102 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

**Chapter 102: Web Novel Archive - Book Rabbit** As a yokai deeply intertwined with fate, the Nameless Fox would occasionally tell fortunes. Sometimes it was for humans, other times for yokai. However, she didn't particularly enjoy telling fortunes. Fortune-telling was just another piece of gossip. Even if a bad fortune was revealed, it was best to dismiss it without attaching too much significance. But those who understood her abilities would relentlessly plead with her to reverse a bad omen. Tired of such demands, she stopped telling fortunes altogether. Her willingness to read Karami's fortune was not simply on a whim. When seeing the paths someone has walked and might take in the future, it was a form of investigation, so to speak. “There are 12 tiles. Each tile harbors its own meaning. You draw three in succession, and we interpret the fate based on their combination.” The Nameless Fox arranged twelve tiles on the table. “Pick the first one, whichever calls to you.” “Hmm…” Karami hesitated, gazing at the spread tiles. He doesn't believe in such things. He lacks any religious faith. Even if it’s a terrible omen, he wouldn't be overly concerned, though naturally, receiving a good fortune can make one feel optimistic. “Hmm…” Karami swallowed his hesitation and, after much deliberation, decided on his strategy. With his index finger extended, he began tapping the tiles like piano keys. “Coca-Cola is tasty, if it's good, have more; if you drink more, you get a stomachache. Ding dong ding dong…” “…What are you doing?” “I'm consulting with an expert on what to choose. Ah, now I’ve lost count! Don’t interrupt. Back to the start: Coca-Cola is tasty…” Baffled, the Nameless Fox watched his bizarre antics. Consulting with an expert—what does that mean, especially since it’s just the two of them there? Was he using magic, perhaps? But she sensed no magic, and the man didn't strike her as having any magical affinity either. The Nameless Fox soon dismissed the idea. “Ding dong dang, do re mi fa sol la si do si la sol fa mi re do~” With the expert's help, Karami tapped a tile with his finger, pressing it firmly before drawing it. A cow. “Now, choose the second tile.” Karami once again prepared his expert index finger. As he began consulting the expert again, the Nameless Fox closed her eyes, exasperated. Goodness. To chant that strange incantation again… If he does it this time, he’ll surely do it a third time, won’t he? The odd rhythm felt like a spell for warding off sprites, stirring a deep annoyance within her. It agitated her to the point where she couldn’t sit still. Unable to hold back, the Nameless Fox spoke. Her brow furrowed. “No matter how long you do that, the result won't change. Just choose.” If this were a game, an achievement titled "Anger the Nameless Fox" would have popped up by now, showcasing its extreme difficulty. “Tsk.” Without a choice, Karami selected the second tile without the expert's help. A rat. “…Choose the last one.” Karami picked the third tile. A chicken. “This is…” The Nameless Fox squinted at the three animal tiles spread out before her. She then glanced at Karami. His curiosity was piqued by her peculiar reaction. “Is there something odd?” “To draw such a selection… It is indeed impressive, in a way.” The Nameless Fox slid the first tile, the cow, forward. “First, we have the cow. It symbolizes wealth and abundance. Its leisurely actions signify peace. Once it sets its mind, it is unwavering, embodying simplicity and steadfastness.” “Ah~ I am a merchant, after all. Wealth for a merchant? Consider this a win.” Karami exclaimed in admiration. His choice seemed justified. The expert consultant was always right. However, the Nameless Fox continued calmly, outlining the rest. “Stubbornness in this context implies a rigid nature, akin to foolishness, where one refuses to let go.” Is that really how it works? Isn't that a stretch? As Karami tilted his head, the Nameless Fox introduced the next tile. “A rat. Known for its diligence. Diligence is close to wealth, as one must labor to accumulate.” “This genuinely suits me. I can say with confidence no one is more hard-working than I.” Not wanting Karami to bask in any delight, the Nameless Fox swiftly explained the rest. “Yet, diligence can be seen as greed. Rats gnaw at the fields farmers toil over, merely to sate their hunger.” “Hmm…” “They also harbor ill intentions, transforming after consuming fingernails, becoming deceivers and harbingers of plague.” With more negative interpretations than positive ones, Karami’s spirits plummeted. The Nameless Fox felt a small thrill at this. Yet she concealed her satisfaction as she revealed the final tile. “The last is a chicken. Rather auspicious, its crow heralds the end of night and the arrival of light, frightening away ghosts and demons.” “And?” Karami asked with an impish expression, leaning his chin on his hand, as if unfazed by any positive outlook. “But it’s not always good. A chicken crowing prematurely or at the wrong time is ominous. If it crows early in the evening, it’s considered unlucky. A midnight crow invites misfortune. There’s a saying that suggests if it crows after dusk, the household will fall into ruin.” Just as expected. He concluded with negative outcomes once more. “In summary…” The Nameless Fox concluded the reading. “Your ambitions exceed your insignificant abilities. Such recklessness will inevitably lead to failure. Persuaded by your stubbornness, you will heavily pay the price.” A very unfortunate fate indeed—one couldn’t receive worse omens. “If only I had listened to the expert…” The Nameless Fox inwardly scoffed at Karami's displeased expression. She knew it was doomed from the start. “A guest from the Nine-tale Fox’s acquaintance, you came to me instead of the Nine-tale Fox. Why is that?” “The Nine-tale Fox read my fortune as well. Said if it turns black, I would die.” As Karami muttered his complaint, the Nameless Fox's eyes flickered. The Nine-tale Fox’s reading differed from hers—it was more prophetic, almost like a divine messenger’s insight, whereas hers was merely fortune-telling. If the Nine-tale Fox claimed Karami’s death, it was most likely true. That lent some credence to her bad omens. ‘Now I see.’ She pondered why he’d sought her out instead of the Nine-tale Fox. He already knew his fate. Fearing his impending death, he had come to plead for a reversal. What was the Nine-tale Fox thinking? Surely she, more than anyone, would know yokai shouldn’t meddle with fate, yet she introduced Karami to the Nameless Fox. It’s clear she had the Nine-tale Fox’s influence. “Don’t be too disheartened. If you strive, you will inevitably find a breakthrough.” It was not sincere advice; it dripped with mockery. No mortal struggles could defy destiny. The Nameless Fox merely filled him with baseless hope. Karami fiddled with the tiles, contemplating the fortune. “What’s the best possible outcome anyway?” "There is no definitive 'best.' Fortune varies widely depending on who draws what, and when." "But there must be some generally auspicious ones, right?" "Well, there are some..." "If there is, may I take a look?" Although the Nameless Fox was reluctant, she decided to grant the last request of a man on the brink of death. She drew three tiles from the faced-down set, as if she already knew their exact nature without needing to check. When she flipped them over, the tiles revealed were a dragon, a monkey, and a rabbit. "The dragon signifies success in all endeavors, the monkey symbolizes companionship in life, and the rabbit holds the liver of longevity, representing peace, tranquility, and a harmonious household." It was almost as if this was the exact reversal of Karami’s fate—completely distant from death. “Oh, this is nice,” Karami expressed with interest. The Nameless Fox glanced at him with cold eyes. Predictably, he’d request her to reverse his fate. But that was not going to happen. The Nameless Fox had no intention of reversing Karami’s fate, whether for personal reasons or otherwise. It was at that moment she thought to herself. “Well, I still prefer the ones I picked myself.” “…What?” Karami shuffled aside the tiles the Nameless Fox had drawn and retrieved his own selection. With a deft move, he rearranged them. From cow, rat, chicken to chicken, rat, cow. The Nameless Fox’s eyes widened at the new formation. The meaning shifted entirely. Leading with the chicken tile. A bird heralding good tidings. The very cry of the chicken, once symbolic of ruin, now signaled the vanquishing of darkness and the dawn of a new start. The rat remained diligent. It stops at nothing to achieve its goals. The fruit of such labor is wealth, abundance, and peace. It’s no lazy cow wallowing in comfort. It represents peace relentlessly earned against all odds, finally reaping rewards after tenacious persistence. The rat’s diligence turns into a strong foundation in this pivotal role—a structure built on such effort isn’t easily toppled. What was once an ominous alignment, just by switching the order, becomes an extraordinary blessing. “What do you think? Doesn’t this look good too?” Karami flashed the Nameless Fox a knowing grin. To many, it might seem forced or trivial, but to the Nameless Fox, it was different. She was a fox who could reverse fate. She had seen countless people begging her to alter their fates as predicted by fortune. But Karami, trying to alter his fate himself, without any external help, was a first. In front of the 'cipher of fate.' Without relying on the cipher. Though a better fate was presented to him, he refused to reject the path he had carved out for himself, attempting to turn things around for the better without giving up. Without realizing, the Nameless Fox murmured as she looked at Karami. “A rebellious one…” An individual who doesn’t concede to fate but turns it upside down. Such rare individuals are called 'rebellious’ by the world.