Official Little Brother Status
My footsteps heading back to Kailian felt heavier than usual.
It wasn't my heart that was heavy—my tail was simply too thick and dense now.
“Oppa~ Come with me~”
A human-shaped fox yipped after me, nuzzling and clinging tightly to my thick tail as if playing chase.
“Kyaaah!”
I flicked my tail slightly, trying to shake her off, but she only laughed “Kyuuu!” and held on even tighter.
This… my tail is a toy now?
A faint twinge of annoyance flared in me, but the memory of her crying earlier made me swallow it. Just once, I’d let it slide.
Maids hurrying through the corridor froze when they saw us. They couldn’t help but stare at the unidentified little boy clinging to a divine beast’s tail, tiger ears and fluffy tail on full display.
“Oh my…”
“Who is that child? Those ears and tail…”
Their eyes widened, but the maids of the imperial palace knew better than to make a scene. They quietly pressed against the wall, letting us pass.
Their gazes sparkled with pure curiosity and delight.
I dragged the fox along, tail still firmly in her grasp, straight toward Kailian’s room.
“Blanc! Where have you been…?”
Kailian shot up from her chair the moment she saw me. When she spotted the fox trailing behind me, her mouth fell open.
“…Who is this?”
Her eyes locked onto the fluffy white fox ears sprouting from the boy’s head and the thick, wagging tail swaying behind him.
Rosalia and Lina followed, stuttering through their explanation.
“T-Your Highness, please don’t be alarmed— this is the fox we rescued earlier.”
“What? A fox? The beast turned into a little kid?”
Kailian scanned the boy with disbelief.
The child ignored her entirely, eyes only for my tail.
“Kyaa…”
So this happened… my butler.
“Ehehe, Oppa’s fur is super soft~”
She ignored everything around her, plopped down on the floor, and started playing with my tail. She brushed the soft white fur between her fingers, rubbed her cheeks against it, and beamed with pure joy.
“What… is this…?”
While Kailian gaped in shock, my patience finally snapped.
The fox suddenly grabbed the tip of my tail in her mouth and began slobbering all over it like cotton candy.
“Kyaaa!”
The wet, warm, slimy feeling spread from the tip all the way up.
“Grr…”
This is too much… even as my butler I can’t stand it!
I hadn’t even let Kailian play with it yet.
I glanced back. The fox was still happily chewing on my tail, staring up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Hehe… I feel safe now…”
I lifted one front paw. Claws tucked away, I swung my thick, soft pink paw pads directly toward her forehead.
*Thump!*
A soft, squishy impact echoed.
“Aya?”
The fox blinked in surprise, rubbing her forehead.
It wasn’t painful—I’d simply given her a gentle forehead bonk to snap her out of it.
If I really hit her, even a bear would have its jaw crushed. She didn’t deserve that.
She was supposed to cry or pout when scolded, but instead the fox’s forehead was flushed red and she was grinning like a cat who got into the catnip.
“Ehehe, Oppa’s the best!”
“Kyaa…”
What am I supposed to do with you?
I sighed and pressed my paw against her head to steady her.
Only then did she notice my mood and finally stop.
But a small worry lingered.
Kailian’s expression turned grave after she understood the situation.
“So… this fox is a spiritual creature or a monster, but she can turn human?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Our examination found no trace of malice or dark mana. Intelligence-wise, she’s on the level of a small child… but she’s surprisingly sharp.”
As Rosalia spoke, Kailian crossed her arms and glared at the fox. The boy remained glued to my tail, tail still wagging even with my paw on her head.
“No.”
Kailian’s voice was firm.
“Who knows what will happen if she turns on you? She might bite Blanc.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“If she’s around Blanc, her saliva will soak into my Blanc’s fur. I can’t stand my Blanc getting dirty.”
“Kyuu…”
Is that really it? You’re just jealous because I didn’t play with you enough?
Her motives might be more complicated, but Kailian had a point. Letting an unknown entity into the princess’s palace was dangerous for security, and the sight itself was simply inappropriate.
“Send her out. Turn her loose in the forest or raise her in the Magic Tower. I don’t care.”
At Kailian’s commanding tone the fox trembled.
She understood the mood immediately, hugged my leg, and burst into tears.
“I’m scared… I don’t want to go… I’ll stay with Oppa…”
Big teardrops the size of chick peas rolled down her cheeks.
“Waaah! Wolves are scary! I’ll stay with Oppa!”
Kailian frowned at the wail.
“It won’t work that way.”
She reached for the maids to summon them.
That was when I stepped in.
*Tap.*
I climbed right up onto Kailian’s lap.
“Blanc?”
Kailian called out in confusion.
“Kyaa. Kyaaaong.”
I’ll take responsibility. Please let her live with me.
I stared straight into her eyes. My words wouldn’t reach her, but my intention surely would.
The life I saved, I had to protect to the end.
That was the responsibility of anyone who had saved someone.
More than anything, without the companion I ate meals with every day, the meals themselves would taste empty.
“Blanc… you’re seriously planning to raise her?”
I nodded.
“It could be dangerous. She might be a handful.”
“Kyong.”
It’s fine.
I jumped down from Kailian’s lap, licked the fox’s tears, and the girl dove into my arms with a relieved sigh.
Kailian’s face flickered with jealousy, worry, and genuine embarrassment.
In the end she let out a long sigh and gave in.
“Haa… alright. If that’s what you want.”
She squatted down to Kailian’s level.
“But there’s one condition. Blanc, you will teach her properly. If she causes any trouble, I’ll kick her out immediately.”
“Kyaa!”
Understood!
I proudly lifted my paw. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she knows her place in the hierarchy.
“And you.”
Kailian pointed at the fox.
“… I’m sorry for being a little cold earlier.”
The unexpected apology made the fox’s and my eyes widen.
Kailian’s ears had turned bright red.
“Kyaa…?”
My butler has grown up… this owner is so touched his mouth is watering…
“What? What’s with that look, Blanc?”
I tuned out Kailian’s words. The murderous intent I used to see in her eyes when we first met had long since vanished.
She was recovering just fine.
“Fox, don’t bite my tail. It’s mine.”
The fox, facing Kailian from behind me, nodded.
“I know… I won’t bite…”
She said it, but she still kept sneaking glances at my tail.
Kailian had given permission, but one final boss remained.
The Emperor and Crown Prince Demian.
Without their approval, no one could keep this fox cub inside the palace.
We headed straight for the Emperor’s office.
“Your Majesty, the Divine Beast requests an audience.”
The office doors opened. Emperor Carchion and Demian, buried in paperwork, looked up.
“Blanc is here? …Hm? What’s the little one behind him?”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the boy peeking out from behind my tail.
After hearing Kailian, Lina, and Rosalia’s explanation, Carchion set aside his papers for a moment.
“A fox rescued by Blanc… and she’s a spiritual creature, you say?”
“Blanc brought her home, but it’s dangerous to allow an unknown being inside the palace.”
Demian voiced the opposite opinion. The atmosphere grew heavy. The fox clung even tighter to my tail, trembling.
Yet the Emperor’s reaction was unexpected.
“Hehe~”
Carchion stroked his chair, eyes sparkling with interest as he alternated between me and the fox.
“Blanc, do you wish to keep this child by your side?”
“Kyaa!”
Yes! I want to live with her!
Honestly, I’d done so much for the imperial family. What was one brother to ask?
Of course… I’d still get plenty of meat from the Emperor in return.
“Haha! A straightforward answer. I like it!”
The Emperor rose and stepped closer. The fox instinctively held her breath with a tiny “Hyik!”
Instead of scolding her, he reached down and gently tousled my head, smiling.
“Then… isn’t this a splendid opportunity for the Empire’s divine beast to learn responsibility?”
“But… Emperor Father—”
“Demian. Blanc made the choice. We must respect it. How much has this child given us?”
The Emperor bowed deeply, meeting the fox’s eyes.
“Little one, what is your name?”
“I… I don’t have one…”
The girl answered in a voice thick with embarrassment.
“No name? Hehe, what an interesting child.”
The Emperor chuckled warmly and patted the fox’s head.
“Very well. I grant permission for you to remain in the princess’s palace as Blanc’s younger sister.”
Carchion grabbed my cheek with a mischievous grin and gave it a light stretch.
“Kyaaah…”
Stop…
“Raising a spiritual creature that’s a fox… that’s quite interesting.”
He released my cheek.
“Kyaa!”
It hurts… you butlers! Do you think my paw pads are memory-metal?
Since Blanc is so happy about it, how could I possibly refuse? Adding one more guest to the palace won’t make the Empire collapse.
You’re surprisingly cool about it?
“Kyaa!”
Anyway, thank you!
My Emperor grandfather is truly broad-minded. It’s just that his relationship with his children is a bit clumsy.
After receiving my greeting and nodding with satisfaction, the Emperor turned to Kailian with a playful glint.
“By the way, if this child becomes the apple of Blanc’s eye… she might neglect Kailian.”
“A-Ah Emperor Father!!”
Kailian shot up in alarm.