Chapter 202: Heavenly Fox
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Heavenly Fox
It is said that when a fox lives past fifty years, it can transform into a woman. When it reaches one hundred, it can become a beautiful woman or a divine shaman.
It can know of matters a thousand li away, command venomous insects and ghosts, and bewitch people. When it reaches a thousand years, it can communicate with the heavens and becomes a Heavenly Fox (天狐).
-Hyeonjunggi
*
A Heavenly Fox.
Where was I supposed to look?
I'd seen many "internal energy pouches" in my time, but this one was in a league of its own.
A pair so massive they overwhelmed even my Master's, and even the Snake Queen's.
They even displayed a power a level above Baek Seol-hwa's.
Having seen them, it was no wonder I was momentarily lost in a daze.
"Gerorororong…."
An undignified sound escaped my lips before I knew it.
It felt a bit pathetic to make such a noise the moment I could finally move, but my opponent was just too much.
If it had just ended with their size, it might have been fine, but her other features were just as formidable.
Should I say her appearance was literally optimized for bewitching others?
For a spirit beast of my caliber to lose his composure... that said it all.
Look at those straps, resembling a garter belt, so out of place with the background.
They had a demonic charm that further accentuated her already dangerously alluring thighs.
How wonderful would it be to lie comfortably on that soft, springy, plush place.
…….
…Why am I having these thoughts?
I can't deny that I have an interest in... such things.
But not to this extent.
I can confidently say I wouldn't be drooling like an idiot when I don't even know if this being is friend or foe.
Right.
There are legends about foxes bewitching their opponents.
I must have been unknowingly ensnared by that power.
As expected of a formidable opponent.
"I have yet to do anything," the Heavenly Fox said with a slight smile.
...As if I'd believe that.
Could it be the influence of the Gaegaek Bedroom Arts?
Yes, that's it.
Of course. Why else would I be acting like this?
‘Krororo….’
Right, perfect timing.
The perfect choice to escape this situation.
"Kuaaargh!"
Thanks to imagining the Heart Demon, I barely managed to regain my senses.
"Your mental fortitude is quite impressive. Though, seeing as you were bewitched despite me doing nothing, perhaps I should say the opposite? Well, regardless, I shall praise you for managing to move within my space."
So she did cast a bewitchment spell.
I need to get a grip.
Her face is pretty, her chest is large, her skin is fine, her flesh is soft, her voice is sweet, and her clothes are... admirable, but that's all there is to it.
There's no particular reason for the person before me to be friendly.
Let's analyze the situation.
The fox marble showed signs of attacking me.
Immediately after, this woman appeared, and she calls herself a Heavenly Fox.
A Heavenly Fox is a fox that has trained for a thousand years.
The fox marble is hostile to me, so would this woman be friendly?
Not a chance.
Besides, this woman possessed overwhelming power.
A power that seemed to stop time, one whose principles I couldn't even begin to guess.
The snowflakes have stopped, and Iron Head Dragon can't even react.
Kududuk.
I have to break free from these restraints, somehow.
Just moving a little won't be nearly enough.
The moment she reveals her killing intent, I'll die without even being able to resist.
It was then.
Woooong.
The fox marble reacted.
The purple-tinged bead floated into the air and spun around.
It moved freely, as if unaffected by the Heavenly Fox's power.
"The more I look, the more interesting you are."
When the Heavenly Fox raised a finger, the fox marble flew straight to it.
The fox marble rubbed itself gently against her finger, as if acting cute.
The Heavenly Fox watched it for a moment before shifting her gaze to me.
"For this child to show favor to another species..."
What?
Favor?
It was trying to kill me just a moment ago!
"I see now why you can move in this place. To think a mere spirit beast possesses such a degree of divinity."
Her golden eyes, almost white, flashed.
It was a beautiful gaze, but just as dangerous.
"You have the trust of the largest snake and the smallest fledgling dragon."
Just as I can see the status window, I get the impression she's seeing something beyond me.
She saw things that even Iron Head Dragon, who had gained the fox marble's power, could not. It wouldn't be strange for a Heavenly Fox to see such things.
"Your followers are also extraordinary. A little one who wields cold, a red spirit beast from the West, and ten descendants of a horse exiled from the Heavenly Realm."
...A horse exiled from the Heavenly Realm?
Is she talking about the Bicorns?
I thought there was something strange about them, but they're even more amazing than I imagined.
"One young snake and three spiders... Even I cannot fathom the potential these ones hold."
Something's a little strange.
She mentioned the Red Dragon, Baek Rang, and the Snake Queen, but she didn't give them such a grand description.
Swish-Swish and the spiders were so weak it was almost an insult to compare them to Baek Rang, the weakest of the group.
And yet she says she can't fathom their potential?
"They have been with the aura of the Tailed Old Death since their weakest state... Even with my eyes that pierce through all creation, I cannot see the outcome."
I wasn't completely convinced, but I could understand to some extent.
Even within the same species, the results of evolution would differ depending on their experiences.
My followers, having experienced being with me, a mid-tier dragon, would be given a wider variety of choices.
Just like my special evolutions.
It might be similar for Baek Rang and the Red Dragon, but they are creatures that have already evolved several times. On the other hand, Tus, Pus, Nephila, and Swish-Swish have evolved once at most.
Spiders and a snake who have been with the Crushing Dragon.
It was an unprecedented situation, so I could somewhat understand why a being like the Heavenly Fox would say such a thing.
"And there's a human, too. Her name is... Tang... well, let's skip that."
Why you gotta do my Soyeong like that?
Still, I won't argue.
"To summarize, it is a divinity that a mere spirit beast should not possess."
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
"Enough to warrant my expectations."
She has expectations.
Those are positive words, but I can't let my guard down.
She could suddenly snap and attack me, shouting, "Keep me entertained!"
Hooo.
The Heavenly Fox exhaled smoke from her long pipe.
It wasn't harsh, but it was a mysterious scent I had never smelled before.
"I am a divine beast connected to the heavens, and I am called the Heavenly Fox."
A divine beast connected to the heavens. I'd pretty much guessed as much after hearing the name Heavenly Fox.
The difference in our class is immense.
I can't tell how large the gap in our power is, but this technique that seems to stop time is incredibly tricky. If I can't figure out a way to counter it, I have no chance of winning.
"I must retrieve the fox marbles that have lost their bodies, and I must also soothe other vengeful spirits. I have but one body, yet there is so much to do."
She has a lot to do. It's obvious just by looking at her.
Her voice was steeped in fatigue, and I could see dark circles under her eyes.
Moreover, seeing her smoke her pipe repeatedly reminded me of a common sight: an office worker exhausted from overtime.
"And now, a part of Tai Sui has descended. Do you understand how busy I am?"
The descent of Tai Sui. Since she's connected to the heavens, of course she'd have to deal with that too.
"Therefore, I shall entrust this child to you."
Those were words I never expected.
"This child wants you. It is such a troublemaker that I was at a loss, but I am glad it has met you."
...The fox marble wants me?
Why?
You tried to kill me just now.
Or was it not trying to kill me?
Why on earth would it? What did I ever do for it?
...Wait, now that I think about it, it popped out of Iron Head Dragon's body because I defeated him.
Could it be that it thinks I saved it?
And its attempt to go berserk wasn't to kill me, but to protect me from the Iron Head Dragon that had swallowed it?
Woooong.
The fox marble trembled lightly.
"Will you take this child?"
I couldn't even think of refusing.
The chance to legally obtain the fox marble was appealing, but there was a bigger reason.
I had a feeling that the reason the Heavenly Fox was being somewhat friendly was so she could entrust the fox marble to me.
Look at that annoyed expression.
Taking the fox marble with her probably isn't a simple matter.
She was already busy, and now the descent of Tai Sui has made her even busier.
So busy that it's impossible for her to have a conversation like this without stopping time.
...Of course, she's probably not really stopping time.
Seeing as I can move, even if just a little, it must be a technique that works on a different principle.
For example, maybe she put everyone to sleep and invaded their dreams.
I don't know the specifics, but I can tell that the Heavenly Fox is extremely busy and wants to leave this fox marble with me.
"Gekgek!"
At my resounding reply, the corners of the Heavenly Fox's mouth lifted.
"I can certainly see the qualities of a dragon in you."
The Heavenly Fox looked at me with a peculiar expression.
Why are you looking at my lower half?
...You're looking at my tail, right?
"The dragon of the previous generation was as promiscuous as you."
Promiscuous? You've got the wrong person. No, the wrong lizard.
Still, I should listen to what she has to say.
This is information about a dragon, no less.
Coming from someone of the Heavenly Fox's stature, it must be about a True Dragon.
"The way he let his lower half run wild... We weren't that close, but it would take two full moons just to recount the tales I've heard of his deeds."
So the story of the Nine Sons of the Dragon was true.
The truth is that dragons are incredibly lecherous creatures.
Though they are noble and divine beings, they were endlessly frivolous with their lower halves and had countless children.
It seems I still have a long way to go before I become a True Dragon.
Since my disposition is the complete opposite.
"But even he wouldn't have been like that at this age."
The Heavenly Fox stared at me intently.
"I suppose in some aspects, you are a cut above."
What does that mean?
"I suppose I can look forward to it."
...Is she saying my talent surpasses that of a True Dragon? Should I take that as a compliment?
Woooong.
The fox marble trembled once more, then flew into my arms.
Woong. Woooong.
It hummed as if it wanted to say something, but I couldn't understand its meaning.
"It's a selfish, rowdy little thing, so please take good care of it."
It certainly seems that way.
But what exactly is a fox marble, for it to act like this?
It's acting like a creature with its own consciousness.
"Normally, I would not entrust a bead to another species."
Come to think of it, where is the Heavenly Fox's own bead?
I can see two large orbs, but not a fox marble.
"Unless one overcomes a trial, one cannot take a bead."
Woooooong.
The bead trembled lightly.
A trial?
Hey, you said you were giving it to me for free.
"Of course, there is no trial I shall bestow upon you."
I thought someone who lived for a thousand years would be a bit stuffy, but she's flexible.
She's so generous.
"For possessing both the Dragon Gate and a fox marble is a trial in itself."
"Ge... Gekgek?"
The Heavenly Fox's expression changed in an instant.
She bit her lower lip slightly, her face looking somewhat mischievous.
"You moved without permission, answered, and even asked a question."
Her nine tails swayed gently.
"I have more than enough reason to make a bet on you."
Step.
The Heavenly Fox walked toward me.
With every step, her surreal body swayed, making it embarrassing to watch.
But since I couldn't move my body freely, I truly had no choice but to watch her movements.
The Heavenly Fox reached me and smiled faintly.
"Hmm... What's so great about this old body of mine?"
Her pink lips drew closer and closer.
Gulp.
Don't tell me she's going to do... that kind of thing with someone she just met?
I really want to move. It's just my bad luck that I can't move my body right now, so I can't help it.
Shhhk.
But what I had been anticipating didn't happen.
Her body passed right through me, as if she were a ghost.
"Uhuhu."
She showed a mischievous smile, as if she found it amusing.
It wasn't the expression of someone steeped in fatigue; perhaps this was her true face.
"Hundreds and thousands of usurpers will challenge you."
My vision began to blur.
"Tailed Old Death. I have placed my bet on you."
Her cryptic words continued.
There was only one thing I understood.
"If you prove your worth, we can finish what we started...."
...Sigh, why is this the only part I understand clearly?
The moment I opened my eyes again, the Heavenly Fox was gone without a trace.
The snow, which had stopped, began to fall again.
"Kuaargh! The bead! …Huh?"
Iron Head Dragon also started moving again.
If anything had changed from before, it was only that the fox marble had snuggled itself into my fur.