Chapter 7: The fox’s game

I think…

“…”

…something’s wrong with me.

“…”

I lay sprawled on the bed, soaked, limp like a wet rag hanging on a clothesline.

Something’s wrong with my head.

“…….”

Covered in sweat and saliva, I finally woke up past noon. The scent of our passionate encounter lingered in the air. I lay there, hand on my forehead, thinking about the fox, who had vanished.

“……..”

A man? Why did I say that?

What was I thinking? What have I done?

So much had happened at once. I couldn’t process it all. My emotions were a tangled mess.

Was I still just a kid?

“…….”

What if Mom found out? I didn’t know what to do anymore. School was still terrifying, even though the counselor hadn’t called.

I was afraid to face Hyeji again. I didn’t know how to act, what to say. It was my first time in the real world, and now that it was over… I felt strangely relieved. But it had hurt. A lot.

Yeah, it f*cking hurt.

“……”

I was still angry at the fox. Did she really have to drive a wedge between me and Hyeji? Did she have to mark me, claim me, like that? Couldn’t she have found a gentler, kinder way?

I thought so, anyway.

“…Haa…”

But it was done. Things had escalated beyond repair. The only one who understood me was the fox, my guardian spirit. And the only one who could understand her was me.

No, wait. I didn’t understand her at all. Why was she so obsessed with me? It was frustrating.

“…If you’re lonely, just being near me should be enough…”

I hoped she heard me, that damn fox.

“…Well…”

Of course, that wouldn’t be enough for me, either.

“…Hmm…”

What now? I had no idea how to fix things with Hyeji. I didn’t even know what to do after I dealt with the aftermath of this situation.

“…”

Tick-tock

Then I remembered.

“…Work.”

I had something to do. Something I needed to do.

“…”

I couldn’t wallow in my emotions forever. I could only afford a brief moment of weakness.

Time to get a grip. I’m fine now.

“…”

Slide

If I went to work early, while the boss was still there, I could ask to change my schedule. He’d probably agree, since it wasn’t usually busy at this time. I quickly showered and threw on my uniform and jacket.

“…”

I’d wash the sheets later. Mom rarely came into my room.

“…”

But…

“…Oh…”

Stumble

Why was I so dizzy?

“…….”

Oh.

Crash

I hadn’t slept in four days.

I should have been more careful.

Damn it.

Rustle

“…….”

I held my breath. The sensations from the earlier… encounter… were still fresh. The dream memories were connected, so my body still felt the aftereffects of the previous dream.

If I stayed quiet, maybe the fox wouldn’t…

“It’s okay to say whatever you want when you wake up.”
“…”

Apparently, she wasn’t concerned.

Slide

“…”

I cautiously raised my head. The fox sat before me, sipping tea. Her traditional hanbok made her look surprisingly cute. I sat up.

“…Even if you’re lonely, this is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“What is?”

I asked.

“Honestly… Hyeji’s my only friend… Doing that to her… And suddenly appearing in the real world without warning…”

Since this was a dream, I decided to be honest. But…

“I’m a vengeful spirit, you know?”
“Huh?”

The fox grinned.

“I got this amazing special exemption called conditional resurrection~!”
“What…?”

She was spouting nonsense again.

“I can be resurrected if I absorb enough energy~ Really!”
“…”

Somehow, her explanation started to make sense.

“And if certain conditions are met, I can use a bit of that energy to briefly manifest~ Oh, and the last time I manifested, it was just because you were hot~ Don’t think too much about it~!”
“…You crazy…”

Her cheerful demeanor made me speechless.

“…So that’s why you were so… aggressive with me…?”

I sighed, resigned to my fate. But…

“No? That was real. I was in heat.”
“What…?”

The fox explained,

“It’s winter, you know~ Time to get busy making babies~ Spring is coming soon!”
“…That’s a little early, don’t you think…”

What kind of fox went into heat this early?

“Anyway… It was too much. I’m upset.”

I steered the conversation back to the main issue.

“I’m trying to live a normal life in the real world… The shaman said it was a blessing… But this is too much.”
“…”

The fox sipped her tea, then…

“Cough“
“Hmm?”

…sputtered.

“You’re so cute when you complain…”
“Wh-what…!”

She started flirting with me.

“But I don’t like it!”
“Huh…?”

The flirting was a trap. She set down her empty teacup and…

Slide

“Eek…”

…caressed my leg.

“I keep telling you… You’re mine… I won’t give you to anyone… So I’m going to get rid of any unworthy human who tries to get close to you.”

“…These underwear… They annoy me too.”
“Huh?”

She ripped off the underwear Hyeji had bought me, tossing them aside before even taking off my outer clothes.

“…Wait…”

I panicked, asking if we could take a break tonight.

“…I’m not in the mood today.”
“What…?”

The fox said,

“…I feel like things are about to change.”
“…”

Her voice hinted at something significant.

“…Everything.”

Jump

“…”

Two hours had passed. It was 2 p.m.

“…Huh?”

I wasn’t violated. Not this time.

“… “

I felt rested, like I’d finally gotten a good night’s sleep.

“…Haa…”

How could I get more sleep like this? If I could just sleep peacefully, I could handle anything.

“…”

Maybe I could use my remaining male energy to overpower her. Even though I’d been… thoroughly taken… the male part of me was still there, somewhere inside. The passionate, hot-blooded Semin.

Tonight, I’d fight back, dominate her, and finally get a good night’s sleep. Then tomorrow, I’d face whatever came my way with renewed energy.

“Yeah!”

Thump

I could do this. I’d overcome challenges before. This was just a temporary setback.

I would win. I had to.

Tap, tap

“Hey, boss!”
“Oh, you’re early.”

I arrived at work, energized, and asked the boss to change my schedule. He readily agreed, since it was a slow day.

“But you have to work an extra day this weekend~”
“Yes, sir! No problem!”

One extra shift? Piece of cake. I just needed to stay busy, to feel productive.

But wait… The fox had said something in the dream… Why couldn’t I remember?

Tap, tap

“Ugh…”

Whatever. I finished my shift, my legs heavy, and headed home.

Beep, click

“Welcome back. Didn’t you leave school early today because you were sick? Are you sure you’re okay…?”
“Oh, yeah…”

Mom’s concern explained why the school hadn’t called. Hyeji must have told them.

“Hyeji said you weren’t feeling well… Are you sure you’re okay…?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I brushed her off and went to my room.

“…”

The fact that Hyeji had called for me made me think about her…

“…”

Just thinking about her made my arm tremble. I pushed the thought aside and got ready for bed.

Slide

“Haa…”

I put on my pajamas, preparing for battle.

“Okay, I’m winning tonight.”

I channeled my inner masculinity, determined to turn the tables, to have her beneath me, begging for mercy.

Flop

I fell asleep, brimming with confidence.

Tease, tease

“Haa… Hngh… More… Please… More…!”
“How pathetic~❤”

My confidence shattered. I was being thoroughly trained.

“Do you want me inside you~? Should I put it in~?❤”
“Please… Please… Haa… Please…❤”

Drip, drip, drip

She was teasing me, her touch making me leak. My legs were numb.

The assertive, masculine Semin was gone, replaced by a whimpering puppy, desperate for her touch, a s*ave to pleasure.

Damn it.

Thrust

“Here we go~ Push~❤”
“Haaaaaaaa…!”

As soon as she entered me, I came, my body convulsing, and I blacked out.

This pleasure… I still couldn’t handle it.

It was driving me insane.

“I’m going crazy…❤”

What am I going to do tomorrow morning?
I’m so screwed.