The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 52
I forcefully pulled up the corners of my mouth, mirroring the black mask’s smile.
“Go to hell.”
I jerked my head back. Then, gathering all my strength, I slammed my forehead into his.
THWACK!
His face contorted from the sudden headbutt.
“Urgh!”
He staggered, clearly in considerable pain, his pristine forehead turning bright red.
I hadn’t known a fox’s skull in human form would be this hard.
I’d prepared myself for pain from the headbutt, but it was just a dull ache, bearable enough.
“Run! Franz!”
I quickly grabbed Franz’s arm and started running. Fortunately, Franz followed well despite stumbling.
My feet hurt from running barefoot, but there was no time to waste. Escaping this hell was the priority.
“Catch them, now!”
The black mask’s enraged voice echoed behind us. If we were caught now, it would be over.
I pulled Franz’s arm hard as we ran toward the entrance.
Fortunately, there were no knights guarding the entrance. But the black mask’s knights were rushing toward us from all directions.
No, at this rate we’ll really be caught!
BOOM!
The ornate entrance door in front of us exploded outward.
I instinctively pressed Franz’s shoulder down and lay flat on the ground.
The explosion was so loud it made my ears ring.
Debris from the shattered door scattered everywhere as grayish dust rose in the air.
Who is it? Could it be…
Someone stepped in over the broken door.
The flickering torchlight illuminated him.
Black cloak, navy uniform, and beneath black hair, cobalt blue eyes glinting with cold fury.
Just then, the black mask’s knights tried to grab my shoulder.
“K-Karden!”
I screamed at the top of my lungs like a child calling for their mother.
Karden, who had discovered me when I became human, shouted in surprise.
“Shushu! Watch out!”
Karden instantly drew his sword and charged at the knights pursuing me.
His blue eyes flashed with rage that looked ready to tear apart his opponents. His sword swiftly slashed the black knight’s shoulder.
“Ugh!”
As the knight cried out, Karden quickly pulled me into his arms.
His strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, and as his scent reached my nose, tears welled up.
I was too shocked and relieved to speak.
Karden, still holding me, picked up the sword from the fallen knight’s hand.
The sword he threw flew toward the auction stage with a sharp whistling sound.
SWOOSH!
From his embrace, I saw the blade graze the black mask’s neck precisely.
“Urgh!”
The black mask turned his head just in time to avoid a fatal wound, but blood was gushing from his neck.
He pressed his hand against his bloodied neck and glared at Karden with murderous intent.
“Protect the lord!”
The black mask’s subordinates supported him and began fleeing through the back door. Karden immediately ordered the border guards.
“Capture them all! Don’t let a single one escape!”
Owen and Captain Burke led the pursuit.
Just then, one black knight rushed forward and threw a black pouch. The enemy had already covered their nose with a mask.
SWISH!
The torn black pouch burst in mid-air, scattering jet-black powder.
“P-poison powder!”
“Everyone get back!”
The hazy poison powder spread like fog, giving no time to escape as it enveloped the border guard knights.
“Don’t breathe!”
“Cover your noses!”
The knights and soldiers quickly covered their mouths and noses with their hands. But what if it was poison powder that could be dangerous even on skin contact?
Many people could get hurt. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
I twisted out of Karden’s arms and stepped forward.
“Shushu, it’s dangerous!”
Karden tried to grab me, but I was one step faster.
I stretched both arms forward, desperately hoping.
As a fox, I could create snowstorms with my tail, but I wasn’t sure if I could use my power after becoming human.
The moment I stretched out my arms, a powerful snowstorm poured from my palms and engulfed the poison powder.
Hit by the cold snowstorm, the poison powder rapidly froze and fell to the ground with a scatter.
“W-we’re saved!”
“Thanks to Shushu!”
The border guards who had barely managed to cover their noses and mouths shouted joyfully.
I took heavy breaths while fixing my disheveled hair. White breath rose into the air.
I thought I couldn’t use my powers because of the humanization potion, but thankfully I could still use my original powers.
Frost-like cold energy gathered at my fingertips. I clenched my fist.
While relieved, fear suddenly rushed in.
To think my power was this strong. To even overcome the potion that turned Franz into a soulless doll.
Just what kind of being am I?
A large cloak wrapped around my shoulders. That familiar scent. Karden had covered me.
“You could have inhaled the poison powder. Why did you do something so dangerous?”
Though his tone was reproachful, Karden’s eyes looking down at me trembled with relief and joy.
“I just wanted to save everyone. People were in danger.”
Karden pulled me into his arms with a deep sigh.
That’s when I realized.
His muscular arms were trembling slightly. His heart was racing with anxiety.
“Haa… I’m grateful you’re safe, Shushu.”
His voice was rough and desperate. His eyes were quivering.
He had been afraid of never finding me, of losing me forever.
I reached out and hugged his strong back tightly.
“Karden.”
Being held in his warm, broad embrace, all the pent-up sorrow and fear welled up.
In an instant, tears burst forth and I cried like a child.
“Why did you come so late? I thought I was going to die from fear…”
“It’s alright now. I’m here, Shushu. I’m so sorry I was late.”
Karden held me and kept repeating his apologies.
After crying in his arms from relief, I realized this wasn’t the time.
Was Franz okay? What about the escaped black mask?
I raised my head with my tear and snot-stained face. Finally able to look around.
The Northern Castle Knights were capturing and binding the remaining slave traders’ subordinates.
Franz was lying on one side, with Ron using healing magic.
Ron noticed my gaze and nodded as if to say not to worry. At times like this, the boy mage Ron was more reliable than anyone.
With Ron here, I could set aside my worries about Franz and looked around for the black mask.
What a coward, throwing poison powder and running away.
“Will we be able to catch the black mask?”
“My subordinates are in pursuit, so we should be able to. Don’t worry.”
Karden calmly asked while wiping the tears from my cheeks.
I bit my lower lip hard.
If they escaped, they’re not the type to be caught easily. How can we find them when they wear masks and we don’t know their faces?
“The black mask seemed to be a high-ranking noble. They were a VIP at the shapeshifter auction. They also handled the slave trader.”
“Was it that one who forcibly humanized you?”
Just thinking about being forcibly injected with the potion and humanized still made my teeth chatter.
“Yes. Franz was also forcibly humanized by that person.”
“I should have killed them with my own hands. I was too late.”
Karden gritted his teeth while holding my shoulders. I gently placed my hand on top of his.
“You weren’t late. You came for me, didn’t you?”
When our eyes met, Karden’s eyes trembled slightly. He reached out to tightly wrap my cloak.
“If something had happened to you, I…”
I couldn’t hear the end of Karden’s words. Captain Burke approached, dragging a black knight by the neck.
It was the one who had received Karden’s strike and had a large wound on his shoulder. The knight was breathing heavily, covered in blood.
“Your Grace, we searched for this one’s identity, but there were no family crests. It seems they thoroughly concealed their identity when visiting the auction house.”
“Interrogate him until he reveals the black mask’s identity.”
“I shall obey your command.”
As Burke grabbed the black knight’s shoulder to take him to a corner, the knight suddenly pulled out a black pill from his chest.
Before Burke could stop him, the knight swallowed the pill in one gulp.
“Damn it, when did he-!”
Burke struck the black knight’s neck to make him vomit the pill. But the knight moved his Adam’s apple and swallowed it.
“N-No!”
It was too late. The knight’s head fell limply to the side. Only my cry echoed in the air.
Everyone was shocked and trembled at the black knight’s death.
Such blind loyalty to not even fear death.
Karden wrapped his hand around my head and turned me around.
“Don’t look, Shushu.”
