Kessler’s steps drew closer. In my flustered state, I found myself staring at the ground, where his expensive shoes came into view.
“…….”
His stride was free and confident, unlike mine, which had worn itself out pacing in one spot. My heart pounded fiercely. However, I couldn’t just stand there forever.
“Isn’t it time for the auction? Shouldn’t you be busy selling yourself?” Kessler’s deep voice resonated calmly through the hallway.
“Kessler.”
I clenched my knee tightly, then straightened up with a burst of confidence.
“I came to give you a belated report.”
“Go ahead.”
His expression remained unchanged. I couldn’t muster the audacity to be shameless, but I had to be.
“The fox and Jung Da-hoon are on good terms. It was all a misunderstanding. We can confirm this by observing the Baby Arctic Fox’s reaction.”
Kessler showed no particular reaction.
“Will you release the trap now?”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“I need to participate in the auction.”
“Wouldn’t you be safer here?”
He stood blocking the entire hallway with his shadow, leaving me with no way to respond. I stepped back, pressing against the wall.
Kessler closed the distance, his gaze lingering on my cheek.
“You had a rough time that day.”
“…….”
“Getting pinned down by me.”
“I would have preferred to pin you down, but you didn’t have a hole.”
Perhaps people become more honest when they’re nervous. Amidst the confusion, my mouth moved on its own.
“Indeed. The one with the hole gets pinned.”
The silence and his stare grew longer.
“Was it you that day?”
“……What day?”
“The hotel.”
There was only one hotel it could be—the Oasis Hotel. But that was supposed to be a trip Kessler took alone with the baby fox. Admitting this would be as good as admitting I was the baby fox.
Besides, I couldn’t think straight. I had once claimed to be the baby fox before, and the result was disastrous. He had snapped my neck without hesitation, saying I was talking nonsense. I only survived because of the invincibility period.
Even without the shadow’s oppressive aura from that time, I felt reluctant to reveal myself as the baby fox.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
I looked up at him, meeting his gaze steadily, unflinching.
“Yeo Woo-rim.”
“Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“Yeo Woo-rim.”
“Yeo. Woo. Rim.”
Kessler repeated my name, enunciating each syllable strangely. Was it just my imagination?
[The <Ghost Auction> has ended, and the <Shadow Banquet> has begun!
Please assist your partner ghost for the next 90 minutes!
Time remaining: 1:29:59]
I had missed my chance, stuck in one place. The opportunity to launder my profession was gone, but… if I quickly searched the corpses, I might still find something useful.
“Are you really not going to release me?”
I looked up at Kessler, pleading.
“You seem confident you won’t die.”
“You paid 5 million won for me, after all.”
Our contract had ended right then. Since we didn’t set any terms for fulfillment, Kessler was left empty-handed.
His face was expressionless. Yet, it seemed to betray a sense of betrayal, as if he was hurt or angry. My thoughts grew muddled, and my gaze fell to his empty hand.
“…….”
Suddenly, Kessler grabbed the nine fox tails attached to his back and forcefully planted them into my backside, as if sowing seeds.
He equipped me with the ‘Shining Fox Tail’ set. It is the most expensive cloak in the Shadow Castle, crafted by the artisan, ‘Ottma.’
– Grade: Highest
– Increases affinity with foxes by 100%.
– Since you are a fox, there is no affinity to increase.
– Increases affinity with skeletons by 100%.
– Increases affinity with ghosts by 100%.
– Increases charm.
– Increases HP by 20%.
The cloak came with a dazzling array of additional options. In an instant, our gazes met as we stood close enough to feel each other’s breath. I involuntarily held my breath, my body tense with anticipation. Unable to bear his scrutinizing gaze, I looked away.
“We do have some history together,” Kessler said.
“…….”
“I’ll do this much for you.”
Kessler stepped back, and the sensation of vines constricting my ankles vanished.
“Go.”
The curse was lifted. Kessler, who usually dismissed me with contempt, had now sent me away with a gentler phrase.
“Thank you. I’ll return the tails later.”
“Keep them.”
“…….”
I nodded, accepting his generosity. Finally free from the curse, I walked down the hallway. At the end, a portrait of Kessler and the Baby Arctic Fox hung, both smiling brightly.
I paused before leaving, turning to look back at Kessler. He stood there, watching me. As I opened the door, a gust of wind, previously held back by the curse, rushed in and ruffled his hair. I tore my gaze away and stepped into the hallway.
“Ugh…”
A wave of dizziness and nausea hit me. I had been too tense. Even during my pro-gaming days, I always carried motion sickness pills, despite my confident facade.
I wiped my mouth with one of the tails, which wriggled like a loach.
[Tail 4 complains, “What are you doing?!”]
[Tail 3 giggles.]
I composed myself and continued down the hallway, the tails swaying behind me.
– Increases affinity with skeletons by 100%.
– Increases affinity with ghosts by 100%.
Relying on these bonuses, I hurried to find Jung Da-hoon. If needed, I could always transform into the Baby Arctic Fox and pass as an NPC.
The staircase was stained with rivulets of blood. I ascended, finding a user’s corpse on the landing, its bag empty except for a unique item that only I could retrieve.
[System]: You reach into the blood-stained bag.
I pulled out a unique item, a ‘Sapling Pot.’
– A beloved pet plant of the deceased. The fruit it bears can vary depending on who cares for it.
– Grade: Unique
Many high-grade items were often impractical, but this pot’s use was unclear.
Next, I attempted to steal the user’s identity.
[System]: The deceased was unemployed. They had planned to open a cafe in the 1st-floor hallway but recently spent all their startup funds.
“……I didn’t need to know that.”
Suddenly, screams echoed from outside the window. Looking down, I saw Bori among the chaos. Beside her was Iljang-ghost, surprisingly enraged.
Iljang-ghost, typically lazy during quests, was now frantically attacking nearby users who were trying to loot bags.
“Da-hoon! Any luck?”
“I didn’t find much,” Jung Da-hoon said, approaching me after escaping from Iljang-ghost. Behind him stood Iijang-ghost.
“Hello, Iijang-ghost,” I greeted.
“Nice tails. Aren’t those the Shadow Castle owner’s?” Iijang-ghost remarked.
“Yes, they are. But… how did Bori end up with Iljang-ghost?” I asked.
My question made Iijang-ghost burst into laughter.
“It’s a long story. You see, I thought Iijang-ghost was so cool that I chose him over Iljang-ghost…”
As expected, Jung Da-hoon couldn’t say it in front of Iijang-ghost, but he had chosen Iijang-ghost hoping I would pick Iljang-ghost. However, the next in line was the conservative expedition leader,
PeeledGarlicUnpeeledGarlic, who, doubting Jung Da-hoon’s choice, safely picked Samjang-ghost instead.
Then it was the Baby Arctic Fox’s turn. Just as I was about to choose Iljang-ghost, Kessler, the Baby Arctic Fox’s owner and a notorious high-spending user, abruptly grabbed me and ran off.
The users murmured, confused by the consecutive rejections of Iljang-ghost.
“Is there a penalty for choosing Iljang-ghost?”
“Seems like it.”
“Choosing Iljang-ghost brings bad luck.”
“If you choose Iljang-ghost, he’ll definitely eat you.”
“Choosing Iljang-ghost means he’ll hunt down whoever chose him. Be careful.”
Rumors spread among the users, and the once-formidable Iljang-ghost became a pariah. Eventually, Iljang-ghost’s slot remained unchosen until Bori’s turn, and she boldly picked Iljang-ghost.
