Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 133

Yoonhwa quietly mumbled, holding a candy wrapped in paper.

“Ah, I lost… Wish—what a shame, haha…”

Grandfather heard Yoonhwa’s mumbling and smiled.

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

“Fox, if it’s my fault, let’s just say you won this time. Well—heh heh…”

Yoonhwa was surprised by Grandfather’s words and widened her eyes.

She felt touched by his generosity, deeply grateful within her heart.

Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkled at Grandfather’s kind offer.

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

“R- really, Grandfather?”

“Then… I really thank you!”

Tori, watching all this from the side, gasped in astonishment.

“Wait, does that make sense?”

“The fox definitely lost, didn’t it?!”

“How can you say she won…?”

Tori’s voice was a mix of surprise and confusion.

Grandfather chuckled at Tori’s reaction.

“Tori, sometimes it’s not bad to change the rules a bit.”

“Considering the trials the fox has faced, this can be a small consolation.”

Yoonhwa burst out laughing at Tori’s reaction.

Her face was filled with joy and excitement.

Tori still looked dissatisfied, but gradually softened due to Yoonhwa and Grandfather’s laughter.

He muttered a little.

“Fine, I get it…”

Yoonhwa’s heart lightened at Grandfather’s generous offer, her eyes sparkling with joy.

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

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

Upon hearing Yoonhwa’s wish, Grandfather smiled looking at her face.

“Yes, fox. I knew you would.”

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

His voice was filled with understanding and affection.

Yoonhwa expressed her joy freely at Grandfather’s permission, bouncing around the traditional Korean house.

Her face was filled with a sense of liberation and excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Hooray~! I’m going to meet Hyun!”

Yoonhwa’s voice filled the Hanok.

However, Tori looked flustered by Yoonhwa’s behavior, showing signs of discomfort.

“Fox, don’t run!”

“The house—it’s going to collapse!”

Tori’s voice mixed irritation and panic.

Yoonhwa paused for a moment, glancing at Tori.

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

Her gaze shimmered with anticipation.

After a moment’s hesitation, she excitedly asked Grandfather.

“Grandfather, can Tori come with me??”

Her voice was a blend of hope and caution.

Tori was suddenly caught off guard and shouted.

“Why me all of a sudden??”

His voice contained anger, and a clear rejection of the human world.

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

“Sure, Tori. Would you like to go along?”

Grandfather’s voice was soft and encouraging.

Yoonhwa’s excitement didn’t fade away.

She inched closer to Tori, leaning down and rubbing her cheek against his small body playfully.

“Tori~ let’s go, let’s go together~”

Her voice was sweet and playful.

Tori was extremely flustered by Yoonhwa’s sudden display of affection.

Feeling uncomfortable, he took a step back.

“Ugh, why is this happening? I’m definitely not going!”

Tori’s voice mixed determination with some discontent.

Yoonhwa, undeterred by Tori’s refusal, gazed at him with sparkling eyes.

“Tori, please~ it’d be so much more fun with you!”

Tori’s frustration grew with Yoonhwa’s persistent pleas.

His small body tensed with nervousness and discomfort, and he finally lightly kicked Yoonhwa’s face with his little foot, pushing her away.

“I’m not going!”

Tori’s voice sounded angry.

Yoonhwa stumbled back, rubbing her nose and looking a bit flustered.

However, she immediately recalled Tori’s favorite food.

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

“Tori loved peanuts, right~?”

Yoonhwa, crafty like a nine-tailed fox tempting humans by masquerading as a beautiful woman, used peanuts as bait.

Her voice flowed sweetly, confidence shining in her gaze.

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

“They’re super delicious~…!!”

Tori was swayed by Yoonhwa’s offer.

Reluctantly, he showed a hint of agreeing.

His voice still held dissatisfaction, but his love for peanuts moved him.

“Peanuts… fine—I’ll go…!”

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

Grandfather observed the cunning and playful interaction between Yoonhwa and Tori with a warm smile.

He admired Yoonhwa’s crafty persuasion, eagerly anticipating what kind of experiences the two kids would have on their adventure.

“Alright then, you both should go.”

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

Grandfather’s voice was warm and gentle, yet it carried a serious warning.

He hoped Yoonhwa and Tori would return safely, giving them crucial advice.

As Yoonhwa and Tori finished getting ready, Grandfather reminded them one last time.

“This is really the last time, so if you need clothes or anything, make sure to pack them today.”

Yoonhwa and Tori exchanged glances at Grandfather’s words.

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

“Then, we’re off! Bye, Grandfather!”

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

After giving Grandfather a final farewell, Yoonhwa and Tori made their way down from the high mountain top of the Hanok.

Yoonhwa couldn’t hide her excited heart as she leapt down the mountain.

Her body jumped elegantly, quickly descending, her tail fluttering in the wind.

Meanwhile, Tori lagged a bit behind, carefully making his way down.

“Wait, don’t leave me—!”

Tori shouted at Yoonhwa, but she didn’t hear him and kept going down.

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

As they neared the village, Yoonhwa tucked her tail and ears in and transformed into human form.

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

Tori finally reached the village but his small body was trembling.

“This place… is the village?… It’s scary…”

Overwhelmed by the humans and their activities around him, Tori couldn’t hide his fear.

Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, Tori sneaked closer to Yoonhwa’s ankle.

His small body was stiff with tension and fear, and he eventually slipped into Yoonhwa’s pants leg.

Yoonhwa burst out laughing in surprise at her unexpected guest.

“Ahh-, Tori! What are you doing?? That tickles-.!!”

She carefully took Tori out and placed his small body on her shoulder.

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

Yoonhwa smiled at Tori, saying,

“Don’t worry, Tori. It’s safe when you’re with me.”

“We’re going to meet Hyun!”

And just like that, they headed towards Hyun’s house.

Yoonhwa’s heart raced at the thought of meeting Hyun, while Tori cautiously scanned the surroundings from Yoonhwa’s shoulder.

Their steps were careful, but they moved forward relying on each other, one step at a time.

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

As Yoonhwa and Tori stepped into Hyun’s yard, familiar scenery mixed with a few changes greeted them.

On one side of the yard, clothes they hadn’t seen before hung on a line drying in the sun, and bits of ash scattered across the yard as if something had burned.

Yoonhwa took all these changes in, looking around like a traveler returning after a long time.

Her heart was full of excitement, yet she also worried about Hyun’s well-being.

“It hasn’t been long, but it feels like forever…!!”

Yoonhwa steadied herself, taking a deep breath.

She approached Hyun’s front door and knocked carefully.

Knock knock…?

Nomi and Sohee were watching TV, spending their morning when suddenly, the knock echoed through the living room.

Nomi looked away from the screen and glanced at Sohee.

Her eyes contained worry and curiosity.

“Could it be that monster from yesterday…? Who is it…??”

Nomi spoke cautiously, her voice laced with concern.

Sohee suddenly showed tension as well.

But soon, she replied in a calm tone, trying to reassure Nomi.

“Since it’s morning-…, it probably isn’t that monster..”

As soon as Sohee finished speaking, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a few talismans along with a fan.

Sohee slowly approached the door, holding the fan in her hand.

She carefully turned the doorknob and opened the door.

In her hand were the fan and talismans, and she looked outside with a watchful gaze.

Click—

“Hyun—!!”

As soon as the door opened, Yoonhwa joyfully hugged Sohee tightly.

Her action came purely from the joy and longing of finally meeting Hyun.

However, Yoonhwa quickly realized it wasn’t Hyun she was hugging, and she became flustered.

“Oh no, -what’s going on??”

“It hurts!”

Sohee exclaimed in a flustered voice as she pushed Yoonhwa away.

Her expression was a mix of surprise and confusion.

Yoonhwa realized her mistake, looking at Sohee with an embarrassed smile.

“Ahh— I thought it was Hyun, I’m sorry… Hehe…”

Yoonhwa wore a flustered expression along with a sheepish smile.

Sohee was wearing Yoonhwa’s clothes that were way too big for her, drooping comically.

In her hands, the fan and talismans still remained.

Tori watched everything from Yoonhwa’s shoulder and suddenly spoke up.

“What’s going on— you’re a shaman?”

“Oh, they were keeping watch over here..”

Sohee was taken aback to see Yoonhwa and Tori standing at the door.

Her eyes widened in surprise, unable to conceal her astonishment.

“You guys, what are you doing here?”

“Weren’t you gone for a week—… or was it not??”

Sohee’s voice was a mixture of surprise and confusion.

She hadn’t expected Yoonhwa and Tori to come here at all.

Yoonhwa smiled at Sohee and replied.

“Grandfather let me stay for just today!”

“Where’s Hyun— where’s Nomi??”

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

Her walk was filled with deep longing to meet Hyun and Nomi.

Nomi spotted Yoonhwa and exclaimed with delight.

“Yoonhwa unni—!”

She excitedly ran over to Yoonhwa, hugging her tightly.

Nomi’s face was full of joy and excitement.

But suddenly, as Nomi charged at her, Tori was startled and jumped down to the floor.

He looked flustered at Nomi’s sudden approach.

Still hugging Yoonhwa, Nomi began to enthusiastically tell her everything that had happened while she was gone.

Yoonhwa responded warmly to Nomi’s cheerful greeting and tight hug, patting her shoulder.

She then asked Nomi about Hyun’s whereabouts.

“Where did Hyun go, Nomi?”

Nomi answered with a bright expression.

“He went into his room…”

“A little while ago…”

Nomi’s voice carried a hint of worry.

Just then, Sohee chimed in on their conversation.

“Yeah, he’s in his room.”

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

Sohee’s face clearly showed her concern for Hyun.

Yoonhwa frowned at the news that Hyun had a cold.

“A cold isn’t just sickness, right…? Ugh— I wonder if Hyun is okay?”

Yoonhwa’s voice was filled with genuine concern for Hyun.

At that moment, she unknowingly revealed her tail and ears.

As her hidden tail and ears appeared, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly.

Sohee could hardly hide her astonishment at Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

“Whoa, you’re really cool!”

“The nine-tailed fox’s tail—…!”

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

Her eyes couldn’t tear away from Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

Yoonhwa smiled slightly at Sohee’s reaction, giving her tail a gentle wag.

As she received warm greetings from Nomi and Sohee, Yoonhwa walked towards Hyun’s room.

Her heart was torn between the eager desire to meet Hyun and worry for his well-being.

Her clothes were soiled with dirt and grime from the battle.

But Yoonhwa quickly used magic to clean her outfit in an instant.

Dressed in her freshly cleaned clothes, she carefully stood in front of Hyun’s door.

Yoonhwa gently knocked on Hyun’s door, her voice a mix of anticipation and worry.

“Hyun..! Can I— come in…??”