The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 55

Rena wiped her eyes with her sleeve and gently held Franz’s arm.

“Brother, let’s go now. Master is waiting outside.”

“Everyone came to save me. I’ve caused so much trouble.”

When Franz showed signs of self-blame, Rena shook her head frantically.

“Don’t say that. Brother, you’re the next captain. Of course, we had to save you.”

“Give us a moment. I need to talk to Shushu.”

“Brother?”

Rena bit her delicate lips tightly. She clasped her hands together with an anxious expression.

“You’re not going to abandon us and leave with that fox, are you?”

“Rena, that’s my decision to make. It’s not your place to interfere.”

Franz, who had been gentle like a caring brother until just now, suddenly turned cold.

Rena was startled and quickly bowed her head.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Rena left the carriage looking completely dejected and disappeared. Was it really okay to let her go like that?

She seems to care for Franz so much, yet he treats her so coldly – he really has no manners.

After Rena left, silence fell in the carriage.

I was about to speak first, but Franz was catching his breath. Only then did I notice his sharp chin trembling.

“I’m not worthy. I failed to protect you as your fiancé. This is clearly my fault. If the Grand Duke hadn’t come to save us, we would have become slaves.”

Though he appears sharp and dignified on the outside, why does he look like a wounded boy in my eyes?

A pale-faced boy looking at me as if he’s about to crumble.

Deep guilt and anguish were swirling in Franz’s eyes. Transparent tears fell drop by drop along his sharp jaw.

“Franz…”

I instinctively wanted to reach out to his pitiful figure that looked like it might collapse at any moment.

But if I reached out, then what?

We can’t go together anyway.

“You’re so beautiful.”

I wanted to tease him about lying earlier, but my throat was too choked up to say anything.

Franz’s hand gently stroked my fallen hair.

“Such beautiful hair. Like moonlight has settled upon it.”

Franz slowly looked at me.

“Remember? Back then, under the birch forest when I first succeeded in human transformation, I promised you.”

“….”

I couldn’t bring myself to meet Franz’s eyes. His lonely voice reached my ears.

“I promised that when you succeeded in human transformation, we would have a proper engagement ceremony. I promised to place a beautiful wreath on your head.”

Sadly, I couldn’t remember any of it. Yet my heart ached deeply.

Is this pain from Ruel’s remaining memories or is it my own?

I could barely hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

Franz smiled like dry leaves crumbling.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. My Ruel.”

Franz slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

And when he opened them again, it wasn’t the face of a fragile, breakable boy. It was the face of someone who had steeled his resolve as the leader of his tribe.

“Tell Grand Duke Karden. The leader of the Ulpes keeps their promises.”

“Promises? What do you mean?”

Franz didn’t answer my question. Instead, he opened the carriage door and lightly jumped out. In an instant, he transformed into a magnificent silver fox.

“Franz, wait a moment. Are you leaving like this?”

“Take care, Shushu.”

Without thinking, I reached out to grab Franz.

The fox’s luxuriant tail brushed against my palm. It was soft and warm. Enough to make me cry.

“Wait a moment, Franz!”

As I called out to Franz and tried to jump out of the carriage after him, I twisted my ankle. It was because of the large shoes.

Just as I was about to fall from the carriage, Karden caught me by the waist.

“Watch your step.”

Karden whispered in my ear, then safely lowered me to the ground.

I gave a slight bow and hurriedly ran outside the carriage.

The Ulpes tribe was already waiting. At the front were the one-eyed fox and the gray fox Rena.

When Franz approached them, all the foxes bowed their heads in relief.

The one-eyed fox nodded with a stern expression, and Franz approached and bowed his head before him.

“You’ve returned, Franz.”

“I apologize for causing you worry. I will fulfill my duties as leader.”

Rena, now transformed into a fox, looked up at Franz with tears in her eyes.

Franz briefly looked around at his tribe members before turning his head to stare at me.

Our gazes intertwined in the air. Franz’s silver eyes were as calm as a clear lake.

We didn’t say a word, but we both knew.

That this was farewell. That we would never meet again.

I barely held back my tears. Since it’s the last time, I want to send Franz off with a smile.

My voice barely came out through my choked throat.

“Franz. Take care.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye. Because if I said those words, it felt like we would never see each other again.

The silver fox Franz’s brow furrowed.

“Who are you worried about, kid? You’re the one who needs to be careful not to be consumed by magical power.”

The same as always, that grumbling arrogant tone. This was Franz as a friend.

It would be a tone I would come to miss hearing.

I realized that in this short time, I had grown quite fond of Franz despite his prickliness. Perhaps it was because of our kinship as the same species.

I wiped my tears with my sleeve and gave him a wide grin.

“You know I love eating. That’ll never happen.”

“Such a tiny thing, acting tough.”

Franz turned his gaze to Karden standing behind me. In an instant, his expression changed to one of gravity and solemnity.

Franz bowed his head respectfully to Karden.

I was shocked to see this unprecedented sight of the proud Franz bowing his head to Karden.

“Grand Duke Karden, I ask that you not forget our agreement. You must protect Shushu, no matter what happens.”

This wasn’t the Franz who always showed an arrogant attitude toward Karden. He was making a formal request as the leader of the Ulpes.

“As the Northern Commander, I will absolutely keep my promise to the next leader of the Ulpes.”

Karden also responded with a serious expression, giving Franz his firm answer. I felt his hand on my shoulder tighten slightly.

Franz turned around and began running, kicking off the ground. Dozens of foxes followed behind him.

I stood there blankly, watching the magnificent silver wave flow away quickly.

A farewell both blindingly beautiful and tearful.

Until my silver fox disappeared from sight.

***

There was a secret passage in the slave auction house mansion. The underground secret passage connected to the forest outside, allowing escape in emergency situations.

About a dozen knights rushed through the long corridor.

“Please endure just a little longer! We’ll be out soon!”

A knight carrying the Black Mask on his back quickened his pace.

They were moving rapidly through the dark underground passage. The shadows of the running knights danced chaotically on the passage walls.

“Ugh.”

The Black Mask being carried on the knight’s back breathed heavily. The wound from the Grand Duke’s sword was deeper than expected.

A bandage was wrapped around Black Mask’s neck to stop the bleeding. Red blood had seeped through the bandage. He ground his teeth, unable to contain his humiliation and anger.

“How did Helleide’s Grand Duke catch our scent and follow us?”

“It seems he placed a tracking spell on that shapeshifter.”

The knight answered while carrying Black Mask. Black Mask swallowed a cough and asked in a phlegmy voice.

“The fox shapeshifter, why could it move even after being drugged?”

“I’ve heard rumors of mutations appearing among the Ulpes tribe with powerful magical abilities. That fox is likely one of them.”

“That fox? So that was it.”

A faint light appeared at the end of the dark underground passage.

“The exit!”

They carefully opened the passage door and surveyed their surroundings. After confirming there were no pursuers, they emerged from the doorway.

Several knights brought out carriages and horses hidden in the forest.

Black Mask began coughing violently. Blood sprayed from his mask.

“My lord, are you alright!”

When the startled knight tried to support him, Black Mask brushed his hand away.

“Kugh, stand back!”

Black Mask staggered, losing his balance, and approached the side of a horse. His hand grabbed the horse’s ornate saddle blanket. It bore an emblem of two crossed spears.

Black Mask barely managed to hold onto the blanket to avoid falling. The horse stood quietly, unalarmed.

Thud thud thud. Crack.

His body trembled, then twisted as the sound of bones stretching echoed eerily.

“Neigh!”

The horse, sensing something wrong, twisted its body in fear. The saddle blanket Black Mask was holding partially tore.

One knight quickly grabbed the horse’s reins and moved it elsewhere, while the other knights spread their cloaks to hide Black Mask, as if accustomed to this.

“Urrrgh. Grrrr.”

Though there was no wind, the knights’ cloaks fluttered violently.

Between the fluttering cloaks, a dark gray wolf emerged, breathing heavily and exuding an overwhelming presence.

Red blood was seeping from the gray wolf’s nape. His golden-gray eyes gleamed with obsessive possessiveness.

“Even if you must chase to the ends of hell, you must capture that fox with the powerful magical ability. It is essential for our great cause.”

 

T/n: I need to rant a bit to get this off my chest. First: Rena is absolute trash. She talks about Shushu being his fiancée but then has the audacity to kiss him while he’s unconscious and even shoves her aside? Asking how she is fine with kissing his fiancée? Um hello, no person with common sense would think you would take advantage of the situation to kiss him when you’re supposedly just giving him an antidote for which your human hands would be enough….٩(๑ `н´๑)۶

And then the biggest disappointment: Franz. What happened to my fluffy patootie? ლ(ﾟдﾟლ)

He didn’t even react to Rena who shoved his fiancée aside, and then there’s this bitter aftertaste during the farewell. I mean, we all could smell from ten miles against the wind that he’s never been and never will be the male lead, but he was downgraded pretty harshly from a solid 9 to a 2. All this time with the “I would put Shushu above everything” only to make this decision in the end and not even give a proper goodbye. Argh. Rant over and out. ( 〃．．)