The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 51
I struggled with all my might while looking toward Franz. Franz still just stood there blankly like a doll.
“Franz! Wake up! Please!”
No matter how much I pleaded and shouted, it didn’t reach Franz.
If I drink that strange potion, will I become like that too?
I don’t want that. It’s like being trapped in a terrifying nightmare.
“Be good and drink it to become human. Hehehe.”
“Ah, no! Ugh!”
The wizard grabbed my mouth and forced me to drink the contents of the purple vial. I wanted to resist, but I could feel the liquid flowing down my throat.
As soon as I swallowed the potion, blood rushed through all the vessels in my body instantly.
My mind turned pure white. As the power inside my body clashed violently, a blinding light burst forth.
“Uuugh!”
As my body rapidly grew larger, all my fur disappeared revealing pale white skin.
I stumbled backward and grabbed Franz’s shoulder.
Unconsciously, I pulled at the cape on Franz’s shoulder and wrapped it around my body. Legs were visible beneath the cape.
To become human artificially, without Karden’s magic.
It was different from before. When I became human after absorbing Karden’s magic, it felt natural and painless.
Now my head felt like it was splitting open, and it was hard to move my limbs properly as if they weren’t mine.
“H-how could this be……”
I collapsed to the ground clutching the cape. My disheveled silver hair gleamed hopelessly under the chandelier light.
“Impressive.”
A low exclamation of admiration flowed above my head. The black mask knelt on one knee before me and grasped my silver hair.
My hair flowed helplessly like sand through his fingers.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful shapeshifter before.”
His hand lifted my chin.
“Ugh!”
His golden-gray eyes slowly examined me. That gaze like appraising merchandise made rage rise like fire within me.
His breath falling on my cheek felt like insects crawling on my skin.
I wanted to shake off his hand immediately, but I couldn’t move a single finger.
“Like a silver butterfly trembling in a spider’s web. So beautiful I want to cage you and keep you all to myself.”
His golden-gray eyes deepened further. The black mask caressed my lips with his thumb.
I wanted to bite off his fingers right then, but my fury built at being unable to do anything.
“This shapeshifter slave is mine.”
The black mask declared with a satisfied smile.
Nausea rose up, but my heart was beating so rapidly that I barely managed to suppress my breathing.
When the black mask made his declaration, the participants in the audience let out disappointed sighs.
The fact that no one objected or protested suggested this person’s status and power must be immense.
Everyone seemed to either fear him or watch his reactions carefully.
Just who is this person? Was someone like this in the original story?
The black mask returned to his seat in the audience and sat with an arrogant posture. Two knights in black cloaks stood guard behind him.
The subordinates the black mask brought weren’t just those two. The rest were strictly guarding various parts of the auction hall.
Could I safely escape with Franz while avoiding them? My chest felt heavy as if weighed down by stones.
The slave trader bowed his head toward the audience with a vile smile spread across his face.
“I deeply apologize, but today’s auction items – the pair of fox shapeshifters – have been won by our distinguished guest here. Please visit us again next time.”
The nobles filling the audience left the auction hall, either disappointed or clicking their tongues.
The audience seats emptied, leaving only the black mask and his subordinates. The slave trader bowed his head to the black mask with a servile smile.
“You truly have excellent taste. Congratulations on your successful bid.”
The slave trader maintained his servile smile while watching the black mask’s reactions.
“If our distinguished guest wishes, we can specially provide slave bracelets, collars, or slave brands. I highly recommend it as shapeshifters are particularly difficult and violent in nature.”
My heart sank. Brand us as slaves? These beasts are worse than animals!
“Not a bad idea.”
The black mask arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
His disgusting hand stroked down my nape. I wanted to bite his hand off immediately but could barely stand due to the potion’s effects.
I looked toward Franz, but he was still in his soulless state.
“What functions does the collar have?”
“The collar has light lightning magic engraved in it so they cannot disobey their master’s orders. You can tighten and loosen it around their neck at will to apply pressure. But if you find it unsightly, I recommend the tattoo.”
“Tattoo?”
“Yes. If you engrave a magic tattoo, you can control the shapeshifter with a single word. For powerful shapeshifters, they can even protect their master with their life.”
“I like that. Who can engrave the tattoo?”
“Ah, yes. Our exclusive mage will do it. It won’t even take an hour.”
The old mage who had been standing silently behind the slave trader bowed his head. The slave trader cleared his throat and carefully continued.
“Pardon me, but how much were you considering for the shapeshifter’s winning price? Since you’re a special customer, we can offer any discount you desire.”
The black mask glared at the slave trader with contemptuous eyes. He clicked his tongue as if looking at garbage.
“I said they’re mine. If you want to save your worthless life, get lost.”
The slave trader’s face instantly turned pale. He stammered in panic.
“P-please show mercy. We need money to make a living…”
The slave trader couldn’t finish his sentence.
The guard knight behind the black-masked man cut down the slave trader with one stroke of his sword.
“Urgh!”
The slave trader collapsed to the floor with a terrible scream. Blood from his upper body stained the floor red.
Drops of the slave trader’s blood splattered onto my cheek.
This was the first time I’d seen someone die. My whole body started trembling and my mind went blank.
The black mask approached calmly without a change in his breathing and caressed my cheek with his hand.
“My possession has been stained with filthy blood.”
The black mask clicked his tongue and discarded his glove stained with the slave trader’s blood. My hands clutching the cape trembled slightly.
Such a cruel monster. A piece of trash that treats even humans like insects.
If we’re taken by him, Franz and I would surely face a miserable fate.
Though rage made my teeth chatter, I tried my best not to show it.
The priority was to escape with Franz when he let his guard down.
The black mask gave orders to his black knights as casually as if choosing a dinner menu.
“Clean up the area and prepare the carriage. I’m taking the shapeshifters. Ah, bring this old mage too. We need him to engrave the slave tattoos.”
“Understood. What should we do with the remaining slave traders?”
“Eliminate all evidence.”
Eliminate evidence? Surely he doesn’t mean to kill everyone here?
Though they deserve death, they should still be punished through proper legal procedures.
Does he not care about national laws at all?
The black knight grabbed the old mage by the nape. The mage, paralyzed with fear, was dragged away without resistance.
The black mask’s knights first locked the auction hall doors. Only the slave trader’s subordinates remained in the hall.
The knights slowly drew their swords from their waists.
Shing. The blade glinted under the chandelier light.
The confused slave trader’s subordinates cried out in fear.
“Run!”
“Ahhh! Help!”
The knights began chasing the slave trader’s subordinates with drawn swords.
Some fled through the back door while others cursed and fought back with their own swords.
The auction hall was in chaos with screams, shouts, and the sound of clashing swords.
This is no time to stand dazed. I need to escape with Franz during this chaos.
But how can I when my body won’t move?
While pondering how to escape in my mind, I unconsciously clenched my fist.
Huh? I can move?
I couldn’t believe it. Strength was gradually returning to my body which had been immobile just moments ago.
Power returned to my fingertips and my headache slowly subsided.
How is this possible?
They must have given me the same drug as Franz, but how could it wear off so easily?
The black mask approached me again. I quickly put on a blank expression, letting my arms hang limply, pretending to be a soulless doll.
He reached out and caressed my cheek. His body temperature was chillingly cold.
“Finding a fox shapeshifter like you – the gods have blessed me with fortune.”
I kept staring into space with unfocused eyes.
His guard knights had scattered to clean up the surroundings, leaving only me, the black mask, and Franz on the stage.
Slowly raising my long eyelashes, I looked straight at him.
The golden-gray eyes behind the black mask stiffened in surprise, then curved like a crescent moon.
“Truly beautiful. Come with me. I’ll gift you the most beautiful cage.”
