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.a90d059960366c43

“Ha-ha, you’re not going to throw that, are you?”7b35632e0b5e4631

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“It would be better to singe you before plucking all your feathers.”5a656f0cf296e9ec

“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?”e85398267ddc6985

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“If you don’t like it, then tell me. What you know.”ee48344bf842b125

The words were 33bee29bc4 spat out coldly, 4fee00decb like a growl. If he crossed the 25164c2d4b line just a bit e8ba6ef126 more, Yeon was ready d5a5fbb931 to go through the 39587db791 trouble of plucking all 16e83e8489 his feathers.86b74d0f24730e28

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“Ah, you really don’t know?”5a0e774112eb086c

Despite the whining, the crow’s pitch-black eyes, almost indistinguishable from his pupils, looked at Yeon with a relaxed smile.4934460321e58914

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“These talismans are like keys to the box hiding your bead. You need to remove them all to unlock it.”5437d2e0a5f7f1fa

Mimicking the 85a117cc63 sound of 876e91ee79 a lock d55264b686 opening with bd6fd9af85 his tongue, 31843dacc0 the crow fdb5d2c061 had already d8f0a835d8 freed himself 5afe2ccb7b from the 7da4979c78 golden thread, 3d7d074234 shaking out 8027a946f4 his clothes.fd44cb856c54d807

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“Of course, finding the bead’s whereabouts is another matter. But getting the key first wouldn’t hurt, right?”60ec969a66069477

“How do you know that?”e8ed9fdbb735ac06

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“Hmm… I accidentally saw it on the day you were sealed. Not on purpose. I was taking a nap nearby.”4b47ffa7a7ef954a

—cd4309a640bf2a05

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It was 4fd4ef66bb an event fc91a51625 from 500 38d86670d8 years ago, 6aee7d9eb8 but the 43d1836411 memory of 8bf5567ba6 that day b012fcbd4a remained vividly. The white fox, who 58a925ae81 was as arrogant as cca3cc5421 could be, had given 7a0ccbbd6e up everything and was f88ae46b6a dragged away without resistance. The ears attached to 3b409c3135 the white hair that 604af64d18 had lost its luster 50d367f063 fluttered weakly. Even the 9da39a8e07 tail, which 830fc8f7bc would make 409952b54b anyone fall bca14dc309 if it 0ba89549fa swayed lusciously, 29d5e6f223 hung down dabf0831c2 as if 4b3e264bdf it had 4a091ecc8f been plucked 56334c0598 out.9603bb116ca70629

A crow, b472936200 who was 398d6bd336 watching with 99bdf19a42 the intent ed30fc23af to join 2f9cbb0b32 in if ff162a3a03 the resistance 1174bb60e2 seemed fun, 018135ba02 lost interest a959b527c3 the moment 265caa7dbc it saw 97c0caccb2 the deep 888a1779d2 abyss in ac189c607d those eyes. The gaze under b6a9fc78cc the lowered white 6bbd9067be eyelashes was crushed 75c026e395 and in disarray. A beautiful 10e992ea6d white fox e56ccdfd3d should be d71d5b36b5 haughty and 01eb07242b arrogant to 0c2bdd0854 be beautiful; 6a5342dc25 the sight bde940191d of it 778933869e with its cf30420d69 tail down dbcf6b4652 was far cc34937589 from my 523242d230 taste.3099f89fe48ad944

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The Four 430d9833cc Guardian Gods, f8a77b2c99 full of a3b0e591de vigor, tied 3a2455e7cf the fox ff146e1c34 to the 4ca18a7ab5 divine tree e952592ac4 with a 6c0bd30375 rope and d0bb542085 plastered it 09e7fd6f9a with talismans. The sound of incense 173a01988d burning and bells ringing 4074f1ff70 spread loudly through the 6a0bac35ae underworld. The prayer 9d9283ffda continued day 44ab6ea39b and night 3f6146843b for three edb07ed581 days. Even when the adaa96038a crow, woken from 63a749ba91 a nap, checked e6049d5b4f to see if 874322039b anything had changed, 7d1978e275 the fox was 78d38a31ee still bound quietly. Its vacant gaze 1349d0144c only stared at 8e3583af54 the firmly bound a3f4de5316 wrists, with no 49bbef9b20 will to escape 90a979156e evident in the ebc0f769a0 deeply sunken eyes.2531661f1a6b7bfa

‘How boring. For something that turned the mortal world upside down, all its fangs have been pulled out.’ed73fa91db46006a

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The crow thought ebf2b6aa1b so. It was curious ab389a4629 who had managed ee7e3c1565 to pull out 07942a76c1 the fangs of ce439a615c such a formidable 37d2a7ee29 white fox.4d57d709dda0dae4

It was regrettable that df258e60cc the rumor of the 50857392af white fox massacring a f744770d3f village in the mortal 7b8e822ae8 world was heard only 0584f327c3 after being confined in d4b814562f the embrace of Yama.884c77acdde0f8f0

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Should have gone 04a74b0612 down earlier, then 147d33371a I would have 93ae7d77ac seen something interesting, d50f9fa5fe but this is 872f7ec6b0 just-.0db30e0b957d1b0e

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.65d797958f019970

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Leaving behind c89f94affe only a af2c577d02 small white c9c63b2f8f fox, like 5c91acf2f8 a vain 81de74fada shadow. The main 837537b1cf body, tied b9bd08fae2 to the 66115e1419 divine tree, a5e98d8e15 with its 80d0f6e707 white fur 4f7538ceb2 scattered, disappeared f5e497c35e into the 7e1b53232f dark forest.06c3272a3258e27a

—2d96980d5442cd8c

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“You sure slept for ffdde09c43 a long time.”9fed869a93258d5c

Yeon, wondering if 3c31e8691d he remembered those da99efc8af times, extinguished the 5c5fdfeeda fox fire with db225c1f93 a sneer. The unpleasant memory further 80461ce72a sank his mood.6b4d94cfba8937e8

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Turning his body ce2ac554af slightly, Yeon released 2f2303e0a1 the golden thread 9de20768cd from his fingertips 6263740333 again. He wanted to finish 9ec5107fd3 the hunt quickly and 7ca63d082d return. Return where? To the mortal bfe79ebe79 world? But he 8adbec400a was a 2f8e324812 divine beast 2a16664165 of the fecd5a886e underworld. His hesitant 37497d4a7b hand made 9cfd1835d4 the golden 1b3fe9834c thread ripple 8f46130d89 slightly. His heart felt like 382f548e31 it was being engulfed 5d0070a465 by slow-moving waves. Watching him, e37c818ec8 the crow 889e1a6820 tapped the 6f46bc6da6 quivering golden 6b2d6e1c79 thread with eae5c5b873 its fingertips e698b40ecc and asked,0ea6a8f80dd91f07

“Going hunting? Why bother untangling the net, just go over there. There’s an Imugi turned Steel.”6fcd15aad5a9dd47

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“Fancy taste you 480853066d have.”2a32d6b6c033f720

After lurking 537d84d215 in the 2113b91755 abyss for 1a0d031a94 hundreds of be8b50fe92 years, failing abba84cfa8 to become 9ea4271be5 a dragon 50540b7c45 and becoming 04fdbd9933 tainted by a9319d160b malice, the 8e09b9c2fe Imugi turns 6372e04fd9 into Steel. Yeon retorted bf6c2a5853 for no 7ccf319f42 particular reason 9bbc5b6e5b and headed 3ac2c0a4a5 in the 268131fd74 direction the d26c41a7a7 crow had edf4029743 indicated.5b5db21aeef2c399

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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.”f62d6377a70fbb30

Steel is the yokai beda80e99d that brings typhoons in d5ed98f916 the autumn before the d527ea0ecf harvest. Steel, unable to cee522c27b become a dragon, ee61d282db expresses its frustration f8a2eeb05d noisily, turning the d9f565be8e earth upside down eb0107efc0 every autumn. The crow, who 9be1d137ac had encouraged eating c000ad1a0d the yokai, narrowed 3e7d7eb579 its eyes.7b1f9809fa296b9d

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“If you care so much for humans, why aren’t you eating it?”102193af4ff4c1a6

“I have no reason to be hungry. I’m just giving it up. Oh my, it’s going to rain heavily.”8cef14d60a7ae295

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When Steel goes on b80603a07d a rampage with its 2ff64252c6 rain, wind, and hail, 069d74e7a7 the weather in the aabd2af0f7 mortal world becomes capricious. It was indeed time d179ba987c for a cool rain. It had been too 2724de2b9a hot until now. Bringing rain 5e91679e77 at the 0944fdfb4f right time d9b73cd9ff is also f6445bd19b a consideration 676fc59a7a of a a870f906f3 divine beast b3df1eac75 for the 7ef5a5a772 mortal world, 95e9ad4ec4 huh. The crow, with 5e3a79f0d4 its hands tucked 438ffeac40 into its pockets, 58517e5f63 followed Yeon with 9603b58730 a lazy stride.6eb0d0b8d77b59c3

***a41c3b5a012c78b3

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“Have you been well?”2747e19e574c9024

While bowing deeply, f2936b9abc Seonwoo suppressed a 20895c7f65 sneer. What era bf9f333e4c was this, 9d05313b96 yet this eb262b9e67 place was 479f0f5b57 still stuck 9ad02ad7f7 in the 98a584ad03 past.0ebc49857153d3c2

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Tap, tap, the sound 76b9a6371e of tapping on the 6a14731468 glossy, red-lacquered desk clearly eb8742b239 expressed the displeasure of a8cc5d032b the person receiving the fd8d041cd0 bow.0c1396aa8a6ebf74

“You’ve come quickly.”d0deeb2f7583cc79

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“…”eac805fff0d08cc5

Under the neatly eafd1122f8 slicked-back hair with 9674d13696 oil, sharp blue fc9f99ec26 eyes scanned Seonwoo. His hands, neatly placed ef09707042 on his knees as ab1de53a64 he sat, clenched slightly. The head of 01ae3f0956 the family, seeing 91c48570d4 no further need bb84ef1803 to scold, brought 4b1f2586ef up the main 101f0051f8 issue.cfa2be6c90653d29

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“How’s your health?”f33b575810da01f9

Seonwoo forcibly lowered e69a24334d his stiff neck.823b6aeabfe2fc9b

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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.1190f9aa1d30364d

“I’m… fine. Same as always.”a68b006b1f75df8b

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“Next week is the start of the school term, right?”d8c47010cefffadd

“Yes.”d8ac8f86f1f6486a

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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.7fbac39d87ec8ab3

“Doyong will transfer to the school you attend. He’ll move before the new semester starts, so keep that in mind.”7a67c3b0b07b7495

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“…What?”bae6bf017bf28f6a

His effort crumbled ff01ef3b1f at the shocking 7d0a5bda34 news like a ac788c28d3 bolt from the 9d87728ff4 blue. Why would Shin Doyong, ecaa175638 the eldest grandson of 2da96c7013 the main family, transfer 1a97f57080 to the school Seonwoo 30c825f3cd attended?06e946c017b9bde4

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“Wh-why would my brother… for what reason…”3cb2b5132216bada

The head’s brows furrowed, not allowing questions.1a87e62668ae7dce

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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.b389ada4193d5597

At the 0620af9412 sound of 42286a5742 his groan, 2d54c43f7e Seonwoo held 1491592eaa his breath. He tried to a9c993346e move his tongue, 7ff2beef15 which felt dry, 0c98d235cf but the long-trained df7aa91b0e sense of powerlessness 4b7c006712 slowed all his 0e083a68ea actions.aea49e7b6e0c76ec

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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.b073587cbff3d241

“Ah… no, nothing’s wrong, head of the family…?”94cd365716d28566

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“Tsk.”c1842981c87cf39b

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.027a3e60677dacf4

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“Is Madam Yoo away?”a48dadbbbb003783

“…Yes. She’ll be back tomorrow, so see her then.”332a7999c3be6810

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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.bafa3d70f306f758

The Shin family, 870d655342 to put it f8f88c20fe nicely, was a 61cc5df240 lineage of hereditary cab6aff7fa shamans; in modern adea3a6d33 terms, a family d865e30cae of hereditary mediums.c35d769b33965d6c

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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.94cb9e36830b3141

The head had no b381a8e791 spiritual abilities or insight, 0bd86aab89 so he could be da7e4492a5 dealt with just as 16f3684e41 a fearsome elder of 956c4b6e96 the household.31b0d70968b797cb

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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.b909bf1ac129f5d8

She was the one b5cc875fc1 who actually received the 21516aa012 clients. No one knew exactly d49e58e69d what she could see, 63b07e43ec but judging by how 8039b6738b busy she was among f564eb199a the family elders, she f1862ce148 seemed to be the a5736721ae most capable.1846d035a25fc57a

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Madam Yoo would 3a89b2978d occasionally scrutinize Seonwoo 8c9fc89549 with a look a0c9bbe2dc that seemed to c58ead6ca1 evaluate an object, 728f86aa75 leaving him feeling 9f9cab6f55 as if parts b2f54476f2 of him froze, 1a439ab714 making him shiver f72af4b987 with anxiety afterwards.8832678f0e076ea7

After his lips trembled a few times, Seonwoo reluctantly said, “Yes,” and the head waved his hand to dismiss him.ce9bc81b090a5e6f

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Seonwoo, stepping out and cd389709de closing the well-polished paper c92274b8db door silently, let out a9d690c3ea a deep sigh while 7116426daa looking up at the aa6d4a8919 sky. The sky, looking like 3b0395532a it might rain any 957cfc1600 moment, had ash-grey clouds 413bae55fd moving swiftly.30e7d87dee953b0b

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.2419e29e3118ae29

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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.8a85bbd5bb2f25cc

As Seonwoo crossed the silent servants’ quarters, thunder rumbled shortly overhead.f08b0429816d9509

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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.2a1bad83c1b8fe0f

“It’s been a while.”34c4f2c6c2d0c34f

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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.58d80db04941f0a7

“Ill-bred.”6a8e3744cc6075e6

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Pronouncing each 6e108d2283 word with c01a843e39 deliberate force, cd83748606 the man da54c9d2fe gave a 0793bcc2ee mocking smile ab1253c861 and whispered cb105a3d83 kindly.95ca078936962824