“Gah.”
The intense pain that started in the abdomen took over her entire body, reaching her brain. Carami’s body, precariously staggering, finally tilted forward.
Lin was staring blankly at Carami, who had collapsed on the cold floor.
“Master…?”
There was no response even when she called out.
Was she just teasing?
Surely, she would get up and play around.
Lin had such a thought in her mind, but Carami did not get up. The slightest movement from her body lying on the floor was slowly disappearing.
A faintly different scent of blood brushed against Lin’s nose in the forest overflowing with the stench of blood and burnt flesh. It was the eerily vivid smell of Carami’s blood.
“Master!”
Only then did Lin realize that something was wrong. She quickly ran up to Carami and turned her body to the side.
A large claw of a wolf had pierced into Carami’s abdomen. It was enormous, easily measuring about 10 centimeters.
The claw twitched as if it were a living creature. Not just the claw, but corpses of the bloodlang, crawling from all directions toward them.
The claw continued to dig deeper. Judging that leaving it alone would lead to disaster, Lin forcibly pulled out the claw.
“Gah!”
The claw came out with a squelch. Simultaneously, as the claw that had been blocking the wound came out, blood gushed out.
“U-uh…”
Lin’s hands floundered in the air. She had learned sorcery to kill beasts and enchant foes, but she had never learned any sorcery to heal injured people.
Carami coughed weakly. Lin’s fox fire was heating the air intensely, burning the forest down. And the corpses of the bloodlangs continued to crawl like worms.
While worrying about what to do, Lin first picked up Carami and began to run.
Toward the city.
Toward home.
At a speed that could not even be compared to the slow pace she used to walk with Carami. With a bang! and a whoosh, she dashed through the forest at breakneck speed.
The city, which had begun to appear in the distance, became right in front of her with just one step. She leapt and soared over the city wall.
A city packed with numerous buildings. But in Lin’s eyes, only one place was visible.
It was Seira’s house. If someone were injured, they would seek a hospital or a church, but Lin did not know such things. The only person she could ask for help when Carami was not around was Seira.
Entering the house, Lin climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Seira was staying. She pounded on the door loudly.
“Seira! Seira! Master is hurt! Hurry, come out!”
There was a creaking sound from inside for a moment. The door began to slowly open.
Even though Seira was there, she couldn’t treat Carami, but the detailed situation didn’t matter to Lin. Just having a familiar person in front of her brought her a sense of relief.
“Seira, Master… Master…”
Lin was showing Seira Carami’s condition, but Seira’s expression was strange. There was wolf fur all over her, and her cold gaze was looking down at Lin.
Today was the night of the full moon. A day when the wildness of the beastfolk heightened. There was still a long time before the night would pass.
Moreover, the two had gone near the dark night forest, and here was Carami, who had bled extensively. It was more than enough to stimulate Seira’s wildness.
“Seira…?”
Seira approached with a cold expression. Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Lin slowly backed away.
Crack.
Seira’s hands became thicker, and her nails elongated, transforming into the claws of a beast. Unavoidably, Seira swung her vicious arms diagonally.
Whoosh.
The claws passed over Lin’s lowered head. The wildly swung arm violently shattered the corridor wall.
“Seira! Snap out of it!”
But as if she couldn’t hear, Seira’s attacks continued. The house was instantly turned into chaos.
“I-I’m sorry, Seira!”
Realizing that communication was impossible, Lin controlled her strength as best as she could and kicked Seira’s abdomen.
Boom!
Seira was sent crashing into the wall of the house. Taking advantage of Seira still being disoriented, Lin hurriedly escaped the house.
Lin cautiously lowered her head to check on Carami’s condition. The pale complexion devoid of blood resembled someone on the brink of death.
Lin’s heart thumped violently.
Where should I go?
Who should I ask for help?
Lin knew nothing.
She didn’t know how to survive in this world.
She had never learned such things.
No suitable person to ask for help came to mind. People only avoided Lin, who was drenched in blood, and no one extended a helping hand.
She was Hongho, after all.
The monster that brings misfortune.
“Master, Master.”
Lin trembled in her body and continuously shook Carami without end. The master who used to hold and comfort her in moments like this was growing cold.
Yet the blood flowing from him was chillingly hot. As if it was a manifestation of the misfortune she carried.
Lin sat there blankly on the floor, simply holding her master tightly.
“Didn’t I warn you? To bear the doom of misfortune and die is your fate.”
A familiar but subtly different voice. Lin flinched and looked up. Before her stood a young woman with her face concealed beneath a bamboo hat.
Her presence was so faint that people did not recognize her, but Lin was gazing at her intently. Lin’s eyes saw through that the woman was Yu Hwa.
“Grandmother… Master…”
Leaving behind Lin, paralyzed by fear and unable to shed a tear, Yu Hwa examined Carami’s condition, which was soon to be on the brink of death.
‘Should I call this luck or misfortune?’
Yu Hwa had come out for a walk to get some fresh air and had coincidentally met the two amidst the commotion.
If she had arrived even a moment later, there would have been no time for any intervention. Though the pulse of life was faint, it seemed that Carami was not yet at death’s door.
*
After finishing the emergency treatment right there, Yu Hwa brought them to the Celestial Pavilion’s guest room.
She laid Carami on the bed and applied fox fire to the wound. This was a healing flame, distinct from the offensive fire that Lin used.
Carami’s condition was not good. Although treatment had been administered, scars remained, and a lot of blood had been shed. Above all, Carami’s body was weak, and it seemed he would need time to regain consciousness.
Yu Hwa opened the door and stepped into the corridor. In the corridor, Lin was crumpled up, covered in blood. She had been waiting outside, fearing that misfortune would strike again.
“The treatment is over, and his life is not in danger. He has not yet regained consciousness, but he will awaken.”
“……”
“Something must have happened. What on earth happened to him? Did you stab him or something?”
“He said he wanted to go back… but Lin wouldn’t listen… Lin brought misfortune… because of Lin…”
“Hmm.”
Though she did not know the details due to Lin’s deep self-blame, Yu Hwa could roughly guess the situation.
Since Lin had become increasingly arrogant since she began learning sorcery, she must have put Carami in danger due to her intoxication with her own power.
From one perspective, this was a complex matter. It could have been the result of Lin ignoring Carami’s words, or it could have been due to the influence of Hongho’s misfortune.
‘What should I do about this?’
Comforting her by saying it wasn’t her fault would only lead to a wrong turn. What answer was good? What kind of answer would help Lin?
As Yu Hwa pondered deeply, her pupils slightly widened before she silently chuckled. Who would have thought there would come a day where she worried about a gumiho?
Life is full of unexpected turns.
And while musing, she decided on what to say.
“Indeed, hearing you out, it seems it is your fault. Your actions caused your master to be injured.”
The decision Yu Hwa made was to speak honestly. However, she had no intention of condemning her based on uncertain elements.
“But that is not because of misfortune. It is due to your reckless actions.”
The occurrence of fortune or misfortune is beyond human control. It is supernatural. Even Yu Hwa, who possesses foresight, cannot perfectly predict everything.
However, some prepare in advance, and some take appropriate follow-up actions.
“What did you do? Did you strive to develop your strength to overcome any misfortune? Or did you accumulate knowledge to compensate for your insufficient power?”
“……”
“You did nothing. You merely became adept at handling tricks and acted as if you were a god. You were lazy, arrogant, and did not show humility. And because of that, the people around you got hurt.”
Lin could not retort against any of it.
It was all true.
She buried her face in her knees, staring blankly at the floor.
“Do not blame your mistakes on misfortune. Do not treat it as some escape route.”
A merciless critique that gave no room for escape. If Carami were there, he would cover Lin’s ears, saying his grandmother was talking nonsense, but he was not there now.
Lin had to endure the harsh words of Yu Hwa without any filter.
“Look. Your master has become so weak. Unlike us, who can easily recover from such wounds, he now teeters on the line between life and death.”
Lin slightly turned her head to glance at the room where Carami lay. She could not even bear to look at the face of her precious person for fear that misfortune would spread.
“That kind of weakling is willing to stay with you, blocking my way, and running around barefoot, despite lacking any power. But how long will you sit there? Until your master lifts you up and pampers you again?”
Yu Hwa pondered. If she blamed today’s events on misfortune, she could easily get past this problem.
But if she did that, Lin would continue to evade reality, using misfortune as an excuse. She might even lose her motivation to rise altogether.
That would be better for Yu Hwa, but… she chose a deviation that she would normally not take.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Hwa continued in a lighter tone.
“…Well, on a different note, it does mean that if you work hard, things could change.”
Her tone became suddenly gentle.
Lin’s ears perked up slightly.
“Do you want to return to Baeyun Gorge?”
Lin hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
“Then do you want to be with your master?”
“…I want to be with him.”
“Do you want to protect your master?”
“I want to protect him.”
A heavenly decree referred to as destiny.
To resist such a decree with mere mortal strength, one must invest every possible effort.
Ordinary effort would not suffice. One must possess exceptional talent and exert effort that would make even the heavens tremble in fear.
The gumiho carries misfortune, but at the same time, has the potential to defy destiny.
“Then don’t just sit here and get up. I will raise you to be a proper gumiho.”
The heavens grow angry.
They threaten to strip away the qualifications of a celestial beast if one engages in foolishness.
Should that happen, one would lose their power and become an ordinary old fox.
But Yu Hwa closed her ears to that.
That is something a celestial beast should not do.
Even if one were not a celestial beast, they would not have done it.
However, the impression received from the two shook Yu Hwa’s heart.
This was a deviation, a duty as an adult who had aged, rather than as a celestial beast.
“If you wish to follow me, follow; if not, stay here. The judgment is entirely yours. I will say no more.”
With an air of having seen enough, Yu Hwa fluttered her silk clothes and returned to the realm above.
Lin silently gazed into the void.
Yet in her heterochromatic eyes, a clear will was contained.
With a gleam of resolution, Lin stood up. She briefly glanced towards where Carami lay and walked along the corridor where Yu Hwa had disappeared.
