52 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Chapter 52: The Tea House in Bestia's Capital A quaint tea house located in the heart of Bestia's capital, operated by humanoid deer. The interior, reminiscent of a forest adorned with leaves, exudes tranquility. Deer waitstaff, with antlers sprouting elegantly from their heads, glide gracefully through the space, eventually arriving at our table. “Here is the antler tea you ordered.” The tea Bolt ordered is placed in front of us. A concoction of thick green and brown hues, it emits a scent akin to traditional herbal medicine favored by the elderly. “What is this made of?” “It’s made from the ground horns of deer folk. It’s said to rejuvenate energy and relieve fatigue. Please, try it.” “Hmmm, deer antlers... that feels a bit awkward.” Knowing the ingredient came from deer folk, it’s akin to eating pork in front of a pig—it just feels odd. I should’ve kept that thought to myself, but it slipped out. The staff’s face immediately soured. “Fine, don’t drink it if you don’t want to.” “Oh, no, that’s not what I meant…” “Typical of humans, their picky taste. Ordering something and then blaming the ingredients.” With a sharp retort, the staff snatches the tea and storms off. Sayira, sitting beside me, marks another evaluation. It’s clearly another demerit. “Karami, you really haven’t grasped how to interact with beastfolk. That’s not fitting for a slave trader, is it?” "Beastfolk come in such diverse species, it’s not easy. I’ve raised catfolk and dogfolk before…” The gap between established knowledge and bizarre reality keeps clashing—it's so wide, it’s hard to adjust. Just as playing a cat-raising game doesn't make you good at raising actual cats. “I’ll buy you a book titled ‘Special Lecture on Beastfolk: Guidelines for Interaction.’ You should read it.” “That seems necessary.” Bolt sipped his tea quietly. “So, Karami, what brings you to Bestia?” “I have some business here. There’s a beastfolk I need to meet.” “An acquaintance?” “Someone I’ll soon get to know.” Bolt lacked understanding, but simply nodded, not particularly interested. “Where are you headed?” “I need to go to Baegunggok.” Baegunggok (White Cloud Valley): a secluded village where foxes live together, nestled in a valley covered with white clouds. The third main slave is there. “Hmmm, I don’t remember hearing about a place called Baegunggok. My buddy, do you know of it?” “I’m not well-versed in the habitats of other species either... this is my first time hearing about Baegunggok.” Bolt and Buddy both displayed ignorance. Naturally, we turned to Sayira, who sighed before providing an answer. “To the east, there’s an area shrouded in mist. Hidden within is a fox den where about thirty Hoyo tribe members reside. However, dangerous beasts make travel difficult, so it’s not well-known.” Sayira narrowed her eyes as she spoke. “How do you know about this? I’m aware of it due to my position where I receive such information, but it’s the most remote of secluded areas that not even many beastfolk know.” Her gaze was filled with suspicion, resembling a predator poised to strike, yet I faced her with unshaken confidence. “How could I not know this, given my love for the beastfolk?” *** Deep within Baegunggok, in a den enshrouded by misty mountains— a fox den sat nestled. The sharp winds whistling through the hollows eerily resembled spectral wails, sounding like the final cries of an unwary traveller. A haunting atmosphere, as if something might leap out at any moment. Outside the valley lurked beasts, also referred to by some as yokai (妖怪). They could not leave. Fortunately, those creatures were unable to traverse the narrow paths, allowing the foxes to live hidden deep within the valley. They had lived that way for generations. Thus, this constant state of anxiety was not the fault of any current generation, but of the ancestors who settled here. Nevertheless, when pushed to their mental limits, people often seek to blame someone. It provides a semblance of justification. Conveniently, the foxes had someone to blame. “Hayao, it’s time you earned your keep.” Every set of eyes focused intently on a solitary young fox. Pink fur. Heterochromatic eyes of day and night. The girl’s distinct appearance stood out among the foxes. No one knew how long she had dwelled in the valley—a monstrous fox that had never grown or spoken. She was nameless. A yokai of misfortune, Hayao (禍狐). It conveyed nothing—neither a name nor anything else. Even those abandoned by parents have names, but this girl did not. A pink fox brings misfortune. An age-old tale. The confinement in Baegunggok. The yokai threatening the village. Foxes were unwavering in their belief that all these calamities were brought by Hayao. “Why aren’t you moving, Hayao?” A voice cold and indifferent. Each time a yokai appeared, the foxes expelled the girl beyond the village—a tradition passed down through generations. When Hayao distanced from the village, the yokai allegedly followed her. Whether her expulsion resulted in Hayao’s death was not their concern. She should be grateful to be fed and housed. A minimal display of mercy towards a fellow kin. “…….” Hayao stood at the exit of the village. The abandonment, loneliness, and fear she felt each time she was cast out had never faded. Hayao's body began to tremble uncontrollably. As she took steps into the darkness outside, she turned back for one last glance. There stood only the foxes waiting impatiently for her departure. Hayao vanished into the fog, whisked away by the biting winds. *** “Gasp… gasp….” Hayao, on all fours, panted heavily as she sprinted through the valley. Her light, solitary footsteps echoed through the forest. The dense mist obscured her sight, rendering her trail fraught with peril. Every moment, her steps threatened to falter, continuing her precarious sprint. Her delicate pink fur was already drenched with mist and sweat, and her heart was pounding as if it might burst. The fragile hands and feet of the young child were covered in wounds. Yet, there was no luxury of feeling pain. A strange blue light flickered beyond the mist. It was a will-o’-the-wisp. These lights fluttered softly around her, as if mocking her, tempting those lost into deeper confusion with their ominous whispering. Thud... Thud... Hearing tingled. A low, horrifying breath of a colossal yokai echoed, drawing closer. Stop, and she would die. Lose her way, and she would die. No matter how many times she fled, it never became familiar. The mist, like fog on a sea, disoriented her sense of direction. Several times, she’d lost her way and returned to the village days later. But there was no time to rest. After hastily eating the potatoes tossed to her by the villagers, she ran out again that very night. Hayao didn’t blame them. She was born with the misfortune of bringing calamity—it was her own fault. Being born with pink fur was her mistake. She was grateful merely that they allowed her to cling to life. Thump! The yokai’s footsteps resounded through the ground, shaking her like the tremors of an earthquake, causing Hayao to leap in place. Frantically, she looked around. Where should she go? Where should she go? She didn’t know. She knew nothing. Anxiety spread like a ripple. Her entire being was wrapped in fear. Sniff. “…?” At that moment, Hayao's nose twitched. A forest aroma permeated her nostrils—a refreshing scent she had never encountered before. She didn’t know what lay ahead. But her beastfolk instincts led her to conclude she needed to head in that direction. Just as Hayao took a large step forward— “Ah…!” It was a slope. Obscured by the mist. She lost her footing and tumbled down. Sprawled on the ground, Hayao attempted to rise but couldn’t. Blood dripped from her legs, laden with cuts. Thud! The sound grew nearer. She needed to flee. She needed to run, but her body refused to move. She was scared, hurt, tormented. Tears welled up in Hayao’s heterochromatic eyes, one of sun and the other of moon. The wounds throbbed as if searing. But there was no one in the world to embrace her, painted with the brand of misfortune. Dragging her injured leg, Hayao crawled forward. That’s when she heard footsteps. Much lighter than those of the yokai, but in her fading consciousness, she couldn’t discern the difference. Through half-closed eyelids, she saw a black silhouette approaching through the mist. It resembled the grim reaper. As if to claim her life, which she had managed to sustain like a beggar. Her consciousness faded away. Her odd eyes, colored like the sun and moon, vanished from view. The shadow of the reaper loomed over the unconscious Hayao as she lay on the ground. Karami looked down at the collapsed little fox before him. Her coat, unkempt and dusty, lacked luster from neglect. Her tail and ears, tangled and covered in dirt. Her body was frail from lack of proper nourishment. A visage of the calamities her misfortune brought. “To meet in such a way, how fortunate.” Yet, Karami considered himself lucky. He had been worrying over how to find the village amidst his wandering, but she had come towards him instead. [A Fox Bringing Misfortune] The third main slave. One of the most popular characters, frequently vying for the top spot in the character popularity polls. The nameless fox, Hayao. And, the only one in the world whom Karami knew by name. “Rin.” At the mention of being called Rin, Hayao’s ears twitched ever so slightly. 시메사바 2024.09.20 09:53 신고 Unique color + heterochromatic eyes, it's fascinating. 0 심해속상어 2024.10.04 14:34 신고 If it's made from deer antlers, is it like a tea made with human fingernails? 0 Log in to comment. 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