However, Rune's words trailed off as he recalled another cause from the same period.
The <Resurrection> command word that he hadn't told Christina about.
Even though it was a high-level magic, using it several times for training was also one of the reasons.
Christina helped Rune steady his body, which was about to slump, and hurriedly prepared a teleportation spell.
The place they moved to through her magic was the black room where the demon rose was located.
"In this place, you'll be a bit more comfortable."
Christina placed her hand on Rune's back and ordered.
As a soft golden light enveloped Rune's body, the pain gradually weakened.
'This is Christina's command word.'
It was the first time he had seen her command word.
A warm aura condensed from the natural power that flowed around the lair.
After being bathed in the gentle light, the pain disappeared.
'The effect is really good.'
Unlike Rune, who was amazed, Christina's expression was not bright.
"It's a temporary measure. If the cause isn't resolved, you'll have a hard time again."
"Well, it's a bit early, but you should start the hibernation period soon."
A child's body demands sleep at any time; it was an instinct.
Even he, who had honed his mental strength during his Imugi days, had failed to resist the temptation several times.
But recently, he had become more accustomed to controlling his body and tried his best to stay awake.
Thanks to this, he was able to secure enough training time.
However, it seemed he was reaching his limit.
"Even if it's a bit early, it's not too soon. Normally, young hatchlings sleep a lot, but you haven't been sleeping enough."
Though he showed his displeasure, Christina was firm.
With a somewhat reluctant expression, Rune took off his bracelet and returned to his original form.
If it was something he had to do, it was better to get it over with quickly.
Dawdling would only make his body feel worse, and he would be too sleepy to train properly.
The light spirit Rai dimmed his light instead of saying goodbye.
Rune chuckled and curled up into a ball.
As if waiting for him to close his eyes, drowsiness washed over him.
Soon, everything went dark.
Chapter 32: Nightmare (1)
At some point, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu about his name.
'“Rune”? I was originally an Imugi, what am I thinking.'
He wasn't a hatchling named Rune but an Imugi capable of destroying entire mountains.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he looked around.
Already, broken gray clouds were gathering in the sky.
The time when the energies of the sky and sea clashed.
If left unchecked, the waves would entangle and cause a massive disaster.
He had to intervene before the vortex engulfed the island.
Thinking about it, he felt unusually bored today.
But soon, a shallow sigh washed away that feeling.
Raising his head to the sky, he began to calm the twisted energies of the sea and sky.
What was usually a difficult and overwhelming task felt strangely easy and smooth today.
'After always causing trouble and making me suffer, today it's behaving well.'
Enjoying the rare moment of ease, he absentmindedly caught a feather that had been carried by the wind.
Magpies didn't even live on this island, so a magpie feather was strange.
Losing interest, the Imugi let the feather drift away in the wind.
"Maybe a welcome guest is coming."
It was half a joke, but not entirely.
Having lived as a spirit for hundreds of years, he had a well-honed intuition.
Something indescribable was coming.
He didn't easily overlook the unease brought by nature.
Sometimes, that premonition alone could place him at a crossroads of fate.
"I hope it's not a mischievous ghost."
Shrugging, the Imugi spoke.
Today was the last day of October.
The day when mischievous spirits descended from the sky and briefly visited.
"Of all days, it has to be the last day of the month..."
A day when the negative energy was particularly strong.
Other divine beasts would be wandering around to prevent disasters for humans.
But the Imugi, who had no interest in humans, ignored it.
'By the way, how is that kid doing?'
The kid who was mocked by other divine beasts as a monster had fallen in love with a human a few years ago, even giving up on becoming a celestial fox by using the fox pearl to elevate her rank.
'Becoming human is still something I can't understand.'
Suddenly, he became curious about how Baekmi was doing.
'Since she came and went on this island as she pleased, it's not like I'm in a position to be criticized for visiting once.'
Besides, he had finished all his tasks, and it didn't seem like a big deal to leave the island for a while.
On a chilly autumn morning, when the sky was unusually clear.
Wearing a black robe for the first time in a long while, instead of his usual casual attire.
The red tassel fluttered helplessly in the wind.
It was a thatched house, but it was quite well-maintained.
The image of Baekmi, who had left abruptly after saying her piece the last time they met, came to mind.
'Let's see how happily she's living.'
For a spirit who had lived as one all her life, a human body must be very inconvenient.
People bound by the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death, confused by money and selfishness.
Living among them, the white fox that the Imugi knew was too pure.
What it meant to be loved and live happily.
'What could make her give up the fox pearl?'
After a moment, a man who seemed to be her husband opened the window and came out.
Wearing a plain red shirt and trousers, with worn-out straw shoes.
Nothing special about his appearance.
The Imugi immediately clicked his tongue.
'How could a fox spirit who could become a celestial fox end up like this?'
Even if she became human, she should have prepared in advance.
She should have been in a better financial situation than this, whether she was cutting wood or hunting mountain animals.
"Sorry, I have to buy medicine for my mother, so I'll be a bit late today."
"It's embarrassing. If my widowed mother hadn't suddenly collapsed... I even had to sell the talisman you prepared."
"It's okay. Don't worry about it."
Her once dazzlingly white hair had turned black like any other human on this land.
But her smile was still as bright and beautiful as ever.
The man, looking embarrassed, hugged Baekmi with affectionate eyes.
Hugged by him, Baekmi was initially surprised but then closed her eyes and smiled happily in his embrace.
"I'll work hard and definitely make her life comfortable."
The Imugi remained silent, waiting until the man had completely left.
Then, a voice called out to him from inside the bamboo gate.
The same innocent voice as when he saw her on the island.
But it was a calm voice tinged with fatigue.
"Hehe. You came to see me, right?"
"I didn't come specifically to see you. As a divine beast, I thought I should do something for the Ghost Festival. Just thought I'd drop by to make up the numbers..."
As he continued speaking, the Imugi's eyes widened when he saw her.
She was happily walking out of the bamboo gate.
Baekmi gently rubbed her belly, which Rune was looking at.
"Yeah. Did it show? I thought you wouldn't notice, silly."
"Do you know about your husband?"
The fact that she only talked about her widowed mother bothered him.
Sure enough, Baekmi shook her head.
"What are you planning to do?"
A sigh escaped him in frustration.
The situation with humans was obvious.
Then, Baekmi smiled and replied.
"Mok, you know. Even though I chose to become human, the blood of a fox spirit doesn't disappear."
The Imugi's brows furrowed.
Unlike ordinary couples, the child Baekmi was carrying was a divine beast, inheriting the blood of a fox spirit.
"But I want to give birth to this child."
A child who couldn't be born as a human.
Already in the womb, the child possessed a tiny fox pearl, making it a complete successor to the fox spirit.
But a divine beast's child is not welcomed by humans.
Often labeled as a ghost or a bringer of misfortune, they are chased out of the village.
Knowing this, the Imugi couldn't speak lightly.
"Why haven't you told the child's father? It's only a matter of time before he finds out."
"I will tell him. But..."
"Even though he loves me knowing I'm a fox spirit, it was hard for him to decide to marry me. If he finds out our child isn't human... I can't be sure how he'll react."
"Moreover, his mother has been ill recently, and he looks very stressed."