Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Ten-Tailed Fox
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The moment the name "Ten-Tailed Fox" was mentioned...
A crack appeared on the face of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Yoo Jin-seo.
'...I could become a Ten-Tailed Fox?'
It was the dream of all foxes, the object of their utmost envy.
In a word, the fox "god."
The ultimate being that foxes had lost long ago!
It's said that back when the Ten-Tailed Fox existed, even the demons of the Abyss dared not touch the foxes.
But after losing the Ten-Tailed Fox, the foxes fell into becoming playthings for the demons.
They were constantly summoned and toyed with in the hell called the Creative Abyss whenever the demons grew bored.
'Words from those defeated in the Racial War.'
...According to the foxes' records.
Once the Ten-Tailed Fox died, the foxes' world perished.
Due to repeated low rankings in the Racial War, they lost countless "important things."
The foxes who once defied the demons or acted with bravado were no more.
No, the foxes that remained now knew of their world only through records.
Yoo Jin-seo had lived in the "Fox Den" since birth as well.
Her world consisted entirely of the "Fox Den."
Her sole mission was to become the protagonist here and drive the challengers to despair.
A curse that would repeat eternally until death.
'At last, a chance has come for me too.'
The world where the Fox Den was installed had perished.
Thanks to that, the "Fox Den" was ejected, settling in an entirely different world, escaping the grasp of the "Creator of the Burning Border."
This was her opportunity.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
'If I become the master of this Creative Abyss, I can gain my freedom.'
The stepping stone to becoming a true "protagonist."
With one leap, she would gain the right to roam a world freely for the first time, escaping this Abyss.
Yet right at the start, an unfamiliar fox appeared and dangled the tantalizing offer of becoming a Ten-Tailed Fox.
The problem was the method.
"You're saying that only if you—not I—become the protagonist can the 'Ten-Tailed Fox' be achieved?"
She asked again for proper confirmation.
It was simply incomprehensible.
The idea that the qualifications of that god could only be attained if someone else achieved them.
"That's correct. The moment I complete the scenario, the 'Foxfire' that allows one to become the 'Ten-Tailed Fox' will appear."
"Foxfire..."
Ah. Yoo Jin-seo nodded.
Foxfire was the magic of the lost foxes.
This too was one of the most important treasures—and identities—of the foxes, stolen in the "Racial War."
Did that mean the "Creator of the Burning Border" had possessed it?
"..."
Yoo Jin-seo fell silent.
She stared into Park Chan-woo's eyes.
Examining him with her reddened gaze, she mulled over his words.
If this guy's words were lies, the end would be the annihilation of the Fox Den.
The moment the demon race "Auraum" was hunted and cleared, the Fox Den would vanish, and she would meet death as well.
Conversely, if his words were true...
'The liberation of the foxes.'
She might gain not just simple freedom, but the power to liberate all foxes.
Yoo Jin-seo pondered.
Wasn't it all too coincidental?
A hidden piece left by the creator.
If it was designed to appear once the Fox Den's life ran out, what was the reason?
"What did the 'Creator of the Burning Border' intend to do by completing the Ten-Tailed Fox?"
"For fun."
"...?"
"Wouldn't that be more entertaining?"
"..."
Park Chan-woo answered honestly without a hint of hesitation.
Hidden pieces were always like that.
Devices left purely for the creators' "amusement."
Likewise, completing the "Ten-Tailed Fox" was just one form of pure fun for the creator.
Yoo Jin-seo knew this too.
The question and answer were so obvious that she was at a loss for words.
Yoo Jin-seo bit her lip lightly.
'Has the enchantment truly taken hold?'
A Nine-Tailed Fox's enchantment was absolute.
Once eyes met, no one could escape.
They became slaves, loyal until death.
But this guy was no ordinary being.
'I cast the highest level of enchantment. He shouldn't be able to voice his own thoughts.'
A side effect of powerful enchantment.
They could only answer questions directly.
Afterward, their minds broke, turning them into puppets.
Yet this one was different.
Yoo Jin-seo recalled their earlier conversation.
—...The final hidden piece. What is it?
—I can't tell you here.
—What?
—I can only tell it to you, the Nine-Tailed Fox.
If enchanted by a Nine-Tailed Fox, he should have answered immediately on the spot.
However, this fox had clearly thought it through and responded deliberately.
Of course, an immediate answer would have caused her headaches in many ways.
The Ten-Tailed Fox was the qualification all foxes coveted.
Word spreading to every other fox was only a matter of time.
She didn't think the foxes would betray her right away, but in this special situation, she couldn't guarantee what might happen.
'The enchantment has definitely taken hold weakly.'
He seemed to have some mental resistance.
Normally, the enchanted would think and act for the fox's best interests.
Likewise, this guy had chosen the optimal path for Yoo Jin-seo.
A private meeting with her alone.
Ensuring only she knew this fact.
He believed it was safest if only she, the Nine-Tailed Fox, knew.
In other words...
"...You asked for a private meeting because you think the other foxes will be a threat to me?"
She probed lightly.
To see what he perceived as dangerous.
If he couldn't answer properly here, or showed even a hint of hesitation, then he wasn't enchanted.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
"There isn't just one Nine-Tailed Fox in this Fox Den, is there?"
"..."
"The demon race Auraum, the Fox Den's final trial—that existence is also a 'Nine-Tailed Fox.' I know that."
"...'Did the Creator of the Burning Border tell you that?'"
Ha.
To think he even knew that.
It was a fact unknown to most foxes.
Only a select few knew Auraum was a Nine-Tailed Fox.
Those chosen as "Holy Sword Users."
"I know everything about this Fox Den."
Park Chan-woo replied leisurely.
The Creator of the Burning Border?
As if that guy would share such premium info.
He had simply learned it despite himself through countless experiences.
How many sacrifices had piled up in attempts to conquer this "Fox Den"?
Each death unlocked one secret, spreading through the challengers.
The hope that Yoo Jin-seo was the saintess.
The wish that slaying the demon "Auraum" would change something!
In the end, Yoo Jin-seo became the Fox Den's master and roamed Earth freely.
Under the name of saintess, she led people and reaped countless lives.
So.
'Perish with the Fox Den, Yoo Jin-seo.'
Park Chan-woo vowed.
No matter what, absolutely.
There would be no future where Yoo Jin-seo survived alongside the Fox Den.
Meanwhile, Yoo Jin-seo was deliberating.
'If Auraum learns of the Ten-Tailed Fox's existence, he'll come out of the trial to eliminate me.'
This fox was dangerous.
The reason the Fox Den's trials could never be resolved lay solely with "Auraum."
He was a Nine-Tailed Fox evolved purely for battle.
Driven only by the desire to grow stronger and the urge to destroy.
If he learned this, he'd become the Ten-Tailed Fox himself and burn everything down.
Honestly... it terrified her.
Facing that monster, Auraum.
'Better to eliminate him here.'
Achieving the Ten-Tailed Fox was a grand dream, but the risk of her being removed before then was far too great.
If she suddenly tried changing the scenario, Auraum would grow suspicious.
That suspicion would turn to certainty, tightening around her neck.
Removing this dangerous guy here would far better aid her quest to become the Abyss's master.
'He's probably debating whether to kill me or not.'
Park Chan-woo knew of her dilemma.
So he drove the wedge in.
"The 'Creator of the Burning Border' chose you, not Auraum, Yoo Jin-seo."
"..."
Yoo Jin-seo didn't respond for a long while.
Her eyes wavered with crossing emotions.
Her world was this Fox Den entirely.
Naturally, the creator who made the Fox Den was her world incarnate.
This meant the creator had acknowledged her for the first time.
The creator was like the chains binding her, yet also a being she once longed to face.
Soon, regaining her composure, Yoo Jin-seo spoke.
"You. What's your name?"
"Park Chan-woo."
"...Doesn't suit a fox name."
Yoo Jin-seo shook her head slowly.
At least in Park Chan-woo's tale, there were no contradictions.
Everything rang quite plausible.
No matter how many times she mulled it over.
He kept saying exactly what she wanted to hear.
Yoo Jin-seo made her decision.
In that instant.
Puuk!
Yoo Jin-seo's hand pierced through Park Chan-woo's chest.
The Marsh of Vengeful Spirits.
The Holy Sword Users reached its end.
"Saintess, shall we kill her?"
The foxes holding holy swords asked.
Meaning, kill the Fire Spirit and proceed to the next trial?
"Let's stall a bit longer. It seems quite a few humans are getting shredded in the 'Marsh of Vengeful Spirits'."
"Idiots. Just don't look back—how hard can that be?"
The foxes sneered heartily.
They couldn't help but find the humans struggling with even the first trial laughable.
At least two hundred or more would die.
The original scenario had Yoo Jin-seo timing it right and slaying the Fire Spirit with the holy sword to advance.
But.
"This trial will be cleared by this guy, not me."
"Pardon?"
"Are you saying you'll change the scenario?"
"And that guy is..."
The foxes looked in horror at the direction Yoo Jin-seo pointed.
There stood Park Chan-woo.
An unidentified fox who had appeared out of nowhere.
After the two conversed, she abruptly changed the scenario.
And it wasn't just any change.
She declared that an unidentified fox—not her—would kill the "Fire Spirit."
In other words.
"N-No way..."
"Are you saying you're changing the protagonist?"
...She intended to flip the entire board over.