Training (2)

Ultimately,

The instinct training bore some results.

When commanded to “Wait”, I learned to wait.

When told to “Stay”, I learned to stay put.

“Thank goodness!”

“It is fortunate, isn’t it?”

“Better than no progress at all.”

That was true, yet

The results were somewhat lacking nonetheless.

The prerequisite condition that

Lee Ha-neul…no,

Not owner, but Lee Ha-neul had to constantly accompany me was quite disappointing.

If

Lee Ha-neul, who held my metaphorical leash, were to leave my side,

I would undoubtedly behave like an unbridled beast.

Feeling uneasy, I told Lee Ha-neul:

“Please don’t abandon me in Seoul.”

“I won’t abandon you. Why would I abandon you, Miho?”

Well, the truth was

If the leash-holder Lee Ha-neul parted from me,

I would likely end up posted on community sites as a ‘beast woman’ or ‘bitch’.

…In any case, since Lee Ha-neul would not be acting separately from me,

This should suffice for the director as well.

“You worked hard, Ms. Ha-neul. Huff, huff, huff, huff…”

“You did too. But Miho?”

“Yes? Huff, huff, huff.”

“Could you not stick your tongue out like that?”

“Am I sticking my tongue out right now?”

“Yes. You’re even drooling profusely.”

No matter how much instinct training I underwent,

The wagging tail and panting with tongue lolled out could not be remedied.

Even I could not comprehend my own physiology sometimes.

The tail wagging, sure, I could understand.

But why was I sticking my tongue out?

Canines only stuck their tongues out to expel heat through panting, right?

Yet in my shapeshifted human state, sweat should excrete normally through the skin, so why stick the tongue out unnecessarily?

Did I need to wear a mask or something?

…

…

…

Training Regimen #2:

Charm Training.

In a sense, charm training was even more crucial than instinct training.

As my tails increased, so too would the potency of my charm.

If I could not master my charm, I would be unable to coexist with humans going forward.

That was how powerful my charm was.

Naturally, the one aiding with charm training could not be a woman,

Since women were not the target of my charm to begin with.

I could not request the director’s assistance, as

The busy man would hardly have leisure for training me.

Nor could I ask the male staff at the Yokai Extermination Office –

Crass as it may sound,

They had already lost their minds to me,

So proper training would be impossible.

In that sense,

“It seems Mr. Ho Joon will have to assist.”

“What a hassle…”

“It’s important.”

Ho Joon was lounging in the rest area, enjoying the air conditioning while on his phone, but upon my request, he made a sour face –

Seemingly quite put out by it.

“Please help me. I did save your life, after all.”

“Holding my life hostage for this, are you?”

“If we’re keeping score, you just slept soundly while I struggled against the Formless Shadow, saving your ass.”

“…Fair point. My apologies.”

As if something had occurred to him after my words, Ho Joon slapped his knee and spoke:

“You did say you wanted to visit the Taoist Society before, right?”

“Yes, but you said it wasn’t possible at the time.”

“It is possible now.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Come whenever convenient for you.”

“But didn’t you say I needed permission from the elders?”

“Of course I received permission, which is why I’m telling you. Are you an idiot?”

“…”

“Then again, I did see you openly wagging your tails and eating dog treats on the train…”

“You’re allowing me so easily?”

Typically, these so-called ‘elders’

Were stubborn,

Conservative,

Frustrating,

And sluggish with traditions, were they not?

“Everything you just said about them being stubborn, conservative, frustrating and sluggish is true.”

“Then how…”

“It’s because you’re a spiritual beast.”

Ho Joon gazed intently at me –

No, not my face, but

My massive breasts, as he continued speaking:

“That’s just how spiritual beasts are regarded. The Taoist elders could readily accept you precisely because of their conservatism. I don’t fully understand it myself, but it seems the elders hold spiritual beasts in high esteem.”

“All well and good, but”

“What?”

“Could you stop staring already?”

“Are my eyes yours or mine? I’ll look wherever I damn well please.”

Truly,

The more I knew him, the more vexing he became.

I began to doubt if requesting his training assistance was the right decision.

Since Ho Joon said he had received the Taoist elders’ permission,

I should probably visit the Taoist Society once this conference concludes.

San-gun had refused to provide any information about the goblins due to his ‘causality’ or ‘celestial principles’ or whatnot,

Saying I had to discover it myself.

Fortunately, since the Taoist Society apparently had information on goblins,

It seemed I needed to immerse myself in studying their texts.

But then,

“Can’t you just tell me directly?”

“No can do. Directly divulging information from the texts violates the precepts.”

“But isn’t it the same whether I go read them myself or hear it from you?”

“It’s different.”

“How so?”

“You’ll understand once you visit.”

Unexpectedly disciplined, it seemed.

From his debauched outward appearance, I had assumed he would casually disregard such precepts, but

He did maintain a separation between personal and professional matters.

As we conversed, we eventually arrived at the front yard.

“So, how will we conduct this training?”

“I don’t know myself.”

“What?”

“Do I have a teacher or parents? How to train is something we’ll have to figure out slowly.”

“Fuck, I walked right into this one.”

Charm –

The obscure power to seduce human males.

Based on the reactions of the male Jiri Mountain staff,

The characteristics of those afflicted by my charm seemed to be:

1. 1. Becoming aroused upon seeing me.

 

1. 1. Unconditional loyalty towards me.

While #1 was understandable,

#2 was a rather frightening prospect.

If I harbored ill intentions…

It granted the power to potentially incite a coup and overturn the world.

In contrast to the entranced males,

Ho Joon’s current reaction towards me was markedly different.

For optimal training conditions, I had manifested my seven tails –

A state where I exuded an overwhelmingly potent charm that even the director found difficult to face.

Yet presently, Ho Joon

Rather than clenching his teeth to resist,

Was nonchalantly puffing away at a cigarette.

Just in case, I asked Ho Joon:

“Mr. Ho Joon, do you have any particular thoughts seeing me right now?”

“You look utterly grotesque. I’ve just been staring at your breasts this whole time.”

“Don’t joke around, be serious.”

“I’m not joking? I really have just been staring at your breasts.”

“Mr. Ho Joon, please have a seat.”

“No way. Who are you to order me around, you lewd vixen?”

It was clear –

Ho Joon was simply an ordinary lecher, not afflicted by my charm.

I explained the characteristics of my ‘charm’ to him.

When I asked why he was unaffected, Ho Joon seemed to realize something and spoke:

“Probably because of my mental protection spells.”

“Mental protection spells? Such spells exist…?”

“Who do you think I am? Unlike some mediocre spell casters, I’m an elite prodigy hailed as the reincarnation of the legendary Chonwuchi…”

“Then dispel those spells for a moment.”

“Very well.”

After dispelling the spells, Ho Joon blankly stared at me for a moment

Before promptly slapping himself hard enough to leave a resounding crack,

Then hastily reapplying his protective spells.

“…”

“How was it?”

“…More potent than I imagined. I almost lost control for real, not just joking.”

To that extent?

I had needed to gauge the effects of my charm,

So I was grateful to Ho Joon for providing an unfiltered account in that moment.

Then,

How could I deal with this troublesome ability?

As I fidgeted about, Ho Joon looked at me with exasperation and said:

“Why are you agonizing so much?”

“I can’t find an answer! It’s not like I activated this charm ability by my own will…”

“Hey, fox girl.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know the number one tenet emphasized by the Taoist Society?”

“How would I know that…”

“The Panpsychism Principle.”

“…”

“All things in the universe possess a will, and there is no will in this world that cannot be mastered. Thus, you can master that ability too.”

“…Thank you for at least telling me that much.”

Though he said as much,

I still had no inkling of how to control this ability.

Observing my troubled state, Ho Joon soon continued:

“Possessing great power yet unable to properly wield it, you’re just like a child. Mastering one’s will is a basic skill for spell casters, so if I teach you, you’ll quickly learn to control that ability.”

“You’ll teach me?”

Didn’t you dislike me?

Regarding Ho Joon with skeptical eyes, he let out an exasperated sigh and said:

“I don’t know how you perceive me, but I’ve staked everything on vouching for you to the Taoist Society, so of course I’ll teach you. You have no idea what sacrifices I’ve made…”

“Then hurry up and teach me already, instead of rambling.”

“This insolent, foul-mouthed fox wench, I swear. Fine, I’ll teach you, but in return…”

Glance.

Ho Joon blatantly ogled my body parts.

This guy was getting mischievous again.

Not falling for it, you bastard.

I curtly replied to him:

“If you make any indecent requests, I’ll run straight to the police and report sexual harassment.”

“Go, go ahead and report it. You’re not human anyway, but a yokai, no, a spiritual beast without any identification, so your report won’t be properly filed any…”

“You were joking?”

“…”

“…”

“…Y, yes, just joking. No need for any compensation.”

It was merely a joke, then.

Surely he had not intended to make any actual indecent requests…?

Right…?

Geez.

Regardless, Ho Joon was not the type to make such demands of me.

It seemed the lingering effects of my earlier charm had not fully subsided yet.

…I should begin training promptly.