He’s a Fox Ch 38

Chapter 38

“…Why are you already up?”

Kangwoon’s rumbling low voice carried out as he swung his legs from the bed. While Hohyun had been trying so very hard to sneak away silently, the tiger had already padded across the floor in a single stride, yawning wide, and scooped the fox up with one arm.

Because Hohyun was holding all his clothes clamped between his teeth, Kangwoon carried him awkwardly—not cradled, but perched like a bundle across his forearm.

The instant the door opened, light stabbed into them. Unlike the blackout-curtained bedroom that had been pitch-dark, the hallway—illuminated by a wide sunlit window—was flooded with morning brightness, the first rays of the late autumn sun piercing through.

Kangwoon’s great head was shaded, his face mostly cloaked in shadow. But the fox in his arms wasn’t so lucky—Hohyun caught the sunlight full into his pupils.

Having come from dark into brilliance, his eyes flinched shut, and he gave a small whimper. And then—pain tingled at the tips of his forepaws and surged upward through his limbs. He recognized the sensation at once—he had felt it in the department store before. His body swelled violently in a flash.

The floor dropped away below him, his perspective shooting upward. His eyes opened wide in startled panic—just as Kangwoon tightened his grip reflexively. It hadn’t been expected, but the thought struck swift as lightning: If I drop him like this, it’ll be a mess.

Any other beastman wouldn’t have been carried at all, and even if they had, they would have been set down instantly. But this one? This was the fox who’d trip on level ground if left alone. So Kangwoon clamped down, muscles bulging in his forearms as he absorbed the sudden change—8.6 kilograms of fox surging into a seventy-kilogram man without even a tremor.

Both “carrier” and “carried” were too groggy from waking to register fully. But for the first time in his life, by sheer coincidence, Hohyun found himself able to look down on the tiger.

Normally, the roles were reversed—gnashing teeth, golden gaze always looming above. Now, from this new perspective, their eyes met at close range. The fox’s mind whispered almost unconsciously: Wow. Golden irises, sharply cut features, stripes vivid even up close. The impression rose effortlessly: handsome.

Was this merely the natural charisma of the tiger race? Or something special in Kangwoon himself? Either way, Hohyun was caught staring in a daze—his attention snagged on the twin rounded ears that sprouted above. Almost perfectly circular, tipped with dots of white fur against the black—that sight was oddly… cute.

Flowing thoughts froze into panic. For in that moment he realized with horror: he was naked. Clothes—all of them—sat clenched stupidly in his own teeth.

“—Ahh!”

The cry made the clothes tumble from his mouth in a heap. Desperately, he grabbed in mid-air, yanking fabric down to shield the most crucial region. He couldn’t dress midair, so improvisation would have to do. His pale morning face flushed to burning scarlet.

Embarrassment rolled through him so hard he wanted to vanish. Kangwoon gazed silently, then carefully placed him down on the floor. The instant his feet touched earth, Hohyun scurried backward, his spine thumping against the hallway wall, every hair trembling.

Thank heavens, at least, the tiger hadn’t been carrying him the usual way. If Kangwoon had followed instinct and braced a hand under his belly, he would have ended up lying stomach-down against that arm—and then… his private parts would have pressed against the man’s forearm.

The very thought drained the blood from his skin. Screwing his eyes closed, he shouted hoarsely:

“I-I’m sorry…!!”

Ordinarily, exposing one’s nakedness unasked was cause for intense offense. Even among friends, even within families, it would have been unacceptable. To do so in front of a stranger—his new employer, no less—surely the tiger must be disgusted.

But Kangwoon only blinked slowly a few times. In truth, he wasn’t thinking anything in particular. Perhaps it was drowsiness. Perhaps because the one in question, naked though he was, looked hardly more than a fluffy child. But nothing about the sight bothered him at all. Calm instead of anger, he considered the matter.

“Can’t you control the shift?”

“It’s not that I can’t, but… it’s hard to regulate…”

“Mm. Then, best to stay human for now.”

A beast becoming an animal—no issue. But the other way around—an exposed, hairless human among others—awkward to the point of scandal. It was lucky this had happened outside the cub’s room. Otherwise, it could’ve been disastrous.

Hohyun nodded fiercely, adjusting his heap of clothes to hide as much skin as possible. Kangwoon turned away, returning back into Yuri’s bedroom—a mix of reasons. Half, out of consideration for the fox, who would fumble endlessly if watched. Half, from selfishness: an excuse to rejoin his sister, taking rare chance to stay beside her.

Inside, the cub had slept blissfully, knowing nothing of Moong-moo and her brother’s excursion. Kangwoon looked at the large plush beside her—the toy she had once offered away. Truly, it was evidence of her overwhelming affection for the fox.

He could understand it, somewhat. The fluff, the bounce of ears, the innocent movements of that muzzle and brilliant eyes… irresistible. Even Kangwoon, who had always disliked canids, found his hand straying unconsciously to pet. For Yuri, who had long adored the imaginary “puppy” in her storybooks—it was inevitable, almost fate.

Had she been older, it might not have been toys and snacks she tried to bribe with—it might have been her bank account. The thought made Kangwoon decide: one day soon, he’d have to teach her proper sense of money.

But before then—his ears detected the faint rustle of cloth. Outside the thin wooden door, noises leaked through. A shuffle. A thump. Kangwoon’s brows furrowed. He could picture it—fox balancing awkwardly, struggling with trousers. He’ll fall.

And indeed, a shrill “Ack!” tore from the hall. He winced. As expected—pants half pulled, one foot jammed, crashing flat. His track record of clumsiness seemed boundless.

The cry woke Yuri. Drowsily, she sat up, still half-blind, fumbling her hands across the sheets. Kangwoon reached toward her small grasp. Her fingers clamped his index, mistaking it for Moong-moo’s. Expecting soft fur and meeting instead the rough pad of a tiger—her eyes flew wide open.

Not yet even with words exchanged, she whirled, scanning the room. Then she wailed, high and piercing:

“Moong-moo!!”

“He woke early and stepped out,” Kangwoon explained gently.

Her little face froze. Then, with fierce urgency, she jolted upright to leap free. But her brother stopped her with one hand, calmly plucking a brush from the bedside table. Showing it, he saw her grudgingly raise her hand to her flattened hair. During sleep, it had frizzed up like a dandelion puff. With a sulky face, she submitted to the combing ritual.

It was routine, yes—but more than that, it was a way to stall. He needed to buy Hohyun some time outside. If the noise had stopped, then hopefully the fox had managed at last to wrangle his trousers.

The moment brushing ended, Yuri bolted like a bullet. Before Kangwoon could open the door, she had already leapt up herself, swinging onto the knob with practiced skill. By the time he followed lazily after, Yuri was already darts-circling excitedly around the fox.