“Baby fox. …Did you learn human speech?”
“Father, have you forgotten? I was originally human.”
While other foxes passively appended “nyang” to the end of their phrases, the words from my snout came out with precise enunciation.
[System]: You can now articulate any thought freely.
…This was the original fox’s benefit, generously gifted to me by the system.
Snake Rim rubbed his eyes and looked at me again, as if the combination of my cute appearance and dignified voice didn’t sit right with him.
“I missed you. You know how I feel, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. Baby fox.”
“I’ve forgotten how to be human. Because I became subordinate to Kessler.”
“How did you come to make such a choice?”
“Is there any way I can become human again? I want to keep the subordination if possible.”
“To become human again… there is a way. But I worry whether someone as small as you could manage it.”
“Please share your wisdom, great lizard Snake Rim. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“…It’s not possible here. But there, it might be.”
“There, meaning…”
“A place of dazzling lights, towering buildings—where shadows weary from the night gather to mingle, but during the day, there’s nothing. Neo City. But only the chosen may enter. Baby fox, you are my son. I have no doubt you have the ability to reach that place, but you’re still so young… that worries me.”
[System]: You’ve obtained a hint about the ghost town Neo City.
“Thank you for your precious advice. I’ll carve it into my bones.”
Neo City, huh. I’d seen it once before, beyond the car window while escaping the game with Kessler. A future-punk city, glittering with neon lights beneath a pitch-black sky. So that’s where I have to go…
But even if I do make it there, that would only be after completing the Swamp section.
‘In the end, I’ll have to talk to Kessler as a fox.’
Until now, I’d pretended I couldn’t speak as a fox and communicated only through chat. But for faster communication and convenience…
I squeezed my eyes shut.
No. I want to protect Kessler’s memories. I’ve played the baby act so well—if I suddenly speak in a deep adult male voice, it would shatter everything.
‘I’ll just type faster. And more than anything, I need to hurry up and become a lizard.’
Just as I clenched my front paws and made my resolution—
“However, from the whispers in the scales, I’ve heard troubling rumors about Neo City lately. In that place where supposedly nothing remains… can you truly become human again?”
Nyang!
Filled with determination, I barked out my resolve from my snout.
***
To raise manual dexterity, you had to engage in precise tasks—pottery, bone assembly, painting, calligraphy, and so on.
However, once a certain level was reached through repetition, progress would slow. That’s when you had to switch things up and try other activities.
—It’s really delicious kkadeuri
—The best kkadeuri
“Haha, is it tasty? I’ll make it even better for you.”
Jung Da-hoon was grilling frog legs in butter.
[System]: Lizard Mikimoka praises your cooking. Dexterity +2
Sweat poured from Jung Da-hoon’s forehead like rain, but just watching the lizards happily eat the food he made filled his heart with satisfaction.
The process of raising dexterity was a non-stop grind. In the mornings, he sorted metal type in the archive; in the afternoons, he cooked.
He’d come close to mastering dexterity last time but failed at the last moment. This time, he was determined to achieve it, and his days were busy.
He was boiling a tailbone stew using lizard tails when a shadow approached.
“Break time’s from 3 to 5.”
“Jung Da-hoon.”
“Kessler-nim, what’s going on? Let’s eat first.”
Despite the invitation, Kessler shook his head.
“It’s an emergency.”
“What is it?”
If Kessler said it was an emergency, it was definitely related to Yeo Woo-rim. Knowing that, Jung Da-hoon’s expression also turned serious.
Originally, the two had an awkward relationship for various reasons, but attending Yeo Woo-rim’s matches and fan sign events together had created a sense of close camaraderie through shared tastes and fandom.
Kessler dug through his bag and pulled out a camera.
“…This is.”
“It’s the camera I picked up when you died before.”
“…Are you giving it back to me?”
Kessler reopened his bag and carefully took out the photos he’d taken, handing them over. In them, a fox—drawn with only the vaguest outlines of its features in 144p quality—was flamboyantly shaking its body.
“…Is that your dexterity showing?”
“About a 13.”
Even that had only increased alongside his art stat during the process of displaying the fox photos.
“……”
Jung Da-hoon was left speechless.
“…Well, you’ve been jobless for a while, so that’s understandable. But my dexterity’s still pretty low too.”
“This is a dilemma.”
“How about using the Relationship Panel Camera for the shoot?”
“That disappeared when I switched to the subordination status. From the Baby Fox Care Panel, I can’t export any photos. And the storage capacity is tiny.”
“But you work at Kinder. Can’t they add an export function to the Care Panel?”
“Even if they do, it’ll take a while to implement.”
“Then… you won’t be able to take any photos in the meantime?”
To the two of them, Yeo Woo-rim was peak and prime every single day. Capturing the baby fox exploring new maps wasn’t just important—it was a once-in-a-lifetime priority.
“So I’m thinking of changing jobs to a photographer. What should I do?”
“…Sorry? I’m not a photographer, so I wouldn’t know.”
“You’re not?”
“No, I was a Murderer Class, remember?”
“Right, I forgot because your photos were so good.”
Kessler selectively remembering only things he cared about was something Jung Da-hoon had long gotten used to.
“Hmm, you really don’t know. I figured you of all people would.”
It was a real headache. In the Shadow Castle, holding a camera gave you a simple preliminary quest that allowed you to easily switch to a photographer class. But in the second map, the Swamp Zone, there were far more restrictions.
“If you have a lot of film, why not photograph natural scenery to level up quickly and acquire the class?”
“I don’t have much film. Only about three thousand rolls.”
“That’s a serious issue. You’ll need to conserve them.”
There was a way—repeatedly photographing the lizard families and acquiring a title to self-promote into the class—but no one knew how much film that would burn through before results showed.
As the two were deep in thought, a familiar sound rang from a distance.
Nyang-nyang. Nyang. Nyang-nyang.
Yeo Woo-rim, once again in baby fox form, was boldly walking through the tall grass. That soft, snowy appearance and adorably confident gait held the two of them captive. They couldn’t tear their eyes away.
“His cuteness is off the charts right now.”
“This is the Baby Fox Edition.”
After a moment’s contemplation, Jung Da-hoon made up his mind and said,
“Whether it’s ordering more film or getting the feature added, resolve this as fast as possible. In the meantime, I’ll take the photos for you.”
That sounded like a solid plan to Kessler. No one knew Jung Da-hoon’s photography sense better than him.
“I’ll support you however I can. I won’t let anything get in your way while you shoot.”
With a solemn face, Kessler handed over his camera and, in exchange, took hold of the ladle stirring the bubbling lizard tail stew.
“Take care of the restaurant.”
Nodding, Jung Da-hoon entrusted Kessler with the food service and dashed toward the baby fox.
[System]: The bottom of the pot is starting to burn! Stir more frequently.
[System]: The broth has reduced too much. Add water to adjust the consistency.
[System]: The broth is too bland. Season it with condiments.
“…What exactly am I supposed to add?”
Holding both salt and pepper in his hands and hesitating in front of the condiment shelf, Kessler was still unsure—when another alert popped up.
[System]: Keep stirring to prevent burning.
[System]: !!! ‘Galbitang with a Strange Flavor’ has been completed.
The dish was done, though not without hiccups. Kessler tilted his head, puzzled by the outcome. It was supposed to be lizard tail soup—how did it end up becoming galbitang? There was no point in fussing over it now.
The restaurant was already packed, the tree-stump tables overflowing with customers.
–You’re so handsome kkadeuri
–Can’t you feed me yourself kkadeuri?
Female—and some male—lizards swarmed to ogle Kessler’s face. Passing lizards joined in too, and soon the rookie chef was overwhelmed by a crowd he could barely manage on his own.
[System]: 100 servings of ‘Galbitang with a Strange Flavor’. A dish completed by Player Kessler’s touch.
Kessler looked around at the bustling swarm of lizards and spoke.
“Line up.”
–Kkadeuri?
“Line up behind the food. Grab the tail of the one in front of you. Food will be served starting from the front. And only a hundred portions are available, so keep that in mind. The oldest ones go first. Gotta respect the elder-lizards.”
–Kkadeuri, kkadeuri.
At that firm command, the lizards snapped into action, tail-to-tail like magnets, forming a long line. Kessler immediately began ladling out food, starting with the first one.
Not long after, once the food had been distributed, Kessler gauged the lizards’ reactions.
–Kkadeuri?
Their faces, tasting the hot broth, were full of uncertain expressions.
“How is it?”
–It tastes like you boiled belly meat, but I’m seeing tailbone kkadeuri.
“So… not good?”
–Mmm…
Silence fell over the lizards. Kessler scooped a ladleful and tasted his own cooking.
“……”
Silence.
“It’s my first time. I won’t charge you, so don’t leave leftovers. I’ll cook better tomorrow, so make sure to come again.”
–Got it kkadeuri.
[System]: You’ve made a bad-tasting dish. Dexterity –1
Kessler let out a sigh and stared down at his hands—hands that were only ever good at handling the baby fox.
