The time had come to release the fox.
No matter how well it followed people, a beast was still a beast. I couldn’t keep it by my side and care for it for life, nor should I.
If that was the case, the best option was still to return it to nature. Moreover, if I hoped for it to adapt safely to the world of survival of the fittest, it was better to hurry. That way, at least some of its wildness would remain.
So while taking Lenox to his room, I casually brought up the idea that we should release the fox when we go to the southern village.
“H-Hyungnim.”
Despite all the effort I’d put into comforting him, Lenox’s expression looked like he was about to cry again. Even bringing out the endearment that usually melted him instantly was useless.
“You never said anything like that!”
I did. You just didn’t listen.
“How can we abandon such a tiny, weak baby fox…….”
It wasn’t small, it wasn’t weak, and it definitely wasn’t a baby anymore. The fox, fattened up with all that fur, now filled Lenox’s arms snugly, was strong enough to catch and eat birds for its morning snack, and had long since passed the stage where it could be called a baby fox.
Above all, I wasn’t abandoning it. It was a creature that originally lived in the wild. I only intended to provide something like a cold weather shelter, that’s all.
“Can’t we keep raising it?”
“No.”
Of course not. Raising this little creature wasn’t part of my possession life plan to begin with. I couldn’t add more variables here.
“I clearly told you when we first took it in. We’d only keep it until the snowstorm passed, and once the weather warmed up, we’d release it.”
“…….”
“Did I or didn’t I?”
“……You did.”
“Right. We’re doing as promised.”
Lenox’s cheeks puffed up. He looked like he wanted to say something, but I stood up from my seat, conveying that I wouldn’t discuss it further.
“Rest. I’ll come get you for dinner, so don’t move around unnecessarily. If you push yourself after spraining your ankle, it becomes a chronic condition.”
I shouldn’t continue this conversation. I’d definitely get entangled if I did.
Going straight to my office, I told Billy to bring a carrier suitable for putting the fox in. Though he wore a complicated expression, immediately understanding what that meant, he eventually followed orders and prepared the item.
The fox, standing alone in the unsettled atmosphere, stared at me quietly. With its black eyes narrowed, it looked exactly like it suspected me, but…….
There’s no way a beast would know such things.
A day passed in that strange tension.
***
The spring outing with Lenox was generally successful. We ate the chef’s special three-tier lunch box on a field that looked suitable while riding down in the carriage, reviewed the necessary materials at the library, and even bought clothes that would suit him well.
I personally carried Lenox, who had injured his ankle, on my back as we toured various parts of the village, and even bought an armful of traditional sweets that were supposedly only sold here.
“Hyungnim.”
“No.”
“Hyungniim…….”
“Shh.”
Every time the fox in the carrier came to mind, he grabbed my clothes and called out to me pitifully, which was quite troublesome.
“I don’t think it’ll work after all. The fox and I are family.”
“Why are you and that creature family? Are you blood-related? Can you communicate?”
“Our hearts are connected.”
“Between a person and a beast?”
Lenox stuck out his lips pointedly.
“Why not? Everyone keeps cats and dogs like that. Don’t you know what love is, Hyungnim?”
“Right. I don’t.”
I’m pretending not to know for the sake of a trouble-free life. Please cooperate.
After inquiring with the villagers, it turned out to be a not-too-bad environment for releasing the fox. There was a mountain range extending long to the southeast, and I’d even received advice that it would be fine if it flowed in that direction. They said there were no flying magic beasts either, and winter didn’t last half the year.
Hunters also sometimes release animals at the foot of the mountain. It should be fine if you release it over there.
What if it becomes dangerous in the forest?
Then that’s the beast’s fate. That’s how life originally is.
I did my best to ignore Lenox’s grumbling as I took the fox out of the carrier. When I lifted it by the scruff of its neck, it flattened its ears and began whimpering.
“This is all for your sake.”
―Whine.
“Live well.”
―Whiiine.
“I should have done this from the start. Don’t resent me too much.”
―Whine…….
The fox, which had been kicking its white paws in the air, was let out of the carriage. It was in a position where it could enter the mountain if it just turned around and ran.
The fox, realizing it had been kicked out, stood there for a moment. It opened its black eyes wide as if in shock…….
―Kyang! Kyaeng! Kyagang! Kiiing! Kyang!
“…….”
―Kiiing, whine, kyang! Kyaeaek!
……It began crying with a tremendous noise.
I quickly closed the carriage door, but that didn’t stop the resounding crying. Rather, when it lost sight of me and Lenox, it cried even more sorrowfully.
―Kiing, kiyaeae, kyang! Kyaeng!
How was such a sound coming from that small body? It was even scratching the carriage door with its front paws, making the noise double.
“Go.”
―Kyang!
“I said go, don’t talk back. You should know how to find your own way to survive by now.”
―Kyaeaeaeng!
Thud, there was a sound, and a shadow fell on the small window in the carriage door. The fox that had jumped up high pushed its snout right into the gap.
I quickly raised my hand and pressed its nose to block it.
“Not here, the opposite direction, the opposite!”
―Kiyae!
After a long scuffle, I stepped out of the carriage, huffing and puffing. This uncooperative fox seemed determined to make me an even more cold-hearted person.
The more noisily we said goodbye, the greater Lenox’s sadness would grow. If I was going to be firm, I had to be firm to the end.
“You little thing.”
I firmly grabbed the fox by the scruff of its neck and strode toward the foot of the mountain. Every time the fox struggled, its long tail smacked against my thigh.
“That mountain isn’t cold. No strange wyvern will come out and try to tear you apart and eat you. Be careful of people, be more careful of traps, and if you’re just careful of bears…….”
―Kyaeaeaeaeaeaeng!
When I put it down, it clung to me. When I put it down again, it clung to me again. When I put it down yet again, it clung to me yet again. Now using all four legs to cling desperately to my leg while crying its heart out, it was loud enough to make the valley echo.
“People are staring.”
It was so noisy that I even thought that might be its goal. Whenever I tried to touch it with my hands, it cried so shrilly that people who didn’t know the situation glanced over, thinking I was hitting the small beast.
It was truly maddening.
“You disobedient thing. Are you doing this because you think my words about this being better for you are nonsense?”
I’m really doing this for your sake. There’s nothing good for you in staying by my side when I don’t even have confidence I can take responsibility for you.
When I finish my work and leave this world, you’ll be left behind, and if you with your short lifespan die, I’ll be left behind. Why are you crying so sorrowfully over this relationship that must inevitably end?
After bickering with the fox for a long time, I sighed deeply enough to sink into the ground. It was because of the creature that wouldn’t let go no matter what I did. Even if I walked all the way into the mountain and put it down, it desperately chased after me, making it impossible to abandon it.
At this rate, it’ll definitely follow.
It was obvious even without looking. Even if I escaped to the carriage and departed, it would run after the carriage’s rear all the way to the north.
The gazes of the villagers who had been glancing at us became even more blatant. Curious and admiring looks flew toward the fox.
“I thought it was a cat, but is it a fox? Its fur is white as snow.”
“Isn’t that an animal that lives in the north? It looks exactly like one.”
“It might be a spiritual creature. You know, that mysterious land they say is in the north. One that lives in such places.”
“Then why abandon a spiritual creature?”
“……Who knows?”
Though the Chaos Meter was at 100 percent, my head throbbed as if heat was concentrated there.
I pressed my forehead and let out a deep sigh. At this rate, ominous rumors would spread that the new Grand Duke abandoned a speechless beast or left a spiritual creature in someone else’s village.
“Get in.”
―Whine…….
“……I said get in the carriage. You damn disobedient beast.”
It was a declaration of surrender.
