Chapter 76
The fox did not trust humans.
It was because of the memory of her life crumbling due to utter betrayal in a time when she was more immature than now.
-I'm a person doing small business in the capital.
-I came near the village for work, but since it's like this, I'd like to get closer.
-I want to become your friend.
She didn't know how many times she had regretted it.
If she hadn't trusted that man, if she hadn't relied on him so easily, her village wouldn't have turned into a sea of fire.
The cruel memory remained as a huge trauma.
On that day when her world disappeared in flames.
Irene swore.
That she would never trust humans again.
That she wouldn't weakly depend on others and be pathetically betrayed.
The proposition that had grown before she knew it tightly bound the girl.
'I won't be deceived.'
I don't believe it.
I don't rely.
I don't want to.
Even if they seem nice now, humans will betray you when you turn your back.
You must never lean on them.
She had lived with such values.
She thought it would be the same in the future.
It was certainly like that, but.
-Won't you let me tame you?
She ended up meeting a strange boy.
At first, she had no choice.
To save her siblings, she was in a position where she had to accept help even from humans she hated.
She took his hand with the thought that it would be just this once.
-I'll take you in.
-I'll help you escape from this hellish space.
But she didn't let her guard down.
She had made a choice out of necessity, but didn't connect that thin hope to trust.
Rather, she often showed overt hostility.
However,
-I just need a friend.
Even so, the boy didn't back down.
He just quietly stood by her side, only reaching out his hand.
She received help every time.
-You don't need to worry.
-I'm taking good care of your siblings here.
He took in her siblings who had been her everything in life.
He gave a warm home to children who had only been confined in iron bars, and a life where they no longer had to be anxious.
-I've come to save you.
-It's all okay now. You really endured well.
Even when she was caught by dark mages, the boy came running as if it was natural.
He comforted her for a long time while holding the worn-out fox in his arms.
Whispering the kindest words.
-Miss Irene.
-If you can be even a little less unhappy, I'll gladly lend you my strength.
The fox was confused every time.
She didn't want to admit it.
It felt like her hatred towards humans was gradually fading.
So she kept pushing away the approaching boy.
'It's strange.'
Cracks formed in her firm resolve.
Light entered her dark life.
He handed her the peace she had longed for so much.
When she heard his kind words, it felt like the wall she had built deep in her heart would crumble at any moment.
Though she couldn't say it, she felt afraid.
'I mustn't rely on him.'
She mustn't let her guard down.
She mustn't believe it.
But her heart wouldn't obey, and she found herself increasingly leaning on him.
That's why she wanted to be alone even more.
'My matters... I should handle them myself.'
That was also why she didn't ask for help.
She couldn't bring herself to ask.
Because of her foolish stubbornness to not trust humans.
Though it seemed like she was crumbling in a mess like that, the boy was watching over the fox this time too.
He supported her at the most dangerous moment.
-Good job, Miss Irene.
-Lean on me and rest for a moment. I know you have a lot you want to say, but it's okay to postpone it for later.
A voice gently melting her ears.
As soon as she heard it, she felt relieved.
Her fear scattered, her legs lost strength, her eyes grew hot, and her fists clenched involuntarily.
Why did it make her feel so reassured?
'I.'
The fox realized.
That she could no longer deny it.
The emotion that kept surging felt like it would overflow at any moment.
She decided to accept it at last.
'I, you.'
Before she knew it, she was relying on you.
Though she had decided to doubt others for life, you were the only one she came to believe in.
Perhaps it took too long to realize that.
-Won't you let me tame you?
I.
Had already been tamed by you.
So deeply that I couldn't escape.
Struggling while entangled in a spider web only entangles the sticky threads of emotion more complexly.
Though she was afraid of being betrayed again.
"Wake up...!"
She was already clinging to you.
While holding your limp sprawled body, she was dropping tears.
"No... You can't die like this."
She overlapped her lips.
She blew in lukewarm breath.
Until color returned to your face, she lowered her head again and again, conveying breath amidst mixing saliva.
It was a desperately earnest movement.
"Haa, haa..."
Rough scattered breaths.
The boy was now continuing his stopped breath with a peaceful expression.
Irene grasped his sleeve with trembling hands.
As relief dyed her, deep resignation found her.
'Ah.'
She had fallen into a terrible swamp.
Though terrified of possible betrayal, the girl couldn't let go of her trembling hand.
It was too late to escape.
Now she only gave up resistance and prayed.
'Please.'
May this wretched me not be abandoned by you.
Behind a faint murmur.
The fox quietly leaned her body.
***
The boy overcame the crisis.
Though he lost consciousness, he was able to save his life thanks to Irene's quick action.
His golden hair was laid on the deck.
"......"
A peaceful expression.
He looked as if he was sleeping soundly.
Beside the sprawled boy, an exhausted Irene was catching her breath.
She was a mess with her whole body soaked in water.
"Haa..."
Her tired breath stretched out thinly.
They had almost become fish food together.
The waves surging at dawn were truly disastrous.
They were able to survive thanks to her body condition having recovered to some extent.
Irene roughly brushed back her disheveled hair.
"...Now's not the time to be tired."
A low self-muttered whisper.
As if hypnotizing herself, she muttered, then forcibly stood on staggering legs.
Afterwards, she carefully lifted the lying boy's body.
It was obvious problems would arise if left like this.
They had just overcome a big crisis, but he hadn't regained consciousness yet.
It would be difficult to maintain body temperature since they had fallen into the sea.
They needed to change out of wet clothes and rest in a warm place immediately.
'Such a huge ship... There must be guest rooms.'
The girl thought as she took steps.
Just as she was about to enter the ship's interior.
"We meet again."
A voice was heard from behind.
It was Unknown.
Having returned at some point, the young man was tending to his hidden weapons while leaning on the railing.
His black suit was thoroughly covered in blood.
"...!"
The fox reacted belatedly and retreated.
She hid the boy she was holding in her arms behind her, and raised the sword she had been using as a cane.
Perhaps due to her depleted stamina?
Though her arms were trembling, the girl maintained her posture without showing it.
Green hair fluttered at the end of her sword's aim.
"I don't understand why you're being wary, but."
Unknown reacting indifferently.
It was an expressionless face without even a trace of wavering.
At a glance he seemed uninterested in this side, but Irene didn't carelessly let go of her tension.
It was because she remembered the conversation the two had just before.
'They didn't seem to be on good terms.'
At least they were clearly opposing forces.
The content they exchanged was fierce.
Since he said the boy had cut off the Monarch's right arm, Unknown seemed to have enough reason to hold a grudge against this side.
Moreover, wasn't this a golden opportunity with the boy unconscious?
'Damn... There's no way he'd miss such a chance.'
Irene prepared for battle while concluding on her own.
However,
Unknown took no action.
He just silently inspected his equipment and tidied his dirtied clothes.
"Ahem."
"...?"
Her ominous prediction was neatly missed.
As she was floating question marks at that, Unknown who had finished his preparations calmly spoke to her.
It was an extremely businesslike tone.
"You don't need to be wary. I have no intention of attacking."
"What...?"
Irene narrowed her eyes.
She seemed confused.
To refuse to attack in this situation.
Though she stared as if asking his intention, Unknown maintained an indifferent attitude.
He only let out a few incomprehensible words.
"I'm just following orders."
"What do you..."
"He doesn't wish for the star's death. Even if I've caught an appropriate opportunity, it's meaningless if I can't please my master."
Unknown held silence for a moment.
Then he continued.
"...Above all, there's a reason I can't kill him."
"A reason?"
"Unfortunately, I can't speak further. This isn't a matter I can freely talk about."
"......"
"If you're really curious, ask him directly."
Unknown ending the conversation one-sidedly.
His preparations seemed to be finished, as he was now standing on the railing.
He bowed his head politely.
"I'll be going now."
"What?"
"The deal has been fulfilled. There should be no other forces on the ship. I've even disposed of the corpses, so feel free to use it."
"No, wait..."
"Please put in a good word when he wakes up. Then, farewell."
Flutter-!
Unknown leaping outside the railing without hesitation.
The young man disappeared without a trace.
A bird appeared right after.
Wings with a green tint flapped powerfully.
It was gliding through the night sky at high speed, getting farther away.
The fox could only stare blankly at its back.
***
"......"
I opened my eyes with a hazy focus.
What reflected in my vision was an unfamiliar ceiling.
As I traced back faint memories, I soon realized this was inside the ship.
It was exactly like the guest rooms I had glimpsed.
'So it was Irene after all.'
I recalled the crimson hair that had waved before my eyes just before losing consciousness.
How much time had passed?
My head rang due to a throbbing headache.
Perhaps because I had overused my ability, my condition wasn't very pleasant.
I exhaled a deep breath.
'I should organize the situation first.'
Just as I was about to raise my body that had been lying down, shaking off sleep adequately.
Suddenly I felt something strange.
"Hmm...?"
My body felt oddly heavy.
It was as if something soft was pressing down on me.
Following the direction the weight indicated, I looked down to see a completely unexpected scene.
There was a gently swaying crimson tail.
"......"
Black pupils staring intently at me.
The girl who had been lying down with her body overlapping mine showed a faint eye-smile as our gazes met.
"...You woke up."
A calm whisper dyed my ears.
It was none other than Irene.
The fox was lying in my arms as if embraced, wearing only a thin dress shirt.
The ears on top of her head were drooping as if comfortable.
"I was worried... You didn't wake up even after two days."
Irene resting her cheek on my chest.
I could only repeatedly raise bewildered question marks while frozen stiff.
"...?"
What is this?
What exactly happened?