He’s a Fox Ch 109

Chapter 109 Side Story 4

Hohyun didn’t fully wake until a couple of hours later. Though his fatigue hadn’t lifted much—just as when he first stirred—his body clock nagged that pushing it further was a bad idea, leaving him no choice but to get up.

The fox, face tousled with sleep, glanced around. Those who had slept in the same bed seemed to be up already, leaving the side that had once been snugly filled feeling empty. The tiger cub had woken some time ago, eyes wide and bright, while the big tiger lay beside him, reviewing documents.

As he sat up, Yuri—who had been clutching a stuffed toy—tossed it aside and bolted straight to Hohyun. The cub, who threw herself against his chest, rubbed her head against him with all her might. Normally he could have handled this easily, but after skipping several meals, he had no strength left in his body. In the end, he was pushed back by the tiny child and toppled limply onto the bed.

The baby tiger, who had unintentionally knocked the fox down, purred contentedly. She seemed very pleased to be pressed flush against Hohyun’s side. Listening to the rumble that sounded like a motorcycle’s exhaust, his body relaxed on its own.

Kangwoon’s gaze rested on the two, stuck close together. When their eyes met, he let out a small chuckle. The peaceful moment didn’t last long—Hohyun’s stomach roared. Unable to endure the hunger pangs any longer, his empty stomach sent up a flare, and the three of them left the bedroom together.

Yuri took the lead, with Kangwoon bringing up the rear. The corridor wasn’t narrow, yet the three moved in a single-file line. After walking like a toy train for a few steps, Hohyun sensed something off.

“Isn’t it… too quiet?”

The homeowner liked a quiet house, so it was usually calm, but never this silent. Tilting his head for only a moment, he soon realized why the thought had come. The crocodile, who shadowed Yuri like a second self, was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe he got time off? While Hohyun was puzzling over it, Kangwoon, who had been right behind him, stopped short.

“I’ll go get things ready. When I call, come with Yuri.”

“I’ll help, too.”

“This isn’t exactly hard. It’s fine—just stay put.”

Words alone didn’t suffice; Kangwoon insisted on planting Hohyun on the living room sofa before heading off. Sitting on the plush sofa and watching his retreating back, Hohyun’s gaze shifted toward the view through the balcony window. A group of big men had gathered at the path into the garden.

Among the usual hulking, dark-furred beastfolk outside, a welcome face appeared. Seeing the tall black bear standing head and shoulders above even the big guys, Hohyun’s eyes lit up.

“So you’re safe…!”

Thanks to the bear drawing attention, the escape had succeeded, but they had split at the end and were unable to return together. The mood had been grim at the time, so the worry had been great, but thankfully it didn’t look like he was badly hurt. Still, judging by the gauze patches on his face, he hadn’t come away unscathed.

At least there were no shattered bones or anything that needed stitching. If there had been, he would have been wrapped in bandages or splints rather than such light dressings. Accustomed to frequent accidents, Hohyun had inadvertently become quick at reading injuries; once he confirmed the bear’s wounds were only minor, he let out a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to head out to say hello, the Yuri who’d been sitting with him on the sofa suddenly tensed. With her little hands gripping his clothes, Hohyun couldn’t stand up and sank back down. Startled by the abrupt move, he looked down at the round crown of her head.

“Yuri, what’s wrong?”

It was such a sudden change from the way she’d been stuck to his side like sticky rice cake just moments ago. Even when he asked, the cub didn’t answer and only tightened her grip on his clothes.

Unable to solve the puzzle, Hohyun lifted Yuri into his arms. He didn’t know why the baby was acting like this, but if he waited any longer, the black bear might disappear somewhere. Supporting her weight with one arm, he petted her head with the other and moved toward the window. Then Yuri suddenly jerked her head up from where it had been buried and hissed silently toward the outside.

Seeing the baby tiger’s gaze fixed on the figures beyond the glass—on the group of big men—Hohyun couldn’t hide his surprise. She usually didn’t dislike them; sometimes she got annoyed by their clinginess, but that was all. If those guys, who were always waiting for a chance to chat with the young lady, had known what was happening now, they would have cried from the unfairness of it.

Startled, Hohyun reflexively returned to the sofa, and the bristling, puffed tail calmed a little. He thought he might be getting it… Testing his hunch, he shifted his body slightly toward the window again. Immediately, the just-settling Yuri reacted. Eyes wide, she went on full alert.

As he kept still, a tiny hand shot up to block his way. The sight rang a bell, and Hohyun pressed his lips together, holding back a smile. The tiniest bodyguard in the world seemed to be appointing herself head of security.

He wasn’t reading the mind of the world’s smallest guard, but since she was so young she didn’t know how to hide her expressions, it wasn’t hard to see why she was doing this. Overwhelmed by the concern and affection in Yuri’s actions, Hohyun couldn’t hold back the feeling rising in his chest and let out a pained little sound. At the noise that slipped through his teeth, Yuri, who had been scanning the area with fierce vigilance, flinched and looked back.

“Moongmoo Oppa, are you hurt?”

“Mm, no. Not at all.”

His heart did hurt a little, but not in a bad way—so it wasn’t a lie. Hohyun quickly pulled the anxious cub into a hug and smothered her with kisses. The quiet living room filled with the high, bright laughter unique to babies. Immersed in the cuteness and happiness, Hohyun failed to consider one thing: this wasn’t going to be a one-off.

Until they sat down to eat, he thought it had been an isolated incident. Without thinking, Hohyun scampered to the kitchen at Kangwoon’s call. Seeing his partner—still not done smiling after the flood of affection—and the little sister looking oddly satisfied, Kangwoon asked in puzzlement,

“Did something good happen?”

“Ah, well. Yuri…”

Trying to rein in the smile tugging helplessly at his lips and explain what had just happened in the living room, he heard footsteps approaching down the hall. He didn’t have to look to know who it was—his presence was that familiar. The crocodile, who had been absent all morning, was finally about to appear.

As Kangwoon flicked a glance toward the corridor and then lowered his head again, the small tiger by his side reacted sharply. Her ears, which had perked up at some point, tucked back behind her head, and her eyes slanted upward. She sprang to her feet where she stood.

“Urrrr…”

At the menacing sound, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned toward Yuri. The crocodile, one foot in the room, froze in place, and Hohyun—about to shovel a big spoonful of rice into his mouth—stared blankly at the cub, mouth hanging open.

With a soft patter, the white grains that had been balancing precariously on the spoon made their escape back into the bowl, and silence fell. Over the sound of the little tiger’s huffing breaths, her caregiver spoke first.

“Yuri, what do we do during meals?”

“…Sit in our seat.”

“And?”

“Be quiet.”

Perhaps because the scolding made sense, Yuri obediently sat down. The dissatisfaction on her face didn’t fade easily, though. The reptile, rejected out of the blue for no reason, drew back with an aggrieved expression. Only then did Hohyun grasp the severity of the situation. Kangwoon hadn’t said anything particular, so he hadn’t realized—apparently, the scope of her watch list was very broad.

Yuri’s vigilance continued for quite some time after. The crocodile and the bear, and even other beastfolk, were no exception. Whoever stepped within three meters of Hohyun triggered a porcupine-like bristling, and as a result, Hohyun had to undergo a kind of soft quarantine.