Chapter 18: Heavenly Fox (3)
"You... fucking bitch...? You goddamn cunt...?"
"Why'd you leave out the retard part, you brain-dead moron? Horns jammed into your skull and dropped your IQ too?"
"You son of a bitch?!"
She was properly pissed now. The satyros bitch swung her knee right into my joint. There was a sickening crunch from my leg, a sound that shouldn't come from any human body.
"Kehk...!"
By the time I snapped back to reality, I was already sprawled out on the floor. She planted her foot on my chest with a heavy thud and sneered down at me.
"A pathetic human who can only sell his body...! Fine, you wanna die that bad? I'll grant your wish...!"
Flames roared to life in her hand, licking at the air. Whoosh. She'd already pulverized my leg like it was nothing, and now magic on top of that inhuman strength? For a guy like me with just a decent body, there was no countering that gap in power.
Just because of different species, our starting lines were worlds apart.
What a fucking equal world.
Mom.
I'd figured I'd get beat up, but not like this—I hadn't even imagined it. The heat from those rising flames reached me even from here.
One hit from that fireball, and I'd be charred beyond bone recovery. At best, I'd lose a limb and end up a cripple.
The other bitches around finally seemed to realize shit was serious, heading toward the satyros. But before they could do anything, I'd be roasted first.
A chuckle slipped out.
Eyes dead serious about their own life. Eyes that won't drop their pride even staring down death. Eyes glaring at me like that, desperate to live even on the brink.
Lilith's words echoed in my head.
Guys with eyes like that are one of two things. They either thrash around trying to survive and drop dead, or they endure to the end and get what they want.
Looks like I was the drop-dead type. Thinking that, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Laughing? You think I'm fucking around, oppa? Or did you lose your mind from fear?"
She growled, clearly not liking my vibe. I forced my mouth open.
"Your teeth... are fucking ugly... you retard bitch."
"Argh...!"
That set her off for real. She hurled the fireball at me.
It fell slowly, right toward me.
A random thought hit me.
What if I'd just swallowed my pride? Would it have come to this? Honestly, was there even reason to escalate that hard?
But... why couldn't I?
Mad about being called a male whore? Nah, that wasn't it. Compared to all the mockery I'd eaten through life, that was nothing.
Then why?
Pissed at the satyros trying to backstab me with her powers?
Nope.
Bitches who'd screwed me over weren't one or two. Hell, my back was public property at this point. Anyone who couldn't scam an orphan like me with no power or parents was the real retard.
Kindness, trust, love.
All that shit.
Stuff everyone just gets born with and picks up growing up.
Back when I was a naive kid, how much I'd raged and cried wanting that crap, only to get fucked over.
So not that either.
Questions piled on questions, until the answer hit.
Was there a reason I had to survive no matter what?
That's why I'd charged in.
Not mad about the whore insult.
It was a fact, after all.
Not pissed at backstabbers either.
Life throws that shit at you sometimes.
Before the world went to hell, after— I'd lived through every fucking thing imaginable.
Born an abandoned orphan, raised under a bitch director who saw us kids as walking welfare checks, clawed my way to a job only for some electric-spewing rat bastard to steal it, got shoved down further by non-humans when I was already scraping bottom.
Still not dead?
Still not giving up?
Like the world was telling me, I had to keep crawling forever.
Shoved, beaten, discriminated against as baseline, with nothing to my name, no clue who my parents were—that's how an orphan lives.
For me, all I had left was my tiny scrap of pride.
The one thing I had, worthless as fuck in life. And now they wanted me to bend even that?
I'd never bowed my head, not when I smashed a punk's nose for mocking the name my unknown parents gave me—Kang Hanjo—and got half-killed by his dad and that bitch director.
Every backstabber, I'd screwed over somehow and survived.
Lived my whole life guarding that flimsy little pride.
No way in hell.
Absolutely impossible.
Better dead than living like scum.
No attachments anyway.
Nothing to lose, no regrets. Kept my pride till the end—good enough.
Yeah, good enough.
That's what I wanted to think.
But Lilith's smirking face popped up, grinning like it was a joke.
You wanna be my kid?
I'm a virgin, you fucker.
First time meeting, she says she likes me so have her kid, mouth like a sailor, fists and feet flying at the drop of a hat.
But still, Lilith saw me—not the orphan, but Kang Hanjo.
Fuck, what now.
Feels like I do have regrets.
"Shit..."
But fuck, even if I wanted to, that damn bitch snapped my leg—I couldn't run. Too late anyway.
"Mom... seriously..."
In the end, all I could do was curse as the fireball closed in.
I squeezed my eyes shut right before it hit.
But... time passed, and my body didn't ignite. No insane heat.
Didn't even have time to think that before burning to ash?
I cracked my eyes open. Golden tails filled my view.
Nine shimmering golden tails.
Bells on talismans at their tips jingled crisply with every sway—ding, ding.
"Are you alright, child?"
The woman turning to me with that question made my eyes go wide.
Her twin eyes sparkled like captured rainbows, curving into crescent smiles. So beautiful, it took me a second to realize it was a grin just for me.
The satyros bitch wriggling helplessly in her grip didn't even register—that woman was mesmerizing enough to steal souls.
But I wasn't stunned just by her beauty.
"Wha...?"
"Fear not. I've only come to help you. Now, child."
Close your eyes for a moment.
She said it, and a swishing tail covered my eyes.
The fluffy golden fur enveloped my face, my mind going hazy in a whole new way.
Then, her voice and that damn satyros's screams reached my ears.
"Now, then. Time to judge your crimes."
"Kyaaak?!"
"The laws of this world are solemn, yet you used sorcery to bewitch a man—that is your first sin. Bullying the weak with force, your second. Covering it with violence, your third. All heinous and lawless. Do you know your sins?"
"W-Wait... just a sec... why you... how...?"
"I came to meet a friend and this commotion arose. Unlucky for you. Lucky for that child. Did you think he'd survive those flames? Do you grasp the weight of your deeds?"
"Sp-Spare... please..."
"I won't discipline you with death. It's not my place, nor do I have the authority. However."
Crunch, crackle. Screams followed.
"The principle that misguided power crumbles under greater power—I shall etch it into your body."
The screams went on a while, then stopped.
The tail lifted from my eyes. The satyros lay crumpled on the floor, passed out.
Trembling, foaming at the mouth. No visible wounds, but whatever happened... unimaginable.
"Worry not for that wench. Her soul shattered under her own karma."
"Wasn't worried."
"Is that so?"
She covered her mouth, chuckling as she eyed me. Staring blankly, she looked a bit embarrassed and spoke.
"Forgive me. I had no intent to mock you."
"Nah, didn't think that."
"Is that so? Such a kind child. More importantly... show me your leg. I must see the wound."
"Huh?"
Oh, my leg.
Glancing down, my right leg was twisted wrong from her knee strike.
Fuck, shit.
At least 12 weeks recovery—serious injury.
As I grimaced at the bow-legged mess, she reached out and kneaded it.
"Fortunately, the damage isn't severe. Your sturdy body is a blessing. Be grateful to the parents who bore you so healthy."
"...I'm an orphan."
"Oh, forgive me..."
I felt worse for dropping truth bombs on my accidental savior back-to-back.
"A-Anyway... it'll heal quickly, so don't worry."
Quickly? On a 12-week injury?
As I thought that, she peeled a talisman from her tail and slapped it on my leg.
"Eek?!"
My twisted leg jerked wildly, straightening out.
Problem was, it hurt like hell in the process.
"There, done."
She peeled it off, and the pain stopped. My leg—previously zombie-level—was good as new.
"Magic's awesome..."
"Not magic—sorcery."
"Sorcery's awesome..."
She chuckled at my quick correction. Snapping out of it, I bowed my head.
"Anyway... thank you, really."
"No need for thanks. It's only right to help when seeing wrong. But you bear some fault too."
She extended her hand. I stared blankly; she grabbed it, pulling me up.
"Stronger than you, yet why risk your life so lightly?"
"...She was the fucking bitch at fault. Why should I bow? Don't wanna."
Thinking of the satyros, curses slipped out. Her eyes widened at my words.
The woman who'd effortlessly crushed my near-beater looked so cute like that.
But soon, she smiled. That smile—whoosh—melted the world in illusion.
Staring dazed, she spoke.
"You're right. Bowing to the strong when they're wrong is unjust. I've slighted your resolve. I've erred against you thrice already—what shall I do?"
Nine tails swayed gently behind her, joyfully.
They stilled.
"Yes, this will do. To atone for slighting you thrice. An orphan, yet unyielding to wrong or oppression—talent or no, effort will make you great timber. Child, will you be my disciple?"
"Huh?"
"Worry not. I can provide for you. No need to see 'disciple' so stiffly—treat me as mother if you wish."
"No, wait..."
"Ah, yes. Natural to hesitate—a stranger demanding discipleship. Hm, my fame embarrasses a bit, but allow me to introduce myself."
No.
I know you.
No way I wouldn't know someone as famous as Lilith.
Before I could say it, she spoke.
"I am Hoaran. Grandmaster of Sorcery (????) that pierces all arts of the myriad realms (????), and the Heavenly Fox (????)."
Nine golden tails undulated, draping her form. Stroking their tips lovingly, Hoaran continued.
"Master of the Nine Tails (Kyuubi), reached the principle of nine."