❖ [New Side Quest – Shrine of Echoes]Objective: Uncover the shrine's origin and defeat the corrupted fox spiritsTime Limit: 47:12:03Location: Hidden Shrine – Mount Tsukuba, Japan
Warning: This dungeon is bound to a unique bloodline. Unauthorized entry may provoke the shrine spirits.
──────────────[System Mood: DUNGEON CRAWL MODE. BRING YOUR A-GAME, FLUFFY FIGHTER.]──────────────
"What does it mean by bloodline?" Jin Hwan muttered, trekking uphill toward the moss-covered torii gate that marked the entrance.
He wore a black cloak over his hoodie, ears tucked under his hood, footsteps silent. The air around the shrine was unnaturally still, as if time had been suspended just beyond the archway.
Then—
❖ [System Alert – You are not alone.]Detected Presence: One unidentified hunter within the dungeon.Hunter Classification: B-Rank – Fox-Type Spiritual AffinityWarning: Spirits are already agitated.
"Another person? In the same instance?"That was rare. Dungeons didn't usually allow overlapping unless it was a party raid.
"Guess I'm not the only one vacationing with a side of danger."
He stepped forward. Light bent around the torii gate—and then vanished. The world flipped.
❖ Shrine Realm – Crimson Leaves and Hungry Shadows
The landscape had changed.Jin Hwan now stood in a twilight forest, crimson leaves floating like paper talismans. Tall stone statues of foxes with jagged mouths lined the narrow path leading toward a crumbling shrine.
Growls echoed through the trees.
"I hear fighting."
He sprinted forward, footsteps light—Wind Step: Activated—racing between trees like a breeze.
Then he saw her.
A girl—no, a young woman—back pressed to a broken statue, swinging a bladed folding fan against a pack of glowing-eyed fox spirits. Her hair was a wild dark auburn, and on top of her head… fox ears twitched in agitation. Behind her, a fluffy fox tail snapped defensively.
Her voice rang out, sharp and annoyed:
"Tch! Get off me, you mutts!"
The spirits lunged. She kicked one back but stumbled.
Jin Hwan didn't hesitate.
"Wind Kick!"He shot forward in a flash, golden aura erupting, launching a spirit back into the trees.
"Who—?!" the girl shouted.
He landed beside her, spinning mid-air and driving a wind-enhanced heel into another spirit's side. It vanished into smoke.
She stared at him with wide, amber-gold eyes.
Then scowled.
"I had that under control!"
"Sure you did," Jin Hwan said, breath light. "Looked like you were about to be lunch."
She growled, cheeks flushed in embarrassment."Y-You're a rabbit! What the hell is a rabbit doing in a fox's den?!"
Her words made him pause.
"Rabbit?"He realized—his hoodie had slipped back, and his white rabbit ears were now poking free.
"Ugh… figures. Ears out again."
She crossed her arms and huffed, tail flicking.
"This dungeon was exclusive to me! My system literally said so. Fox-type affinity users only. So again—what is a prey animal like you doing here?"
He gave a shrug.
"Guess this shrine likes to keep it… diverse. My System said I had a reason to be here too. Something about rabbits being involved."
Her brows twitched.
"Hmph. System's glitching, obviously. Typical prey-tier permissions."
Jin Hwan raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Prey-tier? You're welcome for the save, by the way."
"I could've handled it!" she snapped, tail puffing."You're lucky you didn't mess up my flow. I was about to activate my Foxfire Bloom Technique."
He chuckled.
"Well, next time I'll let the spirits gnaw on your tail a bit before I jump in."
She narrowed her eyes.Then sighed and extended her hand—reluctantly.
"Fine. Whatever. I guess since you're already here… might as well team up."
"Deal."
"Name's Isumi. Isumi-chan. Remember it, Rabbit-boy."
She flipped her fan shut with a sharp snap.Her cheeks were still a little pink.
"Jin Hwan," he replied, shaking her hand."Let's clear this place together, Fox-girl."
❖ [System Notification – Temporary Party Formed]Party Members:– Jin Hwan (F-Rank, Rabbit-Type, ??? Affinity)– Isumi-chan (B-Rank, Fox-Type, Flame Affinity)
Dungeon Objectives Updated. Shared Progress Enabled.
──────────────[System Mood: FLUFFY POWER COUPLE UNLOCKED. EXPECT COMBOS. EXPECT BANTER.]──────────────
As they turned toward the shrine path together, fox spirits began whispering in the trees again.
But this time…Jin Hwan wasn't alone.
And judging by the sharp flicker of flame dancing at Isumi's fingertips,this tsundere fox girl wasn't here to play around.