Chapter 162: [161] Blunt fangs
"Watching over me?" Kumara asked, her voice trembling as she stood by the window, staring at the small white fox that had now leapt lightly onto the wooden floor.
"Yes..." the fox replied without hesitation, stepping closer to her feet. Its voice echoed directly in Kumara’s mind, without its mouth ever moving. "You are the only one who can free me."
Kumara furrowed her brows. "Free you? What do you mean? Aren’t you... the reason for all the hatred toward our kind? Because of you, Kitsune are seen as a curse."
The little fox chuckled softly, its tone more amused than mocking, yet still gentle. "Hohoho~... You’re mistaken. It’s not hatred—it’s fear. Fear of what cannot be controlled."
The fox then hopped onto the bed, sitting upright like a tiny person. Its eyes glowed softly, yet carried a commanding weight as it looked at Kumara.
"In the age when gods still ruled the world, I was one of them. The most admired. I was wise, charming, a role model—and of course... immensely powerful."
Kumara swallowed hard, her body frozen.
"My power grew naturally, Kumara," it continued. "I drew nourishment from the world itself. The longer I lived, the stronger I became. Power without limit is never welcomed by other gods—it is feared."
"And that’s why... they sealed you?" Kumara guessed.
"Correct. The high gods imprisoned my true form in the nearby mountain—you now call it Penal. But they still allowed me one medium... an Avatar. This little fox form. A fragment of myself, free to wander and enjoy the world."
Kumara frowned. "But... the legends say our kind was the one who released your seal."
"Yup... and that’s true. But that decision came from me." It gave a sly smile. "Kumara, back then... I had a friend. A young god. Weak, but full of potential. He didn’t know who I really was. To him, I was just a clever, amusing fox spirit."