Chapter 85: The Fallen Monk (1)

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A mysterious plague of unknown cause and name swept through Vestia.

Those afflicted all suffered from high fevers and their skin turned black.

The disease spread rapidly with a high mortality rate—some victims died within a day of showing symptoms.

Though crow beastkin doctors could frequently be seen moving from house to house wearing masks, their efforts proved futile.

After all, how could they treat something they couldn't even identify?

The one silver lining was that the magical healing and blessings of a priest could suppress the illness.

However, even these methods only slowed its progression rather than curing it. An edict was issued urging people to minimize going out until a solution could be found.

People locked their doors tight and didn't step a foot outside. The city's functions ground to a halt overnight.

The suddenly empty streets felt eerie, like a ghost town. Most shops had closed, including the cat café.

Even Nero had fallen gravely ill. Though as the owner I wanted to check on his condition immediately…

"Why risk getting infected? You are absolutely not allowed."

Seira's adamant opposition left me no choice.

We had to self-isolate at home.

"Master, could this be because of Rin?"

"Well…"

It was. This was one of the major story chapters triggered by Rin becoming a six-tailed fox.

A plague originating from a rat beastkin. Crow beastkin doctors resembling plague doctors roamed the streets.

While it seemed like a medieval Black Death event to anyone watching, the reality was different. This was no ordinary disease.

—It's the Fallen Monk's curse. A type of sorcery.

That's right.

This wasn't the Black Death, but a curse born of sorcery.

Far to the east in the Plains of Despair stood a fortress where five yokai who opposed Rin's liberation resided.

The Dark Fox remained a constant, while the other four were randomly assigned each run from one of the Twelve Zodiac Spirits and three powerful yokai.

In other words, this Black Death-referencing event meant the Fallen Monk had appeared. He must have entered Vestia and placed a curse on a rat beastkin.

—That guy should be somewhere in the city. This plague-mimicking curse will disappear once we catch the Fallen Monk who cast it.

The way to clear this was to find and deal with the hidden Fallen Monk before more damage occurred.

"But how are we supposed to find him?"

—That's for you all to figure out.

"Hmph. You're too stingy to help. Master, let's go ask the old hag."

True enough.

With Yuhwa's Heavenly Eye, we could find him easily. However…

"No. We won't ask for help."

This was ultimately Rin's story.

It wasn't just any trial but one Rin had to overcome, and using Yuhwa's Heavenly Eye would severely diminish her contribution.

"Then how will we find him?"

"Rin has to find him."

"Rin? But Rin doesn't know where he is."

That was probably true.

Even though foxes had excellent hearing, smell, and vision, how could anyone find someone in such a large city without any leads?

Rin said she wouldn't accept the gumiho's help, but here her assistance was absolutely necessary.

"Big Rin, how about cooperating?"

—You're not talking about me, are you…?

"Actually, I am though?"

—You seem to be seriously mistaken, but I am a gumiho, not your slave.

"That's right, Master. That's Rin's name. Don't call her that. It's annoying."

The gumiho and gumiho-to-be wagged their combined fifteen tails while objecting. It was enough to drive a person mad just watching.

But what couldn't be done, couldn't be done.

"Regardless, being inside Rin's body means you're under the influence of my shackles. That makes you my property."

—What kind of twisted logic…

"It would be better to cooperate willingly before I call in a shaman for an exorcism. If you don't like it, you can leave."

Big Rin was too flabbergasted to speak, her mouth hanging open stupidly. Being treated like a common spirit seemed to be quite the shock for the great fox goddess and yokai queen.

Don't worry. I treat my slaves exceptionally well. I'll liberate you too. So how about cooperating?

Big Rin crossed her arms and turned her head sharply.

—Even if you ask for cooperation, I'm just a thought form now. I can't use any power, so you shouldn't expect anything.

"I know that, so don't worry. I just want you to act as Rin's teacher."

—The Celestial Fox is teaching her, right? Then you don't need my help.

"You know very well that's not true."

What Yuhwa taught Rin was basic fox spirit magic, not gumiho-optimized techniques.

In other words, I wanted her to teach Rin gumiho-specific skills. And what I specifically want from Big Rin was,

"Teach Rin how to use her eyes."

Not magic, but eye techniques.

The Solar Eye of her golden iris.

The Lunar Eye of her blue iris.

Just as the Celestial Fox has the Heavenly Eye, the gumiho has the Solar and Lunar Eyes—abilities essential to a gumiho who defies fate.

She obtained fragments of the power from White Cloud Valley, and I wanted her to learn the eye techniques while searching for the Fallen Monk.

While the child tilted her head, not understanding my meaning, Big Rin's expression turned cold.

—How do you know about that?

"The Celestial Fox told me."

—Even the Celestial Fox only vaguely understands my eyes' abilities; only I know the details. Yet you seem to know everything?

"You misunderstand. How could I know about the gumiho when I've never seen one? I only know that you have the power to defy fate."

—…

Big Rin didn't easily let go of her suspicion. Though I wondered if I had been too direct, there wouldn't be another suitable opportunity.

Starting with the Fallen Monk, yokai would come in waves under the Dark Fox's command, and after stopping them all, Heaven itself would intervene.

Time was short. Rin needed to learn new techniques immediately.

"Wouldn't it be good for Big Rin too if Rin becomes a proper gumiho?"

—That's true, but…

Why do you keep hesitating?

You have your own agenda too.

Do you think I don't know what you're after?

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it if you don't want to. I guess you'll just have to accept divine punishment and be sealed again…"

—Ah, fine! I'll teach her! Happy now? Just please, I'm begging you, don't call me by that Rin name.

"I suppose if you don't like it, I shouldn't force you."

Right. I'm a kind master.

I never force my slaves.

Force.

***

The gumiho decided to teach Rin how to use the eye techniques.

Though she had played hard to get with Karami, she had intended to teach from the start. The closer Rin got to becoming a gumiho, the closer she got to achieving her own goals.

She had only hesitated because Karami's sudden approach had caught her off guard.

—Take out your fox orb.

Rin manifested her orb, a new color flowing into her once-pink orb, spreading like paint.

A warm golden light occupied half of it.

—What you absorbed this time was the Solar Eye. Your right eye's power has been enhanced. Have you ever used your eyes before?

"I use them all the time except when sleeping."

—Right, so you know nothing. First, I'll explain what each eye does.

The gumiho pointed at Karami.

—I'll start by explaining the Solar Eye's main ability. Close your left eye and look at your master.

Rin winked her evening sky-colored eye closed and stared at Karami. When he waved, Rin smiled brightly and waved back.

—Stop doing useless things and focus. Pour your spiritual power into your right eye.

Manipulating spiritual power was no longer difficult for Rin. She directed the power swirling in her lower abdomen through her optic nerve to her eye.

A burning sensation filled her right eye, and her vision suddenly brightened.

Like sunlight piercing the darkness, the Solar Eye began revealing things normally invisible.

—What do you see?

"…I don't know how to explain it. There are fragments floating around."

Fragments of various colors swirled around Karami like looking through a kaleidoscope.

—What you're seeing are fragments of fate. You can see the possible fates that could befall that person. There are a lot, right? Usually there are only a few.

"Is it because he's with Rin?"

—That's right. As fate becomes twisted, the number of possibilities increases dramatically. It becomes impossible to predict which future will come.

Simply being with the gumiho twists fate and unleashes countless misfortunes.

Perhaps because Karami was closely connected to the gumiho, there were hundreds of fragments, in a myriad of colors.

Some were single-colored, while others were painted like an artist's palette. Most were like the latter.

"But isn't this meaningless then?"

If there were this many possible futures, seeing fate lost its meaning. It was inferior to the Heavenly Eye, which could clearly read the flow of fate.

—You're right. It's not very meaningful right now. The Solar Eye and Lunar Eye are meant to be a pair; you need both to do anything, but you only have the power of the Solar Eye.

"Where's the Lunar Eye then?"

—The Dark Fox.

"Rin is the prettiest in the world?"

—Gumiho, not Rin. And I wasn't talking about that, but the Fox Spirit of Darkness, little one.

Rin didn't know who the Dark Fox was or what kind of fox she was.

However, from the moment the Dark Fox was mentioned, the gumiho's anger-tinged emotions began seeping through. Enough to make even Rin, who didn't know her, unconsciously feel vengeful.

At that moment, Karami, who had been quietly observing, couldn't contain his curiosity and interjected.

"You're not going to refute the claim about being the prettiest?"

Both foxes blinked at Karami. Their heads tilted slightly to the side, as if not understanding the question.

"Isn't it obvious that the gumiho is the prettiest in the world?"

—Isn't it obvious that the gumiho is the prettiest in the world?

Karami decided to just stay quiet.

Tired from staring at the fragments of fate, Rin deactivated the eye technique. She rubbed her stiff eyes and blinked.

"But how do we find the Fallen Monk with this?"

The gumiho shrugged.

—It's very simple. We peek at the trajectory of fate and trace back the sorcery.