“Well… After I absorbed spiritual energy yesterday, I planned to mend my damaged soul and fell into a deep slumber. Who knew the demonic energy in your body would surge explosively, accelerating the transformation to nearly complete? What should’ve taken half a month finished in hours. Normally, no big deal—I’d wake up, stabilize your energy, and restore your human form. But *you*… you actually went and got intimate with that girl. That’s what triggered your so-called ‘evolution’.”

The fox demon rambled things I only half-understood. I couldn’t tell if she was lying, but the gist was clear: I was a fox now… all thanks to my own recklessness.

“What ‘evolution’? You quoting *Digimon* at me? Human-Yao-Beast evolving into a Yao—? Skip the fluff. Just tell me—can you change me back?!”

“I truly don’t know. Your body is special—you carry the bloodline of the Su clan fox demons. That’s why I sought you. Faint as it was, my purest Nine Tails demonic energy awakened it. It reshaped you completely, reverting you to your primal state: a fox demon form. Originally… I intended to seize your body. But an accident during possession fused our souls slightly. Now we’re two grasshoppers tied to the same string—I harm you, I harm myself.”

…What is she even saying? Does anyone get this? *My* body has *her* fox demon bloodline? Am I her kid?!

Come to think of it… I’ve never met my parents. Could it really be fox-related? Then what am I? Humans born of humans, demons of demons… so I’m half-human, half-demon…?

“You still haven’t answered: can you change me back?”

I cut in flatly. She kept lecturing lore I didn’t grasp. What was the point? Who was she even talking to…?

“Honestly? Returning to your old human body is impossible. Your flesh has been remade—you’re a spiritual fox now. Unless you find some ancient demon who can refine bones and wash marrow… you’ll live as a demon from here on.”

After a pause, she told me the truth. Strangely, I felt no shock—only calm. Maybe I’d expected it all along.

So… I’m really living as a fox now? Starting my animal life?

“I could write a memoir: *After Possession, I Became a Fox*. Personal experience—guaranteed bestseller.”

I sighed, staring at my tender, fluffy little paws. Being human was exhausting. Maybe being an animal isn’t so bad. I barely know anyone anyway… if I vanished, would anyone even notice?

“Don’t be so gloomy~ My energy awakened your bloodline. Your power’s already peaked for a single-tail fox demon—and you unlocked an innate ability. See the mark on your tail? Should be Foxfire. Took *me* thirty years to reach this level. And at this stage… shapeshifting is possible too~”

She gently turned my fox head toward my restless tail. Under her urging, the fiery-red pattern glowed with a faint light.

“Shapeshift? You mean I can become human again? Really? What’ll I look like? Same as before?”

Take back everything I said! If I can be human—even as a demon—*yes*. Who wants to be this damn fox? Humans win.

“I don’t know for sure… but you’ll likely resemble me. Your body runs on *my* demonic energy and Nine Tails bloodline—the very force that remade you.”

“Wait… does that mean I’ll turn into a girl with…? No—*lolita*?!”

I’d seen her previous form: an absurdly cute white-haired lolita. If *I* ended up like that… terrifying. I’m a guy!

“Have you forgotten…? My energy belongs to the supreme yin faction. Reshaped by it… haven’t you noticed *anything*?”

“Noticed what?”

I frowned at the mirror. My tail swayed instinctively behind me.

“Never mind. You’ll see soon. Right now—learn to shapeshift. Starting today, I teach you fox arts.”

“*Me*? Aren’t *you* doing it?”

She’d always controlled my body to cast arts. My limbs moved, but I never knew *how*.

“You can’t rely on me forever. If I vanish someday… you’d be a spiritually rich little fox who knows zero demonic arts. Easy prey.”

“…Fine. I’ll trust you *this* time.”

Outwardly compliant. Inwardly wary. A thousand-year-old fox demon *can’t* seize this body? Unlikely. Learning these arts isn’t optional—it’s my only leverage against her.

“Good. Follow my steps: first… then… next… after that… Got it? Anyone with half a brain gets it.”

Her “fox speak” might confuse others, but I understood. Not simple. Not impossible.

“Alright. I’ll try.”