I Raised a Nine Tailed Fox Wrongly - Chapter 1

“It’s been a long time since I’ve made a blunder this big!”

Scylla, who was standing still, was startled out of her daze, an old woman had suddenly got excited and approached her.

“…Yeah?”

“Look at this! It’s a baby fox monster with nine tails!”

The old woman, who had just recently settled in the West, opened her eyes wide and pointed to the fox. Scylla looked down at the injured fox.

Nine shimmering silver tails.

The reason why Scylla, a knight, inquired about the woman from the eastern continent was because of her tail.

‘It seems to be a monster from the East, but it didn’t feel okay to kill him immediately.’ Thought Scylla demonstrating her good-naturedness as a knight.

The old lady’s expression grew serious, perhaps this fox cub was not a normal monster.

“A fox monster is born with one tail and grows another every hundred years. The number of tails is the same as the age of the fox ”

“A hundred years? Then nine tails…”

“It’s a 900-year-old fox monster. They call it the Nine-Tailed Fox.”

Silia shook her head. “But this fox is a cub.”

“That’s why it’s a problem, so take it!”

The blotched face of Roh, the old woman, started to show how deeply troubled she was.

‘If a little fox is born with nine tails, what would be the identity of the beauty who gave birth to it?’ Scylla shut her mouth. She had no idea.

She was already troubled by the issue of animals being smuggled into the West from the East. The worst of them was this monster, foxes were one of the products prepared to be sold to eccentric aristocrats. Because monsters were able to transform into humans, nobles sexually harassed them without it being considered harassment. It was also the reason why the general knights couldn’t interfere, they didn’t have the resources to endure the nobles’ wrath, hence couldn’t act if Scylla was exposed for harboring a monster.

“There’s no way a baby Gumiho can be conceived without the womb of Cheonho. Meaning the mother is probably a Cheonho.”

[T/N: Cheonho-is a thousand years fox.]

“What is Cheonho?”

“A Cheonho is a thousand-year-old fox, usually associated with heaven. It’s a spirit animal.”

Scylla’s face gradually became more confused as the series of strange words were thrown at her. The old woman clicked her tongue and changed her words to fit the Western culture.

“Like unicorns.”

Celia’s eyes became round.

“Unicorns? You mean the guardian?”

“Yes. What if you mess with the animals of God? You are punished by Heaven!”

“Then what do we do? Do I have to let it go?”

“That’s stupid talk!” The old woman became frightened at Scylla’s words.

“He comes from the womb of a spirit, but he’s basically a monster! If you let him go, he’ll mercilessly eat the people of the Western lands!”

‘The more she talked, the more I felt a splitting headache coming on.’

“If you kill it, you’ll be punished by Heaven, but if you let it go you’ll die, what will you do?

“That’s why I said I caught it wrong.”

Scylla was lost for words and shut her mouth.

The old woman looked into Scylla’s green eyes and sighed.

Scylla tried to encompass her spirit, and inhale clean, clear air into her lungs to determine if what she was seeing was real. Suddenly, the old woman’s face seemed to distort.

“What’s your name?” asked.

The old woman who was once a divine woman who communicated with the Divine Spirit, but was deported from the East for her sins.

Even though she was a newly reincarnated woman, she could not resist the old voice that asked for her name.

“I’m asking. What’s your name?” Roh asked

She answered reluctantly, “Scylla.”

“I see. Scylla. Listen carefully to what I’m going to say from now on.” The old woman said meaningfully, looking down at the nine-tailed fox while wheezing.

“Educate this fellow until he becomes an adult and take him to the East.”

“…Take care of it?”

“This monster, who can take the form of a human being, is a very mysterious creature. It holds a meaning similar to that of the Dragon of the West.”

“……”

“It’s up to you to take care of it, and raise it as the God of heaven or the devil of hell.” As she said this the old woman’s eyes flashed with a curious light, then continued. “Listen carefully. You’ll have to go to the East, and leave him there before coming back if you want to keep living as easily as you are now.”

‘Is my life easy right now?’

The old woman’s words sounded mysterious, but Scylla’s interest was elsewhere, “Then the people of the East will suffer.”

The old woman laughed ironically. She seemed to know what to ask.

“No, I will find the Thousand Age Fox who went up to heaven. Then his mother will come to pick him up.”

“….”

“Scylla.”

Scylla met the woman’s bewitched gaze, her clear eyes shone, reflecting Scylla like a mirror.

“This fox must be raised by you.”

“…”

“If you don’t want to see Cheonho’s cub become the devil of hell, follow what I say. Do you understand?”

‘I wanted to ask why it must be me, who raised the cub but I couldn’t.’ Thought Scylla, unable to reply.

The old woman lifted the cage containing the Nine-Tailed Fox and carried it in her arms as if she knew he was meant to be taken away. She draped a veil over the iron spear embedded in the nine-tailed fox, careful not to irritate the wound.

They stood in a stinking alleyway void of rats; however, if you were lucky you could meet just the right people.

“Thank you.” Spoke the old woman.

Scylla, who was concealed within her cloak, turned around with precision.

“This job must be rewarding…” A voice resounded in the alley.

Scylla opened her eyes wide without speaking. There was no one else in the alley, she stood still, and looked around trying to find the voice. The old woman was nowhere to be found and only Scylla remained in the alleyway. She unknowingly trembled, somehow it had become creepily cold. The spirit of the old woman entered her body like she had been there all along.

***

That night, Scylla had a strange dream.

She dreamed a man was hugging her from behind. One hand was around her waist, and the other which had a strangely blue vein, held her body. No, Scylla could say it wasn’t simply a dream.

The man held her tightly, he was at least 170 centimeters tall, making Scylla fit perfectly inside his arms. She twisted herself to escape his hold, but he didn’t budge.

His size was such that Scylla could see him hugging her breast like a thin needle.

It wasn’t human strength, that was for sure.

“You taught me.” Baritone’s voice from the dungeon resurfaced from the back of her mind. Scylla unknowingly trembled.

Hot breath dissipated at the nape of her throat. She could feel a timid smile on her lips.

“I have instinct.” The man spoke.

His enchanting red lips formed a thin line, it was the expression of an agitated man.

“Even a well-trained dog has an instinct. What about me?”

“Y-you’re mistaken.” Scylla stuttered.

“Where’s the beast that’s mistaken for its appearance?” The man whispered affectionately.

“I’m more of a spirit than just a mere animal. You know that Scylla , right?”

“….”

“Don’t worry. You taught me well. So I won’t do anything dangerous.”

“….”

“But you can’t run away.”

He tightened his grip on her forearm.

“Help me to keep being nice, Scylla. Stay by my side.”

Forever.

Scylla woke up from her dream soaked in sweat.