Chapter 140
Ding!
《Someone has acquired a ‘Black Star’ as a scenario reward!》
Yoo Jin-seo stared quietly at the message that appeared before her eyes.
In the Fox Den, no other fox besides herself should ever obtain a Black Star.
‘Who is it?’
The Fox Den’s scenario was like a perfectly meshed gear system—each part moving exactly as intended.
And at the center of it all stood her.
She was, for all intents and purposes, the “protagonist.”
The other Holy Sword wielders—the foxes—were merely supporting characters.
The scenario of the Fox Den was simple: the protagonist, Yoo Jin-seo, would acquire every Black Star, confront the demon Aurum, and ultimately fall just short of victory.
That was the entirety of it.
‘Who dares disrupt my scenario?’
The Black Star was no ordinary reward.
It was the key resource needed to become the new master of this abandoned Creator’s Abyss.
Therefore, losing even one was unacceptable.
And yet—someone had taken it.
Another fox had claimed the first Black Star.
…Though the requirement wasn’t particularly difficult.
‘It’s to be the first to enchant every person within a temple.’
All one had to do was enthrall the challengers of a temple and lead them.
But powerful charm magic used too early could cause dangerous side effects.
Even as a nine-tailed fox, she rarely risked it.
If someone had recklessly broken the rules for the sake of claiming a Black Star—
If that act had disrupted her scenario—
‘…I will not forgive them.’
Their end would be a living nightmare—a symphony of screams begging for death.
She would make sure they could neither live nor die.
“Um… Miss Jin-seo. Is it really possible for us to all escape together?”
A man beside her asked cautiously.
Yoo Jin-seo smiled faintly.
“Yes. As long as we do not lose hope.”
“Ah…”
Her smile made their breath catch.
It wasn’t mere beauty—it was holiness itself.
There was something about her radiant expression that made people instinctively want to follow her.
‘A saint.’
‘A goddess.’
‘Our hope.’
Fear? Dread?
Those emotions had long since vanished.
When they saw her smile, no one could feel despair.
“I will fight alongside you.”
“I’ll lend my strength!”
“Let’s do this together!”
Men, women, young, old—everyone rose to their feet.
At their center stood the Queen of Foxes—
The protagonist of this scenario.
The Nine-Tailed Fox, Yoo Jin-seo.
“Thank you for believing in me. I will risk my life to protect you.”
Her smile never faltered.
But inside, she was seething.
Someone had angered her.
Someone who had reached the First Trial before she had.
‘Soon, I’ll find out who.’
She steadied herself.
It wouldn’t be long.
She would confirm it soon enough.
—
First Trial – The Swamp of Resentful Souls.
As they arrived at the damp, reeking marshland, more and more people converged from all sides.
Ten temples.
Ten sword bearers.
Over a thousand challengers in total.
Ding!
《Welcome to the “Swamp of Resentful Souls.”》
《Proceed to the end of the swamp and defeat the demon “Hwarryeong.”》
《However, do not look back under any circumstance.》
《Those who turn around will be devoured by the “Resentful Souls.”》
The rules were simple.
Never look back.
No matter what.
“Whoa, there are so many people.”
“Must be over a thousand!”
“With this many, we might actually make it!”
The atmosphere was hopeful.
Humans grew stronger when united.
Yoo Jin-seo, standing at the very front, spoke to the crowd.
“We, the Holy Sword bearers, will lead the way. Please follow behind us—and no matter what happens, do not turn back.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“We trust you!”
Not knowing that the so-called Holy Sword users were all foxes, the people responded fervently.
Still smiling serenely, Yoo Jin-seo turned her gaze.
‘That one.’
A man standing at the edge of her vision—surrounded by the people of the tenth temple.
‘A fox I’ve never seen before.’
Strange.
There shouldn’t be any foxes here she didn’t recognize.
Perhaps there had been a mistake.
But she couldn’t afford to reveal suspicion—not while so many eyes were on her.
Then suddenly—
The man looked back at her.
And… smiled.
‘…He smiled?’
Was he insane?
She’d have to confirm it herself.
Yoo Jin-seo stepped into the misty swamp.
“Follow me. I’ll lead you all to safety.”
Because in this world, the protagonist had to be her.
—
—Hraaagh!
—Honey, look over here!
—I’m behind you!
—It hurts! It hurts so much!
Voices echoed through the swamp—countless souls whispering, luring the living.
Those who couldn’t resist their curiosity and turned around—
“P-please, help me!”
—were dragged screaming into the murky depths by countless spectral hands.
The air filled with terror.
Moments ago, they thought they could make it out easily.
Now fear consumed them.
“Wh-where’s Miss Yoo Jin-seo?”
“She was just ahead of us…”
“Damn it! I can’t see a thing!”
The fog was too thick.
Even the Holy Sword users had vanished from sight.
It was so dense that even the person beside you was invisible.
And as fear spread among the humans—
All the “sword bearers” gathered together.
The foxes.
Their eyes turned toward a single man.
“Who are you?”
“Are you truly one of us?”
“You’re the one from the tenth temple who took the Black Star, aren’t you?”
The act was over.
The humans could neither see nor hear what followed.
At the center of them stood Park Chan-woo, facing only Yoo Jin-seo.
Here began his true trial.
‘Just as I remember you, Yoo Jin-seo.’
She looked exactly as she had in the future.
He had met her long after this—but her appearance was unchanged.
Except for one thing.
‘You’re dropping your mask too soon. Still inexperienced.’
The future Yoo Jin-seo would have kept up the act longer—
Manipulating the others, making them expose him themselves.
This one was raw—unpolished.
“You’re new.”
“……”
Even as she spoke, Park Chan-woo said nothing.
He simply stared into her eyes.
Finding it amusing, she smirked.
“To look me in the eye without fear… brave, but foolish.”
Her crimson eyes flared.
《[Fox’s Charm] attempts to enthrall you.》
《A powerful mental attack from the Nine-Tailed Fox.》
《Perceptual alteration in progress!》
Yoo Jin-seo cast her most potent charm directly at him.
Far stronger than the one she used on humans.
However—
《[Annihilation Magic] destroys the Fundamental Magic: Charm.》
A racial trait’s power had no effect on him.
Not even that of a nine-tailed fox.
“To meet my eyes means you’ve chosen to serve me. From now on, you’ll answer all my questions truthfully.”
Unlike Doppelgangers, none of the foxes realized that Park Chan-woo was unaffected by charm.
He loosened his gaze, eyes dulling.
He let his mouth fall slightly open, feigning the vacant look of one deeply enchanted.
He knew exactly how victims of true charm behaved.
Then he spoke slowly.
“…Yes. I will answer truthfully.”
Yoo Jin-seo smiled in satisfaction.
She was convinced the spell had worked.
“Where did you come from, fox?”
Now came the real test.
A battle of wits.
Acting alone wouldn’t suffice—he needed a convincing lie.
‘At least she thinks I’m a fox.’
It was only natural—after all, he held the Holy Sword.
His mind raced.
And then, he found the perfect answer.
“I am… the final fragment left behind by the Creator of the Burning Boundary.”
The Creator of the Burning Boundary—
The very being who had forged this Abyss, the Fox Den.
At that, Yoo Jin-seo’s expression froze slightly.
“…The final fragment? Impossible. The Fox Den’s master is gone. The Creator of the Burning Boundary lost all authority here.”
“That’s true. I was born from the ‘Hidden Piece.’”
“The Hidden Piece…!”
Her eyes trembled.
A Hidden Piece—one of a Creator’s little jokes.
An achievement so impossible that it might as well be a prank—its reward beyond imagination.
“But you don’t look like a reward,” she said slowly. “Why appear now? Under what condition?”
“When the Fox Den’s fate is sealed—when the Creator’s will can no longer reach—it triggers my awakening.”
Indeed.
That wasn’t entirely untrue.
When the world containing this Abyss was destroyed, the Den was flung into another dimension.
The Creator could no longer interfere.
The conditions, in a way, had been fulfilled.
Park Chan-woo continued calmly.
“But the Hidden Piece is not yet complete. I was left behind to accomplish the final stage.”
Yoo Jin-seo’s face stiffened.
And so did the other foxes’.
“…The final stage? What is it?”
“I cannot say here.”
“What?”
“I can only tell the Nine-Tailed Fox herself.”
Too many ears, his tone implied.
And if other foxes heard, it might endanger her.
Yoo Jin-seo glanced around.
The foxes stepped back, creating distance.
“Now. Speak. What is the final Hidden Piece?”
Her curiosity gleamed brightly in her eyes.
Park Chan-woo smiled inwardly and replied—
“To become the protagonist and complete the scenario.”
“…And what would I gain from that?”
“Ten Tails.”
“………!!!”
(T/N: Now I cant tell who the greatest scammer is. Is it Raon, Lloyd or Chan-woo? Voting starts now lol)