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Snow Fox
「Kureto, want to go to the secret base?」
After I finish clearing the snow a few times and am able to take a break, then Nina makes that suggestion.
It's the small cave we found while gathering mushrooms in autumn.
I stop by that place several times and brought some furniture there, but I haven’t been there even once since winter started.
At this rate, the villagers will keep asking to clear the snow off their houses, so I will not be able to move around that much, taking shelter there is not a bad idea either.
「Aah, sure. Let’s teleport there so the villagers won’t see us」
「Un!」
There's a chance people will ask me to help them until we reach the forest, so I decided to use teleport.
Just when I think my vision twists and warps, we have already arrived in the forest in an instant.
The forest is also covered in snow, just like the village.
「Fuuh, I can relax now」
「Kureto, you’re popular, aren’t you?」
「I’d rather not be that popular though」
I can't help but smile wryly at Nina’s teasing.
I’m fine with helping out several people in my free time while taking a walk, but it will be different when it comes to 20 or 30 people asking for help.
If I had continued walking through the village like that, I’m sure I will be asked to clear the snow in the entire village today.
Using teleport, we move to the location of our secret base.
The thickets and trees are covered in snow but they are not completely buried in snow so it’s easier to grasp our location than in the village.
「……hey, Kureto. Whose footprints are these?」
「Hm?」
When I try to lower my eyes to look, I see the animal footprints Nina saw.
「The footprints look like a dog」
「But, I feel like it’s different from a dog」
「In that case, could it be a fox or a tanuki?」1
Since it’s a forest, having those kinds of animals’ footprints is not strange.
「These footprints lead to the secret base, you know! There might be a fox or a tanuki inside!」
「Ah, wait a minute, Nina!」
My call to stop her is in vain, and Nina curls up and slips into the hole.
We don’t know whether these footprints are from a fox or a tanuki.
There’s a possibility of it being a small monster so it’s dangerous.
There’s the option of forcibly bringing her back, but she has already entered the hole, and I can’t see her anymore.
This is one of the few drawbacks of Space Magic, as I can’t teleport without confirming visually.
I peer into the cave and teleport inside to chase after Nina.
I teleport to a space big enough for my body, curl up my body, and chase after her.
Then, I find Nina motionless in space at the back.
「Nina!」
「Kureto! Look! There’s a pure white fox inside!」
I call her out in a hurry, but Nina just smiles innocently and beckons me.
I head over beside Nina while sighing in relief, and see 2 foxes with pure white fur inside.
They look like arctic foxes at first glance, but the tips of their ears, paw, and their round, fluffy tails are tinged with blue, so it seems to be a different species.
「Nina, they might be monsters, it’s dangerous to get closer」
「It’s fine! They are good kids damon! Look!」
I don’t know what kind of creature they are so I try to retreat with Nina, but the little foxes are already attached to Nina. They look completely content when their heads are petted.
They don’t show any hostility with larger individuals nearby, and rubs their heads against me as if saying, ‘pet me too’.
「Aren’t they becoming attached to you too quickly?」
「I gave them dried fruits! I’m sure they’ll let you pet them too if Kureto gives them some?」
It looks like it’s going to feel pleasant to pet the pure white fur of these foxes.
Unable to resist the temptation, I do as Nina says and extend some dried fruits to them.
And then, the foxes gather over to me and start hungrily devouring the dried fruits on the palm of my hand.
The amount of food decreases once it becomes winter, so they might be hungry.
I nervously try to pet the foxes with my left hand while watching them focused on eating.
「Ooh! It feels so soft!」
「Right?」
The pure white fur is very fluffy.
The slight flexibility when it pushes my hand back when I push it with the palm of my hand is interesting.
I’ve touched various animals before, but I never experienced this level of softness.
Even after the dried fruits are finished, they still accept the petting without showing signs of dislike, seemingly enjoying it. They don’t seem to be dangerous animals or monsters, at least.
「It’s our secret base, but it looks like it became their den」
「Un. But, it’s fine. As long as these kids can safely get through winter」
Nina doesn’t look angry at all, even after our secret base has been occupied by the foxes.
Even though it’s her favorite place, she still prioritizes the foxes, how kind of her.
「Say, Kureto. Let’s give these kids names?」
「Names, huh……」
At Nina’s words, I take another look at the foxes.
They have a pure white coat, fluffy fur like snow falling in winter.
「How about calling the big one Yukishiro and the little one Yukinko?」
「Yukishiro and Yukinko.....that’s fine! Easy to understand, and cute! Let’s call them that!」
Nina smiles, looking satisfied when I suggest those names.
I’m not exactly confident in my naming sense, so I’m relieved to hear that.
At Nina’s call of each of their names, Yukishiro and Yukinko make a high-pitched noise as though accepting it, not showing any dislike of the names.
Our secret base has accepted new, cute residents.
●
I return to my own house after seeing Nina home, and head to the Adventurer’s Guild in the royal capital.
I’m curious what kind of creatures those foxes who live in the secret base are so I’m going to look them up.
We can also ask Andre and Stella, but Nina said she wanted to keep the secret base, as well as Yukishiro and Yukinko, a secret, so I decided to respect that.
They have a gentle nature and are also fond of us, but I need to check their information for Nina’s safety.
I open the Guild’s door after teleporting and enter.
There are heating magic tools installed inside the Guild. It will probably be more accurate to say it’s hot rather than warm inside.
I’m wearing proper winter clothes, but it looks like I’m not gonna need a coat.
There are a lot of adventurers in the Guild but most of them are gathering and drinking liquor at the tavern.
Almost no one wears protective equipment, they are all in casual clothes, clearly indicating that they are off-duty. Drinking mulled wine sparingly while enjoying warm soup and a meat dish.
There’s a lot of snow piling up in the royal capital so they probably have no intention of accepting requests.
During the harsh winter cold, most adventurers stop their activities.
Because working in these cold conditions with such poor footing is just not worth it.
The activities of monsters and animals also slow down, and it’s rare for them to show themselves, that’s one reason.
「Fueeh!? Kureto-san, are you planning on doing teleporting service now?」
「No, I just stopped by to do a bit of looking up on something」
「I, is that so」
The receptionist - Kusha - looks genuinely relieved when I tell her my purpose.
「Oooh! Kureto’s here, let’s go on an adventure!」
「We won’t need to worry now that Kureto’s here, even if snow piles up!」
「Please stop! Most of the staff are on extended leave, so there aren’t enough people here! We’ll die if you do that!」
When the adventurers, including Helena, raise their voice, Kusha speaks up, looking as if she’s about to cry.
I thought the number of staff is fewer than usual, so that’s the reason.
They probably take extended leave at this time of the year since the adventurers don’t take that many requests in winter.
So the guild will definitely fall into panic if a large number of adventurers were to accept requests.
「Ahahaha! I was just kidding! Our wallets are full now and we have no plan on trying to make money excessively at this time!」
「Besides, the liquor has already getting to me too!」
「Reallyー! Please stop making jokes that aren’t funnyー!」
Helena and the others laugh out loud with flushed faces.
It seems like they’re making fun of Kusha.
Although the people gathering here don’t have a blood relationship, the warm atmosphere makes it seem like they are one big family.
It is a rather dull season where they can’t go out for an adventure, but the fact that so many people are gathering in the Guild is probably because they feel comfortable with the Guild’s atmosphere.
「Kureto-san, you said you want to look up something, what exactly are you looking for?」
Kusha asks as I’m staring at the lively tavern absent-mindedly
I tell him about Yukishiro and Yukinko, whom I met at Howling Village’s forest.
「Aah, if you’re talking about that kind of creature, I think they’re probably Snow Fox」
「Snow Fox?」
「They have brown fur like a normal fox in spring, but their fur changes into beautiful pure white fur in winter. You can find more detailed life and habitat in this book」
Kusha takes a thick book from the shelf.
Turning the pages, there are illustrations of what appears to be an animal similar to Yukishiro and Yukinko.
It’s an animal called Snow Fox, as Kusha explained, no doubt about it.
An animal with very timid characteristics and strong wariness, so they seem to rarely appear in front of humans.
Considering all that, they quickly became attached to Nina and me after we gave them dried fruits, but I guess there are some that are easy to tame among Snow Foxes.
The book contains various detailed information about their omnivorous diet, their molting season, and habitat, but they do not seem to be particularly dangerous creatures.
I’m relieved since I also like them, not just Nina.
「Thank you very much. Now I understand about Snow Fox thanks to you」
「I’m glad I could be of help. Please feel free to consult with us whenever you have any further questions or concerns」
Having finished my business, I head outside while Kusha sees me off at the door.
「……Kureto」
「!? You surprise me. Rodney」
By the door, Rodney is lying in wait, and it really startles me when he calls out to me.
「Don’t tell me, you’ve been waiting for me here all this time?」
I’ve roughly told them my plan of stay, but there’s no way Emilio and Rodney could grasp my sudden activity like now.
Have they been waiting all this time in the royal capital to make contact with me?
「……not always. We got information that Kureto came here」
「Information, huh? Could it be, you guys set up a network to keep track of my movements?」
Rodney nods when I ask.
I feel like it’s one of the adventurers, but I’m not planning on pursuing the matter any further.
I understand them since it’s going to be difficult to contact me in an emergency since I live in two locations.
「So, what’s the matter?」
「……Emilio wants to ask you do some winter work」
「Okay. I’ll drop by tomorrow morning」
「……understood. I will pass it on」
After I tell him that, Rodney turns around and disappears into the crowd.
I watch him go and then teleport back to Howling Village. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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TL Note :
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Japanese raccoon dog
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