Ugh!
“Huhk!”
The sound of ribs and wrists breaking echoed. As the aura that measured death swept past, the husband curled up his body and trembled, tears and snot streaming down his face.
“I want to take your life right now, but there is someone more suitable to make you pay for your sins.”
The events of human life should be allowed to unfold naturally.
If I were to take personal revenge, all the virtue I have accumulated so far would be for nothing.
“You shouldn’t be happy just because you’re still alive.”
The corners of Imugi’s mouth curled up, forming a cruel smile.
“Your soul will never find rest. In hell, your tongue will be pulled out, you will suffer eternally in a place teeming with snakes, and you will dance on blades before being cut by a saw and bound with chains.”
A dark aura flowed from Imugi’s fingertips and slithered across the man’s face like a snake.
“Aah! It’s hot, it’s itchy!”
- Sin
Sin.
The character Imugi imprinted on the husband’s face faded away after a moment.
The husband, scratching his face in pain and itching, looked at Imugi with a dazed expression.
“If you accumulate virtue while you live, you might get a chance to be reborn as an insect.”
The husband let out a gasp as he saw the demonic aura in Imugi’s red eyes and fled from his seat.
Imugi watched the man’s retreating figure and spoke into the air.
“Do you want to live and have a chance to atone for your sins, even though you’re such a scoundrel?”
- Yes.
Baekmi’s soul stood beside Imugi.
She had told him everything from the moment he arrived and had begged him not to kill her husband.
Imugi sighed.
“He deserved to die.”
He had no intention of showing mercy.
There was no reason to spare a human who had tried to kill not only his wife but also the young divine beast in her womb.
No, just the thought of sending him back alive made his blood boil.
It was Baekmi who calmed his uncontrollable urge to kill.
- Anyway, he will receive his due punishment in hell. There’s no need to dirty your hands with him.
“...”
Imugi, who usually had a quick temper, remained silent this time.
Baekmi smiled bitterly.
“Where would you like your grave to be?”
- I’m a nine-tailed fox born and raised on this mountain. It should be here, of course.
“Do you really intend to bury the body of such a human near the village?”
His tone was quite rough due to the sudden surge of irritation.
The nine-tailed fox, who made a humming sound and placed her hand on her cheek, spoke lightly.
- Except for my husband, I lived here as a nine-tailed fox and was very happy. The four seasons of this mountain, the bustling humans, and the enjoyable times.
Hehe. Smiling and clasping her hands, Baekmi turned to Imugi.
- Bury me in a place where I can see this mountain and the village below.
“Hmph. Even without a heart, you should have some decency.”
Imugi, who had muttered “How frustrating” until the end, watched as Baekmi’s soul melted away with a smile.
- I was so happy and joyful to meet you.
“Shut up. I’ll do as you wish, so just achieve enlightenment.”
- Anyway, until the end! Ugh, who would be friends with this guy now that I’m gone?
Baekmi’s soul was gradually fading, but they both pretended not to notice and exchanged a few more words lightly.
At the last moment.
- ...Blackmi, I love you so much. I love you.
The words she had delayed saying.
Her soul, whispered alone, turned into a speck of light and disappeared.
***
Rune wandered around Baekmi’s grave, feeling a wave of regret in his heart.
‘Why do I have to see something like this?’
Rune pressed his aching head and muttered.
[Damn dream. Why won’t it end?]
At that moment.
Flash.
A small light appeared from somewhere, circling the grave and following Rune.
[?]
‘How did it recognize me? There’s no way a light spirit like Rai would be here.’
Rune examined the light closely.
The light, which seemed delighted to meet him, was a ‘fox bead’ containing a rainbow of colors.
[Fox bead?]
Sparkle!
Without realizing it, Rune cupped his hands and caught the bead.
At that moment, a small window appeared on the bead, and information began to be etched onto it.
<Fox Bead> (Bound)
- Descendant of a nine-tailed fox.
- Contains the soul of a one-tailed fox.
[Soul?]
The information meant that the small soul left by Baekmi was sleeping inside the bead.
Rune’s eyes trembled, and his hand tightened slightly.
‘Can I revive this soul like the rose that was imbued with a soul?’
The information in his mind provided an answer that it was in an unknown domain.
But it also indicated that there was a possibility.
‘Let’s try it.’
Rune held the bead in both hands and, with a choked voice, recited the incantation.
[Revive.]
Whoosh!
A blinding light that turned the world white enveloped the dream.
On a blank background, the information was updated.
<Resonating with the soul of Servant <Hell Rose>.>
<Synthesis complete.>
<Synthesis of the soul in the Hell Rose with Succubus soul successful!>
In the light, a small girl with black hair, pointed ears, and transparent pink eyes appeared before him.
The girl smiled lovingly and spoke.
[It’s time to wake up!]
The end of the nightmare.
Chapter 34: Kkokkoda!
“Kkokk!”
He shook his head to clear the dizziness as he woke from the dream.
As he did, rose petals and vines fell from his body.
The first thing he noticed upon regaining consciousness was his body’s growth.
Crack!
Stretching his front legs, he heard a satisfying crack as his long-stiffened body relaxed.
His body had grown slightly, but the movement of his bones and skin, as well as his weight, had increased.
He had been worried that his health might have been affected while he slept, but his muscles were now more firmly developed.
‘Not bad.’
Thud.
He got up on all fours, straightened his back, and stretched.
The stiffness in his body turned into a tingling sensation of liberation as he stretched.
‘Phew! Refreshing.’
His yawn was quite long, and his snout had grown, giving him a youthful appearance.
Thanks to a good night’s sleep, the slight fatigue he had felt was gone.
At that moment.
“I’m awake!”
“...?”
An innocent and clear voice.
Turning his head in the direction of the voice, he met the gaze of pink diamond eyes.
She looked to be about seven years old.
The plump child smiled lovingly and laughed.
[Who are you?]
“Me?”
Fortunately, telepathy worked.
The child pointed at herself with her index finger, tilted her head slightly, and blinked.
“Blackmi!”
[Blackmi?]
‘So, the one who was born from the synthesis of the fox bead... is this girl?’
At that moment, a small information window appeared before his eyes.
<Name: Blackmi>
- Race: Baby Succubus: One-tailed Fox
- Hatching Condition: A rare chance to be born when the Master (Master) grants a dream to the Enchanting Black Rose.
- To grow, it needs nutrients with the same attributes as the Master (Master).
※ Special Note:
A rare chance for a demon (succubus) soul to be imbued in the seed.
- Bound to Rune Eclipse (Lune Eclipse)
- Servant (Servant) transformation complete.
- Personality: Loyal
- Born from the fusion of a demon (succubus) soul and a one-tailed fox soul.
That wasn’t all.
<You can now add achievements to this world!>
- One who refined the soul of an interdimensional being.
‘What’s this achievement thing?’
The child, who had been watching him carefully, pointed at Rune.
“...Dad?”
[No!]
‘I haven’t even married, what are you talking about!’
Shaken by the eerie title, the child tilted her head to the other side and asked.
“Then... Mom?”
[Do I look like a woman to you!?]
Her innocent face and the way she scratched the back of his head were quite delightful.
Blinking, the child clapped her hands and exclaimed.
“Oh! Master?”
[...Forget it. What kind of master are you talking about?]
Rune wiped his face with his front paw.
He could smell the strong scent of roses on his hand.
“Master, forget it? Then what should Blackmi call you?”
“...”
It seemed he needed to decide on a title quickly.
Rune calmed down and waved his hand gently.
[Just call me ‘Rune’.]
“Rune...”
[Yes. Rune. That’s my name.]
The child mumbled ‘Rune’ to herself, then smiled brightly and opened her arms.
“Master Rune!”
“!”
Plop.
The child, who had leaped into his arms, hugged the large hatchling as if it were a big dog.
‘Ugh.’
The unexpected hug made him shiver, and he tried to escape, making a sound as his scales rubbed together.
But the child was hugging him so tightly that it was impossible.
‘Gulp.’
He couldn’t move roughly either.
In the end, Rune gave up, relaxed his body, and stretched.
However, the view behind him, seen upside down, was entirely a flower bed.
‘Are these all roses?’
Black roses filled the room.
The room had turned into a small garden, which seemed to have taken more than a year to form.
[Do you know how long it’s been since I fell asleep?]
The child tilted her head and showed him her spread fingers.
[You don’t mean 10 years?]