“All the skeletons shall receive a pet—an Arctic Fox—to hold in their arms.”
The skeletons responded fervently to that outrageous pledge. Although startled, I quickly regained my composure and closely observed the situation. Typically, the final act always received the most enthusiastic reaction. Given that he was the last to go, perhaps it was merely a coincidence.
Yet, unease lingered, prompting me to glance instinctively at Kessler. He, who had likely been watching me all along, offered a comforting look.
Wait… Why is he looking at me as if to reassure me?
Calm down. There’s no way skeletons would fall for a promise to hand out just one fox. Economically and strategically, my pledge was far superior. Therefore, the skeletons’ choice would naturally be…
Moments later, the results appeared.
– Golgolgol!!
– Golgolgol!!
‘Yuri’ has received 79% of the vote!!
Fireworks exploded above the final pledger’s head. His teammates rushed out, embracing one another tightly as they rang the Skull Bell.
“…That’s absurd.”
The once rational skeletons… had chosen foxes over economic gain. Even players who had opposed his proposal voted for that guy. The result was overwhelmingly one-sided.
Ding-ding, the bell rang.
Player ‘Yuri’ is awarded 3,050 Leader Points.
Considering that the top leader score before the quiz started was 844 points, this round had effectively determined the leader.
The skeletons threw their arms up high, cheering in unison.
My heart accepted the outcome, but my mind couldn’t comprehend it. Why, why?
As I stood stunned, Kessler approached me.
“Kessler, I seriously don’t get it.”
“What part don’t you get?”
I met his puzzled eyes directly.
“Why the skeletons made that choice. It doesn’t benefit them in any way.”
“…You don’t get it?”
His expression mirrored the disbelief shared by our entire party.
One month. It was a short-term position of power. Laws could always be revised. But once a law is passed, changing it becomes difficult. It would have to go through the Elderskull Council, and there wouldn’t be any player brave—or foolish—enough to go against the skeletons just to fight for user rights.
So no, it wasn’t something shallow like “the law is temporary, but a fox is forever.”
“All the skeletons just picked the fox over money… Is the market price for foxes that high these days?”
Kessler placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t need a reason to love a fox.”
“What? What do you mean, ‘no reason’?”
“Because that’s how it was for me. Whether someone else’s skull cracked or not… it was you for me.”
“…Thanks.”
At this, the rest of the party regarded us with expressions that screamed we were being unbearably cheesy—exactly how I’d looked at Bori and Jung Da-hoon before.
Anyway… right now, we needed to identify why we lost.
“Yeo Woo-rim, you still look like you don’t get it.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s probably why I lost. Anyway, I’d like to offer a sincere apology to everyone who believed in me and supported me as leader.”
“Aw, come on! Second place is still an amazing achievement!”
But second place wasn’t an achievement at all. There were no points awarded, just a narrow defeat. That’s simply the nature of competition.
“If you ask me, I think you’ve underestimated the power of a baby fox, Pro.”
“Underestimated?”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Jung Da-hoon’s observation. Kessler added his own thoughts.
“We surveyed the opinions of 1,000 skeletons. Their number one wish this year? Spending Christmas with a fox. That guy made that dream come true.”
“Exactly. The whole reason the fox even became available as a character was because the skeletons kept demanding it.”
“That’s right.”
I was rendered speechless.
…So that’s why?
“Same for us—and a lot of other users, too. The reason we picked the fox at the start of the game was because it starts with 100% affinity with the skeletons.”
“Ah… I knew about the affinity part, but I didn’t know it went that deep.”
“How could you not know that?! You’re the one who got the most love from them, Yeo Woo-rim!”
“I guess baby foxes wouldn’t know.”
“Why not?!”
“Because he’s already used to getting adored all the time. People tell him they love him every day.”
At Kessler’s murmured comment, Jung Da-hoon quietly nodded in agreement.
“You were born to be loved, Pro. It’s how it should be.”
It felt as if they were talking about my fans. Indeed, my fans often treated me like their own son, much like how these skeletons adored foxes.
“It’s not like I didn’t realize the skeletons liked me when I was a fox. I just didn’t know it was this intense… In any case, it was clearly a misjudgment on my part. I apologize.”
The quest was drawing to a close. And without any surprises, player Yuri claimed the vacant seat.
Player ‘Yuri’ has secured a total score of 3,513 points and is confirmed as the 1st Leader! Congratulations!
Wearing the massive skull crown bestowed upon him by the skeletons, he climbed the stairs, swaying his white tail.
“I am King Yuri! Gol-gol-gol!”
—Gol-gol!
—Gol-gol-gol!
[System]: (Global) The Leader Forum will begin shortly. You may propose additional pledges or hear explanations on the execution of current pledges.
“They really don’t hold back with these things.”
“Kessler, this is your game.”
“Exactly.”
To prepare for the forum, skeletons began patting down cushions on the floor to set up seating, and the players cozily settled into them.
Just as Kessler took a seat and I moved to sit beside him, another team swiftly grabbed the spot.
“……”
An awkward exchange of glances followed. Damn, first-come-first-served. I was looking around for another spot when Kessler, seeing me standing awkwardly, tugged me onto his lap.
“You want me to sit here?”
“Nyang.”
“Don’t answer me like that.”
“Okay.”
He then buried his cheek against my shoulder. Glancing around, I saw many other players sharing cushions as pairs. Though I was probably the only one actually perched on someone’s lap… Anyway.
When Leader Yuri sat down at the interview table, loud and tacky ppong-jjak music blared from the speakers. InterviewGol appeared on stage, shaking his joints to the beat.
—Interview beginning. Congratulations.
“Thank you.”
—If you have questions, raise your hand and speak.
At that moment, perhaps carried away by the music, Kessler playfully bounced my butt up and down on his knee.
“What are you doing?”
“Should I stop?”
“Only when it’s just the two of us…”
InterviewGol, scanning the user seats, suddenly snapped its jaw shut, eyes landing on us.
—Click-click. That person raised their head.
[System]: You have been granted a chance to speak.
“Wait, I didn’t raise my hand though…”
I stood up reluctantly, as if I’d been forced into a game of whack-a-mole. Behind me, Kessler tidied up my wrinkled pants.
Well, since I’d already been picked, I might as well ask.
“You pledged to give every skeleton an Arctic Fox to cuddle. The skeleton population in the castle alone numbers 100,000. How exactly do you plan to supply that many foxes?”
“I have my methods.”
“That’s what I’m asking about—what method?”
“It’s classified. I can’t disclose it.”
“Excuse me?”
Even the skeletons listening in from the back, arms crossed, tilted their heads slightly in confusion.
“Alright then, I’ll announce it now.”
[System]: (Global) 1st Leader ‘Yuri’ is issuing a new quest.
‘No way.’
Amidst users smiling obliviously at the situation, a few of us, myself included, felt growing unease.
Please let there be at least one perceptive assassin among us.
“Aah, don’t tickle me~”
“Hehe. Da-hoon~”
Kessler moved closer to me, away from the cuddling Bori and Jung Da-hoon, hugging my leg tightly.
I stroked his head and reassuringly said, “Yes, yes, hyung’s here.”
Meanwhile, the quest was completed.
A new quest, <Fox Hunt> , has been issued by the 1st Leader!
It was at that moment I realized something had gone terribly wrong.
Quest Issued:
All the skeletons in Shadow Castle desire a fox. However, the number of foxes is tragically insufficient. The newly appointed Leader has issued an order to all players: you are to make up for the shortage of foxes!
—Reward: 100% Affinity with Skeletons, Premium Fox Keychain
—This quest will remain active until it is successfully completed.
※ Fox players are excluded from participating in this quest.
Shouts and gasps of disbelief erupted all around.
“That lunatic…”
“Is he out of his damn mind?”
While the foxes barked joyfully, human players were practically in tears.
“This is grounds for impeachment.”
“I’d rather pay double fees than be used like some pledge-delivery mule.”
Even though Leader Yuri had announced it boldly, the backlash was clearly getting to him—he was sweating bullets and trying to calm the crowd down with a placating gesture.
“Alright, let’s all give it our best. I’m sure you’re all busy, so let’s wrap up the forum here.”
Just as the leader timidly stepped off the platform, an intense flash of light exploded, blinding us all. Reflexively shutting my eyes, I heard a piercing whistle tear through the air. When I reopened them, droplets of blood sprayed over a wide area.
“H-Hah!!”
“Gah!!”
Players sitting near the front jumped up in shock as droplets of blood splattered toward them.
“So there was an assassin. Took them long enough, huh?”
I casually remarked to Kessler and turned toward him. Oddly, he wasn’t looking at me but at the empty seat beside him.
It was Bori’s seat.
