The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 47
My heart tightened at that dangerously low voice. Franz’s eyes darkened as he looked at me while letting out rough breaths.
Franz lowered his head. I shuddered when his sharp teeth touched my fur.
Could he really be doing that imprinting thing?
An intense instinctive revulsion and fear washed over me.
Why was Karden’s face appearing in my mind at this moment?
Just as Franz’s sharp fangs were about to pierce my skin, a fierce snowstorm swept in.
“Kaang!”
It was a snowstorm so strong that even Franz couldn’t block it. Franz and I were swept up and rolled across the ground.
When I finally regained my senses and opened my eyes, over ten massive white foxes were glaring at me.
“Do you realize what you’re doing, Commander?”
Franz quickly straightened up and stepped forward to face them.
Franz was visibly displeased. He prowled in front of them while growling lowly.
“Grrrr, why are you here? I ordered you to depart ahead.”
An old one-eyed fox stepped forward from the group. One of his eyes bore a long scar, and he exuded years of experience and wisdom.
Franz slightly bowed in respect when the one-eyed fox stepped forward. He seemed to be of higher rank than Franz.
“Master, you came as well.”
“Franz, why were you trying to imprint on that ominous being?”
The one-eyed fox shot me a contemptuous look. The other foxes were also showing hostility toward me.
Feeling chilled by their gazes, I stepped backward. Franz blocked their view of me, hiding me with his luxuriant white tail.
What is this guy doing?
I couldn’t understand Franz’s protective behavior.
“Ruel succeeded in human transformation. As my fiancée, I will imprint on her. It’s naturally my responsibility.”
The one-eyed fox’s brow furrowed. The other foxes also seemed greatly shocked, either wavering or glaring at Franz with distrustful eyes.
The one-eyed fox stepped forward and sternly rebuked him.
“Have you forgotten that the Council of Elders banished that child? That child is an ominous being who will bring destruction to our Ulpes tribe. Stop clinging to old attachments.”
Franz shouted at the stubborn one-eyed fox.
“Just consuming magic won’t bring about destruction! Ruel is an Ulpes fox. Why are you abandoning our own kind, Master!”
The one-eyed fox clicked his tongue and slowly circled around Franz.
“Remember this. As that ominous being grows, it will desire more and more. Beyond magic, it will crave life itself. We already made the same mistake 50 years ago. Have you forgotten the tragedy when we nearly faced extinction after accepting a fox who craved magic?”
The one-eyed fox spoke in a low voice, suppressing his anger.
What am I hearing right now? That I would crave life beyond magic?
I wanted to question them further, but Franz was blocking my way so I couldn’t step forward.
I could feel Franz’s entire body filled with tense anxiety. His rough breathing carried straight to me.
He’s afraid. Afraid they might harm me.
The atmosphere of the Ulpes foxes surrounding Franz and me was wrapped in powerful killing intent. They considered me an enemy that needed to be eliminated.
“Franz. As your master, I command you. Remember your duty to protect the tribe. Drive out that ominous thing. Or else.”
The one-eyed fox drew close to Franz. The fox revealed his chilling fangs and threatened in a low voice.
“I will personally end its life.”
When I heard the one-eyed fox’s words, I felt anger and fear. They would kill me just for being born an “ominous being”?
I haven’t done anything yet, and haven’t harmed anyone!
Their hostile gazes pierced me like arrows.
Their eyes held contempt, disgust, and intense fear. They were afraid of me.
Why? Why are they so afraid of my ability to merely absorb magic?
When the one-eyed fox spoke, the other foxes joined in and raised their voices.
“Commander, have you forgotten this migration is a crucial mission?”
“This mission is vital for our tribe’s survival. We must safely settle our people in human society.”
“Don’t forget your duties, Commander!”
The foxes pressed Franz while raising their howls one after another. They looked ready to tear out my throat at any moment.
Franz wrapped me in his luxuriant tail and shouted in an angry voice.
“What did you just say? How dare you?”
When Franz glared at the foxes with sharp eyes, they all flinched and shut their mouths.
Franz’s silver eyes sharpened and emitted a light so strong it was frightening.
“I am the next Commander of the Ulpes tribe. As Commander, I decree: From now on, Ruel is my mate, and I will absolutely take her with us during the migration!”
“Franz!”
Franz’s outrageous declaration made my anger surge. This jerk was making decisions unilaterally without any regard for my opinion!
I didn’t want to stay here any longer. I was foolish to have felt even a moment of kinship with the Ulpes tribe.
They still avoided and despised me like I was some kind of disaster.
I should escape while Franz is arguing with the foxes. I quickly turned to flee toward the Northern Castle.
Just then, the ground shook with the thundering sound of approaching hoofbeats.
A group of horses kicked up dust clouds in the distance as they galloped closer.
Could it be Karden and his knights coming for me? I started to step forward in relief but froze.
The scent is completely different. Who are these people?
Dozens of mounted men were charging forward while shouting. They were waving clubs and ropes while whooping with excitement.
“Finally found them! The valuable fox shapeshifters!”
A middle-aged man with a beard and fancy clothes, who seemed to be their leader, shouted.
“Capture them all! They’re top-quality goods, so don’t damage them! Take every last one alive!”
The thugs charged at the foxes with greedy grins.
Franz urgently called out to the foxes.
“Slave traders! Scatter and escape immediately!”
The one-eyed fox also shouted while directing the panicking foxes.
“We absolutely cannot be caught! Hurry and flee!”
I quickly hid in nearby bushes and made myself as small as possible. Thanks to my small size, the slave traders passed by without noticing me.
How did slave traders make it all the way to the borderlands?
I’d heard the Northern Castle’s garrison dealt with monsters but also stopped slave traders and illegal mercenaries. Had they managed to slip through the garrison’s surveillance?
The slave traders systematically captured the frantically fleeing foxes, leisurely pursuing them.
They skillfully wielded hooked ropes to corner the foxes. One of them threw a net at the escaping foxes.
“Kaang!”
The sturdy net spread out and fell over the foxes. The foxes struggled to break the net but only got more tangled the more they struggled.
“No!”
Franz and the one-eyed fox ran over and cut through the net with their strong teeth. In an instant, the net was torn and the frightened foxes scattered in all directions.
Franz and the one-eyed fox exchanged glances before simultaneously charging at the thug before them.
“Argh! You beasts!”
Franz bit the man’s neck while the one-eyed fox bit his ankle. The thug collapsed with a scream.
“Damn fox brats!”
A thug charged at Franz swinging a club. Franz dodged it easily, but another thug threw a hooked rope from behind.
“Look out!”
The one-eyed fox rushed in and pushed Franz aside. The hooked rope barely missed Franz and deeply gouged the ground.
As the one-eyed fox lost his balance and rolled on the ground, the slave trader grinned maliciously as if he’d been waiting for this moment. He held a crossbow in his hands.
“Now! Get him!”
When the slave trader fired the crossbow, a massive arrow flew straight at the one-eyed fox.
Swoosh! Whoosh!
The fired arrow split in half mid-flight, spreading into a huge net.
“No!”
Franz’s eyes flashed as he rushed in and pushed the one-eyed fox away with his whole body.
Whish! The black net fell over Franz.
Crack! Crack! Electricity crackled through the net with a flashing light.
Franz tried to get up but couldn’t move at all. The net entangled him as if it were alive.
“We got him!”
The slave trader cheered. Franz struggled to break free from the net but writhed in pain as electricity coursed through his body.
No, Franz!
