It felt as though, in a single blink, everyone could finally see clearly with their own eyes.
The entire world—once an endless nightmare of slick, pulsating flesh-walls—was suddenly engulfed and erased by blue flames, burning away into nothingness as shock froze them in place.
Duyen and Mina had spent nearly seven years—perhaps more—just to traverse a pitifully small fragment of this grotesque city's structure. And yet now, before them, sunlight poured unexpectedly across the vast space, revealing a breathtaking, magnificent panorama: the Golden City of Yomi—once revered as the capital of the gods.
Towering skyscrapers of spiraled gold rose toward the sky. Dance floors from ancient feasts, echoes of celebration and revelry—now reduced to beautiful, empty ruins—still radiated the extravagance of a civilization that had once thrived here.
Duyen and Mina hurriedly shielded their eyes. After so long trapped in darkness, the sudden return of sunlight flooding the grand throne hall was overwhelming.
Only Amuro and Shana seemed unsurprised. They surveyed the surroundings with quiet satisfaction, as though a long-awaited mission had finally been completed.
But… was it really over so simply?
Shana suddenly stiffened. Something was moving between the massive marble columns.
Small figures emerged—children, boys and girls alike—dressed in ivory-white gowns soaked and crusted with dried blood. Their pupils glowed a vivid, hellish red.
Demons wearing the skins of children.
The sight sent a wave of discomfort through Shana.
"They're still here…" she murmured. Why did they take the form of children?
Amuro watched them silently. In many ways, they were considered his "kin." Yet he felt no kinship—only revulsion. Seeing them like this made his stomach churn.
"Shall I kill them at once, Lady Shana?"
Shana glanced at the demon-children with half-lidded eyes, then casually waved her hand.
"No. It's been a long time since I returned here. I'll let them live. After all, once we leave… someone will have to take over this place."
She paused, lost in thought.
"…Perhaps a guide for them."
Amuro immediately bowed.
"Yes. I will make the arrangements."
Mina, who had been standing there the entire time, let out a cold scoff and cleared her throat sharply. Amuro nearly jumped.
"Ah—Lady Mina, I— I was merely discussing some… unfinished business with Lady Shana—"
"Enough," Mina cut him off, raising a hand.
"Do whatever you want. But once we leave this place, you should remember your position. I wouldn't want outsiders misunderstanding who your true master is."
Amuro stiffened in terror and quickly lowered himself submissively before Mina—despite towering over the three women.
"…Yes. I understand."
Shana burst into laughter, her voice echoing through the now-vast palace halls.
"Mina, I didn't expect you to be the jealous type—even over your own subordinate. Relax. I won't be ordering him around. He belongs to you, after all."
As she spoke, Shana noticed the demons lingering nervously below the grand hall. The moment they caught sight of Mina, panic seized them. They screeched like rats, crimson eyes wide with terror.
Mina merely shot them a single glare. That alone sent them recoiling in horror. It was as if they sensed something unspeakably dreadful—not just from seeing her, but from smelling her.
The blood of their own kind clung to Mina's body.
In an instant, they scattered like a shattered hive, fleeing in all directions. Duyen stared, bewildered.
"Why are they so afraid of Mina?"
Shana forced a laugh, gently taking Duyen's hand while casting a concerned glance toward Mina. Her teasing tone carried a hint of unease.
"…Hey. When you were trapped here… what exactly did you do to them?"
Even with her cold expression, Mina blinked in confusion, arms crossed. She genuinely seemed not to know.
"…I… I don't remember."
She lowered her gaze to the polished floor of the throne area—once carpeted with living flesh. Now, she could faintly see her reflection.
But it was blurred. As though a dense black mist clung to her, obscuring even her face.
What… was this?
The sight startled Mina herself.
Duyen watched anxiously. She had clearly noticed it too—or at least sensed something—yet she only looked at Mina with warmth, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Mina… it's time for us to go home. Everyone's waiting, right?"
The warmth in Duyen's eyes pierced through the fog around Mina's heart. Duyen was living proof—reminding her that she was still alive, that no matter what, some part of them was still human.
Yet after everything they had endured, none of them could ever truly return to who they once were.
"But…" Duyen suddenly smiled bitterly, scratching her head. "How exactly are we supposed to get back?"
They all looked at one another. Mina and Duyen were filthy after the long, grueling journey. Meanwhile, Shana stood radiant—like a fashion runway spectacle—with nine massive fox tails swaying behind her.
Mina scowled. Duyen, on the other hand, eyed the tails with blatant envy then chuckled softly.
She turned back to the vast, magnificent hall—and suddenly shouted for no reason at all.
"HEY!"
Her voice echoed through the palace, bouncing endlessly until fading somewhere far away. The emptiness lingered. Still, Duyen wanted to leave something behind—her voice, at least.
Her face flushed faintly at her own childishness.
Mina and Shana could only think the same thing.
She's too cute.
Amuro turned toward them.
"I can't keep you here any longer. I still have matters to settle—and someone I must find."
Duyen looked at him in alarm.
"You're still going after someone?"
Amuro smiled. His crimson eyes softened as he replied gently.
"Don't worry, Miss Duyen. It won't take long this time. I'm certain he's nearby. We'll meet again in the blink of an eye. Please return to the human world first."
Duyen was deeply worried. Even though Shana's power had erased the nightmare of Yomi, this place was far from safe. But knowing Amuro was rescuing someone else, she couldn't ask him to come along.
Still…
How were they supposed to leave?
Amuro gestured toward the massive golden throne—the final resting place of the queen.
"You'll return from here."
"From… there?"
Despite their uncertainty, the three girls walked together toward the towering throne. Upon its stone pedestal rested the queen's jeweled hairpin. Shana smiled softly at the sight. She took Duyen's hand.
Duyen then reached out and clasped Mina's. They held on tightly, as though afraid of losing one another again.
Shana extended her hand toward Mina with a teasing grin. Mina rolled her eyes. She clearly had no desire to participate in this sentimental nonsense—but Duyen's eager gaze…
…Ugh. Was this really necessary?
Reluctantly, Mina tugged her sweater sleeve down and took Shana's hand.
Duyen felt slightly uneasy—but this counted as progress, right?
Shana leaned close to Mina's ear and whispered,
"When we get back… check the mirror."
Mina's expression twisted. She squeezed Shana's hand hard. Shana responded in kind.
Duyen, oblivious, likely thought they were getting along. She looked up at the palace one last time, a strange feeling stirring inside her.
"…It's just a feeling," she said quietly. "But I think… someday, others will try to come here."
Shana sighed. She understood—Duyen's intuition was no longer just intuition.
"Yes. They will. But that's a problem for the future."
The three of them stood before the throne, hands tightly entwined, and closed their eyes. From beneath their feet, radiant rainbow light erupted, spiraling upward into the heavens.
Amuro manifested a leather cowboy hat in his hand and placed it atop his head with a courteous tilt.
"I'll see you again shortly."
The rainbow light lifted the souls of the three girls—
—and they vanished before the throne.
---
Returning to the fog-shrouded village, hours had already passed since the villagers began keeping vigil over the bodies of Shana, Duyen, and Mina. They were laid upon flower-laden platforms, while the fox-spirit girls of the village maintained their spells, desperately preventing the bodies from being tainted.
But the question remained—when would their souls return?
Entrusting Mina with the responsibility of saving Shana and Duyen still sounded unbelievable, even now. Yet she was the only hope they had left to cling to.
Nayeon and Dao had been sitting beside them for hours, unable to fall asleep. Even fox-spirit like Hasuko and Haru were mentally exhausted from overwhelming anxiety. The silence in the room was suffocating, every second stretching painfully long.
Only Ama, still residing within Yu's body, sat there calmly. Her sharp gaze swept across everyone before stopping on Mina's sleeping form. For a brief moment, an anxious thought crossed her mind—one she knew she should not have.
Was this truly the right thing to do?
Suddenly, a blinding radiance descended from the heavens, crashing straight down upon the three bodies. The immense pressure sent everyone reeling backward in shock.
Haru and Hasuko struggled to their feet, as if sensing something deep within their instincts. Their faces lit up with disbelief and joy.
"My Lady!?"
Dao and Nayeon clung tightly to each other, snapping out of their daze. They looked from one another to the three figures before them, eyes shining.
The room flooded with light as the rainbow-like glow vanished. The girls who had seemed lost to an eternal slumber slowly fluttered their eyes open.
"MY LADY!"
"DUYEN!"
"MINA!"
Cheers erupted—not just from the house, but from the entire village. People rushed toward the hilltop home, eager to witness the miracle with their own eyes.
Even Goddess Ama could scarcely believe what she was seeing. She merely smiled knowingly.
Duyen, Shana, and Mina had truly awakened.
They had barely lifted their heads when Hasuko, Haru, Dao, and Nayeon rushed forward, wrapping them in tight embraces, leaving the three utterly flustered.
"You're awake, my lady!" Hasuko and Haru grasped Shana's hands, kissing them over and over.
Nayeon hugged Duyen tightly, bursting into tears. "You idiot…!"
Dao pulled Mina into a fierce hug, making her wince—then laugh.
The three exchanged knowing glances. To everyone else, it had only been a few hours. But to them, it felt like an eternity since they last saw their loved ones. The story would be told later.
Suddenly, while clinging to Shana, Haru and Hasuko froze. Their eyes widened in sheer horror as they stared at Mina—like they had just seen a ghost.
Not just them—the entire village fell deathly silent at the sight of her. Mina and Dao exchanged confused looks. Haru muttered uncertainly,
"Y-you… you…"
Mina frowned.
"What about me?"
Even Nayeon was shaken. Though she couldn't see clearly, she felt something deeply wrong surrounding Mina—an eerie, sinister energy.
Only Dao seemed completely lost. She looked around in confusion.
"Why is everyone staring at Mina like that? Did something happen?"
Haru waved her hand nervously, trembling slightly.
"N-no… it's just that your friend looks a bit… how should I say this… scary."
"Scary?" Dao blinked. "But she's still Mina, isn't she? I don't see anything different."
Mina, however, knew exactly what those wary gazes implied. Unease—and irritation—crept into her chest.
Noticing this, Duyen quickly took Mina's hand, trying to change the subject.
"Well, actually… while we were there—"
Suddenly, shouts erupted outside the house. Village women raised their weapons, surrounding someone.
"Who are you!?"
Haru and Hasuko drew their katanas and rushed outside. Then Haru jolted back in shock.
Standing before them was a tall, handsome middle-aged man with slightly tanned skin and short silver-white hair. He wore a long black cloak that couldn't hide his muscular build, topped with a leather cowboy hat.
At first glance, he looked human. But his glowing crimson eyes made every woman there stiffen with alarm.
Haru snarled, katana raised.
"You… a demon?"
The man—Amuro—slowly scanned the women around him, red eyes gleaming as if assessing them. His deep voice rumbled.
"And you… you're all foxes, aren't you?"
The moment he spoke, the women bared sharp fangs, growling, ready to attack. Amuro frowned and raised one hand. It seemed he didn't want to fight—but if he had no choice…
"Amuro!"
Duyen's voice rang out as she ran from the house and threw her arms around him, leaving Haru utterly stunned.
"How did you get back so fast!?"
Amuro looked down at her warmly.
"I told you I'd be back in no time."
Haru immediately yanked Duyen away.
"Miss Duyen! Be careful! You shouldn't be near this man!"
"It's fine."
Shana's voice echoed from the doorway as attendants helped her stand.
"That man is Amuro Sawada. He poses no threat to us. Treat him as a guest."
Amuro removed his cowboy hat politely and bowed.
"My name is Amuro Sawada. I am Lady Mina's retainer. Thank you all for taking care of my lady during this time."
At the mention of Mina, all eyes turned to her. Dao leaned closer and whispered,
"Wait… you know him?"
Mina replied flatly,
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later."
Knowing Amuro served Mina only made Haru more wary. She shot him a hostile glare.
"Even so… he smells unpleasant. Like… a dog."
Amuro froze, stunned. He instinctively lifted his arm and sniffed himself in panic. Do I really smell that bad?
"Miss Duyen…" he said hesitantly.
"May I… borrow the bathroom for a moment?"
Duyen could only laugh weakly.
"Honestly… all of us need a shower."