“Bori, how can I live without you now……”
At that moment, as Jung Da-hoon clung to Bori and shed tears, the expedition leader, PeeledGarlicUnpeeledGarlic, picked up the megaphone as if trying to settle the chaotic atmosphere.
“Let me inform you about the situation outside. According to the skeleton soldiers, an unidentified contaminated creature seems to have mistakenly entered the castle. You can wait here while the purification process is underway.”
“Ah, so the sky turned dark because a contaminated bird was flying around.”
At Bori’s murmur, Jung Da-hoon shrank back. The darkening of the sky due to Kessler’s air pressure had concealed the fact that he had polluted the fountain.
“By the way… I’m so hungry.”
Growl. The sound of stomachs rumbling echoed here and there.
—Knock, knock, knock!
At that moment, the expedition leader, who had been communicating with the manager and user representative, announced some good news.
“Everyone! Please pay attention! The lord has decided to provide food free of charge for today!”
“Wow!! What a great deal!!”
Many users cheered and stood up. They had been at a loss about what to eat today.
But Jung Da-hoon’s expression was stiff.
‘So it was Kessler’s doing after all. Inside, they must know that there’s a separate culprit who polluted the fountain. What if I get caught?’
Jung Da-hoon shrank back. As he changed his posture, the thigh that had been barely covered by the banana leaf became more exposed.
“This… Da-hoon, please wear this.”
“It’s your clothes, Bori. It’s too small for me.”
“No! You have to wear it.”
Bori, uncomfortable with her man’s skin being exposed, forcefully put her clothes on him.
Sitting there in colorful tight-fitting fashion, the senior members of the expedition, who had finished a brief meeting, announced the event with bright faces.
“Everyone must have been very surprised! After you have dinner, we will have various fun games with prizes to lighten the mood!”
The excited users devoured the boxed meals they had received. Jung Da-hoon chewed the warm rice grains and looked around.
“Who are you looking for, Da-hoon?”
“Yeo Woo-rim. He’s not here.”
“Speaking of Yeo Woo-rim, Kessler hasn’t been seen around lately either.”
Jung Da-hoon, who was about to eat a piece of rolled omelet, stopped.
How does Bori still not know that Kessler is the lord of this castle?
“…Bori, Kessler might not be a user.”
“Kessler? He’s a user.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. He asked me how to use the Relationship Panel. He said his partner keeps turning off their location, and he wanted to know how to turn it on instead… And he has a lot of cash items. Among the users I’ve seen, he seems to be the most fashion-conscious… Oh, and he said that cash outfits without special stats will be transferred when the official server opens… He must be a genuine user, right?”
“…I see. Yes, that must be the case.”
Jung Da-hoon closed his mouth about Kessler’s identity. He didn’t want to make her anxious.
“Huh? The fox is here!”
At that moment, a baby fox toddled in.
* * *
The first thing I saw as I regained my briefly lost consciousness was a luscious peach. Unconsciously, I stuck out my snout and licked it. The peach came closer as if encouraging me to do more.
Lick, lick.
It was tasteless and not refreshing, but I eagerly sucked on it as if craving sweetness. I saw something like a red cherry, so I stuck out my tongue and licked it. As I did, my vision gradually cleared.
Meow?
Kessler’s peach-like cheeks were drenched in my saliva, and his lips were glistening. Surprised, I pulled my tongue away and backed off. Kessler licked his saliva-drenched lips to clean them up.
“Mutt Fox, are you awake?”
On the table, the packaging of the fox hangover remedy was torn open.
‘Hangover remedy for foxes, what the… there’s all sorts of things.’
I vaguely remember. I wagged my tail in front of people and showed off. The sound of applause was quite lively.
‘Alcohol isn’t a matter of mental strength.’
I usually boast about my high alcohol tolerance. But even after drinking two bottles of soju, being able to take care of those around me is something Yeo Woo-rim can do, not a baby fox.
I didn’t know my body was this weak and had no resistance to alcohol. But thanks to that, I experienced something new called ‘getting drunk.’ I guess I get excited when I’m drunk, just like other people.
“Lord Kessler, the distribution of lunch boxes to the evacuees is complete.”
“I see.”
At that moment, the castle’s manager came in and reported the situation.
‘Evacuees?’
What’s going on?
I looked out the window. The sky was shrouded in shadows. It was clear that Kessler had caused another accident.
The users were nowhere to be seen, and the distant fountain was heavily contaminated.
‘The sky might have been affected by spiritual pressure, but why is the water contaminated?’
I looked at Kessler as if seeking an answer to the question, but he had a calm face as if he knew nothing.
Using Kessler’s knee as an intermediate step, I jumped straight from the table to the floor. I needed to find out what other variables had occurred.
* * *
The chapel where users gathered to eat their lunch boxes.
“Baby fox!! Is your hangover all gone?”
I flicked away the hand of a user trying to touch my butt with my tail and perked up my ears.
At that moment, I made eye contact with Jung Da-hoon, who was wearing colorful tight-fitting clothes.
‘……’
If I kept looking at him revealing his figure in clothes that clung tightly to his body, my eyesight would deteriorate, so I averted my gaze first.
‘It’s uncomfortable not being able to transform because of Kessler.’
I glanced at Kessler, who had followed me into the chapel.
I had also found out some facts by poking around here and there. Although the sky was in that state, fortunately, there were 0 deaths.
“Fox, thanks to the buff you gave me, I feel comfortable.”
What buff did I give? I opened the status of the buff I had cast on the other person.
[System]: You put on a great performance and cheered up the audience. Fresh Mind +20 (2:33:11 remaining)
…What is a fresh mind?
I don’t even know what I gave.
To purify my complicated mind, I sat down in Bori’s lap and sat cross-legged.
“Mutt Fox is here!”
I could feel Jung Da-hoon’s clicking gaze, but what could I do even if I was a murderer? There was Kessler in this place, and in my possession was a contract that mortgaged his life.
“Don’t call him Mutt Fox.”
“Why? Kessler, you always call him Mutt Fox.”
“It’s my nickname for him. Call him Baby Fox.”
“Tsk, okay. Baby Fox, give me your paw.”
Kessler fixed his gaze on my front paws. He was watching to see if I would listen to others or not.
Just as I was about to put my foot on Bori’s palm.
“The event ‘Truth Game’ begins. A high-quality product is prepared for the most honest ‘King of Truth’! It’s a handmade pudding set!”
The expedition leader used the megaphone. I bowed my head at the voice that pounded in my ears.
“Wow, Da-hoon, let’s try that.”
“Haha, Bori, I’m going to skip this game.”
“Why!”
The playful reproach continued, as if asking if he had any secrets to hide.
“Who said you could skip?”
But the next moment, Jung Da-hoon’s participation was confirmed.
“I have to think about winning and rewarding the fox.”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
He meant to win the prize and give it to me. Jung Da-hoon participated in the ‘Truth Game’ almost reluctantly.
And in the preliminary round. The game began where users formed groups of five and chose the most honest person.
“I have a question for Bori. Have you ever felt attracted to any man other than Da-hoon?”
“No, no!”
Thump, thump, thump. The gathered people slapped the floor with their hands and waited for the judgment of the ‘Lie Detector Skull’ placed in the center.
—Beep. It’s the truth.
Jung Da-hoon, who had been nervous, had a touched expression for a moment.
“Bori.”
“You are the only one for me.”
The two of them hugged each other and rejoiced for a moment. The next one asking the question was Kessler.
“You.”
“…Yes.”
“Have you ever bullied Baby Fox?”
The face looking straight at me had no expression. It looked just like a judge.
Jung Da-hoon chose his answer with a pale face.
“There was a time when life was more painful than death.”
“What nonsense is that? Just say yes or no.”
“It is my duty to save those who are struggling on the boundary of life.”
The truth detector hesitated to spit out the result and blinked.
—Error.
That annoyed Kessler.
“So what you’re saying is…”
Shiver.
The chill that Jung Da-hoon felt was transmitted to me. Bori, who felt the ominous atmosphere, hurriedly pulled me into her arms.
“You tormented him, didn’t you?”
“…Squeak!”
“Da-hoon!!”
At that moment, Jung Da-hoon, unable to withstand the oppressive atmosphere, fell backward in his seated position. The tight-fitting pants revealed an unsightly outline.
The truth game was suspended. It was a moment when the intangible truth was revealed.
“Yeah, there are times when life is more painful than death, as you said.”
“Da-hoon!!”
“Add forced labor for 60 days to this guy’s schedule.”
Everyone was so surprised and buzzing that only I heard what Kessler muttered. I hugged Kessler as if praising him.
[System]: Baby Fox feels love.
And I licked his peach-colored cheeks wildly. For some reason, it seemed sweeter than peaches this time, unlike before.
