SAFBIAN Ch 121

Chapter 121

 

Dori only changed his mind long after the women who had been foraging for wild greens had already returned to the village.

In truth, if he could simply get hold of some clothing, there was no particular reason to insist on going to that village specifically. He even considered trying his luck in another place where there would be fewer suspicious people.

But as he had quietly trailed the women gathering greens and overheard bits of their conversation, something they said rooted his feet in place.

“They said they hang the laundry to dry at the communal wash area, right?”

Dori scratched the bridge of his nose with a claw. For some reason, it felt… off. Even in a novel, why would anyone leave their laundry at a communal wash place when they had their own yards at home?

It felt as if the original story was forcing him toward that village—like how, when he refused to flee the palace, fate had arranged for him to be kidnapped just to drag him out.

Would the plot once again twist itself to steer him toward that village, even if he tried another route? Dori trembled. The thought of being kidnapped twice was something he absolutely rejected.

Sure, he could approach the village entrance in fox form, but to borrow clothing, he’d need to transform into a human—and that would mean knocking on someone’s door stark naked. The excuses he’d come up with felt flimsy at best.

Even if he claimed his clothes had been torn to shreds rolling down the mountain, wouldn’t that sound far too suspicious? And if, on top of that, he offered mushrooms he’d picked as a barter item…

“Ugh… that makes me sound like a total lunatic…”

Just imagining it made him so embarrassed that he shoved his face between his forepaws.

And now that he thought about it, why mushrooms of all things? The word itself had… other meanings, and to make matters worse, these mushrooms were thick, white, with plump stems and round caps. If the person he approached happened to be a woman, she’d have every right to slap him three times for the implication. Honestly, even if it were a man, it wouldn’t look much better.

Still, what if it was the communal wash area?

Maybe—just maybe—he could get lucky and find a single outfit to borrow. His golden eyes glittered for a moment before his long ears drooped back down.

“…When are those scary people going to leave?”

Seriously, why were they even camping out at that abandoned house?

As he fretted, his stomach began to rumble. Dori batted down a fruit he had knocked loose earlier and pressed it under his paw.

“Huh, I thought it just looked similar, but it actually tastes like a banana.”

Not as good as the fruit he’d eaten at the palace, but sweet enough to lift his spirits.

And then—

“—Wh-what?!”

Startled by the sudden thudding of running feet, Dori dropped the half-eaten fruit in panic.

Hop.

He dove into the bushes, hugging his tail tightly to his body. His trembling made the leaves shake, rustling against each other.

“There it is!”

The culprits behind the noise were children from the village, armed with long sticks and little pails. One of them pointed ahead excitedly.

“Hey! Quick, grab it! Don’t let it get away!”

Eep! Did they see me? Should I run?

Just as Dori was about to bolt, the children rushed past him.

“Got it!”

What the boy held aloft was not a fox, but a shiny beetle with a hard, glossy back.

Still on edge, Dori curled up tightly, watching the children from his hiding spot. They busied themselves catching insects from the trees and picking fruit, playing until they collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

Soon after, as they nibbled on the fruits they had gathered, they began to talk.

“Hey, have you been to that house?”

“Which one?”

“You know, the one our moms told us not to go near.”

“Oh, that place? The one with the scary people? No, I haven’t.”

“Well, actually…”

One boy lowered his voice conspiratorially, prompting the others to huddle close. Dori pricked up his long ears, straining to catch every word.

“My grandpa said those people came from the Imperial Palace.”

“…What? Seriously?”

“I got scared and begged him to make them leave, and that’s what he told me. But he said I couldn’t tell anyone.”

“Whoa! If the village chief said it, it must be true!”

Hearing this, one of the children gasped in amazement—and so did Dori.

The Imperial Palace? The Imperial Palace?!

Could it be Haban?

Had he been resting here all this time instead of searching for him?

Dori’s eyes drooped into a pout.

Of course, not everyone from the palace would necessarily be connected to Haban. Still, the thought of meeting him here—when he wasn’t ready—felt like disaster. Yet, just imagining it already left Dori’s tiny black nose huffing in indignation.

“It’s getting dark already. Let’s hurry back.”

In the mountains, night fell earlier than in the plains. As the sun set and darkness crept in, the once-brave children grew fearful and headed back toward the village. Dori quietly rose and followed them at a distance.

Though he hadn’t encountered any other wild animals so far, he still worried for the kids. Carefully tailing them, he soon spotted the most secluded house on the outskirts of the village—and froze.

“…Huh?”

He hadn’t even realized how far he’d followed them. About to turn back, he hesitated.

“Since I’m here anyway… should I borrow some clothes?”

But he’d left behind all the mushrooms and wild fruits he’d gathered. As he turned to leave—

Thunderrrr.

The sound of galloping hooves filled the air. Startled, Dori ducked into hiding, peering out to see what was happening.

…!

A black stallion was charging toward him at a terrifying speed, its mane whipping wildly and powerful muscles pounding the earth. Even at a glance, it was clearly a magnificent steed.

And astride it—

There was no mistaking him.

It was Haban.

Dori blinked several times, eyes wide.

It really is… Haban?

His furious face was locked straight ahead. Yet, instead of fear, a wave of emotion surged through Dori, making his chest ache and his nose sting. His heart pounded wildly. Unable to contain himself, his ears flattened back and his tail thumped against the ground.

What was happening to him?

He’d only come here to find clothes—yet somehow ended up in a place ripped straight from the original story! Was this how “Dori” in the novel had met Haban, too?

“Here! I’m right here!”

He bit back the desperate cry threatening to burst from him.

He wanted to cling to that precious hem, not caring if it tore. To shout, What took you so long? To wail about how scared he’d been, how cold and hungry and sore and tired he was. To beg to return to the palace already.

But even as Haban passed right in front of him, Dori only twitched his claws, frozen in place.

…Not now.

Especially not here—if this was truly the place from the novel, all the more reason to stay hidden. Those women’s whispered warnings suddenly felt heavy with meaning.

Keeping low in the bushes, Dori crept along the road Haban’s horse had taken. Instead of entering the village proper, Haban veered off toward a secluded house and reined his horse to a halt.

“…There it is.”

Instinct told Dori immediately.

This was it. The place where “Dori” had died.

If he confronted Haban here, he might meet the same fate.

…No. I can’t!

Watching Haban and Jippyeong disappear into the house, Dori blinked rapidly, frustrated. He wanted so badly to run out to him—but he couldn’t.

Flap.

Dori’s ears flicked once. Reluctantly, he backed away, retreating step by cautious step.

His golden eyes lingered longingly on Haban. But as the sound of approaching hooves grew louder again, he abandoned any further hesitation, fleeing in silence until he reached the boulder he’d scouted earlier in the day.

Why here of all places, Haban?!

He’d wanted to meet him back at the palace!

This is driving me crazy…

Dori stamped his paws anxiously, ears standing bolt upright, tail bristling.

If only their encounter had been near the mountain hut instead—it might have been manageable. Why this place? Was this yet another twist forced by the original plot?

Peeking out cautiously, Dori scanned his surroundings to ensure no one had spotted him. Seeing no soldiers pursuing him, he finally relaxed and collapsed onto the ground.

His tail thumped restlessly against the dirt.

This is bad!

He’d planned to exploit small divergences from the original events to alter his fate, but this early encounter with Haban left him utterly rattled.

After all, what he’d intended to change wasn’t the timing—but the place.

This was already the third time fate had interfered.

In the distance, torchlight flickered. Jippyeong and the soldiers, still searching for him.

“Capture it alive, not even a hair harmed!”

“Yes, sir!”

Perhaps Haban had come here not for him, but for another reason entirely. But at those shouted orders, any flicker of doubt melted away.

Curling his tail tightly around himself, Dori crept away once more. His night vision kept him from stumbling, yet even so, the soldiers—despite their inferior human eyesight—moved with surprising speed. Judging by their movements, they must know this terrain even better than he did.

A game of hide-and-seek unfolded—fox versus human.

In the end, the fox prevailed.

Circling torches signaled the soldiers’ retreat. Time to pull back.

Only when the lights faded completely into the distance did Dori spring to his feet. Silently crawling toward the secluded house, he soon spotted Haban standing outside the abandoned home.