A certain flashback takes me back to when I originally and accidentally stumbled upon this world through the ring:

A few months Prior...

I woke up in the field of flowers I could only think of as Eden at the time with no recollection as to how exactly I got there.

[am I dead? what is this place?]

Navigating my way through the enchanting fields, I had, with my presence here, nearly signed my doom...

With a slowly enveloping tightness in my chest overwhelming me and a eerie feeling down in my gut, I found the road that led to no where I knew.

{run}

I begun shivering as the night thickened and the chilly air licked the sky.

and suddenly I froze...

All I could do was turn my neck from where I had started. Nothing---

A demon...from thin air stared back at me with four eyes ablaze with a red rage that shook my soul.

A jaw capable of swallowing me whole slowly expanded while dripping saliva that seared the ground in black smoke.

Its four legged serpentine like black furry and scaled body was illuminated by purple flames jutting out from its tail.

[run!]

On instinct, I pulled away with speed that would have shocked me if I was not desperate to survive.

Yet it was futile.

My war with a raging panic attack threatening to burst by chest wide open caused me to trip on the ground with speed that would have knocked my out but didn't.

I wanted, tried, begged to scream but the air in my lungs had shut themselves in, my breath nearly ceased I turned to the demon that never slowly approached with an expression that made it look as if it were...laughing.

The scraggly sound akin to a jackal that came out only intensified that feeling as it begun to hop.

My legs had quit, already perceiving the futility of struggling.

Death was inevitable. but why was this happening to me?

why?

why?

WHY?

WHY!!

I'll die!

I don't want to die!

The creature skipped around me in a steady, slowly reducing circle, seemingly playing with its helpless prey--- then stopped.

Stopped laughing or moving as the purple flame around its tail reduced in intensity while my energy and hope had shriveled up to void.

It was going to strike. That was my helpless conclusion as it got it position. With stinging, burning tears streaming from my eyes and regret mixed with distaste for my current state, I tried to get ready to die.

[Veronica...sorry] that was all I could think of as my life flashed before my eyes, no, it's eyes. The red haired girl that would forever be the most precious thing to me...

'Abis!' a command pierced the air, freezing the creature still as it turned to its left.

I remained frozen, the bleeding gashes on my knee, elbow and forehead from falling aching with a rising intensity with the sound of feet crunching against the ground.

With a low growl it approached the source of the sound while my breathing slowly became less haggard.

I looked towards the figure, a cloaked figure that stood unafraid of the devil that would have had me for---

[Wai---what!]

The beast had been replaced by a dark bunny like creature than hopped onto the figure's shoulder.

With my poor vision and the obscene darkness, it was like the moon that slowly appeared from the clouds. My savior, yet I could only shiver back at his presence.

'and here I was thinking you were a Calamity Spirit Devil or something worse.

you're a lucky one. If I hadn't been here your soul might have been devoured. but I guess you could say that it was also my fault'

[soul!]

A drowsiness took hold of me at that moment and I fainted not even seconds after.

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Later I woke up in the mansion we now approach on foot, experiencing the new world after nearly losing my life and part of my soul. having to deal with check ups that soon afterward that consumed both of our time.

---Carrion's P.O.V---

Slightly lagging behind Jim and Seth, I take in the wonders of this world.

It feels like only yesterday when my friend made me aware of this chance to go to another world.

At first, I thought he had been doing drugs. And I don't mean regular pot or weed...LSD!

He claimed to have been guided through a mystical city by a hot blonde chick who's number and image he'd failed to collect.

And so how was I supposed to believe this?...

'well then go see for yourself' at that moment, I was still thinking as to whether the blonde chick was that hot or not.

She had to be to get his mouth running like this...hmm.

'but seriously, are you sure they didn't drug you!'

'come on dude! I'm really trying here. they said I should only tell one person about this and I chose you'

'hmm...' this made me re think the whole thing, we had been friends for quite a while. Meeting in the first year of high school and going all the way to university together as Otaku brothers.

All though we weren't in the same University even...

I myself had heard rumors online and so about a strange phenomenon associated with a ring after that incident occurred in Osaka Japan. Literally shaking the whole world. So I was inclined to believe such a thing was true. I was hopeful even, but I tried not to show it.

'besides, out of my friends, you're the only one rich enough to pay for it'

'tsk! if you're scamming me...!'

But now, I was truly here. witnessing what would be described as plainly fiction with my bare, naked eyes.

For an obscene price of 7K and that was with the beginners discount which was 25%

So I'll have to pay that much again if I'm to come back here, sigh. I can only hope I myself will encounter a trans dimensional ring to regularly bring me to this place.

Nearly stumbling on a rock tile, I'm back to reality just as we arrive at the fence gate. just then I notice Seth glaring at a location on our right.

[what is he---?]

Turning to my left, I spot a figure leap from behind the mansion into the sky...

Trying to look at it with the sun almost at its zenith would be irritation but for some reason I didn't notice before, even though the sun is bright, it's not scorching or that intense.

So I can perfectly see it...

'A KYUBI!!'

'tch! it's here' I glance at a scowling Seth. but how can you give such an expression to a creature as beautiful and mystical as this!

The white furred, fox like creature stumbles on the ground just for a bit before turning to us. I pay special detail to the deep blue tips on its tails that extend into flames--

'aren't there to be nine tails' I spurt out noticing the thing only has three tails.

'not yet, it hasn't reached maturity. it's only 45---a bratty kid...' Seth explains or complains as he slides into the house with the speedily approaching beast. it seems he's cowering now...or is he?

The bull dog sized beast suddenly leaps onto Jim and snuggles up to him.

[I want that too...]

'calm down, I've only been gone for half a day' Jim shifts the eager creature that I soooo desperately want to pet.

Jim looks at me as I continuously stare at him.

'want to hold him'

'yes I would---I mean yes' I try to control my excitement as I am about to have contact my first familiar (let's exclude those damn reptiles nd anything else before!)

Its more adorable than what I imagined. Jim plants it on me, relieved of his duties.

'don't worry, when calm the flames won't hurt you'

'ah okay'

'18 more years...' I hear him murmur with a prolonged sigh as he turns around. What does he mean?

The curios creature licks me, sending me sprawling with passion and pleasure.

[my dream for so long has finally come to reality. I shall name you Kurama!]

While I play with it, the question I've forever been asking at the back of my head since we came here becomes more pronounced.

[Who is he that he seemingly own several acres of lands and hundreds of familiars and above all, a fabled tailed beast!] I feel like I should know the answer but I've been ignoring it...or something.

Jim walks to the door and I follow after, ecstatic to wonders I will behold.

Does he something else, like a mythical Dragon wonderous slime monster that is the main star in almost all Isekai I've read?

Or are there other tailed beasts...

This is beyond a dream.

'by the way, this thing can grow more than nine tails' Jim tells me.

'huh!' it shouldn't be. that isn't...or is it?

'I heard you discussing and you maid mention of what Seth has informed me as the belief that it can only grow 9 tails. It can go all the way to 108, having lived over a thousand years by then.'

'ahh' he has opened my eyes. So is this thing more powerful then? And with the lapse of creatures which is mythical in one world but alive in another...hmm. I wonder if Seth has thought of this yet.

I suddenly notice that Kurama has begun glaring at Seth as we walk towards him.

why? I can only wonder for now.

anyway, my feet are beyond tired and once we enter the mansion, which is designed in such a way it isn't different at all from your regular villa (which is really surprising even though I've seen similar stuff in books) I'm officially welcomed by Jim into his home.

'by the way Seth. who is this person, some royal something'

'uh,' he looks back at me as he takes a rushed seat on a cushion and fetches himself a glass of water from the jar and exhales deeply. All the while, I maintain my distance as it appears Kurama is rather warry with him. I don't want to get scorched.

'you didn't notice. he's the city head'

'oh...'

I turn to look at Jim who has already disappeared somewhere...

interesting...

'he'll be back soon' Seth seems to croak out that last part.

The city head, I had a sneaking suspicion.