His pride as an experienced warrior still resisted, but he made a decision for the benefit once again today.
“Kyu… Woo.”
He laughed, opening his mouth wide and squinting his almond-shaped eyes into crescents.
“Kyu-!”
“You’re so cute!”
Christina touched his cheek and patted his head, smiling happily at him.
“Hmm… If I’m satisfied, then it’s fine.”
He knew it was necessary, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of embarrassment deep inside.
Unable to face Christina directly due to the rising blush on his face, he covered his face with his front paw and twisted his body in embarrassment.
“Look at you, being shy. You’re adorable.”
“Darn it. I can’t be reckless with her, she’s my benefactor.”
He turned his head, hiding his blushing cheeks and curling his tail inward.
Christina couldn’t help but find the sight of the embarrassed little one endearing and showered him with affectionate words.
“Because you’re smart and cute like this. I hope you’ll always be happy and live your life beautifully.”
Her words conveyed warm emotions.
“It’s amazing how someone can sincerely say such things.”
Even though they were like warm rays of sunshine that made him feel itchy, he couldn’t help but acknowledge them.
Christina’s demeanor was gentle and warm, something he had never experienced in his past life, so he didn’t know what to call it.
After Christina left, he remained deep in thought.
“An eye for an eye, and a favor must be repaid.”
He thumped his tail against the cradle.
“I wonder how I should respond when I receive such feelings.”
Imugi, among the memories he remembered, recalled a similar story that might be helpful in this situation.
“Come to think of it, that kumiho mentioned something similar.”
The capricious, beautiful yet cunning and pure yet cruel kumiho approached Imugi without prejudice.
Although the fox could be a bit troublesome, as long as it didn’t cross any lines, it was better than those who mocked and belittled him.
“He was an incomprehensible fellow, just like back then.”
One day, the kumiho came to visit Imugi’s dwelling and casually asked while licking its lips.
“Do you enjoy training?”
“What?”
The kumiho’s tail gently brushed against him.
“You’re stuck here because you want to ascend, right? Are you happy doing what you want?”
He couldn’t answer immediately.
He wasn’t necessarily unhappy with his current life. But he couldn’t recall when he had ever thought he was happy while living.
Seeing Imugi’s momentary hesitation, the kumiho pursed its lips and murmured, “Fool.”
“Why is it like that?”
Imugi scowled, not liking the implication behind the kumiho’s expression.
“Episode 6 was delicious, wasn’t it?”
“We just have different goals.”
The kumiho laughed lightly at Imugi’s words and spun in the air.
“That’s why you’re a foolish idiot.”
“What?”
Was it a joke? That thought crossed his mind.
The next thought was, “Has he gone crazy?”
A kumiho who lived by eating the livers of humans and animals fell in love with a human.
He couldn’t comprehend how that was even possible.
“You’re giving up everything even when you’re about to complete the fox bead and become a heavenly fox?”
The kumiho chuckled softly.
“It doesn’t make sense, does it? You’ll know when someone loves and adores you. You’ll feel what it’s like to be truly loved.”
Imugi couldn’t understand his words at that time.
To be more precise, it sounded like useless talk, interfering with his training for ascension.
“Is that necessary? I am training to become a dragon. I don’t have the luxury to indulge in such things.”
“Be more lighthearted~ That’s what makes you a fool yet charming~”
His rude remark somehow touched a nerve, and Imugi retorted with a wrinkled brow.
“I’ve told you before, I don’t like it when you speak so casually. It would be better if you didn’t give off that vibe.”
Seeing the narrowed eyes, he expected a headache-inducing situation where the kumiho would throw a tantrum, but surprisingly, the kumiho just stared at Imugi for a moment.
Without the expected reaction, Imugi also faced the kumiho.
“I’ve fallen in love with someone, so I’m going to become a human.”
“What…?”
He wondered if it was a joke.
Then he thought, “Is he insane?”
The kumiho, who used to feast on the livers of humans and animals, fell in love with a human.
He couldn’t fathom how it was possible.
“I’ll soon complete the fox bead and have the ability to become a celestial fox for a thousand years, but I’m giving up everything for that.”
The kumiho gave a light laugh.
“It’s absurd, isn’t it? You’ll understand when you have someone who finds you beautiful and loves you sincerely.”
“That’s impossible.”
He felt that he would never be able to understand it in his lifetime.
The kumiho giggled and turned away, stretching its body from head to tail with force.
“I’m going now.”
Imugi wanted to ask for more details but realized he couldn’t empathize with the kumiho’s situation and didn’t say anything else.
He sensed that it was their own personal stories and there was no point in probing further.
As it was essentially their farewell, he chose his words carefully.
“If I become a human, I won’t be able to come back here. I hope you live the way you want, receiving the love and happiness you desire.”
“…Okay. Thank you.”
The kumiho seemed hesitant, as if it wanted to say something more as it looked at him.
“What a tasteless farewell.”
The kumiho stared at Imugi with deep eyes, as if trying to capture his image.
For some reason, he couldn’t avoid those eyes, and as he stared back, the kumiho closed its eyes and turned away.
“You… just…”
“Ha! Live well, you fool!”
With a bark and a swish, it left, and Imugi touched his jaw.
“It seemed like it was going to cry… Maybe it’s because of the mood.”
He still couldn’t understand that. He thought that even though the kumiho was mischievous, it didn’t have to go so far as to cry.
“It’s a personality that I can’t understand until the end.”
He was a bit curious, but since it had already left, he couldn’t ask anymore.
Since it had left, all he could do was wish it happiness and that it would feel the “happiness” and “beauty” it desired.
But one day, he heard the news that the kumiho, who had coveted the fox bead, met a tragic end at the hands of the human.
Although he could greet his wife again, the parents of the dying man were the only ones left in the world.
“That man, he was a despicable fellow, through and through.”
He was so attached to him that he ended up killing his own child and wife.
He sought revenge, but in truth, it left a lingering feeling of regret that he couldn’t kill him on the spot.
“It’s useless to thinkA few days passed.
Having become accustomed to drinking milk during mealtime, he quietly finished his personal training and naturally lay in the cradle, waiting.
Recently, Christina had developed an interest in experimenting with various dishes using milk.
Thanks to that, she said that a rare cooking facility would be completed in one of the lairs soon.
“Well, using milk as a theme, it’s not surprising that it’s delicious and can replenish magical power. I should have experimented with it sooner.”
It felt like an addiction he had only heard about. With that in mind, he savored the taste.
Imagining the richness and smoothness that milk provided, he waited for the air to ripple with Christina’s teleportation magic.
“She’s here.”
Now, he clenched and unclenched his hands, preparing himself mentally.
“It should work out well.”
The gift he had prepared was none other than his ability to “stand alone on two feet.”
He thought that seeing this would make Christina realize his growth.
“I hope that if I show her that I can walk, she’ll be less likely to stick that annoying white mischievous spirit to me all the time.”
Even if she didn’t detach it right away, he hoped that Christina would elevate it to a level where she could leave him alone for a while.
Standing alone on two feet was the foundation for that.
“Kyu!”
“I’m here. How have you been?”
“Kyu-!”
Imugi held onto the crib railing with his front paws and, with a little effort, started to stand up on his hind legs.
“Kyuuu. Kyu…”
“I did it. Kyu… Kyu!”
“Impressive!”
Christina looked at him with wide eyes as he confidently stood before her.
“I’ve done it.”
He felt a sense of pride in his accomplishments, even though he still had a long way to go.
“But this is not the end.”
Fwoosh.
With a burst of energy, he flexed the muscles in his shoulders and wings, spreading the small wingskin on his back.
“Kyuook!”
“Oh my.”
He looked at Christina with a triumphant gaze.
“Oh, how do you do that? It’s so touching.”
He was taken aback by her reaction, which was beyond his expectations.
“Did I go overboard?”
He thought she would find it impressive at best, but he wondered if he had said too much.
To make sure she didn’t suspect he wasn’t an ordinary child, he glanced at her, then chuckled and stretched out one arm.
“Kyu-woo. Kyaaa!”
“It’s embarrassing, but I have to show a childlike side as much as possible in this situation.”
Thump.
Christina covered her mouth with one hand and spoke.
“What should I do? I’m really… moved.”
He felt a pang of embarrassment but still extended his arms, waiting for her embrace.