The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 38
Chirp chirp. Tweet tweet. Chirp chirp. Tweet tweet.
The next morning, warm sunlight mercilessly pierced my eyelids, and the noisy cries of birds could be heard.
“Kyaung!”
I stood up abruptly, putting strength into my short legs.
Forgetting my morning fur grooming routine, I jumped out of the basket and scurried to my room.
The bed where Franz should have been lying was empty.
“Don’t tell me this guy ran off again?”
I sniffed earnestly with my small nose. Franz’s scent definitely lingered faintly.
Just then, Betty came in carrying a basin with washing water.
“Oh, Lady Shushu. Did you sleep well? Good morning.”
“Kyang. Betty. Do you know where Franz went?”
“Ah, he went to the training grounds with His Grace.”
I had to doubt my ears at Betty’s words. Did I hear that wrong?
“They went to train together? They didn’t fight or yell at each other?”
“No. They seemed to be getting along well.”
What in the world is going on? Yesterday’s mortal enemies became training buddies overnight.
Betty quickly washed me, dried me, and brushed my fur. Then she tied a purple lace ribbon around my neck.
“Shall I prepare breakfast?”
“Yes. I’d like that. Please.”
Betty nodded, then her eyes sparkled as if discovering something.
“Oh my, you’ve grown a bit!”
“Really?”
I felt happy hearing I’d grown a little. I bounced up and down in place while asking,
“How much do you think I’ve grown, Betty?”
Betty examined me carefully and held out her palm to estimate.
“About this much?”
It barely seemed like I’d grown at all.
I narrowed my eyes and looked up at Betty with a suspicious gaze.
Betty covered her mouth with her hand, seeming embarrassed.
“Hoho, you’ve grown since you first came here. Really!”
I stood in front of the full-length mirror.
Looking at my front view, side view, spinning around to see my plump bottom…
No matter how I looked at it, I was a perfect round cotton ball. Like a rice cake. Like a soft steamed bun.
Still with white fluffy fur, short round legs, and a chubby pink belly.
Wa-wait a minute!
Lightning struck my head. Don’t tell me I’m not just fluffy… but fat?
Even for a baby fox, I’m too plump.
Just look at Franz with his sleek and elegant figure, while I’m rolling around like a ball.
Have I gotten fat from being practically domesticated here, eating three meals a day plus snacks without fail?
“Did you get fat?”
“Kyang!”
I jumped in surprise at the sudden whisper in my ear.
Franz, who had transformed into human form, was standing behind me in the mirror with a playful smile, though I hadn’t noticed when he arrived.
“Don’t tease me! I’m growing!”
When I shouted angrily, Franz knelt on one knee and patted my head.
“You’re right. You need to eat well to grow well. When you were younger, you were so skinny and your fur wasn’t in good condition, you looked quite shabby.”
Franz’s gaze was gentle as he looked at me, but somehow seemed sad.
“You’ve been loved so much… I’m glad.”
The silver eyes looking down at me were rippling with longing, sadness, and guilt.
Franz’s hand hesitated as it was about to caress my face.
Franz closed his eyes and opened them again.
The sadness that was felt just moments ago was gone. He put his hands on his hips and shouted.
“How long has it been since sunrise and you’re still being lazy? Have you lost your wild nature living with humans?”
“Kyang, I have my own way of doing things! What have you been doing since dawn?”
“I went rabbit hunting.”
Seeing Franz speak so casually, my legs trembled.
In my mind, I pictured small cotton-ball-like rabbits peacefully nibbling on grass.
The scary fox’s eyes stared at the rabbit from beyond the bushes.
“What? Don’t tell me you caught cute rabbits?”
Franz nodded as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“Yeah. Had them for breakfast.”
“Kyaang! You’re cruel, you murderer!”
I hit Franz’s chest with my small paws. Franz snorted in disbelief.
“It’s natural for foxes to catch and eat rabbits. Shushu, if you only eat food given by humans, you’ll really become a pet. Wake up.”
Franz crossed his arms and looked me over as if I was hopeless.
“This won’t do. From today, we’re starting special hunting training. It’s a disgrace that a fox of the Ulpes tribe can’t even catch one rabbit.”
“Who says? Anyway, once I achieve human transformation, I’m going to live as a human, not a fox.”
When I growled showing my teeth, Franz’s expression changed to that of an annoying older brother looking at his immature little sister.
“To fully achieve human transformation, you need training. It doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t you remember?”
“I don’t know. You’re the ones who erased my memories.”
When I glared at Franz with resentful eyes, he sighed and swept his silver hair back.
Though his tone and behavior were irritating, his appearance was that of a surprisingly beautiful young man.
“Haa, since it’s the tribe’s fault, I suppose I should take responsibility. Listen carefully. To achieve human transformation, you need training. Your physical and mental strength must grow in harmony.”
“Kyaung. Is the training very hard? I hate anything difficult.”
I was already lying on the floor, grooming my fur with my tongue.
Even as a human, I only did breathing exercises, so how could I train now that I’m a fox? No way.
Franz looked at me as if I was hopeless.
“You’ve become such a spoiled brat because the Grand Duke pampers you too much.”
I pouted and turned my head away sharply.
“Whatever. I’m going to eat.”
“Where do you think you’re going? A fox that doesn’t hunt shouldn’t eat, don’t you know the rules?”
Suddenly, white smoke surrounded the area, and Franz transformed into a large silver fox. He gently caught my scruff in his mouth.
“Let go, kyaang! Let go!”
I struggled to escape from his mouth, but it was useless.
“Grrrr, you little one, you need special training.”
“Kyaang! Why are you deciding things on your own? I won’t do it!”
Franz carried me in his mouth and left the Grand Duke’s residence like the wind. His speed was surprisingly fast.
The sound of wind was loud in my ears, and the scenery before my eyes changed rapidly.
To be honest, I thought I was going to die of fear. I was worried he might accidentally drop me.
And so, I was forcibly carried by my scruff to the training grounds.
Franz threw me in the middle of the training grounds, then suddenly ran toward the training grounds’ dining hall.
“Hey, where are you going?”
At the training grounds, there were soldiers doing their morning training, running or practicing swordsmanship. The soldiers gathered around murmuring, wondering what was happening.
Shortly after, there was a loud noise from behind the dining hall.
C**k-a-doodle-doo! It was the sound of a chicken flapping.
Franz returned like the wind with a chicken in his mouth.
Even though the chicken was caught by its wing in his mouth, it was violently flapping its wings and swinging its claws.
Franz released the chicken onto the training grounds. Then he said confidently,
“Here’s your prey. Try to catch it.”
Wait a minute, that’s supposed to be a chicken?
I couldn’t tell when it was in Franz’s mouth, but seeing it up close, it looked twice as big as a normal chicken.
Moreover, it had black feathers and a red comb, with a large, solid, sharp beak and claws.
With its long black tail, and muscular thighs, it looked strong and powerful.
I know the borderlands are full of magical beasts, but even the chickens raised in the knights’ dining hall are this huge and combative.
Above all, that black chicken seems really angry.
The chicken’s yellow eyes glared at me, rolling wildly.
“C**k-a-doodle-doo!”
As if establishing dominance, the black chicken spread its wings wide with a powerful crow.
The chicken circled around me while glaring, as if looking for my weak points.
My whole body froze when I met the chicken’s yellow eyes full of killing intent.
Its savage beak, capable of pecking something my size to death, gleamed in the sunlight.
I curled my tail and trembled in fear.
Franz shouted at me,
“Why are you just standing there! Quickly bite its neck!”
“Kyaang! I’m scared! I have ornithophobia!”
I collapsed on the spot and started crying with snot and tears.
It’s pathetic that a fox is afraid of a chicken, but I can’t help it.
Even as a human, I was too scared to go near pigeons, so how would being a fox change that?
“C**k-a-doodle-doo!”
The black chicken flapped its wings fiercely and took to the air. It swooped down at me with its sharp claws and pointed beak with fierce momentum.
“Kyaang! Save me!”
I curled up in fear, wrapping my whole body with my tail. Now I’m surely going to be skewered by the chicken’s beak.
Facing death, all my past sins flashed before my eyes. All those chickens that had comforted my tired body and soul when I was human.
Ah… This might be karma. Could this be revenge for all the chickens I’ve eaten?
I’m sorry, chickens. I can’t quite ask for forgiveness though. You were all really delicious.
