A baby Arctic Fox who helps people. Maybe that’s why everyone adores him—because he has the kind of warm heart that Kessler himself never had.
Kessler quietly watched Yeo Woo-rim’s side profile.
He was a pure soul, untouched by the filth of the world. For a moment, Kessler felt an urge to protect that innocence.
Originally, Kessler had planned to make a dramatic entrance at the very moment Yeo Woo-rim stepped onto the execution platform.
Player-issued quests were a no-go zone for Kessler, but saving Yeo Woo-rim—now that was something he could choose to do of his own volition. Of course, it would probably land him back in prison, but he’d make it look so cool that it would be worth it.
But Yeo Woo-rim hadn’t even made the final voting list—and instead of needing saving, he was out here helping someone else in danger.
“Everything go okay? I saw you getting a bunch of petitions. If it’s not enough, want me to write one too?”
“It’s fine. I don’t need help from some baby fox.”
After the execution ended, Kessler and Yeo Woo-rim were walking along the castle wall path.
“Things worked out, so I’ll buy you a lemonade.”
They naturally arrived at a wall-side café run by a user. Kessler looked over at Yeo Woo-rim swiping a white commoner card.
“Extra lemon, and make it heavy on the syrup.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kessler felt his heart warm at how perfectly Yeo Woo-rim knew his preferences.
Yeo Woo-rim’s nine tails fluttered cheerfully. Kessler’s mood lifted too.
He subtly leaned in close and wrapped one of those tails around his waist.
“Here’s your drink.”
“Thanks… Hey, why are you so close? It’s hot today. Do you really like my tail that much?”
“It’s all tangled up because you don’t take care of it. Gotta show it who’s boss.”
“You’re saying… even fur needs discipline?”
Nod.
Despite saying it was hot and uncomfortable, Yeo Woo-rim didn’t push Kessler away. And that made Kessler happy.
Still close, they walked and sat on the castle wall edge.
“Great view, as expected.”
The sun was setting.
Yeo Woo-rim uttered a simple word of admiration, yet his face looked strangely conflicted.
Every time the sun set, he wore that same expression. Troubled, bitter, complicated. Even when he was still a baby fox. Kessler had always assumed he was missing the fox family that vanished like ghosts.
But now, it seemed there was something deeper—something even sweet lemonade couldn’t reach. Kessler found himself wondering what emotion that could be.
You can’t solve a problem if you don’t understand it.
“From now on, it’s worry time. Spill it.”
“What? Out of nowhere?”
“Yeah. If you’ve got a worry, say it. Now.”
“A worry… Hmm.”
After a brief pause, Yeo Woo-rim spoke slowly, as if recalling something.
“I guess… it’d be the uncertainty of the future.”
Kessler’s face lit up. Worries about the future? That was something he could handle.
With a confident smile, he brought up today’s events.
“You didn’t get any votes today thanks to me.”
“…Huh?”
“People were too scared of me to vote for you.”
Yeo Woo-rim, who had consistently ranked high in previous votes, hadn’t received any user votes in the final round—because Kessler had thrown a wrench in the whole process.
“Do you get what I’m saying? If I protect you, you’re safe. Even vultures licking their lips at you won’t stand a chance—I’ll wipe them out.”
“…Yeah.”
Yeo Woo-rim looked surprised, as if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind, then quickly nodded. Seeing that, Kessler looked out at the sunset with pride.
It was blinding, but he didn’t care. Not even that blazing light could overpower his firm resolve to take responsibility for Yeo Woo-rim’s future.
***
I tilted my head. Did Kessler not know about the ‘No Voting Pact’ with the users?
I had no idea what this bastard Kessler was trying to make a big deal out of, but either way, it was true that he had helped a lot.
“It’s nice and refreshing.”
Another hurdle cleared safely.
I lay back and stared up at the sky. An eagle was gliding across the overcast sky. If it had been when I was still a Baby Fox, a warning alert would’ve popped up and caused a whole scene, but the status window remained silent.
The now-familiar scent of tainted sand lingered at the tip of my nose. I closed my eyes with a calm heart.
Just for today, I wanted to let the day pass without thinking about anything at all.
***
“There’s no more game currency circulating in the market.”
The first words out of Jung Da-hoon’s mouth after his morning ritual of scouring the trading sites:
“There’s nothing on the market. And if anything does show up, it goes straight to auction. The competition’s brutal. At this point, just grinding inside the castle is probably faster.”
The original plan had been to use a portion of the Instagram ad revenue to secure some in-game currency.
But transaction volume had dropped off a cliff, and even when trades were listed, the prices were absurd. Sellers were testing the waters with smug attitudes, knowing the upper hand was theirs.
“I guess I’ll have to take some freelance jobs from the skeletons and grind it out building figurines.”
“Sounds good.”
Our morning meeting wrapped up quickly, and I parted ways with Jung Da-hoon.
This was a critical time for saving up money—soon, the event to select the Dansung Noble would be underway.
I climbed to the tallest point in the castle—the bell tower—and looked down. A desolate kind of romance spread out beneath my feet.
[System]: It’s been 179 days since the baby Arctic Fox was born.
Half a year had passed in game time.
Since my birth date matched the players’ entry date, a notification would be coming soon.
Barring any surprises, the next survival quest would be: .
Outsiders could stay within the castle for up to 200 days without charge. After that, they’d need to pay residency fees. However, if someone were registered as a resident, those fees no longer applied.
On Day 200, an evaluation would be held to determine who had the right to remain.
The fastest way to secure residency was through real estate acquisition. The current market currency drought was likely tied to that very reason.
And there was one more opportunity tied to this quest—
The title of Dansung Noble.
A noble rank granted to a single dedicated player who best demonstrates the value of being a “resident.” Whoever held it would gain absolute authority over the other users. We had to claim it. No matter what.
“By any means necessary.”
To do that, real estate was essential. After double-checking the target property, I was about to descend when I heard footsteps below.
It turned out to be Kessler, out for a stroll.
He must’ve used the map to find me after seeing my location notification was on.
“Hi?”
“Hi.”
Kessler stood beside me.
“You really like high places.”
“Yeah, it’s breezy up here. Uh… are you staying longer? I was just about to head down.”
“Busy?”
“Yeah, a bit…”
Kessler nodded.
“Alright.”
“Okay, see you later.”
I really was going to be busy today.
After parting ways with Kessler, I headed to the office of the lawyer skeletons – the Byunhogol Five.
— Clack clack, VIP in the house!
— Our fashionable guest.
— That tail though!
When I pushed open the barebones office door, they all clapped and welcomed me enthusiastically.
The Byunhogol Five didn’t just handle legal matters—they also offered various services. One of those was real estate brokerage.
“I want to make deals on land that’s going to open up.”
— Clack clack?
Maybe they couldn’t understand because it was about the future. The way they tilted their heads made it clear they weren’t registering the input.
“I want exclusive rights to your time for the next month.”
— Clack clack!
Only then did the contract appear on the screen.
[System]: Byunhogol offers a special discounted rate for valued clients: 299,900 coins per Byunhogol member.
Tension filled the room. The Byunhogol gulped with nonexistent throats, producing bone-scraping sounds. They even knocked off 100 coins to make it seem like a deal.
“Okay, let’s go with that price. I won’t haggle today. Signing now.”
Clack clack clack. Amid their bony applause, the contract was sealed.
***
After sealing the deal with the Byunhogol, I returned from tearing through the plaza well into the night. I’d pushed my Thief skills to their physical limit, and my body was thoroughly worn out.
“Yaaawn.”
My steps were heavy, but as if guided by some homing instinct, I naturally found myself entering the Lord’s chambers. And as expected—though maybe too expected—Kessler wasn’t there.
Then my eyes landed on the ball pit. …It looked comfortable. I trudged over and collapsed into it like a felled tree. I lost consciousness almost instantly.
As Yeo Woo-rim flopped into the ball pit, a few of the balls that had been tightly packed flew out. One of them rolled across the floor and lightly tapped the toe of Kessler’s shoe.
“…Asleep?”
Kessler had come to meet him after checking the map, wondering why the baby fox was late returning. But they’d missed each other—he arrived just in time to see Yeo Woo-rim entering the room. So he followed. And found him already fast asleep.
Staring down at his sleeping face, Kessler gently pulled off the shoes peeking out from the edge of the ball pit.
Then he removed his own shoes, lay down beside him, and closed his eyes.
***
When I opened my eyes, Kessler’s face filled my entire field of vision.
“Wah—pff!”
Startled, I flailed, and my body was sucked back into the ball pit. Oh right, I slept here last night.
“Wake up, baby fox.”
Thankfully, Kessler grabbed my flailing hand and pulled me up.
“Snap out of it.”
Then, with his thumb and index finger, he pinched both sides of my cheeks and squeezed. Some drool that had pooled in my fish-like mouth dribbled out.
Slurp. I wiped it off with my sleeve, blinking groggily. Still half-asleep.
“Morning already. Thanks for waking me.”
“Busy again today?”
“Why?”
This morning’s menu had already been prepared—a pudding buffet.
As I sat there blankly, Kessler, with calm but swift hands, opened up various puddings for me, one by one. Watching his actions in a daze, I suddenly realized—I had hands too.
Ah. Right, I’m not a fox anymore. I ended up making Kessler do all the work for nothing.
“Then I’ll come back as early as I can, okay?”
Nod.
Kessler placed his golden spoon into my hand.
