The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

An unknown plague with no identifiable cause or name was spreading rapidly through Bestia.

Those infected suffered from severe fevers, and their skin turned a blackish hue.

The disease spread quickly, and its mortality rate was high—some people died within just a day of showing symptoms.

Crow doctors—beastfolk with masks—could be seen frequently entering and leaving houses, but to no avail.

It was impossible to cure a disease when the cause was unknown.

The only silver lining was that magical healing and priestly blessings could suppress the disease, though even that merely delayed the inevitable. Full recovery was impossible, and until a solution could be found, a proclamation was issued urging everyone to stay indoors.

People locked their doors tightly, and no one set foot outside. The city had come to a complete standstill.

The now deserted streets felt eerily haunted. Most shops were closed, including the cat café.

Even Nero had fallen ill and was in critical condition. The café owner was desperate to check on him, but...

"Do you really want to catch the plague yourself? Absolutely not," Seira firmly opposed the idea.

There was no choice but to remain confined at home.

"Master, could this be because of Lin?"

“Well...”

It was true. This was one of the major episodes that occurred after Lin became a Yukmiho.

The plague had originated from a rat beastfolk, and now crow-beastfolk plague doctors roamed the streets.

To anyone, it would seem reminiscent of the Black Death in medieval times, but the truth was different. This wasn’t an ordinary disease.

Indeed.

This wasn’t a plague but a curse brought on by magic.

Far to the east, in the Plains of Despair, there was a fortress, home to five yokai whose goal was to prevent Lin’s liberation.

Heukbi, the Dark Fox, was always present. The other four yokai were randomly selected with each encounter, including one from the Twelve Yokai Spirits and three other powerful yokai.

The occurrence of this plague-themed event meant one thing—Pagyesa had arrived. He had entered Bestia and placed a curse on the rat beastfolk.

To prevent further damage, the hidden Pagyesa needed to be found and dealt with. That was the way to clear the event.

“But how are we supposed to find him?”

“Pfft. Fine, then. Master, let’s go ask the old woman for help.”

That would be a good idea.

With Yuha’s clairvoyance, finding Pagyesa would be a simple task. But...

“No. We won’t ask for help.”

This was Lin’s trial, after all.

It wouldn’t be fair to have Yuha’s clairvoyance solve a challenge that Lin needed to overcome. Doing so would drastically reduce her contribution.

“Then how do we find him?”

“Lin will find him.”

“Lin? But Lin doesn’t know where he is.”

That was true.

Even though a fox’s hearing, smell, and sight were excellent, trying to find someone in a big city like this was nearly impossible.

Lin had said she wouldn’t accept the Gumiho’s help, but here, her assistance was essential.

“Big Lin, could you cooperate for a moment?”

“Actually, I do.”

“She’s right, Master. Lin’s name belongs to Lin. Don’t give her that name—it feels wrong.”

The Gumiho and Lin, both with their combined fifteen tails swaying, objected. Watching them made one’s head spin.

But rules were rules.

“Regardless, since you’re inside Lin’s body, you’re under the influence of my bindings, which means you’re technically my possession.”

“You might want to cooperate before I call an exorcist and have you banished. Unless you want to leave, of course.”

Big Lin, unable to contain her shock, was left speechless, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. The idea that a great fox god and yokai king was being treated like some lesser spirit must have come as a massive blow.

Don’t worry. I treat my slaves really well. I’ll free you too, so let’s cooperate, okay?

Big Lin crossed her arms and turned her head sharply.

“I know. I’m only asking you to take on the role of Lin’s teacher.”

“You know that’s not true.”

Yuha was teaching Lin the basics of fox magic as a Yoho, but that wasn’t the same as Gumiho-specific magic.

To put it simply, I wanted Big Lin to teach Lin Gumiho-exclusive techniques. Specifically, the one thing I wanted from her was...

“Teach Lin how to use her eyes.”

Not magic, but the power of the eyes.

The golden-eye, Il-Yeongan .

The blue-eye, Wol-Yeongan

Just as Yuha had her clairvoyance, the Gumiho had Il-Yeongan and Wol-Yeongan—abilities essential for foxes who could bend fate.

Lin had recently absorbed a fragment of power in Baekun Valley. Now, while locating Pagyesa, she could also learn the eye technique.

While Lin looked puzzled, Big Lin’s expression darkened.

“Yuha told me.”

“That’s a misunderstanding. I’ve never met a Gumiho before. I only know that you have the power to bend fate.”

Big Lin wasn’t so easily convinced. Perhaps I’d been too direct, but there was no better time than now.

After Pagyesa, other yokai under Heukbi’s command would swarm in, and once they were dealt with, the heavens themselves would intervene.

Time was running out. Lin needed to learn a new skill immediately.

“Wouldn’t it be in your best interest for Lin to become a full Gumiho?”

Why the hesitation?

You have your own ambitions, don’t you? Do you think I don’t know what you’re after?

“Well, if you really don’t want to, then I guess there’s no choice. You’ll just have to suffer divine punishment and be sealed away again....”

“If you really don’t like it, I won’t force it.”

Yes, I’m a kind master. I don’t force my slaves to do anything.

Never.

Big Lin eventually agreed to teach Lin how to use the eye technique.

She had feigned reluctance when dealing with Karami, but in truth, she had planned to teach Lin from the start. After all, the closer Lin got to becoming a Gumiho, the closer Big Lin got to her own goal.

She had only hesitated because Karami had been so direct and caught her off guard.

Lin complied, bringing out her orb. The once pinkish orb now had a new color seeping into it, spreading like paint.

Warm, golden light filled half of the orb.

“I use them all the time, except when I’m asleep.”

The Gumiho gestured to Karami.

Lin winked, closing her left eye, which was the color of the evening sky, and focused on Karami. When Karami waved his hand at her, she smiled brightly and waved back.

Channeling energy was no longer difficult for Lin. She sent the power swirling in her dantian to her right eye.

As a burning sensation spread through her right eye, her vision suddenly brightened.

Like sunlight cutting through the darkness, the Il-Yeongan began to reveal things that were normally invisible.

“...I don’t know how to describe it. There are pieces floating around.”

Like a kaleidoscope, colored fragments circled around Karami, each reflecting its own hue.

“Is it because Lin is with him?”

Just by being with the Gumiho, one’s fate becomes distorted, and a deluge of misfortune ensues.

Since Karami was closely connected to the Gumiho, hundreds of fragments floated around him, each a different color.

Some were monochrome, while others contained multiple colors, like paint on a palette. Most were like that.

“But doesn’t that make this useless?”

With so many potential futures, there’s no point in seeing fate. It was a far cry from Yuha’s clairvoyance, which allowed her to clearly read the flow of destiny.

“Where’s the Wol-Yeongan, then?”

“Lin is the prettiest in the world?”

Lin didn’t know who Heukbi was or what kind of fox she was.

But the moment the name Heukbi was mentioned, Lin could feel the Gumiho’s emotions stir, laced with anger. Even though Lin didn’t know Heukbi, she instinctively felt a desire for revenge.

At that moment, Karami, who had been quietly observing, couldn’t hold back his curiosity and interrupted.

“Are you not going to deny being the prettiest in the world?”

The two foxes blinked at him in confusion, their heads tilting slightly to the side as if they didn’t understand the question.

“Of course the Gumiho is the prettiest in the world.”

Karami decided it was best to remain silent from then on.

After staring at the fragments of fate for a while, Lin’s eyes grew tired, and she released the eye technique. She rubbed her eyes and blinked to clear them.

“But how do I find Pagyesa with this?”

The Gumiho shrugged.