He lurched forward but I gave a taunting laugh as I struck him in the stomach. What a feeble ghost.
I decided to end it and ripped downward with my red claws. He screeched as six sharp blades cut into him, hacking him into pieces. He gave a cry as he disintegrated. I disabled all my abilities except SENSE.
Satisfied with myself, I surveyed the now vacant room. Was this it? Is the case now resolved?
I guess so. I returned to Mi-Cha and informed her of what happened.
"Oh, I see. How terrifying!" her voice trembled. "I understand now why you chased me away. I virtually got in your way. I'm dreadfully sorry." She bowed apologetically.
I patted her head in forgiveness.
Later she dropped me off back at my house. She assured me I will be paid the next day. Cheerfully I slipped off my shoes and entered my house.
"You look awfully happy. Did you two go to lover's lane?" Mars said surly.
"Are you jealous? I was working, naturally. I easily beat up a nasty spirit and will be paid tomorrow. How can I not be in a good mood?" Mars frowned.
"Easily? What are you talking about?"
So I enthusiastically related my encounter with the ghost. Mars literally facepalmed in front of me. "You really need to look into these things more," he sighed.
I stared at him baffled. "Pardon? I got rid of the ghost. I didn't do anything wrong."
"No, you didn't. You only followed what we taught you. But that wasn't an evil entity, that was Baek." I struggled to comprehend it.
"Say that again."
"That spirit you fought was Baek himself. Or what was left of him. Sigh. This case isn't very unusual."
He looked vexed. "It's during these times I wish we were back in Scotland where the archives were easily accessible."
And leave South Korea? I fell onto my couch as he continued to explain, "An evil entity must have gotten ahold of Mr. Baek, and even Soo Baek, and had them eternally damned on earth."
"So you're saying, I just destroyed an innocent Baek?"
"What was left of him. That thing you fought was driven completely insane by the tortures of hell, and most likely sent here as punishment," Mars looked furious as he lectured.
Well, whoops. "And Soo?" I inquired.
"If she has been caught too, the best you can do for her is end her suffering. You must find that evil spectre and terminate it, or more innocent souls will end up suffering."
I massaged my forehead. "This sucks. Without more ado I'm back to square one," I said defeatedly. Mars hopped beside me. "Not so. From what you described to me, I have an idea of what you're up against."
An idea? "Please, do tell." I grunted sarcastically. Ignoring my sarcasm, Mars went on, "You mentioned Trickster Spirits. This case falls into that category; I'm certain of it."
"Do you know what kind of creature it is?" I implored. Licking his paw, Mars replied; "There are many of this kind. But all I can say is the most famous is the Yeou, or Kitsune in Japanese."
"Kitsune, you mean fox spirits?" A lightbulb went on. "Doesn't this sound familiar to you? Didn't Gumiho, a nine-tailed-fox , ask us to help the Baek family?"
Mars looked gloomily at his now wet paw. "That damn mutt." I knew I hated that fox for a reason.
Mars disappeared without hesitation to hunt for the stupid fox. We finally had a lead. Sadly for Mi-Cha, her parents' souls were lost eternally, but there's nothing I can do.
I kept myself busy by making a delicious snack while waiting grimly for Mars. It was nearly evening when he and a large silver fox appeared by my window.
The fox instantly transformed into the fox-eared boy. My lovely leg was seized as he collapsed into uncontrollable tears. "What have we done? I'm so ashamed. I'm so sorry. What can I do?"
"How should I know?" I swung my leg to shake him off.
.
"Calm down, Gumiho," Mars snapped. "No use crying. It won't resolve anything. Get up, you look like a baby." Mars and his usual charm. Gumiho sniffed and rose.
He appeared extremely disgraceful. He sat down on my couch, looking depressed. "My apologies for my rude behaviour."
"You are forgiven," Mars said gently. Not to me he's not, but I let Mars conduct the conversation.
"I understand your attendants are extremely loyal to you," he started.
"Yes, to the point they would die for me." Sounded like zealots to me.
"During your time with the Baeks, what did your attendants do?" Mars inquired mildly.
"Not much. I compelled them to go on a break. They worked hard defending my shrines after all," Gumiho answered. He seemed to have calmed down as he stopped snorting so much.
"I'm not exactly sure what they did since they didn't once tell me and I never bothered asking. After the case involving the Baek, I retreated home to the mountain, and a few weeks later, the attendants all returned as well. Things went back to normal."
In conclusion, if his servants had anything to do with Mr.Baek's agonising afterlife, they never informed him.
Mars remarked thoughtfully, "I can only theorise, but I gather that they must have done something during those decades."
"What are you suggesting? Why would they?" Gumiho demanded.
"You said they are loyal. Therefore, I think they never left your side even though you provided a break to them.
Seeing you being friendly with humans must have undermined them," Mars stated bluntly.
The silver fox looked shocked. "They wouldn't! Not for such a reason," he insisted earnestly.
"Oh? Do you think so? Summon your servants and let's confront them. Entreat them directly, did you intervene in the Judgement of Mr. and Mrs. Baek?" Mars challenged.
Gumiho's ears drooped as he went to the centre of the living room. He made gestures in the air and to my fascination, a blue circle with runes formed.
Two black single-tailed foxes jumped through. They peered snobbishly at me. I glared back. Don't look down at me; I can rip you apart if you're not cautious.
"Bada, Bora, did you meddle with the Baeks' Judgement?" Gumiho inquired sadly.
The two foxes remained silent. I guess that's a yes. "But why?"
"We were afraid," the larger fox answered. Astonished, Gumiho opened his mouth only to shut it again.
"What were you afraid of?" Mars urged. The foxes glanced at each other before continuing.
"We were afraid that the humans would steal you from us. We would keep an eye out, only to see you be happy with them.
We became angry at them, and interfered with their fate. No matter how virtuous they are in life, they will be punished in the afterlife. Punished for stealing you."
Gumiho, who stood frozen, became angry. "They never stole me. I was there by my own choice. How could you have done something so evil?" His entire body contorted. Both Mars and I panicked.
Gumiho had three forms, his human form, his dog-size fox form, and his deity nine-tail fox form. If he transforms into his nine-tails now, the entire neighbourhood would be annihilated.
"Hey, brat! You break my house, you pay double its worth!" I yelled. He blinked, startled, and settled down. "Sorry. I'm calm now." He turned back to the trembling black foxes.
"As for you. You have caused irreversible agony for two innocent souls. You must be punished."
He plucked them by the scruff of their necks and hoisted them up roughly.
"Please inform the daughter that the culprits have been found, and that they will be severely punished."
I snorted contemptuously. "Punished? I don't think she'll be satisfied with that." I got up and sneered at the two desperate spirits. "Shouldn't we provide the same treatment to them as what the Baek's went through?" They whined piteously and wriggled.
"We cannot merely decide on their punishment so easily. It will cause problems. However, I will present this tragic case to Yama, and he will judge them." I tsked and returned to the couch.
Gumiho departed after another humble apology, promising he will contact us after a proper verdict was reached regarding his attendants.
I played with my cell phone. "Should I call Mi-Cha?" I reluctantly asked Mars.
"It will only cause unnecessary stress. Wait until Gumiho contacts us, then you can phone your girlfriend."
"Are you being sarcastic right now?" I glared at him. He gave me an innocent stare.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about. What's for dinner, I'm starving."
It took that damn nine-tails two weeks to contact us and worse, he brought the convicts with him
"What-what?" I pointed shakily at the black foxes in chained collars. Gumiho looked at me guiltily.
"The verdict is guilty, naturally. The punishment is, well…"
"Spit it out!" I voiced through gritted teeth. Mars scanned at the group curiously.
"They have been sentenced to an eternity of slavery to humans. You understand, as they do not approve of humans, what more effective way to discipline them than to belittle them?"
He pushed the larger fox towards me and handed the chain to me. I gripped it in confusion. "It has been decided that their first owners will be you, the Otherworld Investigator, and Mi-Cha Baek."
Huh. I pulled on the chain, forcing the fox to stand obediently. I grinned. "Well, well. This'll be fun."
"As far as everyone else is concerned, they will look like ordinary dogs. The fox you received is Bora, but his name will be erased if you decide to rename him," Gumiho instructed.
I looked thoughtfully at my new 'pet'. I petted him spitefully, causing him to show his teeth. How sharp. "Okay, from now on you're Blair. Nice to meet you, Blair."
His fur rifled, but he refused to look at me. "His name has been erased. He is now Blair and belongs to Nathan McNeill," the silver fox announced. I stood with my new pet as Gumiho and Bada disappeared.
I turned to Mars. "Do you think it's a good idea to inform Mi-Cha now?"
A few days later I sat in my study, compiling my report. I had barely returned from purchasing some food for Blair. He was still refusing to speak to anyone and was sulking in the kitchen corner.
This house was so modest, there wasn't anywhere he could hide. Mi-Cha's response to my call was reasonably mild.
"My parents were kidnapped by these yeou? They can't be saved?" she inquired softly.
"Yes. This is completely out of my hands. But the culprits have been dealt with." I paused, "Have a young silver-haired boy brought you a black dog by any chance?"
"Why yes. How did you know?"
"The thing is—"
I recounted the punishment of the two foxes. She exhaled loudly on the phone. "I don't know what to think about this. I can't believe this. I'll call you in a week. Thanks for telling me. Goodbye, Nathan."
"See ya." We hung up. I wonder if she'll go out with me later?