SAFBIAN Ch 52

Chapter 52

The next day.

A snow-white fox stepped out of the tent, looking disheveled. Its ears and tail drooped limply.

The fox stood still and looked around.

Outside the tent was spotless, as if nothing had happened.

However, upon closer inspection, something was different. The branches of trees swaying in the refreshing air had been snapped or cut in various directions, and the dewy grass bore trampled patches instead of fresh greenery.

Dori let out a sigh. Alert after what had happened the previous night, he tried his best to recall the details.

There were several paths leading to the altar, but they all merged into one at the final stretch. That was also where Haban had sustained a severe injury.

‘The altar is in this direction.’

Dori sat facing a small pebble.

‘Was it here that they attacked like this?’

He scratched the dirt in a long line with his claws and drew circles at the end to represent Haban and the assassin.

After roughly reconstructing the situation in his mind, Dori quickly rubbed the dirt to erase the drawing. As if that weren’t enough, he began walking in circles, leaving footprints in various directions.

“Wow, are you trying to dig a den now that you’re in the mountains, little fox?”

Just then, a passing soldier tried to pat his head but flinched as he looked toward something. When Dori turned his head, he saw Haban talking with Jipyeong.

‘What’s going on?’

Tilting his head in confusion, Dori trotted over with light steps. Strangely, Haban turned around just in time.

“Looks like you’re done playing.”

“Kyank!”

‘I wasn’t playing!’

“You’ve already gotten dirty.”

Clicking his tongue, Haban looked at the bright blue leaf stuck on the fox’s head and its now-filthy white paws. Dori, feeling embarrassed, tried to hide his feet.

Lowering his arm, Haban pulled the fox into his arms. After scolding him for being dirty, Haban didn’t seem to mind the dirt anymore and walked into the tent with Dori in his embrace.

“Let’s have breakfast first. We need to fill our stomachs before setting out.”

“Kaang!”

‘Stop touching me already!’

Did he think Dori wouldn’t notice him brushing his belly like that?

Startled by Haban’s mischievous touch, the fox, who had nearly had a seizure the night before, now let out his usual sharp cries—kyaang, kyaang.

After the meal, the tents were quickly dismantled. The tent Dori had used was the last one to go down. Each campfire was covered with dirt to extinguish any remaining embers, and the soldiers made sure not even a wisp of smoke rose.

“Kyeng!”

And just as Dori confidently prepared to leap up, he was grabbed by the scruff and placed in the carriage with Haban. Who knew how much higher the carriage floor was from the ground that he had to be lifted into it every time?

‘It’s this seat again.’

He could see the escorts and soldiers mounting their horses one by one.

“Ambush!”

While traveling for some time, a loud shout rang out, and arrows came flying in. They had been shot from trees not far off, where enemies had lain in ambush.

“Form ranks!”

The guards formed up on all sides to protect Haban. The speed of the horses and carriage increased dramatically.

“We’re breaking through!”

Fighting against arrows on a narrow path was foolish. At Jipyeong’s loud command, the vanguard pushed ahead with even more force.

Someone once said,

The first time is hard, the second is easier.

That was a lie. If the first time was hard, the second time was hard too.

Throughout the journey, Dori remained in a constant state of tension, not knowing from where the next arrow might fly. And at night, the assassins came again. There were even more than the night before.

Most likely, the final stop would hold the largest number of assassins.

If things were to follow the novel’s storyline anyway, Haban wouldn’t get injured at this location. The numbers were evenly matched. But still, fighting assassins who lunged forward even with limbs slashed off wasn’t something that could be done without injury.

So it was only natural for him to be startled whenever a sound came from outside. Unfortunately, fox ears were especially sensitive, and he heard every scream he wished he hadn’t.

The sound of flesh being torn and bones breaking was brutal.

The dying cries of people were chilling.

‘…Ha, Haban.’

Trembling with fear, Dori crawled into an open chest and curled up.

There was no escape if something dangerous happened, but being in a box with walls on all sides offered some comfort. It hit him how much of a solace it had been when Haban used to hold him gently before.

“You!”

Just then, Haban, having cleared the area outside, swept back the tent flap and entered. Blood dripped from the tip of his sword. Startled, the curled-up fox jumped to his feet.

“Ah.”

Haban ran a hand through his hair in irritation. The fox stood hesitantly on one paw, looking ready to dart off at any moment.

“I just came to check if you were inside. Wait here for a bit.”

Like when he had come in, Haban pushed the tent flap aside and left.

Dori’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

…Should’ve just run.

Who did he think he was, trying to protect Haban, express gratitude, and claim his freedom with pride?

[The assassins continued their attacks.

However, Haban wielded his sword without hesitation and passed through unscathed.]

In the novel, that entire scene had been summarized in just a few lines.

While it was partly due to the concise writing of critical parts, the bigger problem was that Dori had been distinguishing the novel from reality.

But the place he was in now was a novel—and reality.

‘Can I really do it?’

In a situation so dangerous that even Haban got splattered with blood—could he, truly?

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, Dori rubbed his eyes with a paw.

‘Still… night?’

Or maybe dawn?

A dim light kept seeping through his tightly closed eyelids.

Dori, lightly dozing, flicked his ears.

He could hear three people moving around the tent. More soldiers than that were taking turns standing guard. Everyone must’ve been exhausted, yet they weren’t even able to rest properly.

Dori opened his eyes faintly. A small campfire burned in the center of the tent.

‘So that’s why it felt like the outside was bright. Then, not much time must have passed.’

The tent beyond the fire still looked pitch black. The inside was bright, making the outside appear even darker in contrast. Once the sun rose, the colors would return to normal.

‘…Where’s Haban?’

He felt the thick wool beneath him and the soft blanket covering him. But more than anything, what he sensed nearby was Haban.

“That’s why I wanted to leave you in the imperial palace.”

It didn’t take long to realize that the pillow his head was resting on was Haban’s thigh. Eyes snapping open, Dori let out a “kyang” and rolled halfway over.

‘W-What? What happened?’

He had clearly been curled up right next to Haban’s head, yet now he was stretched out on his side, resting just the side of his head on Haban’s thigh.

Wide awake now, the fox’s round eyes met Haban’s.

“What is it? Not going back to sleep?”

With his long arm, Haban pulled a water bowl toward him and placed it in front of the fox.

Seeing the clear water ripple from the motion, Dori suddenly realized how thirsty he was. He lapped it up and then wiped his mouth.

‘Why is Haban awake?’

Did something happen again?

Dori pressed a paw against Haban’s leg and stretched his neck to examine his face closely with his round, golden eyes.

Sniff sniff, no smell of blood.

Seeing his clean change of clothes, there didn’t seem to have been an incident. What a relief.

“You must have been quite frightened. You kept twitching and tossing in your sleep. But if you keep waking up like this, your strength won’t recover. From today, our travel will speed up, so I worry it might be too much for you.”

‘I’m fine.’

Dori wagged his tail once in response.

Compared to Haban, who had faced sudden attacks in the day and assassins at night, he had done nothing.

Haban poked the fox’s black nose lightly.

“Doesn’t seem like you’re going back to sleep. Since you’re awake, shall we step outside for a bit?”

‘Right now? Where to?’

As Dori tilted his head in confusion, Haban lifted him up, still wrapped in the blanket. His hands were meticulous, making sure no cold wind could seep through.

“Your Majesty?”

As Haban stepped outside the tent, Jipyeong, who had been standing guard, looked back at him.

“That’s… a fox?”

White ears and tail peeked out from the rolled blanket.

Without a word, Haban glanced indifferently at Jipyeong and passed by. He gently patted the squirming fox’s backside and found a large rock within the soldiers’ watch range to sit on.

The softly blowing wind was quite chilly. Thankfully, the nearby campfire helped fend off the cold.

Haban was about to place the fox next to him but, feeling how cold the rock was against the back of his hand, lifted him back onto his lap.

He tucked the blanket up to the fox’s neck, but the fox wriggled in discomfort. It was far better to see him acting restless than drooping lifelessly with his tail down.

To draw the fox’s attention, Haban spoke softly.

“Look up. There are many stars.”

Dori instinctively lifted his head.

Hooaah…

A silent exclamation escaped through his parted lips.

The sky, like dark paint diluted in water, was filled with twinkling stars. It truly felt as if stars were pouring from the sky.

“It’s a fascinating thing. Only during the season of the celestial path do the stars flow like a river, yet it can’t be seen anywhere else in the empire. They say it only appears along the road from the imperial palace to the altar.”

Listening to the continued explanation, Dori blinked.