Chapter 149: Little Fox 2

"Grr...!"

The fox felt how delicious the food she had just eaten was. A Mana that gave such a deeply satisfying taste, and even made her much stronger.

Her small body felt far lighter than before. The hunger that had been bothering her all this time had also eased a little, making her feel she could do more things now.

Becoming much stronger meant getting closer to becoming an adult, and becoming an adult meant becoming even greater and having a chance to save her mother!

For that, the fox looked toward the source of her food, which was looking back at her.

The plan was simple.

Kill the food and become stronger right away!

That simple thought came from a lack of knowledge about how strong her current prey was.

So the little fox simply thought that she would have no trouble. Hadn’t her prey just voluntarily fed her because he was afraid of her?

’...Right! He must be afraid!’

That gave her a higher sense of confidence. But also anger, because her prey had dared to try to touch her precious body.

How rude!

"Geur!"

The little fox prepared for her first big battle. She watched her prey warily, then when she saw her prey suddenly turn around and walk away, she froze.

For a moment, the little fox just stood where she was. Her nine tails, which had been moving so energetically before, stopped swaying.

Her prey was trying to run away!

Her starry gaze fixed sharply on the prey’s arm, which was still full of a collection of delicious Mana to eat.

The little fox thought that no matter what happened she had to catch that prey. So, she began to chase from behind.

"Grah!?"

But the fox stopped. If there was one problem she had to watch out for when hunting, it was that the prey must not be too numerous, because she might come to harm!

At first, the fox had been bold because there was only one prey, while the one being carried looked helpless.

That was why the fox attacked. But now she saw her prey was with another, apparently a companion!

The little fox lowered her body a little, watching them from a distance.

’...Two?’

She looked at her prey again, then at the other creature walking with him.

It seemed things had become a little harder than she had imagined.

"Grrr!"

In hunting, patience was important. So, she must not rush and had to find the right time to pounce on her prey.

Seeing her prey walk away with his pack, the little fox quietly followed from behind.

The journey to becoming strong was hard, requiring much time and perseverance. But for the sake of saving her mother, the little fox was willing to go through all of it.

So, thinking that she was hiding and following her prey perfectly, the fox passed through bush after bush, climbed up a tree, and kept waiting for the right moment.

Occasionally, her nine tails got snagged on small twigs, making the leaves around her sway.

However, the little fox did not care much about it.

As long as her prey did not turn around and attack her, that meant her hiding was still working!

Her prey reached a large cave.

That meant her prey might be preparing to make a home to live in. But a problem arose: the little fox knew what was inside that cave.

There lived a terrifying predator that had once left the little fox wounded and nearly dead!

Remembering that incident, her small body stiffened slightly.

The fox still remembered how terrifying that predator was. Even just thinking about it, she wanted to get away from that place right away.

Because of that, upon seeing her prey in danger, the little fox was immediately flustered.

She could not let her food be taken by someone else!

"Grrr!"

Fortunately, the little fox felt much stronger after getting the high-quality food earlier.

So, she thought that she might be able to win against that predator this time.

That was when the little fox saw a huge creature step out of that cave.

It was the predator who lived there, a creature the little fox could not comprehend.

Its body was large, its hands were large, its head looked as hard as rock, and its color was also like rock. But on its back were large wings, while in its mouth was a yellow beak like an owl’s.

The little fox stared at the creature, her body trembling slightly.

But when she glanced at her prey again, that hesitation was quickly replaced by her resolve.

Growling full of hostility and bloodlust, the little fox leapt and stood between her prey and the predator.

Defeat the predator and master of the cave! Then secure the prey that would become her food right away!

Her thoughts were very simple, but she was very determined.

Just like that, the little fox was about to attack with all her strength, but before she could do anything, she saw a very thick claw, a hand slightly bigger than the fox’s own body, now flying and about to smash into her.

Her starry eyes widened.

The claw moved so fast, while her small body had not even had time to leap and dodge.

Would the little fox’s journey end here? Right now?

The little fox did not realize that she was, in fact, still not on the same level.

At the moment the little fox was thinking about death, that she might never be able to save her mother, the air suddenly turned very cold.

Then, spikes of ice rose upward, piercing the predator’s body in an instant.

"...!"

The little fox gasped.

The claw that had been about to hit her body suddenly stopped. The terrifying predator did not even have time to do anything more before its body was pierced by the ice spikes.

The Mana spreading through the air startled the little fox. It was a familiar Mana, so, ignoring the predator, which had been killed in an instant, her eyes trembled as she turned to look at her prey.

Her prey, the one responsible for that terrifying power, stood there with a blank, flat expression.

The little fox could only stare at him.

The same Mana.

It was the Mana that had tasted so delicious when she ate it!

Her prey, no, the little fox immediately realized her mistake for the umpteenth time.

That was not prey, that was the true predator, and the little fox was too late in realizing it.

Her body landed softly on the ground, trembling suddenly as she realized she would not be able to escape.

The little fox’s adventure would soon end under the gaze of what she had thought was prey!

Realizing that made her tails wilt, her body went limp and drooped helplessly. Meanwhile the true predator merely stayed silent, looking at her.

Then, the sound of footsteps was heard as the true predator drew closer.

The little fox tried to move her legs.

But, for some reason, her body only trembled more. Even her thick nine tails no longer moved as before.

This time, it was truly all over!

However, that was only the little fox’s thought.

Instead, she felt the predator’s touch, careful, lifting her up. The fear still had not eased; instead it felt even more terrifying.

Her body stiffened in that grip.

She wanted to resist, but fear kept her from daring to move recklessly.

What would that predator do to her?

Would she be eaten alive here? Or killed in some extremely cruel way later?

Or... would she also be raised and enslaved just like her mother?

"Hiiing—!"

The fear made her tears well up. Her body trembled completely as she dreaded what might happen next.

Then the predator’s hand touched her soft fur once more and stroked it.

"Sorry, are you scared?"

The little fox did not understand what the predator was saying. But, the touch was very gentle and so careful, no hostility could be seen as she opened her watery eyes slightly.

For a moment, the little fox could only be confused.

She still remembered how the terrifying predator that had nearly killed her earlier had been defeated in an instant.

Yet, the hand touching her fur now felt so gentle.

"...In return, and as thanks for trying to protect me, how about some food? You’re not full yet, are you?"

Then, the predator instead extended his arm, full of high-quality Mana to eat.

The fox looked confused next.