He’s a Fox Ch 31

Chapter 31

“Woof!”

“Oh, food?”

Sniff, sniff.

“We bought some fried chicken for everyone to share, so you should eat before you go, Hohyun.”

The curt invitation to stay for a meal was supplemented with details by Mr. Hwang, who had overheard. At the mention of fried chicken, Hohyun’s mouth instantly watered. Having lived on an unintentional “diet” of raw meat, the idea of chicken coated in starch and deep fried in oil triggered a reflexive surge of saliva.

Could anyone refuse? The temptation was irresistible. Hohyun quickly set down his bags on the floor and found a seat in a corner. Seeing him accept without hesitation, the one who had suggested it wagged his tail in satisfaction.

With nothing else to do while waiting, Hohyun amused himself by sweeping away loose fur that had accumulated on the floor, nudging the clumps into a corner with his foot. Space in the dorm was tight, and since most spent their time in their beast forms, fur was everywhere. The trash bin was beyond too many obstacles, but at least if he piled it aside, someone could clean it later.

From far off, the faint rumble of a motorcycle perked up Hohyun’s fox ears. Others seemed to notice too, rising from their seats and making room at the center for the chicken. While watching them, Hohyun circled to the edge and slipped on his shoes.

“I’ll go pick it up!”

Since he was on the receiving end of their hospitality, it only felt right to handle a simple errand. But as he opened the door, Mr. Hwang hurried after him.

“No, no—you’ll never carry it all by yourself.”

“How much did you order?”

“Let’s see… Hey, Lee! How many chickens was it?”

The one who had placed the order barked in reply. Twelve chickens. With that many people, it made sense they’d gone generous. Realizing this, Hohyun quickly accepted Mr. Hwang’s company.

Because multiple dorms shared the area, all deliveries were collected near the bus stop—an unspoken rule. When they arrived, the delivery man was unloading bagged chickens onto the bench. Even wrapped tightly in plastic, the irresistible smell filled the air. Hohyun swallowed hard.

After months away from such food, the aroma hit him dizzyingly hard. By the time all twelve were set down, the delivery man had already sped off on his motorbike. Hohyun hurried forward, hooking bags onto his arms. The weight he could handle, but the volume was impossible. Both arms full, yet several bags remained. He desperately wanted to carry all twelve, but if he pushed it, the boxes might tilt and spill. Regretfully, he had to leave the rest to Mr. Hwang.

“See? I told you—you couldn’t do it alone,” said the raccoon smugly. Hohyun could only agree.

But as they returned toward the dorms, he came face-to-face with someone he had forgotten about entirely. The Black Bear was standing there, head tilted as if to ask what Hohyun was doing. Only then did he remember—someone was waiting outside.

From where he had been leaning against the car, Han Kyung-oh straightened when he saw Hohyun approaching with arms full of dangling chicken bags. Clearly, things weren’t done yet, so the Bear sat quietly back down on the hood.

Caught in awkward indecision, Hohyun froze. Mr. Hwang nudged his shoulder and whispered,

“…Do you know him?”

“Yes.”

He nodded, though the answer felt insufficient. How was he supposed to explain? His prospective future boss’s personally appointed chauffeur-for-the-day? An acquaintance? While he hesitated, the Bear opened his enormous jaws in a slow yawn. The glimpse of those massive fangs sent Mr. Hwang pale. Catching his breath sharply, the raccoon whispered in a near inaudible voice:

“Hohyun… did you borrow money from loan sharks¹?”

Seeing the concern, Hohyun’s eyes widened and his hands flailed.

“No! Of course not. He’s just someone I know. When I said I was coming here, he offered me a ride.”

Loan sharks? Impossible. If Hohyun ever did something that foolish, his older sister would kill him long before the loan sharks did. Besides, he knew himself well—better than anyone. With trouble clinging to him as it always did, to add loan sharks into the mix would be catastrophic.

His vehement refusal was convincing, and Mr. Hwang nodded quickly.

“Of course—I know you’re not that kind of person. It’s just… well… he doesn’t seem like any ordinary man.”

Even as he spoke, his eyes flicked constantly toward the car, wary of being overheard. On this, Hohyun silently agreed. Nearly two meters tall, covered in black fur, with the heavy aura of a carnivorous predator—it was natural to feel daunted. Hohyun knew well enough that around canines that face softened to a foolish grin, but appearances could easily lead to someone assuming otherwise. From outside, the Bear could indeed pass as a debt collector.

Perhaps because the explanation had calmed him, relief filled Mr. Hwang’s face. He sighed, then added brightly,

“Well then, don’t keep the fellow waiting outside. Bring him in too.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Sure. The dorm’s small, but if it comes to that, we can balance chicken boxes on our laps.”

Gratitude curved Hohyun’s lips into a smile. If Mr. Hwang felt this way, the others surely would too. The residents of dorm 7 were all warmhearted people. So, turning toward the Bear, he asked,

“Excuse me.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Would you like chicken?”

Momentarily caught off guard, Kyung-oh shook his head.

“No, thank you. The smell might cling.”

His meaning was plain—go inside, eat, then come back. But Hohyun froze, realization striking him hard. He had forgotten about the Tiger cub. That cub had sniffed out the faintest scent of a cat; fried chicken would be impossible to conceal. What excuse could he possibly offer?

After wrestling with the thought, he sighed and gave up. “No chicken today.” His face clouded as he walked back toward Mr. Hwang.

“Sir, I think I’ll just head back today.”

“…So sudden? Did something come up?”

“Yes…”

The disappointment on his fox-like face made the raccoon sigh in pity.

“Well then, whatever it is, you’d better get going. I’ll tell the others for you.”

“No, it’s only right I go and say goodbye myself.”

“That’s best.”

Catching the Bear’s eye, Hohyun gestured wordlessly for him to wait. Then he hurried back into the dorm. Everyone was now in human form, seated properly. Setting the chicken in the empty spot, Hohyun explained that something had come up and he had to leave.

One of the quieter dog beastmen nodded. As Hohyun gathered his things, that man spoke: “Let’s share a meal sometime.” Hohyun bowed politely, interpreting it as no more than a friendly formality.

Belongings gathered, farewells complete, he hurried out again.

The Black Bear was already back in the car. As Hohyun opened the passenger door, something was thrust into his hands—a deodorizing spray, looking almost comical in the giant hand that held it. Despite not having eaten, the lingering scent of chicken still clung from carrying the bags.

Gratefully, Hohyun sprayed himself down before slipping into the seat. Kyung-oh started the engine, then asked, in a more softened tone than usual,

“Where to next?”

He was asking if there were other places to stop. Clutching his wallet grimly, Hohyun steeled his face. On the day he’d been ambushed and dragged away, there had been one personal item he had lost. Now, he was determined to replace it.

“Please, drive to the nearest cellphone shop.”

The Bear’s eyes lingered on the pair of sharp triangular fox ears standing upright with conviction. As Hohyun tilted his head in puzzlement at the stare, one of those black ears folded slightly to the side, softening the image unbearably.

Kyung-oh whispered something too faint to hear and, eyes suddenly shimmering with emotion, shifted in silence and opened the rear door as if offering an unspoken gesture. Hohyun did not ask. And the Bear, unwilling to explain aloud, kept quiet. Thus, silence enveloped them both.

Footnotes

1. Loan sharks (사채, sachae) – Illegal or semi-legal private lenders notorious in Korea for exorbitant interest rates and intimidation. Even the suspicion of borrowing from such people suggests grave danger.