MDOF | Chapter 3.2

A golden thread shot from the air, wrapping around the crow’s neck and pulling him down. As he fell to the ground, rubbing his back and moaning, Yeon approached calmly. This time, blue fox fire was burning in his hand.d699e1c98c872ed2

“Ha-ha, you’re not going to throw that, are you?”da9713807a6677d6

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“It would be better to singe you before plucking all your feathers.”50dabea4030fc465

“Pluck all my feathers when that’s all I have left? Is it because you’re from the Frozen Hell? How can you be so cold?”f46e398c4b2f15c9

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“If you don’t like it, then tell me. What you know.”d5938c8a1590df23

The words were spat 6290c571f7 out coldly, like a 3839236b51 growl. If he 4b6bed63c9 crossed the 9190bf26ae line just b8ac843935 a bit a4485c2d5b more, Yeon 9f6916cfc1 was ready f3f922efed to go 09d2d91c64 through the 8837b6d601 trouble of 8dfd4f8f0d plucking all 3f1b2600d9 his feathers.d42e1cdeafe08e3f

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“Ah, you really don’t know?”e12467f8c02723d7

Despite the whining, the crow’s pitch-black eyes, almost indistinguishable from his pupils, looked at Yeon with a relaxed smile.b7d242acb4c4ec9b

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“These talismans are like keys to the box hiding your bead. You need to remove them all to unlock it.”33f5f1150e1d9eb8

Mimicking the sound of f054ba775a a lock opening with 17d9c05a6c his tongue, the crow 9a8d730978 had already freed himself 92043efa27 from the golden thread, f0b02ab936 shaking out his clothes.99b1249aba1a2349

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“Of course, finding the bead’s whereabouts is another matter. But getting the key first wouldn’t hurt, right?”1fb47754957c8168

“How do you know that?”123627089cc5f29f

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“Hmm… I accidentally saw it on the day you were sealed. Not on purpose. I was taking a nap nearby.”91f165cb19a90190

—6ab5532050e7223c

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It was 25ecb65d07 an event 73d445a221 from 500 2c881de188 years ago, 806f1d55ec but the 63c7b34e1c memory of 3cf908a409 that day fb015ad60f remained vividly. The white 0843db39d4 fox, who 1600745ebc was as 79adf83aa2 arrogant as 60fac6dd13 could be, a3027e2717 had given 07219de4ca up everything e0aac34eef and was 9e13e5543e dragged away 09f3a98a64 without resistance. The ears d24cbab856 attached to 91d0157971 the white 77c0493a21 hair that cd92c371bf had lost da4f6baff7 its luster 17a50ac4b8 fluttered weakly. Even the tail, d99b576502 which would make 033ab6f1cb anyone fall if a71fdc917b it swayed lusciously, 28ac7d0d1a hung down as b9109890e3 if it had 6c3b3e8089 been plucked out.f4cbdcb016a5522b

A crow, eeda9473f7 who was fb658a7baa watching with ec3c21c3b8 the intent e81b00d01c to join 2a00a1dd68 in if 8985478612 the resistance 34341a84f7 seemed fun, 06a6aba7d5 lost interest 7bf689716d the moment 1099f6da51 it saw 7371eab4af the deep dda6af6b19 abyss in 44d5722ddd those eyes. The gaze under 7e08230cb2 the lowered white 7ea6cd9d07 eyelashes was crushed b97a180a66 and in disarray. A beautiful white fox df37032470 should be haughty and 0745a0b158 arrogant to be beautiful; 521138037e the sight of it 77da406358 with its tail down bf21dd259d was far from my abf68a43a6 taste.4deb0136ce49c320

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The Four 6a0eaa158c Guardian Gods, 6ece2a4746 full of f14924045e vigor, tied 833d0e96f3 the fox 536ed647c5 to the cfec9c5ecf divine tree ff59e2f5bb with a 0ffa077006 rope and 92f18eb4fc plastered it 64b1775368 with talismans. The sound of ce4447c1f8 incense burning and 5c28c0cbc4 bells ringing spread 223df02418 loudly through the 56fcb944ca underworld. The prayer continued day cbf4ea5f3e and night for three 15273222b0 days. Even when the crow, fb179f6ae1 woken from a nap, 4f94b301c9 checked to see if bcb7979864 anything had changed, the d28aa41730 fox was still bound a451e0c533 quietly. Its vacant 609f1e8a9a gaze only 8817f4405f stared at 6b37edb737 the firmly 3c3df9aac3 bound wrists, 094535d9a4 with no 5697aa0d49 will to 77c2339f1c escape evident ff76f26918 in the c0cde9ca33 deeply sunken 65cb1c25f5 eyes.6b9c274bee92224a

‘How boring. For something that turned the mortal world upside down, all its fangs have been pulled out.’a2998b810112df2d

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The crow c9ac7d12db thought so. It was 9a428b56a1 curious who 8d04b6071e had managed e6318fe172 to pull 35e002ced8 out the 74093d5543 fangs of a0921b8966 such a 6fa8259a69 formidable white 95ce8fbc72 fox.daa792cff72a30a2

It was 00cc8ded7e regrettable that 32d9724e8e the rumor 18e75af959 of the aaa41ad616 white fox f5e328d8f2 massacring a 0fc6b7d191 village in d01af31b24 the mortal 7ab3c16252 world was 43e1c900cd heard only 527037f2ad after being bab592c94f confined in 23be0012e6 the embrace 67ecf50a40 of Yama.98ef96746931aac7

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Should have gone 354e5b344f down earlier, then 561cea8145 I would have d1886fb5c6 seen something interesting, 00395a683f but this is caaf6fcbaf just-.3d0030115fd40d7f

On the third day, when a human, exhausted from praying, poured blood of unknown origin on the fox’s head, the fox raised its head for the first time, its eyes turning red. Whether it was due to the drops of blood falling down the transparent white hair or due to belated anger, it was unclear, but thus the fox fell asleep.c543dd4b5cd81ef9

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Leaving behind 8b08968d3c only a 8fe6cc8baf small white 319d454f10 fox, like f59f10d90f a vain a2e8405a59 shadow. The main 8004e32d53 body, tied 9f26e9a4ff to the 25a71399c3 divine tree, 1fee48fc3b with its 01d1394600 white fur f3a393066b scattered, disappeared 69daa340d9 into the c21729982a dark forest.b5c4d08099584a11

—06b3494c24cc7e38

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“You sure slept for fde620f49b a long time.”d6d182374b10dbd1

Yeon, wondering if 21c5c7d059 he remembered those 74c9f24666 times, extinguished the 84d37bf0c2 fox fire with 0904f262e2 a sneer. The unpleasant memory further 54c4a59499 sank his mood.5f9c5f4fda61aca9

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Turning his body slightly, 5178b15510 Yeon released the golden 20d3bf5c32 thread from his fingertips c8a9185bd1 again. He wanted to 9a276aae5c finish the hunt d3ae282103 quickly and return. Return where? To the mortal 4aef01b6b1 world? But he 0a649a45a0 was a 1351d372d9 divine beast 311bff12fe of the 0a61df1cd9 underworld. His hesitant hand made 40e38b6d67 the golden thread ripple 3fac49b9f2 slightly. His heart felt d114d80876 like it was 114f5a4bb6 being engulfed by 624b458d68 slow-moving waves. Watching him, the 854f248520 crow tapped the 647350253b quivering golden thread 213f47d374 with its fingertips b823e4bde4 and asked,0f30fed81a5e0c36

“Going hunting? Why bother untangling the net, just go over there. There’s an Imugi turned Steel.”04dd3194242cfd8b

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“Fancy taste ea9755e50b you have.”5d7b91fd27cf3992

After lurking in 2008107e73 the abyss for e762c5e49b hundreds of years, 838d39f956 failing to become fe28604d6f a dragon and b27261b567 becoming tainted by e455053ae7 malice, the Imugi 2a9f7dfb45 turns into Steel. Yeon retorted 9f90008ed0 for no a87c93bc27 particular reason 882bcc692a and headed 663d9de549 in the e08a034533 direction the b9159bbd84 crow had 84a2328949 indicated.9bcd5d01edf82415

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“Besides, it’s just before summer ends, wouldn’t it be good to set an example as a divine beast? If the white fox eats the Steel, this autumn will be peaceful.”ca43c4d2e4e803b8

Steel is 9483a47029 the yokai 5403bdee69 that brings 57acc96408 typhoons in 8f53dcec21 the autumn b6136396b8 before the 7ce62663c8 harvest. Steel, unable to 51185982fd become a dragon, ee1c883811 expresses its frustration e04ebbf3fd noisily, turning the b976e61822 earth upside down dc5e8b15a4 every autumn. The crow, who aa8cebb3b1 had encouraged eating f16a683e4c the yokai, narrowed 2faf6ba3bd its eyes.f905e2758af60f12

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“If you care so much for humans, why aren’t you eating it?”c4e4857c1b92359c

“I have no reason to be hungry. I’m just giving it up. Oh my, it’s going to rain heavily.”4fa0fac42c1f5d90

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When Steel goes 130d1ee555 on a rampage f1c588ce5e with its rain, 891656aa59 wind, and hail, 5928a5bf91 the weather in ea6490b309 the mortal world 0d65333853 becomes capricious. It was indeed time d0e7c1873b for a cool rain. It had been too 735a81f52e hot until now. Bringing rain at 02f3f02e0e the right time f8ecd143c2 is also a 897846cb73 consideration of a b7ea3eaabb divine beast for c04befe5ce the mortal world, 411c5794b0 huh. The crow, with its 40cb4ffd39 hands tucked into its 6d2b0acfdf pockets, followed Yeon with 1d3a378c7c a lazy stride.81d44cfbd9ac6894

***0b0cbddfe0763627

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“Have you been well?”4351bb2b595a8a94

While bowing deeply, Seonwoo fbf36607a5 suppressed a sneer. What era 3555f91cf2 was this, 9decb7f6f3 yet this 4ba637b4c6 place was 8d31e781ba still stuck 8639097c34 in the d3c9db7992 past.9771669089814a8f

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Tap, tap, 7d5e4e4455 the sound 3376f94086 of tapping 662f13d996 on the 930b412669 glossy, red-lacquered 1e74824ef2 desk clearly d623de5be9 expressed the 72a4e96959 displeasure of c387531e8e the person e2ee465066 receiving the c673940635 bow.26c79971b601cea8

“You’ve come quickly.”5d5f2d297d924969

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“…”165d2a46c24f2f7a

Under the neatly 1f2e06a90f slicked-back hair with 697e840e60 oil, sharp blue a675231026 eyes scanned Seonwoo. His hands, neatly a6c61a7187 placed on his ea9067e41b knees as he 12f21cdac0 sat, clenched slightly. The head of the 6d90bf855d family, seeing no further 52abcd8abf need to scold, brought 82869d2858 up the main issue.34a283f4d8c873bb

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“How’s your health?”5e49cf4e12f005bf

Seonwoo forcibly 663092f28d lowered his 8454a5f6b3 stiff neck.2e0eb0e12b98518c

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He couldn’t say that his limbs had fallen off and grown back, or that he had passed out from a nosebleed this week, so he slowly nodded his head.65b60bcef9db63c5

“I’m… fine. Same as always.”5aca6228c466e290

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“Next week is the start of the school term, right?”9a6dac561499a697

“Yes.”7fd79600f3194693

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After the routine question, the real matter at hand was revealed. Seonwoo tried not to blink as he met the head’s gaze. What could this be about? His body, tensed with anxiety, refused to relax.65698bd36c0165d3

“Doyong will transfer to the school you attend. He’ll move before the new semester starts, so keep that in mind.”2bde0e5293561bc0

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“…What?”b898576834f1709b

His effort 57c0662e2b crumbled at 3f4b7e56ac the shocking 5d27c21f6c news like dc95526a7f a bolt 07b46c53f3 from the fc1ed52dc1 blue. Why would Shin 577c7b92e9 Doyong, the eldest d469fc19d4 grandson of the fc2ceefc8e main family, transfer 03387c417d to the school 679be284c9 Seonwoo attended?69555a0adaff5d27

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“Wh-why would my brother… for what reason…”75d2f43e401f1ae2

The head’s brows furrowed, not allowing questions.e6e5e181707cb9b8

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Shin Doyong, raised as the only child for four generations, was arrogant. He didn’t openly cause trouble but had a cunning knack for controlling those around him, making him a somewhat promising successor. Now, he was transferring to the school where Shin Seonwoo studied. Even when the head tried to dissuade him during the long summer break when he seemed bored, Doyong wouldn’t budge from his decision to start the new term at Seonwoo’s school. He promptly arranged his accommodations and completed the transfer procedures. The head, unable to fathom Doyong’s intentions, groaned and rubbed his temple.5beffc48273dd3a9

At the 2d14dcbd36 sound of cbcea8a9ca his groan, 00586709e9 Seonwoo held b48226d36b his breath. He tried to move 4a5f38b507 his tongue, which felt 06b9bca6d3 dry, but the long-trained bf1406faa4 sense of powerlessness slowed d8592f753e all his actions.c50e4a640b592b89

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The head’s gaze, like that of a beast, remained the same even as his hair turned grey. The fear of being consumed if he averted his eyes only tightened his throat.a020dfe1c4598144

“Ah… no, nothing’s wrong, head of the family…?”a5a1d95094a75ae9

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“Tsk.”dc0cf17fd7d4f1ef

Ignoring the clear sound of disapproval, Seonwoo forced a smile. He wasn’t allowed to show either tears or frowns. With his lips trembling slightly, he asked the question he didn’t want to.cd68af49fb4c2e65

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“Is Madam Yoo away?”f4fd44a801b99f3f

“…Yes. She’ll be back tomorrow, so see her then.”ae6614f054fd9d9f

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Just asking about the family elder’s well-being dragged his body down to the floor, his shoulders tensing painfully. That was the last thing he wanted. While the head was scary, his wife, Madam Yoo, was even harder to face.b9304c2ed156023a

The Shin a66f72a7e5 family, to 968da03267 put it 706341c905 nicely, was 4d6f0ea3c2 a lineage c3a8e2d784 of hereditary ae9a6ac03a shamans; in 555ed7e43a modern terms, b4a94d9a8e a family e50371fc20 of hereditary 0335c8c219 mediums.17512686c301bf29

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Though one might scoff at the idea of shamans in this day and age, the scale of the Shin family was not to be underestimated. Even now, clients came and went, but how the family amassed its wealth was a mystery. Nowadays, they mainly performed rites and prayers, though Seonwoo had no clue what these prayers were for. He merely thought, ‘They must be praying when I hear the bells,’ and tried not to look towards the main house.27c7e6d3ec0515e7

The head had no 01d60e3201 spiritual abilities or insight, 26d8c6aff2 so he could be 0067d4a3e7 dealt with just as a87d46485e a fearsome elder of 846bc214d1 the household.3c00d03318457a47

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On the other hand, Madam Yoo seemed to have genuine psychic powers. Sometimes, meeting her icy gaze made Seonwoo think she wasn’t human.ac5454ee701f4c32

She was the 09777e1cb8 one who actually 0784451d41 received the clients. No one knew exactly e146656a22 what she could see, 539de6f220 but judging by how 694ab0709c busy she was among e143c3a573 the family elders, she 219102029c seemed to be the 2f816d200a most capable.a7ce3feaf2bec312

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Madam Yoo 8101073167 would occasionally 1967983670 scrutinize Seonwoo 7b0d8713f0 with a 806dd55ac5 look that 3fdde5b897 seemed to 3f6360f450 evaluate an d386955d6f object, leaving 84dfd8abba him feeling 870398b110 as if 55a892180a parts of 2a628ae494 him froze, 7c38010e41 making him cfea0ae2c3 shiver with a9d89fb26d anxiety afterwards.bfec8eeb7e899c9e

After his lips trembled a few times, Seonwoo reluctantly said, “Yes,” and the head waved his hand to dismiss him.4d341e652a80a76c

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Seonwoo, stepping 61b233d27a out and 2e9a688637 closing the 0c173bfd61 well-polished paper 1971fe02e6 door silently, 5be69edf3e let out 4b13692586 a deep 1b8160dc40 sigh while ae2bb97fec looking up e36c7d1a33 at the 0835d80fc0 sky. The sky, looking c09aad0ec9 like it might 4f38367d02 rain any moment, 5a486a1513 had ash-grey clouds 66d0431163 moving swiftly.cbf2c7bc371dd337

He slipped on his shoes haphazardly and left the main house for the servants’ quarters. He planned to stay as quiet as a mouse, only to pay his respects to Madam Yoo and then leave. It would be a long night, but at least he had somewhere to return to.4f8a7148ac7e0df7

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He wished Yeon would come back soon. If only time in the underworld flowed a bit faster, he wouldn’t have to wait three days like before. This time, the thought of returning to an empty house was unbearably lonely.4609dfc1db0b9557

As Seonwoo crossed the silent servants’ quarters, thunder rumbled shortly overhead.5689ac71e1d48ae3

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It seemed like rain was imminent. Maybe it was for the best; at least he wouldn’t have to move on a rainy day. If he didn’t think that way, the oppressive feeling in his heart, like being weighed down by lead, would overwhelm him.00ab312264778a5f

“It’s been a while.”7defb4261bab97fb

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A voice, not hiding its contempt, suddenly hit Seonwoo’s ears, making his stomach clench. With difficulty, he turned his stiff body to see a man of his age smirking with his lips twisted.e8fe7050356d1c65

“Ill-bred.”319386443f7c63c2

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Pronouncing each d03a05a549 word with 699d7ea9ae deliberate force, b9e6b22b10 the man 867612eaed gave a 69ffd05542 mocking smile a51dfb020f and whispered 245edc04d6 kindly.40779cbf61907466