90 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

**Chapter 90: The Freed Slaves Become Obsessed** Rin couldn't sleep. It wasn't that she didn't want to; she just couldn't. The words the nine-tailed fox had slyly whispered to her earlier that day kept looping in her mind. Energy. Karami's energy. What would it taste like? She was so consumed with curiosity that sleep eluded her. Energy, which every living being possesses, tends to be superior in both quality and quantity the more distinguished the individual. Yokai can absorb energy, converting it to supernatural power, which in turn becomes strength. Some beings pursue it not just to grow stronger, but for the sheer pleasure of its taste. They hunt for it like humans embark on culinary journeys. Rin herself even entertained the notion of "hunting yokai." The nine-tailed fox hinted that the energy of someone deeply entwined with one's fate tastes better. Rin was convinced that Karami was that person for her. Beyond taste, she also harbored the desire to imbibe his energy. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—absorbing energy doesn't necessarily result in death. It's draining until death that kills, but otherwise, the energy will replenish. So— ‘A little taste wouldn't hurt, right?’ Just a taste. Just a very small, insignificant amount that wouldn’t harm Karami. A mere sip, she told herself. She was driven by curiosity and vowed it would be the first and last time. Rin resolved with firm determination. He wouldn't be awake, right? Rin, carefully checking on Karami, placed her hand upon his chest. Sa-ahh…. She delicately absorbed a tiny amount of energy. It wasn't even a sip—more like a tentative lick with her tongue. This was where Rin's guard slipped. Even that tiny amount was enough to stir her senses to an overwhelming degree. “Ugh?!” The tremor that rose through her fingers erupted throughout her body. It felt like an electric shock jolting down her spine, and Rin's waist arched involuntarily under the intense sensation. As if awakening a hidden intuition she didn't know existed, her heart began to pound rapidly, and a feverish heat stirred within her belly, as if igniting a flame. A stifled moan escaped through her tightly closed lips. “Hm! Hm...” Rin collapsed onto the bed, her tail and ears twitching sporadically. Her skin had become so sensitive that even the brush of her clothes sent tingling jolts across her. She bit down hard on her quivering lips, forming a taut line, and gripped the bedsheets tightly. She shouldn't have underestimated even a small amount. She shouldn't have done it. This was Pandora's box, an illicit pleasure from which she could never escape after just a taste, akin to a mirage-like oasis encountered in the desert. ‘If just a sip affected me this much, what would happen if I took more...?’ Rin looked up at Karami. Her mismatched eyes gleamed with greed in the darkness. She almost reached out to him but stopped herself. ‘No!’ Startled, she managed to pull her hand back just in time. She clasped her rebellious hand with the other. I can't stay here. If I do, I might really cause trouble. I need air. A breath of fresh air would clear her head. It had to. With this thought, Rin rushed out of the room. That night, a new tail was added to Rin. *** “Haaaaam....” “What kind of behavior is that during a meal?” Seira's reprimand came immediately as I let out a big yawn. “I'm sorry. I just can't stop yawning.” “Did you sleep poorly?” “I'm not sure. I feel like I slept well enough.” I hadn't gone to bed late, nor do I recall waking up in the middle of the night. I thought I had slept soundly, yet my body felt unusually fatigued. Yawning and a languid sense lingered. It was as if I hadn't rested at all. “I wouldn't worry too much about it. Everyone has those kinds of days from time to time.” With that, Seira lost interest and focused back on her breakfast. Next to me, Rin was eating her meal. The seven-tailed fox now boasted an additional tail after absorbing power from dealing with the corrupted monk. Though it should have been a celebratory occasion, she wore a gloomy expression and picked at her food. “Rin, is something wrong? You look troubled.” “......” Rin met my eyes briefly before averting her gaze. She had been like this since handling the monk incident yesterday. Could something have happened during the process of vanquishing the corrupted monk? I wanted to ask the nine-tailed fox but she didn't emerge, as if she was still asleep. It might be that Rin experienced a shift in her demeanor after becoming a seven-tailed fox. She might need some time to adjust. I decided not to press the issue and to give her some space. “What are your plans for today?” “Since the corrupted monk is dead, I should check if the curse has truly been lifted. I'll visit the cat café first; Nero was one of the afflicted. And you, Seira?” “I'm still on remote work. If the contagion is truly gone, I will have to return to the office.” Since the curse had caused Bastia to go into lockdown, Seira, who dealt with border controls, naturally found herself without work. Though I hated to admit it, Seira had inadvertently received a welcome break thanks to the corrupted monk. But soon she would need to return to work. “I shouldn't apologize, right?” “If you insist on portraying me as a villain, go ahead.” No apology would be made. *** As planned, I visited the cat café first thing in the morning. It had been at least a week since Nero, the café worker, was last able to visit due to the curse. “How are you feeling, Nero?” “Meow... There's a lack of energy, but I'm okay.” Those cursed by the corrupted monk displayed blackened veins as symptoms, and for some, it worsened to the point where their skin would begin to rot. Fortunately, Nero hadn't reached that stage, and his recovery was swift now that the curse had lifted. ‘That's a relief. I was very worried.’ The catpeople didn't have separate homes. Initially, the agreement was simply to provide them with shelter and sustenance, but as they worked diligently and bonds were formed, wages were also given. Purchasing a home was beyond many catpeople's means, so they lived at the café. There was no issue with their living arrangements. **Chapter 90: The Freed Slaves Become Obsessed** Since I gave permission and the space was large enough to accommodate, laying out bedding was feasible. The real issue was the clear limits of a life in isolation. I was worried about the potential if other catpeople got cursed, but there didn't seem to be any visible cases. It's possible the curse disappeared before symptoms could manifest, considering the incubation period. “Since we won't be running the business for a while, everyone should take it easy. If you have any foods or ingredients you want, I'll make sure to get them for you.” In situations like this pandemic, acquiring ingredients could be like pulling stars from the sky, but I had Sky Tower as a reliable connection. “Thank you, meow.” “Our boss is truly great, meow. Unlike the dog café owner who disappeared without a word.” “A despicable human.” “They probably decided the value of dogs had diminished, meow.” While the catpeople engaged in their lively banter, Persi discreetly stepped away from the group and approached me. “Is something wrong, Miss Persi? Do you have something to say?” “Boss, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?” “Hmm.” Both Seira and Persi were telling me the same thing. I knew I was tired, but was it so apparent that even they noticed? Perhaps it was best to head back and rest once I was done here. “And why do you look like that, like you're hiding something?” Persi pointed at Rin. Rin flinched at the comment. “It’s just your imagination.” “Really? You're acting pretty restless for it to be just that.” “I said it’s your imagination.” A strange tension hung between them. Persi cocked her head to the side, giving Rin a knowing look, while Rin averted her eyes. “Master, you said you were tired. Shall we head back if we're done here?” “Hmm, should we? Miss Persi, we'll be off then. We’ll come again.” “Take care, boss. Get some good rest.” “Farewell, meow.” With the catpeople waving us off, we headed back home. Though the corrupted monk was gone and the curse lifted, the city remained quiet. Having only been resolved yesterday, it would take more than a day for the city to regain its liveliness. Gradually, as people become aware the curse is gone, they'll start coming out, and before long, it'll be bustling. I wasn't too worried, but Rin’s ongoing gloominess piqued my concern. Today, she was especially silent and was walking a slight distance away from me, unlike the usual when she’d be close by. If my slave wasn't feeling well, it was only right as their master to offer support. I moved closer to Rin. “Rin, if there’s anything troubling you, feel free to share with me. That’s what I’m here for as your master, isn’t it?” Rin looked at me intently. She seemed to hesitate as if contemplating whether to speak, then finally said, “Master, I’m sorry, but it’s uncomfortable. I need a bit of space.” With those words, she distanced herself from me! I felt like I’d been hit over the head with a hammer. ‘Rin… is pushing me away?’ And that wasn't all. As night fell, while I was about to enter our room with Rin as always, she stopped in front of the door. “What’s the matter?” “…From today, I’ll sleep separately.” “What?” Rin went into her room, a place she never used, leaving me standing there dumbfounded. In a hurry, I sought out Seira. I explained the entire situation to her, and Seira, bemused, tilted her head. “Isn’t that normal? Honestly, it should have happened sooner.” “I get that, but suddenly acting like this is strange!” “Maybe she’s going through a rebellious phase. I’m not sure if nine-tailed foxes have such things, though.” “A rebellious phase…?” Did Rin hit a rebellious phase? The kind where she wouldn’t come out of her room, hated doing laundry with Dad? Is that why she kept distancing herself from me? Does Dad have a weird smell or something? “Is there no way to revert things back to how they were before?” I asked. Seira shook her head decisively. “If a young girl enters her rebellious phase, it’s generally over.” “No way….” My world shattered.