A gentle hand was petting my back, trying to cheer me up and get me going, but I wasn’t buying it. How could I, with this instrument of shame-play forced around my neck?

Naturally, I had tried everything I could to fend off the leash, but even when I had used both of my feet to push off the necklace it had done nothing but cut off my breath. It was more likely that I would end up suffocating myself than freeing myself from this curse. This head of mine was just too big.

 

Saenna watched me with pity in her eyes. “She looks embarrassed ...”

“You think so?” Myra wondered.

“She stares on the ground and tries to hide her face. Isn’t that what you would do if somebody made fun of you?”

“Only if it was really bad.”

“Maybe it is just that bad for her.”

“Do you think a fox pup would feel the same?”

“She obviously does.”

“But I don’t want her to run away!”

「I won’t!」 I yelped at her. 「How could I run away before killing that idiot?!」

“I don’t think she would run away. She doesn’t seem to have a family, after all.”

「And who’s fault do you believe that is?! It was that brain-dead lover of yours!」

Saenna couldn’t help but taking half a step back. “Doesn’t she look rather angry now?”

“Maybe we should really put off that necklace.”

“At least take off the leash. You can still grab her when something goes wrong.”

「Do it!」

“I guess you are right.”

 

Myra finally kneeled down. Obviously, I didn’t let her wait. Every second without that silly leash of her was a second in freedom! I could barely live with the necklace, it could very well be considered to be an ugly piece of accessory, but the leash was just screaming ‘you are a dog!’ at me.

 

「Good girl~」

“She is wagging her tail! How cute!”

「Who cares about my tail? Free me!」

 

When she had finally unleashed me, I couldn’t help but jumping around them and enjoy my new found freedom. The girls couldn’t help but snicker at this reaction of mine. Myra was especially enchanted seeing me ‘playing’ like this.

 

“She is so cute~ I wish I could keep her forever!”

“What hinders us? Sure, we can’t take her with us when we face the demon army, but she can stay at the house. Don’t your parents live in Zandria, too? They can take care of her.”

“You are right! They will adore her!”

「I don’t care about your parents! You won’t leave me behind! I will follow you and kill the hero!」

 

As if they had understood my complaint, their conversation switched to the fiend.

 

“Do you really believe Masaru could just leave her behind?” Saenna wondered. “He loves her more than he loves sleeping and eating!”

“If only I was a little fox, too ...”

「What the fuck are you talking about?! Do you really think this is fun? We can switch! We can switch right this instant! I would love having your body instead!」

A weak smile formed on Saenna’s lips. “He would sleep with you every night, but never love you as a woman.”

“... I don’t care!”

“Really? You don’t want to marry him, have his children and grow old watching the crackling fire in the chimney of a small house far out in the untouched nature, hearing his heartbeat as you fall asleep?”

All color left Myra’s face. “Wha- you- you said you would never mention it again!”

「... I feel like puking. What is wrong with you, girl?! That guy? Really? He is your prince charming? What do you love about him? The salvia leaking out of his mouth when he sleeps? His laziness? The pearls of sweat forming on his forehead when he plays with himself while peeking at you?! HE IS HORRIBLE!」

 

Hearing my half-screeched speech, Myra couldn’t help but bend down and lift me up.

 

“Don’t worry my little foxy fox~!” Her gleeful voice pierced into my ears, “you will be there, too! I will never leave you behind!”

「I don’t want to be part of your delusions!」

“You will have lots of pups and every single one of them will be as lively and adorable as you~!”

「... she is insane! Saenna?! Help? Anyone?!」

“First we have to find a nice male for you. One that deserves to be with my little Ahri!”

 

My mind went blank when I imagined a fox happy humping me from behind. I had to get away! Away from this crazy bitch and her delusions! She is even worse than the hero!

 

I couldn’t help but struggle against her grip, trying to free myself with the help of all four of my paws and even my teeth. Taken by surprise, Myra didn’t even have a chance to get a hold on the nimble body of mine. I painfully crashed into the ground and ran away, without giving the obvious wounds that had resulted from my fault as much as a single glance.

 

“Ahri! Come back!”

「Never! You are insane! The mother of all lunatics!」

Saenna’s sighed. “Well done, Myra ...”

“It wasn’t my fault!”

“You hold her too tight!”

“I did not!”

“Of course you did!”

 

Their quarrel faded away a little more with each of my panicked jumps. There weren’t many people flooding the streets, but they were far too many for me to avoid them all. I was kicked twice by accident before I managed to flee into a narrow gap that separated two multi-storied buildings, one being a rather cheap looking inn, the other an as shabby as noisy pub.

Even though it wasn’t homely, I was safe. The girls would never be able to follow me here.

My shaking legs soon after gave away. I hadn’t run for more than maybe five minutes, but this, coupled with my body still hurting from my fall, had been far more than enough to steal away all of my strength. Before I realized it, I was already lying flat on the dirty cobble, desperately trying to catch my breath.

 

「Those girls are crazy!」