Level -99 Archmage - Chapter 141

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 141. Ten-tailed Fox
The moment the Ten-tailed Fox was named.
Cracks splintered across Yu Jin-seo’s expression.
‘…Can I…become a Ten-tailed Fox?’
It was the dream of all foxes, the object of their deepest longing.
In short, the ‘god’ of foxes.
The ultimate being the foxes had lost in the distant past!
It was said that in the days when the Ten-tailed Fox existed, even the demons of the Abyss dared not lay a hand on foxes.
But the foxes who lost the Ten-tailed Fox became playthings of demons.
Summoned to this hell called the Creative Abyss whenever the demons felt bored, used and discarded as they pleased.
‘It was the fate of those defeated in the Race War.’
…According to the records of the foxes.
When the Ten-tailed Fox died, the world of foxes perished.
Because they had repeatedly ranked low in the Race War, they were robbed of countless ‘precious things.’
There were no more foxes who dared resist the demons or act on impulse.
No—the foxes who remained now knew of their world only through records.
Yu Jin-seo had lived in the Fox Den since birth.
For her, the world was nothing but the Fox Den.
Her only mission was to become the protagonist here and drive challengers to despair.
A cycle that would repeat for eternity, until death.
‘At last, an opportunity has come to me.’
The world where the Fox Den was installed perished.
Because of that, the Fox Den was ejected and settled in an entirely different world, managing to escape the grasp of the Creator of Burning Boundary.
An opportunity.
A golden chance that would never come again in her life.
‘If I become the master of this Creative Abyss, I will be able to find freedom.’
A foothold to become the true ‘protagonist.’
Just one leap, and she would escape this Abyss for the first time and gain the right to traverse the world.
But as soon as she began, a fox she’d never seen before appeared and made an enticing proposal—that she could become a Ten-tailed Fox.
The problem was the method.
“Are you saying I can only achieve becoming a Ten-tailed Fox if you, not I, become the protagonist?”
She asked again for proper clarification.
It made no sense to her.
That she could attain the qualifications of that god only if someone else—not herself—achieved them.
“Yes. The moment I complete the Scenario, the Fire of Foxes will appear, allowing you to become a Ten-tailed Fox.”
“Fire of Foxes….”
Ah. Yu Jin-seo nodded slowly.
The Fire of Foxes was the lost magic of foxes.
It too was among the most precious treasures of the foxes stolen in the Race War, and one of their core identities.
Did this mean the Creator of Burning Boundary possessed it?
“….”
Yu Jin-seo remained still.
Her eyes fixed upon Park Chan-woo.
She studied him with eyes stained crimson, turning his words over in her mind.
If this creature’s words were a lie, the end would be the annihilation of the Fox Den.
The moment they hunted the demon Aum and cleared the trial, the Fox Den would vanish, and just as surely, she too would meet death.
On the other hand, if this creature spoke the truth….
‘The liberation of foxes.’
She might gain the power not merely to reclaim simple freedom, but to free all foxes.
Yu Jin-seo deliberated.
How strangely convenient.
A Hidden Piece left behind by the Creator.
If it was designed to appear once the Fox Den’s life ran out, what could the reason be?
“What did the Creator of Burning Boundary intend to do upon completing the Ten-tailed Fox?”
“Amusement.”
“…?”
“It would be rather entertaining, would it not?”
“….”
Park Chan-woo answered with utter certainty, his honesty unguarded.
That was the nature of Hidden Pieces.
A device left behind purely for the amusement of the Creators.
Similarly, the perfection of the Ten-tailed Fox was merely one category of pure entertainment to the Creator.
Yu Jin-seo knew that much as well.
Faced with such an obvious question and answer, she found herself at a loss for words.
Yu Jin-seo caught her lower lip between her teeth.
‘Is she truly charmed?’
The Gumiho Charm is absolute.
Once eyes have met, there is no escape for anyone.
They become slaves, bound to serve unto death itself.
But this creature was no ordinary being.
‘I cast the highest level of charm. By rights, she shouldn’t even be able to speak her thoughts aloud.’
This was a side effect of such potent charm.
One could only answer direct questions.
After that, the mind deteriorated and they became mere puppets.
Yet this one was different.
Yu Jin-seo recalled their earlier conversation.
―…The final Hidden Piece—what is it?
―I cannot speak of it here.
―What?
―I can only tell you, the Gumiho, here alone.
Had she been charmed by the Gumiho Charm, she should have answered at once, right there.
Yet this fox had clearly thought it through, weighed her judgment, and given her answer deliberately.
Of course, had she answered immediately, it would have caused considerable trouble.
The Ten-tailed Fox is a status all foxes covet.
Word of it spreading to every other fox was merely a matter of time.
She didn’t think the foxes would betray her at this very moment, but in these peculiar circumstances, there was no telling what might happen.
‘The charm is definitely weak.’
She seemed to have some degree of mental resistance.
Ordinarily, when charmed, the target thinks and acts with the fox’s best interests in mind.
Similarly, this creature had chosen the optimal course of action for Yu Jin-seo.
A private audience with only Yu Jin-seo.
Only she would know of this matter.
She’d reasoned that, as the Gumiho, she alone needed to know it to remain safe.
Which meant, in other words—
“…You asked for this private meeting because the other foxes would pose a threat to me?”
She probed carefully.
What did she perceive as dangerous?
If she failed to answer properly now, if there was even a moment’s hesitation, then this creature was not charmed at all.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
“There is not just one Gumiho in this Fox Den, is there?”
…….
“Demon Aum. The final Trial of the Fox Den—that creature is also a Gumiho, is it not?”
“……Did the Creator of Burning Boundary tell you that?”
Ha.
She knew even that.
It was knowledge even most foxes lacked.
Only a tiny handful of foxes knew that Aum was a Gumiho.
Specifically, those few foxes chosen as Holy Sword Users.
“I know everything about this Fox Den.”
Park Chan-woo answered with composure.
The Creator of Burning Boundary?
He would never share such privileged information.
Rather, through countless trials and experiences, the knowledge had seeped in whether she welcomed it or not.
How many sacrifices had been made in attempts to conquer this Fox Den?
Each death became a key to unlock one secret, spreading that knowledge through the people.
The hope that Yu Jin-seo was a Saint.
The prayer that slaying the demon Aum would change something!
In the end, Yu Jin-seo became mistress of the Fox Den and roamed Earth freely.
Under the name of Saint, she led the people and consumed countless lives.
So, then.
‘Disappear with the Fox Den, Jin-seo.’
Park Chan-woo had sworn it to himself.
No matter what came to pass.
There would be no future in which Jin-seo survived alongside the Fox Den.
Meanwhile, Jin-seo was wrestling with a choice.
‘If Aum learns of the Ten-tailed Fox’s existence, he’ll break free from this trial and come for me.’
This fox is dangerous.
The reason the trial of the Fox Den could never be resolved lay with one thing alone: Aum.
He was a Nine-tailed Fox evolved for combat alone.
Nothing but the hunger to grow stronger and the desire to destroy.
If he learned the truth, he would become a Ten-tailed Fox himself and burn everything to ash.
Honestly…… she was afraid.
Of facing that monster, Aum.
‘Perhaps it would be better to eliminate him here.’
Becoming a Ten-tailed Fox was a grand dream, yes—but the risk of her own elimination before reaching that point was simply too great.
If she suddenly tried to change the scenario, Aum would grow suspicious.
And suspicion would soon harden into certainty, and his hands would close around her throat.
Eliminating this dangerous creature here would serve her far better than any other path toward becoming the master of this Abyss.
‘He’s wondering whether to kill me or let me live.’
Park Chan-woo knew her dilemma as well.
So he drove the wedge home.
“The Creator of Burning Boundary has chosen you, not Aum, Jin-seo.”
“…….”
Jin-seo said nothing for a long moment.
Her eyes wavered, caught between warring emotions.
Her entire world had been the Fox Den.
Naturally, the Creator who had made it was her world itself.
This was the first time that Creator had acknowledged her.
The Creator had been like chains binding her, yet simultaneously a presence she had always longed to face.
At last, Jin-seo found her equilibrium and spoke.
“Who are you? What’s your name?”
“Park Chan-woo.”
“……It doesn’t suit a fox.”
Jin-seo shook her head slowly.
At least there was no contradiction in his story.
All of it rang plausible enough.
No matter how many times she turned it over in her mind.
He was giving her only the words she wanted to hear.
Jin-seo made her decision.
In an instant.
Thunk!
Jin-seo’s hand pierced straight through Park Chan-woo’s chest.
* * *
The Marsh of Resentful Spirits.
The Holy Sword Users had reached its end.
“Shall we kill Hwa-ryeong, then?”
The foxes bearing Holy Swords asked.
Whether they should kill Hwa-ryeong and move on to the next trial.
“Let’s draw it out a little longer. It seems quite a few humans are being ground up in the Marsh of Resentful Spirits.”
“Fools. All they have to do is not look back, yet they can’t manage even that?”
The foxes laughed contemptuously.
The sight of humans struggling with even the first trial was so absurd they could hardly contain themselves.
At least two hundred deaths would come of it.
The original scenario was for Jin-seo to slay Hwa-ryeong with the Holy Sword at the right moment and advance.
But.
“This trial will be resolved not by her, but by this one here.”
“Pardon?”
“You mean to change the scenario, sir?”
“And furthermore, that one is…….”
The foxes stared, aghast, in the direction Jin-seo was pointing.
Park Chan-woo was there.
A fox of unknown identity, appearing out of nowhere.
The two of them had conversed, and then—abruptly—altered the scenario itself.
It wasn’t simply a matter of changing the scenario.
Not Yu Jin-seo, but this mysterious fox had declared that she would be the one to kill Hwa-ryeong.
In other words.
“Surely you don’t mean…….”
“Are you saying you’d change the protagonist?”
……She meant to overturn the entire game board.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————