Living with the Dangerous Beast-Chapter 46: A Fox’s Deception

“Who’s there!”

At that moment, a sharp voice rang out. Peering through the bushes, she saw a young, slender man. Sohwa tilted her head.

‘Who is this?’

It was someone whom she had never seen before.

“This is the sacred mountain where the Mountain King resides! Didn’t you see the warning ropes at the entrance of the village? Humans are forbidden to set foot here!”

His scolding was so severe it made her ears ring. Startled, Sohwa covered her ears and pushed through the branches to reveal herself.

“What brings you here, sir? I am not a stranger, but a long-time resident of Mount Yeehwang.”

The man’s eyes widened at the sight of her. He was a delicate young man with light brown eyes and fair skin.

He hesitated, then pointed up at the hawthorn tree with a startled face.

“A-Are you perhaps the owner of these claw marks?”

Claw marks? Looking where he pointed, Sohwa saw terrifying tiger claw marks all over the tree.

It was clearly Dohwi’s doing. Though surprised, she lifted her chin, trying to appear composed. She was about to deny it, but then...

“Forgive me for not recognizing you. Please, have mercy on this humble servant.”

The man prostrated himself before her.

“I foolishly assumed that such grand and fearsome claw marks could only belong to a male tiger.”

Sohwa swallowed hard. This foolish man had mistaken the scent of Dohwi on her for that of a mighty tigress.

“Please grant me mercy and forgive this lowly servant, Great Queen of the Yeehwang Mountain.”

‘No, no! I’m just a red fox!’

She wanted to shout, but the words remained stuck in her throat. She bit her lip, struggling to find the right words.

The man slowly tried to raise his head in an attempt to spy on Sohwa’s expression, but when their eyes met, he immediately bowed down again.

Looking at the man’s scared face and him not even being able to make proper eye contact, Sohwa felt a weird sense of thrill and satisfaction.

‘So this is what it feels like to be a tiger.’

The king of beasts ruling the mountains! The Great One racing through the wind and across mountain ranges! The roaring tigress!

“...Raise your head.”

Sohwa lifted her chin imperiously.

“Yes, I am the owner of these claw marks.”

“Thank you! Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The man bowed repeatedly before rising hesitantly, still glancing at her nervously. His servile demeanor made her clench her fists in joy. When had she ever received such treatment?

‘Well, I’m living with a tiger, after all. I have the right to enjoy some of its perks. A little bluff won’t hurt if it gets him to leave quietly.’

Wasn’t it the wish of all half-beasts? To wield the power and authority as if they were an actual tiger!

“People often mistake me because these claws are as impressive as a male’s and my body is as large as a house.”

Sohwa boasted, showing her hands, which were only slightly larger than a child’s.

“Everyone who sees these claw marks thinks I’m a male.”

“Indeed, I have encountered many tigers, but I have never seen such tremendous claw marks as those, Your Majesty.”

Sohwa flinched. If he had met many tigers and survived, he must be one himself.

“Are you also a tiger?”

“Yes. Had I known this was your territory, I wouldn’t have dared to come.”

She sniffed, but she couldn’t detect any scent from him. It was her nose that was the problem.

Sharing a bed with Dohwi every night, Sohwa often found the sheets damp from their intimacy.

Sohwa resorted to an extreme measure by placing ranunculus flowers in the room, hoping that not smelling Dohwi’s scent as a threatening predator might make their nights a little less ‘wet.’

But perhaps misinterpreting her intense gaze, the man hurriedly waved his hands, his face reddening.

“No, no! I am not worthy to serve such a magnificent being as you. I am not fit for such an honor, despite my handsome looks....”

Winter was also the mating season for tigers. Realizing what he was implying, Sohwa frowned as Dohwi often did.

“How dare you think such a thing about me!”

Her sharp rebuke made him fall to his knees again.

“Forgive me! This foolish one misunderstood your intentions! Please forgive me for my pathetic misbehavior!”

Seeing him banging his head into the ground and begging for forgiveness, Sohwa’s heart softened. He seemed to be quite the flatterer. She also wondered how incompetent a tiger he must be to be so fearful of her.

“What is your name?”

“Daebum.”

Daebum. It was a name fitting for a tiger.

“Don’t make a fuss. Get up, Daebum.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Daebum respectfully clasped his hands together as he rose to his feet. Sohwa cast a haughty glance behind him.

“What do you have in that bundle of yours?”

“Ah, just some snacks I brought for the journey....”

“Let me see.”

Daebum hesitated, glancing at Sohwa.

“It wouldn’t suit your taste, Your Majesty. I have rather peculiar tastes myself....”

“Silence! Must I repeat myself?”

Frightened, Daebum quickly fetched his bag and handed it over. Sohwa grabbed it and peeked inside.