104. Problem

104. Problem

“Kkang….”

A weak and feeble awakening.

Even after securing a room at the inn, eating a simple meal, brushing my teeth cleanly, grooming my tail, and burying myself in the blankets with my sister to sleep soundly until the next day, the transparent stone showed no signs of returning to normal.

No matter how earnestly I pleaded, it only emitted a faint light.

I can no longer use grand and powerful magic like before.

Because that fact made me so sad, I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed with any energy. I burrowed deeper and deeper into the blankets.

It’s warm and fluffy. It’s not comparable to my super-tail, but it still feels good.

Since I can’t use magic anyway, it would be great if I could just melt away and become one with the bed….

“Seol-ah, I understand you’re sleepy, but you have to get up now. Open your eyes.”

“Kkang!”

But my sister, as if unable to understand my sorrow, unceremoniously threw off the blanket that was protecting me from the world and lifted me up, placing me on the bed.

The morning sunlight pierced my eyelids.

“Haaawm….”

“You did go to bed quite late yesterday. Still, it’s morning, so please wake up.”

“Uwaaang.”

My sister removed the sleep from my eyes with her hand. I moved my body sluggishly, making incomprehensible strange noises.

Then, I suddenly remembered the transparent stone, which had lost its power again, and said to my sister in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Sister, my magic….”

I’m scared that I might never be able to use magic again. I’m so scared that my tail is shrinking.

Because I am weak without magic.

Of course, when I grow up, I’ll be very strong and powerful like my sister and Dad. I have no doubt about that. I will definitely become a very big, strong, and powerful wolf.

Nevertheless, I was still just a small and weak baby wolf. In that state, the only way I could protect myself was through magic.

And now, that magic has disappeared for some unknown reason….

My sister hugged me tightly for a moment, then gently stroked my head and comforted me.

“It will surely return to normal later. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes.”

I think I’m starting to wake up a bit now.

I shook my head vigorously to clear my mind, broke free from my sister’s embrace, and stood up on the bed on my own two feet.

Wolves never stay depressed.

The sadder things get, the stronger and more steadfast they stand, and they howl loudly, shaking the earth.

With all their might!!

“Kkang!!”

“Seol-ah, don’t suddenly shout. It’s a nuisance to the people in other rooms.”

“Huk…!”

Right, this is an inn.

I quickly covered my mouth. Seeing my flustered expression, my sister chuckled “Poo-hoo” and picked me up, hugging me.

“Father must be waking up soon too. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Just like when we stayed at Lucy’s house, we were divided into two rooms: my sister and I, and Dad and Seol-gu.

My sister, holding me, headed to the adjacent room where Dad was, and the moment she knocked on the door, it swung open, and Seol-gu jumped out with a “Kyang!” and pounced on me. His jumping power is truly amazing.

“Ugh!”

“Kkang, hek hek.”

“Ugh… Why are you so happy? I’m so, so sad right now. Sigh. That’s why foxes are no good. They don’t even recognize their owners and just cry ‘Kkang-kkang’.”

Seeing his tail wagging incredibly fast, Seol-gu seemed to be in a very good mood. His ears were perked up, and his face was licking mine….

He’s just so happy. But I’m in big trouble and feeling depressed.

… By the way, why does Seol-gu seem so happy today? Is it just because he sees my face?

Watching Seol-gu’s unusually fast tail speed, I was lost in thought for a moment. Anyone would think Seol-gu had been waiting for this day to come.

“Hmm….”

Well, there’s probably no particular reason.

Looking at this silly, soft fox face, I don’t think Seol-gu is happy for any particular reason.

He’s probably just smiling without thinking.

“Kkang kkang.”

“Yes, yes, I’m here. Stop licking now.”

I squeezed Seol-gu’s soft, squishy cheeks and pulled them away from me. As Seol-gu’s cheeks were squashed, he looked truly funny.

Streeeetch.

I tried pulling his cheeks.

Squeeeeze.

I tried pressing them.

“Kyang.”

“Puhaha.”

Flat Seol-gu, wide Seol-gu. Seeing Seol-gu transition freely between these states, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Foxes are inferior animals to wolves, but seeing their cuteness, they might be somewhat viable as pets.

“Seol-ah.”

“Uwaang.”

My sister, who had been watching me play with Seol-gu, soon grabbed my cheeks and started rubbing them vigorously, just as I had done to Seol-gu.

My cheeks stretched and contracted. It felt like I was being kneaded.

I wagged my tail, expressing my displeasure to my sister. Having my cheeks touched without permission wasn’t a very pleasant feeling.

Smiling lightly, my sister stroked my head and then slowly placed me on the floor.

Standing on the ground on my two feet, I moved my body around, preparing to stretch. My body felt stiff from just waking up.

“Seol-gu, do you want to do it too?”

“Kkang.”

“Come here.”

It’s the children’s exercise routine we do every morning. Today’s exercise is the “strong body exercise” to help you grow taller.

It might not be effective for an Arctic fox, which isn’t naturally large, but since it’s good to do it together, I called Seol-gu and started exercising with him.

Now….

Spread your legs shoulder-width apart.

Stand up straight…!

“Start!”

Imagining a song in my heart, I extend my arms and legs. I exercise, earnestly wishing my height would grow as much as my arms stretched towards the sky.

Clap clap clap, arms spin spin spin.

Pat pat pat on the belly, stretch stretch stretch your height.

“Kkang!”

I fell.

“Seol-ah, are you okay?”

“Hing….”

My sister rushed to me and checked my condition. Fortunately, the only injury was a shallow scratch on my knee, but I couldn’t feel relieved by that fact.

To fall while doing a strength exercise.

This is something I’ve never experienced in my life.

Is it true that misfortunes come in threes? In addition to losing my magic, I’ve now failed at exercise. This is not a good omen.

A premonition that something even bigger is about to happen…!

My tail stood on end, and my ears twitched.

As I trembled, imagining a dark future, my sister took out an herb from her embrace and applied it to my injured knee. A terribly bitter scent wafted up, and I wrinkled my nose and covered it.

“Kkaaeeng.”

As expected, misfortunes seem to come in threes.

“Bear with it for a moment. If you don’t treat the wound promptly, it could fester. Seol-ah, you don’t want a scar on your pretty legs, do you?”

“Yes….”

I already know the importance of treatment. Even minor wounds must be handled carefully to avoid major harm.

But if I could use magic, this would have been completely healed in less than 3 seconds.

It seems magic has penetrated my life more deeply than I thought. The void it left feels so immense.

“Kkang.”

“Don’t come near. The smell is really strong right now. The herbal scent might get on your tail.”

“Kkang kkang.”

“If the smell gets on it, it lasts a really long time. It won’t wash off even after a hundred baths!”

Meanwhile, Seol-gu approached me, seemingly unconcerned by the herbal scent. His inability to listen to the warnings, despite them being given, was indeed a very fox-like trait.

Sigh. Well, you’ll deal with the aftermath.

I bent my knees and lowered my gaze towards Seol-gu. Then, I began to express the worries I had all night.

“Seol-gu, why can’t I use magic? What if my magic disappears forever like this?”

“Kkang.”

“You want me to use the fan? Just a moment….”

I took out the pink portable fan from my bag and shone it on Seol-gu. Seol-gu laughed “Kkang-kkang,” seeming refreshed.

He looks so carefree, as if he has no worries in the world. I’m envious.

I continued speaking.

“This stone, it’s a gift from you… What if it disappears like this? Seol-gu-ah.”

Although it has a more angular and rough appearance than a typical fox bead, it is still a transparent stone so beautiful that it captivates the eye.

It turns gray when touched by others, but it turns beautifully when touched by me and Seol-gu, indicating strong security.

This stone, which became my second treasure after picture books.

Although we haven’t known each other for long, it holds so many memories… a very precious stone.

However, now, every time I look at this stone, all sorts of unfortunate futures come to mind. Horrible and terrifying futures that make my tail tremble just thinking about them.

What if the stone disappears like this? What if Seol-gu starts to dislike me because I ruined the stone?

If Seol-gu gets angry at me for mishandling and breaking the gift he gave me, and we break up….

Then I think I’ll be very sad.

“Kkang kkang.”

Contrary to my expectations, Seol-gu smiled foolishly and licked my cheek. He truly seemed to have no worries at all.

Is he trying to comfort me?

It’s as if he’s saying there’s no problem at all.

“Will it really be okay?”

“Kkang.”

Foolishly, but firmly. Seol-gu dismissed my concerns, saying there’s no need to worry.

Of course, I can’t be sure if that’s what he’s actually saying. I’m not a fox, so how can I interpret a simple “Kkang”? I’m just guessing based on intuition.

Nevertheless, my intuition feels trustworthy right now.

“Yes… it will be okay, right…? I’m counting on you, Seol-gu.”

“Kkang!”

“If it’s not okay, I’ll pull out all your tail fur.”

“Kkang?!”

Just kidding.

I laughed “Poo-hoo” and hugged Seol-gu tightly. The fluffy and soft sensation, incomparable to any stuffed animal in the world, enveloped me.

“Seol-ah, are you ready now?”

“Yes!”

“Then, let’s go.”

My sister continued.

“To where William works.”