Chapter 8
"Won't you let me tame you?"
A voice ringing out against the dark background.
At my proposal, Irene furrowed her brow.
"...What?"
Perhaps because she had been pushed to an extreme situation until just now.
The girl was glaring this way with somewhat fierce eyes, but I smiled as if I understood.
First, I should probably ease her wariness.
After all, they're going to become my people from now on.
"I'll take you in. I'll help you escape from this hellish place."
"Take us in... I don't understand what you're saying."
"You can take it literally."
"You'll let us leave this place...?"
"That's right."
I nodded to indicate that she could relax.
The fox's face colored with confusion.
A light of tension was contained in her black eyes.
Well, it would be confusing if someone who was exuding killing intent until just now suddenly turned benevolent.
Maybe I overdid it with scaring them.
"Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
I offered a casual apology.
Hearing that, Irene's shoulders twitched, and then she asked a few questions.
"...I don't understand. Why are you saying you'll help us?"
"Let's call it personal interest."
"Interest, huh."
Irene lets out a bitter laugh.
She showed strong hostility as she hid the fallen children behind her back.
"You're planning to make us slaves. You're in league with those disgusting auction house people."
"Well, slaves aren't really my taste."
"Then... taxidermy?"
"My, what dangerous imagination you have."
I lightly denied it.
"I simply need friends, that's all."
A lecherous smile flows across my lips.
I was trying my best to restrain myself, but the effect of the trait was more powerful than I thought.
Before I knew it, I had taken on the perfect appearance of a villain.
I wonder if this scene would appear like this to others:
A boy extending his hand to a future hero.
The primordial darkness corrupting a noble soul.
Irene seemed to feel uneasy too, as she was hesitating to answer.
"It's good to be cautious, but unfortunately, we don't have much time left."
"...What do you mean?"
"The soldiers guarding the auction house will be rushing in soon."
I had roughly taken care of the surroundings, but it was a temporary measure.
It wouldn't be long before the auction house side noticed.
We had to leave this place before things got troublesome.
"It's time to choose."
"......"
"Whether you'll remain in this purgatory overflowing with sorrow... or take my hand and escape."
I spoke as if telling her to choose, but in reality, there was no choice.
Fate was cruel to the girl.
This place was Apple Tree, the worst auction house in the Empire.
No matter if she was the future sword star, she was still a bud that hadn't bloomed.
For such an Irene to attempt escape with the children while facing numerous guards would be nothing short of suicide.
"...Ha."
The fox laughs dejectedly.
Had she faced reality?
If she doesn't choose me, only death awaits her now.
"There was never a choice to begin with."
Following that sticky self-deprecation, the girl carefully extended her hand. It was a sign of acceptance.
"I don't trust humans. I know how vile and cruel your kind is."
"Oh? Speaking from experience?"
"...It's a past I've forgotten now."
Irene bites her lip alone.
Perhaps recalling painful memories, her eyes were filled with a venomous aura.
It was a terribly lingering hatred.
Given that her immediate life was at stake, she seemed to be controlling herself so as not to offend me, but such intense emotions are not easily hidden.
Actually, this reaction didn't feel strange.
Even in the early parts of the original work, Irene suffered from severe distrust of humans.
So there's no reason for me to hold a grudge against her for not fully trusting the goodwill I'm offering now.
"It's fine if you're wary of me."
After all, taming takes time.
I was willing to wait patiently.
The fox, who had frozen for a moment at my glib attitude, took my hand and muttered quietly.
"I hope I won't regret this... this choice now."
"I'm sure you won't."
The dawn I live in is yours.
As your star shines brighter with each passing day, we will form a relationship in an even wider wheat field.
I leave a brief covenant.
I generously embraced the girl.
Although it was a hand trembling pitifully now, it was a fragment that would one day cut through the sky.
"Really... you won't hurt the children?"
"I'm someone who keeps his word."
"If it's a lie..."
"If it's a lie?"
"I'll definitely take revenge. Even if I have to devote my entire life to it."
"Haha! That sounds exciting!"
I smile playfully.
As we engage in such small talk for a while, busy noises are heard from outside the corridor.
Clanking armor. It seemed the soldiers were coming.
"It's about time we leave."
"But how do you plan to escape? I know you're strong, but breaking through all of them..."
"Shh."
I stop Irene's question.
Exuding a mysterious atmosphere, I winked lightly.
"It's a secret."
If I show too much at our first meeting, you might get bored quickly.
With that bland remark, I snapped my fingers.
Snap-!
Immediately after, the darkness covering the entire corridor begins to writhe.
The shadows that were twisting as if alive soon surge following my gesture.
Sticky pitch blackness envelops us.
The next moment.
The snake and foxes were no longer there.
Behind where they had suddenly disappeared, only a splash of shadow remained.
The escape was successful.
***
Even such a fierce dawn passes.
At the end of night comes a new day.
With morning having passed and the sun high in the sky, I was sitting quietly in a chair.
"Hmm."
What appears in my vision is a familiar scene.
It was the lodging where I, who had come down to take the Academy exam, had stayed for the past few days.
It's as spacious as any decent mansion. And comfortable.
The background was no different from yesterday.
"Uuugh......"
Except for one thing.
"Sis... I'm scared."
"Are, are we going to be sold to bad people? Are we, are we going to d-die...?"
"Sniff, hueeee......"
Foxes huddled together in the corner.
The children were thoroughly frightened, each hiding their bodies.
They had been like this for a while now.
"What could be the problem... They were like angels when sleeping."
Right after the escape, when we returned to the lodging, they were all asleep.
The harsh life in the auction house. Was it due to the fatigue accumulated during that time? The children fell asleep as if they had fainted.
Even Irene, who seemed to hold out a bit, collapsed not long after.
It must have been tough.
'Still, it's a bit disappointing.'
I even moved them all to beds and personally covered them with blankets.
As soon as they woke up, they were wary of their surroundings.
The children whose eyes met mine even teared up.
Do I look that lecherous?
I felt a bit sad.
Judging people by appearance. What a dirty world.
"...Sorry. The kids are being noisy. I'll quiet them down soon."
Irene says this while comforting the children.
Judging by her trembling voice, she seemed to be watching out for my reaction.
It seems I'm still being regarded with caution.
Perhaps it won't be easy to approach them at once.
"Why bother trying to soothe them?"
"If the crying bothers you... you might kill the children because they're annoying you."
"Huh? What exactly do you think I am?"
"...A psychopath."
A more direct word than I expected came back.
That stings a bit.
Well, given how I acted yesterday, I can't refute it in good conscience.
I smiled bitterly.
"Just let them cry freely. So they can calm down on their own."
Oppression only intensifies the heart.
Because emotions can't be controlled at will, I stopped Irene's urging.
Poor children.
They should have been stars shining innocently, but couldn't due to adults' greed.
They've walked a thorny path unable to shine for so long.
I hoped that now that they're liberated, they could cry their hearts out fully.
"If we wait a bit... they'll all get tired and quiet down."
"Alright."
Irene quietly retreats.
Her eyes looked somewhat confused.
Perhaps because I was taking a benevolent attitude, she was furrowing her brow instead.
As if she couldn't understand my intentions.
"Huhu."
I smile quietly.
After waiting like that for a moment, the crying subsides and a new noise reaches my ears.
Grumble-.
The sound coming from the children's stomachs.
Are they suffering from hunger?
Well, they probably weren't given proper food in the underground prison.
The foxes likely hadn't eaten decent food for at least the past 3 months.
"Sniff... Sis, I'm hungry."
"Me too......"
"What should we do. I'll go out and try to get something."
"Isn't that dangerous...?"
"I don't want big sis to be in danger......"
The faintly heard contents of the conversation.
To worry about Irene even in their starved state, they were thoughtful children.
I interjected with a light smile.
"It seems you need a meal?"
"...That's right. We've been suffering from hunger for too long."
Irene nods, though she seems to flinch at first.
Behind the girl, I can see the children sprawled out weakly.
"Hmm......"
I touch my chin while letting out a nasal sound.
After pausing for a moment, I flicked my finger with an indifferent reaction.
"Maybe I shouldn't have brought them."
"What...?"
"Children like that are, how should I put it... a bit annoying."
Following my casually uttered lines, the surrounding air sinks coldly.
"I think they need to be dealt with a bit."
"...What are you trying to do."
Irene glares this way, extremely tense.
Even the sniffling children, seeming to realize the situation wasn't normal, were trembling while holding their breath.
I smiled meaningfully.
"I didn't want to go this far... but it's your fault for annoying me."
I was just getting bored. This works out well.
Shall I play with them for a bit?
Muttering inwardly, I opened a nearby drawer.
Then I carefully took something out with a leisurely hand.
"...!"
"...?!"
The foxes confirm the object that came out of the drawer.
Eyes colored with shock and fear.
But even amidst such reactions, I only smiled cruelly.
"Don't be scared, everyone. I'm sure it will be fun."
The snake whispered softly.