The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 53
I caught my breath in Karden’s arms.
My whole body was trembling, and despite trying to calm down, my lips quivered. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
No matter how many times I see it, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this hell.
Karden’s large hand gently stroked my head.
As I hiccupped trying to hold back tears, he softly whispered in my ear with a gentle “shh.”
“Shh… It’s alright. I’m here.”
His gentle hand patting my back calmed my fears.
Just then, the knight’s body, thought to be dead, began to move.
“W-what is that?”
“Step back!”
The body of the knight we thought dead started to stir. In an instant, the black knight’s body shrank. Suddenly, it had transformed into a large wolf with ash-gray fur instead of a human.
“A-a shapeshifter…!”
I was shocked at this unbelievable situation.
Shapeshifters usually have a distinct strong scent that makes them easy to detect.
But since the black knight had no such scent, I naturally thought they were human.
To think they could mask their shapeshifter scent so perfectly and pass as human.
What could make this wolf shapeshifter show such loyalty?
I clenched my teeth as I stared at the now cold wolf corpse.
I could understand why the black mask was collecting shapeshifter slaves. It wasn’t just to use them as slaves.
They even had a dedicated mage to forcibly humanize shapeshifters and make drugs to turn them into soulless dolls.
Could the black mask be turning more shapeshifters into their puppets?
“Using shapeshifters as guard knights, how is this possible?”
Burke clicked his tongue as he crouched down to examine the wolf closely.
Karden questioned Burke.
“Captain Burke, are there cases of using shapeshifters as knights?”
“I’ve heard some nobles secretly train shapeshifter slaves as mercenaries.”
“Is that even possible?”
“I don’t understand it either. I heard shapeshifters are impossible to tame due to their wild nature and instincts, and you can’t gain their loyalty. It’s surprising that this is possible.”
“Investigate this shapeshifter’s affiliation.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Karden came over and gently wrapped my shoulders.
“Shushu, are you alright?”
“Ah… Yes. I’m fine now.”
“I’ll have some clothes prepared for you first.”
Only then did I realize I was only covered by the cloak. My bare legs were exposed, and I was barefoot too.
My face burned with embarrassment and shame. Karden soothed me with a gentle voice.
“I’ll take care of things here, you should rest in the carriage.”
“Ah, what about Franz? Will he be alright?”
Franz was lying flat on the ground, looking as if in a deep sleep.
Ron was straining to use healing magic beside him. It seemed too much for Ron to handle alone.
“I’ll help too.”
“Think of yourself first. Leave this to Ron.”
Karden blocked my way and held me back.
Just then, soldiers brought old shirts and pants from the warehouse. They probably belonged to the slave trader’s subordinates, but I was grateful just to have clothes to cover myself.
I put on the long, loose pants with rolled-up hems, wore the old shirt, and draped the cloak over it.
The boots were big but wearable after tightly tying the laces.
I used cloth from the warehouse to wipe the blood and dirt from my face.
When I went outside the warehouse, the auction house situation had been sorted out.
Karden and his direct subordinates were sitting around the audience seats, discussing with serious expressions.
On one side, they were binding and taking away the remaining criminals.
The slave trader’s remaining followers were being led away, seemingly having given up on everything.
Burke, Ron, and Owen were around Karden. Franz wasn’t visible. Where did he go? Had they moved him outside?
I started to step forward but hesitated. The atmosphere of the serious meeting made it difficult to approach.
Can’t be helped. I’ll have to wait until the meeting ends.
Just then, Karden was questioning Burke while sitting with his legs crossed.
“Haven’t you found the auction house ledgers?”
“I apologize. We thoroughly searched the slave trader’s office but couldn’t find the ledgers. The subordinate guarding the office was found dead.”
Burke bowed his head apologetically. Karden’s brow twitched with anger.
“They must have taken them.”
Owen, who had been listening silently, spoke with a serious expression.
“The missing slave trader’s ledgers concern me. They would contain the client list. With the list of clients seeking shapeshifter slaves in their hands, it could be used for other crimes.”
“What other crimes do you mean?”
Burke asked impatiently, unable to contain himself. Owen’s usually gentle eyes turned cold as blades.
I was surprised to learn he could make such an expression.
“Keeping shapeshifter slaves is illegal in the Arden Kingdom. If nobles are involved in shapeshifter slave auctions, it would cause huge ripples in society. The person who wore the black mask might use the ledgers as leverage to blackmail the nobles.”
After hearing Owen’s words, Burke clicked his tongue.
“To think it’s this serious! We must find out the identity of the black mask.”
Karden was lost in deep thought as he silently listened to his subordinates’ conversation. When their conversation ended, I stepped forward.
“Your Grace, thank you so much for coming to save me.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Ron ran over and hugged me tightly. Ron sniffled with tears welling up in his large eyes.
“Shushu, I’m so glad you’re safe. I heard you were forcibly humanized, are you okay? Are you in pain?”
“Yes, I’m actually quite sturdy and strong, you know.”
I gently stroked Ron’s curly red hair.
“Ron, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
I felt relieved seeing the Northern Fort knights again. These people treat me the same whether I’m a fox or human.
Karden, who had been watching silently, stepped forward.
“We’re returning to the Northern Fort now. Take the criminals and withdraw.”
Burke led the soldiers in taking away the remaining slave trader’s followers.
Karden approached me and extended his hand. His formal gesture, like escorting a lady, felt unfamiliar.
When I was a baby fox, he would just pick me up and carry me. I felt awkward and somehow shy.
“I’m fine. I can walk by myself.”
The words came out oddly twisted. The corners of Karden’s lips turned up gently, as if watching a baby fox’s antics.
“You left so confidently only to end up kidnapped.”
“T-that’s!”
I looked up at Karden with round eyes, dumbfounded.
Meeting his eyes as a human felt strange. Familiar yet heart-pounding.
His large hand reached toward my cheek.
My shoulders tensed, not knowing how to react.
When I was a fox, it was fine when he touched my head or face, but skinship felt different now that I was human.
His long, firm fingers carefully removed a strand of hair stuck to my cheek. He tucked the hair neatly behind my ear.
Ah… He was just fixing my hair.
As I secretly felt relieved, his gentle caress of my earlobe made my face heat up.
“I won’t leave you alone ever again, Shuvelia.”
Karden’s hand touching my cheek felt burning hot. Whether his heat transferred to me or not, my face felt flushed and hot.
An awkward and heavy silence fell between us. His gaze on me had never felt this heavy and intense before.
Leaning on Karden’s firm arm, I left the auction house mansion. Several carriages and border guard knights and soldiers were waiting.
“Where’s Franz? I want to check if he’s okay.”
“This way.”
Karden led me to one of the carriages. When the door opened, Franz was lying straight.
He still looked pale. Just then, Ron approached the carriage carrying a large bag.
“Ron, how is Franz? Will he wake up?”
Ron scratched the back of his head troubledly.
“It’ll take time to completely remove the drug from his system. We need to get him to the fort quickly for the antidote.”
“I was given the same drug but recovered quickly. I wonder why Franz hasn’t regained consciousness. That drug is terrible – it turns shapeshifters into soulless dolls.”
Just then, a familiar scent brushed my nose. It was the scent of fox shapeshifters.
The soldiers preparing to leave murmured in agitation.
Dozens of silver foxes appeared in front of the carriage. At the head of the foxes was a one-eyed fox.
“Why is the Ulpes tribe here?”
