Chapter 12 : Fox, Fox, What are you doing? (3)

After receiving Olivia’s permission, Dante wrapped Yeonhwa in a towel and carried her to his room. He gently cleaned the dirt and mud from her fur with a damp cloth, then placed her on his bed near the warm hearth. Her fur gradually regained its luster, and as her icy body temperature rose, Dante finally relaxed.

“[How can I ever repay you… In this form, all I can offer are words of gratitude… Forgive me, Dante…]”

“That’s enough.” He smiled warmly. “Oof.” He flopped down on the bed beside her, turning his head to meet her gaze. “My master said you can stay here for a while… What do you think?”

“[I appreciate the offer, but I cannot impose any further…]”

“…Yeonhwa, you know what? I love foxes.” His eyes sparkled with curiosity. “But I’ve never seen one this close before. Especially a rare white fox.”

“[W-wait… any closer and our noses will touch…! ]”

“How many chances like this will I get in my life?” Dante gently nudged his nose against hers. “I’m more selfish than I look. I don’t waste precious opportunities.” He grinned. “So, don’t feel pressured. Your company is more than enough.”

‘And free room and board, of course.’

“[…You appear gentle and meek, but you possess a sharp mind.]” ‘A promising vessel.’ Yeonhwa stroked his messy bangs with a paw. “[Very well… I would be remiss to refuse your kindness. Thank you, Dante.]”

“The pleasure is all mine, Yeonhwa.”

They chatted idly.

“[──I was once a magnificent nine-tailed fox, large enough to cross mountains with a single stride.]”

“Nine-tailed… like the mythical beast in human legends?”

“[Indeed.]” Yeonhwa flicked her tail. “[Now… I’ve been reduced to this… pathetic state… Hah.]” She chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Dante gazed at her thoughtfully. “Is there… no way for you to regain your power?”

“[…Even if I cannot reclaim my divinity, there is a way to recover some of my original strength.]”

“…There is a way…?”

Yeonhwa nodded, coughing up a small, violet orb.

“[Foxes naturally possess a fox bead, in which we accumulate spiritual energy throughout our lives. The longer we live, the stronger we become, and the more tails we grow.]” She nudged the tiny bead towards Dante with her nose. “[Time heals all wounds… Hah…]” She smiled wryly.

The only way to regain her power was to patiently accumulate spiritual energy again, over an unknown period. Like rebuilding a collapsed tower from scratch.

“But that’s…”

“[Impossible, yes. The difference between my former self and my current self is vast, both physically and spiritually. Even if I repeated the same training, it could take hundreds, thousands of years.]” There was a fundamental difference between a celestial fox born with divine power and a small, insignificant creature like her current form.

“[…Unless, of course, I were to stumble upon some powerful artifact brimming with spiritual energy.]” She chuckled, then nudged Dante’s hand. “[Dante, why the serious face? What are you thinking about?]”

“Yeonhwa, you said anything filled with… spiritual energy would work?”

“[Yes, but… do you have something in mind?]”

Spiritual energy… in this realm, it would be called magic power.

He grinned. “There’s no place in the world filled with more magical treasures than a dragon’s lair, especially the one of a Black Dragon.”

Dante returned with a small box and presented it to Yeonhwa.

“[This is…?]”

“A gift from my master. A long, long time ago, she went on a trip to the southeastern lands and brought this back as a trophy after killing some weird-looking snake.” He opened the box and carefully unfolded the white cloth inside. “I remember thinking it looked pretty impressive, even to my untrained eye… so, just in case…”

He revealed a large, luminous blue orb, pulsing with magical energy.

Yeonhwa gasped. “[…! A Dragon Orb?! Here?!]”

“Dragon Orb? What’s that?”

“[A source of a dragon’s power. A mystical orb. Legend says that an Imugi, after a thousand years of training, obtains a Dragon Orb and ascends to become a dragon.]”
(TL note : In Korean folk mythology, an imugi (이무기) is a lesser dragon, resembling a large serpent, that is said to be the precursor to a full-fledged dragon)

“…What?” Dante was confused. ‘Imugi? Training? Ascending to become a dragon? Aren’t dragons born as dragons? I’ve never seen Olivia with anything like this…’

“[Ah, my apologies. The dragons you know and the dragons I speak of are entirely different beings.]” The dragons of her homeland were composite creatures, combining the features of an eagle, tiger, deer, lion, rabbit, ox, fish, and snake.

‘Eagle claws, deer antlers, a long body… I can’t even picture that… Anyway…’ “Will this… Dragon Orb… help you?”

“[The Dragon Orb is a legendary artifact said to grant any wish. Surely, you don’t intend to give me such a valuable treasure without asking for anything in return…?]”

“Is that a problem?”

“[Huh?!]” Yeonhwa stared at him, incredulous. Humans didn’t give things away for free, especially not something this valuable. Possessiveness was a natural instinct, a fundamental desire. Not necessarily evil, of course, because what one treasured wasn’t limited to material possessions.

But an all-powerful artifact? To her, a near stranger? He was unbelievably kind, pure, and innocent. She’d never encountered anyone like him.

“[Think again! This could change your life! You could escape your servitude, command your own followers, live in luxury for the rest of your days!]” He deserved such a life! She pleaded with him, “[I am under divine punishment! I have no hope of regaining my divinity! Your intentions are enough! Please, reconsider!]”

“…You seem to be under a misapprehension.” Dante gently lifted Yeonhwa’s chin, meeting her gaze. His golden eyes were clear and unwavering.

“I chose to be a s*ave. It’s hard work, sure, but I’ve never wanted to quit.” ‘This is a hard-won position! I cursed out a dragon to get this job!’

“And secondly, I have no interest in a life of luxury. I actively avoid it.”

His mother had taught him that even in poverty, it was wrong to steal or harm others for personal gain. She’d emphasized a simple, frugal life, regardless of wealth.

“Power and pleasure often lead to corruption. I’d rather die than live a meaningless life devoid of purpose or fulfillment.” Dante harbored a deep-seated resentment towards the wealthy and powerful, a natural consequence of losing his parents due to Emperor Mars’s greed.

He’d vowed to live by his parents’ teachings, even in hardship. It was the only way to honor their memory, to face them without shame in the afterlife. To be able to say, ‘I lived a good life.’

“So, to me, this is worthless. I already know how to be content with little.”

“[…Dante…]”

‘How noble.’

‘I want him to be happy.’

‘Happier than anyone else.’

‘I want to protect him.’

‘To cherish him.’

‘To hold him.’

‘To possess him.’

The thoughts came unbidden, filling her with a strange longing. Yeonhwa lowered her head, a wistful expression on her face.

“[…At least tell me what you wish for──]”

“My wish…” Cutting her off, Dante made his wish without hesitation.

The Dragon Orb pulsed, its power flowing into Yeonhwa’s fox bead, which swelled to the size of an apple. Yeonhwa’s body was enveloped in a brilliant white light, her form shifting. White hair, like frost, sharp violet eyes, fox ears perked atop her head, nine luxurious tails swaying behind her. The light faded, revealing not a small, weak fox, but a tall, beautiful woman in exotic attire.

“…Holy crap.” Dante gaped, covering his mouth with his hand. He was so stunned he sank to his knees. Yeonhwa, smiling, helped him up.

“I am pleased.”

“…Huh?” he stammered.

She chuckled, stroking his hair affectionately. “I said, I am pleased with you.”

The fox, having caught her prey, gazed at him with predatory eyes.