Chapter 85: The Foxes Who Count Their Power in Tails
Chapter 85: The Foxes Who Count Their Power in Tails
Elyn’s POV
Morthen’s last words lingered in the air like an invitation I hadn’t known I was waiting for.
Fox demons.
The moment he mentioned them, something sharp and curious settled in my chest, and I knew it had everything to do with the fact that I hadn’t known fox demons could even be considered demons. I never thought I’d exist in a world where I would be learning about them.
I leaned forward in my chair, resting my elbows lightly on the desk.
"You said fox demons," I began. "How many types are there?"
Morthen looked at me over the rim of his glasses, his antennae giving a thoughtful twitch.
"That depends on what you mean by types, my lady."
I frowned slightly. "I mean... are they all the same? Like succubi and incubi? Or are there different classifications?"
Vaelory perked up immediately, clearly interested despite herself. She hugged the rolled scroll closer to her chest as if it were a shield... though I had no idea what she thought she was shielding herself from.
Morthen exhaled slowly, as though preparing himself for a longer explanation.
"Fox demons are... deceptively simple," he said at last. "Contrary to popular belief—and by popular belief, I mean what humans assume—there are not dozens of named species."
"So they don’t have different races?" I asked.
"No," he replied. "They are all fox demons. What distinguishes them is not their species, but their tails."
I nodded. Given how many novels I had devoured in my past life, that part wasn’t unfamiliar.
"They are all classified by the number of tails they possess," Morthen continued. "One tail is the lowest rank."
Vaelory tilted her head. "So... a one-tailed fox demon is weak?"
"Not weak," Morthen corrected calmly. "Inexperienced. Young. A one-tailed fox demon is often newly awakened—cleverer than beasts, capable of minor illusions, but still far from their potential."
"And the more tails," I said slowly, "the stronger they become."
"Yes," he said. "Each tail represents age, accumulated power, and spiritual refinement. Fox demons do not gain tails quickly. It can take centuries—sometimes millennia—to earn even one."
That made me pause.
"Then... a nine-tailed fox demon must be ancient."
Morthen’s lips curved faintly. "Ancient does not begin to describe it."
I straightened in my chair. "Wait. Are you saying nine-tailed fox demons exist?"
Morthen nodded as he adjusted his glasses.
Oh my days.
Maybe I should have realized it earlier when he mentioned one-tailed fox demons, but I hadn’t actually thought that meant nine-tailed ones truly existed. I’d only asked because it reminded me of the countless stories I’d read in my past life.
This world just kept throwing surprises at me—ones I was never prepared for.
"There is only one nine-tailed fox demon in existence," Morthen said.
Vaelory’s mouth fell open. "One?"
"Yes," he replied. "And she rules over all fox demons."
Was I surprised that the nine-tailed fox demon ruled them all? Not really. If anything, it would have been more shocking if a one-tailed fox ruled over the rest.
Vaelory clutched the scroll tighter. "I thought nine-tailed foxes were just stories. Like cautionary tales people told children."
"That is what humans turned them into," Morthen said calmly. "But they are very real."
"The nine-tailed fox is the ruler of all fox demons. Their territory is vast," he continued. "It is characterized by high mountain ranges, dense forests, and fertile land. Much of the vegetation in the demon realm originates there."
"Vegetation?" I echoed.
"Yes," he said. "Fruit orchards, medicinal plants, rare herbs. Most produce traded within the demon realm comes from fox demon land."
That caught my attention.
"So they control food?"
"A significant portion of it, though not all," he confirmed. "Their territory is known as the Kitsunegawa Territory."
I repeated the name quietly. "Kitsunegawa Territory."
"It is... beautiful," Morthen added after a pause. "Deceptively so."
"And the duchess?" I asked. "What’s her name?"
Morthen hesitated for a fraction of a second, then said, "Duchess Aurelixa Vulpyr."
The name carried weight even before the meaning settled.
"She rules alongside her husband," he continued, "but it is widely understood that she is the true authority."
Vaelory blinked. "So... the husband is just there?"
Morthen adjusted his glasses. "He fulfills ceremonial and diplomatic duties. Duchess Aurelixa makes the final decisions."
"It should also be noted that after the royal family," he added, "the fox demons are the wealthiest faction in the demon realm."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes."
"How?" I pressed. "Do they get all their wealth from selling vegetation and fruit?"
Morthen’s lips twitched. "Not exactly. Food accounts for only about one-third of their income. Their primary wealth comes from gambling dens."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"The fox demons control nearly every gambling establishment in the demon realm," he said. "Casinos, betting halls, underground gaming houses. All of them answer to fox demon authority."
Vaelory gasped. "Every single one?"
"Yes."
I let out a low whistle. "That explains a lot."
"And," Morthen added, "they maintain establishments in the human realm as well."
Vaelory nearly dropped the scroll.
"They have what?"
"Gambling houses," he repeated calmly. "Hidden, discreet, and often masked as ordinary businesses in the human realm."
Her eyes went wide. "That’s... that’s allowed?" she asked, scandalized, as though she couldn’t even comprehend the idea.
Morthen nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Under strict conditions. Such operations require royal approval and are monitored closely."
"Closely," I muttered. "I somehow doubt that means what it should."
Morthen ignored me.
"Fox demons are particularly suited to such ventures," he continued. "They excel at probability, deception, and psychological manipulation. Games of chance are rarely left to chance when fox demons are involved."
He paused, then added, "It should also be noted, my lady, that the succubi and the fox demons are enemies."
His antennae twitched.
"Mortal enemies."
I almost laughed with the way he said the word like it was something filled with dread but I also wanted to know more.