The Nine-Tailed Fox's True Form
A tremendous recoil finally ceased, and the black mass coalesced into a single point. From within it emerged a fox the size of a house.
It was the same size Yeo-won had glimpsed on Mount Inwol before, yet compared to moments ago, it was now small enough to fully take in with her eyes.
Besides the four eyes, all nine tails seemed to possess their own wills, writhing independently in different directions. As her gaze traveled down his body, she saw that his lower half was covered in scales like a serpent.
[I've never heard that before.]
The eyes that had drawn right up to her face all narrowed at once, then opened wide. The mere gesture sent a shiver racing through her entire body, yet Yeo-won answered again with perfect composure.
“You’re beautiful. Like a great moon.”
[Then shall I give you one?]
“Pardon?”
[Did you not say I was beautiful? There are so many. I could spare one.]
“I sincerely decline.”
When Yeo-won answered with clear distaste, he laughed brightly. Then he lowered his massive body and lay down before her.
[I’ll praise you for not being frightened by an appearance so unfamiliar to humans.]
“I’ve grown rather used to things like this, you know.”
[Yet you cried when you saw Mu-ho.]
“That was because I saw it without any warning, and it wasn’t you, Shin-wol…”
Yeo-won trailed off. Shin-wol was staring fixedly at his own form.
Though smaller than before, he was still enormous, and having four eyes fixed on her at once was naturally overwhelming.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
[No reason. Your voice saying my name sounds pleasant.]
Ah. Come to think of it, she had called him Shin-wol in her panic earlier and had continued using his name ever since.
Since it felt less awkward than she expected, she had simply kept doing it. Yeo-won playfully narrowed her eyes.
“Should I start adding ‘sir’ again after all?”
[There’s no need.]
“But that feels much more natural to me.”
[Not to me.]
“It’s familiar to me, though.”
[Then get used to calling me by name from now on.]
Yeo-won couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. When had it started? The moment she realized conversations with him could be enjoyable. Before, they had always felt impossibly difficult. It must have been after she learned he was quite good at teasing.
At first she had been a little startled, but Yeo-won adapted quickly.
His tone and voice remained completely unchanged, so she realized his outward appearance didn’t matter much after all.
“But in that form, I probably can’t touch your tails, right?”
[Hm.]
Shin-wol turned his head to look at his own tails, then rose and sprang into the air with a powerful leap.
With a thunderous boom, the ground shook. Yeo-won instinctively closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Shin-wol had shrunk to a size only slightly larger than an ordinary fox.
Keeping his majestic appearance but reduced in scale, he approached Yeo-won and turned his back to her.
Nine silken tails settled gently across her lap.
[Is this sufficient?]
“……”
[What is it?]
“Nothing. It’s just… unexpected. I didn’t think you’d actually let me touch them.”
[I keep the words I speak.]
Yeo-won gazed at the fox’s sturdy back for a moment, then gently stroked one of his tails. The texture against her palm was so exquisite it raised goosebumps.
“Softer than Cheong-sil’s.”
He didn’t reply, but another tail coiled around her waist instead. The tail that crept upward brushed teasingly against her cheek.
“Ahaha, that tickles.”
Even as she laughed, Yeo-won hugged one of his tails tightly to her chest. When she turned her head, she caught sight of the tall, black ears rising proudly from his dark form.
They twitched back and forth. Entranced, she reached out toward them.
In truth, Yeo-won had always preferred touching ears more than tails.
Cheong-sil’s were the cutest part of him too.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a languid chuckle sounded, and the fox was enveloped in black mist. A human hand suddenly emerged from within it and caught her arm.
[What naughty hands you have. I only permitted the tails.]
Long black hair cascaded down, brushing against her waist. When the black mist dissipated, Shin-wol had returned to his human form.
Instead of being startled by the abrupt transformation, Yeo-won gave him a mischievous smile.
“Do you have eyes on the back of your head too?”
[I’ve never checked, but if you look carefully, perhaps they’re there as well.]
He answered her jest with one of his own. Yeo-won burst into bright, childlike laughter. At her pure, flower-like smile, Shin-wol laughed along with her.
To think she could laugh like this in a place whose location she didn’t even know. In the past, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
“I wanted to touch your ears.”
When Yeo-won showed clear regret, Shin-wol narrowed his eyes.
[Do you want to touch them that badly?]
“Only if you don’t mind.”
At her casual shrug, the corners of his mouth curved upward in clear delight.
[If you want to touch them, then touch.]
“Really?”
When he closed his eyes, two thick black ears rose atop his head.
Shin-wol even bent forward, making it easier for her to reach.
Yeo-won hesitated for a moment, then stroked both ears with her hands.
The soft, warm sensation filled her with a satisfaction so profound it was hard to put into words.
If I said it reminds me of the big dog that used to live next door when I was little, he’d probably get upset.
When she rubbed the tender inner part with her thumb, a languid sigh escaped his lips.
[Haa.]
“Ah, sorry. Did that hurt?”
[No.]
He slowly crawled over her. Reflexively, her upper body tilted backward, and with a soft thud, she found herself lying flat.
The moment Yeo-won lay down, the surroundings transformed back into the motel room.
She was on the bed, and Shin-wol hovered above her, gazing down. Her hands were still touching his ears.
[There’s one thing I forgot to mention.]
“……?”
The instant he spoke, Yeo-won reflexively tightened her grip. His brows drew together slightly, and his expression twisted.
[Be careful when you touch the base of the tail or the ears. Those are erogenous zones.]
Breathing with clear pleasure, he gave her a seductive smile.
After his words sank in, Yeo-won remained frozen for about three full seconds before frantically pulling her hands away.
“Why are you telling me that now?!”
[You said you wanted to touch them.]
“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have touched them! And Cheong-sil never said anything like that!”
[That little blood clot wouldn’t know such feelings. Still, from now on, touching Cheong-sil’s ears or tail is forbidden.]
“Where do you get off making such ridiculous rules?”
[If you want to touch something, you can touch mine, can’t you?]
He took her hand, which had frozen in midair, and pressed it against his ear, rubbing it deliberately. His gaze was unmistakably intentional as he stared straight at her.
[I’ll bring them out whenever you wish. Touch them until you’re satisfied.]
After hearing something like that, how was she supposed to touch them at all?
Yeo-won shook her head vigorously and tried to pull her hand farther away, but this time Shin-wol slowly lowered his head.
As his face drew nearer, Yeo-won sucked in a sharp breath.
When she turned her face away to avoid him, he caught her chin and turned her back to face him.
Her eyes trembled helplessly. Her breathing grew erratic, and her heart pounded so violently she feared it might leap out of her chest.
“W-wait just a moment…”
Even her feeble plea went unheeded. Shin-wol drew even closer. Just before their lips truly met, he stopped, let out a soft “Heh,” and collapsed onto her shoulder with a thud.
His body shook faintly each time he laughed.
[It was a jest.]
The gaudily patterned ceiling filled her vision, and Shin-wol’s laughter rang in her ear.
A joke? It had all been a prank?
In that instant, Yeo-won clenched her fist and mercilessly pounded his shoulder. But his body was like solid stone—her only reward was pain in her own knuckles. As she squirmed beneath him, he laughed and lifted himself up.
Yeo-won shot upright and scooted backward, glaring at him.
“From where?”
[From where do you think?]
“I’m angry right now.”
[So it appears.]
He answered nonchalantly, then tilted his head with a bewitching expression.
[You look a little disappointed as well.]
At those words, a dizzying sensation crashed over her as if someone had struck the back of her head.
[Were you expecting it?]
“Who in the world—!”
Yeo-won barely managed to swallow the shout that threatened to grow louder. This was a motel, and earlier she had heard voices clearly from the next room. She realized their conversation might be audible as well.
Shin-wol seemed to read her thoughts. He chuckled and spoke playfully.
[If you’re worried about the humans next door, there’s no need. I put them to sleep earlier.]
“You put them to sleep?”
[Yes. They were terribly noisy.]
No wonder it had grown so quiet so suddenly. Yeo-won pondered for a moment which issue to address first, then spoke with an irritated expression.
“I wasn’t expecting anything, and I hate this kind of prank. Besides, we promised you wouldn’t use sorcery recklessly outside with me.”
[This is not outside. It is inside.]
“I’m not in the mood for wordplay.”
[Is that so? What a shame. Then shall I speak my true feelings?]
When Yeo-won openly frowned, he grabbed her leg and yanked her forward. Before she could struggle, she slid helplessly back onto the bed. Shin-wol’s mouth descended upon hers.
His tongue forced its way between her tightly sealed lips and ravaged the inside of her mouth without restraint.
“Mmph, mmh!”
Even as she let out muffled moans, he plunged his tongue deeper, sucking and continuing the intense kiss. Only when all strength had drained from Yeo-won’s body did he finally pull away.
He nibbled and tugged at her panting lips, then whispered in a low, husky voice.