The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 12

Crack.

An unbearable pain swept over me as all the joints in my body twisted and my bones felt like they were growing in an instant.

I writhed in pain that felt like every muscle in my body was being torn to shreds.

A white mist rose from my entire body. The mist enveloped me and then disappeared.

I dazedly lowered my gaze. The soft white fur had disappeared, revealing smooth, jade-like skin.

The bushy tail was gone, and long, slender legs were visible. My waist straightened, and long silver hair flowed, wrapping around my body.

Instead of fluffy paws, I saw thin, white hands.

I, I’ve become human?

I thought I’d become a child since I was a baby fox, but surprisingly, I now had a woman’s body.

“Shushu….. Could it be?”

As I turned my gaze dazedly, Karden was watching me with astonished eyes.

When our eyes met, he hurriedly turned his head away.

With his face turned, he wrapped a bed sheet around my shoulders.

Ah! Belatedly, I realized I wasn’t wearing anything. My face turned bright red in an instant.

I screamed and wrapped myself tightly in the bed sheet, burying my reddened face.

Karden seemed just as confused; he brushed back his disheveled bangs and let out a light sigh.

“It seems you’ve become human after consuming my mana.”

I don’t know what to do.

My head was spinning and tangled with embarrassment, so I kept my face buried and just wiggled my toes under the sheet.

“Shushu, are you alright?”

A large hand approached my head.

Karden’s hand brushed my fallen silver hair behind my ear. Unable to bear the ticklish feeling, my shoulders hunched up.

Thump thump thump.

My heart started beating frantically. Why am I trembling like this?

“Look at me, Shushu.”

Drawn by the deep, low voice, I unconsciously raised my head. Karden’s eyes looking down at me were gently curved.

The silver hair flowing through his fingers shimmered softly.

His hand slowly cupped my cheek.

Habits are scary things. When his warm, large palm touched my face, I nuzzled it like I did as a baby fox.

Then, I felt his body stiffen.

What’s this, did I make a mistake?

“You really…”

You’re driving me crazy. A low groan-like murmur was added between his teeth.

Karden’s touch brushed past my cheek and caressed my ear. He whispered in a low voice near my ear.

“Call my name.”

As if enchanted, I looked up at him and moved my lips.

Just as I was about to call his name, my vision turned hazy.

The world started spinning, and strength drained from my entire body.

“Ah…?!”

My human body shrank in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, I returned to being a baby fox.

I poked my face out from under the bed sheet.

This is driving me crazy. How did I turn back into a fox in less than a minute?

Upset, I pounded the bed sheet with my tiny front paws.

I finally became human, and now this? It’s so unfair!

As I puffed up my cheeks and huffed, a burst of laughter erupted behind me.

I turned around to see Karden covering his mouth, his shoulders shaking.

I glared at him fiercely.

“Are you laughing at me?”

For a moment, Karden and I looked at each other. Did I just…

Our gazes collided in mid-air. His surprised eyes were trembling.

“Did I speak?”

“Shushu, can you speak human language?”

My mouth fell open in amazement and surprise.

“Kyaa? Really! I can speak!”

Excited and amazed, I bounced up and down on the bed. Karden also looked at me with a surprised expression.

But it didn’t make sense.

How can I suddenly speak human language overnight?

I might be a fox beastman, but to change without warning? Isn’t something wrong? Maybe there’s something wrong with my body.

Quickly becoming anxious, I spun around on the bed.

“Huh? This is strange. Why can I suddenly speak? There’s nothing wrong, right?”

“Shushu, calm down. It’s alright.”

Karden caught my small body. He stared at me with a serious expression.

“Earlier, when you absorbed my mana, you briefly became human.”

“That’s right.”

“It seems you gained the ability to speak in the process.”

“Kyang?”

Could it be… A hypothesis flashed through my mind like lightning.

Does that mean the more mana I eat, the longer I can stay human?

Oh my, I don’t need to look far.

Right in front of me is the legendary item that can turn me into a human, not mugwort and garlic, but Karden’s mana.

I looked up at Karden.

To others, I might look like a hungry wild beast.

Hehe, from now on, the villain is my prey.

“…so according to my reasoning, we should carefully consider this issue from now on… Are you listening to me?”

“Kyang?”

Oops, I wasn’t listening to Karden’s serious talk because I was lost in thought.

I tilted my head, pretending I hadn’t heard. Karden let out a light sigh and patted my back.

“I’ll order Ron to investigate your transformation into a human and your ability to speak. Until we find a clear cause, I’m prohibiting you from absorbing my mana for the time being.”

“Eh? Why, why?”

What a bolt from the blue.

I’ve finally found a living elixir that can turn me into a human!

I should be sucking mana every day, and it still wouldn’t be enough!

“We don’t know what effect the mana has on you. We need to consider the possibility of side effects. Wait, Shushu.”

“Yes, yes?”

“You’re drooling.”

Oops. I hurriedly looked down to see my drool dripping onto the bed sheet.

The thought of eating Karden’s mana made me salivate reflexively.

I raised my tail in surprise.

“Th-this is because I’m hungry. I was thinking about the jerky I left unfinished yesterday…”

“It’s morning, so you must be hungry. Let’s discuss this issue later. We should have breakfast first.”

“Kyang.”

I nodded with my front paws together. Not being able to eat mana for a while made my tail droop automatically.

Karden looked at me with pitying eyes and patted my head.

“Don’t worry too much. Above all, your safety is what’s important.”

Karden thinks I’m worried about the side effects of mana. I’m actually thinking about how I can eat more mana.

For now, let’s go along with Karden’s words.

I swallowed a fake cough and decided to speak as politely and properly as possible.

When I was a baby fox, I called Karden casually in my mind, but now that I can speak human language, I should use honorifics, right? He is the Grand Duke of the Northern Castle, after all.

“Grand Duke, thank you. For saving me from the water earlier.”

I looked up at Karden and spoke clearly.

He froze with a blank expression, then brushed his bangs back and covered his face with his palm.

Ah… His ears turned slightly red.

Could it be that he likes it?

Feeling mischievous, I smiled wickedly.

“Grand Duke?”

“Ha… Shushu, that’s enough. I need to adjust to you speaking as well.”

Karden patted my head and stood up.

“I’ll tell Betty to bring you some soup. Rest for now.”

“Okay.”

Just then, there was a knock at the bedroom door, and Maildra and Betty entered.

“Your Grace, I’ve had the healer wait outside the door.”

Seeing the two of them, I jumped off the bed in one leap, happy to see them.

“Oh? It’s the Aide and Betty!”

The titles came out naturally.

Maildra and Betty froze for a moment upon hearing my voice.

Maildra looked at me blankly, as if dumbfounded.

“Um, Your Grace. Did Shushu really speak?”

I went up to Maildra, wagging my tail.

“Hello, Aide.”

It was just a greeting, but Maildra was overcome with emotion, his eyes glistening with tears.

“Thank you, God. To receive a greeting from Lady Shushu. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

“What? Um?”

Beyond emotion, Maildra looked like he was about to kneel and pray to God.

Karden calmly spoke to Maildra.

“The healer is not needed. Fortunately, Shushu has stabilized.”

“That’s truly a relief.”

Maildra sighed in relief, stroking his chest.

“Maildra, call Captain Burke and Ron. I’m convening a meeting immediately.”

A meeting in the middle of the night? Isn’t he exploiting his subordinates too much?

I glanced at Karden incredulously, but his expression was stiff. Why is he in such a bad mood again?

Karden gestured to Betty, who was still standing in a daze, shocked.

“Betty, take care of Shushu’s meal.”

“Yes? Understood, Your Grace.”

Betty hurriedly picked me up and headed to the drawing room connected to the bedroom. I poked my head out slightly to look toward Karden.

He was talking to Maildra with a serious expression, then turned his gaze towards me.

His eyes, dark like the deep sea, stared at me as if piercing through me.

Did he catch me peeking? Feeling guilty for no reason, I wriggled and hid in Betty’s arms.