The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 52 - The Mute Fox Lady

Chapter Fifty Two

What the actual fuck...?

Pain shot through my chest as if it wasn’t that guy but me that had been stabbed.

Sysi... Are you there?

I groaned from the pain in my chest.

[Ping!]

[How’s host feeling?]

It hurts... I can feel the dagger in my chest. It’s bearable, though.

[Ping!]

[Host needs to train harder. You might die if you can’t overcome the pain after seeing the memory and open your eyes.]

Are you some kind of sadist or what? Plus, what was all that necrophilia shit? For a moment, I felt like that crazy bitch and my eyes met. I-

[Ping!]

[What did Host say?]

What was all that necrophilia shit?

[Ping!]

[No! What did Host say after that?]

Ah! It felt like our eyes met. But, that not possible because it was a memory. It just felt like she could see me though.

[Ping!]

[We see. Host should open his eyes and claim reward.]

Ugh... The reward better be worth it for staining my eyes with all that necrophilia. However, on that note, can’t I just claim it later? I really want to sleep-

Trssh!

"MASTER! WAKE UP! THE FOX WOMAN IS UP!"

I hate this life so much. No one is letting me rest.

"MASTER!"

Kaelen’s voice pierced my ears, making a sharp pain wake up from its slumber in my head while my entire body was already feeling like I had died.

Let me sleep... Just a bit... Please...

[Ping!]

[Please open your eyes, Host.]

Ugh... I’m only doing this for you, Sysi. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I groaned and rolled onto my side, burying my face into the thin furry blanket as I slowly opened my eyes, making a series of merciless system pings ring inside my head.

[Ding!]

[Knowledge Of The World’s Greatest Fashion Designer Has Been Awarded to Host!]

[Please practice to perfect the knowledge! Practice makes perfect!]

[Ding!]

[Day 2 : Daily Task Assigned!]

[Completion Bar: 0%]

"WAKE UP, MASTER!" Kaelen shouted again, far too energetic for a man who was supposed to be a potential swordmaster. "The fox-woman woke up! Don’t come yelling at me later saying I didn’t tell you!"

Damn it. Why is the work in this world never ending?

I pushed myself upright with a groan, rubbing my face with both hands like that might physically scrub away consciousness.

"I’m really tired, Kaelen," I muttered, voice thick and half-dead. "Let me sleep. It’s only been like... what? Six hours?"

"It’s dawn, Master," he replied flatly. "You should be awake regardless. And the woman you rescued is extremely distressed. Miss Thorne is worried she may harm herself."

Thrsssh.

Bish. I know it’s dawn. Ugh... I can’t even say I’m in pain.

I slumped back, letting my head knock against the hut’s wooden wall. The dried reeds woven into it rattled softly, unimpressed by my suffering.

"...Can’t you handle it, Kaely?" I pleaded as I bit my tongue, holding back the curses that threatened to spew out my lips. "Please? I’m terrible at handling women."

There was a brief pause.

"Please don’t ever do that again. It’s disgusting." Kaelen said, disgust dripping from every syllable. "Plus, the bet was only for a day, Master. If you remember."

I frowned. "What? You’re my knight. Shouldn’t you do it anyway?"

"I’m an unpaid knight," Kaelen corrected calmly. "You should be grateful I’m loyal."

"I am. I am," I waved him off. "Who said otherwise?"

"On that note," Kaelen continued, "you appointed Sir Eatassh as the Second Knight Order of the Halcrest Duchy."

"I did."

"When did we get first order?"

"Oh. That." I snapped my fingers. "That’s you. You’re the First Order."

There was a heartbeat of silence.

"...The First Order," Kaelen said carefully, "is just me?"

"Ye-"

"Your Grace!"

"Miss Thorne."

"Your... Your Grace. The door of the hut the fox woman is in... It won’t open! I’m worried, Your Grace. Please come."

Haiz... Why are women so troublesome?

"Lead the way, Miss Thorne."

---

"Krrh—hss..."

In the furthest, darkest corner of the hut, a tangle of limbs shifted as two amber eyes glinted back at me.

"HSSS!"

The woman hissed yet again. However, her gaze had nothing to do with malice and everything to do with terror.

Creaak.

I took a step forward as the hissing intensified, a low guttural warning that made the hair on my neck prickle.

[Ping!]

[Maybe, Host should not get so close. What if she scratches your handsome face?]

Tch. Are you trying to scare me, Sysi?

[Ping!]

[When did we ever?]

I shook my head as I took slow steps towards the conscious fox. "Hey now, I’m not going to hurt you, love. Calm down."

"Krhh..."

The fox lady moved more backwards, huddling into a ball. Her back pressed so hard against the wall I thought she might break it and make it through to the other side.

Her cute furry ears were pinned flat against her skull, twitching while her tail was matted with dirt and dried blood and curled tightly around her legs like a protective cord.

"Okay. Okay. I’m not going to come closer. I just want to ask you one thing, love."

"Can you... speak?"

The question left my mouth softly, stripped of its usual sarcasm. I kept my hands visible, palms open, like I was dealing with a feral animal instead of a woman who could probably rip my throat out if she wanted.

The fox woman flinched.

Her claws scraped faintly against the wooden floor as she shifted, lips trembling. Her breath came out in short, panicked bursts.

"...H—hss..."

"So... You can’t speak."

Tears filled the fox lady’s eyes as her body started trembling furiously.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"Hssss..."

Ugh... How do I figure out the problem if she can’t speak, Sysi?

[Ping!]

[Just because she can’t speak doesn’t automatically mean she can’t write.]

... Damn. You’re right.

"Love. Listen to me. I’m going to offer you my palm. Can you write the answer to my question on my palm?"

"Hss!" I watched with a smile as the fox lady’s furry ears perked up as tears stopped flooding down her rosy cheeks.

I offered her my palm as her body finally loosened and she crawled a little in my direction. Her trembling hands reached out for mine as they held them in a soft grip, sending the mana coursing through her body interact with mine.

What the hell!?

I pulled my hand back with a jerk as if I’ve been touched by something very filthy.

My eyes widened with realisation as I stared at her then her throat.

[Ping!]

[What happened, Host?]

Black Magic.