In the dark space, a face as pale as dough filled the view. No matter how warm and friendly it appeared, the stark terror felt at the moment it grinned was indescribable.
[System]: An unknown threat has been detected. The skill ‘Protective Instinct’ has been activated.
The eyes widened, and the field of vision expanded. Fear gripped the body, causing it to shrink back. The tail thrashed wildly, and the sound of a fox barking incessantly escaped from the mouth.
Meow! Meow! Meow!
The iron bar door opened. The door, which had kept me trapped all this time, opened far too easily, as if mocking me. A hand, darker than any shadow, reached down towards me. I quickly thought of a plan to survive.
If necessary, I would use the ‘Declaration of Peace Zone’ skill. However, the skill’s duration was only one hour. I had to completely escape from Jung Da-hoon within that time.
If I failed? I would have to use humanization to transform into Yeo Woo-rim.
After that, the only option would be to try to persuade him with words. I didn’t know how effective it would be, but since he was supposedly my fan, if I revealed my identity and explained the situation, maybe his admiration would prevent him from logging out.
‘Would that really work?’
It was a thought I had already entertained once. This was a matter of life and death for me, but for them, it was just a game. They could give up as easily as they could disregard someone else’s life.
The reason I couldn’t make a decision easily was that I still didn’t know what kind of person Jung Da-hoon was. And right now, the ‘black X’ above his head was too disturbing.
The moment his hand lifted my body, I executed the ‘Declaration of Peace Zone.’
[‘Baby Fox’s Declaration of Peace Zone’
This area has been declared a peace zone. Please cease all hostilities.]
The gust of wind that emanated from me ruffled Jung Da-hoon’s hair. But that was all. I was still in Jung Da-hoon’s grasp.
No matter how much I struggled, it was useless. My teeth were not sharp enough to bite, and my claws were not sharp enough to scratch.
All I could do was flail my four legs helplessly.
“Why? Are you scared? Afraid I might kill you?”
Jung Da-hoon let out a low laugh. If you’re truly my fan, you shouldn’t do such terrible things under a fan nickname. I tapped the fan badge on my left chest.
He grabbed my front paw.
“How could I kill something so small and cute?”
So, he wasn’t going to kill me right away. What was he planning?
“You’re the one who framed me as the Murderer, right?”
I widened my eyes, feigning innocence. Besides, his accusation wasn’t entirely accurate. I had never explicitly named Jung Da-hoon; I had referred to him as “Jung O-O.” Without a subject, it was practically meaningless.
“Why didn’t you reveal my name? Did you just want to warn me?”
Even with my mouth open, all that came out was a series of meows. I couldn’t explain myself, and my growing confidence only cornered me further.
Just then, an event quest announcement appeared:
[<The Vacant Throne> has arrived!]
‘Huh?’
It was a quest I had never seen before, and Jung Da-hoon seemed equally surprised. We both paused our standoff to focus on the screen.
[Event Quest: <The Vacant Throne>]
[The position of ruler of the Shadow Castle is currently vacant, and thus, the next survival quest has not been determined.]
[Claim the vacant position to become the ‘Temporary Decision Maker’ and decide the survival quest!]
‘What is this…….’
“What is this……”
Strangely, Jung Da-hoon and I had the same reaction. He continued reading the quest details.
[The ‘Temporary Decision Maker’ will be chosen through votes from the skeleton villagers. Use various methods to gain the most votes.
※ Elections will be held daily.]
There was no time to strategize. I had to escape the moment I saw an opening from Jung Da-hoon.
However, even that slight window of opportunity was quickly closed.
[‘Jung Da-hoon’ has appointed you as his subordinate. Do you accept?
Yes/No]
‘Damn it.’
He stared down at me expressionlessly. In this situation, his gaze seemed to threaten, ‘Accept, or die,’ so I had no choice but to accept.
[Congratulations! You have become a subordinate of ‘Jung Da-hoon.’ Please assist the candidate in their election campaign activities!]
‘What is there to congratulate…….’
Jung Da-hoon did not seem intent on killing me immediately. Even if he had such intentions, they would likely be postponed until the end of this quest mission. After all, I had an advantage in this mission due to my high favorability among the skeletons.
“I’m counting on you, little fox subordinate.”
Meow.
Inwardly, he might still see me as disposable, like a lunchbox he could discard at any moment. I mustn’t let my guard down.
I didn’t know what he planned to do with me, but for now, we were in this together. Without any sense of camaraderie, we quickly got down to business.
“You just do what you’re good at, little fox.”
More accurately, Jung Da-hoon unilaterally decided what I would do, and I had to carry out the task like a slave.
“I’ll unfurl a banner, and you stand on it. Like a flowery backdrop, proud and dignified.”
As soon as my first mission was set, I made my way to the third-floor railing of the castle to carry it out. It was the same spot where I had once proclaimed, “The murderer is Jung O-O.” Of course, Jung Da-hoon had chosen the location.
Following Jung Da-hoon’s orders, I held a whistle in my mouth and blew it.
A weak sound came out, but it was enough to grab everyone’s attention. Next, I bit down on the string and pulled, unfurling the banner with a flourish.
[Vote for Candidate No. 1, Jung Da-hoon! Supported by the little fox!]
“What’s going on?”
“How did he get the baby fox to help?”
“……Our Da-hoon is truly amazing. He’s been through so much, being falsely accused, and now he’s even making a joke out of it. He should be president!”
Bori was clapping her hands in admiration.
I felt a bit ridiculous, but as his subordinate, I did as I was told. I sprinkled flower petals from the railing where the banner was hung, and the skeletons jumped and cheered.
The public sentiment was shifting in our favor.
Next on the agenda was handing out mini bone polish kits with Bori, both of us wearing “Candidate No. 1 Jung Da-hoon” sashes.
“Life’s been tough lately, hasn’t it? Your bones are looking so thin. But don’t worry, you can count on me.”
Some naive skeletons were so moved by Jung Da-hoon’s warm words that they shed tears of bone broth.
Meanwhile, Jung Da-hoon continued to exploit me relentlessly.
“Vote for Candidate No. 1 Jung Da-hoon, for a better world. Woo-hoo!♬”
I danced to the catchy campaign song, performing three routines in a row until I was utterly exhausted and panting for breath.
‘Oh, I’m so tired.’
Soon, the first day’s interim voting results were announced. The three of us waited anxiously for the outcome. After all the effort, it would feel unfair if we didn’t come in first.
“Please. It’ll work out, Da-hoon.”
“Even if it doesn’t, I’ll accept the results gracefully.”
“Hurrah!”
[(Leading) Jung Da-hoon 66%]
The moment the notification appeared, Bori lifted me up. I was tossed high into the air and then caught safely in her arms again.
It was a celebration under a cloudy sky.
***
Perhaps because we had secured such an overwhelming lead on the first day, most of the other users dropped out.
“Sigh, I don’t have a fox on my side like Jung Da-hoon, or any campaign funds.”
Thanks to this, from the third day of voting onwards, we spent our time thanking the skeleton residents with the ‘Election Confirmed’ status.
[Congratulations on Jung Da-hoon’s election as ‘Temporary Decision Maker’!]
[Jung Da-hoon has received the unique item, ‘Mark of Ownership’!]
As I clapped my front paws together to congratulate him, I began to feel uneasy.
“Choose something fair and easy for everyone~”
“Yes, choose wisely, our temporary lord.”
The decision maker’s power included ‘Deciding the next survival quest!’ The content of the survival quests he could issue was also shared with me, his subordinate.
[As the top contributing subordinate, you can recommend a quest to the decision maker.
—Recommendation Choice: <Shadow Binding>]
I recommended the quest that was originally next in line. Now, I waited for his choice, but his deliberation seemed to be taking longer than expected.
‘This is worrying.’
[The decision maker has ignored your suggestion.]
What? Is he trying to do something strange? Even though he’s a former tester and knows the quest information, why does he feel the need to deviate from the norm and take risks?
‘Oh.’
Actually, I do understand. Our approaches to the game are different. For me, this is a matter of life and death, but for Jung Da-hoon, it’s just entertainment. He has no reason to play it safe.
The allure of something new is understandable.
‘Indeed.’
[You are dissatisfied with the decision maker’s choice.
You can proceed with the <Subordinate’s Rebellion> quest.]
‘Huh?’
I widened my eyes and read it again. A subordinate’s rebellion?
[Surprise Quest: <Subordinate’s Rebellion>]
[You have selflessly supported the decision maker’s election, but he has made a choice that goes against your principles.]
[Gather the skeletons and attempt to impeach him!]
[!!! The decision maker possesses the special item, ‘Bell of Trust.’ He has noticed your rebellion!]
[The decision maker has received the <Eliminate the Traitor> quest! Hurry and escape!]
Wait, what? I hadn’t even accepted the subordinate’s rebellion quest yet……..
This was all a big misunderstanding.
But it was too late. The notification had already been sent to him, and I had no way to explain myself. There was only one thing left for me to do.
Run for my life.
Despite having just been on the same team, I was now a traitor on the run. I dashed down the empty hallway as fast as my short legs could carry me. I deliberately chose paths with traps, but with the ‘Temporary Decision Maker’ title and the ‘Mark of Ownership,’ none of them affected Jung Da-hoon.
‘Of all the…….’
I found myself cornered on the third floor, in a dead-end marked ‘Under Construction.’ I tried to squeeze through the narrow gap, but skeleton workers in hard hats chased me away.
As time slipped away, the distance between Jung Da-hoon and me narrowed.
What should I do? I can’t get caught.
In a hurry, I climbed onto the windowsill. If I slid down the roof of the castle, I might be able to land safely.
With the <Subordinate’s Rebellion> quest having released me from my subordinate status, I could now use humanization without fear of being discovered. I decided to transform after landing.
I leaped like a flying squirrel, but unfortunately, I was not a flying squirrel—I was a chubby baby fox with a round belly.
Thus, the landing process was far from smooth. The moment my paws touched the roof, my body rolled like a ball, and I tumbled all the way from the third floor to the first.
Ouch.
A complete failure. A whimper escaped my mouth, and tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to get up quickly, but my legs were injured from the fall, and my body crumpled to the ground.
‘Damn it……. I can’t move.’
I struggled with all my might. If I stayed like this, I would end up as a pile of fox meat.
[!!! Due to the sudden return of the highest authority, there has been a change in the reward for the <Vacant Throne> quest.]
[The temporary decision maker no longer holds the ‘Decision Maker’ status.]
[The <Subordinate’s Rebellion> quest has been automatically canceled.]
I heard footsteps approaching through the fog. They were getting closer.
I quickly tried to take out the Jewel Ice to transform into human Yeo Woo-rim and hide. But as I was about to put the Jewel Ice in my mouth, I changed my mind.
The sound of steady footsteps grew louder.
Though the face was hidden by the thick fog, I could sense it—a chaotic mix of scents, the mark of a low-level perfumer fox’s poorly made perfume.
“There you are, little fox.”
Kessler had returned much sooner than expected.
