A tea shop located in the capital of Bestia.

It’s run by deer beastfolk. The tranquil space, decorated with leaves inside, made it feel as if we were in a forest.

Deer waitstaff with horns on their heads moved gracefully, approaching our table.

"Here’s the antler tea you ordered."

They placed down the tea that Bolt had ordered.

The tea was a mixture of a thick green and brown color. It smelled like medicinal herbs, the kind elderly people might drink.

"What’s this tea made from?"

"It’s made by grinding the antlers of deer beastfolk. It helps with fatigue recovery and boosting vitality. Please try it."

"Uh, ground deer antlers… that feels a bit awkward."

It was like deer velvet, but hearing it from a deer beastfolk made it feel a bit strange. Kind of like eating pork in front of a pig.

Unfortunately, I said that out loud instead of keeping it to myself. The staff’s face scrunched up in displeasure.

"Tsk. Then don’t drink it."

"Oh, that’s not what I meant—"

"Humans are always so picky. You order it and then blame the ingredients."

The server tossed a sharp remark and took the tea away.

Seira, who had been sitting next to me, scribbled something down in her evaluation again. I didn’t need to see it to know it was a deduction.

"Karamir, you really don’t know how to deal with beastfolk, do you? How can a slave trader act like that?"

"Beastfolk are so diverse that it’s hard to keep up. I’ve raised cat and dog beastfolk before, but..."

The knowledge I had clashed with the strange reality. The gap between them was too big to adapt easily.

Just because you’ve played a game about raising cats doesn’t mean you’re good at taking care of real ones.

"I’ll buy you the book Beastfolk Special Lecture: How to Handle Beastfolk. You need to read it thoroughly."

"Yes, I probably should."

Bolt sipped his tea.

"So, Karamir, what brings you to Bestia?"

"I’ve come to meet someone. There’s a beastfolk I need to see."

"Is it someone you know?"

"We’ll be getting acquainted soon."

Bolt looked puzzled but didn’t seem to mind and nodded.

"Where are you headed?"

"I need to go to Baekwoongok."

Baekwoongok (白雲谷).

It means the Valley of White Clouds, a small village where fox beastfolk live together.

The third main slave is there.

"Hmm, I don’t recall ever hearing of a place called Baekwoongok. My Buddy, do you know it?"

"I’m not too familiar with other species' habitats... I’ve never heard of Baekwoongok either."

Neither Bolt nor Buddy seemed to know about it. Naturally, we all turned to Seira. She sighed before providing an answer.

"If you head east, there’s a mist-covered area. Deep within Baekwoongok, there’s a fox den where about thirty or so Hoyo tribe members live in hiding. However, it’s not well-known because it’s dangerous and full of wild monsters, making travel difficult."

As she said this, Seira narrowed her eyes.

"How do you know about this? I only know because I’m in a position where I receive a lot of information. Even most beastfolk don’t know about this place—it’s one of the most remote areas there is."

Seira’s gaze was filled with suspicion. Her predatory eyes looked like they were ready to devour me, but I met her gaze confidently.

"How could I, someone who loves beastfolk so much, not know this?"

 

Deep within Baekwoongok, in a mist-shrouded mountain range, lay the fox den.

The sharp wind blowing through the valley sounded like a ghost’s wail, much like the dying cries of lost travelers.

The eerie atmosphere made it feel like something could jump out at any moment. In fact, just outside the valley, dangerous beasts, or what some called yokai, roamed.

Leaving was not an option. Luckily, the beasts couldn’t cross the narrow pass. So, the foxes lived hidden deep within the valley.

For generations.

This life of constant fear wasn’t the fault of anyone in the current generation, but of their ancestors who first settled here.

However, when pushed to their mental limits, people tend to blame someone. It’s how they rationalize their suffering.

And for the foxes, there was someone perfect to blame.

"Fire Fox, it’s time to earn your keep."

Many eyes turned toward a small fox.

She had pink fur and odd-colored eyes that held both day and night within them.

Her unique appearance made her stand out among the other foxes. No one knew when she came to live in the valley, nor did she ever grow or speak. She was a strange fox, a monster.

The girl had no name.

She was simply called the "Cursed Fox" (화요, 禍狐).

It wasn’t a name, not really. Even those abandoned by their parents had names, but she had none.

The pink fox brought misfortune. It was a tale passed down through the ages.

The reason they were trapped in Baekwoongok.
The reason monsters roamed, threatening their village.

The foxes were convinced it was all because of the Cursed Fox, the bringer of bad luck.

"Why aren’t you leaving, Fire Fox?"

The voice was cold and indifferent.

Whenever a monster appeared, the foxes would send her out of the village. It was an old tradition passed down through the ages. When she moved away from the village, the monsters would follow her.

She might die in the process, but they didn’t care. She should be grateful that they fed and sheltered her.

It was the least bit of mercy they showed to one of their own.

"…."

The Cursed Fox stood at the entrance to the village.

The loneliness and fear she felt every time they cast her out never went away. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

She took a step into the darkness beyond, turning back for one last glance.

All that awaited her were the foxes, eager for her to leave.

With that, the Cursed Fox disappeared into the mist, where the sharp wind blew.

 

“Hah… hah…”

The Cursed Fox panted as she ran on all fours through the valley.

Her small, lonely footsteps echoed in the forest. The dense mist made it impossible to see even a step ahead. Every step she took seemed like it would send her tumbling.

Her pink fur was already soaked with mist and sweat, and her heart pounded as if it would burst.

Her delicate hands and feet were covered in wounds, but she couldn’t afford to feel the pain.

A strange blue light flickered beyond the mist. Will-o’-the-wisps. The ghostly lights faintly danced around her, as if mocking her, luring her into deeper confusion.

Like whispers of doom, trying to drag her into the abyss.

Thud… Thud…

Her ears twitched. The deep, terrifying breaths of a giant yokai echoed through the valley. The sound was getting closer.

If she stopped, she would die.
If she got lost, she would die.

No matter how many times she ran, she never got used to it. The mist was like sea fog, robbing her of all sense of direction.

Once, she had gotten lost for four days before finally finding her way back to the village.

But there was no time to rest. She had barely gobbled down the potatoes the villagers threw at her before being sent out again that night.

The Cursed Fox didn’t blame them. She was born carrying the burden of bad luck. It was her fault for being born with pink fur.

She was grateful just to be allowed to live.

Thud!

The ground shook as the yokai’s footsteps reverberated through the earth. The vibration startled the Cursed Fox, making her leap in place.

Frantically, she looked around.

Where should I go?
Where should I go?

She didn’t know. She had no idea.

Panic spread through her body like a wave. Fear wrapped around her entire being.

Whoosh.

"...?"

Her nose twitched. A new scent filled her nostrils, the smell of a forest. It was fresh and unfamiliar.

She didn’t know what it was, but her beastfolk instincts told her she had to go that way.

Just as she took a big step forward—

“Ah!”

It was a steep slope. She hadn’t seen it because of the mist. She lost her footing and tumbled down.

The Cursed Fox lay on the ground, trying to stand, but she couldn’t. Her legs were covered in cuts, and blood was flowing from her wounds.

Thud!

The sound grew closer.

She had to escape.
She had to run, but her body wouldn’t move.

She was scared. It hurt. Everything was unbearable.

Tears streamed down from her two-colored eyes. Her injured legs burned with searing pain.

But there was no one in this world to hold her.

Dragging her injured legs behind her, the Cursed Fox crawled forward. That’s when she heard footsteps.

They were lighter than the yokai’s, but in her fading consciousness, she couldn’t tell the difference.

Through her half-closed eyelids, she saw a black figure approaching through the mist.

It looked like the Grim Reaper.

As if to claim the life she had been clinging to like a beggar.

Her consciousness faded.

The mismatched colors of her eyes disappeared.

 

A shadow loomed over the unconscious Cursed Fox lying on the ground.

Karamir looked down at the small, limp fox before him.

Her tail and ears were dirty, her once-lustrous fur matted and tangled with dirt and grime. She was covered in wounds, her body thin and malnourished.

The result of the misfortune she carried.

"To think I’d meet you like this. I’m lucky," Karamir said.

He considered himself lucky.

He had been wondering how he’d find the village, but here she was, coming to him first.

[Cursed Fox]

The third main slave.

One of the most popular characters in Taosle, always competing for the number one spot in the popularity polls.

The nameless fox, the Cursed Fox.

And the name that only Karamir knew in the world.

"Rin."

The Cursed Fox’s ears twitched ever so slightly at being called by the name "Rin."