The Dogahoe (Ancient Mystic Society) (3)

“Humans…”

No, yokai…

Truly belong in nature.

The scenery of Yusa Yukgapsin Provincial Park was quite splendid.

For someone like me who lived in the mountain wilderness, uttering such praise meant it was truly marvelous.

Was the park’s landscaping constructed through mystic spells?

Unlike other parks, it lacked an artificial feel.

Swish.

I raised my head to gaze upon a mystic’s statue.

[Woochi the Shaman]

This was the progenitor of mystic arts,

Woochi, who ascended to immortality despite being born human.

I didn’t pause before his statue out of particular interest in him.

The mystic progenitor wasn’t my concern, being neither a contemporary human nor…

I stared blankly because he bore an uncanny resemblance to Ho-jun.

The unique brazen eyes.

The self-assured expression.

The arrogant posture.

Every element of Woochi’s statue invoked Ho-jun.

Reincarnation –

The concept in Indian religions of life and death endlessly cycling.

According to reincarnation, the world turns like a wheel, with human life and death revolving along with it.

One grows old, becomes ill, dies, then restarts under a different name and existence.

Could Ho-jun be the reincarnated Woochi reborn?

…Who knows.

In truth, I don’t believe in reincarnation.

Once you die, that’s it – what’s the point of being reborn over and over?

In that sense, the facial similarities between Ho-jun and Woochi were mere coincidence.

My rebirth as a fox yokai was also a coincidence.

Yes.

Just a simple coincidence.

…

…

…

The current time was 10:55 PM.

Right on time.

Glancing around, I checked if anyone else remained in the park.

Fortunately, I was alone.

What I was about to do was rather embarrassing, so I didn’t want to be seen by anyone.

Huuu.

Haah.

Taking a deep breath, I inwardly cursed Ho-jun a few times.

‘That crazy bastard Ho-jun.

That utterly shameless Ho-jun.

That insane Ho-jun.’

With some squirming preparation, I moved my lips:

“…Woof.”

“Woo…Woof woof. Arrrf arrrf. Wah wah.”

“Woo…Woof woof. Arrrf arrrf. Wah wah.”

“Woo…Woof woof. Arrrf arrrf. Wah wah…!”

Barking like a dog on this quiet park bench with only cicada chirps audible…

It didn’t make me feel at ease whatsoever.

My self-respect and dignity took quite a hit – it was anything but a pleasant experience.

Alright, I chanted the incantation, now open the door.

“…”

However, even after a minute passed, the path to the Dogahoe did not appear.

But I clearly barked exactly as written on the paper.

Why wasn’t it opening?

As time ticked to 11:02 PM, with only 3 minutes remaining, I hurriedly re-checked the paper:

(Dogahoe Admission Pass)

Location: Bench #132-B, Yusa Yukgapsin Provincial Park, Gyeonggi Province

Time: Between 11:00 PM and 11:05 PM

Incantation: Woof woof, wah wah, arrrf arrrf x3

Howl three different howls three times.

Then the path to the Dogahoe will open.

This damn thing.

It wasn’t ‘woof woof, wah wah, arrrf arrrf’, but ‘woof woof, arrrf arrrf, wah wah’!

I mixed up the order.

With no time to spare, I had no choice but to swallow my shame and bark the incantation properly in a trembling voice:

“Woo… Woof.”

“Woof woof, arrrf arrrf, wah wah…”

There wasn’t a single person watching, yet I felt so embarrassed.

Anyway, I chanted it correctly this time.

Now the path to the Dogahoe should…

[Ahem, your voice is too soft, I can barely hear. Once more, loudly and confidently chant the incantation.]

“You bastard!”

It was Ho-jun’s voice.

This madman had really been watching the whole time.

[Bastard? Tsk tsk, I’m human while you’re the dog.]

“I’m not a dog, I’m a fox, you lunatic!”

[Two minutes left. No, one minute forty-five seconds.]

“Geez…”

While Ho-jun tended to mess with me, he had never gone this far before.

It seemed I must have made some mistake towards him.

Regardless of what it was, since he said he’d forgive me, I should just remain silent for now.

“So, how do you feel?”

“How do I feel? About what?”

“People are starting to praise Miho’s name. How does it feel?”

“Well… Not really… Anything in particular.”

Ho-jun briefly paused his steps, then gazed at me intently as he continued:

“Going forward, you will save many more people from the threats of yokai and goblins.”

“Yes.”

“The number of people you save will steadily grow.”

“I suppose so.”

“You will eventually become a national hero of this country.”

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration…”

“You still don’t grasp the significance of your existence being revealed to the world. I had a vague idea, but you really are more dimwitted than I expected.”

“Wh, why are you suddenly being so harsh…”

“Listen well, you idiot vixen.”

Ho-jun suddenly fixed me with a serious gaze as he spoke:

“At present, as the sole means of confronting the goblins, you cannot avoid being treated as a national savior.”

“Being called a ‘national savior’ is no trivial matter.”

“If you succeed in eliminating the goblins and saving all humans, then fine, no problem.”

“Like now, people will praise your name to the heavens.”

“The nation will likely treat you accordingly as well.”

“Then what’s the issue…”

“However.”

“If, by some chance.”

“You fail to defeat the goblins.”

“Or if people die due to your mistakes.”

“Have you ever considered how people might treat you then?”

“…”

“Miho.”

“Humans are far crueler creatures than you imagine.”

I know.

I know because I was once human too.

As he said, if I fail to defeat the goblins,

or if many humans die simply due to my mistakes,

people will turn their backs on me.

Why?

Because I am not human.

Just a fox spirit, an easy target to hurl stones at.

When I didn’t respond, Ho-jun sighed deeply and continued:

“I feel bad saying this, but it seems you fail to grasp the weight you now carry…”

“I understand.”

“…What?”

“I said I understand. I fully comprehend the weight I carry that you just mentioned.”

I had simply refrained from showing it.

Having been human until recently, I was well aware.

“Thank you for your concern. Sincerely.”

“Wh, who’s concerned about a lewd fox yokai like you…”

“But you were concerned, weren’t you?”

“…”

“But it’s alright. Because…”

While an arrogant statement, if even the tyrannical Dalgi who mocked the world with her solitary power possessed heaven-piercing arrogance,

then as a fellow multi-tailed fox yokai, perhaps I too can be a little arrogant.

“That won’t happen.”

This arrogance seems to be an innate trait of multi-tailed fox yokai.

Truthfully, I had the confidence that I could defeat all the goblins in the world.