Melody Fox Tail-Wag
Melody Fox didn't emerge from Passage 1. Instead, she just stuck out her butt and kept wagging her tail. What the hell was she doing? I had my suspicions, but I wasn't about to rush over carelessly. It could be a lure, bait for some trap she'd set.
I ignored the fox entirely. No glances her way—just focused on grilling the Pigking meat. Of course, I snuck peeks now and then. You never knew when she'd strike. Gotta stay vigilant.
Pretending not to notice seemed to work. [Kyuu?] The fox hesitated, then slunk out of Passage 1. Fully exposed now, still wagging her tails nonstop.
'Keep ignoring her for now.'
Sticking to my guns, I kept at it. She let out a dejected whine and slowly approached, step by step. [Kyuu...] Swish swish.
She wasn't walking forward normally—nope, showing off her backside, tails swaying as she backed toward me.
That's when it happened. I'd been side-eyeing the fox with annoyance when Art Pega Unicorn snapped irritably.
[Y-you shameless...! You bitch! The explorer's my mating partner! Don't you dare encroach!]
[Explorer! That lewd fox needs to be chased off right now... Huh?]
Art Pega Unicorn trailed off, narrowing her eyes at the fox.
[...Could that be a Melody Fox?]
"You know this monster?"
[Well... I think so. It's probably a Melody Fox. Super rare, so I've never seen one myself, but it matches what big bro described perfectly.]
"Not dangerous?"
Nerfed to B-rank danger, actual threat S-rank—already checked. I meant was she vicious.
Art Pega Unicorn got it. [From what I heard, they're incredibly docile. First time seeing one, though, so not 100%. And before I was born, Mother spent a little time with one.]
"Ah. One of the monsters your mom tamed?"
[No. Female, so couldn't tame her... That's what I heard.]
"Lived together untamed, like Medical Mushroom—friendly to other creatures."
[Yes, probably.]
Still on guard. Could be a freak coincidence with her mom's Melody Fox. This one might not be the same—or Min Hyung-seok's. Looked identical, though, so same species.
Art Pega Unicorn scratched her head. [Explorer.]
"Yeah?"
[I said chase her off earlier... but I take it back. You must tame the Melody Fox.]
"Must?"
[Yes. Her abilities will definitely help us.]
She paused meal prep to explain Melody Fox's powers.
Singing with a beautiful tone. That's what Art Pega Unicorn described.
Seemed useless at first. But the details changed my mind.
'...This is broken.'
Melody Fox had absurd, cheat-level powers that were hard to believe.
Buffs. Not temporary—permanently amplified the listener's strength.
Plus, aided evolution, even transformed species to match desires sometimes.
In short: Permanently boosted monster power, promoted racial changes and natural evolutions.
'Not my first evolution-helper monster, but this one's on another level.'
S-rank and up, even Demon King tier. Balance-breaking cheat.
No permanent stats or transformations I'd heard of.
'Won't work on SS-rank probably, since she's S. If she evolves... maybe.'
Could I evolve? Become non-human? Questions later—tame her first.
Should be easy. She was eyeing our food, tails begging.
[Kyuuu...] Grumble.
Her stomach rumbled melodiously, even hunger sounding sweet. I grabbed Pigking meat and approached cautiously.
"Hey, fox."
[Kyuu?]
Set it down. "Hungry? Here, eat up."
[Kyuu, kyuuu!]
Tails perked, she bolted over. Eyes cracked open briefly—then shut again.
[Kyup, chomp chomp!]
Starving, she vacuumed the meat. I watched fondly, then placed my hand on the red spot at her tail base.
Like with Medical Mushroom, discoloration spread fast.
By the time other scout teams returned to the shelter, taming was done.
Finished logging her in the compendium, I eyed Melody Fox. She sprawled happily on the floor, belly up.
Art Pega Unicorn, mid-chat with me, glanced over. [So the Domination guy had a Melody Fox?]
"Dunno if same one, but yeah, had an identical fox."
[Hmph. Even if he dominated her, he wouldn't know her true value. Her powers only work on friendlies, from what I heard.]
Only for those she truly loves, Art Pega Unicorn said. Forced obedience? Useless.
"Different for Helper Trait?"
[Of course. Taming isn't artificial. It's like compressing time—not brainwashing.]
"Time compression?"
[Time together builds affection, trust, intimacy. Taming accelerates that massively. Even hostiles warm up eventually. Unless total enmity—no dice.]
Made perfect sense why hostile monsters took longer.
"So anyone short of blood enemy can be tamed. Except pre-tamed ones."
[Yes.]
"Strength affects time too?"
[Yes. Probably.]
"Thanks for explaining. Could've said sooner."
[Sorry. Forgot at first. Just remembered...]
Bottom line: More friendly, more help from her powers. Trust = max benefits.
"Future's looking up. Never dreamed of ticket-free evos for my monsters."
Luck struck out of nowhere. Floor-lounging Melody Fox? Jackpot.
[To get that, we need her trust. Us, not just you.]
"Right. You bond, you benefit."
[Don't love her tail-wagging at you... but I'll try.]
She approached resting Melody Fox. [Hey.] Poke with hoof.
Melody Fox, eyes shut: [Kyuu?]
[I don't like you. But I'll be nice. Got it?]
[Kyuu.] Head turn. No interest.
These two? Oil and water.
Two days later, Labyrinth Day 27.
Melody Fox got along baseline with my tamed monsters—friend of friends. But not deep enough for song effects.
Except one building trust fast.
[Kyuu. Kyuuu?]
[Shee! Shikyuu!]
Dog Spider-001. They clicked weirdly well.
Day one, Dog Spider one-sided crush. Persistence paid off—Melody Fox warming up.
Dog Spider mimicking cries lately. [Shikyuu! Shikyuu!]
Her closed eyes seemed elegant? Dog Spider tried too—then bonk![Shikyuu!] Rock collision city.
Dog Spider stuck to Melody Fox outside scouting.
Evening after today's runs: [Kyuu~ Kyuuu~]
Her song filled the shelter as usual. Dog Spider stared rapt, lost in melody.
[Kyuu~ Kyuuu~]
[Shikyuu...]
[Kyuu~ Kyuuu♪]
[Sheeee...]
Golden threads erupted from Dog Spider's body. Endless strands cocooned her instantly into a massive golden pupa.