Living with the Dangerous Beast-Chapter 35: Cherished You

“Where did that wily creature go?”

After reloading their guns, the hunters frantically searched for the fox.

“Be careful not to damage its fur! It’s much more valuable than the fur of a tiger!

Red foxes were common, but silver foxes were so rare that even the most seasoned hunters considered it a privilege to spot them once in a lifetime if they were lucky.

Moreover, this one’s body was as white as snow, with fur that seemed silky smooth even without touching it.

“There it is!”

Bang!

As one man fired his gun, he screamed as the fox leaped onto his face.

“Aaah!”

The fox swiftly clawed his face and jumped off, attacking another man.

Amidst the chaos, someone fired in the fox’s direction.

“Ugh!”

A hunter fell, clutching his chest where his comrade’s bullet had hit him.

The fox darted dangerously among the men, clawing at their eyes.

It was so quick that it scratched their faces before they could grasp it, then leaped onto another man’s face.

“Ugh! My eyes...! My eyes!”

Within moments, three or four hunters were lying bleeding, some rolling off the cliff.

The fox hid behind a tree, then darted out to attack the men, who ended up pointing their guns at each other.

Finally, only one man remained.

Yelp!

Sohwa used all her strength to lunge at him, aiming her sharp claws at his face.

But he struck her with the butt of his rifle.

Kergh!

Sohwa crashed into a tree and fell.

Though she tried to get back up, she had already used up everything left in her tank, her legs giving out on her.

“You damn creature!”

The man approached, stomping on her neck.

Arf!

Sohwa let out a sharp cry, kicking her legs uselessly as she struggled to breathe.

Her vision blurred.

“I’d like to tear you apart right now, but I can’t ruin that fine fur of yours.”

The man pulled out a wire from his bag, intending to bind her snout and neck.

“I’ll stuff you alive and present you to the royal concubine.”

The man, looking like a demon, grabbed Sohwa’s neck.

She struggled, claws out, but it was futile.

‘At least there’s only one left. Dohwi should be safe.’

The hand holding the wire drew closer.

She couldn’t breathe, and her consciousness began to fade.

‘Dohwi... Always... Stay safe from the hunters....’

The man, gripping her small head painfully, began to bind her snout with the wire.

The cold, sharp sensation made Sohwa’s body stiffen.

‘I wish I could see him one last time.’

If she had known today was their last time together, she would have said something nice before he left.

‘Actually, I knew you were a tiger all along. But you were so cute and pitiful that I couldn’t leave you behind, even if it meant I might get eaten. You must have been so lonely, all alone without family or friends.’

As Dohwi grew, she knew she should send him away, but by then, it was too late.

Within the secure walls of their companionship, warmed by his presence, she couldn’t live without him.

She would have rather been called a fool and stayed by his side.

‘I hope he doesn’t grieve too much when he finds out I’m gone.’

Meeting him made her life complete.

‘You are the most precious thing to me in this world....’

She should have shown her true feelings at least once. But the fear of him leaving made her hold back.

If she’d known that this moment of parting would come so easily, she would have given her all, even if her heart was barely the size of a sauce dish.

‘I... I cherished you, Dohwi....’

The wire tightened around Sohwa’s snout. And it was at that very moment that her breath began to fade.

“Groooooowl....”

A low, reverberating sound tore through the air. It was unlike any other animal’s cry, reaching the hunter through his ears and causing his entire body to instinctively freeze with pure horror.

A colossal roar followed, as if the world was turning upside down. Startled by the bellowing, the man trembled and dropped Sohwa.

“AARGHHHHH!”

Just when the hunter attempted to flee, the man was suddenly struck by a swinging paw. His head shattered like tofu struck by a ladle, and he died instantly.

Dohwi, who had been prowling around the fallen body, urgently scanned the surroundings.

He had lost track. He had been delayed by following Sohwa’s scent all the way to the village. His impatience grew, and he could feel his heart racing.

‘Where is she?’

At that moment, Dohwi spotted a small tuft of fur in the bushes. The white and black ball of fur showed no signs of movement or breathing.

Thud.

Dohwi could literally hear his heart sink as he approached. Greatly concerned, he gently rolled the fox over, as if he was trying to wake her up. Seeing the steel wire tightly wound around her snout, his blood ran cold.