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.e1740d2051051259

“Ha-ha, you’re not going to throw that, are you?”6caa56b527c2e161

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“It would be better to singe you before plucking all your feathers.”0a9a2d27eada0b66

“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?”f8431c5e1afc1fa4

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“If you don’t like it, then tell me. What you know.”7c9ca8e0040ee428

The words dcf3b6ea9d were spat 3f900b1d6c out coldly, 68ea7ac6a8 like a 7060392968 growl. If he crossed 730848a9d8 the line just 2e18f45cd0 a bit more, 5896976825 Yeon was ready 938a6e626d to go through 9471e77830 the trouble of fe6db340db plucking all his 87049031a4 feathers.0c3583bb4c947879

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“Ah, you really don’t know?”dcee9ed3c1c4abd9

Despite the whining, the crow’s pitch-black eyes, almost indistinguishable from his pupils, looked at Yeon with a relaxed smile.2be0d6694d49101f

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“These talismans are like keys to the box hiding your bead. You need to remove them all to unlock it.”aca90a47603738ae

Mimicking the sound of 2c5d7ba082 a lock opening with 045fcd956c his tongue, the crow 370c900d88 had already freed himself 590727d738 from the golden thread, 56a578a9bf shaking out his clothes.ab748267e2d40681

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“Of course, finding the bead’s whereabouts is another matter. But getting the key first wouldn’t hurt, right?”b4357813ae7cf29f

“How do you know that?”9b65a32e618c7d23

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“Hmm… I accidentally saw it on the day you were sealed. Not on purpose. I was taking a nap nearby.”de107d526f0bfa5d

—ed1944cdd28bc19c

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It was an event ab83e85a5b from 500 years ago, 5d56854bc8 but the memory of 4d779bddf1 that day remained vividly. The white bad7f012f7 fox, who ca112d489c was as 8b9a013db2 arrogant as 2ad0e22b1a could be, 683cb4dc73 had given 0829d1d4df up everything 54aa0961f5 and was 3125881f7c dragged away e9b395b839 without resistance. The ears attached 432fe8b8d5 to the white 1611b790aa hair that had bf9038a379 lost its luster f380c270a9 fluttered weakly. Even the 6d9524ed69 tail, which 92cca60554 would make 4dfafbc758 anyone fall 8b4214f088 if it a025273035 swayed lusciously, b841cf50bf hung down 713f65504a as if d5e6688a5c it had b35d3ad15c been plucked 87a16af708 out.1f3aa3177b7e6c3a

A crow, who was a992459c30 watching with the intent abad58d0c3 to join in if 2cdc9fb442 the resistance seemed fun, a78b848ff1 lost interest the moment c05eefe8f6 it saw the deep 05525b8ce1 abyss in those eyes. The gaze a4338f314b under the 3590c7e4f3 lowered white c4db8e77ad eyelashes was 45331104d6 crushed and b409e9231d in disarray. A beautiful white 75e83d5afc fox should be 833af6e93e haughty and arrogant 877bc9254a to be beautiful; 78bd15850e the sight of 464d4a8552 it with its ddb699dfb2 tail down was 68558b2100 far from my 236c3e4b20 taste.8063c333396c2e16

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The Four Guardian 1b5c19f80c Gods, full of c4ff6eca23 vigor, tied the 6805e55fe9 fox to the 8919d50a40 divine tree with caaa0e1482 a rope and 90835f555a plastered it with 6d3f388c77 talismans. The sound fc21fa5f8e of incense c075df7481 burning and 7248893326 bells ringing 5a2c2aa88b spread loudly 0cf2c01756 through the 2dbdb39063 underworld. The prayer 2734dc56a4 continued day 8f1b3d2488 and night 08538bb37d for three 0cc7c281db days. Even when 17675b2b40 the crow, 68373ffe03 woken from 83f7ac4213 a nap, 8a40aeb2a7 checked to a784f7853d see if 8d81586410 anything had c2db536f3f changed, the f63d837f1b fox was 09766a85fd still bound 7dac01215a quietly. Its vacant gaze d3664d3602 only stared at 88be2617fe the firmly bound 48c4056686 wrists, with no 07a55ede69 will to escape d3db375040 evident in the df3c852f3e deeply sunken eyes.97b81f70aadb2f65

‘How boring. For something that turned the mortal world upside down, all its fangs have been pulled out.’075e88489b8324c3

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The crow thought so. It was curious 5d57e2c5fd who had managed 3a05c154c6 to pull out 86b14ecfda the fangs of e91490eaf0 such a formidable 1a305f880f white fox.be53002ab1b0d14d

It was regrettable 31786e166d that the rumor 277003c84a of the white d49a5c81dc fox massacring a b1d547b9d0 village in the af30cb5efb mortal world was b95b93d255 heard only after 73e6d99b51 being confined in 55f53462ae the embrace of fb0d0ebfc7 Yama.5832c79607aee70f

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Should have gone e6f6412653 down earlier, then a59f94e5cc I would have 6818356575 seen something interesting, 09a1a8d83a but this is e462d779b8 just-.a6c123d55d9f0348

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.6ef568509f93e7c0

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Leaving behind only 3623cbe065 a small white 535f09108b fox, like a 8bc85a4fec vain shadow. The main 62faa67a42 body, tied b021d66a60 to the 88bd6a0984 divine tree, f18a783cd6 with its f4305731e3 white fur 2043a6a33a scattered, disappeared f457a5dabb into the b97899da0d dark forest.9bf2bf42d12bd75e

—e1d6a9951b26a4b2

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“You sure slept 8d07501d51 for a long c3cca33a06 time.”bde79aef8073db5d

Yeon, wondering if 4b9f334550 he remembered those 6d75ac0047 times, extinguished the a3f6972ea0 fox fire with 3b142a7632 a sneer. The unpleasant 3b492f0b45 memory further bb3817d252 sank his 5d1ad8ef86 mood.f8180fd7da9dc187

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Turning his body ef479d13a8 slightly, Yeon released 3db00c1b08 the golden thread 27550339e8 from his fingertips 6aa0424a50 again. He wanted to finish 3d7eb45d4b the hunt quickly and 34b0365984 return. Return where? To the 291b172f01 mortal world? But he was 9b8b97b500 a divine beast f7f3be5c21 of the underworld. His hesitant hand made 0b1bd87544 the golden thread ripple dddf6b2e16 slightly. His heart felt 60713c3ea6 like it was 8ef021236c being engulfed by 26b620b397 slow-moving waves. Watching him, the a10ce5f9ab crow tapped the a3a08bc221 quivering golden thread 12a09884ef with its fingertips b5f87d82dd and asked,5199bcd44b376149

“Going hunting? Why bother untangling the net, just go over there. There’s an Imugi turned Steel.”ab8057ce6c780f5b

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“Fancy taste you dca7f44c25 have.”49b7a498dd5023d3

After lurking bf0d8def8b in the e16cd6bb4f abyss for f29e1dcf2b hundreds of 882a26ba6d years, failing f71ddd4a3b to become 5a33458411 a dragon 5fa6ce1bf6 and becoming 95f8902698 tainted by 01e7a6b974 malice, the 0e53286df7 Imugi turns 3ff510ad8c into Steel. Yeon retorted bbca447bab for no a85b3e294c particular reason 9d2a8b0b56 and headed 2bacb22ef0 in the a36cd930d7 direction the fa4dec584f crow had f8c73039b5 indicated.a173dfdb9bda0d62

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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.”b5b45f06c5cf15ae

Steel is the yokai 0210ad9393 that brings typhoons in e68d676f4c the autumn before the ea93112437 harvest. Steel, unable to become 5f3d259ef3 a dragon, expresses its 7cfb19fd6d frustration noisily, turning the 446b82eb97 earth upside down every 305028f95a autumn. The crow, who had 6e4c7c38ed encouraged eating the yokai, d4c3650b8c narrowed its eyes.de17cec1e48d59c7

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“If you care so much for humans, why aren’t you eating it?”0b6d705503b0eb6c

“I have no reason to be hungry. I’m just giving it up. Oh my, it’s going to rain heavily.”32d680309624a863

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When Steel goes e1ef850bb8 on a rampage a05948c22c with its rain, 1ebed2eea7 wind, and hail, 38260e2e18 the weather in 09b81f536f the mortal world e072f7e696 becomes capricious. It was indeed 557489405f time for a d0ac4047b7 cool rain. It had been 1e61e85ea1 too hot until 6ac17bb9e0 now. Bringing rain 653e4679f0 at the 3279117ec0 right time b6b478a2f0 is also f227345beb a consideration c2fb93834f of a 8aa4a3496d divine beast ee2810770a for the 45db044e53 mortal world, ec30fa49ba huh. The crow, with its ebde7e5f9e hands tucked into its fea0ef43aa pockets, followed Yeon with 57983211ef a lazy stride.e97fb351b04ccc95

***5d823531948a7505

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“Have you been well?”b8b81ef802b8df41

While bowing 189701d7b5 deeply, Seonwoo 34a57a76b0 suppressed a 74665bffd0 sneer. What era ac8b61bab9 was this, ecabdd3c83 yet this 9d36e94f67 place was 4872547aa3 still stuck df600f31c5 in the 6bacf1fa35 past.eef78620f10b60be

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Tap, tap, the sound fac4cf8ac6 of tapping on the 6418aa25dd glossy, red-lacquered desk clearly 0d32a66077 expressed the displeasure of d4d26e2be6 the person receiving the c24e910f5c bow.949c5000db25da39

“You’ve come quickly.”dd5c7d8120d1d4d7

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“…”fd44b6cdc576fd01

Under the neatly slicked-back e0933c8a71 hair with oil, sharp 20ce0cbf1e blue eyes scanned Seonwoo. His hands, neatly 207f1cd435 placed on his 82d36e583c knees as he ad4812360d sat, clenched slightly. The head 91fdf6476c of the 6f1514522a family, seeing 50c42064c8 no further 6498c8cd05 need to 96d2ce26bb scold, brought 2db88f01d1 up the 787416f13b main issue.7562fbd96b9441a4

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“How’s your health?”be360f598b8fb299

Seonwoo forcibly lowered his 6005a5d24e stiff neck.7c29e4b657ad93fc

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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.6e7bee3f6e16a55f

“I’m… fine. Same as always.”8f8f51c4e74253ef

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“Next week is the start of the school term, right?”0189e19c9959c479

“Yes.”97fb764ff001c722

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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.c468c85911997d51

“Doyong will transfer to the school you attend. He’ll move before the new semester starts, so keep that in mind.”03167e4ef36bebdc

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“…What?”40c5f8c0f259eb5d

His effort crumbled 35f5e0e8ef at the shocking a1aa918d17 news like a 98a8ecc812 bolt from the f223de104d blue. Why would Shin 1e8f571050 Doyong, the eldest e6b10c1e4d grandson of the b0020bb60b main family, transfer b29a2c0c8e to the school 08d76d548e Seonwoo attended?146002561af40a69

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“Wh-why would my brother… for what reason…”cf1c0bbd6b9b48c8

The head’s brows furrowed, not allowing questions.6480edf1276c1ee9

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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.6c18d8775ff5d971

At the db692a72e1 sound of c3dabafe6a his groan, ff71f4d9c0 Seonwoo held 0833923168 his breath. He tried to move 125d9cdfd9 his tongue, which felt 83f0a2abd2 dry, but the long-trained 4300d2f126 sense of powerlessness slowed 2cab52cd79 all his actions.bef5f0f0f58ee3d5

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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.ce70698e1e55e221

“Ah… no, nothing’s wrong, head of the family…?”b7620509bd9e6ffc

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“Tsk.”e6d22bd519c31bab

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.8d4939a4e709bddb

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“Is Madam Yoo away?”22a25ba333cf76ba

“…Yes. She’ll be back tomorrow, so see her then.”18bdf1d306162dcc

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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.6d925852884aad5d

The Shin family, to 1f2b933d39 put it nicely, was ef441af1fd a lineage of hereditary 7a09419192 shamans; in modern terms, 81824b3419 a family of hereditary 7dd537a726 mediums.ffaeb5aa5c5a1e7b

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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.7d558379b9fb9ec0

The head had 0f49ebdb52 no spiritual abilities 11ebee19a3 or insight, so 8bfdbf057c he could be 0a975edde6 dealt with just de4cb0a7dc as a fearsome 080ebab1fd elder of the 1b87cd96fb household.7cde15e87184cc23

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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.1072990e29e0752a

She was the ad9ad13411 one who actually fc20cc3ab8 received the clients. No one knew exactly 620fa62631 what she could see, 7ef49d0ccc but judging by how 8cfe9f3620 busy she was among 19232d4af0 the family elders, she e322031e41 seemed to be the 62cbaaa029 most capable.0b3f02dfd7d7dd25

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Madam Yoo would d37daa2a59 occasionally scrutinize Seonwoo a6a4b09d0c with a look 3b2e5aebd7 that seemed to b299e0bb9a evaluate an object, 207bdb2646 leaving him feeling 258ebd5f85 as if parts a20217484d of him froze, f62f2d3f8f making him shiver 15b7b40084 with anxiety afterwards.bffa98dfa53cdb1d

After his lips trembled a few times, Seonwoo reluctantly said, “Yes,” and the head waved his hand to dismiss him.c522ea476fe44583

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Seonwoo, stepping 4416638173 out and cde9c38eb2 closing the 7731445dfc well-polished paper 7d4a463ab5 door silently, 2a4b97cd49 let out b7131f2fb7 a deep ae081751ff sigh while e3da82d114 looking up c7927643ab at the 587848b4aa sky. The sky, looking 15e7d78dce like it might 05a761db6e rain any moment, 552c98dfa6 had ash-grey clouds b6a8c9ae5f moving swiftly.92c47e17412e147a

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.bf0dec94551954a3

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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.3bbb422d60c094a0

As Seonwoo crossed the silent servants’ quarters, thunder rumbled shortly overhead.312487aafc405a36

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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.79fbbf84df42919a

“It’s been a while.”d66dc5716f4c05cd

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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.9510f705218dde49

“Ill-bred.”a7e6d27139624780

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Pronouncing each word with cca4ca49db deliberate force, the man 7edb55c0f5 gave a mocking smile 3c50177816 and whispered kindly.bf3937a788f1b50b