89 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

A fork in the road lay ahead. One path continued a battle with an opponent whose defeat was uncertain. However, in the current less-than-ideal state, victory was far from assured. The other option involved seeking assistance from the Nine-tailed Fox. Though there was no prior encounter, there was a gut feeling that the Nine-tailed Fox could effortlessly subdue the heretic monk. By temporarily relinquishing control of the body, survival might be secured. -Think about it. If the heretic monk captures you, it won’t just end with your death. You’ll be sealed and become a puppet providing spiritual power for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. "......" -You’d never see your beloved master again, ever. Rin flinched, deeply unsettled by the thought of being separated from Karami—more than anything else, this worried her. Despite this, she was reluctant to hastily accept the Nine-tailed Fox's proposal. After all, there were undeniable reservations about turning over control of her body. Even though the Nine-tailed Fox promised it would be temporary, Rin didn't trust her words blindly. She knew better than anyone what kind of existence the Nine-tailed Fox was. "No." -Why? You trust your master, but not me? "Yeah. Why should Rin trust you? If Rin gets into trouble, it affects you too, right? If you want to help, just tell me how to handle the powers. Stop the pointless temptations." -Hmph~ A sharp-witted exchange unfolded between the two foxes. Even at that moment, the heretic monk was preparing his incantations. It was the Nine-tailed Fox who relented first. -I really made that offer for your sake. Well, if there's no trust, we have to build it. Rin stood up and composed herself. Her breathing steadied, thanks to the rejuvenating fox fire, allowing for some recovery. Though not in peak condition, it was sufficient for now. In their agreed cooperation, the Nine-tailed Fox offered another piece of advice. -Did you know you can use your “Yongyeong Eyes” as a medium for magic? This time, the sentence was brief but more understandable than before. Magic through magical power. Witchcraft through spiritual power. Blessings through divine power. The fox bead Rin absorbed in the past not only strengthened her Yongyeong Eyes but also granted its bearer tremendous power. Drawing out the warm energy of the sun imbued within the fox bead, Rin acted as she would when wielding spiritual power. Flame. A soft, golden flame reminiscent of spring sunlight flickered in Rin’s hand. Though stronger than ordinary fox fire, it still wasn’t enough to penetrate the heretic monk’s defenses. Rin molded the flame. Shaping it into a form that would be unavoidable. The flame soon took on the shape of a solar wheel, akin to the chariot of the sun. Ki-yii! The central hollow of the disc emitted a shrill cry as it spun at high speed. As the rotation accelerated, the disc grew larger. Its blazing form was reminiscent of a crimson flame. Boom! Rin lunged forward with her whole body. Using her left leg as a pivot, she twisted her waist and flung the spinning disc with all her might from her palm. The chariot of the sun soared obliquely into the sky. Swish! The outer ring, spinning with sharp blades, sliced through the heretic monk’s protective enchantments. But it wasn’t over. Like a sun positioned in the sky, the wheel spread a brilliant halo, rotating up, down, left, and right before descending toward the earth, aimed at the heretic monk. Eyes widened, the heretic monk reached out with his staves, desperate not to surrender his position. "Water Ripples." Tinkle~ A clear bell sound rang out. Like droplets falling onto the surface of water, gentle ripples spread through the air, forming overlapping rings of defense. Ka-aaang! The solar wheel collided with the invisible barrier. It fiercely rotated, releasing flames and heat. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. The monk tapped his staves with an anxious rhythm. With each tap, another wave was added to the barrier, and with each wave, the wheel's rotation slowed. As this was repeated many times, the rotation speed notably decreased. The monk exhaled shortly. Never thought she could wield Yang energy. Murmuring to himself, he seemed suddenly aware, wondering if an old fox god was nearby. He resolved to capture and examine it. "Hmm?" The monk blinked. Busy holding back the solar wheel, he hadn’t realized in time that Rin had already disappeared from the edge of the barrier. That Rin. "Out of the way, you lingering spirit." Emerging from beneath the solar wheel. Her right fist cloaked in golden flame. There was merely an arm's length between them. The monk’s staves were too long to be effective, but for Rin, it was no hindrance. Her fire punch struck the monk’s abdomen with force. “Ugh!” The monk spewed violet blood as he was flung away. "Phew." Rin took a deep breath and exhaled. The position was finally hers. The barrier still sapped her strength. She had to destroy it, yet she refrained. The Nine-tailed Fox mentioned that a Tenra Web not only traps the foe but also restricts one's own escape. As long as she guarded this place, unless the talisman was removed, the heretic monk couldn’t flee. A drain on power? That penalty she could endure. But until then, he wouldn’t leave this place alive. *** Crack. Clang! As always. Predictably, the Tenra Web was shattered in a somewhat anticlimactic manner. Being inside an underground waterway, no light appeared. Beneath the wreckage of the Tenra Web lay the heretic monk, battered and sprawled on the floor. With the monk’s death, the muddied waters returned to their clear state. Rin’s disc-throwing expertise surpassed any circus act, and the monk had been dismembered long before. A pitiful state, nearly worthy of alms if bound and led around for charity. Of course, Rin had no such intention. She was the type who preferred to be led around by a leash rather than leading, but only when it came to the master. Nonetheless, it was also an opportunity laden with potential spiritual gain... -Absorb it. Don’t dwell on useless thoughts. Having sensed Rin's hesitation, the Nine-tailed Fox prodded. “I’d rather not absorb this…” Rin glanced disdainfully at the monk lying on the ground, resembling a worm dried and stuck to the asphalt. Rin glanced at the disheveled monk, now seemingly unappetizing and, most importantly, the thought of the monk's energy lingering in her body filled her with discomfort. The Nine-tailed Fox found Rin's uncharacteristically picky mindset astonishing. She had never encountered a mythological creature that was so choosy. -Feeling quite pampered, aren’t you? Do you even know how rare it is to have the chance to absorb energy from such a creature? Others go without because they simply can't get any. "Rin knows that…" -Then consume it. Otherwise, you'll never grow. Despite Rin's internal struggles, she realized there was no other choice. When she absorbed Woongui’s power, the quantity alone was considerable, and the heretic monk surely exceeded that. This could bring her closer to becoming a Seven-tailed Fox. Rin extended her hand towards the monk. The energy flowing from him began to be absorbed through her fingertips. “O, O Great King… Please, have mercy on this humble monk...” The monk, trying to offer his severed forearm as a peace offering, pleaded for mercy, but Rin didn’t bat an eye. She silently absorbed the monk's energy, who no longer moved once stripped of his vitality. Predictably, the energy from the monk was indeed vast. And surprisingly, contrary to her expectations, it tasted exquisite. A flavor not easily described by simple taste—it was enticing, making her want more, an addictive sensation. -Know this? The more fatefully bound you are to an opponent, the more delectable their energy is? “A fatefully bound opponent?” -Exactly. From my experience, there’s nothing more delicious. It will probably taste dozens of times better than this heretic monk you just absorbed. Dozens of times better? How delicious could it possibly be? Driven by an overwhelming curiosity, Rin inadvertently asked. Her question was driven purely by interest. “What does it taste like?” For a moment, the edge of the Nine-tailed Fox's mouth curled into a sly grin before vanishing. She fluttered in front of Rin, her expression transcending into one of pure euphoria. -A tingling pleasure envelops you, your heart pounds as if about to burst, and shivers travel down your spine, spreading through your brain, igniting you like a blazing flame...! Ha… The Nine-tailed Fox exhaled huskily by Rin's ear. Although incapable of interacting with reality, the illusionary warmth she conveyed seemed almost tangible. -More than anything, it’s like having the opponent's energy flowing within you. Doesn’t that sound fantastic? "......" Rin pondered. The only person she felt fatefully bound to was, without a doubt, Karami. Karami's energy coursing through her body…? The mere thought caused Rin to swallow subconsciously. *** “You captured the heretic monk?” Back at home, Rin nodded slowly. It seemed she had spent more time than expected, likely due to capturing the heretic monk. The fight hadn’t been entirely straightforward; there was a tear in her shoulder. “Are you hurt?” “I was careless for a moment. But I treated it, so I'm fine now.” “Thank goodness you're safe, but didn’t I explicitly tell you to only find the heretic monk and come back?” She had intended to provide a strategy for dealing with the heretic monk, similar to the plan with Woongui. Even if the Nine-tailed Fox questioned how she knew such tactics, it was preferable to seeing Rin injured. “Rin?” “Huh?” “What are you thinking about? Are you listening to me?” Not certain if her words had registered, Rin’s delayed response suggested she had zoned out momentarily. “Yeah, I’m listening. Sorry for not following instructions.” “No need to apologize. You’ve accomplished something worthy of praise. I just worried.” It seemed reasonable to feel misunderstood from Rin’s perspective; she had gone through the effort of capturing the heretic monk and saving the city only to be scolded for not listening. Feeling sorry, Karami affectionately ruffled Rin’s hair to convey a “well done” message. Yet, contrary to her usual response where she’d joyfully wag her tail, Rin's reaction was lukewarm. The look in her eyes was difficult to decipher. *** That night. Despite her now longer tails and matured form, Rin slept beside Karami. She no longer climbed atop his stomach like when she was a child, but instead, she managed to maintain complete physical closeness. Because of this, sleeping was a nightly ordeal for Karami. At times, he seriously considered seeking out a magic to suppress his physical urges. Ultimately, he hadn’t gone that far, though. When Karami had finally drifted to sleep, Rin remained awake. Carefully rising, she began to gaze intently at him.