The Formless Shadow, Folklore of the Doppelganger Yokai (9)

Thud.

Thwack.

Thud thwack.

Thud thwack.

A goblin.

No,

The yokai that had taken the form of a goblin waved its club through the air, producing a thud thwack sound despite striking nothing.

An unrealistic sight.

Though I thought I had grown accustomed to the surreal after being possessed by the fox yokai,

The surreal phenomenon displayed by a ‘yokai’

And that shown by a ‘goblin’ seemed fundamentally different, though I could not pinpoint how.

I tensed up.

I did not know if this yokai could actually use a goblin’s abilities by taking its form, but

Given that Ho Joon had lost consciousness, it had clearly used some sort of power.

Unfamiliar with goblin abilities, I could not recklessly engage it.

Moreover,

Unlike other yokai I had encountered, this one

Did not emanate any yogi at all.

It was better to be cautious.

The goblin-formed yokai suddenly addressed me:

[Fox yokai.]

“…”

[I have heard rumors of fox yokai, but never seen one. Naturally, I have never devoured one either.]

The goblin continued:

[Fox yokai, why do you aid humans? What meaning lies behind your current actions?]

What meaning?

There were many meanings, but if I had to choose the greatest:

I bluntly told it:

“I just don’t like you. Not just you, I dislike all delusional yokai obsessed with ascension or nonsense like that.”

[You know of ascension. Then I cannot comprehend your actions all the more.]

“Don’t try to comprehend. Just as I cannot comprehend lowlifes like you who actually believe in that bullshit about having to devour 900 humans to ascend… Has there ever been a single yokai in history who successfully ascended?”

[…]

“I utterly despise yokai like you who treat human lives as insignificant as insects. Yes, that’s reason enough for me to kill you here.”

At least

The blue-furred demonic fox did not kill humans.

Of course, it likely intended to create an automated factory to extract livers whenever needed, but at least I was able to save all the Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office personnel in the end.

The goblin-formed yokai refuted my response:

[First, I am no fool solely fixated on ascension.]

“Hah, a goblin on the outside but a total bastard within. Drop the crap. If ascension wasn’t your goal, you wouldn’t be acting so recklessly.”

Even yokai were not foolish.

The yokai I was conversing with now was clearly highly intelligent.

It surely knew that indiscriminately massacring humans would invite retaliation.

Yet it was willingly taking on immense risk with its current actions.

Why?

For the sake of ‘ascension’.

‘Ascension’ must have been such a sweet reward that it was worth risking everything… That was likely the gist of it.

[My goal is not ascension.]

“Cut the bullshit. I don’t believe you.”

[Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. Ascension is merely the swiftest means to achieve my purpose. Ascension is but a method.]

“…”

‘Ascension is a means.’

I did not know why, but

I had the conviction that this yokai’s latest statement was extremely important information.

[Second, I swear upon my existence that I have never viewed humans as mere insects.]

“You bastard, after tearing humans to shreds, how can you spew such words…”

[Humans are also but a means to my purpose.]

The goblin-formed yokai continued expressionlessly:

[Not insects, but tools.]

“…”

[Humans are tools and sacrifices for ascension. Since the dawn of creation, humans were designed as sacrifices for ascension.]

[Otherwise, how can one explain the Taejashingi demanding humans as sacrifices?]

[Fox yokai.]

[You seem to have never read the Taejashingi.]

[Should the Doeeokshini, King of Goblins, one day reveal himself to this world again,]

[You will finally understand the meaning behind my words.]

“…”

[If you understand, then cease obstructing me.]

[Your actions to aid humans are meaningless,]

[For unlike you, each of my actions holds meaning,]

[And unlike your aimless self, I possess a sublime purpose.]

A sublime purpose.

Yes,

I too had just acquired a sublime purpose:

‘To do everything in my power to prevent yokai from ascending.’

I did not know what thoughts led the King of Yuldo and Spell Master Woosa Uchi to stop yokai ascension in the past, but

Somehow, I had an ominous premonition that if yokai ascended, it would lead to grave consequences.

So in this era without Hong Gil-dong and Woosa Uchi,

I would take on their role myself.

This was my sublime purpose.

Grrrrrrr.

I unleashed all my suppressed instincts as a fox yokai.

Fangs and sharp claws emerged.

Simultaneously, the goblin-formed yokai swung its club:

‘Thud’

[…Your answer, understood well.]

Before it could finish speaking, I charged while emanating a menacing aura and yogi.

‘Thwack’

Close quarters.

Close enough to touch with an outstretched arm.

I lashed out with my sharp claws.

‘Thud thwack’

[May it be distorted.]

Crunch.

Crunch, crunch, crunchcrunch.

The moment it finished speaking, a horrific crunching sound of twisting bone and flesh began emanating from my right arm that I had swung at it.

Looking closely, the space where my right arm was located was literally distorting.

Another surreal sight.

“Aaaaaahhhh…!”

Though adrenaline surely flooded my body,

I let out a piercing scream from the excruciating pain I had never experienced before.

Crimson blood dripped down from my elbow.

My right arm dangled as if about to fall off.

There was no time for tears of pain.

It swung its club again:

‘Thud’

I hastily backed away and tried healing my arm with fox fire, but

For some reason, my mangled right arm remained as is, showing no signs of recovery.

‘Thwack’

I had to evade.

A goblin ability?

The club’s ability?

I did not know, but the ‘thud’ sound and ‘thwack’ sound,

Followed by the ‘thud thwack’ sound, seemed to be the condition for activating its power.

There was sufficient time between the sounds, so:

[Fox Spell]

Fox Fire – Barrier of Flames

I created an azure barrier completely obscuring my vision.

[Fox Spell]

Fox Fire – Yeonhwaboo

I sent the ‘Yeonhwaboo’ at the goblin – the same conflagration that could kill the blue-furred demonic fox in one strike.

‘Thud thwack’

[May it vanish.]

The goblin’s voice came from beyond the barrier.

Fwooooosh.

Simultaneously, not only did the barrier of flames I had created by expending much yogi

But even the ‘Yeonhwaboo’ with firepower powerful enough to kill the blue-furred fox in one hit

Turned to ash and vanished.

…Damn it.

I realized it now.

The blue-furred fox had only devoured around 40 livers,

Yet with just 40 livers, it was so formidable.

Then this yokai…

Must have devoured at least hundreds of humans.

Of course, I still could not sense any yogi from it, so I could not gauge its might, but

One thing was certain:

This yokai

Was on an entirely different level from me.

[Weak fox yokai with a human heart,]

[If you cling to petty emotions,]

[You will never survive.]

[I shall directly put your stubborn convictions to the test.]

Once more,

The goblin-formed yokai swung its club.

This time, not at me,

But at the fallen Ho Joon.

Once.

Twice.

Three times it swung.

‘Thud’ ‘Thud’ ‘Thud’

Shit.

I had to flee.

Absolutely,

Absolutely no chance of winning.

To defeat that yokai, at the very least…

…I needed San-gun.

I had to flee.

Continuing to recklessly attack would only get me killed needlessly.

‘Thwack’ ‘Thwack’ ‘Thwack’

I began rationalizing to myself:

Ho Joon

Was not someone precious to me.

Just a passing human I had met an hour ago.

Moreover, he had not been much help in this battle.

My life was more valuable than his.

So,

Sacrificing him to save my own life

Was the path for the greater good.

But why,

Could I not bring myself to leave?

‘Thud thwack’ ‘Thud thwack’ ‘Thud thwack’

[May it be distorted.]

[May it be distorted.]

[May it be torn asunder.]

Admittedly,

I did not wish to discard my precious life so easily.

I was a yokai who had once resigned myself to death, yet

I was now a yokai striving to live more than anyone.

My body blocking its path was not by my own will –

It reacted automatically.

That was all.

My body distorted,

Then distorted again,

Until it tore apart.

I felt the flame of my life fading.

Not an unfamiliar sensation –

I had felt it in that era when my yogi dwindled, living as an ephemeral being.

Perhaps

After gasping for breath around ten more times, the flame of my life would be completely extinguished.

In that situation,

The sprouting of another tail

Was also not by my will, but an automatic reaction.