Veronica's eyes remained fixated on the demon fox as she is led deeper into the building, her mind hazy with only the instinct of following her. How could a person be so beautiful? The models in her original world did not hold a candle compared to her.
They finally stopped before a door. With a soft click, the fox pushed it open and the two stepped inside.
As soon as Veronica stepped inside, she was hit with a thick, smoky scent that was rather intoxicating. Her nose twitched, and she coughed softly. What the hell was that?
She sat down without thinking. Her grip on her bag loosened and it fell down. The demon fox suddenly leaned closer. Oh no, how did she let herself be led here?! Maybe this was the right time to tell her she was a woman. Damn, she was so stupid. What was she thinking?!
But before she could speak, the fox's sultry smile twisted into a smirk. With one swift motion, she yanked down Veronica's hood.
"Huh! Did you think I didn't know what you were?" the demon sneered. "Insignificant human… Do you think just wearing a cloak could hide your scent from me?"
Wait. She already knew Veronica was female? Then why bring her here?
"She's a seductress class demon," the system chimed listlessly. "Demon foxes feed on human life force. That's what I have been trying to tell you all along!"
Wait, what?!
But why did Veronica feel like it wasn't much of a big deal? In fact, she was willing to sacrifice herself for this fox...
What the hell is wrong with me? she thought, but even that came slow, hazy, like her mind was floating. Veronica just sat there, mesmerized until...
Beep. Initiating emergency electric shock.
A jolt of pure pain surged through her body.
"AHH—!" Veronica gasped, snapping out of the trance instantly. Her body twitched from the shock and her foggy mind instantly cleared. Shit, that was painful. "What the hell was that?!"
"You're welcome," the system muttered. "I had to override your stupidity."
Looking at the demon fox who seemed ready to drain her life force, Veronica threw herself off the bed, scrambled to grab her bag of books, and made a dash for the door. "I'm sorry, but I really need to leave–like, now!"
Dang, she almost became someone's midnight snack. The system's warning almost came true!
She grabbed the handle. Yanked.
It didn't budge.
Locked.
She froze.
"…I'm screwed."
"How did you break my bewitching spell so quickly?" The fox asked in surprise.
... Bewitching spell? She had been bewitched since the beginning?! Luckily the system saved her or she would have died without knowing it.
"Normally, I only cast it on men. They are so easy to manipulate. Lustful creatures, all of them," the fox looked confused, tilting her head slightly, her long nails tapping against her chin in thought. "But you... you are a woman. It's strange that it worked at all."
Veronica's face twitched. Well, maybe she was a pervert somehow...
"A-anyway!" The fox suddenly grinned, her expression turning twisted. "It doesn't matter. Man or woman, you're still going to be my meal tonight!"
Veronica took out a dagger and pointed it at her, "Don't come any closer or I will stab you!"
The words came out stronger than she felt. Who was she kidding? Even if she tried, the fox would probably drain her dry before the blade even grazed her skin. Still, she held her ground, eyes sharp despite the fear crawling up her spine.
She didn't want to die. Not in this twisted world. Not like this.
"Your life force... It's definitely not from this world. So foreign... so divine," the fox literally drooled, gone whatever grace or charm she had before. She acted like a dog which saw a damn bone. "I noticed it the moment you walked in."
"You have no mana, no aura… and yet, your essence is unlike anything I've ever tasted. How could someone like you exist?" She continued.
Before Veronica could respond, the fox extended her hand. "Bind!"
A burst of golden light exploded forward, twisting into glowing chains that shot toward her. They wrapped around her body with an almost living weight, yanking her into the air. Veronica's breath hitched as she struggled, her limbs bound tight.
Then came the pull.
Something deep inside her was being drained away, slow but relentless. The sensation crawled through her veins like icy fingers. She choked, coughing up a mouthful of blood that splattered against the chain, staining its glow a deep crimson.
Was this it? Maybe if she died here… she would wake up back in her world. Huh, what a blissful thought.
However the system was going crazy, "Warning! Host's life force is destabilizing. If you die here, you will cease to exist. You won't be able to return to your world either."
Oh... Bummer.
And then, something inside her shifted. It wasn't mana. It wasn't anything she recognized. A strange pulse rippled through her veins, warm yet unbearably heavy, as if something long bottled up was suddenly clawing its way out. The pressure was suffocating and foreign bursting forth.
The fox froze, her body going rigid. Her ears twitched sharply, and her pupils widened as if she'd been struck by something invisible and terrifying.
"What—what is this?!" she gasped, a note of genuine fear lacing her voice.
[Warning! Unknown resonance detected.]
[Initiating Contact-Bond Sequence…]
A soft but powerful light burst into existence. Strange symbols formed between them, curling like living ink. They swirled in intricate arcs, weaving around the fox, around Veronica… and even into the space itself, as if binding reality.
[Bond Established. Master and Servant link formed.]
[Error: Bond origin unidentified.]
The golden chains binding Veronica shattered with a sharp crack, and she fell unceremoniously to the floor, landing hard on her butt.
Meanwhile, the fox stumbled backward, clutching her chest, her face filled with disbelief. "No… This can't be happening! There was no ritual. No agreement. No offering! How… How did I just form a bond with a powerless, clueless little human?!!"
"System… what the hell just happened?" Veronica demanded, still rubbing her sore backside.
For a long, awkward moment, the system didn't answer. Then, at last, a hesitant voice replied, "…I don't know."
Veronica blinked. "What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you just tell me I couldn't contract a magical beast?! How did I end up contracting a freaking demon that was two seconds away from sucking out my life force?!"
"Something must be wrong with the main system," 5060 said after a pause. "A glitch, perhaps?"
Veronica stared into the air as if glaring at the invisible interface could make it make sense. Even the main system can glitch?
Great. Absolutely wonderful. Why was everything in this damn world glitching?
Veronica rubbing her sore butt, cursing in exasperation.
[Note: Host is now linked to Entity: Nine-Tailed Fox. Cause: Unknown.]
Before she could process that, the demon fox suddenly gasped. "What's… happening to me?!"
Her tall, elegant frame began to waver and shrink, her luxurious tails twitching frantically.
[Due to the host's current level, the Nine-Tailed Fox's power has been greatly reduced to match host capacity.]
Right before her eyes, the proud and seductive demon shrank rapidly. Her height dropped, tails flopped, and in seconds...
Veronica stared. It was like looking at a chibi version of the terrifying demon fox from a moment ago—rounder cheeks, oversized eyes, and an angry little frown. Just like a plush toy.
The girl blinked. "You have gotta be kidding me…"
The mini fox glared up at her, cheeks puffed. "Don't you dare laugh!"
The demon fox looked at Veronica's taller frame, who was staring indescently at her. Alarm bells rang in her mind. A while ago, she was taller than this scrawny peasant. Now? She barely reached Veronica's waist.
What just happened?
She glared angrily at the human. "W-What kind of twisted sorcery did you use, you filthy human?!"
Before she could answer, a familiar panel popped up in front of her.
[Would you like to name your first servant?]
Name: ....]
Wait, wait, wait—name? Like a pet?
"Pet?!" the fox shrieked, her childlike voice making the outburst more comical than threatening. "I am a dignified nine-tailed demon! This must be a mistake! Release me at once!"
"Is there no way for her to unbind this contract?" Veronica scratched her head. She seriously did not have interest in keeping around a little fox who might try to kill her in the future when she grows stronger.
[No.]
Just that. One cold, ruthless syllable.
Veronica sighed, rubbing her temples. It did not even bother to give an explanation.
"…Great. Love the enthusiasm," she muttered. Her eyes drifted back to the pint-sized fox glaring up at her. "Well… I guess I have to call you something. Let's see…"
This definitely didn't happen in the original webtoon.
Veronica's accidental detour into the gambling house had thrown the plot completely off course. She bit her lip, anxiety creeping in. Had she just caused a butterfly effect? Would this change the entire timeline?
"Hey… what's your name?" she asked, glancing at the tiny demon fox now sulking in oversized robes. Surely a creature like her already had a name.
The fox crossed her arms and looked away with a dramatic huff. "Hmph! A lowly peasant like you doesn't deserve to know my name!"
Fine. Then I will just give you a new one.
She tapped her chin, thinking. "How about... Fluffy? Nibbles? Ooh... Tails?"
What the actual f...
Even the system stiffled a giggle. The demon fox's face turned red in anger. How about...
"Yukime."
That name held weight. Yukime was one of her favorite characters from an anime back in her world, 'The Eminence in Shadow.' A fierce, elegant demon fox also known as a spirit fox in the series.
[Congratulations host on completing your first Hidden Task: Successfully bind a spirit beast.
Identity: Nine tailed fox. Name: Yukime
Reward: 35 SP
50 Exp Points]