Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 13

Seojin approached Yoonhwa to lighten the dark atmosphere.

He pointed at Yoonhwa’s nine tails and pointy ears, asking with curious eyes.

“Wow, Yoonhwa… your tails and ears are really cool!”

“Is this what a nine-tailed fox looks like?”

Yoonhwa responded awkwardly, smiling at Seojin’s interest.

“Y-yeah, that’s right. This is my true form.”

Seojin continued, intrigued.

“So you weren’t just doing magic; you were using real magic! Show me more magic!”

Yoonhwa decided to demonstrate a light spell for her friends.

She created shining sparks at her fingertips and showed them to Seojin.

Kangtae and Hyun watched in awe.

“Wow, that’s real magic!!”

“Yoonhwa, you’re amazing!”

Yoonhwa smiled happily at her friends’ reactions.

“This is just a simple trick.”

“I can do much more than this.”

She said this with a slightly gloomy expression.

“I can’t control it very well yet…”

“If I mismanage my power… it could get really dangerous…”

Seojin, filled with anticipation, said playfully,

“Then… can you magically clean up this messy house thanks to this?”

Yoonhwa chuckled at Seojin’s playful suggestion.

“Ah… I did this, didn’t I? Sorry…!”

Focusing, Yoonhwa emitted a gentle light from her fingertips.

With her magic, the scattered dishes began to slowly return to their places.

The broken dishes mended together, and the chaotic space gradually became tidy.

Kangtae and Hyun clapped their hands, amazed by Yoonhwa’s abilities.

“Wow, it really feels like magic!”

“Yoonhwa, you’re really cool!”

Seojin scoffed, saying,

“It’s not just like magic; it is magic- isn’t it?”

“But to think this kind of stuff is actually possible… that’s incredible…”

The friends enjoyed Yoonhwa’s magic together, forgetting the hard times she had faced.

Yoonhwa deepened her friendship with humans by sharing her abilities with her friends.

Outside, someone quietly watched Yoonhwa and her friends, murmuring to themselves.

“Oh… what a pity.”

“If only they were a little more afraid of that monster…—”

“It would make things easier…”

Remembering Seojin’s interests, Yoonhwa cautiously asked,

“Seojin, I heard you know a lot about monsters.”

“Can you help me a bit?”

Seojin looked at Yoonhwa with an intrigued gaze as he replied.

“Of course! Yoonhwa, just tell me if there’s anything I can do to help.”

After a moment of hesitation, Yoonhwa opened her mouth.

“I have a Fox Orb…”

“And I feel like the number of monsters trying to steal it has increased.”

Seojin said seriously,

“A Fox Orb… that must have some powerful energy.”

“It’s natural for other monsters to covet your Fox Orb.”

Yoonhwa continued cautiously.

“Last time… a tiger covered in white fur that mimicked voices tried to attack me.”

“It used Hyun’s voice to deceive me.”

“Do you know anything about that monster?”

Hyun exclaimed in surprise.

“Wait…?? My voice?”

Seojin frowned in thought before responding.

“A tiger that mimics voices… just a second-!”

Seojin dashed to the study and came back with a thick book.

The book Seojin brought was old with a leather cover, the title embossed with intricate patterns saying, “Monsters and Myths of Korea.”

As Seojin flipped through the pages, he searched for the section about the voice-mimicking monster.

Hyun and Kangtae approached closely, intrigued by the book Seojin had brought.

The book contained illustrations of various monsters with detailed explanations.

Seojin found the section about the voice-mimicking monster, and it read as follows.

[Jangsanbeom]

[It appears in the mountains of Jangsan in Busan, South Korea.]

[Crimson skin, silky long fur, resembling a basic tiger structure, especially known for its fur, which is described as extremely beautiful and fine white hair that creates an illusion, disarming people’s vigilance.]

[Its cries are very strange, capable of mimicking sounds of chalk scraping, flowing water, rain, wind, and various natural sounds, as well as accurately imitating the voices of creatures.]

[It can imitate sounds of various animals, including tigers, wolves, foxes, cats, and even human screams.]

[Using this, it catches people.]

Seojin read the explanation looking puzzled.

“Is this the right monster…?”

“This isn’t even near Jangsan…”

Yoonhwa, glancing at the book while listening to Seojin, spoke seriously.

“Maybe, the reason that Jangsanbeom came here is…”

“To take my Fox Orb?”

Seojin tilted his head, pondering Yoonhwa’s question.

“Well, it’s not impossible.”

“Among monsters, the power of the Fox Orb is well-known.”

Kangtae spoke in a concerned tone.

“If that’s the case, Yoonhwa could be in a dangerous situation.”

“It seems like we need to be careful and prepare for something.”

Seojin laughed at Kangtae.

“Yoonhwa is probably stronger than the three of us combined!”

“Who’s worrying about whom~”

Yoonhwa burst into laughter at Seojin’s joke.

“Yeah, I’m enough on my own~.”

“You guys have already become a great strength for me.”

Hyun cautiously continued.

“Still, let’s find a way to help Yoonhwa.”

“It would be good to gather more knowledge… and be prepared.”

Kangtae said energetically,

“Right, let’s study this book further and see how we can help Yoonhwa.”

While flipping through the pages, Seojin agreed.

“Yeah! Let’s learn more about monsters and find useful information for Yoonhwa in case she’s in danger.”

Yoonhwa felt warmth in her heart, touched by her friends’ words.

“It really strengthens me to have you by my side. But if it becomes truly dangerous…”

“I’ll handle it alone.”

“Your safety is the most important.”

With a light smile, Yoonhwa asked Seojin, who was flipping through the book.

“Is there anything about nine-tailed foxes here? Let’s read it together!”

Seojin found the section on nine-tailed foxes as requested by Yoonhwa.

As they turned the pages, they found explanations about the nine-tailed fox.

[Nine-Tailed Fox]

[A nine-tailed fox is a fox with special powers known for transforming into an alluring woman who seduces men.]

[It’s said that it doesn’t actually have nine tails; it seems to have nine tails because its tail fur is split into nine strands.]

[There is only one real tail with bone inside.]

[Sometimes, it’s explained that if one tail splits into nine, it becomes a celestial being; if it has nine tails, it’s a nine-tailed fox.]

[A nine-tailed fox may start with one tail at birth, but as it grows, its tail can split, or it may have nine tails from birth.]

[A fox that reaches the level of a nine-tailed fox has powers approaching those of a lower deity, and if its abilities peak, it can learn the way to ascend to the heavens.]

[A nine-tailed fox is much stronger when it reveals its ears and tails than when it disguises itself as a human.]

[Yet, even such a nine-tailed fox has fears – hunters and hunting dogs, and wolves are to blame. This is due to an ancient fear of natural predators remaining.]

[Fox Orb]

[A Fox Orb is an energy sphere containing the essence collected by a nine-tailed fox from humans. Over a millennium, it is said to accumulate tremendous power.]

[This orb has magical abilities to grant wishes, and only a nine-tailed fox that has lived for a thousand years can wield its power.]

[The orb is a blue sphere the size of a marble, used by the nine-tailed fox to become a real human.]

[However, the Fox Orb is a very dangerous item; if it falls into the hands of someone with evil intentions, it can be used to cause great disaster.]

[A nine-tailed fox that possesses a Fox Orb can suck it into its mouth, storing it inside its body, and can spit it out again when needed.]

[If the orb is taken away, the nine-tailed fox will lose all its abilities. Legends of the Fox Orb have been passed down through many stories and traditions, acquiring astronomical value.]

[The true power of the Fox Orb has not yet been completely revealed, and its mystery still sparks curiosity in many.]

As Seojin read the contents of the book, Kangtae and Hyun looked at Yoonhwa with eyes full of curiosity.

Listening to the book’s explanation, Yoonhwa chuckled.

“This sounds like my story; it’s fun!”

“Hehe… but there are some things that are wrong.”

Seojin spoke while looking at the book.

“Here it says the nine-tailed fox has a blue orb,”

Yoonhwa corrected him with a smile.

“That part is wrong. My Fox Orb isn’t blue; it’s clear and shines.”

“And the Fox Orb isn’t! It’s not the essence of humans; it’s the power I’ve gathered over centuries.”

Then, pointing to another section, Yoonhwa laughed.

“Here it says a nine-tailed fox fears hunters and wolves. But I’m not really scared of those guys~!”

Regarding the part where the book says nine-tailed foxes are known for alluring men, Yoonhwa giggled.

“This part… would originally fit a nine-tailed fox! But I’ve hardly seduced any men…”

Seojin, with a playful voice, responded,

“What do you mean~?”

“You’ve already enchanted both guys here!”

Kangtae and Hyun stammered in surprise.

“Oh, that, that’s not it… Yoonhwa is just nice, it’s not that I was enchanted…”

Hyun flushed and added,

“Yeah, it’s because of personality…!”

Yoonhwa burst into laughter at her friends’ reactions.

“Haha, don’t worry. I don’t think you two are that easy to enchant.”

Yoonhwa’s face turned slightly red.

Kangtae, curious, asked.

“So, can the Fox Orb really grant any wish?”

Yoonhwa replied seriously.

“The Fox Orb has tremendous power! But using it isn’t easy.”

“If misused, you could lose control of the orb’s power.”

“And it could bring about a great disaster, so be careful.”

Seojin mixed in a joke.

“Then Yoonhwa, which is stronger: when you’re a human or when you show your ears and tails?”

Yoonhwa answered confidently.

“I’m strong in both! But when I reveal my ears and tails, I can show even more power.”

Kangtae, with a cautious voice, asked Yoonhwa.

“Yoonhwa, do you… actually have a Fox Orb?”

“If you do… could you show us?”

Yoonhwa hesitated for a moment but smiled at her friends and replied.

“I do have one. But the Fox Orb is a very precious and potentially dangerous item…”

“So, it has to be handled carefully.”

Yoonhwa slowly brought her hand up to her mouth and gently blew.

From Yoonhwa’s palm, a clear, glowing orb appeared.

“Here, this is my Fox Orb. Can you see it?”

Hyun marveled and said,

“Wow… it really does come out from your mouth!”

Her friends were mesmerized by the Fox Orb Yoonhwa showed them.

Seojin sparkled with excitement.

“Wow, it’s really mysterious…”

“I can’t believe I’m seeing something like this in person!!”

After a moment, Yoonhwa sucked the orb back inside.

“Is that enough for now?”

With curious eyes, Seojin asked cautiously,

“Can I… touch your tail~?”

Yoonhwa paused for a moment but smiled and nodded at Seojin’s innocent curiosity.

With curiosity filling Seojin’s eyes, he reached out slowly toward Yoonhwa’s tail.

Seeing this, Yoonhwa’s face started to redden.

Her tail was a very personal and precious part that she rarely showed anyone.

Seojin’s hand gently glided through the fur of her tail.

The fur was softer than he expected, and the tactile sensation was more delicate than the finest silk.

Seojin couldn’t hide his surprise and gasped.

“Wow, Yoonhwa, your tail is really… soft… I’ve never felt anything like this.”

“It’s like stroking the warm sunlight on a spring day.”

Yoonhwa smiled a little at his words, but her face turned even redder.

Hyun, listening to Seojin talk about the incredible feel of Yoonhwa’s tail, felt his own face grow warm.

Inside Hyun’s heart, guilt and embarrassment mixed over the unspoken time he had touched Yoonhwa’s tail in the bedroom without anyone knowing.

“Hyun, what’s up? Why’s your face so red?”

Seojin playfully noticed and asked.

Hyun, flustered, struggled to find a response.

“Oh, um… actually, I…”

“I’ve touched Yoonhwa’s tail before.”

Hyun confessed carefully.

Yoonhwa was surprised by Hyun’s confession but felt his sincerity and smiled.

“Oh haha… it’s okay.”

Seojin teased Hyun.

“Aha! It can’t have been easy for you not to touch such a tail.”

“Fluffy tail…”

“I can understand wanting to touch it~”

“When Yoonhwa was sleeping~”

“Since you were alone~”

Hyun blushed even more, feeling overwhelmed.

Yoonhwa felt both embarrassed about her tail being touched and shy about showing such a side in front of her friends.

However, Yoonhwa decided to enjoy the moment, captivated by their pure curiosity.

“Really… do you like it that much? I actually haven’t experienced having my tail touched much either…”

“I didn’t know what it felt like to have my tail grazed.”

Seojin gently let go of Yoonhwa’s tail, laughing at her shy appearance.

Seojin’s laughter melted away any tension, and the room filled with a warm and comfortable atmosphere again.