The Fox's Surrender
The fox's voice echoed through the darkness. "Won't you let me tame you?"
Irene furrowed her brow at my sudden proposal. "……What?"
She must still have been reeling from the extreme tension moments ago. The girl glared at me with fierce eyes, but I simply smiled as if I understood. Easing her guard came first. After all, they were about to become my people.
"I'll take you in. I'll get you out of this hellish place."
"Take us in…… I don't know what you're talking about."
"Take it at face value."
"You'll get us out of here……?"
"That's right."
I nodded to reassure her. Confusion clouded the fox's face, tension flickering in her black eyes. It was only natural—she had been radiating killing intent just seconds ago, and now I had flipped to goodwill. Maybe I'd gone too far scaring her.
"Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
Irene flinched at the apology, then fired off several questions. "……I don't get it. Why would you help us?"
"Call it personal interest."
"Interest, huh."
Irene let out a dry laugh. She radiated hostility, shielding the fallen children behind her. "You want to make us slaves. You're no different from those disgusting auctioneers."
"Hmm. Slavery isn't really my taste."
"Then…… taxidermy?"
"Goodness. What a dangerous imagination."
I lightly denied it. "I simply need friends."
A sinister smile crept across my lips. I had tried to hold back, but the trait's effect was stronger than expected. I already looked every bit the hidden mastermind. To others, this scene would appear as a boy extending his hand to future heroes, the primordial darkness corrupting noble souls.
Irene seemed unsettled by the feeling as well, hesitating on her answer.
"Caution is good, but unfortunately, time is running out."
"……What do you mean?"
"The soldiers guarding the auction house will be here soon."
I had cleaned up the area roughly, but it was only a temporary measure. The auction side would catch on before long. We needed to leave before things got complicated.
"This is your moment of choice."
"……."
"Will you remain in this purgatory of sorrow…… or take my hand and escape?"
I spoke as if offering a choice, but in truth, no real options existed. Fate had always been cruel to the girl. This was the empire's worst auction house—Apple Tree. Even if she was the future Sword Saint, she was still just a sprout yet to bloom. Fighting through countless guards while protecting the children would have been suicide.
"……Ha."
The fox laughed hollowly. She had faced reality. If she didn't choose me, only death awaited. "There was never a choice to begin with."
With that bitter self-mockery, the girl carefully extended her hand—an acceptance.
"I don't trust humans. I know how vile and cruel your kind can be."
"Oh? Speaking from experience?"
"……It's a past I'd rather forget now."
Irene bit her lip. A venomous glint filled her eyes as she recalled painful memories—a deep, lingering hatred. Given the life-or-death situation, she was trying not to offend me, but such intense emotion couldn't be easily hidden.
Her reaction didn't feel strange. Even in the original story's early chapters, Irene had suffered from a severe distrust of humans. So I had no reason to hold a grudge just because she didn't fully trust my goodwill.
"You may remain wary of me."
After all, taming takes time. I was willing to wait.
At my sly attitude, the fox, who had been frozen for a moment, took my hand and muttered quietly. "I hope you don't regret…… this choice."
"I'm certain I won't."
I live for your dawn. As your star shines brighter with each passing day, we will forge our bond across wider wheat fields.
I left behind that brief vow and gently embraced the girl. Though her hand trembled pitifully now, one day it would cleave the heavens. "Really…… you won't hurt the children?"
"I keep my word."
"If that's a lie……"
"If it's a lie?"
"I'll take revenge. Even if I have to stake my entire life on it."
"Haha! Now that's something to look forward to!"
I smiled playfully. While we exchanged light small talk, noisy sounds echoed from outside the passage—clanking armor. The soldiers were coming.
"It's about time we left."
"But how are you planning to escape? I can tell you're strong, but breaking through everyone……"
"Shh."
I cut off Irene's question and winked mysteriously. "It's a secret."
Showing too much on a first meeting would make things boring too quickly. With that light remark, I snapped my fingers.
Crack—!
The darkness covering the entire passage writhed in response. The shadows twisted like living creatures, then surged at my gesture. Thick pitch-black enveloped us. In the next instant, the snakes and foxes were no longer there. Only a single shade remained in their place.
The escape had succeeded.
***
Even that fierce dawn eventually passed. A new day always follows the end of night. By the time morning had flowed into midday, I sat quietly in a chair.
"Hmm."
The familiar scenery filled my view—the lodging where I'd stayed for the past few days after coming down for the academy exam. It was spacious enough to rival most mansions. And comfortable. The background hadn't changed much from yesterday.
"Uuu……"
Except for one thing.
"Big sis…… I'm scared."
"A-are we being sold to bad people? Are we g-going to die……?"
"Sniff, waaah……"
The foxes huddled together in the corner. The children were cowering in terror, each trying to hide. They had been like this since earlier.
"What's the problem…… They looked like angels while sleeping."
Right after the escape, when we returned to the lodging, they had all been asleep. Perhaps from the accumulated fatigue of their harsh life at the auction house. The children had truly passed out. Even Irene, who had seemed to hold on a bit longer, had collapsed not long after.
It must have been exhausting. 'Still, it's a little disappointing.'
I had personally moved them all to beds and even tucked them in with blankets myself. Yet the moment they woke up, they started watching their surroundings warily. The children who met my eyes even welled up with tears. Did I really look that sinister? A slightly sad feeling washed over me. Judging people by appearance. What a filthy world.
"……Sorry. The kids are being noisy. I'll quiet them down right away."
Irene said this while soothing the children. Her voice trembled—she was clearly watching my reaction. She was still on guard. Approaching them all at once wouldn't be easy.
"Why bother trying to calm them?"
"If their crying bothers you…… you might kill them just because they're annoying."
"Excuse me? What exactly do you think I am?"
"……A psychopath."
The surprisingly blunt word came back. That stung a bit. Well, given what I'd shown yesterday, I couldn't argue in good conscience. I gave a bitter smile.
"Just let them cry as much as they want. So they can calm down on their own."
Suppression only intensifies the heart. Since emotions don't work that way, I stopped Irene from scolding them. Poor children. They should have been stars shining innocently, but adults' greed had prevented that. Having walked a thorny path without shining for so long, I hoped they could at least wail freely now that they were free.
"If we wait a little…… they'll all get tired and quiet down."
"Got it."
Irene quietly backed off, her eyes somewhat confused. Perhaps because I was acting friendly, she was furrowing her brow instead. As if she couldn't understand my intentions.
"Huhu."
I smiled quietly. After a brief wait, the crying subsided and a new sound reached my ears.
Growl—.
It came from the children's stomachs. They must have been suffering from hunger. After all, the underground prison wouldn't have served proper meals. The foxes likely hadn't eaten decent food for at least the past three months.
"Sniff…… Big sis, I'm hungry."
"Me too……"
"What do we do? I'll go outside and get something."
"Isn't that dangerous……?"
"I don't want big sis to be in danger……"
The faint conversation reached me. Even while starving, they were worried about Irene. What thoughtful children. I cut in with a light smile. "It seems you need a meal?"
"……Yeah. We've been starving for too long."
Irene flinched but nodded. Behind the girl, the children lay weakly. "Hmm……"
I hummed, resting my chin on my hand. After a brief pause, I spoke in a bored tone while wiggling my fingers. "I shouldn't have brought them after all."
"What……?"
"Kids like that are…… a bit annoying, I suppose."
Following my casual words, the surrounding air grew cold. "I suppose I'll have to do something about it."
"……What are you trying to do?"
Irene stared at me tensely. The sniffling children also sensed something was wrong and held their breath, trembling. I smiled meaningfully. "I didn't want to go this far…… but it's your fault for bothering me."
I had been bored anyway. Perfect timing. Let's play with them for a bit. I muttered to myself and opened a nearby drawer. Then, with leisurely movements, I carefully took something out.
"……!"
"……?!"
The foxes' eyes filled with shock and terror as they saw what emerged from the drawer. Yet amid those reactions, I only smiled cruelly. "Don't be scared. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
The snake whispered softly.