Ars' journey changed drastically after discovering the ability of the [Observer's Eye]. The forest, which had been a green hell full of terror, was now transformed into a giant interactive playground.
He walked with a limp, no longer out of fear, but with the curiosity of a child who had just been given a new toy.
He focused his gaze on the strange purple mushrooms growing on the tree trunks.
[ Hallucinogenic Mushroom]
Quality : Poor
Description : A mushroom containing mild neurotoxins. If eaten, it will cause dizziness, mild hallucinations, and an uncontrollable urge to sing sea shanties. Highly not recommended.
"Okay, noted," Ars muttered with a shudder, imagining himself staggering through the forest singing songs about whales.
He shifted his gaze to a seemingly ordinary rock.
[ Ordinary Rock ]
Quality: Trash
Description: A rock. Hard. Can be used to throw at squirrels if you're that evil. Do not eat. The system is not responsible if you insist on eating it.
Ars smiled slightly. Whoever or whatever designed this system, at least they had a strange sense of humor. This new ability was a blessing.
He could easily identify edible roots, leaves that could be made into emergency bandages, and most importantly, which plants would kill him in an embarrassing way.
Although his ankle still hadn't fully recovered, his spirits were much better. He was no longer just surviving; he was beginning to adapt.
The marble tower in the distance was still his goal, but the journey itself no longer felt so daunting.
While he was busy gathering some [Crunchy Forest Nuts] (Description: They taste pretty good, better than nothing), a sound interrupted his work.
It wasn't the growl of a predator or the sound of heavy footsteps. It was a thin, desperate whimper, punctuated by the *click-clack* of clashing metal. The sound was full of suffering.
Ars was immediately alert. His first instinct was to run. This world had taught him that strange sounds in the forest were often the beginning of a painful end. It could be bait from a more intelligent monster.
He crouched behind the bushes, his heart pounding. The whimpering sound came again, weaker this time, almost like a sob.
Something inside him—perhaps the remnants of humanity from his old world, or perhaps the innate nature of Arcana The Fool who always jumped without looking—pushed him to move.
"Damn it," he thought. "Curiosity will kill me one day."
Very carefully, he moved toward the source of the sound, using his Gloomfang fangs as an emergency weapon.
He pushed aside the last branch blocking his view, and what he saw in a small clearing made him stop.
There, a small fox was thrashing about in panic. Its fur was as white as fresh snow, contrasting with the color of the soil and dry leaves.
One of its hind legs was caught in an old, rusty bear trap. The trap had clearly been there for years, a cruel and forgotten relic.
The little fox was probably no bigger than a domestic cat. When it saw Ars, it stopped struggling and tried to look fierce.
It bared its small, sharp teeth and let out a weak growl that sounded more pitiful than threatening. Its jet-black, intelligent eyes were filled with a mixture of pain and deep fear.
Ars felt a little relieved. At least it wasn't an imitation monster. But he remained alert. He activated his ability.
"[ The Observer's Eye ]."
A blue information panel appeared before him, and its contents made the blood drain from Ars' face. His heart, which had been pounding with alertness, now beat wildly with absolute shock.
> Name : ???
> Race: Kitsune (Young Form)
> Title: The Forgotten One
> Status: Critical, Severely Injured, Bound by a Weakening Ancient Seal
> Description: A legendary fox spirit who lost her memory and most of her power due to an ancient seal. Each new tail that grows will awaken some of its dormant abilities and fragments of its lost memories.
> Current Number of Tails: 1 / 9
Ars read the description over and over, his eyes fixed on three words: "Kitsune", "Ancient Seal", and "1 / 9".
"Nine tails..."
This is no ordinary fox. It is the progenitor of one of the most powerful mythological creatures in fantasy stories.
A Class A, even S-class creature, capable of destroying an entire city single-handedly in the game. And now this legendary creature is trapped in a rusty, level 1 trap, looking like it could die at any moment.
Ars' gamer brain was spinning at full speed. This was a rare 'event'. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a legendary-class familiar! Its potential was limitless, just like itself.
But then his more rational brain kicked in. Legendary creatures come with legendary problems.
"Ancient Seal"? "The Forgotten One"?
It sounded like the prologue to an epic quest that could get him hunted by gods or demons. Helping this fox could paint a big target on his back.
The smart choice was to turn around and leave. Continue his journey to the tower, forget what he had seen.
But then he looked into the fox's eyes again. Eyes filled with suffering and despair. In this strange and deadly world, he knew exactly what it felt like to be weak, alone, and cornered.
"Ah, screw smart choices," Ars hissed to himself. "I am The Fool. Doing stupid things is my job description."
He stepped slowly into the clearing, raising both hands to show he was unarmed.
"Calm down, little one. I... I want to help."
The kitsune only growled louder, trying to drag its trapped leg, which only made it whimper in pain.
Ars approached the trap. It was made of solid iron, and its spring mechanism was very stiff due to rust. He tried to open it with his hands, but the serrated jaws didn't budge an inch.
He took the Gloomfang Fang out of his pocket. Carefully, he tried to use it as a crowbar, slipping it between the jaws of the trap.
He exerted all his strength, his untrained muscles screaming in protest. His face reddened from the effort.
"Come on... open... you... pile of... old... damn... iron!" he growled between breaths.
For a moment, he lost his footing and slipped forward, almost kissing the ground. The little kitsune gasped in surprise and tried to bite the tip of his boot, but didn't have the strength.
Ars sighed in frustration. This was the least heroic rescue scene ever. He readjusted his position, took a deep breath, and tried again, this time focusing all his weight on one point on the trap.
There was a groan of forced metal.
CRACK...
Then, with a loud and satisfying *CLANG!*, the rusty trap finally broke. The jaws of the trap opened a few inches, enough for the little Kitsune to pull its bleeding leg out.
Free, the fox immediately dragged itself away, keeping a safe distance from Ars. It collapsed under a tree, trembling violently as it licked its deep wound.
Ars didn't chase after it. He knew that a wounded wild creature would be extremely defensive. Instead, he sat down on the ground, leaning against a rock, and took out some Sun Berries he had collected.
He ate one to show that it was safe, then gently rolled one berry toward the fox.
The berry stopped just a few inches from its snout. The kitsune sniffed cautiously, its small black nose twitching. It glanced at Ars, then back at the berry.
Finally, hunger and exhaustion overcame its fear. Quickly, it devoured the berry.
Ars smiled and rolled a few more berries, one by one. The fox ate them all.
They sat in comfortable silence as dusk fell. Ars didn't try to approach or touch it. He just shared his food and gave it space.
He understood that trust had to be earned, not forced like in the "Tame Pet" menu in games.
As the air grew colder, Ars lit a small fire using some flint he found near the river—another discovery thanks to [The Observer's Eye]. The small campfire crackled merrily, its warm light dancing in the clearing.
He thought the fox would run away because of the fire, but surprisingly, the Kitsune limped closer.
It didn't come directly to him, but chose a spot across the fire, curling into a ball of white fur and staring at Ars with its intelligent eyes.
That night, for the first time, Ars didn't feel alone.
The next morning, Ars woke up to something soft touching his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw the little Kitsune sitting on his chest, staring at him curiously. Its thick, bushy tail swayed gently.
Ars smiled. "Good morning, little friend."
The fox let out a soft *yip* in response. Its wounds still looked severe, but its spirits seemed much better.
"You need a name," Ars said thoughtfully. "How about... Yuki? Because your fur is as white as snow."
As the word "Yuki" left his lips, a system panel appeared in front of him.
[ You have formed a bond of trust with 'Kitsune (Young Form)'. Do you want to give it a name? Y/N ]
Ars blinked in surprise, then smiled. He focused his mind on the "Y" option.
[ The name 'Yuki' has been accepted ]
[ As you have formed your first familiar bond, the Unique Ability 'Familiar Contract' has been activated ]
[ Familiar Contract ]: Allows you to share basic senses and communicate non-verbally (through emotions and intentions) with your familiar. The bond will grow stronger over time as trust develops.
Suddenly, Ars felt a new connection in his mind. It felt like a thin, warm thread connecting him directly to the little fox in his chest. He could feel relief, gratitude, and a hint of curiosity from Yuki.
Yuki seemed to feel it too. She tilted her head, then gently licked Ars's nose.
Another notification appeared.
[ Your bond has strengthened Yuki's soul. A small part of the ancient seal has cracked. Yuki has remembered her first ability ]
Ars immediately checked Yuki's status using [The Observer's Eye]. Under her empty list of abilities, there was now one new entry.
> Active Ability: [Little Fox Fire] - Creates a small fireball the size of a fist. Useful for lighting campfires or warming cold hands. (Warning: Currently not hot enough to properly roast marshmallows.)
Ars laughed out loud. Even the first ability of the legendary fox spirit had an absurdly comical touch.
He looked at Yuki, who was now curled up in the crook of his arm. He had a familiar. A legendary Kitsune that one day could have nine tails and godlike power, whose first ability was equivalent to a fancy lighter.
Ars stroked Yuki's soft fur. His journey had now changed. He was no longer alone. He had a little companion with a mystery as big as the mystery of this world.
He looked at the alabaster tower still towering in the distance, then back at the white ball of fur in his arms.
"Alright, Yuki," he whispered. "It seems we have a long adventure ahead of us."
Yuki only responded with a satisfied purr, unaware of the immense destiny that had just been woven between a lost gamer and a forgotten fox.