Chapter 31: The Agonizing Night of the Full Moon

“What did you just say, little fox? Was that the Fox Tribe’s language?”

Yvette couldn’t understand what Yelena had said.

She tilted her head in confusion and looked at her.

Yelena couldn’t help but laugh.

Then a crafty idea suddenly came to mind.

‘Looks like I can use my hometown dialect whenever I want to mess with Yvette in the future.’

“You pervert. I was asking why you stole all my clothes.”

Yvette glanced at Anna.

Anna was carefully folding Yelena’s underwear and other personal clothes before placing them neatly into one of the drawers in Yvette’s wardrobe.

“Oh, that.”

“A few nights ago, you kept coming over to ask me about controlling magic and making talismans.”

“So I had Anna leave some spare clothes here for you.”

“You were exhausted from studying, so you just slept in my bed.”

“Did you already forget?”

“Huh?”

Yelena blinked blankly with a chibi expression.

She searched through her memories of the past few days.

‘Oh… I guess she’s right.’

It had been so late that night she hadn’t bothered walking back to her own room.

She had even borrowed Yvette’s bathroom.

“Ah?! N-No!”

“We slept in separate beds that night!”

“This is way too suspicious!”

‘Waaah! This is way too suspicious!’

‘I’m a perfectly manly guy, meow!!’

‘How could my panties and stockings end up inside this girl’s wardrobe drawer?!’

Seeing Yelena puffing her cheeks in embarrassed outrage, Yvette didn’t hesitate.

She walked over and gently pulled the fox girl into her arms.

“It’s perfectly normal for girls to leave a change of clothes behind.”

“Especially since there are always a few inconvenient days every month.”

“You stay here overnight, so what’s strange about keeping a few spare clothes here?”

Yelena froze.

“Eep…?”

Wrapped inside Yvette’s embrace, she could feel the steady heartbeat of someone who had trained their body to perfection.

The warmth radiating from the strong red-haired girl gradually spread through Yelena’s chilled body.

An indescribable sense of security quietly filled her heart.

Yvette hugged the fox girl even tighter.

Warm magic gently heated Yelena’s back, which had grown cold in the winter night.

“I’ll always take care of you.”

“As long as I’m here, no one will ever bully you again.”

‘I’m done for…’

‘Who could possibly survive such a ridiculously powerful direct attack?!’

‘No, this girl has gotten way too good at saying things like this lately.’

‘Sometimes I almost believe her.’

“Let go!!”

“Who gave this perverted green-eyed girl permission to hug me again?!”

Yelena gritted her teeth, her face completely flushed.

‘Every chance she gets, she’s rubbing against me and clinging to me.’

‘Does this girl seriously have nothing inside her head except dirty thoughts?!’

“You tomboy!”

“Hurry up and let me go!”

“It’s already late!”

“I’m not playing with you tonight!”

“If you don’t let go, I’m warning you…”

“I’ll bite you with my fangs!”

“My sworn sister.”

“Then go ahead and bite me.”

“As long as you’re happy today.”

“You…”

“Waaah…”

“You shameless pervert.”

“You fox-girl fanatic.”

“You only know how to bully me in different ways.”

“You worthless big meanie!”

“I’m going to report you to the tribunal in Antal City tomorrow!”

“Oh?”

“Why are you so upset?”

“You just finished taking a bath.”

“I simply thought you smelled nice.”

“Wuu…”

Knowing she couldn’t win in a contest of strength, Yelena angrily turned her head away.

She refused to say another word.

‘If she keeps bullying me like this, I’m seriously going to bite her!’

‘Once I get stronger…’

‘The very first illusion from Phantom Eyes is definitely going to be used on her.’

‘Yeah.’

‘She’ll be my first test subject.’

Although…

She really had received plenty of help from this ridiculously strong red-haired woman.

She even owed her an enormous debt.

Seeing Yelena’s disappointed eyes and her drooping fox ears, Yvette finally softened.

She released her.

‘This little fool still needs me to do much more for her.’

‘I can’t keep forcing things against her wishes.’

‘If one day she really leaves without saying goodbye…’

‘My heart would truly break.’

As soon as Yvette loosened her grip, Yelena immediately felt the restraint around her arms disappear.

She took several steps away.

After only a few paces, she suddenly stopped.

“Anna.”

“You didn’t move all of my underwear over here just so it’d be together with hers, did you?”

The air fell silent for two full seconds.

“Ahem…”

“No, Lady Yelena.”

“I know where the line is.”

“I only moved a small amount of clothing here for Lady Yvette.”

Anna’s lips twitched continuously.

She was desperately suppressing her laughter while answering.

“That’s good.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Good night, you two~”

After saying a simple farewell, Yelena walked into the courtyard outside Yvette’s bedroom.

She looked up at the full moon hanging in the night sky.

As she stared at it, she gradually became absent-minded.

Her body suddenly froze.

Her nine fluffy fox tails unconsciously swayed beneath the moonlight.

She immediately sensed something was wrong.

She reached out, intending to press her tails down.

But the moment she realized she couldn’t control them…

Something even stranger happened.

The tips of her fox ears began heating up.

Then the back of her neck suddenly started burning as well.

The warmth spread rapidly.

It wasn’t the heat of fire magic.

Nor was it the warmth of a kitchen stove.

It felt more like something deep within her bloodline had been awakened by the moonlight.

As though something ancient had quietly begun to stir.

Yelena’s vision suddenly went dark.

Her legs lost their strength.

With a thud, she collapsed onto the ground.

Noticing something was wrong, Anna and Yvette rushed outside.

Yvette immediately asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“My body…”

“Something feels wrong…”

The moment she finished speaking, the moonlight overhead seemed to become even brighter.

Silver radiance instantly flooded the entire courtyard.

Yelena sat in the middle of the courtyard.

Her jet-black hair reflected the moonlight with a brilliant sheen.

Her fox ears trembled softly.

The next instant, all nine black fox tails suddenly fluffed open.

Yvette frowned.

She began analyzing the situation.

A sweet fragrance slowly spread from Yelena’s body.

It wasn’t the smell of food.

Nor was it the scent of flowers.

It was sweet.

It carried the naturally enchanting aroma unique to the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.

Like the irresistible fragrance released from freshly sliced tropical fruit.

Although Anna and Yvette had already become accustomed to it…

A thud suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

The steward immediately shouted in alarm.

-Who collapsed?

-Was it one of the guards?

A young guard answered with a trembling voice.

-Steward, I’m fine.

-I just suddenly felt like life was incredibly wonderful.

-I wanted to lie on the ground for a while.

Before he even finished speaking, another guard also began acting strangely.

He covered his nose and crouched down.

-I’m fine too.

-My legs just suddenly won’t listen to me.

Yelena fell silent.

She slowly stood up.

She could clearly feel her body temperature continuing to rise.

Even her breathing had become rapid.

She immediately took half a step backward.

She wanted to get farther away from Anna and Yvette.

But the more she moved…

The faster that soul-stealing fragrance spread.

Two more guards collapsed outside the courtyard.

The old steward reacted quickly.

He covered his nose and mouth with a damp cloth before hurriedly retreating.

Seeing the situation becoming increasingly serious, Yvette’s expression turned solemn.

She immediately announced,

“All guards and the steward are to retreat to the front gate.”

“Remain at least thirty paces away from us!”

“Tonight may be Miss Yelena’s Fox Tribe bloodline tide.”

“Anyone who ignores this order and approaches without permission will have one month’s salary deducted!”