Chapter 181-3

Chapter 181-3

[Part 3/4]

So, he will kill it. He'll take the heads and show them to the village. That's it. The mother was nice, but she's old news. It's time to move on.

"Alright, that's decided. Maybe pray to Buddha for a better life next time?"

Those were his last words to the fox struggling to escape the chains. It was too loud for the fox to hear him anyway. It doesn't matter. If he pulls the chain sickle, it will all be ove──

"Gughh!!?"

The outlaw exorcist gasped as the tight tentacles squeezed him. His eyes grew wide in shock. "This is insane!"

"W-who are you, monster...!?"

Struggling, he grabbed the tentacle around his neck and slowly turned. There, he saw it. A blood-soaked doll stood nearby, dripping fluid onto the pristine white snow. Its long hair covered its face, adding to the eerie sight. Its hand stretched out, with tentacles bursting from the skin like wriggling worms... a true monster.

It must have crawled out from inside the severed skull, a creature...!!

"Damn it, ugh...!?"

The outlaw exorcist screamed as he tried to pull out his backup dagger, a tantō, to defend himself. But he looked down and saw a white fox biting his own paw while being choked by a chain sickle. The fox's eyes, visible under a crooked blindfold, were wild and fierce.

"What the hell, ugh!?"

In his desperation, the exorcist lunged at the fox with the tantō, but he felt the grip around him tighten. He fought and struggled harder.

"Ugh, but... huff, damn...!?"

The man's struggle began to fade. More tentacles wrapped around him, pulling at his arms and legs. He couldn't use curse anymore. Was his energy being stolen? His familiar couldn't focus and turned back into a talisman. The outlaw exorcist's fight felt hopeless.

"Ugh, ha...?"

Then he knelt down. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed. It wasn't an act. He was truly unconscious.

And silence flowed...

'......'

A cool breeze suddenly blew. It stirred up powdery snow. The monster, looking down, shivered. Then it began to walk forward.

Step by step, it approached the fox-possession girl.

As she looked up at the strange figure, she felt like she was in a dream. She asked with so much joy. With sparkling eyes, she smiled widely at the silent monster, as if she was begging and hoping for something.

"Brother, I'm with you, right? No matter what form you take, you're still my brother! ...So, so! Brother, we're family, right?"

Then the white fox pressed the question.

"Brother, you'll protect me, right?"

She emphasized her words, making sure to get her point across.

"Brother, you won't abandon or betray me, right?"

She stepped back, opened her arms as if to accept everything, tilted her head, and with an innocent smile, she spoke softly, almost accusingly...

"...How long do you plan to keep up this act?"

...And the beastly man quietly asked.

"...Brother? What are you saying? That's terrible. Are you going to bully me again?"

The fox froze in a pose with arms wide open, looking cute and a bit sulky, tilting her head in dissatisfaction and worry. The man looked down at the fox with a human gaze and continued.

"I'll say it again. Stop the bad acting."

"......"

It was a calm command. It felt like a strong demand. The question was asked with confidence. The voice was not scary at all.

"...Haha."

After a brief silence, the white fox finally laughed mockingly. It was a cruel, childish laugh. And then...

"Ahahahaha!! Ah! Ahahahaha!!!!"

The white fox laughed so hard she held her belly. Tears streamed from her eyes as she laughed foolishly. And the world began to twist. It started to change.

"Ahaha!! Ahahahaha!! Ahh, hahahaha!!!!"

And after turning on her heel and elegantly spinning around once, the fox was no longer a child.