Free Web Novel“What do you think you’re all doing?”
Silver energy radiated outward like threads, enveloping the sleeping human. The goblins, having just regained their senses, wore dismayed expressions.
“But...”
They lingered, unable to leave their spots. Even though they knew Miho outranked them, they couldn’t simply flee. It was probably because the one who had given the order was even more intimidating.
“Let me see that bamboo slip.”
“Ah, no... it’s a confidential item of the celestial realm!”
“Confidential, huh? Forging a signature on a contract without someone’s consent is certainly confidential. If you # Nоvеlight # won’t show it to me, I’ll just take a look myself.”
The spirit fox sneered, then chanted a spell.
“Pause (*Stop).”
Although it didn’t literally freeze the room, the spell captured the current scene on a silver screen created from the fox spirit’s energy. The goblins blinked in surprise when they saw their images replicated on the screen.
“Enlarge.”
The screen rapidly zoomed in on a specific point. The goblins leaped toward the screen upon realizing Miho’s intent, but the floating silver barrier let them pass straight through while continuing to magnify the bamboo slip.
The captured image remained clear even when enlarged. The ancient script on the slip was sharp and distinct, and the spirit fox read it aloud.
“Ah, so it says, ‘I, Shin Yoomyeong, have manifested powers beyond human capability and absorbed life energy in violation of celestial laws. I agree to surrender all acquired powers and all life energy obtained through this ability.’ Ha! Even if you lack a conscience, there should still be a limit.”
“Watch your words! Are we supposed to ignore the fact that this human unlawfully gained these powers? We are merely carrying out our duties.”
“Ah, so the celestial realm now carries out its duties by secretly stealing signatures from the parties involved?”
Stung by his sarcasm, the goblins fell silent.
“This is a power developed by a human who suffered for fifteen years because of a clear mistake by the celestial realm, developed through a desperate struggle to survive. And now you plan to erase it all with a single stamp, without even the slightest understanding or compensation?”
“...”
“You’re always the same. You constantly preach about the fair laws of the celestial realm, but you only ever apply them to humans and spirits, never to yourselves.”
The spirit fox was not merely scolding the goblins, who were nothing more than messengers and fellow spirits. His real target was someone in the celestial realm who was surely watching the entire situation.
“Why didn’t you just secretly erase him and destroy his soul to eliminate the evidence? Ah, right. There’s our contract. Without it, you would have done exactly that.”
As his remarks grew harsher, one of the larger goblins exclaimed,
“If we leave him alone, he’ll soon ascend to immortality!”
Realizing the meaning behind those words, Miho flinched.
(When a human becomes an Immortal and ascends to the Celestial Realm.)
When a human’s combined energies approach 100, they can ascend to immortality. While it was not a significant amount for spirits or immortals, it was enormous for humans, who were never meant to absorb such energy.
“I see.”
If left alone, Yoomyeong would rapidly reach 100 presence, also known as life energy.
Metamorphosis.
Miho chuckled.
(That would be fun too. Watching the celestial realm get turned upside down would be quite a spectacle.)
A smaller, sharp-eyed goblin shouted at his reckless words.
“Why would you do that?! That would put you in a difficult position as well! I heard you made a tremendous sacrifice to form a contract with this human.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s a win-win situation. Once we obtain this consent form, all the life energy he gathered will be reclaimed. Then the presence you gave him will exceed his own. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“Well... that would benefit me.”
At his admission, the two goblins grew excited and were about to continue when his fierce glare silenced them.
“So you’re saying I should behave like you? Have you ever considered the pain this human endured because of your trivial mistake? How dare you treat the determination of someone who struggled enough to defy the laws of the world as worthless? Even the most insignificant creature deserves the same respect under the law as the highest being!”
Was this defense for Yoomyeong, or for himself?
The spirit fox mocked the goblins, who struggled not to be overwhelmed by his aura.
“Wouldn’t things become very interesting if I reported this directly to the celestial realm?”
“T-that... please, not that...”
The goblins’ faces turned pale as they remembered that, despite being a mere spirit, he could communicate directly with the celestial realm.
Swoosh.
A shadow fell across the wall.
Yoomyeong had awakened.
The spirit fox froze at the sound of his voice.
Though Miho’s human form was unfamiliar to Yoomyeong, the quiet voice calling his name seemed to understand everything.
How could he? He should not have been able to hear him unless directly addressed.
“Shin Yoomyeong, can you hear my voice?”
Yes, I can hear you. And I can hear them and see them too.
It seemed that his ability to absorb life energy had also awakened his spiritual senses.
Momentarily lost in thought, Miho quickly shook off his confusion.
It would be better to keep things simple. This might actually be for the best. The person involved should make the decision.
“So, how much did you hear?”
I woke up when you arrived, and then those guys started scattering around making a lot of noise.
“Good timing, then. You must have a rough understanding of the situation by now... What do you want to do?”
Yoomyeong did not answer immediately, confusion filling his eyes. Then Miho presented him with two choices.
“We can send these guys back, and you can continue absorbing life energy until you become an immortal. It’s the best way to spite them. If you choose that, others may try to stop you, but I’ll help as much as I can.
Or we can accuse them directly before the celestial realm. It won’t affect you too much, though it may be troublesome to appear as a witness. But at least justice will be served.”
Hearing this, the goblins huddled silently in the corner turned pale.
Can I continue acting then?
That was what mattered most to Yoomyeong.
At those words, the spirit fox’s brow furrowed slightly.
Miho had already suspected, even while speaking, that Yoomyeong would not accept either option.
Yoomyeong would be unable to act regardless of whether he became immortal or was summoned to the celestial realm.
Time flowed differently in the celestial and spirit realms.
Miho himself had only stayed in the half-celestial realm briefly, and already two days had passed in the human world.
And what about you?
“Me?”
What happens to our contract if we choose one of those options?
“It will be nullified. They are separate matters, so there will be no compensation. My tail is not something that can be easily compensated for. Well... it can’t be helped.”
Why?
“?”
Why are you going this far?
Yoomyeong felt emotion surge within him.
The human form of Miho, the small creature who had lived with him for over two years, felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
Yoomyeong had always been wary of him. That was inevitable, considering he had never known what the spirit fox truly wanted.
He might have agreed if Miho had demanded decades of his life, one of his limbs, or even his soul after death.
But because he could not understand Miho’s intentions, the possibility of suddenly losing his ability to act at any moment had made him wary of the spirit fox.
But today, Miho had protected him.
He had even refused a clear benefit placed right in front of him.
Even if the contract became void, Miho still promised to help him.
To begin with, Miho had been the only one to reach out to his hopeless life.
What’s my current life energy level?
Startled by Yoomyeong’s direct gaze and question, one of the goblins hurriedly checked the bamboo slip.
== Acquired Life Energy Through Powers (15) ==
“Uhhh... the energy gained through your ability is 15, your innate energy is 29, and the energy obtained through the spirit contract is 30. So your total is 74, sir.”
They almost used a formal honorific before hastily correcting themselves.
So it’s in the mid-seventies. About the same as senior Ryu Shin. It’s not an unreasonable amount.
Yoomyeong pondered for a moment before nodding.
Let’s settle this by leaving the life energy I’ve already absorbed untouched while taking away my absorption ability. I have no desire to become an immortal by continuing to absorb life energy.
“No, why would you...”
“That’s a bit...”
Miho looked dissatisfied and started to object, while the goblins also trailed off uneasily.
“This is already a major compromise on my part. Excluding the life energy I originally lacked, the amount I should have accumulated through fifteen years of struggle is about fifteen. I deserve at least that much. Tell your superior that I do want to make things difficult for them, but I’m compromising because I don’t want to lose what truly matters to me now.”
The goblins murmured among themselves before taking out a communication device, apparently contacting their superior.
Miho whispered through gritted teeth.
“What the hell are you thinking?”
Miho. You want to take over my body and act for yourself, don’t you?
Caught off guard by the direct blow, the spirit fox flinched before falling silent.
After speaking through the device and adjusting the contents of the bamboo slip, the goblins addressed Yoomyeong again.
“We accept the terms. You only need to sign here.”
The energy I’ve already absorbed belongs entirely to me now, correct? And I can still increase my presence through my own efforts like ordinary people?
“Of course. Up to a limit of one point per year, depending on your achievements.”
I don’t trust you. Miho, check it for me.
The still-silent spirit fox examined the slip before nodding.
Alright. I hope we never see each other again.
Yoomyeong pressed the stamp into the red powder with a thud, and the goblins hurried away with the bamboo slip.
Yoomyeong opened a beer from the refrigerator and handed it to the silver-haired man before him, who gulped it down thirstily.
“You’re unbelievably handsome. It’s a feast for the eyes.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Huh?”
“I understand not wanting to become immortal or get involved with celestial affairs. But you could easily have demanded more life energy. The thirty I gave you is already bound to you, so if your presence exceeded fifty, our contract issue would also be resolved.”
“Ah... so if the presence you gave me exceeds my own, my body becomes yours.”
The spirit fox bit his lip, realizing he had inadvertently admitted it.
“Miho, you want to act just as badly as I do.”
Yoomyeong’s voice was gentle, without even a trace of accusation.
“I wondered what someone as extraordinary as you could possibly want from me. Now I understand. You needed a human whose innate energy, or presence, was so low that the energy you provided could surpass it. And you needed someone as desperate for acting as you were, someone who would willingly accept your offer. That person was me.”
Miho crushed the beer can in silence.
“I’m not blaming you. You even sacrificed your precious ninth tail to send me back in time. Considering the immense price you were willing to pay for my human body, you must have truly longed to act.”
Yoomyeong understood the craving to act better than anyone.
“And besides, you’re my benefactor. I’ve always thought I should repay you someday. I already owed you, and after today, I owe you even more.”
“Did you intentionally accept only enough to keep your presence below fifty?”
Yoomyeong nodded.
“Yes. I plan to give you my body.”
“You fool...”
“But Miho, I have a request.”
With an expression bordering on desperation, Yoomyeong spoke.
“Could you let me continue acting until I turn thirty? Just half of the fifteen years you gave me.”
“And I want my consciousness to remain after you take my body.”
“Do you even understand what you’re saying? It would be like being trapped inside a prison. Unlike me, you would never be able to leave that body.”
“I know. But still...”
Miho let out a deep sigh.
After living together for two years, he knew Yoomyeong well.
Yoomyeong was fundamentally kind, but he firmly rejected situations that offered him no benefit and directly confronted unfairness. Yet when it came to acting, he was obsessed to the point of blindness.
Hearing both this willingness to relinquish his obsession and this desperate plea to continue pursuing it made Miho feel as though his head were pounding.
“Do you even realize that you currently hold a one hundred percent advantage here?”
“Huh?”
“Your presence just became 44. I’ve only given you 30 so far. In other words, as long as you avoid further dealings with me, nothing will change. You can continue acting as much as you want, and eventually, when you die of old age, our contract will naturally dissolve. The contract loses its power the moment you cast off your human shell.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you making such a foolish request?”
“Because you’re my benefactor.”
His clear, straightforward gaze made the spirit fox feel almost ashamed of his own ulterior motives.
After hesitating for a moment, Miho revealed something else.
“You never had liver cancer.”
“What?”
For the first time, Yoomyeong’s calm expression wavered.
“I heard that your ability to absorb life energy already existed in your original life, and that it affected your liver condition. I only learned this recently myself. If you had known that, your decision might have changed... So perhaps this contract was never truly fair to begin with.”
The spirit fox explained Yoomyeong’s unusual condition as it had been told to him by his mother.
After hearing everything, Yoomyeong fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“No. My choice would have been the same.”
“Would it really?”
“Yes. If I had continued living as I was, I would never have been able to act properly. I was already close to my limit and filled with the desire to give up. If I hadn’t met you, I would have abandoned acting and slowly wasted away. So even if I had known, this still would have been my only choice.”
“...”
A sliver of moonlight entered through the small window, spilling over Miho’s long silver hair.
Watching him, Yoomyeong spoke again.
“You didn’t compromise even when it would have benefited you, and you’re being honest with me now even though you don’t have to be.”
“That...”
“Thank you. I truly mean it. Regardless of your intentions, you saved me. So even if you refuse my request and decide to collect your debt right now, I won’t resist.” freёwebnovel.com
Miho bit down on his beautiful lips.
After a long silence,
he finally spoke.
“Let’s think about it again in five years.”
“?”
“I’ve waited far too long for this, and I can’t simply give it up. I’ll accept your proposal, and when you turn thirty, I’ll think about it again. Until then, try to entertain me a little longer. Maybe something will change.”
It took Yoomyeong a moment to process his words.
Once he understood, he looked at Miho with eyes overflowing with emotion.
Ssshhh.
Silver mist burst outward, and the handsome man quickly transformed back into a small fox.
“Well... it’s not as if this hasn’t been entertaining. Ahem. Move over. I’m going to sleep.”
Watching Miho curl up against the wall with his tail tucked close, looking slightly embarrassed, Yoomyeong’s gaze softened.
“You looked cool in your human form, but this one is definitely cuter.”
“Quiet. Just go to sleep.”
“Thank you.”
Yoomyeong pulled the blanket over them, carefully tucking Miho into the corner.
Moonlight gently enveloped them, like another layer of warmth.
