The Final Masterminds Are Obsessed with My Foot Jelly
I wriggled free from Princess Kailian’s warm embrace with great effort, my fluffy body sliding out like a snake.
“Umm… our little Blanc… so soft and puffy… like a pig…”
“Kyuu!”
Who said I was a pig?!
I yelped indignantly, my voice sharp and sassy.
I’m a slim white tiger cub, not some clumsy pig!
Kailian, my doting butler, was curled up fast asleep with me as her pillow, her strong arms wrapped around my soft little body in a cozy, unbreakable hold.
“Kyaa… kyuuung…”
You stupid butler, you’ll break my bones if you squeeze any tighter!
I huffed, puffing out my cheeks, and thumped Kailian’s arm with my tiny paws.
“Ehehe… don’t go yet… I’ll comb your hair…”
“Kyuu! Kyaaaaang!”
Let me go! I’m suffocating!
I twisted and squirmed with all the energy of a milk-fed cub. My hind legs kicked once, and I slipped out completely, tumbling free from her grasp.
Success!
“Kyuu…”
My sleep habit really does get worse every single day.
I nuzzled Kailian’s cheek with my paw, then stamped my front paw hard on her forehead for good measure.
That’ll leave a mark when morning comes. This is just fair revenge.
With my revenge satisfied, I wagged my fluffy tail and trotted across the soft carpet.
Morning light filtered through the thick curtains, painting the room in delicate bluish tones.
I planted my front paws on the windowsill and gazed outside.
“Kyuu…”
Beautiful…
It really was breathtaking.
All night long, silent snow had blanketed the entire Snowy Mountain, turning everything into a pure white canvas.
The untouched snowfield created the perfect, untouched picture.
Whoosh—
A cold draft slipped through the window gap, stinging my nose and chasing away the last traces of sleep. My whole body jolted awake.
“Kyaarrgh!”
I gaped wide, jaw unhinged, and let out a huge yawn.
I wanted to run and play on that snowy field right this second—my paw pads were tingling with excitement.
At that exact moment, Lumia, the little white fox cub who had been sleeping peacefully beside me, finally opened her sleepy eyes.
“Uuuung… hmm…”
She rubbed her eyes, noticed me standing on the windowsill, and grinned with the corners of her mouth lifting in pure delight.
“Oppa… did you sleep well…?”
“Kyung?”
Did you sleep well too? Did you wake up too early because of me?
“Yeah… but what are you doing outside, Oppa? What’s over there?”
Lumia mirrored me, yawning with her tiny mouth wide open.
“Kyaarrgh…”
Her bright red tongue and tiny pointed fangs looked impossibly adorable.
I padded over lightly and gently cupped her soft white cheeks with my paws.
“Hm? What are you doing, Oppa?”
“Kyuu?”
Stay still. I had to wake up and wash my face first.
I stuck my tongue out and carefully licked her forehead, cheeks, and ears.
Lick… lick…
“Uung… Oppe’s licking feels so nice and cool… hehe.”
Lumia closed her eyes tightly, letting me handle her face without a single complaint.
The tip of her white tail wagged happily behind her, showing how happy she was.
“Kyuu.”
Done washing up. When we stand up, we’re always doing this first.
“Ehehe. Oppe smells good after you licked me.”
“Kyuu.”
Of course. I used sacred energy, but it still feels amazing.
Now that we were both awake, we looked at each other.
Looking out at the untouched snowfield, we reached the same conclusion together.
“Oppe, let’s go outside and play! I wanna stomp through the snow!”
“Kyuu.”
Of course. Staying inside would be torture.
I couldn’t resist the first step into the snowfield.
I turned my head and carefully checked the entire room.
“Blanc… hehe, your belly… it’s gotten even fatter…”
“Kyuu.”
No more paw massages for you today or tomorrow.
Passing by Kailian’s sleepy mutter, I spotted Tower Master Rosalia asleep at her desk.
“Mmnyaa… just one little paw massage…”
“Oppe, if your glasses auntie sleeps like that, won’t it be uncomfortable? Poor thing.”
“Kyung.”
That’s why you always complain you’re tired.
On the other bed, Saintess Lina and Haetae were curled up together.
“Hehe… just a little more… then it’ll be complete…”
“Kyuu.”
I don’t know what they’re completing, but it sounds suspiciously ominous.
I quietly checked on the sleeping Haetae, then returned to my spot.
Perfect. All the butlers were deep asleep.
“Kyuu.”
Now’s the time. Let’s go!
“Yep!”
Lumia and I crept silently toward the door, stepping as lightly as possible. Lumia stood on her toes to turn the doorknob carefully.
Click…
“Huh…!”
“Kyuu!”
Why is it so loud?!
Our tails stood straight up as we froze, holding our breath against the loud hinge creak.
My heart dropped to my feet, but thankfully none of the butlers stirred.
“Kyuuu…”
I thought my heart was going to burst.
Safely slipping through the crack, we walked down the hallway with excited little steps.
“Eh…?”
“Eh… Shinsoo-nim…? And Lumia…?”
Two knights on night patrol met us face-to-face right in front of them.
“S-Shinsoo-nim? And Lady Lumia? What are you doing out here at this hour?”
“Ah no! It’s freezing and dangerous at dawn without guards! You’ll get hurt!”
The earnest knights gasped and blocked our way.
“If Her Highness finds out, we’re doomed! Come inside right now!”
Just as I was about to firmly refuse, I quickly raised my white front paw and pressed it gently to my mouth.
Lumia copied me perfectly.
“Kyuu.”
Shhh. We’re going on a secret walk in the snow. Just close your eyes once. There’s no danger nearby.
“Shhh! Oppe and I are secretly walking in the snow! Be quiet, Knight-ssi! Secret!”
Lumia winked with a cute, playful wink and whispered.
“Eep…!”
“Kyuu…”
The Empire’s top elite knights staggered from just a little cuteness.
Their faces turned bright red, and they covered their mouths with both hands in a daze.
“Kyuuk…”
S-so cute…
They exchanged panicked glances.
One wanted to stop us, the other wanted to let us go, but the winner was clear: the second option.
The knights nodded at us.
“… We’ll stand guard nearby. Go ahead.”
“… We’ll keep this secret.”
The heavy double doors of the residence creaked open, and the sharp, cold air rushed in like a welcome hug.
It was far more refreshing than the stuffy warmth inside.
Squeak… squeak…
“Waa! It’s so cold and refreshing, Oppe! I love stomping in the snow!”
“Kyuu! Kyaaaaang!”
Yes! That’s the feeling!
We rolled and tumbled through the untouched snowy mountain before sunrise, jumping and playing to our hearts’ content.
“Oppe catch me! Oppe can’t catch a pig!”
“Kurung!”
If I really catch you, you won’t escape!
White breath puffed from my mouth with every exhale, and snowflakes clung to my whiskers.
We were running wildly across the plain near the residence when my steps suddenly stopped.
Lumia, who had been shaking snow off her paws, looked up.
“Why are you stopping, Oppe? What’s over there?”
Far ahead, on a large rock covered in thick white snow, two spotted beasts sat quietly.
“Oppe! Look there! Those are super big spotted cats!”
“Kyuu.”
You idiot, those aren’t cats—they’re snow leopards.
The leopards were gently biting the fluffy tips of their own tails, as if guarding the warmth from their noses.
“Puff. Why are they biting their own tails? Are they trying to eat their tails because they’re hungry…? Want me to try?”
“Kyung.”
It’s probably just because their noses feel cold. Don’t copy me.
The snow leopards stared straight at us, as if they had noticed our chatter.
The moment our eyes met, they blinked in surprise, then leaped lightly from the rock.
Tap-tap-tap-paah!
They crossed the snowfield at a surprisingly fast pace, closing the distance to us in no time.
It didn’t look like an attack…
To be safe, I stood in front of Lumia.
A mere snow leopard was nothing to me—I had already defeated bears and shot beams from my mouth—but for Lumia, they might have been a threat.
“Grung…”
“Eh? Oppe, these guys don’t look scary at all.”
“Kyuu?”
They lowered their heads, rubbing their big heads and necks against my cheeks and body.
“Grung… golgol…”
“Kyuu?”
What? Do you know me? Why are you being so friendly?
The snow leopards seemed to be checking my aura, and they kept showing their closeness.
When I stood there awkwardly, a larger snow leopard suddenly dropped with a thud and rolled over, exposing its soft white belly.
“Oppe, look at the belly! It looks super fluffy!”
“Kyung.”
Showing the belly means you want to play, right?
Showing the belly from a predator was a sign of welcome and no harmful intent.
More importantly, I couldn’t resist the temptation of that fluffy belly.
I jumped onto it without hesitation.
Then I tucked all four paws underneath my body and rolled on top like bread dough.
“Kyuuung…”
Nice… there’s really no better natural mattress.
The warmth of the snow leopard’s belly completely erased the chill from the snowfield.
Beside me, Lumia was hugging the remaining snow leopard’s neck.
“Oppe! This fur is so soft!”
We rubbed cheeks and fur together in a happy mess.
The peaceful morning snowfield filled with the joyful sounds of beast laughter.
How long we rolled like that…
The snow leopard I had been lying on secretly got up, bit my fluffy white tail lightly, and tugged.
“Kyung?”
Why are you leaving? You want me to follow?
They released my neck and walked ahead.
Following the leopards through the snowy rock crevices, we reached a cozy nest.
“Waa! It’s so warm in here!”
“Kyuu.”
Quietly. There’s something here.
Inside the nest, on a floor layered with dry grass and fur, four tiny spotted cubs huddled together.
“Pyaek? Pyaek?”
The babies looked at me, a stranger.
They should have been scared, but instead they made cute sounds, like they had met their happy mother.
“Pyaek pyaek!”
“Pyaek! Kyaaaaang!”
The little snow leopards blinked at each other for a moment, then rushed toward me.
“Ky, kyuu!”
Ah—! Don’t bite! I’ll get hurt!
“Puhahaha! Oppe is such a good dad cat!”
In an instant, the tiny cubs stuck to me like magnets.
The sweet smell of the young cubs, the soft warm feeling of their skin and fur, and the pleasant weight pressing from all directions.
“Kyuu…”
Do whatever you want.
I gave up trying to push them away and flopped onto the floor, feeling their body heat all over me while closing my eyes.
“Garung. Pyaek.”
“Golgol… gorong…”
Without realizing it, a deep purring song escaped me.
Honestly, the feeling was great.
The snow leopard couple watched me with happy eyes.
“Oppe is selfish! I want to play too!”
Lumia carefully squeezed in beside me and hugged the little cubs.
I melted in the warmth of the babies.
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