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November 12 1999

Nine months have passed since Areum first arrived in Korea, accompanied by Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri. She had suggested it forcefully, of course, but Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri had quickly come to realize that Areum had trained Lee Yeon when he was young, helping him grow more like experimenting if she can train a Guardian level kitsune of course she didn't say that to them.

Now, they were on the hunt for a place to stay.

Located in the heart of Seoul, hidden from the prying eyes of ordinary humans, stood a grand hotel, a haven for ghosts and supernatural creatures. In the past, it was a sanctuary for ghosts, but as its reputation grew, its clientele expanded to include supernatural beings and even intelligent monsters.The hotel, with its eerie beauty and whispered secrets.

It was known as Hotel De Luna.

The lobby buzzed with activity, a chaotic symphony of whispers, sighs, and the rustle of spectral gowns, All kinds of Ghosts flitted through the crowd, some with their translucent forms shimmering in the warm glow of the chandeliers. A mischievous imp giggled as he bumped into a bewildered spirit. A hulking ogre, adorned with glittering jewels, ambled by, his booming laughter echoing through the grand hall.

On the second floor, a gorgeous woman, the CEO Jang Man-wol, surveyed the scene,

with a glass of wine in her hand.

Her gaze, sharp as a blade, took in every detail, assessing the flow of guests and the financial prospects they presented.

She savored her success, taking a sip of the rich, velvety wine and thinking,

'I'm going to buy another new car with all this money flowing in' She smiled, remembering how difficult it was to make money in the past when even the ghosts couldn't afford to pay.

But her reverie was interrupted by a sharp voice.

"Ma'am, a guest has arrived."

The voice belonged to one of her employees, a young man named Ji Hyun Joong, who stood rigidly at attention.

"Oh, and what?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

"They wanted to rent a room for a whole week" Ji Hyun Joong said, bowing respectfully.

Jang Man-wol's interest piqued.

"Then what are you waiting for? Give them the biggest and the best room in the hotel,"

she declared, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She was already picturing the hefty sum she would earn.

"Yes, about that, there's a problem with the guest's identity," Ji Hyun Joong said, his head bowed.

Jang Man-wol's smile faltered. She assumed the employee was prejudiced against the guest's species. Humans often discriminate against their own kind, so it wasn't surprising that they would be biased against monsters and supernatural creatures.

"What about it? We accept everyone here, even humans if they have the guts to come. Now, go do your best. The guest is waiting for you," she said with a smile, patting the employee's shoulder to dismiss him. Her mind was already calculating her earnings.

"It's Lee Yeon's brother," Ji Hyun Joong said, bracing himself for whatever was about to happen.

"My friend Lee Yeon, the Yama Kitsune?" Jang Man-wol asked, her smile faltering slightly.

"Yes," Ji Hyun Joong confirmed.

"Then he only has one brother, Lee Rang," Jang Man-wol said, struggling to maintain her smile. The hotel lights flickered ominously.

The employee, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, knew what was coming.

"The one who always gets into fights? The one who destroyed many items because of the fights and never paid? That Lee Rang," Jang Man-wol said, her voice dripping with exasperation.

"Yes," Ji Hyun Joong nodded.

"YAH!" Jang Man-wol shouted, her voice echoing through the hotel. The lights flared brighter, and the floor creaked ominously. She caress her neck, frustration evident on her face.

"Why didn't you just say his name first? Are you trying to make fun of me? Is it because I'm treating you guys too well?"

She pointed a finger at the employee.

"You were never good to us," Ji Hyun Joong blurted out. He covered his mouth, realizing he had spoken out of turn.

"You, Fc-," Jang Man-wol started to curse, her anger rising.

Everyone in the lobby stopped, staring at the two, but quickly resumed their activities. The guests and employees knew their CEO had a notoriously Ill Temper.

As Jang Man-wol launched into a tirade, many of the guests and employees, especially those who were unfamiliar with the hotel's owner, were taken aback. The Sinclair couple, a pair of foreign guests, looked at each other, bewildered.

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A middle-aged man, Noh Joon-Suk, the hotel's general manager, stepped between the two, letting the employee escape first.

He was the only human working at the hotel, and he had long grown accustomed to Jang Man-wol's outbursts.

"I think you should see the guest before you make a decision," the manager explained calmly.

"Lee Rang said he has a guest with him."

"Guest? That guy probably just picked up another stray gumiho who doesn't know how to act"

Jang Man-wol said, her irritation is still evident. She couldn't believe she was missing out on the opportunity to make a fortune on Lee Rang's arrival.

"He was scared, and his face was beaten up. That says a lot," the manager stated. Even though he was half-human, Lee Rang still gotten the respect within the Korean supernatural community. He was, after all, the brother of the powerful Yama Kitsune, Lee Yeon.

Jang Man-Wol just frowned, saying nothing, her eyes scanning the lobby. She was curious. Who had the audacity to beat up Lee Rang?

Seeing her response, Noh Joon-Suk knew she had agreed.

"I'll call them for you," he stated, bowing slightly before retreating to his desk.

Jang Man-Wol started to take a sip of her wine, while thinking who got the guts to beat up Lee Rang, especially when she was a friend of his brother. Who would dare?

That's when a finger touched her shoulders. She didn't even bother to turn around. She was determined to ignore the interruption. It was a well-known fact that Jang Man-wol was not a fan of unwanted interactions, and most people, especially those who had witnessed her fiery temper, would know better than to try and engage her when she was in this mood.

But the finger lingered. She could feel it pressing against her shoulder, its touch insistent. When she realized the person wasn't backing down, she finally turned, her face contorted with irritation.

"People are really testing me today," she snarled, her voice tight with anger.

But when she saw who it was, her moth opened and her wine glass dropped

It was a woman with white hair, tall and slender, with a face that was both beautiful and dangerous. Her piercing eyes seemed to see right through her, and her lips were curved into a knowing smile. She was dressed in a long, flowing gown.

The she notice behind her was a dejected,

Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri. While nothing happened Yoo-ri, Lee Rang face was badly beaten up from training.

"Looks like the brat has grown, doesn't welcome me, huh?" A mischievous grin spread across Areum's face.

"Unnie, I didn't know it was you, otherwise, I'd have already reserved the best room for you," Jang Man-Wol said, her smile a touch strained as she opened her arms for a hug. Inside, she was thinking, 'What the hell is she doing here?'

But Areum merely patted her head with a knowing grin, her satisfaction evident.

"You've become more sensible."

'Just smile, just keep on smiling. You can't beat this Old Lady' Jang Man-Wol thought to herself, desperately trying to maintain her smile while mentally listing every insult she could think of.

"Oh, and it seems you've gotten tough too," Areum said, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she could see through Jang Man-Wol's facade.

Jang Man-wol's eyes widened.

'When did she get the power to read minds?' she wondered, a chill running down her spine.

The guests and employees were looking at the scene with a mixture of shock and curiosity.

Noticing this, Jang Man-Wol took one of Areum's arms to lead her away.

"Unnie, how about we talk in more private?"

Areum just smiled at her and nodded.

Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri followed, like good students, as Jang Man-Wol led them to her office.

As soon as they entered, Areum sat down on the couch, as did Jang Man-wol. Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri remained standing beside Areum.

"So, can you tell me why you're here?" Jang Man-wol asked, her face serious.

"Oh, you really don't welcome me? Have you forgotten how I trained you and defended you from Mago?" Areum said with a teasing smile.

"Oh, please, you were more interested in the hotel than me. I was just connected to it, and what you're calling 'defend' is more like 'robbing Mago" Jang Man Wol said, rolling her eyes.

Then, Noh Joon-Suk entered, pushing a cart with a teapot and cups. He poured tea into each cup, handing them to Jang Man-wol and Areum before bowing and exiting, closing the door quietly behind him.

They both took a sip of the tea. Areum stopped and observed Jang Man-wol, who was enjoying her tea, before dropping a bombshell of news.

"I'm pregnant."

"Achk!" Jang Man-wol spat out her tea, then started coughing. Seeing her less-than-elegant reaction, Areum nodded with satisfaction, pleased with her work.

"You? How? When? Who?" Jang Man-wol asked, unable to believe it. She didn't care about her appearance at this moment.

Until she saw Areum waving her hands, canceling an illusion that Jang Man-wol hadn't even noticed. She saw her belly protruding, proving she was pregnant.

Then, Jang Man-Wol realized something as her eyes widened.

"Are you going to give birth here? Is that why you're here?" She asked, her voice filled with horror.

She knew that giving birth was a dangerous time for supernatural creatures, their defenses weakened. Many would try to kill a pregnant supernatural creature, taking advantage of their vulnerability.

And since Areum had made so many enemies over the years, there were plenty of people who would jump at the chance to eliminate her.

Areum just looked at Jang Man-Wol up and down, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"No, you're too weak. I'm just sending these two here. They need a place to stay, as I'm leaving this guy already excited to get out."

Areum stated with a smile as she rubbed her belly with a loving look. She had learned many things from their special soul.

Then, she looked into Jang Man-Wol's eyes and continued.

"After I leave, people are going to come asking for trouble for the two of them."

Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri's faces turned grim as they realized the gravity of the situation. They had made many enemies during their travels. Without Areum's protection, they would either die or be forced into hiding.

"You really didn't change. I'll take care of it,"

Jang Man-Wol nodded. Lee Rang was still a friend, despite his annoying tendencies. Besides.

Jang Man-Wol observed Areum, her gaze lingering on the pregnant kitsune before she tried to take another sip of her tea. But before the cup reached her lips, Areum dropped another bombshell.

"Yggdrasil has started to move," Areum stated with a calm, almost bored expression as she drank her tea.

Jang Man-Wol's hand trembled as she set down her cup.

"Is the War starting again?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

She thought of the ancient war she had only heard about – a war where the gods had fallen and the world had been irrevocably changed, a world where supernatural creatures had become stronger and some humans had awakened to hidden powers. Only those who had lived through the war knew the reasons behind its start, and the secrets they held.

Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri exchanged bewildered glances, wondering if they were even supposed to be privy to this information. For them, Yggdrasil was just a myth, a whispered legend, a tale from ancient times.

"No, and yes," Areum said, smacking her lips as she savored the tea.

"Yggdrasil will start it."

"Are you guys crazy?" Jang Man-wol asked, standing up, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Areum just settled more comfortably on the couch, rubbing her belly.

"The War will start sooner or later. It's just that Yggdrasil thinks she's got a great opportunity."

Looking at Areum's pregnant belly, then back to her calm demeanor, Jang Man-wol realized the situation wasn't a coincidence. It was all part of Areum's plan.

Taking a deep breath, she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind.

"Who is the father of the child?" She hoped her friend and mentor wasn't as cruel as she feared.

Areum looked at her with a mixture of surprise and approval.

"You've gotten smarter." She paused before her face grew serious.

"Nobody. Nobody was the father."

Jang Man-Wol was perplexed.

"But you are right, that child is important," Areum confirmed her suspicion.

Jang Man-Wol felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Areum was using her child, weaponizing her pregnancy.

"Don't you think it's too much? That's just a child," Jang Man-wol said, her voice laced with despair.

Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri, who had been listening intently, wore grim expressions. They were cruel, they knew, but even they hadn't contemplated something this dark.

Areum laughed, a chilling, mirthless sound. "Hahaha, child. That's interesting." She caressed her belly, thinking about the special soul growing within.

"Yeah, you're right. He will be very special." She said this with a loving look, as if her cruelty was justified.

"That's why no other people should know I'm pregnant. He will become our hope."

Jang Man-Wol asked the inevitable question.

"Then are you just raising a weapon?"

"No, that's going to be his choice. What he's going to be" Areum said, her voice unwavering.

She knew her child wouldn't have a normal life, even if he tried. The connection to the Golden branch would require strength to protect it.

Jang Man-Wol, Lee Rang, and Kim Yoo-ri sighed with relief.

Jang Man-Wol then looked at the two, noticing their clueless expressions. "And these two? Do they even know about the war and your plans?" she asked Areum.

The other two also looked at Areum, waiting for her answer.

"Nope, they don't even know anything. It's just that, with my observations, without knowing, this guy loves his brother so much, he'll join us. His brother will join too," Areum stated with a smirk.

"Hey, I don't love him. I hate him," Lee Rang shouted.

Jang Man-Wol started laughing while Kim Yoo-ri had a small smile on her lips.

Looking at their faces, Lee Rang knew they weren't believing him.

"Even if he joins you guys, I won't be joining, and Yoo-ri will go with me," Lee Rang said, looking at Yoo-ri, who nodded in agreement.

"It's too late," Areum said. "I've already informed other factions that you joined us."

"What? When? I didn't agree with it," Lee Rang said in disbelief, his voice laced with panic.

"Oh, poor kid, you did," Jang Man-wol said with a smirk.

"When you started making trouble with her on your trip, you were already counted as a member by the enemy. You're a marked man now. What a sly fox," Jang Man-Wol thought, her gaze fixed on Areum.

Areum just grinned, her expression telling them that she always got what she wanted.

Next chapter 11: Boom!