Chapter 108

A ray of sunlight falling into a dark city.

A hole was drilled in the ceiling, causing the tattered dark clouds to lose their form and vanish.

The darkness scattered.

The sun rose over Vestia.

Not the artificial sun created by Lin’s sorcery, but the real sun.

Under the warm sunlight, the city was peaceful, as if nothing had happened, with only traces of something that had risen left on the ground.

There were no traces of youkai to be found anywhere.

The minor youkai had burned in the sun and disappeared without a trace, and the higher-level youkai that survived were brutally slaughtered while floundering in delusion.

Only a handful of major youkai could escape through the gate, merely preserving their lives.

The Gumiho, the youkai king who once ruled over youkai. It had clearly realized what it meant to covet the heavens.

There was a difference in rank.

A different dimension.

An overwhelming force that could not be matched.

Even major youkai were not a match for the Gumiho, who toyed with fate like a plaything.

Only Lin stood tall under the heavens.

‘It’s all over.’

Carami thought as she gazed at the clear sky.

The night of the hundred demons had passed.

No one was harmed by the Gumiho.

Now, being with Lin wouldn’t twist her fate or bring her misfortune. Lin had defeated even the night of the hundred demons, gaining the strength to overcome any misfortune.

This also meant that the conditions for Lin’s complete liberation had been met.

The sky that emerges from Lin’s story is not an entity with a clear existence but an abstract concept. It could also be interpreted as a god, but in this case, it is fate.

Fate is a vast net woven from invisible threads. No matter how hard one tries to escape, the threads catch at the fingertips, pulling on other threads, entangling the body and ultimately preventing escape.

After that, one gives in and accepts that this is fate.

Misfortune is also part of the inevitable. Like a spark swept away by the wind that spreads into a massive flame, misfortune comes without warning at any moment, burning everything.

Before natural disasters, any human effort is just a small wave.

The fire-bringer Huayo.

The bringer of misfortune Hongho.

The one who toys with fate, the Gumiho.

The condition of liberation is for Lin, who embraces all the good things in the world, to not give up and to overcome. The growing tail can be seen as evidence of Lin’s will being materialized.

‘Let’s see… is it time to finish up now?’

Even if Lin were freed right away, there was one thing she wanted to do for her as a master.

***

The day after the night of the hundred demons.

The youkai have disappeared, but the city’s chaos has not. Posters stamped with the royal seal of the lion are posted on bulletin boards throughout the city.

Poppy, a dog with striking white fur and braids of pink hair, diligently delivered newspapers.

The content adorned the front page of the newspaper and the bulletin boards.

– The national hero Gumiho who saved Vestia from the youkai –

“What? The Gumiho saved Vestia? What does that mean?”

“Isn’t it manipulated?”

“But even Princess Hilde and Yu Hwa from the Celestial Pavilion are actively supporting it?”

That Hilde.

That reckless girl took the side of the Gumiho.

Hilde’s attitude, which had done everything to catch the Gumiho, has changed 180 degrees, causing confusion. Since Hilde was treated as a potential successor instead of the old and sick Lion King, the impact was even stronger.

Additionally, even the Celestial Pavilion, the largest merchant in Vestia, is protecting her. A group that seeks profit without any regard for blood or tears supporting the Gumiho.

The citizens could only be astonished.

Everything was a scheme orchestrated by Carami.

Of course, she didn’t lie.

It was true that Lin saved Vestia.

Although it was Lin who caused it to happen.

Of course, having famous personalities on one’s side was not enough. The most important thing in changing the atmosphere is the public opinion of the citizens.

The cat people mingled in the crowd began to speak up.

“I actually saw the Gumiho fighting yesterday! When it struck a giant goblin with a spear of fire, it couldn’t move.”

“When the ghosts suddenly burst into my house, there was a flash of light, and they melted away! I wondered what was happening, but it was all thanks to the Gumiho!”

The battle of the night of the hundred demons was set against the backdrop of the entire city, so there were more than enough eyewitness accounts.

The Gumiho fought for them.

Although the infamous Gumiho was not easily believed, it was sufficient to plant the thought of ‘could it be?’ in their minds.

Since no further misfortune would arise, as time went on, people would start to view Lin differently.

In the peculiar atmosphere of the street, Carami, watching from the Celestial Pavilion, smiled with satisfaction.

“How about it? At this point, it should be acceptable to walk confidently in the streets, right?”

“No matter what anyone says about Lin, she is the one who wins everything now, isn’t she?”

“Let’s learn not to rely solely on strength, like a fox, but to resolve matters with wisdom and eloquence.”

Hearing such words, something came to Carami’s mind.

“Resolving things with wisdom and words… One could say that foxes and slave merchants resemble each other in that regard.”

“Hmm…”

Lin liked even those trivial things, like being similar to her master.

“I can’t help but be amazed. To think you could truly save the Gumiho from misfortune.”

Yu Hwa, who had been seated at the round table, let out a bitter laugh as she listened to the two.

That day, Carami’s words, conveyed to Yu Hwa, vividly resurfaced along with the gaze he had shown.

– Wouldn’t it be a hundred times wiser to take care of the poor child right in front of you than to follow the unseen will of the heavens?

– Ultimately, countless innocent individuals would suffer. Are you not worried about the harm they will suffer?

– I should raise her well so that it doesn’t happen. I’ve raised a few myself, and I know a world can be created where no one gets hurt.

What had once been deemed the arrogance of a childish person now became a reality he had upheld.

To shout about a world where no one gets hurt, while not shying away from sacrificing himself.

“You are reckless and foolish.”

“I fully agree, young lady.”

“However, that is exactly why it could defy the heavens.”

“…”

Hekbi, sitting alongside Yu Hwa, brushed her teacup with her hand.

Both Yu Hwa and Hekbi foresaw Carami’s death or her downfall. A fate that a trivial being could not resist. A command from the heavens, a fate, and a life.

That the frailest of beings overcame it with her own will is something one cannot help but be astonished by.

Moreover, she does not fulfill her own desires given that she had the Gumiho, who could manipulate the world.

‘If the Gumiho had fallen into another’s hands…’

No, that is a meaningless assumption.

No one else could have resulted in the Gumiho breaking free from fate other than Carami.

Is this the end of fate?

Or is it the result of human choice?

Even after thinking over it repeatedly, Hekbi could not arrive at a definite answer.

“Regardless of what it is, isn’t it pleasing to see?”

“What…?”

“Despite resembling the Gumiho and being mischievous, she is not a bad child at heart. I believe you can become closer if you talk with Lin.”

“I will consider it.”

Just as Yu Hwa and Hekbi were deep in conversation, Carami and Lin approached them.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

“I wanted to express my gratitude for everything.”

“Did I do anything? It was all you two who accomplished it. I see you might be considering leaving Vestia.”

“Because my affairs are done.”

There was no longer a reason to stay in Vestia.

Lin also became interested in the notion of leaving Vestia.

“Master, where are we going?”

“No, Lin. I’m the only one going.”

“Eh?”

Lin tilted her head, not understanding the words.

Carami gently smiled and clapped her hands.

Clap.

The shackles bound to Lin’s soul were released with the clap.

“Thank you for all your hard work until now.”

[Completion of the liberation of the bringer of misfortune, the fox]

***

Immediately after defeating the night of the hundred demons, Lin felt a freedom that others could not comprehend.

The sensation that the fate, which had tried to make her unhappy at all costs, was severed. It felt as if the sticky spider silk that had bound her body was removed, granting her comfort.

There would no longer be any danger posed to her master. She could proudly stand by Carami’s side.

How many times had she felt guilty?

Whenever something bad happened to Carami, she could not raise her head, feeling like a sinner.

But not anymore.

After hardship comes happiness.

It had to be that way.

“Eh? Eh?”

Lin reflexively touched her body.

The shackles… the shackles were broken.

The bond that could not even be severed by death, the connection with Carami, was severed.

“Ma-master? What’s happening right now…?”

“Do you remember what I said many times before? Being a slave is not a good thing. Now that the time has come, I’m going to grant you freedom, Lin.”

“W-what do you mean, Master? Did Lin do something wrong again?”

Carami’s farewell announcement to leave her behind fell. The shackles of servitude were released. With her cheerful smile, Carami brought a thunderbolt upon herself.

“Haha, it’s not like that at all. I said I’d free Lin from misfortune, didn’t I? So I must also liberate her from the status of a slave. It’s about granting Lin true freedom.”

“L-Lin is fine. Lin likes being your slave!”

“Oh dear, that’s terrible. You must not say such things, Lin. And Lin isn’t a slave anymore, so there’s no need to call me Master. We are now equals, so you may call me Carami.”

Carami instead of Master.

The changed title felt strange to Lin. An overwhelming sense that an invisible barrier had been erected between herself and Carami engulfed her.

“Wow~ freedom! Liberation! Such a wonderful sound.”

Unaware of those feelings, Carami was immersed in joy.

Even though she had to liberate Lin, from the perspective of modern humans, it was not wrong in Carami’s eyes.

Is the liberation of beastman slaves indeed kindness?

Do they have the traits of pets?

That’s case-by-case.

Just look at Hilde, who begs not to be freed.

Lin had become a slave since her unvoiced childhood, and due to her accustomed life as a slave, she lacked the capacity to judge right from wrong.

Of course, it was not Carami’s role to teach her the advantages of freedom. He was a slave merchant. What he taught was only for slaves. He must leave to find another pitiful slave.

But instead, since there are many good people around, they will tell Lin how wonderful freedom is.

Surely Lin will realize it.

“In the future, you don’t need to get my permission for anything. You can eat what you want and do what you wish. Lin is free!”