Chapter 52

The tea shop located in Vestia’s capital.

It’s a shop run by deer theriomorphs. The tranquil space decorated with leaves gives the impression of being inside a forest.

Employees with deer-like features and horns on their heads walked lightly and approached our table.

“The antler tea you ordered is ready.”

Bolt places down the tea he ordered.

The tea has a thick green and brown hue.

It smells like some kind of medicinal herb that elders would drink.

“What is this made of?”

“It’s made by grinding the antlers of deer theriomorphs. It helps with fatigue recovery and boosts vitality. Please give it a try.”

“Sip… Made from deer antlers… It’s a bit unsettling.”

After all, it’s like velvet antler or something, but hearing about it from deer theriomorphs makes it strange. It’s like eating pork in front of a pig.

But I should’ve kept that thought to myself. Those words inadvertently escaped my lips, and the employee’s expression immediately soured.

“Tch. Don’t drink it then.”

“Ah, it’s not that…”

“Humans are just too picky. You order it and then complain about the ingredients.”

The employee shot a sharp remark and went back with the tea.

Seira noted something again from the side. It was obviously a point deduction.

“Karami, you really need to improve how you handle theriomorphs. If you continue like this, how can you be a slave merchant?”

“It’s hard because theriomorph species are so diverse. I have experience with cat and dog theriomorphs, but…”

Common sense and this bizarre reality keep clashing. The gap is too large, making adaptation exceedingly difficult.

It’s like playing a cat-raising game doesn’t guarantee you can raise cats well in reality.

“I’ll buy you the book ‘Theriomorph Primer: How to Deal with Theriomorphs’ and you must read it thoroughly.”

“That would be good.”

Bolt took a sip of the tea.

“So, Karami, why did you come to Vestia?”

“I’m here on business. There’s a theriomorph I need to meet.”

“An acquaintance?”

“Someone you’ll soon get to know.”

Although Bolt seemed confused, he shrugged it off.

“Where are we headed?”

“We need to go to Baeyun Gorge.”

Baeyun Gorge (White Cloud Valley).

It means a ravine covered with white clouds, and it’s where a small village of foxes resides.

The third main slave is there.

“Hmm, I don’t recall hearing about Baeyun Gorge, Buddy, do you know it?”

“I’m not familiar with the habitats of other species… I’ve never heard of Baeyun Gorge either.”

Bolt and Buddy seemed unaware. Our gazes naturally turned to Seira. After sighing, she quickly provided an answer.

“Head east and you’ll encounter a fog-shrouded area. Inside Baeyun Gorge, there exists the den of around thirty fox theriomorphs hiding there called the Ho-yo clan. However, it’s not well-known due to the danger from the numerous malevolent creatures that make traveling difficult.”

As Seira was speaking, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

“How do you know this? As someone in a position where various information flows, I know this, but it’s a place even most theriomorphs don’t know about.”

Seira glared suspiciously, like a predator about to pounce. However, I responded with confidence despite her intimidating look.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know something like this when I love theriomorphs so much?”

***

Deep within Baeyun Gorge, where the mountains are cloaked in mist, lies the fox den.

The sharp wind blowing between the valleys resembles ghostly laments, sounding like the final cries of unwitting travelers.

An unsettling atmosphere, as if something might leap out at any moment. Indeed, malevolent creatures—or as some call them, youkai—roam outside the ravine.

There’s no way out. The fortunate part is that these beings can’t cross the narrow passageways, so the foxes have lived hidden deep inside the valley for generations.

This daily anxiety stems from the mistake of their ancient ancestors, not this generation’s fault.

But once pushed to the brink, it’s human nature to blame someone—to rationalize their situation however they can.

The foxes just so happened to have one perfect scapegoat.

“Huayo, it’s time to earn your keep.”

Many pairs of eyes focused on a single small fox.

Pink fur.

Heterochromatic eyes that hold both the sun and the moon.

The girl’s distinct appearance stood out especially among the foxes—a creature who seemingly never grew, had no knowledge of speech, and who appeared in this ravine from who-knows-when.

She didn’t have a name.

She was the misfortune-bringing youkai, Huayo.

It wasn’t really a name, but rather a title. A child abandoned by her parents wouldn’t lack a name the way she did.

The pink-furred fox brought misfortune. That was the old legend.

The trapped foxes in Baeyun Gorge believed unwaveringly that their situation—staying confined and being threatened by youkai—was a result of Huayo bringing misfortune.

“Why don’t you go out? Huayo.”

It was a cold and unforgiving voice.

When the youkai appeared, the foxes would drive this girl out of the village. It was a tradition passed down over generations. They believed when the girl was driven far away, the malevolent creatures would follow.

Whether Huayo survived in the process or not—well, that wasn’t their concern. Simply being fed and housed was gratitude enough.

A minimal act of mercy towards kin.

“…”

Huayo stood at the entrance leading outside the village.

The loneliness and fear she felt every time she was driven out had not diminished. Her body trembled slightly.

Huayo stepped into the misty darkness where strange winds howled, and she looked back once more.

There, only waiting foxes who desired her to leave quickly awaited her departure.

Huayo disappeared into the fog, carried by the sharp wind.

***

“Huff… Huff…”

Huayo darted through the ravine on all fours, panting heavily.

She spread frail, lonely footprints across the forest floor. The dense fog made it impossible to see even a few steps ahead. Each moment brought a precarious leap as the ground seemed unsure underfoot.

Her pink fur was damp with both mist and sweat, and her heart pounded as if it would explode.

Her young hands and legs were covered in cuts and scrapes, but there was no luxury of feeling pain.

Through the fog, strange blue lights flickered. Will-o’-wisps. They twinkled faintly, mocking her as they darted around.

It was as if they tempted the lost to lead them ever deeper into confusion, whispering ominous words.

BOOM… BOOM…

Her ears perked up. The deep, terrifying breath of a massive youkai reverberated. It was getting closer.

If she stopped, she would die.

Even if she lost her way, she would die.

Although it was her umpteenth escape, familiarity would never come. The fog, like sea mist, stripped her of any sense of direction.

Once, after losing her way, she had returned to the village after four days.

But there was no time to rest. That night, while hastily devouring the potatoes thrown by the villagers, she had to run outside again.

Huayo didn’t resent them. It was her fault for being born under the karma of misfortune. It was wrong for her to be born with pink fur.

She was thankful just to be allowed to survive.

BOOM!

The ground trembled under the youkai’s footsteps. The shockwave made Huayo leap to her feet in fear.

She frantically looked around.

Where should I go?

Where should I run?

I don’t know.

I know nothing.

Anxiety spread like ripples.

The fear wrapping around her body intensified.

Huff…

“?!”

At that moment, Huayo’s nose twitched. A breeze carrying an unfamiliar fresh forest scent swept through her nostrils.

She didn’t know what it was, but her theriomorph instincts told her she should head that way.

As Huayo took a bold step forward—

“Ah…!”

A slope.

It was hidden because of the fog.

She stumbled and tumbled down.

As a prostrate Huayo tried to get up, she couldn’t. Blood flowed from wounds covering her legs.

BOOM!

The sound drew closer.

I have to run.

I have to escape… but I can’t move.

I’m scared. It hurts. I’m in agony.

Tears streamed from Huayo’s heterochromatic eyes. The wounded areas burned like fire.

Yet, there was no one in this world prepared to embrace her, painted with the mark of misfortune.

Huayo crawled forward, dragging her injured leg. Then, she heard footsteps.

They were much lighter than the youkai’s but her fading consciousness couldn’t distinguish the difference.

Through her closing eyelids, she saw a shadow emerging from the fog.

The figure of the Death God.

As if to claim the life of this girl barely clinging to her survival like a beggar.

Her consciousness blurred.

The heterochromatic eyes of sunlight and moonlight faded away.

The shadow of Death God looming over Huayo as she lay unconscious on the ground.

Karami looked down at the small fox lying limply in front of her.

Her tail and ears, neglected and without luster, tangled irregularly and covered in dirt. Her body, covered with numerous wounds and malnourished due to lack of care.

The aftermath of the misfortune she was said to bring.

“How wonderful. We met by chance.”

But Karami called it “good fortune.”

It was precisely the time when she was worrying about how to find her way to the village, and here she had come to meet Karami.

[The Fox that Brings Misfortune.]

The third main slave.

One of the top contenders in the Taosl popularity poll, a most beloved character.

The nameless fox Huayo.

And the single name that only Karami in the world knew:

“Lin.”

At the sound of “Lin,” Huayo’s ears twitched slightly.

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