Plin Ch 2.14

After receiving the bag, Plin was curious, so he took out a macaroon. Like someone who was really seeing a macaroon for the first time, he first observed it by turning it 360 degrees, and then he sniffed it. He didn’t smell any particular scent, and the surface seemed harder than he expected.

“Macaroons are fun to chew. They’re crispy at first, and then they become chewy.”

Thibeau explained, but it wasn’t understood at once. The phrase ‘fun to chew’ was also an unknown expression that Plin had never experienced in his life. Plin hesitantly took a bite of a macaroon.

“Gasp…”

It was like being electrocuted. His ears quickly twitched, and his pupils dilated. Plin trembled, holding the bright orange macaroon.

It was a shocking taste. Thibeau’s words were also true. The outside was crispy, but lightly crispy. The sweet cookie crumbled softly with just a slight pressure from his teeth, and then a refreshing orange scent burst forth! It was followed by a chewy texture. The feeling of it sticking to his teeth was fun and ecstatic.

“It’s… so delicious.”

Plin murmured to himself.

“…R-Really? If you like it, I can give you more…”

Hugo, who had never seen the fox so happy, stammered.

“Um, excuse me, how much does this cost?”

Later, when he had a lot of money, he thought he would like to buy this heavenly cookie, even if he had to pay a high price. He wanted to buy it for Andrea when he met him, too.

“To buy later… When I have a lot of money.”

“It’s not for sale, but if you want, I’ll get it for you anytime. Have a sip of tea too. It goes well together.”
Seizing the opportunity, Thibeau handed Plin a teacup filled with a perfect 70 degrees Celsius of tea.

“You don’t drink tea standing up.”

Seizing the moment, Hugo patted the spot next to him. Plin, as if in a trance, walked over and sat down beside him.

Plin took a sip of the clear liquid in the white porcelain teacup. A delicate, savory herbal flavor spread subtly in his mouth. The act of drinking tea alone seemed to bring a sense of calm to his whole body.

He was always surrounded by dried medicinal herbs while making Fox Love Drink, but he had never had such high-quality tea. A couple of times, the owner of the pharmacy he traded with had offered him some bitter liquid as green tea, but each time he thought that rich people were wasting money on unnecessary things.

So, this is what it’s like to be treated by a real rich person.

Feeling good, Plin smiled broadly without realizing it. Because of that, two pointed canines that were not usually visible were revealed.

“It wasn’t just talk, if you think of macaroons, contact me anytime. Here’s my business card.”

Thibeau took a business card out of his pocket and handed it to him. Peddler Plin had business cards made for business purposes, but he had never exchanged them.

He thought that exchanging business cards was something that office workers did. He was a little surprised at the casual way he handed him his card first.

Plin received it politely with both hands. And he thought he should give his business card in return. His business card had his phone number and a brief description of the efficacy of the Fox Love Drink. In his haste, he stood up carelessly. In an instant, he knocked over the teacup he had placed on the bed.

“Ah!”

He quickly set the teacup upright, but more than half of it had already soaked the bedspread. The lemon-colored tea seeped into the pure white fabric.

“Oh no, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine… I was trying to give you my business card too. It’s in my coat, my business card…”

Hugo, who was listening to their conversation, leaned back on the headboard and dangled his legs. He took a deep breath and occasionally made short, snorting sounds.

“You’re having fun making a mess on someone else’s bed, huh. If you’re going to give a business card, you should give it to me. Are you slow at calculating?”

Plin felt the tea that had soaked his pants getting cold. He was about to apologize to the executive director, too, while pulling at his clinging pants.

Thud.

The door opened without a knock. The footsteps that crossed the space were unceremonious. He suddenly invaded as if he were the rightful owner of this space. Hugo greeted the uninvited guest casually.

“Bad manners are our Ethan’s trademark, I see. Hello, brother.”

Hugo pointed out the rude visit, and the man answered with a smile. The man, with his ash-blond hair, lake-blue eyes, and lean, tall build, was quite handsome. However, the vertical scar between his eyebrows, as if drawn by a knife, and the highly angled corners of his mouth gave off a nervous or strict impression.

“It’s been a while since you’ve had your horns on. Cute. Nice to see you too, Plin.”

The man’s atmosphere was also contributed to by his traditional style suit fashion, which boasted a tailored fit.

“Ah, ah. Yes. Hello.”

Plin was visibly flustered. He didn’t expect Ethan to come so soon, nor did he expect him to greet him so confidently. And he had already pretended to Hugo that he didn’t know who Ethan was, so he was very self-conscious about being greeted by him. He should probably leave here quickly. His tail, which revealed his mood as it pleased, swayed from side to side. It was a troubled movement.

“Do you like seeing someone you know?”

Hugo, who had developed a habit of observing Plin’s ear and tail movements, asked. Plin was misunderstood because of the movement of his tail. Not all tail wags mean he’s happy.

“More like a benefactor than someone I know. I heard things are going well for you these days. I heard you happened to try the Fox Love Drink once, and it worked so well that I got you into The Scope building. You looked a little shabby back then, but you’ve filled out now.”

It was a flimsy lie, deliberately trying to provoke Hugo. If he had really gotten him into The Scope building, there would have been no need for Manager Jax to break a sweat when asked what kind of peddler he was.

“Yeess…”

“You like foxes? Are you sponsoring him or something?”

Hugo mocked him. It was obvious that he was a kid who was nervous about having his cookie stolen.

“How long are you going to keep saying everything you want to say? That’s why people say you’re childish.”

“Sorry. I was a little on edge. It seems like you always show up when I’m in trouble.”

Hugo threw a few tissues that were placed next to him. The tissues fluttered and fell, unable to fly far. They landed in front of the bed, where the yellow liquid had spread.

The man’s gaze fell on the unfamiliar stain. It was a hideous mark that didn’t belong on the painfully white bed linens. His long, snake-like pupils dilated and then constricted. The man also confirmed the fox’s pants, which were wet in the cr*tch area.

Ethan was a little confused. Judging by the color and the wet area… he had definitely come. But could a fox really be that impatient…? It’s unlikely that an adult man would make a mess on the bed unless something extraordinary happened.

Since the fox couldn’t clean up what had already been spilled, he was struggling to wipe it off, and his psychopathic brother was acting like it was no big deal.

Had Hugo, as usual, been terrorizing the person, making him feel extreme fear? But it was a little strange that he had even peed himself.

If he kept acting like that, the white fox would run away in no time. That was fine, too. If the fox hung around Hugo for a while and then disappeared, the rage (瞋) in Hugo’s heart would run rampant, unaware of how scary the world could be.

He came to see how he was treating the white fox he had longed for, but it was unexpected in a different way.

The man recited in an exaggerated tone, as if talking to a kindergartener.

“Oh dear. How did you manage to make a mess on the bed?”

“I made him do it.”

“…What kind of bullshit is that?”

“I wanted him to drink it all, but there was a lot, so some of it spilled.”

“Uh? What… did he eat?”

“I forgot to say thank you. It was a gift, you said? Thank you, brother. I’ve tasted all kinds of fluids that come out of a fox’s body, and they were all delicious.”

Thibeau was desperately trying to hold back his laughter, putting all his strength into his cheeks and driving his nails into his palms. Plin, who didn’t understand Hugo’s words, awkwardly dabbed at the stain on his pants with a tissue.

“Plin, you don’t have to clean it now. It’s okay if it gets a little stained. It’s not that dirty.”

Thibeau whispered so that everyone could hear. Ethan, who had a higher standard of cleanliness than the average person, gritted his teeth.

“Yes… It’s just that I’m a little bothered by it.”

Hugo pretended to wipe his mouth with his sleeve.

“Hmm… this one has a bit of a refreshing taste. But it’s warm, so it’s unique. Have you ever had warm soda?”

At the shameless taste evaluation, a vein throbbed on Ethan’s fine forehead. He forced a smile and shook his head as if he were dizzy.

“You’re losing your mind.”

“I’m living an unhappy life to be in my right mind.”

He answered slyly.

“Thibeau.”

“Yes, Master.”

Thibeau would become extremely polite to his boss when others were watching. He would add the title that he usually used with at least half a tone of ridicule in a serious expression.

“Give Plin a change of clothes and escort him home.”

“Yes, sir.”

He was annoyed at the thought of having Ethan and Plin in the same space. After he intervened, Plin couldn’t even meet Ethan’s eyes and was just quietly dabbing at his wet pants with a tissue. Why was he so afraid of that loser?

“My darling is a capable peddler, so I can’t keep holding him back.”

“T-Thank you.”

Plin replied in a slightly trembling voice. He walked with hurried, short steps and finally got his hands on his coat.

“Make sure you take your macaroons and ear muffs.”

“Ah, yes…”

Thibeau handed Plin the bag of macaroons, and Plin took out the ear muffs he had put in his coat and put them on. Seeing the words [The Scope Official] [★Peddler Plin★] engraved on each of the ear muffs, Ethan let out a ‘huh’ and sighed in disbelief.

Unfortunately, Plin bowed his head as if he were being mindful of his sigh. Unable to stand the sight of it, Hugo got out of bed and strode over to the fox.

“Hnghk!”

Grabbing his fluffy tail in one hand, he leaned down and kissed Plin’s cheek, who was crouching down.

“Bye, I’ll call you.”

Then he twisted his head and offered his cheek.

The fox hesitated for about two seconds, then reluctantly touched his lips to it. There was no kissing sound, so it wasn’t really a kiss, it was just an act of pressing his lips together as if stamping a seal.