The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 37
Moonlight crept through the window into the darkness-conquered room, rippling all the way to the bed.
Under the vivid moonlight stood Franz in his human form, a silver-haired young man. He had a tall stature and sleek build, with a sharp jawline and elegant eyes.
He was wearing pure white clothes, which were his silver fur transformed into clothing.
Franz’s gaze stopped at the basket on the bed. Inside the basket, a cotton-ball fox was curled up asleep.
Next to the basket, Karden was sleeping in a perfectly straight position.
Franz quietly approached the bed and knelt down. His eyes were filled with deep affection as he looked at Shushu.
Just as he carefully reached out his hand toward the small cotton ball breathing steadily,
“Stop. That’s far enough.”
A low, deep voice stopped Franz’s hand. Karden was sitting askew on the bed, having woken up at some point.
“You might wake Shushu. As a fox, you should know how light of a sleeper she is.”
Karden said in a low voice, slightly furrowing his brow.
Franz’s fine features crumpled in displeasure. Though annoyed, he obediently stepped back. As frustrating as it was, this man was right.
He couldn’t wake Shushu who had just fallen asleep.
Karden observed Franz, then shifted his gaze to the sleeping Shushu.
“You’ve transformed completely into a human. Shushu seems to be small in size and unable to transform perfectly into human at will. Is there perhaps a health issue?”
Karden’s question carried worry and concern for Shushu.
Franz didn’t like seeing this arrogant human worry about Shushu.
Grand Duke Karden Helleide. The commander protecting the borderlands and the human with the most powerful magical force.
After coming to the borderlands, he had extensively cleared out magical beasts, making the surrounding areas peaceful and safe.
Thanks to that, Franz’s fox tribe could also live without fear of being attacked by magical beasts.
Franz knew well. This man was a great hero and powerful conqueror.
But he couldn’t understand why such a person would bring Shushu here and take such devoted care of her. Just what was this man’s purpose?
“Hey, Grand Duke.”
Franz glared at Karden. Karden, who had been watching Shushu, lifted his head indifferently.
“What do you think of Shushu?”
Karden looked down at Franz with lowered eyes and an arrogant expression.
“Why should I tell you?”
His low, deep voice carried weight. An invisible force pressed down on Franz.
‘This bastard, he’s releasing magical force!’
Franz glared at Karden with murderous intent while using all his strength to block the magical force.
“I’m asking as her kin. If you intend to harm Shushu, I will never forgive you.”
Karden’s brow furrowed, and instantly the magical force disappeared.
Franz finally felt relief from the pressure that had been crushing his entire body.
“She is my companion fox.”
“What, you think of Shushu as just a pet!”
When Franz burst out in anger, Karden clicked his tongue. His attitude clearly showed he was reluctantly dealing with a youngster.
“Don’t you know what companion means?”
Karden’s steel-blue eyes gleamed coldly.
“I said it clearly. Shuvelia is my companion.”
Franz gritted his teeth. The commanding voice with an arrogant attitude. The power and composure of a ruler standing at the apex in a world of survival of the fittest.
This was Karden Helleide.
‘To think such a person would be as docile as a toothless beast next to Shushu.’
The oppressive force emanating from Karden’s body was suffocating. Franz clenched his teeth in what seemed like a final act of resistance and protested in a low voice.
“Companion? Are you in your right mind? Shushu is a fox shapeshifter. I heard humans don’t marry other species.”
“What’s the problem?”
Karden remained completely unfazed. Instead, Franz couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.
“You really are a crazy human.”
The corner of Karden’s mouth twisted upward.
“I have no choice. Shushu is my only remaining option.”
“What?”
“You can feel it too, can’t you? The magical force within me.”
Franz swallowed hard.
“Yes. I’ve never seen a human with such powerful magical force. How can a human body withstand such magic?”
“That’s why our Helleide family has been short-lived for generations.”
Karden muttered self-deprecatingly.
“This magical force is both our family’s curse and blessing. Through powerful magic, we could obtain immense power, wealth, and honor. But when we age and can no longer control the magic, we eventually go mad and die thrashing about.”
“The weak human body probably can’t withstand the magic. At best, it might last 40 years.”
Karden nodded at Franz’s words.
“Yes. I can’t control the magic perfectly. My hunting of magical beasts in the borderlands is just a survival method to release magic. I’ve received treatment from countless healers and priests, but it was useless.”
Karden’s gaze turned to the cotton-ball fox sleeping in the basket. His eyes were filled with admiration and wonder, like someone looking at sunlight.
“Only Shushu could calm my magic. Just by having her beside me… the magic boiling in my blood settles down.”
“Ah, so that was it. That’s why you keep Shushu by your side.”
Franz let out a hollow laugh. He glared at Karden as he continued speaking.
“Though it’s hard to stomach your talk about companionship, damn it. Your magical force is absolutely necessary for Shushu.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Karden’s brow instantly furrowed. He quietly stood up, careful not to disturb the bed.
“Let’s move elsewhere. We might wake Shushu.”
Franz also obediently followed Karden. They shouldn’t disturb her sleep by talking next to her.
Moving to the drawing room beside the bedroom, Karden and Franz sat facing each other across a table.
Franz anxiously bit his thumb.
“Shushu has the ability to absorb magical force. It’s a mutation that occurs in the Ulpes tribe. She needs to absorb magic regularly. Only then can she grow into an adult and achieve human transformation. It’s the only way to prevent her soul from collapsing.”
“What are you saying? Soul collapse?”
“It’s a side effect. If she doesn’t absorb magic in time, she’ll try to absorb life force as a withdrawal symptom. Whether it’s from her own kind, humans, or anything else.”
“Is that true?”
“That’s why I was traveling across the continent with Shushu, hunting magical beasts and having her absorb their magic. That was the only way to protect Shushu.”
Franz let out a bitter smile before raising his head to stare at Karden.
“Now I see that beside you, with your powerful magic, would be safest. She can receive magic regularly.”
Karden leaned back against the sofa diagonally and spoke calmly while resting his chin on his hand.
“So I become Shushu’s food.”
“Well, something like that.”
Franz shrugged. His eyes glaring at Karden flickered with cunning and cruelty.
“You agree to become Shushu’s food, don’t you?”
“Yes. Willingly.”
Karden answered without a moment’s hesitation. Instead, he pulled up the corners of his mouth as if satisfied.
Franz’s face contorted after seeing Karden’s smile.
“You really are unpleasant. To be happy about becoming food.”
Franz gritted his teeth while clasping his hands together.
“Grand Duke Karden. I’m insanely envious and jealous of you. I can’t help or save Shushu. But I will definitely grow stronger and come back for her. Until then, I’m temporarily leaving her with you, her food. Remember that.”
Franz growled threateningly, baring his teeth. Silver light flickered from his body.
Karden watched Franz with a cold smile on his lips, as if watching a fierce cat.
“Let’s make a deal, Franz.”
“What? What kind of deal?”
“Teach Shushu what she needs to know as a fox shapeshifter. There are no shapeshifters in the Northern Castle, so we can’t teach her what she needs to know as one. You teach Shushu and then leave. In return, I’ll guarantee the safety of the Ulpes tribe. Those are my terms.”
Franz snorted and spoke sarcastically.
“We protect our own tribe. Do we look so weak that we need protection from humans?”
“I… when I learned that Shushu had been abandoned by the Ulpes tribe, I considered exterminating the entire tribe.”
“You bastard!”
Franz jumped up from his chair. His silver eyes glowed with anger, and his silver hair fluttered.
Karden calmly stared at Franz with an arrogant attitude.
“But they’re her only kin. If I did that, she would hate me forever.”
“Kugh!”
Franz trembled uncontrollably with rage, his fists tightly clenched. He spoke through gritted teeth.
“Shushu is my kin. Teaching and training her is my duty. It’s not your concern.”
“Deal settled then.”
Karden pulled up the corners of his mouth, looking satisfied.
