The Formless Shadow, Folklore of the Doppelganger Yokai – Afterwards (3)

In her seven-tailed form, Miho exuded a presence intense enough to feel almost violent towards the male staff at the Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Upon her greeting, three men fainted foaming at the mouth.

Ten started breathing like perverts.

Five had their eyes turn into hearts.

…In any case, the male employees’ reactions upon seeing Miho’s seven-tailed form bordered on madness.

“I hereby retract my support for Ms. Miho…! From today, I shall become one with her…”

“Become one? Hey man, that’s blasphemy!”

“Take that back…!”

The staff’s condition worsened by the day.

It seemed Miho’s ‘Charm’ ability grew stronger with each additional tail.

As for why the director knew about Miho’s ‘Charm’ ability –

Right now, in the director’s office, she was openly explaining it to him:

“The way each yokai acquires yogi differs. For fox yokai like me, it’s either 1. Extracting and consuming livers, or 2. Absorbing the vitality from human males.”

“Then could it be that Ms. Miho has…”

‘Absorbed vitality before?’

The director trailed off, feeling it might be an impolite question.

Understanding his unfinished query, Miho nodded and answered:

“As you know, director, I’m still a young two-year-old yokai who received an abundant reserve of yogi from the blue-furred fox, so I have no need to absorb vitality or extract livers. No, I’ve never even considered absorbing vitality – why would I do that?”

“That’s a relief…”

The director had been inwardly worried about how to handle it if Miho went around absorbing his staff’s vitality.

“In fact, it seems that manifesting seven tails causes evolution from a yokai into a spiritual beast, so vitality absorption is even more unnecessary.”

Miho then began explaining her current bodily condition to the director in as much detail as possible:

The more tails she manifested, the stronger her instincts became.

Her charm was also amplified.

Instead of yogi, she now expended Spirit Power – hence not being detected by the yogi radar.

Miho’s frank information sharing, without any coyness, left the director rather flustered instead:

“Ms. Miho, aren’t you being a bit too detailed? I’m feeling quite burdened here.”

“What’s the problem? We’re allies anyway. If I get betrayed, it’ll be my own fault for trusting too much.”

“…I’m always grateful for Ms. Miho’s boundless trust.”

“Anyway, it seems the operator gave me the ‘Charm’ passive so I could properly absorb vitality. But it’s becoming quite the burden for me too. The staff are starting to scare me.”

Miho likened her abilities to a game.

The director wholeheartedly agreed with her words – if this continued, a major incident would soon occur.

“…It pains me to say this, but I too am reaching my limit resisting Ms. Miho’s charm.”

Indeed, even the director who had been gritting his teeth against Miho’s allure was slowly reaching his limit.

For some inexplicable reason, his gaze kept getting drawn to her ample bosom.

Whenever her breasts jiggled, his heart would race.

Whenever he saw her face, it would pound.

Observing the director’s state, Miho sighed and said:

“Wow, if even you’re saying that, then my charm must really be serious. Anyway, I’ve come up with a countermeasure, which is why I requested this meeting.”

“A, a good countermeasure?”

“Yes. Something I realized while experimenting with Ha-neul.”

Poooooof!

As she finished speaking, a cloud of smoke billowed from her body.

Her breasts had shrunk to an astonishingly small size, and

Not just her breasts –

Her height had diminished as well.

She had become younger.

Instead of seven, she now had three tails.

The portable yogi detector on the director’s desk also began sensing Miho.

The three-tailed Miho said to the director:

“How’s this?”

“Adorable.”

“Yes, and?”

“…”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s all, but is there some problem…?”

“The charm is gone.”

“Ah. Ah? In, indeed, you’re right!”

---

Pitter patter.

Pitter patter.

The three-tailed petite Miho began wandering around the Yokai Extermination Office.

Observing her, one male employee said:

“Miho, don’t run. You might trip and fall.”

“Ookayy.”

Clearly not a voice laden with affection, but one full of concern and endearment for a child –

Even speaking in informal banmal, without honorifics.

That’s right.

The charm had been lifted.

…Though it was unthinkable, but

If any staff were to still be charmed by Miho’s three-tailed state,

They would undoubtedly be deviants to be immediately fired and handed over to the police.

While her mental age had not regressed despite her younger appearance,

Every single action from the adorable-looking Miho was lethally cute enough to captivate both male and female hearts.

Rustle.

Rustle.

Miho could be seen seated, reading a book.

Likely the [Annals of the Joseon Dynasty], based on its appearance.

Her legs were so short that upon sitting in the chair, her feet did not reach the ground.

Witnessing this sight, the heart of new Grade 9 employee Ye Ji-hye felt thoroughly bombarded.

She took out dog treats ordered the previous night, then cautiously approached Miho

And addressed her:

“Miho, read while eating these treats.”

“…”

Shifting her gaze to the treats, Miho soon lost interest and turned back to her book, saying:

“No thanks… I don’t really want to force myself. Could you get me some chocolate and cola instead?”

“Hee…”

In her three-tailed state, even Miho’s tastes had changed –

The quintessential elementary school palate.

For the female employees like Ye Ji-hye who had grown accustomed to offering Miho treats while petting her head, it was quite a pitiful sight.

Of course,

There were advantages too.

“Oh, Ji-hye, you’re just in time. I have a favor to ask.”

“Sure, what is it?”

Pitter patter.

Moving to the bookshelf filled with volumes of the Annals, Miho then tilted her head up and pointed with her finger as she spoke:

“Could you take that one out for me?”

“Ah, you can’t reach, can you?”

“Yeah… I’d rather not use yogi inside the office, and it’s too bothersome to manifest my tails.”

“Don’t worry, Miho! I’ll do as you ask!”

“…Okay.”

Ye Ji-hye began overacting as if Miho had made some grand request.

Approaching Miho, instead of retrieving the requested book, Ye Ji-hye gazed intently at her and said:

“Call me ‘Unni’.”

“…Huh?”

“Go on, say ‘Unni Ji-hye, could you take out that book for me?'”

As if a petite child addressing her that way would be appropriate –

Ye Ji-hye seemed to think ‘Unni’ suited Miho better.

In response to Ye Ji-hye’s teasing, Miho’s cheeks puffed out in displeasure before

Azure flames sprouted from her tails.

Fwoosh.

She then used fox fire to retrieve the book herself.

“Oh…”

Well, so much for that.

“You can go now.”

“Hee…”

Truly, an utterly charmless ten-year-old girl.

---

“Ah, I miss the voluptuous Miho!”

“Hey man, the voluptuous Miho is not just Miho, but Ms. Miho.”

“Ah, I miss the voluptuous Ms. Miho!”

As the male staff’s discontent peaked,

I led Lee Ha-neul deep into the mountain and began swinging the goblin club I held.

Swish.

Swish.

Swish.

As expected,

Nothing happened.

“So cuuute…”

Instead of assisting me, Lee Ha-neul who had come to help merely sat down to observe me.

…Why was she just watching when I asked for her help?

Difficult.

In this three-tailed petite form, my strength was lacking.

“Huff, huff… It’s a bit tough in this state.”

Upon finishing my words, I shifted to my seven-tailed form.

Since only Lee Ha-neul was present, there was no need for discretion.

“Ah, this is much easier. The height is better too.”

“Ah.”

Lee Ha-neul let out a disappointed sigh.

Regardless,

I continued swinging the club, but

No matter how much yogi or even Spirit Power I infused into it, the goblin club showed no reaction.

It seemed

The ‘Formless Shadow’ was only able to use goblin abilities by taking goblin form, not due to the club itself.

Then this club was merely a hefty ornament.

I should have just given it back to Ho Joon.

If I brought it to San-gun, he would likely dispose of this goblin club like he did the goblin horns last time.

“Let me try, let me.”

Having merely observed until now, Lee Ha-neul extended her legs to take a turn.

Foolishly, I handed her the club.

Lee Ha-neul then swung it with full Martial Arts power, but

As expected,

There was no reaction at all.

I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything from this.

As I pondered whether to visit the Taoist Society just to return it to Ho Joon,

Thud.

Thwack.

“Ehh?”

Thud thwack.

A sound rang out, and

[I want to hug Miho!]

What the hell?

Lee Ha-neul’s voice began echoing in my mind.

My body moved automatically,

And then

I was snugly embraced in Lee Ha-neul’s arms, as if by a magnet.

I could have resisted by using Spirit Power, but since the opponent was not hostile and the circumstances suggested Lee Ha-neul had used the goblin club, I did not bother resisting.

Just as I intended to ask how she activated the club’s ability,

“Ack, gross! You’re too big, it feels weird!”

“…?”

Lee Ha-neul pushed me away while muttering:

“I wanted to hug the three-tailed Miho, not the seven-tailed one!”

“…”

What did she expect me to do about that?