The Carriage Ride and the Black Scale's Shadow
In the jolting carriage returning from the southern front to the imperial palace of the capital, I lounged on the plush, cushioned seat of a luxurious vehicle, my head pillowed on Princess Kailian's warm thigh.
《Ururuung… Kyauuung…》
With every gentle sweep of her delicate fingers across the back of my neck and spine, a contented rumbling purr rolled from my throat, the deep, soothing melody that always eased my spirit.
This is paradise.
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, and the fatigue from days of blood-soaked battlefields melted away like snow in spring warmth.
《Kyauuaaarm…》
Drowsy bliss loosened my jaws until I gaped wide open in a full yawn.
Thump.
《……?!》
Right there on my extended tongue, something long and soft and utterly unexpected slipped inside.
I snapped my eyes open wide and craned my neck to peer into my mouth, heart leaping with alarm.
It was none other than Princess Kailian's index finger.
Wait… what is this? Did I finally complete my bucket list?
《Puhuhu.》
Kailian’s lips curled into a wicked little smile as she took in my startled expression, then began to wiggle the finger inside me with playful, taunting strokes.
“Our little Blanc, your mouth is so warm~? Your tongue feels so soft.”
《Kyaa, Kyauuuk?! Kyaaak!!》
Hey, butler… save the fancy words for later.
I tried to yank my head back in embarrassment, but Kailian simply cupped my chin and held firm, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Aww, you’re adorable. They said when a cat yawns, you put your finger in its mouth and it looks completely silly. Turns out it’s true~.”
That’s my butler, all right.
I glared at her smug, teasing grin and furrowed my brows.
Then I clamped down hard on the finger wiggling inside my mouth.
Crunch!
《Aaaahaaaaak!!》
Kailian’s scream cracked with pain right from her lips.
“It hurts! It hurts! Blanc! Let go! Let me go!!”
《Kyuuuung.》
You think it’s funny when you’re the one messing around?
Half-lidded eyes locked onto her as I refused to release the finger, grinding my teeth with deliberate pressure.
“Aaaah! Sorry! I was wrong! I didn’t mean to bite so hard—!”
Kailian’s eyes welled with tears, apologizing nonstop, but I deliberately ignored every word.
Our butler has been a little silly lately. Let’s keep her that way.
《Kyauu?》
With that sweet promise—double the snacks the moment we reach the palace—she finally let go.
Spit.
I flicked the saliva-dripping finger out of my mouth, leaped down from her lap, and flopped onto the opposite seat with a dramatic thump.
《Kyau.》
Our butler really has the luckiest day in history.
I licked my front paw, wagged my fluffy tail, and flicked the seat in her direction as a clear threat.
Don’t give me snacks and I’ll bite your neck next time.
《Haah… my finger…》
Kailian stared at her glistening hand in dismay, cheeks puffed out in a pout.
“Uuu, you pig… always so greedy… but the little tooth marks are kind of cute.”
She blew on her finger with a pout, muttering about how unfair it was, yet I simply tuned her out.
Hours later the carriage finally rattled through the imperial palace gates.
“We have arrived, Your Highness!”
Stepping into the familiar hallway of the princess’s palace, I leaped onto the soft carpet and shook my entire body, stretching my limbs with a satisfied sigh.
Home. Best place in the world. No blood smell.
The scent wasn’t exactly bad, but it wasn’t exactly the kind of aroma I wanted to breathe for long hours.
Kailian shrugged off her armor with a tired sigh and turned to me.
“Blanc, go play with Lumia in the room. I’ll go report to Grandfather Emperor about the southern front.”
《Kyung, Kyau.》
Grandpa, here’s the news and snacks.
I already had one strip of the palace’s special beef jerky tucked between my teeth, wagged my tail once, and gave a quick nod.
Kailian sighed, balancing a heavy stack of documents and a thick-wrapped box as she headed toward the Emperor’s office.
Knock knock.
“Enter.”
The heavy door swung open. Emperor Carchion, buried in paperwork, lifted his head with a tired smile.
“Tough day, Kailian. How did the southern front fare?”
He set his pen down, crimson eyes kind despite the exhaustion.
Kailian bowed deeply, placing the documents on his desk.
“As you commanded, Father. The southern barbarians were crushed with minimal losses thanks to Blanc’s efforts. The remaining soldiers have been disarmed and imprisoned. The ringleader, the barbarian chieftain, is safely secured in the underground dungeon beneath the capital.”
“Oh? The little guy really shone.”
Carchion chuckled, stroking his beard.
“Good work. I’ll handle the interrogation myself. Rest for now, daughter.”
“Thank you, Father. Though…”
Kailian’s face grew serious. She carefully slid the cloth-wrapped black box across the desk.
“This is the problem.”
“What is it?”
Carchion glanced at the box with mild curiosity.
“When the barbarian chieftain lost her arm, she still tried to reach Blanc. This is what she wanted to give him.”
He carefully unwrapped the cloth and opened the box.
A gleaming black scale pulsed with malevolent energy, its surface writhing like living darkness.
《……!!》
The instant his eyes landed on the scale, the Emperor’s golden irises widened in shock. The gentle warmth toward his daughter vanished, replaced by a chilling aura of danger.
Hours earlier, in the princess’s palace, I had been lounging on the warm lap of my butler when Lumia suddenly dashed over, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Big brother! I want to see how you’ve grown!”
“Same here, as a divine beast I’d love to see the real me once.”
《Kyau, Kyung.》
Once all my butlers gather, I’ll show you. It takes more energy than I expected, though, so it’s not something I’ll do often.
I chewed my jerky, savoring Gumiho’s fluffy tail brushing my back with motherly affection.
《Kyung.》
By the way, that barbarian chieftain had something strange.
“Oh? What kind of item could it be that would make our little White Tiger call it intriguing?”
《Kyau.》
A black scale, definitely. It felt wrong the moment I saw it.
Gumiho’s tail suddenly froze mid-stroke.
“Black… scale?”
《Kyung.》
Yes… black scale.
When I turned to look, her eyes were pure white with terror. The nine fluffy tails that usually swayed gracefully stood stiff as pines, trembling violently.
《K-Kyau?》
Eh? What’s wrong?
“Mother…? Why are you like this?”
Lumia tugged at Gumiho’s sleeve in worry, but the nine-tailed fox simply clamped both hands over her mouth and sank to the floor, trembling.
“Aaaah… this can’t be. That disgusting thing… appeared again…?”
《Kyuu?》
You know what that scale is?
Gumiho stared at me with unfocused eyes, panting as tears poured down.
“It… it was the weapon that slaughtered my entire family. The one that killed my sister Seolwa and dropped me into that cursed village.”
The fear in her gaze twisted into a storm of hatred and rage so intense the very floor seemed to crack beneath it.
“That scale is the filth of a monster. Anything it pierces becomes stained forever.”
Gumiho’s trembling body radiated such raw fury that I instinctively took a step back.
“Mother! It’s okay! Stop crying!”
Lumia threw her arms around the fox, sobbing as she hugged her tight.
…So the one who killed Lumia and Gumiho’s people was just that scale?
Gumiho gently stroked Lumia’s back, pulling her into a warm embrace.
“It’s alright… Mother was so scared I cried… now I’m fine.”
“Mhm… I’m fine now, Mother. I’ll be right here with you.”
Lumia shifted into her little fox form, nuzzled Gumiho’s cheek, then scampered straight to my side.
《Kyung.》
But… do I really need to be scared?
Mother comes by sometimes, and Grandpa watches over me too.
Honestly, even if I hadn’t grown, I could have taken down a dragon in one bite. Why should I be afraid?
…Maybe the one who sent that scale should be the one scared of me.
《Kyung.》
You’re the one hunting me…?
It was clear they had already tried to touch me once.
And right before my eyes stood Lumia and Gumiho, still scarred from that encounter.
《Kyung.》
If you’re going to fight in my territory, you’d better come prepared to lose your lives. Fair is fair.