There had been a strange misunderstanding, but it was quickly cleared up.

Apparently, the girl had taken my mention of "taming" in quite a bold way.

Fortunately, I was quick to explain...

‘That was close—I almost ended up being seen as some sort of degenerate.’

What was she thinking, assuming I meant something like that?

Of course, I only meant we should be friends. Has she never read a fairytale in her life?

I narrowed my eyes at the fox.

“...”

Irene sat quietly, avoiding my gaze. She was pretending to be indifferent, but her ears were already turning red.

Her tail was fluttering nervously.

It seemed she was embarrassed by the bold assumptions she made.

Watching her squirm like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Is this what they call a "gap moe"?

She acts tough, but with just a little push, she crumbles.

I spoke.

"You're unexpectedly cute, aren’t you?"

I tossed out the teasing comment playfully.

Irene flinched, then glared at me fiercely.

"...I already apologized."

"It’s payback."

"But—"

"To think you were entertaining such indecent thoughts in your head... I’m still in shock."

"..."

In the end, the fox surrendered.

Watching her lower her head in defeat made the corners of my mouth twitch into a sly grin.

‘This is fun.’

Teasing her was more enjoyable than I expected.

In the original game, she was popular for moments like this.

Especially when paired with the quirky "Little Prince" character, they created chemistry that players loved.

[“Irene’s reactions are seriously adorable, lol.”]
[“I used to find Irene cold and unlikable, but now she’s my favorite character!”]
[“Is Charlotte x Irene a thing now?”]
[“What do you mean, lol?”]
[“The developers already said there are no romantic lines like that.”]
[“Not until the last iceberg in the Arctic melts.”]
[“Why do you even exist?”]

Those are actual comments from my video.

There are some weird ones mixed in, but let’s ignore those for now.

Anyway, Irene had a significant impact. During the character popularity poll for *The World as Seen by the Little Prince*, she proudly took third place.

‘I personally voted for Regia, though…’

Still, seeing her in person now, I understood why fans were so attached to her.

There’s always a demand for tsundere characters.

Her appeal is the opposite of someone like the sweet-natured Regia.

“Irene.”

“...What?”

“Cheer up. I won’t tease you anymore.”

I patted her head a few times as if trying to comfort her.

She hissed like a cat, but I ignored it and pulled my hand away.

“The conversation is going a bit off track. Let’s get back to the main point.”

Clap, clap!

I clapped to regain her focus.

Irene, though glaring at me with burning frustration, didn’t dare lash out, only fuming internally.

I continued nonchalantly.

“As I mentioned, I will guarantee the safety of the children.”

“You did say that.”

“In return, you agreed to become my ‘friend,’ correct?”

“I don’t fully understand what being a ‘friend’ means, but... if it will keep the children safe, I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?”

“...Within acceptable limits.”

“Of course. Rest assured.”

I waved my hand lightly.

Though I was teasing Irene, it was just harmless play.

She was probably still wary of me. And suspicious too.

But that’s not an issue.

There’s plenty of time. We’ll be together for a while, so I can build trust over time.

“Well then, Irene.”

“Now what?”

“My first request as your ‘friend.’ And by the way, refusal is not an option.”

The snake flicked its tongue.

The dangerous glint in my golden eyes looked ready to devour the fox at any moment.

I whispered softly.

“You’ll need to come with me to the academy.”

It was time for the next chapter of the story.

---

Meanwhile, at Galimar Academy.

The entrance exams, which had lasted for a week, were finally over.

With all the scores calculated and the tedious paperwork completed, the staff gathered in the dean’s office for a final discussion.

They were reviewing the results of this year’s exams.

Every year, the incoming students attracted a great deal of attention, but this batch was on another level entirely.

Not only was the overall skill level of the candidates high, but several prodigies, hailed as geniuses, were among them.

There was Charlotte Litt von Staufen, the Empire’s First Princess.

The Vanity twins, Emilia Vanity and Ruska Vanity.

Even a commoner with the extraordinary ability to summon a wyvern was among the applicants.

It was the kind of season that only comes once in a generation, with students whose talents were the stuff of legends.

Naturally, the professors had high hopes, but...

“This is unacceptable!”

“I cannot accept these results. This kind of decision-making is disappointing.”

“This must be corrected immediately!”

The atmosphere in the dean’s office was unsettled.

Voices were raised in frustration.

At the center of it all, an elderly man with white hair sat wearily at his desk, trying to calm the professors.

“Everyone, calm down.”

“But, Dean...!”

“I said calm down.”

“...”

The dean’s stern voice quickly silenced the room.

As the commotion died down, the dean cast a heavy glance down at the thick stack of papers in front of him.

[Galimar Academy Entrance Exam Results]

1. Yuda Snaikers  
2. Charlotte Litt von Staufen  
3. Emilia Vanity  
4. Ruska Vanity  
5. Regia Pirates  
...  
1206. Dector Hollint  
1207. Margo Frank  

[Approved by Professor Selena Drunkard]

“Ha…”

A sigh escaped the old man’s lips.

He rubbed his temples, trying to suppress his dizzying thoughts.

The professors were up in arms about the contents of this document.

“This ranking makes no sense!”

“It’s outrageous that Her Highness, the Princess, was not first, but instead, someone of this caliber is ranked above her!”

“We were present at the exam ourselves.”

“Yes, while he may come from a noble family, his performance was only middling at best!”

“To be honest, we cannot accept these results.”

Yuda Snaikers.

The most talked-about student of this year’s entrance exams.

Despite his seemingly average performance, he had somehow claimed the top spot.

The dean quietly turned his head.

“...”

Standing in the corner was a woman.

Her flowing purple hair and striking red eyes sparkled with an air of indifference.

She appeared completely uninterested in the discussion.

“...Selena.”

Selena Drunkard.

The academy’s head professor and the person in charge of overseeing the entrance exams.

The dean let out another heavy sigh.

“Selena.”

“Yes, Dean?”

“Explain what happened.”

“It is as you see it.”

Her answer was straightforward and confident.

It seemed she had been drinking, as a faint smell of alcohol lingered around her.

“Dean, you gave me full authority over the entrance exam process, did you not?”

“Selena, even though I entrusted the exam to you, this...”

“I simply fulfilled my role.”

Selena responded nonchalantly.

The dean felt a wave of dizziness.

Even though he had granted her special privileges, she was far too brazen about it.

As he mulled over his concerns about his student, the professors' voices continued to clamor around him.

“We can’t let this slide!”

“There’s reason to question Professor Selena’s handling of this matter. Remember the time she graded exams while drunk, causing a mess in the rankings!”

“It only happened once.”

“Once is still a problem, Professor Selena!”

“Hm?”

Selena tilted her head, feigning ignorance, further aggravating the already furious staff.

The dean suppressed a groan, trying to bring the chaotic situation under control.

“Enough. The issue of the top student ends here.”

“But, Dean—”

“Do you not respect my authority?”

“...”

“There will be a placement exam soon. If Selena’s judgment was wrong, the rankings will change then.”

“...Understood.”

The dean's tone was final.

He would tolerate no more dissent.

There was a tense silence, and the professors, realizing they had overreacted, begrudgingly backed down.

Selena remained unfazed.

“Selena.”

“Yes, Dean?”

“I’ll let this go for now, since the paperwork is already approved, but... even I have doubts about this.”

“I accept full responsibility.”

“Don’t take your position as head professor lightly.”

“I won’t.”

The dean furrowed his brow.

He wanted to end the lecture here, but he knew the other staff wouldn’t be satisfied if the issue wasn’t addressed.

“This top student... remember him?”

“Yes, he’s the ‘son of the snake,’ I believe.”

“If that student fails to maintain a top-10 rank in the placement exam in two weeks... I’ll revoke your position as head professor. Since you were in charge, it's only fair you bear the consequences.”

“I’ll accept that.”

“Good. I trust the rest of you are satisfied?”

The professors remained silent.

They had no choice but to abide by the dean’s decision.

Though he spoke kindly, the threat was clear: failure meant losing her position.

No one expected the top-ranked student, with such average skills, to compete against the likes of Princess Charlotte, a genius of her generation.

Surely, he would be crushed.

‘It’s over.’

‘What a shame.’

‘Serves her right. She thought she could coast by under the dean’s protection.’

‘She

 was a brilliant professor, but her drinking ruined her...’

‘So, this is how it ends.’

The professors quietly voiced their inner thoughts.

Most of them cast brief glances at Selena before turning their attention elsewhere.

No one noticed.

‘A placement exam, huh. I’m looking forward to it.’

For just a moment, a smile flashed across Selena’s lips, filled with expectation.

---

The Great Fox Rescue was a chaotic event!

A week had passed since then.

The calendar pages fluttered by, and soon, the day of the academy’s entrance ceremony had arrived.

This marked the official beginning of the main storyline.

“I’m so excited~ I can’t wait!”

“...Could you be quiet?”

“How can I stay calm? It’s the first day at the academy!”

I cheerfully replied to Irene’s sharp remark.

We were walking together toward Galimar Academy.

“Huhu.”

Laughter slipped out as my excitement grew.

Maybe it was because of the anticipation, but my steps felt unusually light.

Whiiiiiish—

The spring breeze was refreshingly crisp.

I took a deep breath to calm my heart, which was racing with excitement.

As we continued walking, I suddenly heard a groan from beside me.

“Ugh...”

“Irene? Is something wrong?”

“Do you really... not understand why?”

Her trembling voice caught my attention.

When I glanced over, I saw her face had turned bright red.

Her burning gaze was fixed on me.

I deliberately feigned ignorance.

“Hm? I have no idea what you mean.”

“Seriously... you’re the worst.”

“Oh, come now, Irene. Such harsh words aren’t very nice.”

“If you didn’t want me to complain, you shouldn’t have made me wear this!”

Irene finally snapped.

Her tail swished furiously, causing the hem of her short skirt to sway.

The black-and-white colors and the tight-fitting design that revealed her curves were quite eye-catching.

Irene was dressed in a maid uniform.

“You look great, though.”

I offered her a casual compliment.

But even that seemed to be a blow for her. Her fox ears twitched in response.

She was clearly mortified.

“...You pervert.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Irene, filled with shame and fury, glared at me with fierce resentment.

“So this was your plan all along, huh? Friendship, my foot.”

“That’s a hurtful accusation.”

Was I really about to end up hated by her for real?

Feeling a bit worried, I quickly added an explanation.

“I told you, this was the only way for you to get into the academy.”

Irene couldn’t enroll in the academy.

To be precise, she had missed the opportunity.

The entrance exams had already ended.

To enter as a student, she would have to wait a full year.

So, I had chosen an alternative.

—I will hire you.

—You’ll become my personal maid and follow me.

Yes, I employed Irene as my servant.

Technically, the academy was a space for students only, but there were exceptions to the rule.

Each student was allowed to bring a few attendants.

It was a privilege reserved for the children of noble families.

—I’m alone, you see.

Since my family didn’t provide me with servants, it was acceptable for me to hire one myself.

And thus, Irene became my maid.

“Still...! How can you give me something so tight and revealing...!”

“This is a trendy design. It’s the best-selling item in the store.”

“I can’t understand human society...”

“How about this? It’s as bold as your imagination, isn’t it?”

“Shut up!!”

Irene finally swung her fist at me.

I dodged easily, continuing to tease her.

She really was fun to mess with.

After a while, as we exchanged playful banter, Irene suddenly fell silent.

She seemed deep in thought, her expression growing tense.

“Irene?”

The atmosphere quickly shifted.

Her expression hardened, and she hesitated before speaking again.

“...Are the children really going to be alright?”

“Ah.”

It seemed she was worried about the little foxes.

Since we couldn’t bring them to the academy, we had to leave them in someone else’s care.

For Irene, it must have been a source of anxiety.

She couldn’t keep them by her side to protect them.

“You don’t need to worry.”

I reassured her gently.

“I’ve called in some acquaintances. They’re trustworthy, so the children will be well looked after.”

“Your acquaintances... That makes me even less confident.”

“Oh dear.”

“They’re not dangerous, are they...?”

“They’ll be fine. They follow my orders without question.”

“...That sounds even worse.”

“Now, now. No need for such doubts.”

I deflected her questions with a mischievous smile.

Though she still looked at me suspiciously, I distracted her with a few more teasing remarks.

Then, I thought to myself.

‘Come to think of it... I haven’t seen those guys in a while.’

The last letter I sent them was about six months ago.

I wondered how they were doing. Hopefully, they hadn’t caused too much trouble while I was gone.

I’d have to check in on them soon.

‘Astro.’

The notorious criminal organization of the slums.

As I pondered the name, I continued on my way.

 

 

______________________

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

If you want to buy me a coffee ko-fi.com/santos_28