"Hey, they're calling for you now."

  "This early? Wasn't the meeting scheduled for ter?"

  "It was, but something came up. A delegate from the main Territories requested an audience so the Elders chose to have the meeting early."

  "Ugh, alright Ina."

  I carefully set aside the katana I was holding and stood up. Ever since I became chief of the United Tribes, nearly all of my free time has been spent spacing out with that sword in my hands. Luckily, when I became chief, Inazuma got the position of my secretary, and I followed her out of my room where we met up with Shimo, who became my personal 'knight'. On the topic of high positions, the heads of all the former tribes now make up the Council of Elders. Technically, everything they do needs my approval, but since I've never been good with deciding stuff like that, I just have Ina do it. After a short walk we entered the meeting hall. I took my seat with Ina next to me, and Shimo stood behind. I noticed there was a catkin man across the table, he's likely the delegate. The former Frost Chief opened the meeting.

  "Good, everyone's here now. You can give your message now."

  "Thank you. I am here with a message from the heads of the Territories for the United Kitsune Tribes. As some of you may already know, a recent emergency has occurred in the wolfkin territory to the northeast of here. Specifically, hordes of unknown monsters the Guild calls 'Shadows' have begun appearing and destroying everything they could. For a short while, we've been able to hold out on our own, but a couple days ago a much rger version of these monsters appeared, and now things are beginning to get out of hand. We've already put in a quest at the Guild, and now I'm here. It's understandable if you can't spare the manpower, but I would like to request help anyway."

  The three Elders around the table turned to me. I guess I have to decide.

  "I'm not sure if we can spare anyone... Ina?"

  "The Chief is correct. We have nobody to spare right now. The rebuilding is simply taking too much from us at the moment."

  "Sorry, but you heard her."

  "I expected as much, ma'am. I'll be excusing myself now."

  The catkin man left the building, likely in a hurry to report the result of the meeting as soon as possible. I wonder what they're going to do about those Shadow things...

  "Chief. The meeting is still in session. Don't get distracted."

  "Right. What's next?"

  The former Lightning Chief - the same one that kept me from spacing out again - was the one who responded.

  "The state of the Tribes. The people have taken to their new situation quite well, there have been no disputes between former members of separate tribes. The rebuilding has also been coming along greatly. At this rate the vilge will be back to full size within a few months."

  "Good. Anything else?"

  Now it was the former Earth Chief's turn.

  "Yes chief. The group we sent to the other side of the Gate returned and reported that nothing had changed since the st time. That is all."

  "Alright then. Dismissed."

  I made sure to act like a leader in front of the Elders, but I really just want to leave. If there's one thing I hate about being the Chief, it's the fact that I have to be Chief. Thankfully I get to leave now and go back to my room.

  "Ah... thank fucking goodness that's done."

  "Setsune... how many times in the st week have we told you not to swear like that? I don't like those meeting either, but it was only 5 minutes..."

  "Shimo's right you know. You're a leader now, it doesn't matter who's watching, you need to act like a chief."

  "Ina, you of all people know I don't want to be Chief, and I'm not going to change the way I speak."

  "Alright, alright. Anyway, you're free now, so what are you going to do?"

  "I don't know. I'll probably just go back to my room."

  "Hah... Shimo and I will be in our room if you need us."

  We walked the short trip back to my pce in silence before going to our separate rooms. I closed my door and took my usual pce sitting on the side of my bed, staring at the katana in my p. As usual, I lost myself in thought almost instantly.

  "Ren..."

  Somehow, reminiscing about my past with him always manages calm me down and forget about my troubles, and before I knew it Shimo came knocking with food for me. It was already past sunset, so I ste it and decided to just go to sleep. My dreams were also always about my time with the hero, so it was one thing I looked forward to the most every day. I climbed under my covers with his sword still in hand and fell asleep after another boring day of dealing with politics for too long.