TFTVGD 02

TFTVGD

Posted by Zoe, Released on October 14, 2025

Chapter 2 …

Even after a thousand years, how could I forget the time I was first cursed as a fox?

The massive body of a serpent surrounded me, and in that empty space where it should have held the Yeouiju, the dragon’s anger, fueled by countless years of ruined life, poured out. The moment seared itself vividly into my mind, as if it were just yesterday.

“I’ll give you the same pain, just to ease my own heart!”

Back then, I had simply been amazed and let out a sound—only to be turned into a fox.

Over the waxing and waning of the moon, I shed bloody tears of frustration and injustice.

The tale of the pitiful fox of Seol-ak spread like wildfire, to the extent that nearby wild animals peeked curiously, and it reached even the heavens.

A grayish cloud, taking the form of an old man, descended before my eyes and looked at me with pity.

“Poor thing. You’ll have to live trapped in that body for over a thousand years.”

Instantly, I recognized the divinity of the being before me—it was the Celestial God. I prostrated myself flat and pleaded for my injustice, but…

“A frog was struck dead by a stone you threw without thought. Who can repay the frog’s grievances? Your situation is no different. This celestial being you encounter must also endure a thousand years.”

The Celestial God shook its head, saying this was the karmic debt I deserved.

Yet, out of compassion, the Celestial God handed me a blue orb.

“This is the path for a fox seeking to become human.”

Through long training, spiritual power would accumulate in the orb, causing my tails to grow, one by one.

Once I had nine tails, each capable of nine types of magic, and infused the orb with the vital energy of one who had made a century-long bond with a human, only then could I become human.

“But there is one thing you must be careful about.”

If anyone discovered my true identity, according to the natural order, I would revert to my cursed form.

The nine tails, grand enough to rival a tiger, did not need to puff up to seem majestic.

Originally a spiritual creature, I was labeled either a divine spirit or a demon according to human stories.

“If humans reject you in your pursuit to become one of them, all your spiritual power will vanish.”

And of all who glimpsed my true form, not a single soul dared to remain unafraid. Not one.

When I opened my eyes, was I a noble daughter of some aristocratic family?

…Of course, no such thing happened.

Unlike Seorak dressed in autumn hues, I simply stood on another mountain where the summer sun pierced through green leaves, warming the earth.

“Ah… really…”

It seemed I had entered the world of the novel the Celestial God mentioned, “Hot Memories with Him.”

Long ago, I had heard tales of spirits trapped in scrolls—this was probably similar.

“Then go to the place where you’ll be healed, and see if you can become human there.”

Oh, really. Did it think I couldn’t do it?

“There won’t be any dragons there to interfere, and in this world of justice and reward, if you live well, you’ll become human without issue.”

A world without dragons…

Over the past thousand years, more than half of my failures were caused by dragons.

Even that jerk who scammed me out of money? The dragon approached him claiming it was a “good investment” and he took the bait.

What that jerk meant by “the same pain” was losing everything just before succeeding.

“If that serpent isn’t around, becoming human should be a piece of cake.”

Moreover, the novel wrapped up its kind-hearted supporting characters with a happy ending, so if I behaved, I’d also get a happy ending and become human.

But as I felt confident, the Celestial God’s voice intervened:

“If you fail to become human within a year, you will remain a fox forever.”

A year? That’s too short… If I fail, I could be a beast for life.

“No dragons… really?”

I first transformed into a small fox, then kicked off with my hind legs to flip through the air and summoned the Yeouiju from my chest.

Holding the orb in my mouth, I raised all nine tails.

Closing my eyes, I released all my spiritual power to sense traces of dragons from here to the ends of this world.

“Seems like none within a 500 km radius…”

Then it happened.

Nearby, an enormous surge of power exploded.

An inexplicable gust of wind brushed past me, as if a mighty storm had passed.

“Ah! You startled me!”

I landed quickly and scanned the surroundings.

“Ah… thought a dragon was attacking.”

Though startled, upon reflection, it was definitely not the power of a dragon.

Perhaps, since magic exists in the novel, it was just something like that.

“Phew. Nearly lost my mind.”

Then, in my eyes, a truly alarming scene unfolded.

Because I had spoken, thump, thump, the Yeouiju rolled down the mountainside, making adorable little sounds.

“Ah! Damn it!!!”

Such a foolish mistake! Just like the dragon that dropped its orb before ascending!

I chased after the orb in my fox form.

The Yeouiju was my very soul. Only by infusing it with human vital energy could I become human.

“To drop something this important…”

The chase led me to a slightly steep slope, with a path below, and I had no choice but to pause.

“A human!”

Should I hide from the person or rush for the orb?

In the single second I pondered, the orb hit a passerby on the head with a pop and bounced toward freedom.

The man, quick on his feet, caught it with one hand.

“Ah…”

The orb vanished into his palm as if absorbed, and he waved his hand at the empty air, bewildered.

“I’m doomed.”

In a thousand years, this had never happened. Whenever I married a man, I had personally placed the orb on the wedding night.

Once a human touches it, the only ways to retrieve it are through seduction or death.

“What happened?”

Someone behind the man asked, and he shrugged.

“Nothing. I thought I saw an orb or something. Must have been my imagination.”

Good eyesight, indeed.

Then the man looked toward me.

“Something fell over there, I think.”

Hidden in the bushes, I froze for a moment, time seemingly stopping.

Was it the angle, looking up from below?

Or the sun-like blond hair and topaz blue eyes?

“Wow… he’s really handsome.”

His beauty was so striking it stunned me.

Like a protagonist straight out of a novel.

“Oh, right. This is inside a novel.”

Of course. Usually, characters in novels are attractive.

Even the person behind him was rather handsome.

“Well, instead of killing him… I could seduce him to get the orb back.”

Would be a waste to kill such beauty.

“Yeah. Since this is a novel, losing the Yeouiju is a cliché anyway.”

Determined, I slowly approached the man from the bushes, wearing a seductive expression, ready to enchant him.

Then the man behind spoke:

“It’s a fox?”

Ah… right, I’m a fox now.

No human would fall for a seductive fox.

Having spent the past few years secluded in the mountains glued to my phone, I never expected to drop the orb or meet humans in fox form.

“You have so many tails?”

And they figured out I’m a gumiho.

“Ugh. I haven’t even done anything and it’s already a sad ending.”

Do you know why foxes in old stories harmed humans?

Because, as the Celestial God said, if their true identity is revealed and humans reject them, they lose all spiritual power.

Of course, the lost power could be regained, but imagine failing the national exam once and having to start over from first grade. Wouldn’t that be infuriating?

And this wasn’t even the first time I’d been discovered in a thousand years.

It was the fourth time—fourth! Not a first attempt, not a second, but a fourth!

“Just kill these guys…”

I thought to just end it, then froze.

Even from afar, he looked handsome, but up close…

“Wow… stunningly beautiful.”

Truly a peerless beauty, rare even after nearly a thousand years.

Blond hair swaying in the wind, sunlight dazzlingly radiant, and blue eyes as clear as the sky, framed perfectly by his deep-set eyes. His nose and philtrum seemed perfectly sculpted, and the sharp jawline completed the picture.

Like something out of a painting.

As I was mesmerized, he bent his knees and leaned closer, his perfect face drawing near, as if asking for life itself.

But instead of words, he offered his hand:

“Want this?”

A delicate hand held jerky, its savory aroma tickling my nose.

“Is he offering food as a plea for mercy?”

If he offers me food, I wouldn’t eat him, right?

If I were human, I’d have run the moment I saw him.

But as a fox—or perhaps from eating only greens in Seorak—the jerky in front of me made my mouth water.

“Refusing food in front of it would be rude.”

True to my fox manners, I bit the jerky in one gulp.

It was tender, juicy, clearly expensive.