episode_0071

The fox was led away helplessly. Her body felt strange. Her head was dizzy, her legs stumbled, and even her eyes couldn’t focus. It seemed she had been injected with a sleeping drug. It was a method commonly used when transporting savage slaves.

‘Damn it.’

The drug’s potency was enough to put even a bear beastkin to sleep with a single dose. It was natural that her consciousness was precarious. Irene forced her constantly closing eyes open, struggling to remain conscious.

A new background appeared in her swaying vision.

“……”

What she saw were iron cages lined up in rows. It was a prison for slaves. Even though it was inside a ship, the scale was by no means small. As if an entire floor was being used, hundreds of slaves were densely confined within.

The fox quickly thought.

‘No time.’

This was no time to dawdle. If the ship departed like this, everything would become irreversible. No one would be able to find the girl.

‘Perhaps… it might have already departed.’

This was the most desperate scenario. She didn’t know how much time had passed since she lost consciousness, but she could only pray it hadn’t been long. Ultimately, this was her only chance to escape. Especially since the Hound was also away.

‘It’s worth a try.’

The guards on either side also seemed complacent. They seemed to trust the effects of the sleeping drug. Even if she were caught while trying to escape, they wouldn’t kill her, given the businessman’s orders. It would probably end with a few hits, nothing too noticeable. If the risk was only that much, it was a gamble worth taking.

“Hoo…”

She exhaled calmly. She focused on her senses. Her vision was blurry from a terrible headache, but this was the moment she had to shake it off. Irene suddenly shoved one of the guards beside her.

Thud!

“Ugh…?!”

Clatter!

As one fell, the other grabbed his sword and lunged. She knew it was just for intimidation anyway. So she didn’t back down. She recklessly pushed her body forward, aiming for her opponent’s weak point. Bewilderment flashed in the guard’s eyes.

‘Got him.’

A sword that couldn’t be drawn was nothing but handcuffs sealing one’s own hand. He wouldn’t have the courage to defy orders.

“Damn it…!”

The guard dropped his sword, as if frustrated. He belatedly threw a punch, but it couldn’t be faster than the fox who had already closed the distance. Her swiftly thrust foot struck his solar plexus.

“Cough!”

The guard let out a choked groan, then stumbled and fell. A clean hit, perfectly landed. The girl immediately began to run. In her hand was a sword the guard had dropped. With a few quick cuts, she freed the ropes binding her body.

“Damn it! The merchandise is escaping!”

“Don’t let her get away!”

From behind, several guards gave chase. Leaving the sharp shouts behind, Irene pushed off the ground with all her might, searching for an exit that must be somewhere.

***

Meanwhile.

The Hound, who was in the reception room, belatedly heard the news. It was the news that the fox, captured just a few hours ago, had evaded the guards and was causing a commotion. Suppressing his rising anger, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“These imbeciles… they can’t even properly manage one exhausted fox?”

The Hound gnawed at his lip. He couldn’t understand. He had clearly administered a sleeping drug, so how could she be moving consciously? Its potency was known to instantly put even notoriously savage bear beastkin to sleep. A normal beastkin shouldn’t be able to open their eyes for at least half a day.

‘Tsk… Did I get complacent because of such thoughts?’

The Hound clicked his tongue lightly. As he sighed as if troubled, a voice suddenly came from across the room. It was the ‘guest’ he was supposed to meet today.

“Did something troublesome happen?”

“Mind your own business.”

“You don’t look pleased.”

“That’s our affair. Even if we’re allies, you should know where to interfere and where not to.”

“I see. I apologize if I caused any displeasure.”

The guest bowed politely. A neatly tailored suit, cleanly designed glasses, and well-groomed green hair. He was an impressive young man with a tidy appearance.

“However, I believe this is a matter I should be involved in.”

“What?”

“Didn’t we form an alliance? Furthermore, I understand that most of the goods on this ship were ordered by our lord.”

“So what?”

“If there’s a commotion happening on this ship, it means we have sufficient right to intervene.”

“……”

His manner of politely and clearly refuting him. He was truly an obnoxious four-eyes. The Hound, who had been staring silently at the guest, finally got up as if to say ‘fine’. He was going to catch the escaped fox.

“I’ll be out for a bit.”

“Are you going to deal with the problem you mentioned earlier?”

“What if I am?”

“I will go with you. I will assist if there’s anything I can do.”

“I clearly told you to mind your own business… Hah, fine. Do as you please.”

“Thank you.”

The two slowly exited the reception room. As they walked at a somewhat leisurely pace, the guest walking beside him asked, seemingly puzzled.

“Aren’t you being too relaxed? It seemed like an urgent matter.”

“It’s fine.”

The Hound replied with an annoyed expression.

“She can’t escape anyway.”

“Right, that’s true.”

“The subordinates will corner her, then we’ll just go and beat her up a bit and capture her.”

“Is it alright to hit her? I heard she’s a top-tier product.”

“I don’t know, damn it. If I get an earful, I get an earful. As long as I don’t kill her, it’ll be fine.”

“I understand.”

The two exchanged light conversation. Inside the dark corridor, only their steady footsteps echoed for a while.

***

Irene ran. She traversed wide spaces, sprinted down long corridors, and leaped over staircases scattered here and there. She didn’t look back. She simply pushed off the ground with all her might. She felt like she would collapse due to her fading consciousness, but she struggled to correct her stumbling legs. One stumble, and everything would be over.

“Haa, haa…!”

She exhaled roughly. Moving her body while under the influence of a sleeping drug required immense mental strength. Irene clung to her rapidly fading consciousness.

“There she is!”

“Damn it! Block her way out!”

It wasn’t just running. Guards constantly blocked her path. Whenever her path was blocked, Irene had to change direction or raise her sword and cut down the opponent in front of her. These were the fierce strides of a fugitive.

“Damn it…!”

The size of the ship was as if several passenger ships had been attached side by side. Thanks to the wide space, she could often change direction, but she couldn’t avoid direct confrontations every time. Collisions were unavoidable.

“Damn it! Of all days, it had to be today, when we have the fewest guards…!”

“Stop talking nonsense and follow her!”

“She’s coming this way! Block the stairs on the other side!”

Two guards appeared from the alley. The stairs on the other side were already blocked. It seemed she would have to break through this time. Irene calmly raised her sword. She corrected her disordered posture. This was a situation where her running speed couldn’t decrease. Instead of a heavy blow like usual, she prepared a series of light, quick strikes. Following the rapidly flowing movement, the sword tip gleamed.

Clang!

The first light clash. Without faltering, the girl deflected the sword and then sliced at her opponent as if spinning in a circle. A sharp, stinging sensation spread from her fingertips as flesh was cut.

Slice!

It was shallow, but she didn’t necessarily need to take a life. What was important to Irene right now was ‘escape,’ not ‘victory.’

“You piece of…!”

The fox’s movements were too fast to follow with the eye. By the time the bewildered guard reacted belatedly, her blade had already reached the man’s arm. It was a thrust delivered without hesitation.

Thwack!

“Arghh!”

The guard screamed, a sword lodged in his arm. It seemed to be firmly stuck. The girl released the hilt without regret. Instead, she picked up the sword the man had dropped and continued her sprint. Sticky blood stained her hands.

“Haa, ugh…!”

This chase had already lasted for 30 minutes. Perhaps because she was overworking her exhausted body, her stamina was depleting faster than expected. The only good news was that she was almost near an exit.

If she remembered correctly, the ship’s exit was located on the top deck. Although her memory was vague since it was so brief, there was an outdoor area clearly exposed to the outside, so she was bound to encounter it if she traversed the top deck. She couldn’t check the situation outside from within the ship. Despite its vastness, there wasn’t a single window.

“Haa…!”

Irene had no choice but to clear her mind and run. She prayed the ship hadn’t departed yet. She prayed it was still docked. Even if it had already departed, it was fine. If it was a distance she could swim back, she could surely overcome it.

Irene continued her intense fight for a while. Finally. An exit appeared before her. In truth, it felt more like the ship’s rooftop than an exit, but as long as she could escape anywhere, it was enough. Irene cut down the last guard blocking her way. And then, she immediately stepped out into the open.

But.

“Well, well~ Were you waiting?”

“You’ve finally arrived.”

As soon as she stepped outside, what she saw were none other than two people. One was the Hound, clad in a gray robe. The other was an unidentified young man in a suit. Irene had no choice but to stop running.

“……”

“Why that expression? Did you actually have hope?”

As she stood blankly, the Hound’s mocking voice echoed in her ears. His detestable lips delivered a taunt.

“I told you you couldn’t escape.”

“……”

Whoosh—

Her vermillion hair fluttered in the blowing wind. The girl’s pupils trembled. Her gaze fell not on the two people in front of her, but on the blue background beyond them. Irene let out a small sigh.

“Ah…”

Waves surrounded her on all sides. She scanned here and there, just in case, but there was no trace of land to be found.

That was it.

Splash—

The ship was floating in the middle of the ocean.