The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 19
After Karden entered the corridor alone, his remaining subordinates were consumed with guilt. Burke and Maildra were the ones who rallied them.
“Focus! We need to establish defensive positions until His Grace returns!”
“There’s no time. Move quickly!”
The atmosphere changed in an instant. The knights formed defensive lines with their shields, and Ron began casting protective magic circles.
Owen was also checking weapons with the other knights.
Everyone was so busy that no one paid attention to me.
Now’s my chance! I quickly darted into the corridor.
I was worried about being spotted because of my white fur, but the darkness concealed me.
By now, Karden’s light was far ahead, like the only beacon illuminating the dark passage.
I gritted my teeth and moved my short legs with all my might.
I didn’t know what was waiting at the end of that darkness.
But whatever it was, I didn’t want to let Karden face it alone.
How long had I been running?
At the end of the darkness-shrouded corridor stood Karden.
He set the lamp down on the floor, and the faint light at his feet flickered as if about to go out.
Before Karden was a wide-open door. Beyond it was nothing but pitch darkness. It was bizarre and terrifying, like a door to the bottomless abyss of hell.
“Grrrr…”
An enraged beast’s growl echoed eerily.
It made every hair on my body stand on end.
Simultaneously, clank, clank. The sound of chains dragging across the floor could be heard.
A figure gradually emerged from beyond the open door. But Karden remained motionless, standing still. He hadn’t even drawn his sword.
Just watching made me anxious.
Whether it’s a monster or whatever, shouldn’t he attack right now?! Why is he standing there so blankly?!
Finally, a man emerged through the darkness.
Disheveled and dirty hair, clothes torn to rags. His long fingernails and hands were covered in red blood.
His red eyes, gleaming through black hair, were filled with madness.
When I saw his face fully revealed under the light, I was shocked.
The distinct scar on his forehead and the middle-aged man who resembled Karden.
It was definitely Bert Helleide from the portrait. The former Grand Duke who had died, Karden’s uncle.
This can’t be. How can a dead person be here?!
A heart-freezing terror washed over me.
Moreover, Uncle Bert was now in a state of magical rampage. Like a beast that had lost all human reason.
Upon discovering Karden before him, Bert let out a growl like a starving beast.
“Grrrr!”
Bert raised his blood-stained hands and swung them at Karden.
“Your Grace, watch out!”
Karden, who had been standing like a statue, calmly stepped back. Bert’s hand narrowly missed him, slicing through empty air.
“Graagh!”
Frustrated at missing his target, Bert wildly swung both arms. But he couldn’t advance another step.
Clank, clank.
Looking closely, thick shackles were fastened to Bert’s wrists and ankles, connected to heavy chains.
The chains must have been fixed somewhere in the room, as Bert couldn’t rush forward.
Ah, what a relief. He’s restrained.
Only then did I collapse in relief.
“Shushu, why did you follow me here?”
A cold voice echoed in my ears.
Karden was suddenly standing before me, looking down.
“It’s dangerous for you to go alone, Your Grace. I’m the only one who can stop you when you go berserk. I need to go wherever you go.”
“Sigh, I told you to stay with the knights because it’s dangerous.”
When Karden spoke threateningly while furrowing his brow, I felt anger rising.
I followed to help. And besides, Karden was the one who deceived me from the start.
I raised my tail straight up and bristled all my fur.
“Is that what’s important right now? Why did you hide that your uncle was alive?”
Karden’s expression instantly hardened. Had I hit the core issue?
His gaze turned back to his uncle.
Bert continued to thrash about trying to attack, not recognizing his nephew.
“Grrrr!”
He was writhing violently like a blood-starved beast trying to tear apart its prey.
Karden observed this calmly.
His profile was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with deep anguish and guilt. Enough to constrict my heart just watching.
“Uncle’s official cause of death was illness.”
“He died from illness? Why such a lie…?”
“We heads of House Helleide have only two paths of fate. Die fighting magical beasts, or die from illness. That illness refers to the symptoms of magical power going berserk.”
“Ah…”
“The human body cannot handle powerful magic for long. Though Helleide men are born with strong bodies, even they weaken with age. Eventually, their magic goes berserk, they lose their reason and become beasts hungry for blood. When they become monsters, we record them as deceased and imprison them in the West Pavilion – that is the law of our house.”
Karden stared into his uncle’s eyes before him.
Bert bared his teeth, showing intense hostility. As if he would tear out Karden’s throat at any moment.
“It’s funny. After fighting magical beasts our whole lives, we end up becoming magical beasts ourselves in the end.”
Karden twisted his red lips into a bitter sneer.
He gripped his sword handle.
Shing.
As he unsheathed it, light burst forth from within the sword handle.
Karden raised the sword to eye level. His face reflected in the sharply honed blade.
His face in the blade was filled with desperate resolution and determination.
“Your Grace! What are you doing?”
My heart sank. What are you doing with that sword!
I rushed to block his path.
“Move aside. This is my duty.”
“Duty?”
“When the previous Grand Duke becomes a monster due to magical rampage, the next Grand Duke preserves their honor. This is the blood duty shouldered by the head of House Helleide.”
“Ah…”
Such a cruel fate. Having to take the life of your own blood with your own hands.
“No, this isn’t right. There must be another way!”
I shook my head vigorously and pleaded desperately.
I didn’t want Karden to be left with such pain. I could understand the feelings with which he drew his sword.
He stared at his uncle with bloodshot eyes, unwavering.
No, the person who was once his uncle, now a beast who had lost all reason and thirsted for blood.
“Uncle… was my teacher. He taught me the sword, how to lead the knights, how to protect the Northern Fort and serve the kingdom loyally.”
Karden bit his lower lip. Blood droplets showed between his lips.
“Uncle was a respected great warrior and hero who saved the nation. It is my duty to protect his noble soul from being defiled by my own hands.”
Smelling blood, Bert convulsed, trembling all over. He swung both hands trying to grab Karden.
“Graaah!”
Karden slowly angled his sword and took a step forward.
“Great light of House Helleide, may you rest in peace.”
The blade flashed through the darkness.
At that moment, I leaped high into the air.
Before Karden’s blade could reach, I bit down hard on Bert’s hand.
“Shushu! Dangerous!”
I heard Karden’s startled voice, but I sank my teeth into Bert’s hand with all my might.
Then his rampaging magic beneath his veins instantly flowed into my body.
The berserk magic whirled inside me like dark red lava and hot fire.
“Kyaang!”
It was almost unbearable for my small body. But I didn’t let go of Bert’s hand until the end.
When Bert let out a roar and tried to grab me, Karden caught his wrist and restrained him from moving.
Not missing that chance, I swallowed the magic whole. The magic-like burning fire instantly surged into my stomach.
The rampaging magic transformed into a powerful force upon entering me, and that power began welling up from every corner of my body.
My bones crackled as they grew, white fur changed into long silver hair. Round paws lengthened and changed into slender hands.
“Are you alright, Shushu?”
Karden cried out urgently and wrapped his cloak around my body.
I had instantly transformed into human form and collapsed there as my legs gave out.
Karden reached out and pulled me into his arms. His firm embrace and warmth made me feel at ease.
I looked up at Karden while catching my breath.
“Haa… Your Grace. Is Bert alright?”
Only then did Karden turn his gaze while holding me.
Bert, whose hand I had bitten, had also fallen to his knees. His head was bowed and his whole body seemed to have lost strength, going limp.
Karden carefully opened his mouth.
“Uncle.”
It was a single word filled with desperate emotion, like a child calling for their parents for the first time.
As if answering that call, Bert slowly raised his head.
Through the disheveled black hair, his eyes shone clearly. Blue eyes identical to Karden’s.
“Ka-Karden… my nephew.”
