106 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed
**Chapter 106: The Obsession of Freed Slaves - Book Rabbit - Web Novel Archive** The nine-tailed fox, now reborn as a true member of her kind, assessed her condition. She had not only regained her strength but possessed the power of a thousand foxes, and even Black Fox's abilities. Stronger than ever before, this was a new era of prosperity for her. The only remaining task was to achieve the unfulfilled wishes of the past. She felt certain that she could overcome any trial now. But before that... "Honey? Why on earth are you here? I told you not to come." What puzzled her was Karam's actions. Why had he come here? Despite thinking it over repeatedly, the question remained unresolved. She needed to hear his answer to clear up the turbulent emotions and thoughts swirling within her. "Did I have a reason not to come because you said so?" "Huh?" "I am the master, and you are the slave. Where in the world does a master obey a slave's commands?" It was a fundamentally sound argument. The master gives commands. The slave follows them. There was no need for a master to adhere to a slave's words. "Well, that's true." The nine-tailed fox acknowledged his simple logic with a bemused smile, murmuring as she gazed longingly at the sky. "A slave and a master... huh..." A bond so strong that even death couldn't sever it. Why had she never had such a person in her past? Or perhaps she had. The nine-tailed fox turned her gaze to Black Fox. "Why did you betray me, Black Fox?" To her, Black Fox was a comrade, a friend, and a sister. Their trust was such that she could willingly offer her back to her in battle. The betrayal left her utterly defenseless. Black Fox tilted her head, feigning ignorance while maintaining an innocent facade. "Betrayal? It was not I who betrayed, but you, Nine-tailed Fox." "...What?" "You couldn't suppress your greed, putting our kin in danger, ignoring any advice. What was the outcome?" The nine-tailed fox's desire to ascend to the heavens. Because of it, countless foxes couldn't live out their lives, and the once dominantly thriving fox tribe faced near extinction. The surviving foxes scattered across the world, eventually punished by the heavens and reduced to spirits. "You betrayed the trust your followers had in you." "That’s..." Black Fox appealed to the silent nine-tailed fox with a tone full of pity. "If only you had listened, even once... We wouldn't have come to this." She never turned back, not even once. Abandoned her dying kin. That day, Black Fox's actions were the best possible decision to save the tribe. "Was it so difficult to be content with reality? Pushing your kin to hell?" "I just wanted to do what I desired..." "In the end, no one was left." Every word from Black Fox pierced like a cold dagger. Had it been from anyone else, she would have dismissed it with a scoff, but Black Fox was the one speaking. Normally emotionless, Black Fox's emotional plea couldn't be ignored even by the nine-tailed fox. Completely subdued by mere words, the nine-tailed fox bowed her head. "Come now, let’s not fight over the past. Didn't Big Rin pay the price for the betrayal during the centuries sealed away?" A few hundred years would be enough to expire multiple limitations periods. "This is not something for an outsider to comment on." "Perhaps in the past, but not now. Big Rin is my slave, hence not an outsider." "Big Rin...?" "It's the name for the Nine-tailed Fox. The other one inside is Rin. She's Big Rin." At this point, Rin had grown to such an extent that distinguishing sizes was pointless, but this was the best name that came to mind for distinction. A shock swept over Black Fox. Naming the nine-tailed fox? Although surprised, Black Fox could see that the nine-tailed fox didn’t deny it. Avoiding eye contact, she twirled her hair around her fingers. "M-maybe it’s not so bad... Seems okay when I hear it." A second shock. Just moments ago, she was adamant about addressing others only by names prescribed to masters and slaves, yet she wasn't averse to being called by her name by a human. "Has the Nine-tailed Fox become a woman?" "A woman! What are you talking about?" A pure maiden-like reaction. Though she was optimized to captivate men as a nine-tailed fox, she wasn’t used to the reverse. The DNA of a female took precedence amidst a heroic appearance in crisis. The blush on her cheeks was as good as declaring her femininity. "This can’t be..." That was Black Fox's state of mind. The idol she admired and revered had suddenly fallen for an unknown man and was now declaring her retirement. The once dazzling public idol was no more. "Nine-tailed Fox, you might as well commit suicide." It would be better. No point living as a woman when the honor of a female ruler should be maintained until death. This was the response of an extreme fangirl when their devotion knew no bounds. "I refuse to die!" Astonished, the nine-tailed fox laughed. Taking a deep breath, she then spoke softly to Black Fox. "I'm sorry." "...!" "I should have listened once. Maybe things wouldn’t have ended up this way. Though it’s far too late to regret now." Nothing was more foolish than regretting past events. The nine-tailed fox stretched. Her expression seemed relieved. "Are you leaving?" "I plan on it. Need to stop wasting time and return the body to its master." She’d finally realized what had been prickling her, learning the undercurrents of the past. Though a mere apology seemed insufficient for Black Fox. "You're not aspiring to reach the heavens?" "Because it wasn’t I who achieved it. Savoring the sweet fruits of others’ labor doesn’t suit my nature. It's you who deserve to stand in the heavens, not me." The nine-tailed fox began to shimmer with light. It was time to ascend. With no particular regrets left, she was ready to depart. 'If I must admit...' There was just one lingering curiosity. "If someone like you had been with me in the past, how different would things have been?" If she had a master who guided her like Rin now—someone leading from not beside or behind, but from the front—wouldn't things have been different? As she pondered this, Karam responded with a candid smile. "Had we met back then, I would probably have died. Would you even have spared me a thought?" "Hmm..." "Bringing the current self’s awareness into the past would be too harsh on your past self." In other words, regardless of how much Karam might have tried to entertain her, back then, she would have stepped over him as if he were an insect. The ability to converse freely was only because they met now. "You're right." Debating an impossible scenario was pointless. The past couldn’t be twisted by fate. "Hey, before we part... could you pat my head just once?" Whenever Karam patted her head, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness from inside Rin. She was curious about what kind of feeling could evoke such emotion. "That's not difficult." Karam gently placed his hand on her head. He softly moved his hand, stroking her hair. It was unfamiliar yet calming. The nine-tailed fox's lips curled into a faint crescent. "Oh, this feeling... not bad." After a while of stroking, he withdrew his hand. She was more than satisfied. "I'll be going now." The light enveloped her body and her spirit slipped out. Karam caught Rin's slumping form. -I nearly forgot to tell you. You're alive thanks to Rin. She preserved your essence and it was my temptation to let you consume it, so don’t blame her too much. "I know." -As long as you know. The matter between the two would be resolved best by them. There was no need to worry anymore. Exchanging a glance with Black Fox, the nine-tailed fox lifted the corner of her mouth lightly. -It seems like I’m apologizing and running away. "..." -Black Fox, was it? You have a pretty name. A calm farewell. Without leaving any regrets, the nine-tailed fox dispersed and vanished. Black Fox stood, staring at the empty space where she disappeared for a time. "Hmm..." Rin muttered almost petulantly from Karam's embrace. With the nine-tailed fox gone, Rin's personality naturally resurfaced. Having observed everything from inside, she quickly regained her composure. Avoiding Karam's gaze, Rin awkwardly greeted him. "Uh, hello, Master." "It's been a while." Rin's lips moved silently. She had thought long and hard about what to say from within. "...I’m sorry. For endangering you, Master..." "It's fine. Thanks to that, you saved us, didn't you?" She wouldn't have died without consuming the essence, but it did keep her alive. Acknowledging the temptation from the nine-tailed fox and the increase in tails which matured her spiritually, Rin was still immature. A child with a grown body. Just as a parent takes responsibility for their child’s mistakes, a master takes responsibility for a slave’s mistakes. One must teach to prevent it from happening again. As Karam raised his hand, Rin's ears responded by splitting to the sides, making it easier to stroke. Her body instinctively remembered, even after a long time. Smiling wryly, Karam stroked her head once more. With eyes closed, Rin savored the touch of his hand. Before they knew it, her nine tails wrapped snugly around Karam. "I’m sorry to interrupt this emotional reunion, but this isn’t the time to enjoy leisurely reunions." With her neck straight, Black Fox looked up at the sky. Darkness covered the sky. An ominous energy concentrated into a single point. In the direction where Bestia resided. "What is that?" "A heavenly punishment." Though some might call it a heavenly punishment, it was more akin to a celestial calamity. It was a disaster invoked by the nine-tailed fox. The goal was to intertwine and restore the twisted celestial beings with the nine-tailed fox. It was similar to Ragnarok. "Let’s return immediately." "Have a safe journey." As Black Fox bowed politely, Karam tilted his head. "What do you mean by that? Black Fox, you're coming with us." "Why would I go?" "What would you do alone after losing all your power? As one of the remaining foxes, you should witness the end." It wasn’t to gather the ultimate fox trio. Absolutely not.