At dawn, Eun Seonmyeong opened his eyes with a body that had become much more comfortable. It was the sofa in the living room of the suite room that the fox, Shim Iyul, had been boasting about. In his last memory, the fox had been extracting yokai energy from his body, and whether it had been done properly, his body felt quite light.
Eun Seonmyeong, who had gotten up, entered the bedroom looking for the fox and let out a hollow laugh.
‘That fox brat, what the hell? Is it really completely insane?’
The fox was sleeping on the king-sized bed with its limbs sprawled out in a big X. No matter that they’d formed an alliance, he was a Hunter. A Hunter who hunted and killed yosu. Yosu and Hunters were like water and oil that could absolutely never mix, eternal enemies. The sight of it sleeping so defenseless with him in the same space was absurd. Was it deliberately doing that to induce carelessness? Whether it was calculated behavior or it really was a crazy fox, he had no intention of letting his guard down even a little. Because there was no way a yosu could have such a thing as faith.
Even so, the reason he’d accepted Shim Iyul’s alliance proposal was because of the comfort he’d tasted once. It was hard to shake off the feeling of the terrible heat that burned his insides subsiding and stability coming to his entire body. He knew that as long as the curse of the imugi, the source of the heat, didn’t disappear, he’d have to suffer until the moment he died. He knew it, and precisely because he knew it well, he wanted to be liberated from the pain even for a moment. He wanted to be even a little less tormented. That’s why he’d temporarily set aside his pride as a Hunter and joined hands with a yosu. With the thought that if it tried any funny business, he could just kill it.
‘To think my body would become this comfortable just from having the White Fox’s yokai energy extracted.’
Of course, he knew that since the curse period remained, he’d become agonized again before long. But the comfortable feeling as if the curse had disappeared was truly ecstatic. Like the feeling of being addicted to drugs, perhaps. They say people who can’t forget the pleasure of doing drugs for the first time say ‘just one more time, just one more time’ and become addicted, turning into junkies—right now he was exactly in that state.
Maybe he should have just killed it after all, alliance or whatever.
Eun Seonmyeong fingered the gun in his breast. Right now, he could end that fox’s life with just a single shot.
“……”
Eun Seonmyeong, who let out a short laugh, took his hand off the gun. Though they’d formed an alliance, above all, thinking that if he killed that fox now, he’d never again taste the current comfort that was more ecstatic than the peak of pleasure, he couldn’t pull the trigger. Those who hadn’t experienced it wouldn’t know how precious this momentary peace that came after the pain of burning insides and boiling blood was. He decided to consider himself already addicted.
“For a Fire Fox, at least it’s useful.”
Even though Eun Seonmyeong moved openly, whether it couldn’t sense his presence, he watched the fox that was still sprawled out asleep for a moment before turning away. Taking out a can of beer from the refrigerator and drinking it, he left the room and called Han Seolju.
— Yes.
“I’m coming down now.”
— Understood.
Taking the elevator down, crossing the lobby, and coming outside, he saw a car waiting across the way. When Eun Seonmyeong approached, Han Seolju, who quickly opened the back seat door, examined Eun Seonmyeong’s complexion and couldn’t hide his surprise. Clearly, last night when they’d arrived at the hotel, Eun Seonmyeong had been in a state where even walking was difficult. He’d barely walked with Han Seolju’s support.
“We’re going to Hotel Felice. Have the car ready.”
Even when Eun Seonmyeong, who had been suffering without even a thread of clothing as even underwear was burdensome, had suddenly said such a thing without any explanation, though it was disrespectful, he’d thought, ‘Has the heat invaded even his brain?’ But to think he’d become so fine. Though he’d followed the orders since they were from the head of the family, he couldn’t help but be curious about what had happened.
“Who did you go meet?”
“The one who brought the little ghost.”
Han Seolju recalled the red-haired man.
“That person…… what is his identity?”
“A Fire Fox.”
Eun Seonmyeong answered without a moment’s hesitation. Since he’d formed an alliance with the fox, he had no intention of hiding it from Han Seolju.
“……Pardon?”
“A Fire Fox, I said. The fox that bewitched Seonjin’s youngest son. The fox I went to Mount Seorak to catch.”
“Did you kill it and come back?”
Han Seolju asked with a confused expression. Since it had brought a ghost, he’d naturally felt it wasn’t an ordinary human, but a yosu? He’d never imagined it. What yosu would come and go from a Hunter’s house so boldly?
“I formed an alliance.”
“……Pardon?!”
Han Seolju’s voice grew loud, flustered by the unexpected answer. Formed an alliance? With a yosu?
“It said the White Fox from three years ago planted a curse in me.”
“What?!”
“On the condition that the Fire Fox removes the White Fox’s curse, we agreed to live together for the time being.”
“W-with the Fire Fox?”
Han Seolju had a confused expression.
“Yes, it seems there’s a grudge between the Fire Fox and the White Fox. It proposed forming an alliance until then, saying the White Fox would definitely come looking for me, and I agreed.”
“B-but, Representative!”
Han Seolju said as if jumping up.
“……”
“It’s a yosu! A fox at that! It proposes an alliance in front but who knows what tricks it might pull behind your back.”
“Of course I should be on guard. I have no intention of trusting a fox or anything. But…… look at me now. I’m comfortable as if there’s no curse.”
“……”
“When the Fire Fox extracts the White Fox’s yokai energy from my body, I become in a state like now. Like yesterday morning. So I have no choice but to join hands with the fox.”
Han Seolju, who had watched Eun Seonmyeong’s pain closer than anyone, was silent for a moment before finally nodding as if convinced.
“I will thoroughly monitor the Fire Fox.”
“Do that.”
Knowing that Han Seolju would monitor the fox with his eyes on fire even if told there was no need, he permitted it. Eun Seonmyeong leaned back and closed his eyes. At the sign that the conversation was over, Han Seolju, who straightened his body, started the engine.
It was around when they’d almost arrived home. Eun Seonmyeong’s cell phone rang. Eun Seonmyeong’s brow furrowed as he checked the caller. It was Seo Hyeonjeong.
“Yes.”
— Representative Eun! What’s happening with the fox?!
As soon as he answered, a sharp voice burst out from the other end of the line.
“This doesn’t seem like an appropriate time for a phone call.”
It was 2 AM.
— When my child is dying, is the time important right now?!
“It’s important to me. And I said ten days. Only two days have passed.”
— If you kill the fox within five days, I’ll pay an additional 100 million won.
“I’m tempted by the money, but since the opponent is quite tricky and difficult, that seems difficult. I’ll visit you before the ten days are up.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who unilaterally hung up, clicked his tongue and thought, ‘I should visit with the fox on exactly the tenth day.’
“Is that Seonjin’s wife?”
“Yes. A woman who can’t even distinguish between day and night.”
“If you’ve formed an alliance with the fox, what do you plan to do about Seonjin’s request?”
“I included saving Seonjin’s son in the alliance conditions. I can’t let 500 million won go to waste.”
If he went to visit with the fox tomorrow, he’d earn an additional 100 million won, but he didn’t want to please Seo Hyeonjeong. Of course, Eun Seonmyeong liked money, but he also liked screwing over arrogant humans just as much as money.
When they arrived home, he saw the kid crouched in front of the stone lantern watching the bugs swarming to the light. The kid flinched when it saw Eun Seonmyeong and hid behind the stone lantern, then saw Han Seolju and ran over to cling to his leg. Having been given ice cream, its heart seemed to have melted. Han Seolju, who wore the goggles, stroked the kid’s head. Eun Seonmyeong passed the two who were affectionate like a father-son reunion and stepped up onto the wooden veranda, heading straight to the inner room.
“……”
Shim Iyul, who woke up after sleeping in late, frowned looking at the empty beer can placed on the living room table. Yesterday he’d taken out two, generously giving one to the Hunter, Eun Seonmyeong, and drinking one himself, so there should rightfully be two empty cans. But there were three. Since he had no memory of drinking it, the culprit must be the Hunter?
“He didn’t even buy me a cup of coffee, but took out beer on his own and drank it?”
After glaring at the empty beer cans with narrowed eyes while crossing his arms for a while, he decided to let it go generously. If he made an issue out of just one can of beer, wouldn’t he become the same cheapskate as the Hunter?
“Fine. I can give alms of one beer can to a lowly Hunter.”
Of course. Shim Iyul, who nodded, washed up and then changed into the clothes he’d bought yesterday.
After gathering all his luggage and checking out, the place he headed was naturally Eun Seonmyeong’s house. There was still an Exorcism Talisman with a blade wickedly sharp attached to the center of the gate, so it was impossible to enter on his own.
Shim Iyul, who cleared his throat, shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Come here!”
Soon the door opened. As he entered without hesitation, he felt a man with a huge frame glaring with fierce eyes. Though he’d never been formally introduced, thanks to encountering him every time he came here, Shim Iyul guessed who he was. He must be a vassal of the Eun family.
The 7-cheok vassal with a massive build who guarded the Eun family, holding the Ghost-Seeing Mirror in his left hand and a greatsword engraved with the Chukgwimun in his right hand, was quite a famous existence.
“What’s your name?”
“Han Seolju, fox.”
At the tone full of wariness unlike yesterday, Shim Iyul smiled with his eyes crinkling.
“Looks like you’ve heard about me. I’m Shim Iyul. I’ll be living in the detached house for a while.”
Just as Han Seolju was about to say something, the little ghost came running over and clung to one leg, going “Fox-nim!” Shim Iyul shook his leg several times as if trying to shake off the little ghost.
“I said you’re wrinkling my clothes!”
“Yesterday the scary uncle gave me strawberry ice cream.”
The kid was so glad about something that it was hopping around happily.
Shim Iyul glanced at Han Seolju before heading toward the detached house. Opening the door connecting the main house and the detached house, he saw a fairly well-maintained detached house. The detached house, consisting of one room, a bathroom-toilet, and a small yard, was cozy and quite tranquil. Though the suite room he’d checked out of without regrets flickered in his mind, it was more or less acceptable enough to stay.
Stepping broadly onto the wooden floor and opening the door, he saw a desolate space without a single piece of furniture.
“I just need to bring in a bed.”
“What bed for a fox? Just spread out a blanket and use it.”
Shim Iyul, who had sensed Eun Seonmyeong approaching through his spiritual energy even before hearing his voice, frowned and turned around. Then, crossing his arms, he spoke haughtily toward Eun Seonmyeong.
“The floor is……”
“……”
“Hard on my back.”
He’d had his fill of floor living in the mountains. His back really hurt.
