74 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

## The Slave I Set Free Becomes Obsessed: Chapter 74 It felt like I had been asleep for a very long time. How should I put it? It's like I've woken up not because the prince kissed me, but because the queen did, just like Snow White who got stabbed by a dwarf. If that sounds nonsensical, then you've understood it perfectly, because I don't understand what's going on either. "Ugh..." With great effort, I lifted my stiff body. Holding my dizzy head, I looked around. On the bedside table was an incense stick smelling of herbal medicine. The room's design looked like something out of a martial arts inn, unmistakably Yuhwa’s Heavenly Dream Pavilion. Why am I here? I vaguely remember being struck by the Blood Wolf's claw in the Forest of Nightfall. After that, my memories cut off. Therefore, it must have been Rin who brought me to the Pavilion. She probably brought me here thinking Yuhwa could heal me. That seems like the most plausible guess. "Sigh..." As I got off the bed, a sigh escaped my lips. It felt as though I'd been lying there for weeks, my legs lacking any strength. 'Is it because I was stabbed in the stomach?' I slightly lifted my shirt to reveal a nasty scar on my left abdomen. No wonder I felt weak. Still, to think the wound healed entirely in just one day. As expected, Yuhwa's magic skills are top-notch, if nothing else. 'I hope our Rin becomes like that soon.' I adjusted my clothes and managed to shuffle out of the bedroom. It was a separate space for guests, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet. I casually walked in the direction my feet led me, taking in the surroundings. Roaming around the inn, what I found was not dog meat, but Hoyeon. "Hoyeon." "Ka-Karami?" Having passed Yuhwa's test, I received a free pass to the Heavenly Dream Pavilion, allowing me quite a bit of freedom here. Yet, for some reason, Hoyeon looked at me as if he had seen a ghost, not a guest. "You're awake!" "Yes, well. Wouldn't I be wandering around if I wasn't?" And so dramatic. Anyone would think a person in a vegetative state had come back to life. "How are you feeling? Are you alright?" "There's a slight sense of discomfort, but nothing serious." "That's a relief. Ah, Elder wanted me to bring you immediately if you woke up. Let me guide you." "No need. I've been here more than once or twice. You must be busy, so go on with your duties." Skillfully, I made my way to Yuhwa's office, called Heaven. Since the first visit, Yuhwa's magic maintained its place perfectly. For Rin and me alone. Even when we shared paths with staff members, only we seemed to arrive correctly. Even her own staff weren't exempt from Yuhwa's magic. 'I hope you don't end up with dementia and have to live alone forever.' Of course, I hoped Yuhwa lived long until Rin became a Nine-tailed Fox. Lost in thought, I quickly reached the office. As I entered, the familiar heavens greeted me. Yuhwa sipping tea above the clouds completed the scene. "Sky Fox." "Oh, you finally woke up." "It’s thanks to your treatment, Sky Fox. You've been a great help. Where is Granite? I didn’t see her in the room; is she here?" "Indeed, she was training. It’s almost over, but..." Yuhwa's words trailed off. Her pupils darted towards something behind me, even if for a brief moment. It was clear that Rin was trying to play a trick on me from behind. Suddenly, my view was obscured by a soft, fuzzy sensation. See? Rin was being mischievous again... or was she? 'These hands seem a bit large.' Moreover, at Rin's height, she'd have to jump to cover my eyes, yet the hands remained steady, not moving. It looked as if someone just reached over from their spot. "Guess who?" This voice was similar to Rin's but subtly different, feeling more mature. It seemed like the voice she might have when she grows up, but it didn't suit her just yet. "...Who are you?" "Don’t you recognize your master’s voice after so long? Aren’t you upset, Rin?" "Rin...?" "Wrong." The hands blocking my sight lowered, and my body spun around. In front of me stood a pink fox girl. "The answer is the world’s loveliest Rin." Waving her five tails. *** "So you're saying I haven't been out for just a day, but a whole month?" "That's correct." Unlike me, who was shocked, Yuhwa leisurely sipped her tea as if it were no big deal. Honestly, how many of these time-drifting races can there be here or elsewhere? 'A month... I still can't believe it.' I couldn’t grasp it even now. I just thought it odd that my legs were shaky, perhaps because I had been lying in bed for a month. Not that a little leg wobbling is the issue. Not compared to Rin, who’s clinging to me and holding my arm. The five pink tails swayed. I fainted and, when I awoke, Rin was a quintuple-tailed fox. Cute and chubby Rin had grown into a proper young girl. Roughly middle-school age? It's wonderful that Rin has grown. She’s grown up both cute and beautifully. But... but...! 'I wanted to see Rin grow up too!' This sense of loss is indescribable. Losing a country couldn't feel much worse, possibly even less so. Rin suddenly popped her face into my view. "How do I look, Master? Didn’t I grow a lot? Am I prettier now?" "Not master, but maaaster..." "Hehe. Master, when did you start talking like that again? I was so little back then." "But it was just a month ago..." "Really, Master, don't you know a lady’s past isn't something to inquire about?" Wow, listen to her. The world has truly gone mad. It seems she’s learned the cunning ways of a fox, not just fox magic, after spending time with Yuhwa. Her charming glances, her tone and inflection. The pure Rin has vanished into a past I can never revisit. "Master... You don't like it? Is Rin strange now?" It seems she saw my uneasy expression, as Rin's face cast a shadow. I know I shouldn’t feel this way. I knew she would mature someday, but it’s happening too fast for me to handle. Even her image has changed significantly, not just her growth. No matter how much Rin has changed, she is still Rin. The fact remains that she is my companion, and as her master, I need to continue nurturing her with a consistent heart. "Absolutely not. It's just that, waking up after a while, there’s a lot on my mind. You've grown beautifully." "Right? I knew you’d say that, Master. Hehe." Rin nudged her head towards me, making it easy to pat her as she flattened her ears on either side. Though her appearance had changed, this part of her remained the same. I petted Rin’s head. Her five tails danced happily in response. "Ugh, get a room for your lovey-dovey antics, will you?" "I was just about to do that. I've been away for too long." I also needed to check on the cat café, and I planned to see Seira. Even if she wasn’t worried, she'd likely be wondering where I disappeared to. But knowing Seira, she’d be managing fine on her own. She’s always been incredibly capable. I left the Heavenly Dream Pavilion. Having three tails could be overlooked somehow, but five tails were too conspicuous. It's like advertising, 'I'm about to become a Nine-tailed Fox~'. Fortunately, Rin had mastered her transformation skills well enough to control the number of tails she showed. She moved around with just one tail visible. My destination was Seira's house. "Where's her house?" But it wasn’t there. It wasn't just anything missing—it was the entire house. Seira's house had definitely been at this location, but now, only the plot remained. Catching sight of a passing cow lady, who often supplied Seira with milk, I hurried to ask her. "Excuse me. Wasn’t Seira’s place here?" "The house? It suddenly collapsed about a month ago. I thought it was struck by lightning. Weren't you and Seira living together? Where have you been?" "I’ve been away for personal reasons... Do you have any idea where Seira went?" "Not sure. She left with a blank look, carrying nothing but a bag. Probably went to an inn or a lodging house?" The cow lady shared her information and went inside her dwelling after handing me a bottle of freshly milked milk. I downed it in one go. Wiping the milk off my lips, I pondered. One month ago coincided with when I fainted. Did something happen during the time I was unconscious? "Rin, do you know anything about this?" "Seira destroyed her own house." "Her own house?" "I was really surprised... Could’ve been fatal." Her words were so unexpected they left me speechless. Without a reason like claiming insurance or getting a reconstruction, why destroy her own home? However, thinking back, the event occurred on a full moon night. Perhaps Seira, being a part of the wolf tribe, went on a rampage due to the moon’s influence? 'If we don't know where she went, we can't find her right away.' Seira might have headed toward the immigration department or the border control area where she worked, but that was in the opposite direction. I decided to check in on the cat café first. I arrived at the cat café. Thankfully, it was operating as usual, just as it had been a month ago, calming my worries. The cat people were startled when I, suddenly appearing after a month, walked in. "Chief! Where have you been all this time, nya?" "I was resting because I wasn’t feeling well. Did anything happen in my absence?" "No problems, nya. Just some dog people fanboys and cat moms being a bit overactive." "That's manageable, I suppose." After all, the cat café wasn’t a place requiring great expertise, and the cat people could express themselves. It ran fine with just the staff, which was a relief. "Boss-niim, I missed you!" Ferci, among the cat people, welcomed me with particular warmth and familiarity. With her princess syndrome, she often idolized me for having taken her off the streets. As per usual, she moved to cling to me. Woosh. A pink tail slipped in between Ferci and me. "Rin?" Rin gently pulled me back. The gentle smile she usually wore around me vanished, replaced by a fierce glare as she warily watched Ferci. "He's Rin's master. Don’t approach carelessly."