53 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

In the safety zone on the outskirts of White Cloud Valley, Bolt was in waiting. Birdie, fearful, had not even shown up. He was probably maintaining his feathers at an inn in the village at the bottom of the valley. "When on earth will they come out?" It had been approximately an hour since Karami and Seira entered White Cloud Valley. Because of the thick fog, the inside was invisible, and the thumping, ground-shaking sounds echoed off the valley walls. Is it really okay just to wait here like this? If that monster comes out, we're as good as dead. Oh, whatever. ‘Both of you were good companions. Rest in peace.’ Just as Bolt concluded a prayer in 0.1 seconds and was about to turn around— "Oh, finally escaped. If I had come alone, I would've been trapped forever." "Why exactly am I doing this...?" "We must keep watch, don't we? You need to take responsibility until the end." The two who had entered the valley began emerging through the fog, looking like mountain spirits making a grand entrance. "T-The two of you finally came out! I wasn't trying to escape alone, no... huh?" Bolt's eyes widened. Karami was carrying a young beast-girl in his arms as if she were a baby. Two had gone in, but three came out? "Congratulations. She's a beautiful daughter! I didn't expect you two to be involved like that. But no matter how close you are, isn't playing outside a bit much?" "Please, stop with the nonsense, Bolt." "S-Seira?" It wasn't Karami, but Seira who cursed harshly. Her appearance had changed from its usual self. Her hands and feet had turned into those of a ferocious beast, and her limbs were covered with gray fur. It was a sign of the transformation unique to the beastfolk. "I'm a wolf. This child is a fox." "Hmm...? Ah, looking closely, I see. Sorry for the confusion, I was flustered." A cute-looking fox. With pink fur, too. "...?" Pink fur? Fox? Pink fox? "H-Hongho?!" "That's right. Isn't she pretty? My new slave." "Pretty?! You took in a pink fox as a slave? Are you in your right mind?" The red fox—Hongho—was notorious as one of the most feared supernatural creatures. Simply having one nearby could bring misfortune and calamities. To bring one willingly... it's madness, plain and simple. "Take her back to where she came from, before you encounter something terrible!" "Ha ha, how could I leave such a cute one in that perilous place. Bolt, you must not know this, but there’s a bear yokai called Woongui prowling within White Cloud Valley. If you go in, you're doomed immediately." "But─!" "Seira." Karami interrupted Bolt's protest with a sly smile, now turning to Seira. Seira watched him warily, anticipating some foolish remark. "...What is it?" "Is it a plus or a minus to let an injured child die just because she's said to bring misfortune?" "Tch." Seira clicked her tongue and ended the discussion, causing Karami to smile with satisfaction at her response. "You heard her, Bolt. If we leave her, it's considered neglect. We can’t add more neglect charges while already dealing with that. What a shame." "……I did warn you. Whatever happens now, you can't blame me." *** They left White Cloud Valley and returned to the small village where Birdie was waiting. Tired from the day's events, they agreed to meet tomorrow and retreated to their rooms. "Whew..." I sat on the bed. Though it was the best room I could get at a foreign inn, it wasn't very plush. Unfortunately, nothing could be done about that. Naturally, beside me, Rin was sleeping deeply, drawing labored breaths. The treatment was finished long ago. Bandages covered her here and there, but beastfolk heal quickly, so she’d recover fast. I stroked Rin's hair. For a moment, as if feeling it for the first time, I recoiled unconsciously. 'Ah, poor thing.' The third main slave [The Fox Who Brings Misfortune]. Tao's highest-ranking popular character. For numerous reasons, one of the beloved top characters. For one, she differs from the other slaves in many aspects. First off. Rin has no name. It's somewhat different from Mirabelle's case. While Mirabelle hid her name, Rin genuinely didn’t have one. So then, where did the name 'Rin' come from? 'I came up with it in the game.' In the game, she's [LIN]. The reason for the English is that the nickname rule allowed 2–8 characters only. Rin is the only character that players directly name. The second aspect is growth. You meet other slaves when they are already somewhat developed, gauging by growth. But the Rin you meet is small. Smaller than Mirabelle. Yet as you progress through the story, she gradually grows physically. In other words, I name her, and I nurture her from the start. Watching her growth, you inevitably develop affection. "Hee hee, hee hee hee." The notion of raising Rin excites me already. Daddy will raise you beautifully. *** In the back alleys of Bestia, following an unknown ancient path, lies a fortune-teller’s shop. A dusty, old-fashioned fortune-telling shop. Inside, dim. On a round table sits a white crystal ball. An old woman moves her wrinkled fingers mysteriously above the ball. A silver tail gently sways in time with her movements. "Let’s see... I see you running along the path. Other figures are chasing after you. It's thrilling, just like a race." "A r-race?" "You were the first to enter. People are cheering and congratulating you." "Really?" The old woman, nodding while gazing at the ball. "And then..." "And then?" The girl receiving the fortune swallows nervously, waiting for the continuation. The old woman's next words are— "...You’re singing and dancing." "Da-dancing...?" "Yes, countless men are cheering for you and waving their banners." "You mean I joined a race, finished first, and then danced and sang? What kind of absurd fortune is this?" "No... that's not what I—" "So much for being a famous fortune-teller, you're just a fraud. I'm leaving." The girl, dissatisfied with the outcome, abruptly left the fortune shop. Her departing words trailed off as her tail swayed behind her. For a moment, silence reigned in the shop. "Keh-huh. Keh-huh-heh!" The woman observing the whole sequence couldn't hold back her laughter. She tried to cover her mouth with her hand, but it was futile. Eventually, she burst into hearty laughter. "...If you mock me like that, the old woman might pout, Princess." Her hair was as dark as endless night. Her eyes were like molten gold. Her ears perked up and she had a long tail. The one named Princess was Hilde Brigitta Lioness, the lioness of Bestia. "Keh-heh, I'm sorry. But I can't help it. I never imagined a day would come when Yuhwa was called a fraud." Yuhwa kept her lips tightly shut. The lady everyone referred to as the fortune-teller. Most called the old woman by a name common everywhere, but those who actually knew of her existence called her this. One of the elusive mystical foxes who hid from the world's eyes. A witch who read the currents of fate. The celestial fox, Yuhwa. A non-elf, yet enchanted, she'd lived for a thousand years—a living witness to the changes of the world. "Is Yuhwa getting old? Seeing as you're making such nonsensical predictions." Her silver eyes seemed capable of seeing all the world's secrets. Her silver fox tail sparkled like the Milky Way. Or rather, it used to. Even though she once foresaw events, time did not spare Yuhwa either. Even she, who had endured through the ages, bore the marks of time. Her tail had faded, losing its shine at the tips. The wrinkles around her eyes spoke of the long years she'd lived. A mystical beast who once held heaven's secrets was now no more than a creature performing small magic tricks. "Hmm, this shouldn't be happening..." Seemingly unable to let it go, Yuhwa furrowed her brow as she eyed the scene the crystal ball depicted. Even though she's not what she once was, the subject is just an ordinary girl, and it's not a distant future. She has no doubt it must be right. The horse-beast girl donned glittering clothes, ran through the city to arrive first, and danced alongside rival horse-beastfolk on stage. As absurd as it seemed even to Yuhwa, no matter how intently she stared, the vision from the crystal ball did not change. "Yuhwa, how about coming to the palace during this time? You could read my fortune every morning." "I must decline. Apart from managing the merchant group, there are times when misfortunes, not good fortunes, can appear. I fear it may upset the Princess." "Then just give me a little white lie. I'd believe anything Yuhwa tells me." "They say lying about fate incurs heaven's wrath, Princess." "I know. That's why I trust Yuhwa." If she knows, then why suggest lying? The playful words of the Princess made Yuhwa sigh. Clatter. "Hmm?" The crystal ball suddenly shook. It wasn't an earthquake, nor was it wind. "What is this? Yuhwa, is the crystal ball an egg?" Yuhwa had no time to react to the trivial joke. Her gaze remained fixed on the crystal ball. The vibration escalated, and with a burst, pink light spread across the entirety of the crystal ball's interior. Yuhwa's eyes, typically calm, widened like a fish. "T-This is...?!" "What is it?" Yuhwa's eyes trembled intensely, reflecting the motion of the crystal ball. The swirling pink mist began to take shape gradually. What emerged were nine wisp-like forms, swaying as if dancing. That strange movement conjured the image of a fox's tail. What this signified was unmistakable. "Could that child... have emerged?" A being that had long hid from the world was revealing itself again, twisting the order of the heavens and reappearing into the outer world. There was more to it. 'Someone else is there too.' Someone who twisted the heavens and drew out the mythical fox. Yet their identity couldn't be discerned. A large tree obscured them. 'An elf?' Could it be the world tree protecting an elf? But she doesn’t sense the aura of elves.... Uncertain. The mist dissipated, and the ball returned to its original hue. The tremors ceased as well. The events unfolded too quickly, leaving Yuhwa in stunned disbelief. Such incredulous occurrences transpiring in rapid succession. "Yuhwa, what on earth is happening?" Hilde's voice brought Yuhwa back to her senses, but she still wore the look of someone fatigued. "I think I might have to close the fortune shop." Perhaps her true mystical powers had finally run dry. Otherwise, it made no sense. Yes, it's time to quit. DeepSeaShark 2024.10.04 14:40 Report Naruto Nine-Tailed Fox 0 Desk10 2024.11.06 19:20 Report Closure ending, sigh 0 tokieu 2024.11.07 22:20 Report So this isn't the first abandonment ending if it continues to grow? 0 Only logged-in members can post comments. Weekly Bestsellers Adult BL/GL +2191 How to Live as a Wizard in a Magic School +862 The Freed Slaves Obsess +253 I’m Really Not the Boss Monster? +1434 The Genius Magician Takes His Medicine +945 Heavenly Demon Cult's Double Agent +286 My Skill Tooltips Are Weird +1507 The World's Strongest Man's Childhood Friend +328 Only It’s Too Easy for Me in the Apocalypse +419 Became the Cute Character of the Problem Solver Team +4910 Became a Necromancer in a Zombie World +2011 Can Hear the Saintess's Inner Thoughts +4912 Martial Arts Aren't That Impressive +4513 Neglected 6★ Heroes Obsessed Over Me +3614 Normalizing Dark Fantasy +6215 The King of the Afterlife Is Tired +6316 I Want to Be a Former Virtual YouTuber +2217 Even If a Ghost Story Happens, I Have to Go to Work +1318 Raising the North Dukedom as a Max-level Omnimaster +6019 Life's Easy When You’re Good-Looking +5220 Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game New Articles + More New ᘏ⑅ᘏ 15 Points Confirmation Stubborn +3 11.20 Starting the fourth F1 series... 11.20 Wheel of Fortune... Goodnight 😴 11.20 Hyenro/Summer Again- Fifth Floor Request !! +4 11.20 🙄 11.20 [TS] Became a Peachy Saintess, Please Request +2 11.20 Payback 11.20 (Contemporary) Black-Haired British Music Student Request 11.20 Legendary Employee Becomes a Legend +4 11.20 Desire and Passion Questions! 11.20 Alumni Reunion of Sunshine Class Webtoon The Freed Slaves Obsess 53 Chapter (53/123)