Each Other's One and Only (1)
The fox did not trust humans.
It was because of the memory of her life being utterly destroyed by a complete betrayal back when she was still immature and naive.
-I'm a man who runs a small business in the capital.
-I happened to come near your village for work. Since we're already acquainted, I'd like us to get along.
-I want to become friends with all of you.
She couldn't count how many times she had regretted it. If only she hadn't trusted that man, if only she hadn't relied on him so easily, her village would never have turned into a sea of flames.
The cruel memory had become an enormous trauma. On the day her entire world burned away in flames, Irene swore an oath. She would never trust a human again. She would never show weakness by depending on others, only to be betrayed in such a pathetic way.
The creed that had taken root inside her now bound the girl tightly.
'I won't be fooled.'
Don't trust. Don't rely. Don't want. No matter how kind they seem now, humans will always turn their backs and betray you. Never lean on them. She had lived by that principle. She thought she always would.
Until she met a strange boy.
-Won't you let me tame you?
At first, she had no choice. To save her younger siblings, she had to accept help even from a hated human. She took his hand with the thought that it would only be this once.
-I'll take you all in.
-I'll help you escape this hellish place.
Even so, she never let down her guard. It was a choice made out of necessity; she never mistook that fragile hope for trust. If anything, she openly displayed hostility.
But.
-I simply need a friend.
The boy refused to back down. He simply stood by her side, quietly offering his hand.
She received his help every time.
-You don't need to worry.
-I'm taking good care of your siblings.
He took in the siblings who had been her entire life. He gave those children who had only known iron bars a warm nest and a life free from constant fear.
-I've come to save you.
-It's all right now. You did so well holding on.
Even when the dark mages captured her, the boy came running as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He held her exhausted body in his arms and soothed her for a long time, whispering endlessly gentle words.
-Miss Irene.
-If it means you can be even a little less unhappy, I will gladly lend you my strength.
Every time, the fox felt confused. She didn't want to admit it, but the hatred she felt toward humans was slowly fading. So she kept pushing the approaching boy away.
'This is strange.'
Cracks were forming in her once-solid resolve. Light had entered her dark life. He had given her the peace she had always longed for. When she listened to his kind words, the walls she had built deep in her heart felt like they might collapse at any moment.
She never said it aloud, but she was afraid.
'I must not rely on him.'
She must not let down her guard. She must not believe. But her heart refused to obey, and she found herself leaning on him more and more.
That was why she tried to remain alone.
'My problems... I have to handle them myself.'
That was also why she never asked for help. She simply couldn't bring herself to ask, because of her foolish stubbornness about never trusting humans.
Just when it seemed she would collapse in a broken heap, the boy was watching over her once again. He supported her at the most dangerous moment.
-You did well, Miss Irene.
-Lean on me and rest for a while.
-I know you have a lot to say, but we can save it for later.
His voice melted gently against her ear. The moment she heard it, her heart eased. The fear scattered, strength left her legs, her eyes grew hot, and her fists clenched on their own.
Why did he make her feel so safe?
'I...'
The fox realized she could no longer deny it. The emotions that kept surging inside her were crashing like waves, ready to pour out at any second.
She decided to accept it.
'I... have come to rely on you.'
Even though she had vowed to suspect others for the rest of her life, the one person she came to trust was you.
Perhaps it had taken far too long to realize it.
-Won't you let me tame you?
I had already been tamed by you. So deeply that I could never escape.
Even if I struggled in the spiderweb, the sticky threads of emotion only tangled more intricately. I was terrified of being betrayed again, but...
"Get a hold of yourself...!"
I was already clinging to you. Holding up your limp body, I was shedding tears that fell in heavy drops.
"No... If you die like this..."
Our lips met. I breathed warm air into you. Again and again I lowered my head, passing my breath through the mingling saliva until color returned to your face. It was a desperately earnest act.
"Haa... haa..."
Harsh, scattered breaths. The boy now wore a peaceful expression, his stopped breath continuing once more.
Irene clutched his sleeve with trembling hands. Relief washed over her, but at the same time, a deep resignation found her.
'Ah.'
She had fallen into an unbearably deep swamp. Even though the possibility of betrayal terrified her to death, the girl could not let go of his trembling hand. It was already too late to escape.
Now she could only abandon resistance and pray.
'Please.'
Let this pathetic me not be abandoned by you.
Leaving behind that faint murmur, the fox quietly leaned her body against him.
The boy had overcome the crisis. Though he had lost consciousness, Irene's swift action had saved his life.
Golden hair lay spread across the deck.
"......"
A peaceful expression. He almost looked like he was simply sleeping soundly. Beside the sprawled boy, an exhausted Irene was catching her breath. Her entire body was soaked and disheveled.
"Haa..."
Her tired breaths came out thin and faint. They had nearly become fish food together. The waves that had surged at dawn had been nothing short of a disaster. She had only survived because her body had recovered somewhat beforehand.
Irene roughly swept back her tangled hair.
"...This is no time to be tired."
She muttered to herself as if casting a spell, then forced her wobbling legs to stand. She carefully lifted the lying boy's body. Leaving him like this would clearly cause problems. He had passed a major hurdle, but he still hadn't regained consciousness. Having fallen into the sea, maintaining his body temperature would be difficult. He needed to change out of his wet clothes immediately and rest in a warm place.
'It's such a large ship... There must be cabins.'
Thinking this, the girl began to walk. The moment she tried to step inside the ship—
"We meet again."
A voice came from behind. It was Bulmyeong. At some point he had returned; the young man leaned against the railing, cleaning his throwing weapons. His black suit was drenched in blood.
"...!"
The fox reacted belatedly and stepped back. She hid the boy in her arms behind her and raised the sword she had been using as a cane. Her arms trembled from her depleted stamina, but she didn't show it as she assumed a stance. At the end of her sword's gaze, green hair fluttered.
"I don't understand why you're on guard."
Bulmyeong responded indifferently. His expression was completely blank, without the slightest tremor. At first glance he seemed uninterested in them, but Irene did not let her tension slip. She remembered the conversation the two had shared earlier.
'They didn't seem to be on good terms.'
At the very least, they were clearly opposing forces. The content of their exchange had been brutal. Since he had cut off the Lord's right-hand man, Bulmyeong had more than enough reason to hold a grudge. Moreover, this was the perfect opportunity while the boy was unconscious.
'Damn it... There's no way he'd miss a chance like this.'
Irene prepared for battle, concluding as much on her own. However, Bulmyeong took no action. He simply checked his equipment in silence and straightened his dirty clothes.
"Ahem."
"......?"
Her ominous prediction missed completely. As she stared at him with a question mark floating above her head, Bulmyeong, having finished his maintenance, spoke in a calm tone. His speech was extremely businesslike.
"There is no need to be on guard. I have no intention of attacking."
"What...?"
Irene narrowed her eyes. She looked confused. To think he would refuse to attack in this situation. She stared at him as if asking for his intentions, but Bulmyeong remained utterly indifferent.
"I merely follow orders."
"What does that..."
"That person does not wish for the death of the star. Even if the opportunity is perfect, it would be meaningless if it cannot please the master."
Bulmyeong paused for a moment before continuing.
"...Above all, there is a reason I cannot kill him."
"A reason?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot tell you any more than that. It is not a matter I can speak of freely."
"......"
"If you are truly curious, please ask him yourself."
Bulmyeong ended the conversation unilaterally. At some point he had finished organizing everything; he now stood atop the railing. He bowed his head politely.
"I shall take my leave."
"What?"
"The deal has been fulfilled. There will be no other forces on this ship. I have also disposed of the corpses, so feel free to use it as you wish."
"Wait, just a moment..."
"When he wakes up, please convey my words well. Then, farewell."
Flutter—!
Without hesitation, Bulmyeong leaped over the railing. The young man vanished from sight. Immediately after, a single bird appeared. Green wings flapped powerfully. It soared through the night sky at high speed, growing distant.
The fox could only stare blankly at its retreating figure.
"......"
I opened my eyes with a hazy focus. What filled my vision was an unfamiliar ceiling. As I retraced my faint memories, I soon realized this was inside the ship. It matched the cabins I had glimpsed earlier.
'It really was Irene.'
I recalled the crimson hair that had swayed before my eyes right before I lost consciousness. How much time had passed? A throbbing headache made my head ring. Perhaps because I had overused my abilities, my condition was far from pleasant. I let out a deep breath.
'First, I need to sort out the situation.'
I shook off the remaining drowsiness and tried to sit up from where I lay. Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation.
"Hm...?"
My body felt strangely heavy. It was as if something soft was pressing down on me. Following the direction the weight indicated, I lowered my gaze and saw a completely unexpected sight.
There was a gently swaying crimson tail.
"......"
Black eyes stared directly at me. The girl who had been lying with her body overlapping mine gave a faint, gentle smile when our eyes met.
"...You're awake."
A calm whisper colored my ear. It was none other than Irene. The fox, wearing only a thin white shirt, lay nestled against my chest. The ears on her head drooped comfortably.
"I was worried... Two days passed and you still wouldn't wake up."
Irene pressed her cheek against my chest. I could only remain frozen in a daze, firing off question marks filled with confusion.
"......?"
What is this? What on earth happened?