The Legend of the Fox Yokai of Jirisan

Fundamentally, yokai are beings that require an energy source called yogi, but animal-type yokai like myself also need to drink liquids and eat food like humans.
Quite a troublesome physical body, isn’t it?
For the past two years, the only food I had consumed were the grotesquely shaped fruits dangling from the Singing Tree Jang Hwa Hwanno.
Being an omnivorous fox subsisting solely on fruits, it was no wonder my appetite exploded.
Depot seemed perfectly content just eating the acorns Old Monk Bangta foraged… But for me, having yet to shed my human habits, I was desperately craving human food.

Of all things, what did I crave the most?
Not ramen.
Not chicken.
Not steamed rice with kimchi either.
It was Coke, Coke.
Among all Koreans alive today, was there even a single person who had not tasted a drop of Coke for two whole years?
I doubt it, probably none.

The tongue-prickling sweetness.
The throat-tingling carbonation.
Even the refreshing clarity it brought to the mind.
Words could not express how desperately I had longed for Coke.

In that sense,
I gazed reverently at the 1.25-liter plastic bottle placed before me.
It looked delicious.
For some reason, this black syrup seemed utterly delicious to me.
Carefully, I twisted open the red cap.
Chiiiiiiiik.
Hearing the carbonation escape, I could finally confirm that this murky liquid was indeed the Coke I remembered.
Then, with utmost courtesy, I grasped the Coke bottle in both hands and
Drank it down.

Glug.
Glug.
Glug, glug, glug, glug…
“Kwaaaaaah, pfft, yeeeesh!”

This was it.
This was bliss.
Though the intense carbonation tormented my throat, it was an exquisite agony I could easily ignore.
It was so delicious that I felt saving those humans had been the right decision.
How had I been living all this time, having forgotten this celestial taste?

To further enhance the rich Coke flavor, greasy snacks were essential.
Since olden times, Coke and greasy chips were a match made in heaven.
No, in fact, the only food that didn’t pair well with Coke was plain steamed rice.

I opened all the various snacks on the desk and began savoring them one by one.
Mmm, the rich potato chips.
The tangy seasoning tingling my tongue made my entire body shudder.

As I mindlessly devoured the snacks and Coke, a particular candy caught my eye.
Mentos.
The famous candy rumored to cause an explosive reaction when combined with Coke.
I had always wanted to try it at least once.
Since this wasn’t my home anyway, why not give it a go with my eyes closed?
How could I resist this temptation?
Having made up my mind, I immediately popped several Mentos into my mouth.
Then I promptly began guzzling down the Coke.

“…”
What’s this?
Contrary to expectations, nothing happened.

At that moment,
Someone opened the interrogation room door and entered.
“Lady Miho, we’re ready. Shall we begin our proper conversation now?”
“I, it’s really Miho…! I finally get to meet her!”

One was a balding middle-aged man presumed to be the director of this Jirisan Yokai Extermination Office.
The other was someone whose face seemed quite familiar…
Oh.
“Pfffttttttttt!”

Indeed.
The combination of Coke and Mentos was dangerous.
In the end, I had no choice but to spew everything in my mouth forward.
The balding middle-aged man was showered by the Coke that erupted from my mouth.
In the midst of this, that Martial Artist…
What was his name again?
Ah right, Ha-neul.
Lee Ha-neul displayed astounding reflexes, nimbly ducking behind the director to avoid the Coke deluge.

“…”
“Ah. Sorry.”
“…”

Seems I may have gone a bit too far.
…It’ll be fine, right?
I did save their lives after all.

Despite the unpleasant incident, the conversation commenced regardless.
“Allow me to officially introduce myself. I am Lee Han-ul, Grade 4 Senior Administrative Officer and Director of the Jirisan National Park Yokai Extermination Office.”
“My name is…”
“Lee Ha-neul, right?”
“You remembered! Thank you. I’m not an employee of this Yokai Extermination Office, but rather a nationally certified Martial Artist.”

Aha.
I had assumed every Yokai Extermination Office would have at least one formidable individual like Ha-neul.

I introduced myself to them:
“Nice to meet you. I’m Miho. As you can see, I’m a fox yokai.”

Though it felt quite awkward to me for a human and yokai to converse so peacefully, the conversation continued.
Since I was not being interrogated as their captive, we agreed to speak as equals,
Taking turns asking questions.
It seemed Ha-neul was participating as the director’s bodyguard for this conversation.
The ones actually conversing were the director and me.

I asked the first question,
As there was something I had wanted to ask them first.
“Is everyone feeling alright?”

At a glance, everyone I had encountered seemed fine.
The director, his subordinates, even Ha-neul.
The healing power of the Fox Fire I manifested in my six-tailed state must have been quite potent.
What concerned me were potential mental scars.
Having had their livers devoured alive by that blue-furred demonic fox, it would be no surprise if they suffered lifelong trauma.

In response to my question, Director Lee Han-ul nodded and said:
“We’re all doing well, thanks to you, Lady Miho. Allow me to express my gratitude once more for sparing our lives. Thank you, Lady Miho.”
“Um… well. It was nothing…”

I hadn’t brought it up to receive praise.
Feeling awkward, I could only scratch my head.
However, the gratitude ended there, and
Director Lee Han-ul’s eyes suddenly gleamed as he continued:

“Lady Miho, I have a mountain of questions for you… but I will ask them one by one, slowly.”
“Alright. I’ll answer whatever I can.”
“Thank you. First of all, may I ask your reason for sparing our lives?”

As if considering it a sharp question, Lee Han-ul tensed up and audibly swallowed his saliva.
Even Ha-neul beside him stared at me intently, as if curious how I would respond.

My reason for sparing them?
Well.
“How could I have simply abandoned people on the verge of death?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m not a psychopath. Let me ask you instead – if someone was dying right before your eyes, would you just watch and do nothing?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Exactly, right? You’d either call 119 or apply first aid – you’d take some action, right? My reason for saving you was the same. Luckily, I had the power to do so.”
“…”

As I answered, the two sitting across from me gaped in astonishment.
It was Ha-neul who spoke up:
“Y, you know what 119 is?”
“Of course. Isn’t it common knowledge? Even snotty neighborhood grade-schoolers would know what 119 is. Isn’t that something everyone learns in kindergarten?”
“La, Lady Miho, how do you know human knowledge like…”
“It’s my turn to ask a question.”
“…I see.”

They wouldn’t believe me even if I told them, after all.
That I had awoken embodied as a fox yokai.
What an outrageous claim – who could possibly believe such a preposterous fact?

Alright.
It was my turn to ask.
“Why is everyone being so amicable towards me?”

“That’s because…”
It had puzzled me from the moment I first faced these people.
No matter that I had saved their lives,
The way they looked at me was
Undoubtedly intense affection.

“Is it a difficult question to answer?”
“No, it’s not that, but… I’m not sure how to explain it… It might be quicker for you to see the atmosphere of this office with your own eyes rather than me explaining it verbally.”
“…I see.”

“Very well. Next question. What is your exact relationship with the blue-furred demonic fox that appeared recently?”
“I don’t know.”
“…I see.”

It’s not that I don’t know – I genuinely have no idea.
That’s precisely why I came out here, to find the Taejasinggi.

My next question:
“By any chance, does this Yokai Extermination Office have a computer?”
“…Yes, we do.”
“One with internet access, right?”
“Yes.”
“Great.”
“…Is that all?”
“That’s all. Your turn to ask.”

“Al…right. Lady Miho, why did you leave the inner realm? May I ask your purpose and reason for seeking us out?”
“…”

The main topic, it seems.
I pondered for a moment.
Should I be honest with them or not?
Then I decided.
Not to be honest.
The Singing Tree Jang Hwa Hwanno’s bizarre reaction upon mentioning the ‘Taejasinggi’ came to mind.
Instinctively, I knew
They would gain nothing by learning about the Taejasinggi.

I gave an evasive answer:
“I came out for information. Information that humans possess.”
“Your goal is…”
“I can’t go into details, but rest assured, it won’t bring any harm to you. You see, I like humans.”

It was all true.
The proof was how my tails kept swaying to and fro even as we conversed.
Ha-neul seemed fascinated by my constantly wagging tails, his gaze fixed upon them.

Slowly.
It was time for my final request.
“This is my last question. No, not a question, but a request.”
“…?”
“Would it be okay for me to stay here for a few days?”

The personnel of this Jirisan Yokai Extermination Office were unusually amicable towards me,
So I decided to take full advantage of it.
I continued:

“Of course, I have no intention of staying for free. If there’s anything you need me to do, feel free to ask without reserve. I’ll accept most reasonable requests.”
“Umm…”
“To be frank, I’m practically your benefactor who saved your lives, so this much of a request should be well within your means, don’t you agree?”

Fortunately,
The director’s answer was positive:
“…I’ll try to arrange accommodations for your stay, Lady Miho.”

Allowing a yokai like me to stay at the Yokai Extermination Office?
It seemed utterly nonsensical even to me, but
For whatever reason, the director readily agreed to my proposal, even nodding in affirmation.
Perhaps the director too intended to extract information from me.

“Thank you! You will be blessed.”
“Do you have any other requests?”

Things had resolved more smoothly than expected.
Delighted, my six tails began swaying wildly.
With an excited tone, I continued:

“Please provide me with fresh Coke daily.”
“Understood.”
“For breakfast, brunch with Honey Toast and an Iced Americano!”
“…Understood.”
“For lunch, let’s go with Korean cuisine. Sizzling Bulgogi, Soybean Paste Stew, Kimchi Stew – rotate among those three menus.”
“Un…derstood…”
“For dinner, freaking Chicken and Beer! If you bring chicken breasts, I’ll burn this whole place down, you know. Only chicken drumsticks are acceptable!”
“…”