The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 25
Ron pointed to where a corner of the magic circle engraved on the stockade was damaged.
It looked like it had been scratched away by sharp claws.
Ron examined the damaged magic circle and stomped his feet in distress.
“The defensive magic circle is powerful and can’t be easily broken. Who could have done this?”
“This wasn’t done by a mage. Look carefully at how the magic circle was damaged. These are claw marks.”
Ron stared at the marks on the magic circle and spoke with a dejected expression.
“But monsters take fatal damage just by getting close to the wall, how could they damage the magic circle?”
The claw marks engraved on the damaged magic circle looked familiar.
I carefully looked down at my paws. Hook-like claws hidden under fluffy white fur. Though those claw marks were much larger, they resembled my claws.
My heart sank. Could the fox tribe be responsible for damaging the magic circle? But why?
“I’ll restore the magic circle first. Everyone, please step back.”
Ron began chanting with both hands extended forward. Fantastic light flowed along the magic circle.
The magic circle engraved on the stockade glowed as if given new life.
When Ron waved his arms, the magic circle flashed red and the powerful defensive magic was revived.
At the same time, I felt suffocated. It felt like an enormous force was pressing down on me.
I wanted to get far away from the wall quickly, but I couldn’t show it for fear others would find it strange.
Ron wiped his cold sweat with his sleeve and spoke.
“Your Grace. It’s done. It should be safe now.”
“Good work, Ron.”
After encouraging Ron, Karden turned to Maildra.
“Maildra, search around the wall. Report immediately if you find any unusual traces.”
“I’ll follow your orders.”
“We’ll join the defense force in the forest.”
I curled up in Karden’s arms, breathing heavily. The magic circle was pressing down on me, making it difficult to even breathe.
Karden gently stroked my head and gave me a worried look.
“Shushu, you don’t look well. What’s wrong?”
I looked up at Karden with round eyes. I tried to act cheerful while slightly wagging my tail.
“I’m fine.”
“Alright. Let’s go to the forest now.”
Karden pulled the reins to turn the horse around. As we got further from the wall, I could feel the pressure from the magic circle weakening.
Finally, the oppressive force disappeared and I felt lighter.
Though I was relieved, questions remained. Why do I struggle just being near magic circles that block monsters? Just what is the true identity of this baby fox?
Leaving these doubts behind, we headed toward the nearby forest past the wall.
***
The snow-covered winter forest was quiet.
The rows of evergreen trees, over 30 meters tall, looked like giant guardians of a winter kingdom.
Bang! Bang!
The sound of soldiers chopping trees with axes filled the forest. Soon, the sound of trees hitting the ground echoed.
Captain Burke shouted words of encouragement to the soldiers.
“Our mission is to repair the stockade! Stay alert! If you don’t want to become monster dinner, focus on your axe work!”
Seemingly moved by Burke’s passionate speech, the soldiers gritted their teeth and started chopping.
That’s not encouragement, it’s a threat. They’re more likely to die from Burke than monsters.
I felt sorry for the soldiers working like forced laborers.
What era is this to treat people so roughly?
I raised my tail high and boldly stepped in front of Burke. When Burke, who had been glaring at the soldiers, noticed me, his expression immediately brightened.
“Ah, our cute Shushu is here?”
Burke’s rough voice became as soft as a spring breeze.
Captain, the temperature difference between how you treat the soldiers and me is too extreme.
I opened my eyes wide, perked up my ears, and tapped the ground with my front paws while shouting sharply.
“Kyaang! Stop bullying the soldiers!”
My powerful cry made Burke’s huge frame freeze stiff.
“Kyaaang! No food and working since dawn! That’s too much!”
As I protested strongly, Burke became flustered and didn’t know what to do.
He crouched down his massive body and pleaded with me desperately.
“Shushu, calm down. There’s a reason for all this.”
“Kyaang! Let the soldiers rest! We’re all just trying to make a living!”
The soldiers looked bewildered, glancing back and forth between me and Burke. Everyone was trying to hold back their laughter at the sight of the big, intimidating knight captain cowering before a cotton ball of a fox.
“Shushu, calm down.”
Karden picked me up and gently scratched my back to soothe me.
“Let go, I won’t stand for this!”
But Karden’s touch was too addictive to resist.
His skilled hands scratching just the right spots turned me into a gentle lamb.
“Knight Captain, have the soldiers pause work and take a break.”
“Pardon?”
At Karden’s order, Burke scratched the back of his head awkwardly and carefully spoke.
“Commander. My apologies, but we must complete logging before sunset. We don’t have enough time.”
“What’s the problem? If the soldiers rest, you can do it. Have the knights do the logging instead.”
“Eh? Ah, understood.”
Though Burke was taken aback, like a loyal knight, he immediately grabbed an axe. He shouted roughly at the soldiers.
“Everyone take a 30-minute break! I’ll do the work, so rest well!”
The soldiers murmured in confusion at the sudden break order. They seemed unsure if they could really rest.
“It’s alright, we’ll continue working.”
“Know that this is thanks to Shushu, you lot. When I say rest, you rest!”
Burke shouted threateningly and stepped forward with his axe. He began cutting trees with powerful shouts.
Karden set me down on a tree stump.
“Stay here quietly. I should join the logging work too.”
“Your Grace will do it personally?”
“If my companion fox wishes it, I should help.”
Wait, I think I just heard something incredible.
I lifted my nose and glared at Karden.
Calling me a companion fox without permission. I have no intention of becoming a pet.
I tried to threaten him by baring my fangs, but Karden was already standing in front of a tree with an axe.
With his sleeves rolled up, he began swinging the axe. His massive arm muscles rippled.
Thwack! Thwack! Crash!
After just a few strikes, the trunk of the giant tree snapped and fell to the ground.
I was shocked by Karden’s superhuman strength which exceeded normal human capabilities.
The soldiers gathered around Karden like spectators, exclaiming in admiration.
“To see the Grand Duke personally logging, this is unprecedented.”
Maildra had appeared beside me at some point, crouching down. When our eyes met, he gave a kind smile.
“Lady Shushu is changing the Grand Duke.”
“Kyaung? I don’t really see it.”
As Commander Karden took the lead in logging, the soldiers’ morale improved.
After their break, the soldiers chopped trees with renewed vigor and began moving the cut logs to the wall. The stockade repair work took half a day.
During that time, I sat on a tree stump watching the loggers work, trying not to get in their way.
I noticed Owen chopping wood in front of a tree.
He set down his axe briefly to wipe the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, slightly damp, with sweat running down his forehead. Rosy lips beneath his straight, sharp nose exhaled heavy breaths.
Indeed, a blonde young man sweating is beautiful.
Owen waved at me with a refreshing smile.
“Shushu, be a good girl and wait there.”
“Do your best, Owen!”
Just as I was enthusiastically wagging my tail to cheer him on, a dark shadow fell over me.
Oh no, I let my guard down! I was so captivated by Owen’s beauty that I forgot my animal instincts.
Since becoming a fox, I could immediately sense someone’s presence even from far away.
“Shushu, who are you wagging your tail for?”
A cold voice struck from behind me. I stiffly turned my head.
Karden was looking down at me with a chilly gaze, a huge axe resting on his shoulder.
Why are you giving me triangle eyes? Like catching a lover cheating.
I was just wagging my tail to cheer Owen on.
Karden’s hand reached toward my head. His palm was red and swollen, probably from axe work.
While other soldiers wore leather gloves, Karden seemed to have gotten abrasions from working bare-handed.
Ouch, that must hurt. I licked his palm with my tongue. Instantly, the scratches on his palm disappeared and returned to normal.
Karden stared at me blankly, then ran his fingers through his bangs and covered his face with his palm.
But I definitely saw it.
Before he hid his face with his hand, his satisfied expression.
“This cotton ball is truly fox-like. I can’t win.”
