Chapter 295: Little Animals and the Beast Tamer

"Uwaa, what do we do?"

As a result, even Mikoto was dragged out onto the main street. Without a doubt, this overly exaggerated and somewhat questionable group immediately became the center of attention.

"Mommy, are those older sisters dogs?"

"Don't look at them!"

"Couples these days are really bold, aren't they?"

"What is up with that guy? A harem? Guys who make me this jealous should just go die!"

For a while, the whispering voices of the crowd drifted over to them.

"Shido..."

Mikoto turned her head, troubled, wanting to discuss what they should do next with Shido.

"It's over... my life is over... I'm socially annihilated..."

However, Shido had completely turned ash white.

"Honestly, cheer up a little, will you?"

Mikoto let out a helpless sigh.

"Even if you say that, Senpai, it's already too late..."

Shido said, sounding completely deflated. A high school boy walking three girls on leashes down the main street, and one of them was even a famous idol. No matter how you looked at it, this was a completely hopeless situation.

"Well... normally, this would be a complete disaster. However, this town was put under an absolute media blackout starting last night."

Mikoto sighed and explained.

"Eh?"

"Think about it. We suddenly turned into animals. If they didn't take any precautions, that alone would cause a massive panic, right?"

Mikoto and the others could still somewhat fake it by claiming their ears and tails were just highly realistic cosplay props. But the Yamai sisters's feathered wings? One look and anyone would know they were real.

Because of that, Reine had brought in a large scale Realizer unit last night. Right now, a powerful Territory covered the entire town, primarily to block and scramble all network media, cell phone cameras, and video recording.

Coupled with Ratatoskr's influence, no news reporters would be able to get near this place.

In other words, even if he walked animal eared girls down the main street, it wouldn't cause any permanent, lasting damage to his life. At most, it would just add another wild chapter to the "Legend of the Itsuka Harem" circulating around school.

"Phew... I'm saved."

While it didn't solve the immediate, crushing embarrassment of being ruthlessly stared at by a crowd, knowing that he wouldn't face total social annihilation made Shido breathe a massive sigh of relief.

"Anyway, let's go somewhere with fewer people first..."

Shido thought about it. Even so, it was definitely safer to move somewhere deserted or at least less crowded.

"Umu! That smell... Takoyaki!"

"Wait a second—!"

However, in the very next second, he was forcefully dragged toward the food street by Tohka.

"Ugh... I might as well just give up."

Looking at Tohka, who was completely engrossed in staring at the takoyaki stall, Shido spoke with a tone of pure resignation. If this kept up, he was going to end up escorting her to every single food stall on this street. And he would be doing it while in "walking the dog" mode.

"While letting go of the leash might make things easier for you, Shido... the current Tohka is in a 'release and vanish' state."

Mikoto said helplessly.

Possessed by a dog spirit, Tohka's gluttony attribute had increased by 100%, while her intelligence had dropped by 50%. If he let go of the leash, she would probably sprint off and eat her way down the entire street like a vacuum cleaner. (TL:Dawg she is getting lobotomized)

"Ugh..."

Hearing Mikoto's words, Shido instantly pictured a full and satisfied Tohka tilting her head and saying, "Huh? Where am I? Where did Shido go?"

"And normal dogs get tricked away by food and end up in dog stew. But with Tohka, she might get tricked by food and end up in a love hotel."

Mikoto said, sounding extremely worried. After all, she was an exceptionally beautiful girl. It was impossible for someone not to get bad ideas.

"Guh..."

As a result, Shido visualized an even worse scenario: Some suspicious guy looking like a pitch black culprit from Detective Conan sitting on a love hotel bed holding a chocolate banana, and Tohka—lured by the smell of food—crawling onto the bed on all fours. (TL:dawg don't make my imagination run wild)

(I take it back! I absolutely cannot let go of Tohka's leash!)

Shido screamed internally in sheer despair.

"If that's the case, then I'll just let go of Miku's leash."

While he couldn't let go of Tohka, he still held the leashes for Miku and Mikoto. Even if he only let go of one, the guilt and embarrassment would decrease significantly.

"Oh my, that girl over there is so cute! I really want to pounce on her, woof!" (TL:No no, bad Miku)

Just as Shido thought that, the leash in his hand went taut, and a massive force dragged him forward.

"Stop right there—!"

"You can't just attack random people on the street, Miku!"

Shido and Mikoto desperately pulled on Miku's leash, barely stopping her from pouncing on a random girl walking by.

"While Tohka being in 'release and vanish' mode is a problem... Miku being in 'Hunting Dog' mode is also something we can't underestimate."

Having finally restrained Miku, Mikoto sighed, looking completely drained.

"Or rather, her destructive power is even higher. She's exactly like a hunting dog locking onto prey."

Shido let out a sigh of deep, shared exhaustion.

"If it's come to this, I can only let go of Senpai."

Just as he had thought earlier, Shido still had one last option in his hand.

"Mhm. As for me, even if you let go of the leash, I'll follow right beside you like a good girl, Shido."

The young girl smiled sweetly.

But right at that moment, the faint, irresistible aroma of something delicious drifted past Mikoto's nose.

"Huh?"

By the time she realized it, her feet were already moving automatically toward the source of the smell.

"Wait... is that... Fried Tofu—!?"

Following Mikoto's line of sight, Shido spotted the culprit that had lured the little fox away.

(You've gotta be kidding me! The current Senpai can actually be lured away by food too!?)

He wailed internally.

(What do I do? At this rate, I'm going to have to walk Tohka, Miku, and Yakumo-senpai down the entire street.)

Even if they wouldn't end up on the news, it didn't mean Shido wanted to maintain this current, highly questionable state. Especially since...

"Isn't that girl the Shrine Maiden the headman invited?"

"To think he actually put a leash on the Shrine Maiden like an animal."

"That's so cruel. He's definitely going to face divine punishment."

"I heard he was the one who ruined the Shrine Maiden's ritual so the girls would get possessed by animal spirits. Was this his real goal all along!?"

"What a terrifying man."

Compared to Miku, the deeply superstitious people in this rural town cared far more about the words and actions of the Shrine Maiden.

"Aaaaah—! I've had enough of this—!"

Finally, Shido snapped and yelled out in frustration.

He tied Tohka, Miku, and Mikoto's leashes together. Tohka wanting snacks, Miku wanting to pounce on girls, and Mikoto wanting fried tofu ended up pulling against each other, creating a strange, fragile balance.

This was only a temporary measure. The fragile balance would inevitably break. But before that happened...

"Right here!"

Like a gust of wind, Shido charged into a nearby clothing store.

Several minutes later...

"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone!"

Appearing before the three of them once again was Shiori-chan! She was wearing a cute dress, holding a tempting grilled lamb chop in her left hand, and a fragrant piece of fried tofu in her right! (TL:Ultimate bait lmao)

"Lamb chop—!"

"Ara ara! Shiori-san!"

"Fried tofu..."

Staring at the overwhelmingly enticing sight before them, the three canine girls instantly got starry eyes.

"Phew..."

Taking a deep breath, Shiori acted like a true beast tamer, raising the food high and shouting

"Everyone—follow me!"

And with that brilliant maneuver, she successfully lured the three girls away from the crowded food street.

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