The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 5
At that moment, a small door at the back of the laboratory opened. The person who came out was a skinny boy.
He appeared to be about fifteen years old, with curly red hair, horn-rimmed glasses, and freckles on the tip of his nose, wearing a purple robe.
“Your Grace, what brings you here?”
That boy is a magician? It’s amazing to be a magician at such a young age.
Karden placed me on the desk. I sat quietly on the desk, caught off guard.
“Ron, examine this fox.”
Ron pushed up his horn-rimmed glasses that had slid down his nose and approached me. I felt nervous as his curious blue eyes stared at me intently.
“Ah… It’s a baby fox.”
Ron pressed his lips tightly together and clenched his fists. His cheeks also turned pink.
What’s wrong with him? Does he need to use the bathroom?
I brought my legs forward and tilted my head.
Ron trembled and then shouted as if he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Ugh. Y-you’re too cute. Your legs are so short and chubby, and your belly is pink and round. You’re like a tiny, adorable cotton ball!”
Whoa, you startled me. But is that a compliment or an insult?
I admit I’m cute, but I’m not that short-legged or pot-bellied.
“I’ve never seen a fox with such white fur in the border region. Where did you find it?”
“In the birch forest. When I was in a magic outburst state, this little one bit me. I don’t know the principle, but it stabilized my magic.”
Ron’s expression, which had been smiling, turned serious for the first time.
“Interesting. A species that can calm magic. Could it be a divine beast or a spirit?”
Karden frowned, holding his chin. After being lost in thought, he spoke.
“It could be a beast person.”
Ron tilted his head in confusion.
“A beast-person? But there are no beast-person tribes living in the border region. It’s strange for a young fox to be alone in the monster-infested border area.”
Ron crouched down at the desk and met my gaze. He carefully examined my ears and nose, then slightly opened my mouth to check my teeth.
“Kyeeng?”
“Sorry. It’ll be over soon.”
Ron thoroughly checked my pink jelly paw pads as if a doctor examining a patient.
“Oh my, the paw pads are so squishy.”
Ron trembled as he gently pressed and touched my small pink jelly pads.
“Th-the paw pads are too cute.”
“Grrrr….. (Kid. It’s rude to touch a lady’s paw pads.)”
“Focus, Ron.”
Karden lightly swatted Ron’s hand away. Ron, embarrassed, quickly pulled his hand back.
“I’m sorry if that was uncomfortable, fox.”
Ron sincerely apologized to me. Though a magician, he still seemed like a shy young boy.
Hmm, since he’s younger than me, I’ll be understanding as his big sister.
“Beast-person tribes have strong affection and bonds with their own kind, so they never leave young ones alone. They protect their young with their lives because their numbers are small. But for a young fox beast-person to be alone in a forest teeming with monsters…”
As Ron’s expression darkened, Karden furrowed his brow.
I was curious too. So, why are you keeping us in suspense? How frustrating.
“Either something happened to its kind… or it might have been abandoned by its group.”
“Kyeeng?”
I let out a cry of surprise. I was so focused on being a fox that I didn’t have time to seriously think about the baby fox’s situation.
Why would they abandon a baby fox in the cold and scary forest? It’s no different from throwing it out to die.
I wanted to know what story this fox I was possessing had.
“You’re trembling.”
Karden’s indifferent voice was heard. His expression was still emotionless, making it impossible to read his feelings.
“Cotton ball, you’re safe now. So don’t tremble.”
Are you comforting me?
Karden’s large hand gently stroked the nape of my small neck.
I reflexively wanted to shake off his touch, but it was too soothing to reject.
W-well, I can’t help it. It’s natural for a baby fox to feel good when its nape is scratched.
I closed my eyes and pressed my lips tightly.
My soul is that of a lady in her 20s, but I like having my nape scratched.
It’s embarrassing and shameful, but I can’t help it. I’m a baby fox right now.
Ron stared at me curiously.
“Your Grace, could it be that the baby fox understands human speech?”
“Yes. It seems to understand everything we say.”
“That’s amazing. I’ll research fox beast-persons. There should be information about beast-persons in the literature too.”
Ron’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Oh, have you decided on a name? We can’t keep calling it Cotton ball.”
“A name…”
Karden rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment, then lifted me up high.
His sharp gaze as he scrutinized me intensely made me feel instinctively wary.
I struggled to escape from his grasp.
“Kyeeng, kyeeng. (Put me down. Let go!)”
“Shushu would be good.”
“Kyu? (What?)”
Shushu? That’s a name more suitable for a puppy. The villain’s naming sense is the worst.
Right now, I’m extremely displeased. I bared my pink gums and growled fiercely like a predator to express my dissatisfaction.
“Karlung. Grrrr. (What kind of name is Shushu? You could have given me a more elegant name.)”
Ron fidgeted nervously as he watched my reaction.
“Your Grace. The fox seems to be cursing with its eyes.”
But true to his self-centered villain nature, Karden paid no attention to those words.
“It looks to me like it likes the name. Don’t you, Shushu?”
Even my will to be angry disappeared. What does it matter what name I’m called? I can’t speak anyway.
Do whatever you want.
I closed my eyes completely and turned my face away. Karden held me in his arms again.
“Now, let’s go home. Shushu.”
“Kwaang? (You say we’re going home? Where?)”
Surprised by Karden’s words, Ron asked hesitantly.
“Your Grace, you’re not planning to keep it at the mansion, are you? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to keep the fox at the knight training grounds since there’s a training field there?”
“Knight training grounds?”
Karden raised his thick eyebrows as if displeased.
“I can’t leave Shushu in a place crawling with rough men.”
I stared up at Karden in disbelief.
You’re the most dangerous human here, you know.
***
The place Karden took me was a mansion. It was a three-story mansion with a blue roof, and interestingly, it had a small castle tower.
Why does a mansion need a tall tower? As I stared at him curiously, Karden explained.
“That tower was built to observe the movements of monsters. In case of emergency, we can take refuge in the tower or ring the bell to warn of danger.”
Even a home that should be a place of rest always had to be prepared for battle. This place truly was in the middle of a battlefield.
That thought sent chills down my spine. Is it really okay for me to stay here like this?
As we entered the entrance hall of the mansion, dozens of servants led by a kind-looking white-haired butler stood in a line and greeted us.
“We thank the heavens for Your Grace’s safe return.”
Even the greeting was extraordinary, befitting a border fortress. It probably meant that the situation was so unstable and dangerous that they had to pray for their master’s safe return every day.
I should definitely look for a chance to escape. I wonder where the dog flap is here.
The old butler showed a perplexed expression when he saw me squirming in Karden’s arms. But true to his years of experience as a butler, he quickly regained his composure.
“You’ve brought a cute guest with you today.”
“This fox’s name is Shushu. It will be staying at the Grand Duke’s residence from now on. Take good care of it so that it experiences no discomfort.”
“Ah… You mean Miss Shushu. Is it Your Grace’s pet?”
The word ‘pet’ made me uncomfortable.
Who decided that on their own? I’m a free spirit, I have no intention of becoming the villain’s pet.
“Grrrr.”
I bared my sharp canine teeth threateningly. It seemed to have an effect as Karden shook his head.
“It’s not a pet. It has a temper, so I don’t think it will be easily tamed.”
While Karden and the butler were talking, I surveyed the interior of the Grand Duke’s residence. There must be at least one dog flap to sneak out through.
The mansion was grand and large in scale, but the interior was bleak without any decent decorations.
Is this really a noble’s mansion? There wasn’t a single expensive porcelain, painting, or luxurious ornament. Only swords, spears, and shields hung on the walls.
On one wall, dozens of portraits of the Helleide family members were hung. They all wore armor and held weapons with solemn expressions.
It was a fitting portrait gallery for the Helleide family, who had built their reputation by subjugating monsters for generations.
As I examined the portraits, a striking young boy caught my eye.
Black hair, large emerald eyes with double eyelids, a pale face with a high nose. He looked about six or seven years old.
The cute and adorable boy was dressed in a splendid black uniform and held an ornate jeweled sword in his hand.
When I checked the nameplate below the portrait… surprisingly, it was Karden.
“Kyeeng?”
To think that the vicious villain was once a cute little boy. They say even tigers are cute when they’re young.
I was so surprised that I looked closely at the portrait. But sure enough, his expression was the same as now.
To think he had such a rotten expression even as a child, tsk tsk. The old saying that you can tell a person’s character from childhood is true.
