"Mmm, it’s delicious!"

"This warm food… it’s been so long!"

"Big brother, you're the best!"

The fox children, their cheeks stuffed with food, melted into bliss. Each of them happily moved their utensils, savoring every bite. The table was overflowing with dishes to the point it looked like the legs might break under the weight. From a steaming bowl of beef stew to stacked steaks and soft, tear-apart baguettes—the spread was magnificent.

"It’s so good… I could cry."

"Me too."

"Back in the underground prison, if we said we were hungry, those bad men would just hit us."

"And it was so cold. But here, it’s warm."

"Sniff…"

The children, once starved and exhausted, now devoured their food with abandon. It was clear they hadn’t had a proper meal in ages, especially not while trapped in the dark, cold dungeons. The little foxes chewed their food eagerly, not picky in the least.

Luckily, they didn’t seem to be avoiding the vegetables either. Seeing them eat everything made me feel a strange warmth in my chest.

"Eat slowly, everyone. There's plenty more."

I smiled at them as I spoke, my hands still moving swiftly as I chopped ingredients. My cooking skills came naturally, and it seemed to suit their tastes perfectly. Even Irene, who had initially eyed the food with suspicion, now focused entirely on emptying her bowl of stew.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Oh, nothing."

I chuckled with satisfaction. Irene glanced at me briefly before returning to her fragrant stew. Her tail swayed happily behind her.

"Of course… the first step in taming is always feeding them."

I muttered to myself, making sure no one could hear. Earlier, what I had pulled from the drawer was nothing sinister—just a pink apron.

"These kids… they're kind of a handful."
= "Seeing them cry breaks my heart."

"I might need to… do something about them."
= "I should lend them a helping hand."

"I didn’t want to go this far, but… you’ve left me no choice."
= "Cooking is a bit of a hassle, but I’ll do it for you all."

"Don’t worry. You’ll all enjoy this."
= "I’m pretty good at cooking, so I’m sure you’ll love it."

Wearing my apron with pride, I had headed to the kitchen and quickly started whipping up dishes. Though it had been a while since I last cooked, my body remembered the motions. The dishes came together in no time. After all, I had learned from the best. If I couldn’t cook this much, she would cry.

*Thanks to her, I’m putting these skills to good use.*

As the delicious aromas filled the room, the children’s crying subsided. The sinister villain had lured the hungry children in with food. It’s true that a full stomach lowers defenses, and to these fox children, the warmth and food I offered must have seemed like salvation.

The idea of approaching them with food as bait—clever, if I do say so myself.

"How’s the food, everyone? Is it to your liking?"

With a mischievous smile, I moved toward the table. The little foxes gathered around it turned to me, their tails wagging happily as they beamed.

"It’s delicious!"

"You’re not like the bad men…"

Kids are simple like that. Their initial fear of me had faded quickly. I reached out and gently patted the nearest fox’s head.

At first, the child flinched, her delicate shoulders trembling. But soon, she accepted my touch.

Moments later, something unexpected happened. Tears welled up in the child's eyes.

"…Sniff."

"Oh, did I make you uncomfortable? If so, I’m sorry."

"N-no…"

The little fox shook her head, wiping away her tears as she spoke through soft sobs.

"It’s just… it’s been so long since anyone did this."

Her brief statement was laden with emotion.

"I don’t know why I’m crying… sniff… the food is so delicious, but that just makes me so sad."

"…"

I waited quietly.

She had been through so much—trapped in a cold, dark dungeon, starving, swallowing her tears as she faced the future with nothing but despair. It had been far too harsh for a child to endure.

*Poor thing.*

I sympathized in silence.

These children had been imprisoned, punished simply by fate’s cruel hand. How unfair life can be—innocence trampled by the greed of adults.

Up until yesterday, they had been locked in cages, without a shred of hope. Now, they had escaped and were eating a warm meal together with their friends. The sharp contrast of emotions must have overwhelmed her, which is why the tears flowed.

"It’s okay now."

I offered her simple comfort.

"No one will ever hurt you again."

The little fox hung her head low. I gently patted her back, and with a playful tone, I added:

"Come on now! Good kids don’t cry. Time to dry those tears, okay?"

"Sniff… okay."

"The food will get cold. It’s best when it’s warm."

"Mmm."

The small fox sniffled and moved her fork again. It’s true—children open up their hearts with just a bit of kindness.

Though it’s a bit unfortunate for them.

Opening up to someone like me, a villain… they’ll regret it eventually.

"Eat up, everyone. There’s plenty more where this came from."

The pile of food on the table was like a mountain.

This was my ultimate attack—*Grandma’s Love, Just a Little More Punch*.

I kept feeding them until they were too full to eat another bite, to the point where the children groaned and collapsed, unable to move from their spots.

They cried, laughed, and finally, they let their guard down.

After a long, emotional rollercoaster, the foxes eventually fell asleep, one by one. The meal must have made them drowsy.

They had eaten so much that they couldn’t stay awake any longer. One after another, they closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*They must still be exhausted.*

The fatigue from their time in the auction house lingered. Despite their initial wariness, it seemed like most of them had opened up to me.

"How admirable."

The words slipped out.

As I carefully carried the sleeping foxes to their beds, a voice spoke up beside me.

"I’ll help too."

It was Irene.

The girl quietly assisted me in moving the children. Though, every time I picked one of them up, she glared at me with suspicion, her gaze sharp.

She was still like a fierce little fox.

"I haven’t done anything yet."

"I know."

"And I don’t plan to."

"You never know."

"Fair enough."

Taming was proving to be more difficult than I thought.

Muttering to myself, I carefully laid the last child in bed, making sure not to wake them. As I tucked the blankets around the little foxes, I could feel Irene’s eyes on me.

"…"

The girl stared at me in silence. Her cold expression betrayed the confusion she was feeling.

*Maybe I’ve been too nice.*

From her perspective, it must have felt off. After all, she had just met me, and now I was showering her with kindness for no apparent reason. It was only natural for her to wonder if something was wrong.

*Then again… I am the villain, so maybe she’s right to feel that way.*

I chuckled at the thought.

As I watched the sleeping children, Irene finally broke the silence.

"You’re surprising."

"What do you mean?"

"You seem to like kids. I thought you’d be irritated by them."

"Why would I?"

I actually liked children. There was something special about their innocence. Unlike adults, who were tainted by the stains of the world, children were pure. I envied that about them.

It was something I had lost long ago.

"I just don’t get too close to them."

"…Well, I guess I should thank you. You did get us out of that hellhole."

"No need to thank me."

"And thanks for the food. It was really good."

"I’m glad you liked it. Hearing that makes me happy."

We exchanged a few light words.

I quietly observed her. Her black eyes were fixed solely on the sleeping children. It was a scene filled with tenderness.

*I trust no one.*

A scene from the middle of the original game flashed before me.

It was from the first side story, *The Untamed Fox* episode, where Irene’s background was fully revealed.

*Sold!*

In the original storyline, Irene was sold as a slave at the auction. After enduring cruel treatment from nobles, she eventually killed her master and escaped. The fox wandered the streets, broken and lost, until she met someone fateful.

*Who are you? You look so pretty.*

The first princess of the empire, Charlotte Litt von Staufen, who played the role of the Little Prince in the story, found Irene.

*Come with me.*

Recognizing Irene’s talent, Charlotte took her in as a close confidant. The two became inseparable, sharing a bond of deep friendship. Everything seemed peaceful until…

*I heard the news today.*

*The children who were with me in that cage… they all died.*

The story took a dark turn when Irene received news that the children she had once been imprisoned with were dead.

*They died in so many ways. Torture, slaughter, even… taxidermy.*

Tears streamed down her face, but they weren’t just tears of sadness. It was guilt, gnawing at her.

*They took everything from me.*

The last sl

iver of hope I had, the only thing keeping me going since my teacher’s death…

*I couldn’t protect them.*

*They trusted me, believed in me… and I let them die in that cold, steel cage. And here I am, still alive.*

That was how the *Untamed Fox* story ended.

It wasn’t part of the main plot, but rather a hidden episode triggered by specific choices. I was the first to discover it, and I remember the reaction when I uploaded the video.

*Half the people were amazed I found it, while the other half were devastated by Irene’s story.*

Seeing such a stoic character crumble left a big impact on the players. I remember feeling a bit proud.

*But I’ve changed things.*

I’d stopped that tragic chain of events, and now I had a chance to get closer to the main characters.

It was a satisfying thought. But just as I was basking in that feeling, Irene’s voice brought me back.

"I don’t understand."

"Huh?"

"You. I can’t figure you out."

I turned to see her staring directly at me, her dark eyes glimmering like stars. After a brief pause, she continued.

"…You said you wanted something from me, right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"You said you wanted to tame me."

"That’s right. I did say that."

I nodded, remembering the offhand remark. I hadn’t thought she’d take it so seriously.

"Yeah, that’s why I brought you here."

"Is it really that important?"

"Of course."

I answered without hesitation, but Irene only looked more puzzled.

"…What does it mean to tame someone?"

Her direct question caught me off guard. I hesitated, reflecting on the meaning.

Taming… it’s about forming a bond.

It’s something that’s been forgotten by many. But to me, it was still a shining principle, a guiding star.

"Taming someone… means forming a relationship."

"…?"

She looked at me in silence, her gaze sharp.

"What?"

"I want to form a relationship with you. I’ll tame you, just the way I like."

"…"

I had thought I was being honest, but Irene’s expression suddenly twisted. Her face contorted with disgust, her eyes narrowing in contempt.

She took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself, and spoke in a cold, scathing voice.

"…You piece of trash."

Her eyes were filled with loathing, as if she were staring at garbage.

Irene tightened her guard again, and I stood there, dumbfounded.

"Wait… did I say something wrong?"