The women I set free are obsessed with me

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"Urgh."

The sharp pain that started in his abdomen overtook his entire body and engulfed his mind. Karami's body, which had been staggering unsteadily, finally tilted forward.

Rin stared blankly at Karami, who had fallen face-first onto the cold ground.

"Mastah…?"

There was no response even when she called for him.

Maybe he was just teasing her.

He would surely get up and play some silly prank.

She unconsciously hoped for this.

But Karami didn't get up. His body, lying face down on the ground, was slowly losing even the slightest movement.

Amidst the forest filled with the scent of blood and burnt flesh, a subtly different smell of blood tickled her nose. The terrifyingly vivid smell of Karami's blood.

"Mastah!"

Only then did Rin realize something was terribly wrong. She leapt over to Karami's fallen body and turned him onto his side.

The wolf's large claw embedded in Karami's abdomen was enormous, easily 10cm long.

Worse yet, the claw was twitching as if it were alive. Not just the claw, but pieces of the Blood Wolfman's corpse were writhing and crawling towards them from all directions.

The claw was digging deeper and deeper. Realizing she had to act quickly, Rin forcefully pulled out the claw.

"Keugh!"

As the claw that had been blocking the wound was pulled out, blood gushed forth.

"Uh… uh…."

Rin's hands fluttered helplessly in the air. She had learned magic to kill beasts and enchant others, but she had never learned magic to heal injured people.

Karami was having a dry coughing fit. The air was scorching hot from Rin's fox fires burning the forest. And the Blood Wolfman's corpse pieces kept crawling towards them like worms.

After a moment of hesitation, Rin picked up Karami and ran.

Towards the city.

Towards home.

At a speed incomparable to when she had walked slowly with Karami. She tore through the forest at a speed that created sonic booms.

The city that had been far in the distance was suddenly right in front of her with just one step. She leapt over the city walls in a single jump.

The city was packed with countless buildings, but Rin had her eyes set on only one place.

Seira's house. If someone was injured, most would look for a hospital or church, but Rin didn't know about such things. The only person Rin could think to ask for help when Karami wasn't available was Seira.

Entering the house, Rin headed up the stairs to the second floor where Seira stayed. She pounded on the door so hard it might break.

"Sewa! Sewa! Mastah is hurt! Hurry, come out!"

A creaking sound came from inside, and the door slowly began to open.

Even if Seira was there, she wouldn't be able to heal Karami, but the details didn't matter to Rin. Just having a familiar face in front of her was reassuring.

"Sewa, Mastah… Mastah…"

Rin tried to show Karami's condition to Seira, but something was off about Seira. She was covered in wolf fur all over, and her eyes were icy cold as she looked down at Rin.

Tonight was the full moon. The night when the wild nature of wolf beastkins was enhanced. There was still a long time until the night would pass.

Moreover, they had been near the Forest of the Crimson Night, and Karami was bleeding profusely. It was the perfect combination to stimulate Seira's primal instinct.

"Sewa…?"

Seira approached with a chilling expression. Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Rin slowly backed away.

Crack.

Seira's hands thickened and her nails lengthened, transforming into beast claws. Finally, Seira swung her vicious arm diagonally downward.

Swish.

The claws passed over Rin's lowered head. The widely swung arm smashed the corridor wall.

"Sewa! Snap out of it!"

But as if she couldn't hear, Seira's attacks continued. In an instant, the house turned into a scene of chaos.

"S-Sorry, Sewa!"

Realizing words wouldn't reach her, Rin controlled her strength as much as possible and kicked Seira's abdomen to push her away.

Crash!

Seira flew through the house wall. Taking advantage of Seira's momentary disorientation, Rin quickly fled the house.

Rin glanced down to check Karami's condition. His pale complexion, drained of all blood, was like that of someone on the brink of death.

Her heart pounded like it might burst.

Where should she go?

Who should she ask for help?

Rin didn't know anything.

She didn't know how to live in this world.

She had never learned such things.

No one came to mind who she could ask for help. People only avoided Rin, who was covered in blood, and no one extended a helping hand.

Because she was a pink fox.

Because she was a monster that brought misfortune.

"Mastah, Mastah."

Rin trembled as she shook Karami endlessly. The master who would always hug and pat her at times like this was growing colder.

Yet the blood flowing from him was chillingly hot. As if it were the embodiment of the misfortune she carried.

Rin sat blankly on the ground. Just holding her master, dazed.

"Didn't I warn you? That he was destined to die for bearing your misfortune."

A familiar yet subtly different young voice. Rin flinched and looked up. Before her stood a young woman with her face hidden behind a veil under a conical hat.

Her presence was so faint that people didn't notice her, but Rin stared directly at her. Rin's eyes pierced through, recognizing the woman as Yuhwa.

"Gwanny… Mastah. Mastah is…"

Ignoring Rin, who was too gripped by fear to even cry, Yuhwa examined Karami's condition, which seemed like he could die at any moment.

Should I call this lucky or unlucky?

Yuhwa had come out for a walk to get some fresh air after a long time when she heard a commotion and came across the two of them.

If she had been even a little later, there would have been no time to do anything. Though his life force was fading, it seemed it wasn't his time to die yet.

***

After providing first aid on the spot, Yuhwa brought the two to a guest room in the Celestial Pavilion.

She laid Karami on the bed and applied fox fire to his wound. This was a different application from the attack version Rin used; it was a healing flame.

Karami's condition wasn't good. Though treated, scars remained, and he had lost a lot of blood. Above all, his body was weak, and it seemed he would need time to regain consciousness.

Yuhwa opened the door and came out into the hallway. In the corridor sat Rin, covered in blood. She had been waiting outside, fearing her misfortune might strike again.

"The treatment is done, and his life is not in danger. He hasn't regained consciousness yet, but he should wake up."

"…"

"Something must have happened. How did he end up like this? Did you stab him?"

"Mastah said we should go back… but Rin didn't listen… Because Rin brings misfortune… It's because of Rin…"

"Hmm."

Though she couldn't get the full details due to Rin's intense self-blame, Yuhwa could guess roughly what had happened.

Rin had been growing more arrogant since learning magic, so she must have put Karami in danger, drunk on her own power.

From a certain perspective, it was a truly complex situation. It could have happened because Rin ignored Karami's words, or it could have been caused by the pink fox's misfortune.

What should I do?

Comforting her by saying it wasn't her fault would be the wrong move. What answer would be good? What answer would help Rin?

After pondering deeply, Yuhwa's pupils dilated slightly, and she inwardly let out a wry laugh. Who would have thought the day would come when she'd worry about a gumiho?

Life truly was unpredictable.

Even so, she decided what to say.

"Yes, from what I hear, it's clearly your fault. Your master was hurt because of you."

Yuhwa decided to speak honestly. However, she had no intention of condemning Rin based on uncertain factors.

"But it's not because of misfortune. It's because of your reckless actions."

The occurrence of luck or misfortune was not something humans could control. It was a supernatural phenomenon. Even Yuhwa, with her Heavenly Eye, could not perfectly predict everything.

However, some prepared in advance, and some took appropriate follow-up measures.

"What did you do? Did you train to overcome any misfortune? Or did you seek knowledge to make up for your lack of strength?"

"…"

"You did nothing. You just acted like you were a god because you learned a few tricks. You were lazy, arrogant, and not even humble. That's why the person around you got hurt."

Rin couldn't refute anything.

Every word was painfully true.

She buried her face in her knees and stared at the floor endlessly.

"Don't blame your mistakes on misfortune. Don't treat it as an escape route you can use to run away."

Merciless words that left no room for escape. If Karami had been here, he would have covered Rin's ears, saying the old lady was talking nonsense, but he wasn't here now.

Rin had to listen to Yuhwa's harsh words without any filter.

"Look. Your master is so weak. Unlike us who can easily recover from such wounds, he has to teeter on the line between life and death."

Rin slightly turned her head to look at the room where Karami was. Fearing her misfortune might spread, she couldn't even look at the face of the person dear to her.

"That weakling despite having no power makes every effort to run around and willingly throws himself to stand in my way, all for the sake of being with you. Yet here you are, still sitting around. What, are you waiting for your master to come coddle you and get you back on your feet again?"

Yuhwa pondered. If she blamed today's incident on misfortune, it would be easy to get past it for now.

But if she did that, Rin would continue to use it as an excuse to avoid reality in the future. She might even lose all will to improve.

That would be better for Yuhwa, but… She chose to deviate from her usual behavior.

Yuhwa took a deep breath and continued in a lighter tone.

"…Well, in other words, it means things could change if you work hard."

The sudden gentleness in her voice.

Rin's ears twitched slightly.

"Do you want to go back to White Cloud Valley?"

Rin hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

"Then do you want to stay with your master?"

"…I want to stay with him."

"Do you want to protect your master?"

"I want to protect him."

The will bestowed by the heavens—the Mandate of Heaven.

To resist the Mandate of Heaven with the power of a mere mortal, one must pour all possible effort into it.

Ordinary effort was not enough. One must possess talent that borders on the realm of genius, and must put in effort that would make even the heavens tremble.

A gumiho, though burdened with misfortune, harbored within them the potential to defy the Mandate of Heaven.

"Then stop sitting here and get up. I'll raise you into a proper gumiho."

The heavens raged.

They threatened to take away her qualification as a Messenger of Heaven if she continued this foolishness.

If that happened, she would lose her power and become just an ordinary old fox.

Yet Yuhwa closed her ears to it.

It was something a Celestial Fox should not do.

It was something she wouldn't have done even if she weren't a Celestial Fox.

But the impression she received from the two had shaken her heart.

This was a deviation, and it was done in the name of duty—not as a Celestial Fox, but as an adult who had lived a long life.

"If you want to follow, then follow. If not, stay here. The decision is entirely yours. I'll say no more."

As if she had said all she needed to say, Yuhwa returned to the Realm of Immortals, her silk clothes fluttering.

Rin stared silently into space.

But her heterochromatic eyes were filled with clear determination.

With eyes shining with resolve, Rin stood up. She cast a fleeting glance towards Karami, and then walked down the corridor where Yuhwa had disappeared.