A Fox's Worry and a Maid's Tears
The massive leg, which seemed like it wouldn't flinch even if a sword came flying at it, twitched the moment I leaned against it.
"…Buin, are you alright?"
"Pardon?"
Though his fox form didn't show expressions clearly, his voice carried a restless edge.
Thanks to Sohwi arriving just in time, I'd escaped serious injury, and I thought I'd made it clear I was fine. Yet here he was, asking if I was okay, which made me wonder if my message hadn't gotten through.
It hurt a little, but did it look worse from the outside than it felt to me? I couldn't check my own neck, so maybe the bruising was pretty bad.
"Did I get bruised or something? I can't see it."
"You did, but… that's not it…"
If he wasn't worried about the bruise, then what made him think I wasn't okay?
Sohwi, who always seemed so composed, hesitated, lips parting and closing several times before he finally spoke.
"I was asking if you're scared. Buin… you weren't too frightened by this form of mine?"
His careful consideration was directed solely at me—not Ryu Sua, but the person right in front of him.
The feelings aimed purely at me felt pretty damn good.
"Since I woke up in the forest…"
"Enough of that story already! I'm fine now!"
I was happy, but why was he veering back toward the disaster of day one? Was he pretending to worry just to tease me? Suspicion started creeping in.
Why keep bringing up his future wife's screw-up? To stop the tale in its tracks, I pressed even closer to his leg, mumbling to brush it off.
This fox. That worried look in his eyes had vanished without a trace, replaced by a sly grin!
"Aaaah~ Foxnim!"
"Oh dear. I'd forgotten about the bug."
That thing—its body crushed to leave only the head—was still croaking out a voice as clear as day.
Dilated pupils, a severed man's head emitting an ecstatic, fervent woman's voice—it was creepy as hell. Even seeing it right there felt like watching some shoddy edited video.
Especially with those black jaeng lumps crawling nearby.
"Cleanup first."
With those words, blue flames erupted from the fox's mouth. They billowed out like breath, light and effortless, yet enough to fill the entire plaza in an instant.
A whoosh, and the lumps ignited, vanishing in a flash. Those spewing jaeng turned to ash and scattered. Strangely, I felt none of the heat.
What Hwaya and the servants couldn't reduce despite their hard work disappeared like a lie. Watching the plaza clear in seconds left me feeling oddly hollow.
"Aaaagh!! It's hot!!"
Unlike me, the lone head seemed to feel the flames' heat, screeching like it was being scraped raw.
"Aaaah hahih!!!"
And for some reason, it looked happy. That made it even worse.
What was this feeling? Unpleasant, but "unpleasant" didn't quite capture it.
I couldn't pin down the exact name or way to describe it.
"Foxnim! More. Give me more!"
The voice beaming at Sohwi grated on me.
"I! I was reborn for you, Foxnim!"
The way it called for Sohwi was irritating.
"I have all your precious memories, feelings, heart—everything!!"
Its pleas to be noticed were revolting, hard to sum up in one word. A first-time sensation, yet strangely familiar.
"So accept this girl's heart! Let me stay by your side! I'm the one who fits you be—"
"Disgusting."
As if he'd heard enough, Sohwi stomped out the burning head with his paw.
Then he rubbed his foot repeatedly on the ground, looking just like a big dog trying to shake off something gross. It was kinda cute.
"Pfft, puhahaha!"
What the hell was that? All that intimidating build, and he acts like a puppy! A big dumb puppy doing silly things!
The bad mood from moments ago felt like a lie as laughter bubbled up uncontrollably.
"Buin? What's so funny?"
"No, haha!"
I couldn't stop laughing for the longest time, so Sohwi shifted back to human form.
"I wanted to see the fox a bit longer, you know?"
"This form's more comfortable right now."
"Why the sulk? Relax your face. I wasn't teasing."
"What're you on about."
He was pouting. Totally sulking.
His face screamed, I'm never showing my true form again.
The jaeng were handled, the creepy head gone.
We left the servants to tidy up the village and returned to the mansion, so I figured things were wrapped up.
"Madam. This is all my fault."
"I'm fine, so lift your head. Hwaya, please!"
The moment we got back to my room, Hwaya who'd followed prostrated herself and refused to get up.
"How can I lift my head when I've been so disloyal?"
She blamed herself for not keeping her word that two would be safe, for failing to guard me to the end.
I got why, but this all started because I was stubborn. She didn't need to beat herself up this much.
But no matter how much I said she was fine, she wouldn't listen! I was always grateful for Hwaya, but this made me a little mad.
"It wasn't your fault. I asked you to do something dangerous, and I'm safe, so it's okay."
"You've been scarred—how could that be safe?"
"No! Please!"
I snapped loudly, and she flinched but kept her head down. On the way back, she'd kept glancing at my neck—that pitiful look didn't suit her. Was she overdoing it?
I hadn't checked a mirror yet, but it didn't hurt much—just some bruising. Was it really that bad she couldn't face me?
Class systems, master-servant dynamics—they were fiction to me. With my modern sensibilities so sharp, it all felt so distant.
Ryu Sua might've been used to it, understood it. But I wasn't Ryu Sua.
"Hwaya. Lift your head."
"But…"
"I'm telling you to."
But it was probably the same for her. Forcing my views and values on her wasn't right.
So I decided to yield first. Not perfectly, but I'd think from the position of "Madam."
Bowing was everyday for her, so she was used to it. Weird that bowing made my authority higher, though.
"Lift your head."
"Yes, Madam."
Finally, Hwaya slowly raised her head. Her gaze still dropped to the floor, but it was progress.
…Then I noticed the cuts and scrapes on her face, big and small. I hadn't seen on the way back since she trailed behind.
She'd flown and rolled on the ground— of course she wasn't unscathed. Her clothes hid worse, probably.
"Hwaya. Are you okay?"
"Nothing compared to you, Madam."
Her worry only for me, ignoring her own state—it stung cold.
"…Hwaya. Let me be honest. I hate when you act like that."
"Sob…"
She shuddered visibly at my words. As if I'd ever hate her.
From day one, her devoted kindness. How could anyone not grow fond of that?
Even if it was for Ryu Sua's body I inhabited, it was still huge and grateful.
"Why say such harsh things to someone precious to me?"
So Hwaya was already dear to me, someone I liked.
Seeing her put herself last was always painful.
"I want you to care for yourself as much as you care for me—the Hwaya I like."
"Madam…"
Oh no, now she looked like she might cry. Had I said something wrong?
"Um… how about a hug? Sorry for always making you do stuff."
I spread my arms wide, flashing an awkward smile.
Tears welled in Hwaya's sunset-orange eyes, like fox rain at dusk.
She sobbed silently, shoulders heaving, hands fluttering unsure where to go.
I pulled her into my embrace. She stiffened in shock—must've felt bad for her.
"Hwaya. I don't know much right now."
I tightened my arms a bit.
"I've spent most of my time awake with you, so I barely know the other maids' faces."
No original story knowledge, no body memories—I was a blank slate.
"Everything I know is mostly from what you've told me."
You were the first to teach me things.
"I'll mess up because I don't know stuff, and I'll be stubborn too."
Like a chick's first sight being me—Hwaya.
"Help me out then, like now. But don't blame yourself so much. Um… yeah."
Yeah. Like a mom.
"Like a mom… is that weird? Then wet nurse?"
"Baby…"
Um… I was an adult man. "Baby" felt off…
Better not say it now.