woods aren’t kind to someone in your condition. You don’t remember your family neither do you know where they are. You’re carrying a curse that hasn’t finished rooting itself yet. Leaving you behind would be negligence. Whoever who put that curse on you and took your voice will come back to find you."

[Ping!]

[Why is Host being so nice this time?]

Whaaaa- What do you mean, Sysi? I’m always nice.

[Ping!]

[We’ve never seen Host be nice for no reason.]

You don’t trust me, Sysi? That hurts.

[Ping!]

[Just spit it out.]

Well, foxkin have really good fashion sense. Plus, they have seduction ability and are really good at music. All in all she’s useful for the fief’s development. Plus, Lily could use a playmate.

[Ping!]

[Why is Host giving roundabout answers?]

I don’t know myself, Sysi. That black magic... I don’t know why it feels familiar. I have to investigate it. That’s why I need her to come to the dukedom with me.

And... I wanna hold onto that 5 percent chance.

[Ping!]

[Host doesn’t understand. It’s too risky for a five percent chance. Whether she’s the daughter of a Kitsune or not, the fact remains that she’s cursed by a dark mage. But if host wishes to proceed then who are we to say otherwise? He can do as he w— ]

[Beep.]

...Sysi? Are you okay?

...

Sysi? You’re being very unreasonable. Can’t you atleast finish what you’re saying before realising you’re jealous?

...

Ugh! First, Kaelen. Now, Sysi. Why are they being so annoying?

I turned my attention back to Lunethrix as I straightened slightly.

"I’m not asking you to trust me and stay with me forever," I said, voice low. "Just long enough to survive. Till I get your voice back, Lune."

"Krrrhh..."

Her furry ears trembled as her eyes kept switching glances between me and the floorboard.

"You come with me," I continued, unhurried, "you eat. You sleep under a roof. I’ll protect you."

The fox kin looked at me with her eyes full of confusion as her breathing picked a sharp pace.

"Will you come with me, Lune?"

"Krrrrhhh..."