Chapter 66
He moved his residence.
Since arriving on the 70th floor, he decided to leave the cave he had been living in and move to the cave that the nine-tailed fox originally used.
According to her, it was quite a large cave.
Unlike the current one, which felt a bit cramped to him, the new cave was big enough for him to fully stretch out his body.
Leaving the cave filled with memories with Suli felt a little regrettable, but since it was clearly more spacious than this place that felt somewhat suffocating to him, he boldly decided to move.
However, Suli herself seemed far more reluctant.
It was To Soon-i who managed to calm the whining “Kyung-kyung!” cries of Suli as she protested about leaving.
As expected, she was a more capable toy than he had initially thought.
Good thing he didn’t eat her.
The nine-tailed fox’s dwelling was located near the summit of the snow mountain.
And quite deep within it at that. Perhaps due to some magical measures, it was impossible to notice that a cave existed there until one got close enough to perceive it directly.
Could he perhaps learn something like that later?
Inside, the cave truly was as large as she had said.
There was more than enough space for him to fully stretch his massive body.
It was slightly surprising that only the mother and daughter—the Gumiho and Suli—had lived in such a vast place.
Having returned to her original home, Suli was extremely excited.
The moment she entered the cave, she began running around energetically.
To Soon-i hurried after her.
For a moment, he watched the scene with quiet satisfaction.
[What do you think? Do you like it?]
[…Hm? Ah. Indeed, it’s spacious. I won’t have any trouble moving around.]
[That’s a relief. I’m glad you’re satisfied.]
[Hmm? I don’t think it’s something to be that happy about…]
[Ahem…! It certainly is!]
The nine-tailed fox seemed oddly flustered.
He looked at her with mild curiosity before continuing.
[More importantly, is this really alright? This is supposed to be the home for you and Suli. Are you sure outsiders like me and To Soon-i can live here…?]
[It’s fine. You’re already Suli’s family. That makes you family to me as well. And that rabbit… To Soon-i—I quite like her too. You chose a good attendant.]
The nine-tailed fox glanced aside.
Following her gaze, he looked as well.
Suli was running around the cave while crying “Kyung-kyung!”, with To Soon-i trailing behind her like a shadow.
It was a very heartwarming sight.
[Family, huh…]
[…Do you dislike that?]
[No. I’m simply not used to it.]
He lightly shook his head.
The word family was perhaps the most unfamiliar word to him.
When he was human, his family had been worse than strangers.
After becoming a snake, the only “family” he had was the queen—and even with her, there had never been anything resembling genuine familial affection.
Family, for someone like me…
Well, considering his relationship with Suli, it was certainly appropriate to call it that.
Just thinking of Suli as his daughter made the corners of his mouth rise.
Then what would To Soon-i be?
A pet…
No—if she were the eldest daughter, then Suli would be the youngest.
It wasn’t a bad combination.
[Then does that make me the father and you the mother?]
He glanced at the nine-tailed fox.
For once, she coughed awkwardly and avoided his gaze.
Then she quietly added:
[If it’s for Suli’s sake, I wouldn’t mind. I do quite like you as well.]
[Well, our species are different. But that doesn’t really matter.]
His feelings toward Suli didn’t depend on something like that.
More importantly, they were monsters to begin with.
As he nodded lightly, the nine-tailed fox spoke in a brighter voice.
[In that case, I look forward to working with you from now on.]
[Likewise. I look forward to it as well… Should I call you my wife?]
He added the last part teasingly.
The nine-tailed fox visibly flinched.
Then she responded awkwardly.
[Th-that’s right. Th-then… this humble one… no, I… will also be in your care, husband.]
[…?]
Her embarrassed reaction puzzled him, but before he could ask anything—
Suli, who had been running around the cave, approached them.
Behind her, To Soon-i was panting heavily.
“Kyung-kyung!”
Judging by the feeling, she wanted to give him a tour of the house.
When he glanced at the nine-tailed fox to confirm, she was staring at Suli with a very strange expression.
[…She truly is my child. Her timing is impeccable… Though she probably didn’t mean to interrupt…]
He faintly sensed the thought, but since it wasn’t meant for him, he couldn’t clearly understand it.
“Kyung-kyung!”
Tap tap.
Suli smacked his head with her paws.
It clearly meant: Come on! Let’s go!
The attack of those soft paw pads defeated him instantly once again.
Shii—
Alright. Where should we start?
And so that day, with Suli riding on his head, he explored their new home.
That Night
That night, after Suli and To Soon-i fell asleep from exhaustion as usual, he spoke with the nine-tailed fox.
[Do you know anything about the conditions for evolution?]
She pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
[Unfortunately, I know nothing about that.]
[Then how did you evolve?]
[If you mean evolution as in changing species, my clan does not evolve in that sense.]
[…What do you mean?]
She lightly pointed to her tails.
Nine luxurious tails swayed gently behind her.
[As our power grows, we do not evolve. Instead, the number of our tails increases. Our species itself does not change. What you call evolution must be different.]
[…I see. That is certainly different.]
He nodded slowly.
It seemed unlikely he would learn the conditions for evolution from her.
If not her, then perhaps…
Should I visit Arde?
That gentle area boss who always called him “little snake” might know something about evolution.
After all, unlike the nine-tailed fox, Arde had clearly grown through successive evolutions.
While he was contemplating visiting the Lava Zone, the nine-tailed fox suddenly spoke.
[I’m sorry I couldn’t be of much help.]
[…Ah, it’s fine. I’ve already received a great gift from you. I’m not shameless enough to expect more.]
[I see. I’m relieved to hear that.]
She smiled faintly.
And with that, their conversation ended.
He decided to postpone visiting the Lava Zone for now.
If he tried to leave, Suli would definitely insist on following him.
Life with Suli, To Soon-i, and now the Gumiho changed—and yet didn’t change at all.
Since Suli remained the center of their daily life, nothing fundamental had shifted.
But certain small things had.
For one thing, the nine-tailed fox was a strict mother.
Unlike him—who only cared that Suli was happy—she firmly disciplined her daughter when necessary.
Right now was a perfect example.
“Kyyaaaang—!!!”
Suli burst into tears and burrowed into his embrace after being scolded by her mother.
Naturally, he felt a little pleased.
“Kyung-kyung!”
The cry clearly meant:
Mom scolded me! She’s mean! Help me!
He gently soothed Suli, stroking her head with his tail.
Then the nine-tailed fox approached.
[Give Suli to me. I should discipline her properly while the opportunity is here.]
[Wouldn’t it be better to go easy on her? Children her age are all like this.]
[If she isn’t properly taught now, she’ll grow up spoiled and incapable. Education is necessary.]
He imagined it briefly.
An adult Suli clinging to him helplessly.
Crying “Kyung-kyung!” and rubbing her head against him cutely.
…Not bad.
While he was thinking that, the nine-tailed fox shouted sternly.
[And you—stop hiding and come out! If you’ve done wrong, you must accept punishment!]
“Kyang-kyang—!”
No! I did nothing wrong! I hate Mom!
Suli burrowed deeper into his coils.
When he tried to intervene—
[You are far too soft! Step aside!]
Her aura was completely different from her usual calm demeanor.
He obediently shut his mouth.
Suli… go to your mother.
Sorry, but this time even I can’t help you.
“Kyung-kyung!”
Betrayal! Betrayal!
She cried passionately, but he pretended not to hear.
Right now, the nine-tailed fox was an overwhelming force that could not be resisted.
Survive this, Suli… I’ll play with you later.
He watched her being dragged away with sympathy.
[Madam is truly amazing…]
Pii—
To Soon-i had quietly approached beside him.
He nodded silently.
She had always been strong—
But mothers were stronger.
Later, he spent a long time coaxing the sulking Suli who was angry at him for “abandoning” her.
Even with To Soon-i helping, she didn’t calm down easily.
So he went out and hunted a large buffalo.
After grilling it well-done, Suli finally returned to normal.
The nine-tailed fox joined them and clearly enjoyed the buffalo meat as well.
Also well-done.
Indeed, mother and daughter had identical tastes.
Apparently she usually ate raw meat.
It wasn’t common for monsters to cook their food with fire.
If he didn’t still have memories from his human life, he would never have thought of grilling meat either.
After all, monsters rarely even tasted flavors properly.
And then—
While enjoying this slightly changed daily life—
He eventually realized something important.
He had always referred to the nine-tailed fox as “Gumiho,” “she,” or “you.”
But after living together for a while, he realized that wasn’t appropriate.
Even Suli—and even that toy… pet To Soon-i—had names.
He couldn’t keep calling her vaguely like that.
So he asked.
She replied:
[I have no name. There has never been anyone to give me one.]
She explained that when she first became aware of the world, she had been alone.
There was no mother beside her.
She survived alone and eventually became the ruler of this land.
No one had needed to call her by name.
They simply called her “the ruler.”
Even Suli’s father, she said, was irrelevant.
She had simply taken a random male when she felt like having a child.
[Suli has no father other than you.]
She said it firmly.
The statement left him slightly embarrassed.
So he changed the subject.
[Then… would you like a name?]
After some thought, she nodded.
[Then you should give it to me. Just as you gave Suli her name.]
After thinking for a moment, he finally said:
[Snow. What about Snow?]
[What does it mean?]
[The same meaning as Suli. It means snow.]
She smiled gently.
Thus, the Gumiho received her new name.
Snow.
Then she asked him a question.
[What is your name?]
He fell silent.
The name on his status window was still:
Yu Jun-young.
But—
He was no longer human.
He was no longer the Yu Jun-young who once lived.
After a long silence, he answered quietly.
[…I also have no name.]
Snow simply nodded.
[Then you should make one.]
She looked at him carefully.
[You are black.
Your eyes are red.
Your scales shine like the night sky.]
Night.
The word lingered in his mind.
Night…
And then a name surfaced.
Nyx.
The primordial goddess of night in Greek mythology.
He repeated it silently.
Yes.
From now on—
He would no longer live as Yu Jun-young the human.
He would live as Nyx the serpent.
And then—
A message appeared.
【You have fulfilled the conditions for evolution.】
【Achievements required for evolution confirmed.】
【Evolution begins.】
That night—
He finally achieved the evolution he had long desired.