Kit Cuts

“Your majesty, the kitsune has been captured and restrained. They will wake in a few moments.” reported one of Dwargon’s elite spies, their body completely covered in dark clothing and hood to hide their identity. At least to everyone but the King of the Armed Nation of Dwargon, Gazel Dwargo. The dwarven king nodded, stone faced. Sitting in a large chair made of stone that was carefully crafted for the Dwargon rulers, still dressed in his intimidating armor, a light golden crown encircling his head.  

Giving a low thoughtful hmm as he brought a hand to stroke his well-trimmed beard in thought. 

Gazel was aware of the many terrifying tales about kitsunes with vibrant fur and many tails, a Void Kitsune was much more dangerous, powerful, and extremely rare. The legend of a 9 tailed Black Kitsune was still passed down by the Dwarven people, because Guran Dwargo, Gazel’s grandfather, had made a deal with a Void Kitsune... and his master, almost 1000 years ago. 

The guards had let the confirmed kitsune in after being arrested for causing a disturbance outside their gates, it was a clever way to get in as the guards had assumed it was a young fox beastmen, overlooking that it had 3 separate tails somehow. However, once he learned that it had pitch black fur... it made sense the tails could have blended in with each other. 

“They were with that slime and Kaijin, correct?” he asked, only to confirm the reports he had been given the skilled Blacksmith, Kaijin had produced 20 magisteal swords in the impossibly short time frame Vesta had given him, all with the same top quality that was expected from one of Dwargon’s greatest weapon smiths.  

It had to have been either the slime or the Kitsune that helped him with his impossible task... but why? 

Kitsunes were said not to do anything for others, unless there was something in it for them. The strange creatures were a lot like Demons in that regard. Yet from the few records of encountering kitsunes, Elemental &Holy Magic didn’t seem to effect them at all. 

“How many did they injure?” Gazel questioned but already knew that no one had been hurt when apprehending the kitsune, or the slime, not counting Vesta’s injuries of course. “None were injured sire. The kitsune seemed to still be a child, but with 3 tails we assume she is at least 300 years old.” The spy informed him, but he found it odd when the spy recalled her short time with the kitsune. 

It acted like a child and was very friendly. 

Of course, it had played a ‘trick’ on its ‘brother’ the slime by pretending to be a pitiful little slave, a thick iron collar had been around her neck. Even getting a few of the eleven ladies in on it, they were charmed by the excitement and willingness of the small kit to be cleaned and dressed like a doll for their amusement.  

It seemed very happy with being doted on by the elven woman... especially the dark-skinned elves. 

“I will interrogate it myself.” King Gazle voiced as he got up from his chair, having delt with some other matters and didn’t have time to properly wash. However, the smell of blood may make the kitsune show its true colors and intent. 

“Yes, Your Highness, they are in the special cell below the castle with two guards posted at the door.” the spy told him, and the king made his way to the Special cell that blocked all communication and magic from escaping. There was no way for the kitsune to escape or contact anyone outside the cell. The ANBU and knights posted at the door would have alerted him of someone breaking out ... or in, if it was not a centuries old Void Kitsune. 

Approaching the cell, the king eyed the two knights who were displeased with their assignment for guarding the kitsune and grew fearful as they saw their king approach the cell. Quickly they went to unlock the door, but before the sounds of heavy locks filled the air... the dwarf king heard a small, freighted voice from inside. 

“W-why am I here?” 

‘A child?’ he questioned, confused as the shackles should have made the kitsune take its true form. 

However, when the door was open and the dark cell flooded with the dim light in the secret passageway, the king could only see a small child with fox ears and tails chained helplessly to the wall. Squinting as their eyes adjusted before their large golden orbs flew open in shock and fear. 

The kitsune could smell the blood on him... from humans and monsters. 

" Kitsune , do you know why you are here?" Gazle asked sternly, his blue eyes coldly examined the kitsune, they took on the appearance of a humanoid child of maybe 4-6 years old, but the king wasn’t going to be fooled as he spotted its 3 black tails culled around their legs. The shackles were tight around her wrists and ankles, it was painful for the small kitsune who was trapped in their ‘true form’ . 

"Um... Not really." It responded out loud to his question, confused. 'I'm guessing I'm being questioned but... That thing on his head? He couldn't be...'  He could hear the kitsune's thoughts processing her situation, having noticed his crown last . 'This  can't be... is this the Hero King, Rigur was talking about? Why would he be here trying to beat up a little kid... unless...'  The kitsune thought and it was Gazle’s turn to freeze. 

The kitsune thought of high-ranking noble men who would exploit young children for their sickening pleasures... and take young boys. It didn’t help that the kitsune also seemed to know what it FELT like to have unwanted hands on their body. 

"Do you know where you are?" He questioned, wanting to chase off the strange feeling that had ghosted over his skin, letting out a bit of disgust that someone would handle a child like that.  "The... Armed Nation of Dwargon?" The kitsune responded unsurely. 'Whatever they used on me couldn't have knocked me out for more than a few hours.'  It thought, the king was slightly impressed by the deduction and strange understanding of chloroform. 

The small cough that came from it was evidence that his spies had used the sweet-smelling chemical, no doubt the kitsune would be parched. He reached out and found the class and jug of water that was set on a table. A rather sadistic tactic to keep it out of the kitsune's reach, but also to see how it acted when desperate. 

Only it seemed to have gone unnoticed by the small kitsune, Gazle poured a glass with his back to them. He could still hear its dry coughs and mental plead for a drink. "Here." He turned around and offered it to the kitsune who only looked back at him in complete confusion. The chains rattled a little, and the king was ready in case it escaped and attacked. 

"Thank you, but I can't take it." The kitsune voiced, golden eyes no longer on the king but looking up at her restrained arms.  

It... she was polite? 

The king reached out, grabbing the kitsune by the small chin firmly and brought the glass to her lips. 

"Open." He commanded, admittedly too sternly, the kitsune was weary of his actions and the bruising grip he had on her chin. ' Would it be safer if I don't drink it? It’s probably drugged with something to keep me from fighting him. As if a grown man can’t already handle a small child.’   She questioned, and Gazle was a bit disgusted this idea came to her mind. Along with how much of a drug would be in a glass of water to kill her, given that she was so small. 

There was a pitiful little squeak that came from her, Gazle looked at his hand... he had gripped her chin a little harder by accident, making her think that he would strike her.  'It won't be the first time a grown man has hit me... I wish I could keep my teeth though.'  At that thought the king pulled the glass from her lip and made her look up at him, as he took a sip from the glass himself. Assured that it was just water with nothing added to it that would harm anyone. 

"It's not poisoned, now drink." He was being stern; the glass was pressed to her lips again, but she still hesitated for a moment. Her lips parted and Gazle carefully tip the glass to let the kitsune drink. It would not do well to mistreat the seemingly innocent kitsune. When freed, there would be no doubt it would come for revenge. 

The king noticed that her tails started to sway a little, the white tips easily visible as she slowly drank the whole glass. Once he pulled it away, however the kitsune was back on guard. ‘It’s tasteless... that’s how the best drugs are, better to go along for now.’ The kitsune was thinking wearily. Gazel was partly impressed but also confused that she would know about tasteless poisons.  

What had the little kitsune experienced to think like this?  

"Good child, now... what is your name?" Gazel asked, setting the glass cup on the small table, a little surprised to see cracks had formed from his tight grip. 

"Kayo Tempest." 

There was no hesitation in her response, but it was odd... the little kitsune had two names? From the reports, the slime also had two names, and shared one with the little kitsune.  

Rimuru Tempest  

This was very interesting. 

Gazle reached under his armor and pulled out the special key needed to undue the shackles. He saw her tense as he pulled the key out, prepared for him to strike her. It was a bit amusing to see her confusion when the shackles came off her wrists and ankles. 'Why... is he unchaining me? Is this so I can be more amusing if I'm hunted down?'  She questioned, looking at the damage the shackles had made her tan skin flake strangely, but the injury should go away on its own.  

"Thank you?" The little kitsune thanked him, and it was... strange ... this child was strange. 

She didn’t move to attack him and didn’t have thoughts to, she was more annoyed by the flaking of several layers of skin. Her tails flipped with irritation and her ears flickered rather cutely, it seemed like she really was just a child. 

Gazle reached out a hand to the little kitsune, of course she flinched away from his large hand... she was very small. Her startled golden eyes locked with his clam blue eyes, pulling his hand back with a deep frown, that reflex had to have come from either strict training... or abuse. Pulling his hand back, he could see the small child relax a little, and then he turned his back to them to open the door. 

"Come with me, Miss Tempest. I have a few more questions for you." Gazel commanded, not surprised that the little kitsune was tense again, she could smell all the guards outside the door now. 

' I don't even know your name, digus.'   

Gazle had to restrain himself at her amusing insult. 

"Um, S-sir... it's r-rude... T-to not to give y-your name... in r-return." The little kitsune voiced, letting her nervousness show to get him to lower his guard, especially since she seemed to understand just WHO he was. Gazel let out a small chuckle, his blue eyes locked onto her golden eyes that were narrowed in suspicion, the king had indeed been rude not to give her his name in return. 

"Ah. Forgive me Miss Tempest. My name is  Gazel Dwargo  , I am the King of the  Armed Nation of Dawargon  ." He told her, not bothering to school, the amused smirk that pulled at his lips. 

The little kitsune looked rather adorable when she was confused and terrified, her suspicions of him had been correct. 'FUCK !  It is the king! What does he want with me?'  He heard her think loudly in a panic before an even louder sound filled the stone cell. The guards outside had mistaken it for the kitsune getting hostile but... 

"Oh? Is the little Kitsune hungry?" King Dawrgo questioned, amused as he looked the embarrassed child, wrapping her arms around her stomach to dampen the noise that wouldn’t stop, her youthful face turning crimson with embarrassment.  'Danm it! They took me before I could eat anything! Those Basterds!'  She mentally cursed his ANBU for taking her away before feeding her. Then, the dwarf king could smell a rather tempting meal that came from the hungry kitsune’s thoughts. The smell of a freshly roasted turkey, cooked potatoes, corn, sweet ham, and several other unfamiliar scents invaded his nose. Confused, he looked down at the kitsune who was looking pitiful with her still roaring stomach. These strange sensations seemed to have come from her mind, Gazel had never SMELLED thoughts before, he spoke to one of the tense guards.   "Have the cooks prepare a turkey dinner for Miss Tempest and I." King Dwargo ordered one of the guards, he could hear the guards' confusion before hesitantly saluting, then carrying out the order. ' Weird, I was craving turkey. Well, it's bound to be more filling than the Potato soup Captain Kaido gave us. It was pretty bland and needed a bit of salt... maybe some pepper too.'   

Gazel found it amusing how quickly the little kitsune lost her fear and was now thinking of food. Not to mention she knew of the only dish Captain Kaido knew how to make. It was not something the captain would share with just anyone that wasn’t his subordinates or family. 

"Are you coming? Unless you would rather have more potato soup, Miss Tempest." The Gazle mussed; the kitsune was a bit startled but carefully walked up to him. Eyeing the remaining guard and tossing a glance at the ones that stayed in the shadows, ignoring them quickly. 'Why would he mention potato soup?' The kitsune questioned, following the king with her small legs struggling to match his much longer strides. Carefully the king shortened his steps and walked a bit slower so the kit could keep up.  

She was easily distracted by admiring the resilient masonry of Dwargon’s palace, its carefully crafted windows, the elegantly made Lanters, the shimmering suits of armor, and battle-ready weapons that lined certain hallways.  She didn’t take much note of the golden items, the sparking gemstones, or the paintings that lined the halls, most would have taken notice of the pieces for their high monetary worth. 

Instead, the kitsune’s attention was caught by her reflection in a sword, her ears twitched as if she was listening to something. Gazel watched, weary that the little fox would try and use the sword but... he could hear a strange faint humm. Confused, Gazle didn’t stop her from running her small finger over the displayed weapon and drew blood. ‘That should make battling intruders' fun and fair. Then again, these looks like they're made for- Holy Crap their real! and sharp!!'   

He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her tails stand on end and her fur bristle. Looking more like a startled kitten until she calmed down from her shock. ‘That’s no decoration!’  She thought and stuck her cut finger into her mouth to stop the bleeding, still eyeing the sword in admiration.  

‘Interesting, that is one of Kijin’s blades.’ Gazle noted, questioning if it was the kitsune who had helped the master dwarf with his impossible task. 

"Miss Tempest, if you don't mind not injuring yourself on my swords." He warned her, amused by the child like actions of the kitsune... this was not an act. He saw her ears drop a little in embarrassment before she responded. "S-sorry. Where are we going?" the kitsune questioned, bouncing along to just keep up with his longer legs was a bit adorable.   

"The dining room, do you drink wine, Miss Tempest?" He questioned, wondering if he should have offered the small child something sweeter instead. 

 ' If we are having Turkey, Apple cider would go great with it. I always find them a bit dry.'   

"Hmm. Not a bad choice." Gazle agreed with her reasoning, only to stop and glance down at her, not hiding his amused smirk as that oddly adorable, shocked look on her face looked up at him. ' I knew it! He can read minds!'  The little kitsune thought in her panic, discovering the king’s secret ability without him realizing what she had just done. 

"Yes, little fox. I can read your mind... but now that you know..." he trailed off, amused to see the little kitsune cower as he could feel something blocking her thoughts, but not before he heard her last thought.  

'Are you going to have me killed?'  she questioned, looking very scared that he might really kill her... kitsune fur was extremely rare, they were not like normal fox fur, with their own strange properties. The only Kitsune pelts he knew of were in the hands of the eleven royal families, they were never parting with those furs, but they didn’t make anything out of them either. 

"You can try Miss Tempest. Come and sit down, I just need to clean up before we can talk further. I didn't mean to smell like blood to you." he mused, not intending on harming the small kit that seemed to know how to raise mental barriers.  

Again, that was something no normal child could... or should be able to do. 

The kitsune looked confused as he opened the large doors to the most comfortable dining room, it wasn’t extravagant, not bear bones either. It was cozy with 6 chairs around a well-crafted table, a faint memory of his childhood came to him, precious happy and carefree moments with his own father. A king that was not very notable in history, but to his son he was the greatest of all time.  Walking over to a chair that already had several extra cushions, pulling it out for the little kitsune who looked confused but seemed to understand intention. Climbing up onto the chair rather cutely before he noticed her admiring the plushness of the pillows that allowed her to reach the tabletop. 

‘This is a rare site.’  

Gazle heard from one of his oldest butlers, the man smiled as he saw Gazle push the child’s chair in as she admired the polished dinner wear. The butler set a glass of burnt orange liquid within the little one’s reach, the servant glancing at the king who only gave a small nod, a sign that the kitsune was allowed to relax here. 

"Take care of our guest until I return." The Dwarf King ordered the butler who nodded in understanding, curiously the little kitsune took the glass of amber liquid, taking a small sip. Her ears and tails popping up in excitement. "It's apple cider!" she yipped and happily drank the rest of the tasty drink. Oblivious to the shocked and amused looks form the two dwarven men. The butler smiled and refilled the kitsune's drink once she set the empty glass down, amused by her happily wagging tails, and cute dimpled smile. 

~Dinner~  

After washing up, Gazle joined the happy little kitsune in their delicious meal together. The king watched her carefully as he heard her panicked thoughts as she stared at the many utensils around her plate. ‘Fuck! How does this go again? Inward outward? Or was it outward inward?’ she was thinking while staring, and drooling, at her delicious dinner set before her. Gazle was slightly confused but his butler took it as something else. 

‘These pieces must be a little too big for the little one.’ The butler mussed, and helpfully cut the kitsune child’s food into smaller pieces. Also showing her the order, the utensils were to be properly used. “Thank you~.” The little kitsune chirped happily, giving the butler another dimpled smile before getting the napkin and placing it on her lap. ‘Oh my! Such good manners~ and rather adorable too.’ the butler thought as he gushed over the little kitsune. Gazle carefully watched her eat and couldn’t help but agree that her manners seemed to be level with any noble woman’s... until she tasted the food. 

'YUMMY!’ Was all Gazle could hear as the kitsune ravenously dug into her meal, with slightly worse table manners. 

“I can assume you're enjoying the food very much?” Gazel asked, the little kitsune stuffed her mouth with food... getting some on her face in the process. ‘Very much, yes~!’ she chirped in her mind as she chewed. Only it worried the butler when she didn’t verbally respond to the king’s question. 

Gazle only gave a small smirk as he started to eat himself.  

Dinner was much the same, he would ask her a few simple questions, badly timed with her stuffing food into her mouth, she would respond in her thoughts to keep eating her dinner happily. Only when it was all gone did she speak out loud. 

“ Please Sir, may I have some more ?” She spoke in a strange accent, looking at the king with big golden eyes pleading with her request. ‘She has the apatite of a king.’ the butler thought with amusement as Gazle himself had finished his first plate as well. The king couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. 

“Of course, you may. However, you may want to save room for dessert.” Gazle mussed and saw the begging eyes sparkle with excitement and joy of an innocent child. “Okay~!” the kitsune chippered happily when she was given another helping, her manners returning, the kitsune eating a little slower now. 

The kitsune was named Kayo Tempest, she was just a few months old, despite having 3 tails already. She lived in the Great Jura Forest with her ‘ big bother’ , Rimuru Tempest, the slime. In a small primitive village populated by goblins and wolves. The reason they, along with a goblin named Gobtia, were in Dwargon was to find help in making better clothes and shelter for their village. 

They had not intended to cause trouble and wait in line to be let into the dwarven nation. It was only because some Human adventures approached them with ill intensions, one was going to beat up the pathetic looking goblin, sell the talking slime and hand over the young kitsune over to slavers. Never mind one of them had grabbed the little kitsune's hair before she kicked him. 

She wasn’t saying, or thinking, much about her brother, but she was open about what they had been doing after getting put in a holding cell. Giving captain Kaito their statements of the event, save for the sleeping goblin. It was after their story was confirmed that Kaido received the news about his brothers being injured down in the mine and leaving the 3 in the cell to attend to his badly injured bothers. 

“And the Healing Potion? Where did that come from?” Gazle asked sternly, looking at the kitsune who avoided thinking of where the potion came from... only the flash of a full barrel came from her thoughts. 

“Did you make it?” he asked sternly, glancing over at his butler to give him a nod. The man understood and left the room to fetch the remain full potion and dessert. “No.” the kitsune answered quietly but truthfully, her ears lying flat on her head as she tried not to give the secret away, thinking of something else quickly.  

“Then it was the slime then? How did he make it?” He asked, being a bit sterner, with his question, but she wouldn’t tell him where the potion came from. Gazle had to admire her determination a little and was amused by her thoughts of colorful winged ponies, baby sharks, soft kittens, hungry wolves, eyes of tigers, and white rabbits? 

She did this for a little more than 17 minutes before the butler arrived, pushing a trolley topped with three items covered by some cloth. Quickly the little kitsune could smell the desert and started drooling from the temptation. 

“The dessert for tonight is Apple Pie. I hope this pleases you little fox.” The butler mussed, chuckling as he watched her tails happily wag behind her. “Well, I would have to taste it first.” the kit joked, making the butler and Gazle chuckle at her response and the accent that had slipped out. 

“Hold the dessert for a moment. Miss Tempest, would you tell me where this Full Potion came from? Or at least who made it.” Gazle asked and felt a little bad as the kitsune's face fell at being denied the tempting dessert. The butler also frowned at the cruel act but presented a bit of what was left of the potion Kaito was given, the Dwargon potion masters had confirmed that it was a very real Full Potion, poured into a convent glass bottle topped with a cork. 

She stared at it with a frown, her ears dropping as the smell of the potion reached her nose. 

‘Papa.’  

Gazel wasn’t a fearful man, but there were a few very beings that could wipe out entire nations with a flick of their wrists. A True Dragon, one of the 10 Great Demon Lords ... and the 9 Tailed Black Void kitsune , that was the little kit's father !  Even if he saw the Void Kitsune through the eyes of his child, those cold blue eyes looking back at him chilled the dwarven king for some reason. 

“Did your father... make this potion?” Gazle asked carefully as the kit softly shook her head. 

‘No... Papa smells like the herbs used to make it.’  That was all to her thoughts, and Gazle had to admire her loyalty to the slime. He wouldn't press any further, even if he was very sure the potion was the slime’s doing. “Let her have the pie.” the king ordered the butler who was relieved, smiling when he noticed the kitsune had brightened up, even started bouncing in her chair as the butler served her a slice to enjoy. 

Both men enjoyed the happy purring of the little kitsune and Gazle had the added privilege of hearing a cute little song about Apple Pie. 

~After Dinner~ 

‘I guess it would be bad if I asked to look around.’ the little kitsune, Kayo had questioned as she and the Dwarf king finished the two apple pies.  “Would you like a look around my castle?” Gazle asked, amused as the little kitsune looked at him with a big, dimpled smile. “Yes, please!” she chipped happily, and the king found her excitement adorable. She wasn’t planning on stealing anything but admiring the work from dwarven masters that had long passed. 

“Where would you like to start?” He asked, and the kitsune thought for a moment before responding out loud. “Can we go to the kitchen? I wanna thank the chiefs for the yummy food!” she beamed with excitement but didn’t hide her alter motive. 

‘and maybe get the recipe for that apple pie~.’  

Gazle held back an amused chuckle as he got up from his chair along with the little kitsune, who eagerly followed him to the kitchens... much to the shock and surprise of the staff cleaning the kitchen. 

“Y-your majesty! W-what brings you to the kitchen? Was something wrong with your dinner? Did your guest does not like it?” a nervous looking man questioned, sweating nervously that he had somehow offended his king, only to be confused when he felt a tug at his shirt.  

Conused, he looked down and saw a small child with animal ears and fluffy black tails, her golden eyes looking up at him with an adorable smile. “It was really good! I wanted to come say thank you for the meal myself.” Kayo chipped happily as the staff was stunned into silence. ‘Who is this kid? She’s so cute.’ The staff all questioned, shocked as they stared at the now bouncing fox child. Gazle questioned for a moment if charming people was a skill of Her's, or if it was just her being an innocent child that enchanted them. 

“Oh~ especially the apple pie! That was really yummy! Almost as yummy as carrot cake!” Kayo admitted, trying to entice the maker of the apple pie a little. 

~Later~  

“Mission: Accomplished~.” Kayo chipped happily as she happily bit into the salt topped bread the baker had given her, along with some carrots and a paper with the baker’s apple pie recipe. He happily gave her in exchange for the carrot cake recipe that was carved into her heart. 

“You really like carrots and bread?” Gazel asked smirking as he saw her much on a raw carrot, giving a strange cat like purr. ‘Yeah, I like tomatoes, blueberries, and strawberries too! Oh! Oh! and Rabbit too~! And Ch-’ Kayo was thinking before she stopped giving the dwarf king a list of food she liked, the last one impossible to find so deep in the forest, cheese. 

“Where to next?” she asked quickly after gulping down the sweet carrots. Gazle noticed she was hiding something again, possibly to protect herself and her brother. “Hmm do you like, horses by any chance Miss Tempest?” Gazle asked, stopping at the little kitsune looked stunned for a moment, her golden eyes glittering with excitement. “Y-yes? Do you have a stable here? A cave doesn’t seem like a good place to keep horses.” she asked, confused but hopeful. 

“I’m sure you will see they are not normal horses. This way, and down fall behind.” he firmly told her as he led her out of the castle and to a special aera where the top secret Dwargon mounts were kept. “A stable?” The little kitsune questioned as she could smell the familiar scent of horses. Yet she was too short to really see any of them in their stables, but one stuck their head out as they approached, greeting the king with a soft hello. ‘So pretty~.’ Kayo gushed as she spotted the head of a white horse that greeted them. Gazel smiling and petting his trusted mount who eyed the kitsune child... and the carrots she held. 

“You want one?” the kitsune asked and held the orange vegetable out for the beautiful horse, excited but trying to stay calm. The horse sniffed the offering before happily biting into it, flapping its white wings in delight while the kitsune stared in complete shock at what she had just seen.  ‘No way... No way! Now way! Is this a Pegasus !?’ Kayo questioned, hands over her mouth to muffle an excited squeal, she happily bounced on the balls of her feet at the discovery of winged horses in this new world. Her sparking golden eyes looking up at the amused Gazel as he gave a deep chuckle, finding her excitement amusing. 

“They are all Pegasi.” Gazle told her as a few more horses popped their head out, curious about the kitsune in their stable.

“P-pegasi? As in more than one? Do they come in different colors?” The kitsune eagerly asked and Gazel could help but laugh a little more, the image of a cartoonish light blue Pegasus coming from the child’s mind.  “No. They do not come in blue, nor pink or purple. Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Tempest.” Gazle mussed as Kayo pouted for a bit before her ears twitched as she overheard the horses talking, curious about the new arrival. 

“Hi. I’m Kayo, a kitsune. It’s nice to meet all of you.” she chipped happily at the horses who started to speak again, pouting. “I’m not here to hurt you, the king invited me here.” she pointed out and the horses all looked at her. Gazel’s mount spoke up, and the king was unsure of what was going on as he could only hear the little kitsune's thoughts. “Yeah, I can understand you.” she spoke to his steed who seemed very happy and made the little kitsune laugh. “It’s nice to meet you, Ivory.” She chipped and petted the white horse happily, Gazle was a bit stunned. “How did you know her name was Ivory?” Gazle asked and she looked up at him innocently. “She told me.” Kayo explained and pointed a carrot at the horse who took this chance to bite it. Gazel grew a little concerned and interested that she could understand animals.  

“Am... I not supposed to?” she carefully asked, looking nervous before Gazle shook his head after processing this strange skill she had. “It’s unusual for anyone, even beastmen to understand the language of animals. It’s a very interesting skill.” he praised but the kitsune looked confused for a moment.  ‘Understanding animals is a skill?’ she questioned before Ivory spoke again, making a request that excited the little kitsune.

“Ivory wants to be brushed, can I do it!?” she asked with an egger smile, and Gazel found it quite nice as he helped her brush down his steed who was enjoying the kitsune’s careful grooming. 

~Later~  

“I guess the armory is out of the question?” Kayo asked, pouting as the king lead her away from the council room she was not allowed to enter. “Yes, I wouldn’t want you to test out every blade in there, nor be tempted to steal a weapon. Kitsune and foxes are well known thieves.” he explained, taking the little kitsune to a room that had been prepared for her. 

‘If we get Kaijin to come with us, I wouldn’t need to.’ She thought lazily before yawning tiredly, rubbing her eye as she was feeling the sleep hit her small body already. 

“Your majesty! I have some urgent news for you.” called out a man with light brown hair and a white robe of a public servant. Gazle frowned and looked at the kitsune who was not paying attention to them, but the sign that was written in an unfamiliar script to her. “What is so urgent Dord?” he asked, curious and trusting the little kitsune would not wander off... only did she. Another public servant left the royal library, she had spotted the shelves filled with books through the open door and quickly scampered inside before the door closed. Her black tails wagging with excitement with her thoughts before the door blocked his skill. 

‘A Library!? I think I'm in heaven! So many books! I hope I can read them all! Where do I even start!?’ Kayo eagerly thought before the door closed behind her.  

“Your majesty? Did the integration of the kitsune go well?” Dord asked, not having seen Kayo, making Gazle chuckle at how sneaky the kitsune was without realizing it. “The little kitsune is not a treat. However, it seems she has a liking for knowledge rather the riches.” the king mussed as Dorf looked worried.  “So it came here to spy on us? Did it say where it was from?” Dord asked carefully but Gazel shook his head. “The little one comes from the Great Jura Forest. So far it seems she does not mean us any harm but... Her father is the Void kitsune of legend.” Gazle warned the man who looked terrified. 

“Oh... Oh My! Have we offended the... The Black kitsune ? Will it come here to find its kit?” Dord asked, starting to panic but Gazle hummed in thought. Then his blood ran cold as he heard new thoughts and an unfamiliar voice echo in his head eerily. 

‘As long as you don’t harm my little princess. I have no reason to cause a little... mischief ~.’  

“Your majesty?” Dord called to him worriedly as Gazle composed himself and chose his words wisely... given that the older Black kitsune had to be very close, and possibly listening into their conversation somehow. “Dord, have there been any other reports of trouble outside our gates?” he asked carefully but the man looked worried still. “Nothing of serious note, just the one with the slime, goblin, and kitsune stand out. Gazle... what did that Kitsune do? Should I prepare more knights?” he asked, concerned about the king’s pale expression.  “No. Miss Kayo Tempest is my guest, should you see the little one, please treat her with kindness. She is still just a child and will not cause any harm.” he assured the man who was unconvinced, but Gazle walked over to the library doors, opening them to hear the little kitsune's egger thoughts... and see a few books on the ground. 

‘Agh! It's so dusty here! It should be perfect if no one comes here to clean. Yay! So many books to read, so little time. Now who’s up first? Hmm... Here we go! Dwarven Architecture! Oh! and then the Jewlery crafting. Oh! then weapon and armor smithing. Definitely this magic book... and this one and... may as well just get all of them~! Oh! History books! Yes! Super helpful!’ Kayo thought excitedly and Gazle had a slight headache from her rapid-fire thoughts. 

It seemed she was occupying herself well with the books in the massive library.  

~Hours Later~  

Gazle looked threw the many shelves that held Dwargon’s large collection of books, spotting a few dusty places, empty spaces, and dropped books along the way. Most of the empty spaces were on the lower shelves, but he would also find small finger and footprints in the dust on higher shelves with missing books. The kitsune had obviously climbed the shelves, given that there were no ladders around to use and she was rather short. It made it easy for the king to find the little kitsune who was in an out of the way little nook. 

The Dwarf king couldn’t help his amusement as he found her slumped over an open book, surrounded by several more that were open to seemingly random pages. A few books stacked around to make a sort of barrier to hide this space even more. When he got closer, he could see that she had also gotten ahold of some pencils and paper. Messy notes scribbled on the loose scraps along with what looked like runes. 

“How does she know ancient runes?” Gazle asked, before looking up and his eyes widened as she saw several floating orbs of light above his head, the lamps that were supposed to light up the library were off for some reason. “What? What are these?” he questioned, confused as he had assumed the lanterns this deep in the library were in working order. Looking down at one of the runes drawn on a piece of paper, the dwarf king tapped it with his finger, letting some of his magic flow into it before the paper crumbled up and became a floating orb of light. 

“So that is what these are. Interesting.” Gazle mussed and looked at the giggling kitsune as she was dreaming of flying on the back of Ivory, roaming free in the sky with her slime brother. The king couldn’t help but be amused by the childish dream, carefully picking up the deceptively heavy small child. It was then he could see what she had fallen asleep reading. 

“So you were learning about my grandfather?” he mused and picked up the book too. Taking it away to the guest room that was prepared for her, as tomorrow would be the trial for the slime and the dwarf brothers. 

“The kitsune reports that she has also gotten better at carving details under Dord’s teaching.” A blond-haired woman with pointed ears a mask covering the bottom half of her face. read the report she had gotten out loud to 4 others that sat with her in a dark room around a softly glowing orb in the middle of a large stone table. It showed them some images from the slowly growing goblin village inside the Great Jura Forest. The goblins and dwarves got along fine as they built better and solid buildings, roadways, wells, bathrooms, and even some strange baths called Hot springs for their new home. 

However, what caught their attention most was the addition of 6 oni survivors, that had been named and evolved into legendary Kijin by the slime named, Rimuru Tempest . 

“Of all things to add in so carelessly. Does that little fox know how dangerous a single Kijin can be? Let alone the Orcs that revenged a village of 300 Oni warriors.” a large man in dark armor voiced, frowning with seriousness of the casual report they had just gotten. 

“A large number of orcs moving inside the Great Jura Forest has been confirmed. It seems This little goblin village is also building up their strength. Several of my operatives have been training the little fox. She shows quite a bit of promise in being an assassin.” The elven woman piped up before a brown-haired man spoke up in shock. “Your operatives are training her? Why would you allow something like that?” he questioned, worried before Gazle chuckled as there was an extra note from one of the little kitsune’s trainers... 

“It is in exchange for more detailed and readily available information. That and it seems one of the Kijin has joined in as well but...” Gazle wished he could have seen the site described in the report. “Your majesty?” Dord questioned, confused and worried that a Kijin was also being trained in the ways of Dwargon’s ANBU. “Apparently, the little kitsune kicked the Blue Kijin in the face, after he roughly grabbed her tail during a sparring match. In return. His jaw was dislocated with a swift kick to the face.” The woman, Anrietta, voiced as the other minsters looked at her in shock by this news. 

“Dis... dislocated his jaw? With a kick?” Dord questioned as he and the others looked at the image of the small smiling fox child, standing at about 110cm (about 3.61 ft). Then at the lean yet muscular form of the 190cm (about 6.23 ft) tall Blue haired Oni, before it turned into the kijin, having shrunk about 10cm yet still retaining a lean figure of a young man. It was hard to imagen a Kijin getting kicked in the face so hard by someone almost half his height. 

“H-how?” Dord asked as everyone tried to process this information. 

“She is a Void Kitsune with two names. While still very young, her mind is very sharp. She is not to be underestimated. So why not keep her as an ally? An alliance with that Slime would then be assured. The one who can make healing potions.” Gazle voiced as it was in the report that Kayo had given the blue Kijin a healing potion for his injury without thinking, letting her Elven sensei witness its healing properties for herself. 

“Is she that same Kitsune that ravaged the royal library?” An elderly woman questioned as she noticed the kitsune child had a spell book that was kept in the Dwargon library, a spell book for more advanced users of magic. Dorf groaned as the library fell under his management, along with his duties as Captain of the Secret Pegasus knights. “We have yet to sort out all the mess she left behind, it’s possible some books may have gone missing in all the chaos.” The man voiced but noticed how calm the wild kitsune was while reading a rather default book about casting magic. Only her eyes and tails moved from side to side as they scanned the pages and her tails wagging with delight and excitement.  

“If so, she would have to be charged with theft. Should I have an operative try and bring her here for trial?” Anrietta questioned, mentally sifting through her roster to find someone that had not been swayed by the little kitsune. Despite their decades of training, they didn’t see the strange kitsune child as a treat, but they did seem to hesitate to step in when the kit had been kidnapped by some rouge goblins. Of course, that had been handled quickly and the incident brushed away. 

The only thing that changed as a result, was how the kitsune was addressed by the goblins,  Lord Kayo . 

“That won’t be necessary.” Gazle spoke as he watched the orb: the little kitsune picked up a wooden sword, her golden eyes glowing with determination as she attacked the Kijin that was training her. The two a blur of white and black as the orb couldn’t keep up with their speed before it shut down. 

“I would like to make a suggestion to the council...” he carefully voiced, and they all looked at him in confusion, but prepared for what he would have to suggest.  

“Seeing as how many have worried over my lack of successor. I would like to bring in Miss Tempest for her help in this matter.” Gazle suggested and it was quiet for a moment as the councilors looked at the king in utter shock at his words.  

“Gazel... I never took you for liking little fox girls.” Vaughn joked, giving a small smirk as he understood what his king had ment... and not. “Gazle you better not think about touching that poor little thing! She may eat just as much as you, but she is still just a child !” The mage, Lady Jane, scolded the king with a disappointed frown. Anrietta only narrowed her eyes at the king in suspicion, the kitsune child wasn’t even a year old, according to her information. 

“To be clear... I want to adopt Miss Kayo Tempest and make her the Heir to Dwargon... at least temporally. I know she will not agree to this unless her own home is safe form the Orcs however.” Gazel explained as the council was quiet and Dorf gave a sigh of relief, despite knowing his king was not a child lover like some other nobles.