Chapter: 141
At Soul Academy, it wasn’t unheard of for this Sloppy Fox to follow me around.
Anyway, this guy completely disregards rules and discipline whenever someone has high charm.
But that wasn’t a Forced Joining Event. At the very least, it asked for the other party’s intention.
This fox doesn’t care about being hated by its crush, but it certainly doesn’t want to be genuinely disliked.
In the game, even if it got super sulky, it never stalked like this!
But what’s this now? Regardless of whether I’m hated or not, this guy is declaring his intention to stalk me.
I pressed my eyes shut, looking at the Sloppy Fox wagging its tail beneath me.
In this situation where the Sloppy Fox is shouting “Do you care?” with its whole body, there was nothing I could do.
If I chase her away, that guy will follow me around secretly and watch me, and if I tell him to stay close, he’ll start doing weird things with a smile.
I want to smack him down, but there’s a significant difference in strength.
After all, this guy is a powerful being strong enough to be the owner of the forest. I can’t take him down yet.
If this were a game, I’d solve it with all sorts of tricks and controls, but this is reality.
How can I defeat someone who keeps begging for more after I smash him with all my might?
“You look troubled.”
Shut up, please.
“Sloppy Fox? Can you close that smelly mouth of yours? It’s making me nauseous.”
Theoretically, what the Grandpa said was right. This guy’s existence is undoubtedly helpful.
Among the various forest owners, the Sloppy Fox is quite the versatile guy—having him around wouldn’t be bad.
But still. Still!
I can’t accept it physiologically.
How can I be with a lunatic who would lick up saliva after spitting and call it a reward?!
If I had met him as a man before becoming Lucy, I would have freaked out!
Ugh. My head is so jumbled I can’t even open my mouth.
Even if the rational side tries to speak, it’ll probably have to start with the word “fucking.”
No! Are you a cat? You’re a fox! Why are you crawling over here and saying “become my master!”
Knock knock.
“Lady Allen. Are you inside?”
While glaring at the cheerful fox between my fingers, I lifted my head at the sound calling me from outside the door.
This voice has to be Professor Anton, right? He’s probably super busy being the main guy for Combat Studies, so why is he here?
If I were to look for a reason, maybe it’s related to the last field trip. I wasn’t exactly worried about that part, being completely above board.
Isn’t it strange that after the field trip, my reputation actually went up?
My plan succeeded perfectly in shifting the anger of the people to the faculty, but I was prepared for my reputation to drop a bit.
But after that happened, I don’t know what Arthur said to the other students, but my reputation actually improved a bit.
He talks harshly, but unlike before, he seems to care about those around him.
This is what Avery, Visi, and Joy said, so I have to take it with a grain of salt, but it’s true my reputation improved compared to before.
Arthur, what the hell did you say to the students with that big mouth of yours? Thanks a ton!
Unlike some fox that only offers me disgust, you’re actually helpful!
Thanks for rallying everyone during the field trip, and for the aftermath too!
Just wait! I’ll bring you the best gift you could ever need!
“Lady Allen?”
Just a moment!
“Wait, Sloppy Gorilla professor. I’m coming out.”
“Yes, understood.”
Hah. Anyway, the issue with the Sloppy Fox won’t be resolved by worrying about it now, so I’ll push it back for the moment.
Going outside for some fresh air might lead to better thoughts.
…Hmm. But is it really okay to leave the Sloppy Fox in my room? I wonder if this pervert will do something weird again?
Even so, the word “shame” doesn’t mean a thing to this Sloppy Fox.
There’s no way common sense applies to a crazy pervert who declares they’ll be stalking you to your face!
But I don’t want to take the source of my stress, the Sloppy Fox, with me either.
What to do?
“Grandpa.”
[What's wrong? ]
“I’m leaving this here, so if that pervert does anything weird, please tell me later.”
I seriously think it might casually steal my underwear or something. It won’t take long, so just keep an eye on it for a bit.
When I made that request, the Grandpa replied he understood.
Should I take a little break? It is strange to say I’m going out while going from my room to outside.
Hah. What can I do? The deed is done.
*
Lucy said she would be out for a moment and told Rina to wait here, and after she left, Ruel quietly observed Rina as she looked around the room.
Wow, this world has all sorts of things. To possess the status of the owner of the forest and yet display such a lack of dignity.
What’s even worse is that it’s not that she doesn’t know about dignity.
Before Lucy started wearing revealing outfits, she used to be quite proper.
Once a noble, a Holy Knight, and a hero—Ruel.
From his perspective, Rina’s familiarity with decorum was so perfect that you could toss her among court nobles and she wouldn’t catch a scratch.
However, the moment Lucy started wearing revealing clothing, Rina threw everything away.
Crushed by her own desires, she no longer even considered maintaining minimal courtesy.
As beautiful as our Young Lady is, isn’t that just a bit too much?
If that creature were an ordinary human rather than the owner of the forest, she would have been imprisoned as a criminal long ago.
While wagging her tail as she surveyed the room, Rina sprang up as soon as she heard Lucy’s footsteps disappear and stretched.
Is she about to start moving? I hope she doesn’t do anything weird.
It’s a problem that our Young Lady is suffering mentally, but it’s not good for me to watch her either.
Rina sniffed the air in the room and smirked uncomfortably, then made her way in a certain direction.
Hmm? Why is she coming this way? There’s nothing related to the Young Lady around here.
…No, that’s not true. There is one thing.
The weapon that always existed alongside the Young Lady, held in her hand for a long time—me.
No way. Is thisfox aiming for me?
No, stop! Please don’t!
I do not wish to be toyed with by you!
Ruel shouted with a desperate heart, but Rina didn’t pay him any mind.
Leaping lightly onto the table, she eyed Ruel and licked her lips.
Young Lady! Please come back soon!
Right now, I am terrified of this situation!
I have no idea what this insane beast might do! Please!
Just when Ruel was praying for Lucy to return, Rina reached out and placed her hand on top of him.
In the moment when Ruel tensed up, imagining what was to come.
“Fancy meeting you, inhabitant of the Mace.”
Rina spoke to Ruel.
<...Are you referring to me? >
“Who else would I be speaking to?”
[That’s true. How did you know I existed? ]
“I am a fox, after all. I can see souls.”
I don’t know how seeing souls connects to being a fox, but it wouldn’t be too strange for someone powerful enough to be the owner of the forest to have such abilities.
[It’s rather fortunate in a way, Lady Rina. Please don’t do anything weird here.]
If she knows someone is watching, it might reduce the chances of her weirdness compared to when I’m alone.
“What do you think of me, anyway?”
[Well, considering how many troubles you’ve caused.]
“I merely displayed my affection.”
Ruel momentarily lost his words at Rina’s response, showing no guilt for her actions, as if asking what was wrong with it.
Was it a mistake to expect common sense from a lunatic?
“Enough chit-chat, let’s get to the point. I don’t know when that beautiful Young Lady will return.”
[That wasn’t chit-chat.]
“Let’s get straight to the point. I’ll help you stay by the Young Lady’s side.”
[I don’t want to.]
Ruel didn’t doubt Rina’s tremendous powers. There’s a reason he’s not being rude or dismissive.
However, regardless of that, this perverted fox wouldn’t have a positive influence on Lucy.
Sure, she might be helpful, but the mental damage she’d inflict would clearly outweigh it.
“That’s needed for the Young Lady.”
[It’ll be needed for your desires, I suppose.]
“Of course, there’s that aspect too, but it’s secondary. There’s something far more important.”
Ruel was sure that Rina would start saying nonsense but let her speak.
Even as she rambled weirdly, time would flow, getting closer to Lucy’s return.
“That Young Lady is glowing with such bright light. You could say she’s receive the love of heaven.
Given that beauty, it’s only natural to be favored, but when someone’s love is concentrated in one place, it inevitably gathers malice from others.
Do you understand? There will surely be great threats coming for the Young Lady. So far, she seems to have overcome her trials somehow, but can we say that will continue?”
<...That sounds like you’re saying, at that time, you’ll protect the Young Lady, Rina.>
“Correct. If I hadn’t thought so, why would I have been following without even asking the Young Lady’s intent?”
It’s fine if one brushes past breaking point. Winning after hardship adds beauty to the Young Lady’s life.
But she can’t break. Ruel fell silent at Rina’s casual declaration.
Having spent quite some time with Lucy, he knows very well just how many crises she has faced.
If this fox could help in case of emergency…
“If it truly makes you anxious, then I…”
*
Professor Anton called me to give me the rewards from the field trip.
After confirming our party secured first place in the loot calculations, he came to see me.
He said with a smile that we brought back the most loot in the history of Soul Academy’s field trips, implying there was no ill will toward me.
Even though I’m a mess with dark circles under my eyes.
Truly, what a magnanimous guy, Professor Anton.
As a reward for first place in the Academy, I was given the Guardian’s Brooch. That’s the one that saved my life back from that Minotaur.
With this, I’ll be able to escape death at least once.
The best scenario would be not needing to use it, but that’s probably too much to hope for.
Considering everything I’ve gone through, it wouldn’t be strange for more danger to arise in the future.
While mulling over these thoughts, I stood in front of my door and sighed.
Do I really have to face the Sloppy Fox’s perverted antics again?
Thinking about it gives me chills, but what can I do? This is my room. I can’t just run away from it.
After a reluctant moment, I opened the door to see the human-shaped Sloppy Fox before me.
She was kneeling at the entrance, waiting, and as soon as she saw me, she bowed.
“Welcome back, my master.”
…What kind of play is this? Sloppy Fox?
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