And so, another night began.
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Chapter 68: 1 Months devil training
[Kitsuna Inner Mind]
I knew I'd hate myself for it. Honestly, what kind of dumbass shows Kayda-the Weapon Queen herself-how to restrain someone more effectively for training? That's practically asking for hell on earth. And yet... I did it. I showed her one little technique, thinking she'd nod and move on.
She didn't.
She took it to an entirely different level. No, to a different realm.
When I arrived here, I was barely scratching the surface of what you'd call mid-private rank-just a lost fox girl without a class, without levels, without much beyond sheer stubbornness and a tail too fluffy for its own good. One month later, I'm a low corporal level now. The real kind. Stats-wise, I've made insane progress.
And that's not even touching the terrifying improvement in my weapons mastery. I used to be proud if I could just hold a spear properly without poking myself in the leg. Now I can spin one behind my back while dodging a dagger with my eyes closed-and that's a light day of training.
Oh, and mana control? Yeah. That skyrocketed.
Before, making a katana out of mana ice took me 200 mana. It used to flicker like it was unsure whether it wanted to be a real weapon or a fancy icicle. Now? I can summon a sharper, stronger katana for only 130 mana. That's a 35% efficiency improvement and a power boost.
I even bothered to check my status today for once. Here, let me show you:
Name: Kitsuna Draig (Shiro Adachi)
Age: 14 (Immortal)
Race: Primordial 1-Tail Demon Fox
Bloodline: Primordial 9-Tail Fox
Gender: Female
Level: 30
Class: Unknown (Wrath)
HP: 2460/2460
MP: 4000/4000
STR: 1183
VIT: 1230
DEF: 724
INT: 2000
END: 2203
AGT: 2500
Skills: Dimension Storage, Demon Fire, Demon Lightning, Fox Ice, Analysis, Super Regen, Flash Step, Night Vision, Sword Domain
Yeah, I know. It's still not anywhere close to Mom's level. But she's an old hag. No, really-she's ancient. She should be stronger than me. It'd be embarrassing if she wasn't. I'm still just a 14-year-old, after all.
... Oh, right. My birthday was this month.
Didn't even remember it until I saw the age update on my status screen. Too busy being tor-trained. Yeah, let's call it training.
Anyway, let's break down the stats a little. My agility? It's sitting just below mid-sergeant level. My weakest stat is still mid-private level, if we ignore defense-and we do ignore defense, because I'm built for speed, not tanking. Defense is for people who get hit. I don't.
My mana pool has increased slightly as well, although the progress is slow. Still, with how efficient I'm getting, it feels like double the growth.
Now, let's discuss the mana control training known asKayda's infamous "pole test." That sounds worse than it is. Basically, her weird method teaches precision mana manipulation. I reached the second pole this week.
Thanks to that, I figured out how to create chains. Literal chains made from Fox Ice. I initially believed that I would need to start with threads or wires, but after one call with Steve, I experienced a breakthrough.
Of course, success came with its trauma.
During one of my first attempts in a sparring match with Mom, I managed to bind myself. Yeah. I caught myself in my own damn chains. Imagine standing there frozen (literally), struggling like an idiot while your smug, ancient fox mom laughs like she just won the lottery.
She took pictures.
Over 200.
I don't even know how she did it; in those three seconds I was stuck, but let's just say several phones mysteriously disappeared afterward.
A week later, I've gotten decent. Not outstanding, but decent. I am now skilled enough to combine chains with my swordplay. Weapons-wise, I'd say I've mastered about half of Mom's arsenal to her level of precision.
Don't get the wrong idea, though. She can still wreck me if she uses her full stats or any real magic. But if we're both set to 500 across all stats, no skills, no tricks, and one weapon each? Then we fight on even ground. One time, we sparred for 19 straight hours with just katanas before Mom had to stop... because she got worn out.
I didn't.
Sleep became optional the moment I transformed into this new being. This new... thing. I don't even need it anymore. But I used to be human, so the idea of "rest" is still etched into my habits. Even so, I spent most of my "rest time" training solo or fighting Black Ops soldiers.
Three times a week, I spar with ten of them-stats equalized at 500. At first, they underestimated me. Big mistake. But they got serious fast.
What baffles me is how a group trained for solo operations can work so efficiently as a team. After the first week, they started coordinating. Like, tactically. And that's when I started losing. A lot.
Eight out of ten matches-losses. But each loss taught me more than a victory ever could. I learned how to punish mistakes ruthlessly, how to read their group formations, and how to bait and isolate targets. I became an assassin in my own right.
Sirone helped too. She was present, healing the poor individuals I had injured. And while she patched them up, she trained the other medics. Her presence became part of the system.
There's probably something I'm forgetting, but hey, if I forgot it, it's likely not that important.
[Kitsuna POV]
At the moment, I was lounging in the newest car gifted to us by the twins. A customized vehicle-modded just for me and my multiple long, potentially chaotic tails. Spacious interior, sleek black trim, soft cushions built with stain-resistant fabric. I didn't ask how they knew what I needed. I didn't want to know. The twins were geniuses and terrifying in equal measure.
Across from me sat Mom, arms folded, eyes half-lidded but sharp as ever. On her right was Amari, quietly braiding a lock of her hair, and Zagan beside her, looking awkward in his ceremonial outfit. Dean was in the front seat next to the driver, his quiet presence grounding the car like an anchor.
"Well, it is the day of the banquet. Are you ready, Kitsuna?" Mom asked, her tone calm, but her crimson eyes focused on me.
I stretched lazily, letting my tails shift behind me before folding my arms. "As ready as I'll ever be for another political headache."
Sirone, perched beside me on my right, leaned forward with bright eyes. "Is something happening at the banquet?"
Kayda, sitting on my left and leaning against the window with an eyebrow raised, gave Sirone a flat look. "Why do you think you're here?"
Sirone blinked. "I thought Kitsuna liked me the most out of our squad. So she invited me to a banquet."
I tilted my head toward her, raising an eyebrow. "...Huh? Where did that idea come from?"
She puffed her chest proudly. "You let me see Brenda a lot. You gave me permission to go out with her. Apricot and Nekro rarely even use their beds anymore, and you personally train me in medical techniques during your free' time."
"Spare time?" I muttered, stunned. "I had free time?"
I shook my head, trying to recover. "Anyway, sorry to burst your fluffy little bubble, but no-I don't have a favorite. "I like all of you, but I don't have a favorite."
Kayda grinned. "Wait, wait. Didn't you let Apricot sleep curled in your fur for the last two weeks?"
I narrowed my eyes at her. "That's because she couldn't sleep without it. Nightmares. And even then-no one touches my tail."
"Why not?" Kayda asked, genuinely curious.
I glanced down at her chest, deadpan. "Would you like someone tugging on your horn for no reason?"
Her cheeks flushed. "I guess... not."
"Exactly. My tail is sacred. No one touches it."
"But didn't that little girl grab your tail the other day?" Zagan asked, scratching his head. "You looked fine."
"She was a child. I'm not going to kill a child over that."
He hesitated. "Wait... would you kill someone over it?"
"Yes," I replied without hesitation.
"No way."
"Yeah," Amari added casually. "Granny tugged her tail once. She nearly got a dagger to the throat."
Zagan blinked. "...Oh."
Mom cleared her throat. "Back to the original point-Sirone, you're here because you'll be healing people today."
Sirone looked horrified. "Healing? Are you going to attack people?"
I grinned. "No. Just one. I'm dueling Hugo."
Zagan leaned forward, alarmed. "What?! That's insane! He's got a legendary class!"
"I know. Beast King, right?" I snorted. "A furry with a title like that? It's hilarious."
"You shouldn't underestimate him," Zagan warned. "His level's 122."
"He's strong," Amari agreed, "but Sis's stats are higher."
"I'm nearly at low-corporal rank," I added with a shrug.
Kayda whistled. "Damn. One month did you nicely, huh?"
"Don't remind me," I groaned. "Seven more months to go..."
Mom smirked. "Before we arrive-how did Rachel's final treatment go?"
I sighed. "She's done. Ran off with Daren as soon as we finished. Straight to the honeymoon zone, I guess."
"That's good," Mom said with satisfaction.
Amari looked down. "She changed so much lately. I don't think we're friends anymore."
"She got real demanding," Zagan muttered. "Are you sure you didn't alter her subconscious?"
SLAP.
"Don't say that!" Amari snapped, hitting Zagan's head. "Sis didn't mess with her mind. Angels are just... like that."
'Technically,' I thought to myself, 'I did become part-angel... so maybe I nudged something subconsciously. However, I felt there was no need to share that information with them.
Dean turned slightly in his seat. "We've arrived."
I exhaled, stretching again as the car slowed.
"Let's hope this banquet doesn't end in fire."
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Chapter 69: The King and Queen
"Guys, we have arrived," Dean said from the front of the car, his voice clear and calm.
"That was faster than I thought," I muttered, glancing out the window as the vehicle rolled past the towering castle gates. The golden crest of the royal family gleamed proudly under the moonlight.
"The mansion is just around the corner, so it makes sense it was a short ride," Zagan added, looking over at me from his seat, his expression relaxed.
"Oh, right. Remind me again-why are you riding with us today?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him, genuinely puzzled.
"My parents are busy at the border for work, so I'm on my own tonight," Zagan explained, folding his arms casually.
"And your brother?" Mom asked, tilting her head with a slight frown.
"I have no idea where he is," Zagan said with a shrug that conveyed, "Not my problem."
"That brother of yours..." Mom sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Clearly, she had some stories about him she didn't feel like sharing right now.
Before I could prod more, the car gradually came to a stop. The soft purr of the engine died down.
"Welcome to the castle, Draig family," a royal knight greeted, opening the door beside Amari. His silver armor caught the light in a way that made him look more like a statue than a person. Gold shoulder guards marked his rank-definitely royal guard.
"Thank you," Amari said politely, climbing out with elegance. The rest followed, and I was last, as usual.
As I stepped out, I caught the knight giving me a look-curiosity mixed with surprise.
I stared at him and tilted my head. "Never seen a demon fox before?"
"Actually... no, Milady, you are the first one I've ever seen. Might I ask your name?" He asked respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Not Milady-Young Miss," I corrected with a sigh. "I'm only fourteen. Name's Kitsuna Draig."
His eyes widened slightly. "Ah! You're the adopted daughter. My apologies for the assumption."
"It's fine. This kind of treatment happens more often than you might expect," I said while waving my hand, as I was already accustomed to it.
"Kitsuna! You're dragging behind again," Kayda called out from near the entrance, her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way," I replied, striding past the knight, whose gaze lingered on me like I was a living myth.
Kayda raised an eyebrow as I joined her. "What took you so long?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about it," I replied coolly, though I could feel a dozen stares sticking to my back like burrs.
"If you say so..." Kayda said. Then she gave me a once-over. "Wait. Are you really going to wear that to the banquet?"
I looked down at myself-tight black jeans, a crisp button-up shirt, my signature boots, the hoodie I never parted with, and, of course, my trusty scarf wrapped loosely around my neck. Practical, flexible, and breathable.
"I told you-I don't do dresses. Or suits. They're suffocating," I said with all the seriousness of a doctor giving a terminal diagnosis. Then I smirked, glancing at her outfit. "But I can't believe you actually wore the dress I picked for you."
Kayda crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks slightly in protest. "So I'm not allowed to wear my dress now?"
"That's not what I meant," I said, chuckling and walking ahead, only for her to catch up immediately.
We headed together toward the banquet hall, where the rest of our squad-including Sirone-was already waiting.
"Okay, when we step inside, we greet the queen first, then the king," Kayda said as we stopped in front of the grand double doors. Her tone was all business.
I nodded. "Un."
With a resigned sigh, she pushed the doors open.
"Just follow me."
The ballroom was breathtaking. Polished marble floors gleamed under floating crystal chandeliers. Nobles filled the space in flowing dresses and regal suits, their laughter and idle chatter humming like bees around a royal hive.
My nose twitched at the overwhelming perfume cloud. Still, beneath the floral assault, I picked up the glorious scent of food-roasted meats, savory sauces, and freshly baked bread. I could practically taste it already.
The banquet table was located to the back right, and my mouth watered at the thought.
"Kitsuna," Kayda whispered, nudging me. "Try not to drool in front of the queen, okay?"
"I'll... try my best," I said, hastily wiping my mouth.
As we passed through the crowd, I caught snippets of conversations. A particularly sharp one caught my attention.
"What is a barbarian like that doing with Kayda the Sage?" A woman muttered to her equally snobbish friend.
"I know, right? She looks so unworthy," her companion agreed.
I didn't even flinch. "Don't get worked up about dumb gossip," Kayda said beside me.
"I'm not. They'll be pissing themselves by the end of the night anyway," I whispered with an evil grin.
