episode_0070

The fox, too, had such a time. A time when she was innocent and pure. A time when she couldn’t even suspect others. A time when she easily fell for adults’ lies, and even when she knew she’d been tricked, she’d foolishly laugh. She, too, had regrets that she hated most.

-Irene. In front of the village, which had turned into an inferno, the burning straw, the acrid smell of smoke, and the screams, the white-haired elder stood silently. Holding nothing but a single sword.

-I can no longer stay by my master’s side… nor should I. -So, farewell. His wrinkled eyes calmly smiled. Even with the encroaching nightmare so close, his pupils held not a hint of tremor. He merely offered a faint smile. The elder murmured as if making a final request. -Please, live.

Immediately after. His aged body turned its back. He was a master who, facing the pursuing hunters alone, bought time for the other foxes to escape. In the dark night sky, the clanging of iron echoed for a long time.

The fox ran, weeping. In her hands were young foxes who still needed care. Swallowing her falling tears, she ran. Within her heart, filled with despair, only vivid red hatred spread.

Those who had driven the girl’s daily life into hell. -“I am a person who runs a small business in the capital.” -“I came near your village for work, and since we’re here, I hope we can become close.” -“I want to be your friend.” Humans.

If she hadn’t fallen for those lies, she wouldn’t have lost anything. The girl was tormented by nightmares every day. An eternal iron cage that imprisoned her life. Scratching at the walls, she cursed and vowed. That she would never trust humans again. She swore she would never open her heart again in a world full of liars. The fox was thus consumed by distrust.

-I trust no one. It was always like that. The girl was, always alone.

“It’s quite funny.” Irene murmured. Perhaps it was because of the slave traders she had suddenly encountered. Bitter memories resurfaced. She bit her lip firmly. Clearing away the vague thoughts, she focused on the current scene. A faint tremor lingered at her fingertips. The more it did, the wider she opened her eyes, gripping her sword tightly.

“……” Irene had already dismounted from the carriage. She had jumped off as it slowed down, quickly hiding herself in a nearby alley. She was quietly observing the situation.

The carriages had stopped at a remote dock. Against a backdrop devoid of passersby, soldiers were busily transporting slaves. Occasionally, shouts reached her ears. Irene held her breath, listening to those sounds.

-“Stop whimpering and move quickly!” -“If you try to escape and get caught, you’ll die. You’d best not try any tricks.” -“We’re setting sail soon! Everyone check if anything’s missing!” The soldiers noisily cleared the area. The atmosphere was bustling. Slaves, bound in handcuffs one after another, were being dragged away. Irene calmly surveyed her surroundings.

Were they leaving for somewhere? From the word “setting sail” she’d overheard, it seemed they were moving by ship. If so, there should be a ship waiting nearby. As she pondered her next deduction, sweeping her gaze across the dock.

“……Huh?” There was a shadow that particularly bothered her vision. A gigantic form that didn’t fit into a single glance. Though floating on the sea, it exuded an ostentatious presence. It was a ship that boasted an overwhelming scale, as if several luxury liners had been joined together. The fox inadvertently lost herself in awe.

“What is that…?” A vessel of unbelievable size, even as she gazed upon it. If she hadn’t looked closely, she might have passed it by, thinking it was just a hotel situated by the sea. What on earth was the identity of that monstrous ship? All the slaves were heading towards the vessel.

‘It’s his doing.’ Irene instinctively realized. The underworld’s tycoon who moved vast capital through countless illegal businesses. Commonly known as the ‘Businessman’. She had heard of him once. During the time she was trapped in an iron cage. She remembered overhearing the guards’ conversations as they bragged about their exploits among themselves. They had definitely mentioned a means of transport that carried illegal slaves, weapons, and gunpowder to other countries.

-“This older brother here has even been on that ship before!” -“It’s a trade ship run by the boss, and its scale is so immense it looks like a building at first glance!” -“It must be ridiculously expensive. How could buying a hotel even compare?” -“That’s why the boss said there are only three of them.” At the time, she had thought it was just boasting. But what the idiot had said was true. The Businessman’s resourcefulness was far more profound than she imagined.

The fox’s momentum, which had seemed ready to burst out, diminished. She had been blocked by an unexpected wall.

‘This… isn’t something I can handle.’ She was not one to condone injustice, but she wasn’t so reckless as to rush in like a moth to a flame. Irene knew how to assess a situation appropriately. It was an absurd enemy for an individual to face. Furthermore, operations of that scale would surely have at least one ‘hunting dog’ on board. Retreating now was the wise choice.

‘I should ask for help instead.’ The fox slowly backed away. To escape the area. As she held her breath, trying to slip out of the dark alleyway, she suddenly sensed a presence.

“Well, well~ look who it is?” A voice brushed past her ear. Someone was standing behind the girl.

“……?!” Irene drew her sword and turned around, but it was already too late. A powerful impact struck her head. Thwack! At the same time, her consciousness rapidly receded. Her body lost strength and collapsed. As she blinked her blurry vision, a masked assailant wearing a grey robe came into view. The man had a sinister smile.

“The runaway fox came back on her own, did she?” A hunting dog. The fox realized too late. ‘No way.’ She had been played from the very beginning. From the moment she got into the carriage, the hunting dog had already known of her presence.

The assailant roughly grabbed the fox by her hair. “Nice to meet you? You goddamn bitch.” Her consciousness faded. Her vision went black. The fox finally lost consciousness.

How much time had passed? What awakened the fox’s darkened consciousness was none other than a dousing of water. Splash! An icy temperature was poured onto her face. Irene, forcibly roused, focused her blurry vision and looked around.

It was a large space piled high with cargo. It seemed she had entered the interior of the ship she had seen earlier.

“How about it? Does the water wake you right up?” An irritating voice in her ear. In front of Irene, sprawled on the floor, stood the masked assailant in a grey robe. The hunting dog chuckled, looking down at the girl.

“Where else in the world would you find such luck? For runaway merchandise to return on its own.” The man offered a sinister greeting. “I’ve missed you terribly, you damned fox.”

“……” Irene also recognized the opponent at a glance. The hunting dogs. They were the mercenaries known as the Businessman’s direct unit, tasked with handling all sorts of dirty work. The fox twitched her rope-bound body, glaring at him.

“Oh dear? Won’t you open your eyes nicely?” Perhaps her reaction was amusing. The hunting dog scoffed, then firmly stepped on the girl’s face.

“Consider yourself lucky that you’re top-grade merchandise. If it weren’t for the boss’s orders, those eyes would have been gouged out long ago.” “Ugh…!” She groaned but didn’t lower her gaze. Instead, she burned with hatred. For the opponent before her was the enemy who had ravaged her village and actively led the fox hunt.

His distinct sarcastic voice echoed. “Our boss is very angry because of you. He never imagined you’d be able to escape from that place.” “……” “Honestly, I want to ask too. How did you escape? Breaking out on your own makes no sense. I even heard the iron cage door was cleanly opened. Just like it was opened with a key.” “……” “Did someone help you from the outside? You sang about how much you hated humans, but in the end, did you receive help from another human?”

“Go to hell.” Spit! Instead of answering, Irene spat. The hunting dog, whose eyes almost flared in anger for a moment, soon exhaled calmly and composed himself. He was clearly trying to follow his employer’s orders.

“……Well, it doesn’t matter, does it? Since you’ve been caught again like this.” Struggling was futile; she was already in his palm. The hunting dog commanded the soldiers waiting nearby. “Move this bitch to the iron cage. I have an appointment with a guest, so I have to go.” “Yes, sir!” The soldiers answered vigorously. They forcibly lifted the fox, who had fallen to the floor, and dragged her away. Her reddish-orange hair simply hung limp.