87 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

The resemblance between monster magic and black magic handled by wizards is evident. Since it has malevolent effects, it inevitably leaves a permanent mark that cannot be erased except by sacred magic the moment it is cast. Using a widespread spell to curse multiple targets simultaneously can make pinpointing a starting point tough, but this time it wasn't difficult. There was a clear starting point. The deer beastman, Vaylen, who died just before the curse spread. According to Seira's information, the royal palace's medical research facility was preserving his body without cremation. The rationale was that Vaylen being the first deceased from the curse warranted considerable investigation. Therefore, Rin sought out the palace's medical institution, opting not to bring Karami along. Being with Karami would mean constraints on her actions, and unlike Rin, his somewhat frail constitution made him more susceptible to the curse. Though Rin was uneasy about being separated from Karami, it was an unavoidable situation. Thus, Rin infiltrated the palace's medical research facility. She found a room where the security was especially stringent. Armed canine guards were posted on duty. However, for Rin, such infiltration was trivial. She had thoroughly practiced transformation and stealth techniques even more diligently than any other magic. Transformation to appeal to Karami's tastes, and stealth magic to sneak a glance at Karami when he wouldn’t bathe with her after they had grown up. In these two skills, at least, she believed she excelled more than anyone else in the world. - Sigh. The Nine-tale fox, having read Rin's unsavory thoughts, let out a deep sigh from the depths of her heart. Although she was optimized for beguiling humans, she was still proud of being a Nine-tale fox. She could understand if it was to devour vitality, but to merely please a human was a disconcerting reality. Observing the scene from the ceiling, Rin gently landed on the ground. The guards fixated their eyes and aimed their spears as an outsider dropped from the sky. "Who goes there?" "Keep it down. Rin's ears hurt." "Yes, understood!" Upon Rin's command, the guards promptly responded, lowering their spears. Their eyes glassed over, dazed. It was Rin’s enchantment at work. Though confident in both transformation and stealth, nothing compared to illusion magic when entering a secret room. "Open the door." A guard fiddled with his armor, then used a key to unlock the door. "Wait here." "Yes." Rin passed the guards with ease and managed to locate the isolated body of Vaylen. As per the prior report, his corpse appeared decayed, blackened—a trace of the curse. A minute residue of monster magic, though indiscernible to ordinary folk, remained. To the fox eye possessed by another yokai like herself, recognizing such traces was not difficult. Rin scrutinized Vaylen through her fox eye. Emerging fragments of destiny were comparable to Karami’s case but considerably fewer, easily countable by sight. A Nine-tale fox might skew fate, yet its influence didn’t extend to the deceased. Rin focused her gaze on the blackened shards among the scattered pieces. The trajectory of fate, the process that drove Vaylen towards death, unveiled itself. A narrow alley. A peculiar confrontation with a rat beastman. At that instant, Vaylen’s destiny became clouded. - This one wasn’t infected, he was bewitched. She found the host. The next step was clear. *** On the spire of the city’s clock tower, Rin stood. From the city’s highest point, she surveyed the grounds below. She needed to locate the rat beastman based on recent intelligence, but it was not a simple task. The citywide curse obstructed her view like an intertwined web. Even so, with the Nine-tale fox’s fox eye, she could focus on just what she desired, but Rin wasn’t yet adept at its usage. Thus, further advice from the fox was necessary. Rin moved her fingers, forming two so-called "fox hands" by pressing the middle and ring fingers to her thumbs. Her left pinky and right index finger intersected, leaving the rest free to form a central hole. Fox window. Rin peered through beyond the fox window. And there, what Rin sought appeared beyond the hole. The thread of destiny linking Vaylen and the rat beastman, akin to a red string, became visible to Rin. The thread extended downward to the city's underbelly. Rin quickly sought a path to the underground. Beneath the surface thrived the habitats for beastmen, such as the rat and mole species. While not as expansive as the surface, the underground was still substantial. However, the moment she entered the subterranean tunnels, there was no longer a need to use her fox eye. The pervasive stench of decay naturally wrinkled her nose. Following the odor, Rin found the rat beastman, as seen in Vaylen's fate. The host lay abandoned by her kin, quite literally rotting within a heap of earth. On death’s threshold, though still alive. In an effort to spread the curse further, the renegade monk had used an additional spell on her. Now, ominous haze emanated in all directions. Rin used her monster energy to block the curse's aura and checked the rat beastman’s state from up close. "Can she survive if the curse is lifted?" - Her body is decayed; lifting the curse won’t save her. Why, do you want to save her? “Because this happened because of Rin.” The Nine-tale fox scoffed. - Even if she survives, what makes you think she’ll thank you? Expect her to blame you for the entire ordeal instead. Rin had experienced similar. Once, after rescuing an adventurer in peril, she was unjustly blamed. When Rin became lost in thought, the Nine-tale fox began embedding stories into her mind. - Traditionally, the Nine-tale foxes are born with the qualities of a king. They look neither beside nor below but only above, reigning as the king of yokai. “Is there really no need to look back?” - A king always stands alone. To reign, one must forget standing beside someone or sacrificing for others. Ascend and view the world from above. Residing within Rin, the Nine-tale fox could see deep within her. Solitude. Distrust. Those two emotions largely defined her. Whether influenced by the Nine-tale fox or lived experiences, it was unclear. But Rin closely resembled the fox in these aspects. Diving into that possibility, grooming Rin into a fox like herself— “What nonsense are you spouting? Rin has a master.” - Huh? “And besides just a master, there's also Seira. Don’t lump Rin together with you.” - …… Despite the Nine-tale fox's sweet whispers, Rin remained unfazed. The unexpected reaction prompted the fox to slightly raise her eyebrow. Could it be that Rin's immunity to enchantment was due to being a similar species? That could be it, but the fox sensed something else emanating from Rin’s interior. An overwhelming confidence and trust that no sweet talk could shatter. An unwavering belief that her master would never betray her. Before such an unwavering fortress, the fox’s temptations were nothing more than empty words. - I see~ I’m sorry. I misunderstood. Rin has a remarkable master, doesn’t she? “Hmph. As long as you get it.” It seemed that ordinary methods couldn't sway Rin. In that case, a change of tactics was in order. - Then let’s quickly capture the renegade monk and earn some praise from your splendid master, shall we? “My master told me to come back if I find a clue.” - That’s when you secretly catch him to earn favor. It’s like giving a surprise gift. Rin pondered thoroughly. It seemed plausible enough. A chance to show how much she’d grown. “Alright.” Nodding, Rin decided to check the destiny trail of the rat beastman. Meeting the renegade monk on a nighttime street. As he used the magic from his staff, the rat beastman's fate, like Vaylen before, turned instantly dark. Rin could promptly pinpoint the renegade monk’s location. It wasn’t far. *** The underground sewers of Vestia. The renegade monk knelt, slowly extending his hand towards the water. From his submerged fingertips, black haze began spreading gradually, like a living creature. The once clear, white underground water began to cloud. The curse, spread from the rat beastman as an epicenter, had proven effective. It not only spread across all of Vestia, but those in its incubation period unknowingly carried it to other cities and kingdoms. But that alone wasn't enough. Rapid countermeasures hindered deep penetration, thus demanding an alternate method. Unlike creatures that could subsist on energy alone, living beings couldn’t survive without water, and his intention was to contaminate it. This would surely reach Vestia's royal palace. By absorbing the vitality of incapacitated beastmen and the Nine-tale fox’s power... evolving into a higher entity was well within reach. In the pitch-darkened water, the monk’s contented smile reflected. Tap, tap. At that moment, footsteps echoed in the damp sewer. The renegade monk turned his head to see a young fox girl emerging from the shadows. Pink hair tied on both sides. One golden eye and another blue eye—a clear mark of the Nine-tale fox. Seeing the six tails swaying, the corners of the renegade monk’s lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile. He concealed his face by bowing his head. “I am but a mere speck of dust, fortunate to stand before you, O great Nine-tale fox.” “Why’re you talking like that?” - A mere being has graced the presence of the fox king; this is how they should react. It’s your surrounding that’s strange. Unable to see or feel the Nine-tale fox, the renegade monk perceived Rin speaking to herself. Unbothered, he continued. “I intended to visit you personally, but I never imagined you’d grace me first.” “With such malice spread, I didn’t expect you to lure me here. It’s like you’re advertising.” Finding the renegade monk was a piece of cake. There was no need to chase the trail of destiny. The rat beastman, directly hit by the curse, was saturated with malevolent energy. The same foul stench emanated from the sewers. “However, my lord… my humble eyes perceive you have yet to assume your complete Nine-tale fox form.” “You can tell with just a glance?” “The presence of a Six-tailed Fox itself is terrifying enough for a wretch like myself... but visiting here in an incomplete form? I worry it might be too much.” In simpler terms, it implied that a mere six-tailed fox was overreaching by coming here. An echo of bygone glories, presuming herself to be a Nine-tale fox king. Yet, this fit snugly with the renegade monk’s true intents, so it was no problem. The monk struck the rusty staff on the ground. Jingle, jingle~! The rings and bells attached to the staff clattered, the metallic sound reverberating. Talismans placed throughout the sewers simultaneously emitted a foreboding violet glow. Threads crisscrossed, enveloping the area like a net. The threads writhed like snakes, crawling up the walls and ceiling, casting a colossal curtain around the sewers. An impenetrable barrier, neither exit nor interference possible. The renegade monk murmured lowly. “Heaven's web.” As the veil rapidly enveloped the surroundings, Rin asked. “What is Heaven's web?” - Ahh, that means nothing but a useless net that can’t even catch an ant. The fox watching had already seen through Heaven's web. - Now, stop worrying about such trash and let’s continue with the lesson. We've found a suitable opponent. The fox, placing her hand on Rin’s shoulder, curled her lips into a smile. It was as if a ghostly fox king would come alive and fight on behalf of Rin.