Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 132

Yoonhwa held a candy wrapped in paper in her hand and murmured quietly.

“Ah, I lost… such a shame—haha…”

Hearing Yoonhwa’s mumbling, Grandpa smiled.

He approached Yoonhwa and quietly sat down, gently stroking her hair.

“Fox, I made a big mistake, so let’s just say you won this time. Well—ha ha…”

Yoonhwa’s eyes widened in surprise at her grandfather’s words.

She felt deeply grateful for his generosity, touched by it.

Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkled at her grandfather’s kind suggestion.

Looking at him in disbelief, a smile blossomed on her face.

“R-really, Grandpa?”

“Then… I’m really thankful!”

Tori, who had been watching the whole situation from the side, gasped in surprise.

“Wait, does that even make sense?”

“The fox clearly lost!”

“How can we say she won…?”

Tori’s voice was mixed with astonishment and confusion.

Grandpa chuckled at Tori’s reaction.

“Tori, sometimes it’s okay to bend the rules a little.”

“When you think about the trials the fox has faced, this is a small comfort.”

Yoonhwa burst out laughing even harder at Tori’s response.

Her face was filled with joy and excitement.

Tori still wore a disgruntled expression, but gradually softened as he listened to Yoonhwa and Grandpa’s laughter.

He grumbled a little as he said, “Ah, fine…”

Yoonhwa’s heart softened at Grandpa’s generous offer, her eyes sparkling with joy.

After a brief hesitation, she cautiously confessed her true feelings.

“Grandpa, actually… I really want to see Hyun…!!”

Upon hearing Yoonhwa’s wish, Grandpa looked at her face and smiled.

“Yes, my fox. I figured you’d want to see him.”

“I knew you’d want to see that human.”

His voice was filled with understanding and affection.

Yoonhwa, expressing her joy to the fullest at Grandpa’s permission, hopped excitedly around the hanok.

Her face brimming with a sense of liberation and excitement she hadn’t felt in a while.

“Yay~! I’m going to meet Hyun!”

Yoonhwa’s voice filled the hanok.

However, Tori looked unsettled by Yoonhwa’s behavior.

“Fox, don’t run!”

“The house might—fall apart!”

Tori’s voice was mixed with irritation and panic.

Yoonhwa paused for a moment to look at Tori.

She wondered if it would be okay to go with him.

Her gaze was filled with anticipation.

After a moment of hesitation, she excitedly spoke to Grandpa.

“Grandpa, can Tori come along too??”

Her voice was a mix of hope and caution.

Tori suddenly panicked at Yoonhwa’s suggestion and shouted.

“Why me all of a sudden??”

His voice carried frustration, clearly showing his distaste for the human world.

Grandpa smiled at Yoonhwa’s question and Tori’s reaction.

“Alright, Tori. Why don’t you join her?”

His voice was gentle and encouraging.

Yoonhwa’s excitement didn’t wane.

She leaned closer to Tori, propping herself up, and playfully rubbed her cheek against him.

“Tori~ let’s go, let’s go together~”

Her voice was sweet and playful.

Tori felt flustered by Yoonhwa’s sudden affection.

He awkwardly took a step back.

“Ugh, what’s this? I’m not going!”

Tori’s voice was firm but tinged with slight annoyance.

Yoonhwa didn’t give up despite Tori’s rejection.

She looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“Tori, please~ it would be more fun with you!”

Tori grew increasingly exasperated at Yoonhwa’s persistent pleading.

His small body tensed up with anxiety and discomfort, and eventually, he lightly kicked her face with his small foot, pushing her away.

“I’m not going!”

Tori’s voice sounded angry.

Yoonhwa scrunched her nose a bit in surprise as she was pushed away.

But soon she remembered the food Tori liked.

Her eyes lit up, and she approached Tori once again.

“You used to love peanuts~ right?”

Yoonhwa cunningly used peanuts as bait to persuade Tori, much like a nine-tailed fox transforming into a beautiful woman to lure humans.

Her voice flowed sweetly, and her gaze sparkled with confidence.

“Tori, I’ll give you so many peanuts.”

“They’re the most delicious peanuts ever~…!!”

Tori’s resolve wavered at Yoonhwa’s offer.

Reluctantly, he seemed to agree.

His voice was still mixed with complaints, but his love for peanuts moved him.

“Peanuts… yeah- I’ll go…!”

“But you have to give me a lot of peanuts..!!”

Grandpa watched the clever and playful interaction between Yoonhwa and Tori with a warm smile.

He admired Yoonhwa’s crafty persuasion and anticipated what kind of adventures the two kids would have.

“Well then, off you both go.”

“But make sure to return before the moon rises and disappears. Before it gets too late.”

Grandpa’s voice was warm and gentle, but it carried a hint of stern warning.

He hoped Yoonhwa and Tori would return safely and imparted important advice to them.

Before setting off, Grandpa reminded Yoonhwa and Tori one last time.

“This is really the last time, so if you need clothes or things, be sure to get them today.”

Yoonhwa and Tori exchanged glances for a moment at Grandpa’s words.

Yoonhwa was filled with joy at the thought of meeting Hyun, while Tori was excited about the peanuts.

“Then, we’ll be off. Bye, Grandpa!”

“Guardian spirit..! I- I’m really going..!!”

After saying their final goodbyes to Grandpa, Yoonhwa and Tori set off from the high peak of the hanok downwards.

Yoonhwa couldn’t hide her fluttering heart as she jumped down the mountain.

Her body leaped with agility, quickly heading down, her tail swaying in the wind as she picked up speed.

Meanwhile, Tori carefully followed behind, slightly lagging due to Yoonhwa’s rapid pace.

“Wait, wait—!”

Tori called out to Yoonhwa, but she didn’t hear him and continued down.

Sighing at Yoonhwa’s recklessness, he cautiously stepped on branches and rocks as he descended.

As they got closer to the village, Yoonhwa tucked her tail and ears in and transformed into a human.

She arrived at the village entrance, catching her breath while looking around.

Tori finally caught up to the village but was trembling with fear.

“This is… the village?… It’s scary…”

Tori felt overwhelmed by the surrounding humans and their activities, unable to hide his fear.

Feeling overwhelmed, Tori stealthily crept close to Yoonhwa’s ankle.

His small body was tense with anxiety and fear, and eventually, he slipped right into her pants through her ankle.

Yoonhwa burst into laughter, startled by her unexpected guest.

“Ah! Tori! What are you doing?? That tickles—!!”

She carefully pulled Tori out and placed his small body onto her shoulder.

Tori still looked uneasy, but he seemed to find some comfort in Yoonhwa’s warmth.

Yoonhwa smiled at Tori and said, “It’s okay, Tori. You’ll be safe with me.”

“We’re going to meet Hyun!”

And so, the two headed toward Hyun’s house.

Yoonhwa’s heart raced at the thought of meeting Hyun, while Tori continued to cautiously look around from Yoonhwa’s shoulder.

Though their steps were cautious, they moved forward, relying on each other.

Yoonhwa clearly remembered where Hyun’s house was and knew the way well.

As Yoonhwa and Tori entered the yard of Hyun’s house, some familiar sights appeared alongside a few changed features.

On one side of the yard, clothes Yoonhwa had never seen before were drying on a clothesline, basking in the sun, while around the yard, there was a scattered ash as if something had burned and fallen.

Yoonhwa took in all the changes, looking around like a traveler returning after a long journey.

Her heart was filled with excitement, but at the same time, she worried about Hyun’s well-being.

“It feels like it’s been so long… even though it hasn’t been that long…!!”

Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Yoonhwa approached Hyun’s front door and gently knocked.

“Knock knock…?”

Nomi and Sohee, spending their morning watching TV, suddenly heard a knock echoing through the living room.

Nomi glanced away from the screen and looked at Sohee.

Her eyes were filled with anxiety and curiosity.

“Could it be that—? A monster? Who could it be…??”

Nomi said cautiously, worry evident in her voice.

Sohee momentarily showed signs of tension.

But soon, she replied in a calming voice to reassure Nomi.

“It’s morning, so— it’s probably not that monster…”

As soon as Sohee finished speaking, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a few talismans and a fan for self-defense.

Holding the fan in her hand, she slowly approached the door to the living room.

Sohee cautiously turned the doorknob and opened the door.

In her hands were the fan and talismans, and she peered outside with a watchful gaze.

Click—

“Hyun—!!”

As soon as the door opened, Yoonhwa, filled with joy, rushed in to hug Sohee tightly.

Her actions stemmed purely from the joy and longing of finally seeing Hyun.

However, Yoonhwa soon realized that the one she hugged was not Hyun, and she panicked.

“Oh no, why are you doing this??”

“That hurts!”

Sohee exclaimed in surprise as she pushed Yoonhwa away.

Her expression was a mix of shock and confusion.

Yoonhwa realized her mistake and smiled sheepishly at Sohee.

“Ah! I thought it was Hyun, I’m sorry… hehe…”

Yoonhwa’s face showed a flustered expression along with a sheepish grin.

Sohee was wearing Yoonhwa’s clothes, which looked quite oversized on her.

She still held the fan and talismans tightly.

Tori observed the entire situation from Yoonhwa’s shoulder and suddenly spoke up.

“What’s this— a monster hunter?”

“Oh, they were guarding the place..”

Sohee was taken aback at the sight of Yoonhwa and Tori standing at her door.

Her eyes widened in shock.

“You guys, why are you here?”

“Weren’t you gone for a week??”

Sohee’s voice was mixed with surprise and confusion.

She had never anticipated that Yoonhwa and Tori would come here.

Yoonhwa smiled at Sohee and replied.

“Grandpa let me stay for just today!”

“Where’s Hyun? Where’s Nomi?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yoonhwa rushed past Sohee and entered the house.

Her steps carried her yearning to see Hyun and Nomi.

Upon spotting Yoonhwa, Nomi, with a voice full of excitement, called out.

“Yoonhwa unnie—!”

She ran over to Yoonhwa and hugged her tightly.

Nomi’s face lit up with joy and excitement.

But suddenly, seeing Nomi rushing toward them, Tori took a step back and jumped off Yoonhwa’s shoulder onto the floor.

He wore a startled expression at Nomi’s sudden approach.

Hugging Yoonhwa tightly, Nomi started sharing everything that had happened while Yoonhwa was away.

Yoonhwa responded warmly to Nomi’s enthusiastic greetings, gently patting her shoulder.

She then asked Nomi about Hyun.

“Where’s Hyun, Nomi?”

Nomi answered brightly, “He went to his room…”

“Just a moment ago…”

Her voice carried a hint of worry.

At that moment, Sohee interrupted their conversation.

“Yeah, he’s in his room.”

“I think he caught a cold, so he’s resting.”

Concern was clearly written across Sohee’s face for Hyun.

Yoonhwa furrowed her brows at the news of Hyun having caught a cold.

“A cold is still an illness, right…? Uh, is Hyun okay?”

Yoonhwa’s voice reflected her genuine worry for Hyun.

At that moment, Yoonhwa unconsciously revealed her tail and ears.

The atmosphere in the room shifted the instant her tail and ears appeared.

Sohee couldn’t hide her amazement upon seeing Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

“Wow, you’re so cool!”

“A nine-tailed fox’s tail—!”

Sohee’s voice was filled with genuine admiration and surprise.

Her eyes were captivated, unable to look away from Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

Yoonhwa smiled slightly at Sohee’s reaction and waved her tail a bit.

Receiving warm greetings from Nomi and Sohee, Yoonhwa walked towards Hyun’s room.

Her heart was filled with a strong desire to meet Hyun, alongside the worries about him.

Her clothes were stained with dirt and dust from battle.

However, Yoonhwa used magic to instantly clean her clothes.

Now dressed in fresh attire, she carefully stood in front of Hyun’s door.

Yoonhwa gently knocked on the door and softly asked.

“Hyun…! Can I come in…??”