The fox put its last strength into its hind legs. Its body shot upward. Small fangs flashed from within its open mouth aimed at Kael’s hand, then sank into the back of his hand.
“Aaak!”
While Kael let his guard down at the unexpected counterattack, the fox didn’t miss the opportunity and changed direction. There was only one target—the tent entrance where faint light was seeping in. However, Necro blocked the way.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Terrified, the fox tried to change direction abruptly and collided with a nearby table. Crash! Necro’s tools that had been neatly arranged on the table spilled onto the floor with a clamor.
“This stupid beast!”
For the first time, an emotion-laden voice burst from Necro’s mouth. Startled even more by that shout, the fox fell into a panic and ran wildly around the tent before discovering a gap.
That gap was far too narrow for even a child to pass through, let alone an adult man. But it was enough for one small fox body to slip through. The fox squeezed out its remaining strength and threw its body through that gap.
I’m out!
Having escaped the tent with all its might, the fox stopped in its tracks at the scene unfolding before its eyes, without even a moment to breathe a sigh of relief. Outside the tent was bustling with various humans. Servants were busy preparing dinner, and nobles were resting while discussing their hunting achievements.
“There it is!”
When it was hesitating, not knowing where to run, Kael’s urgent cry was heard. Startled by the footsteps chasing it, the fox rushed blindly between the people.
“Catch that thing!”
At Kael’s shout, nearby servants rushed to block the fox without knowing what was happening. Front, back, sides. As people chased it from all directions and there was nowhere left to run, the fox jumped into the nearest tent for now.
That place was full of the smell of well-roasted whole pig, freshly baked bread, and fragrant fruit. It seemed to be a cooking tent where dinner preparations were in full swing. The fox tried to hide under a massive dining table, but lost its balance due to its injured leg and fell while pulling the tablecloth.
Rumble crash! Clang clang!
Silver tableware and expensive wine bottles from atop the table poured onto the floor. With a sharp bursting sound, red wine splattered everywhere. That wasn’t all. The greasy roasted pig rolled on the dirt floor, and colorful fruits scattered in all directions, trampled under people’s feet.
“No, the roasted pig!”
“Damn it! Whose fault is this!”
The cooks’ screams mixed with despair burst out from all over. When several people who belatedly spotted the fox grabbed sharp knives and rushed over, the startled fox hurriedly turned its body and rushed back outside.
But unfortunately, the place the fox chose this time was the tent area where nobles were leisurely resting.
“Kyaaa! Wh-what is that!”
Noble ladies who had been elegantly holding teacups screamed and hurriedly climbed onto chairs, and hunting dogs barked fiercely upon smelling the unfamiliar beast. At that clamorous noise, one of the largest warhorses that had been quietly tied broke its reins and began to rampage.
“Dammit, someone catch that damn thing!”
“Calm the horses! You’ll get kicked by their hooves!”
“Over there! The fox is running that way!”
The situation spiraled out of control in an instant. The madly rampaging horse crashed into tents and crossed between people at a terrifying speed, turning the entire campsite into pandemonium.
Then, a hot-blooded young noble stepped forward with a booming voice.
“Everyone stand back! I’ll handle this!”
He was a noble who had been anxious after failing to achieve any notable results in this hunting competition. He judged that if he quelled this commotion, he would receive everyone’s attention.
As the surrounding nobles hurriedly cleared a path, he stepped forward triumphantly. With a skilled motion, he raised his bow and aimed the arrowhead at the fox.
Kael, who had been chasing the fox drenched in sweat, turned pale the moment he saw that scene.
That stupid fool!
To dare try to shoot and kill the beast the Emperor brought. Setting aside the problem of damaging the beast to be taxidermied, it was absurd for a mere noble to lay hands on the Emperor’s quarry.
“Stop!”
Kael urgently reached out to stop him, but it was already too late.
With a twang, the arrow left the bowstring. The fox, who discovered the arrow belatedly, tried to dodge urgently, but with its injured leg, it couldn’t overcome the speed of the flying arrow.
Is this how I die?
The arrow flying toward it was reflected directly in its blue eyes. It was the moment when it thought everything was over.
Another arrow that flew from somewhere precisely pierced through the arrow heading toward the fox. With a thwack, the two arrows shattered into pieces and fell powerlessly to the ground.
“Who the hell…!”
The young noble glared in the direction the arrow came from. However, the moment he confirmed the figure standing there, the irritation vanished from his face in an instant, the blood drained away, and the words he was about to pour out were swallowed deep into his throat.
“Your… Your Majesty!”
Standing there was Adrian holding a bow. He had just finished hunting and returned.
He slowly looked around.
The campsite turned into pandemonium, the nobles in confusion, knights busy calming the excited hunting dogs and horses. At the center of all that chaos was the small fox he had entrusted for a moment. The fox, barely clinging to life with its disheveled appearance, sitting collapsed on the ground, was utterly pitiful. If he had been just a little later, it might have really died this time.
Finally, his gaze slowly moved to Kael, who stood blankly to one side.
“Explain.”
A voice as cold as ice echoed through the campsite. The chilling authority and anger contained within it was enough to suppress all noise. As if by agreement, people fell silent, and even the excited beasts became docile, watching their master.
Kael bowed at the waist with a face drained of color.
“Your, Your Majesty! Following Your Majesty’s words, I tried to t-taxidermy the f-fox…”
“Taxidermy?”
Adrian questioned in a low voice.
“Who gave you the authority to dispose of what’s mine as you please?”
A chilling anger appeared in Adrian’s golden eyes. Kael stammered as if flustered by the Emperor’s words.
“B-but Your Majesty clearly said to t-taxidermy…”
“When did I.”
“Pardon?”
“When did I tell you to taxidermy that fox?”
“Th-that’s…”
Kael trailed off.
Thinking about it, the Emperor had said he was entrusting that fox to him, but had never directly ordered him to taxidermy it. It was all done based on assumptions.
“Kael. I didn’t know you were this incompetent.”
His expression held disappointment at the fact that his trusted chief aide had committed such a foolish mistake. And anger that his capricious mercy had been trampled by a trivial misunderstanding.
Intimidated by that fury, Kael didn’t even dare to make excuses.
Honestly, it was unfair. It was the Emperor who had left him with an injured beast without any explanation. If he had explained properly from the start, this commotion wouldn’t have happened. But if he opened his mouth carelessly, he would clearly face greater wrath, so he chose silence.
Adrian glanced at Kael once and moved his steps. He passed the young noble who had frozen like a stone statue and headed toward the creature at the center of the commotion. Then he knelt on one knee before it.
Someone gasped audibly.
“Your, Your Majesty…”
At the unprecedented sight of the Emperor kneeling before a lowly creature, everyone around stirred. Adrian paid no mind to such gazes and removed his glove, extending his bare hand toward the fox breathing heavily.
“Grrrowl…”
The fox growled low with all its fur standing on end. It was a clear warning not to come any closer.
To Adrian, that behavior didn’t feel very threatening, but he didn’t touch it rashly and stopped his hand in front of the fox’s small nose.
The fox stared at Adrian’s face with narrowed pupils. The excitement and fear coursing through its entire body blurred its vision, making it hard to see his face clearly. After hesitating for a moment while breathing heavily, the fox cautiously extended its black nose.
Sniff sniff. Its nose moved frantically.
It’s that person! Realizing it was the person who had saved it from the trap, the fox’s eyes became round and it began to whine. It was a pitiful gesture that seemed like both resentment for why he only came now and a sign of gladness.
“I’m sorry.”
Adrian apologized as he lifted the fox into his arms. The small creature settled into his embrace without resistance.
As he turned around while holding the fox, the nobles were looking at him with eyes mixed with curiosity and shock. Behind them, the ruined campsite came into full view.
Collapsed tents, cooking tools and food scattered on the ground…. In this state, it would be difficult to continue the hunting competition.
Adrian’s gaze turned to Kael.
“Call a veterinarian right now. And this year’s hunting competition ends here.”
The Emperor unilaterally declared the competition’s conclusion and left. Though the competition had ended without any warning or consultation, there was no one who could object to the Empire’s absolute ruler.
They could only stare blankly. At the sight of the Emperor who commanded the entire continent walking leisurely while preciously holding one tiny beast.
