Chapter 7
I’ll Cut Off Your Head
Idrish grabbed me roughly and headed straight to the room.
He tossed me into the cage as if throwing something away. I rolled inside like a ball, tumbling across the floor of the cage.
I quickly stretched out my limbs and stood on all fours.
Through the iron bars, I saw Idrish’s face filled with rage.
His yellow eyes burned as if they would devour me.
I felt like I might either wet myself again or faint.
So I desperately curled into the farthest corner, turning my gaze away from him.
S-still… if he locked me in here, it doesn’t seem like he’s planning to kill me right away…
For the first time ever, the inside of a cage felt safe.
But that false sense of security didn’t last long.
Idrish pulled out a small, sharp dagger.
He spun the black blade in his hand, then tapped it lightly against the iron bars of the cage.
The sound of metal hitting metal sent chills down my spine.
“I don’t know how you did it, but you must have played some trick.”
What trick… I mean, I did guide things a little…
As if reading my thoughts, his eyes flashed like lightning in a clear sky.
Excuses wouldn’t work—he looked like he might stab me at any moment.
As if proving that, the blade slowly slid along the bars, getting closer to me.
Trembling, I crawled away to where it couldn’t reach.
“So you think my words are a joke.”
I timidly shook my head.
No way… I’m about to faint from fear…
“This is the last time I show mercy. If something like this happens again, I will cut off your head on the spot.”
Eek. No. Not my head. It may be small, but I need it.
To avoid looking defiant, I curled up tightly and didn’t move.
“And you will remain confined here.”
Bang!
The cage slammed shut with a loud noise. A thick black cloth was thrown over it.
Only after his yellow eyes disappeared did I collapse onto the floor.
Ha… I survived for now, but what am I supposed to do?
If I don’t escape, I’ll just become firewood in the villain’s burning fate.
But if I try to escape and get caught, my head is gone instantly.
Why does this only happen to me… seriously?
Surprisingly, once the confinement period ended, Idrish let me out.
I returned to Idrish’s bed.
On the first day back, I seriously wanted to bite off his ear while he was sleeping and run away.
But even if I bit that huge man’s ear, it wouldn’t really change anything.
So I held back.
There had to be a better chance. A chance to escape…
For the next few days, I spent all my time thinking only about escape.
Creak—
The door opened.
I had been lying on my back, napping, but I quickly flipped over.
I wasn’t being lazy—I was planning my escape while lying down. Really.
“Spike King!”
Oh, the kid again?
Rodrio often came to visit me, saying Idrish had given permission. I didn’t know why.
However, there was one condition: I was absolutely not allowed to go outside like before.
Almost like he knew I was planning to escape.
“Gasi, remember that friend you kept wanting to see? I finally brought it! You won’t be lonely anymore.”
My eyes snapped open.
Rodrio pulled something out.
You good kid! It’s finally time to start the escape plan!
This plan—“Get a boyfriend hedgehog”—started a few days ago.
That day, Idrish suddenly took me outside.
In the reception room were a tailor, Zeros, and Rodrio. He said he was ordering clothes.
Rodrio had already finished getting measured and was sitting in a soft chair, swinging his legs. When he saw me, he smiled brightly.
After measuring Idrish, they even collected some of his fur to mix into the fabric—apparently, the clothes would transform along with him when he shifted.
Then why did he bring me? It’s not like they were making clothes for me.
I was getting bored when—
“Gasi, this looks exactly like you.”
Rodrio held out a pincushion full of needles.
Just because it has spikes doesn’t mean it looks like me. Then you look like a mop—same white hair.
“Why? Don’t you like it? You can be friends.”
At that moment, my thirty-second escape plan struck like lightning.
To escape, I needed that pincushion.
How could I get it?
I thought hard.
Alright. This is the best way.
I steeled myself and slowly approached the pincushion.
Then I rubbed my nose against it.
“You like your friend? I knew it, since you look alike…”
Yes, yes. I love it. So give it to me.
I rubbed my body against it more intensely, then licked what seemed to be its “head.”
For some reason, Rodrio’s eyes grew wider and wider.
Why did he look so shocked?
Not understanding, I kept rubbing and licking it enthusiastically.
“Idrish! Look at this. The Spike King is acting weird.”
Me? What did I do?
Idrish strode over and frowned as soon as he saw me.
He snatched the pincushion away.
Leaning against it, I toppled over, exposing my soft pink belly.
Embarrassed, I quickly stood back up.
I stared blankly at the pincushion, then glared at Idrish.
What’s your problem now?
“Shameless Night Chestnut. I’m confiscating this.”
Me? Shameless?
I was stunned. What kind of thoughts led him to that conclusion?
Even after gaining the new nickname “Shameless Chestnut,” I didn’t give up.
From that day on, I pretended to be depressed.
I’m a lonely hedgehog. No friends…
Especially whenever Rodrio came, I would quickly turn to face the wall or curl up under the desk.
“Spike King… what’s wrong…?”
The kid fell right into my trap.
“Do you miss your friend? But…”
Hey. Don’t insult the pure friendship between me and that pincushion.
“…Then should I get you something similar?”
And so, a few days later—today—Rodrio appeared with a new pincushion.
You finally got it, you good kid!
“Now you won’t be lonely.”
His complicated expression bothered me, but that didn’t matter right now.
I circled around my fake friend happily. As thanks, I even licked the back of Rodrio’s hand.
He flinched, but seemed pleased anyway.
Now, my escape preparations were almost complete.
My target was the chef, Bigus, who brought my meals every day.
Every lunchtime, I stayed behind the curtain by the window.
“Mr. Hedgehog likes looking outside, doesn’t he? Being stuck here must be frustrating. Honestly, why does Lord Idrish keep you here? Maybe he secretly wanted a pet?”
Bigus chatted as usual.
But only one line mattered:
“Mr. Hedgehog likes looking outside.”
Yes. That’s enough!
The day of the plan arrived.
Idrish was away.
Grunting with effort, I placed my fake friend on the windowsill.
Hmm… the spikes were a bit lacking, but behind the curtain, it looked enough like a hedgehog.
It’s fine. I just need to fool them until I escape the mansion.
Just as I finished preparing—
Knock, knock.
My heart pounded wildly. I quickly hid behind a white tiger ornament near the door.
Creak.
The door opened, and Bigus entered with clattering dishes.
“Mr. Hedgehog, are you looking out the window again?”
Now!
“I baked some lemon pound cake today since you seemed down lately…”
While Bigus chatted with the pincushion by the window—
I slipped out before the door closed.
Click.
The door shut behind me.
Bigus stayed inside, setting up the meal.
The hallway was empty.
I was completely free.
Run!
First, I went to Bigus and Zeros’s room.
I quickly transformed into a human and grabbed some clothes, hurriedly putting them on.
The shirt and pants were all loose. I thought raccoons were small, but I seemed even smaller.
“At least there are suspenders… otherwise my pants would fall every three steps.”
I tightened them securely.
“A hat… there should be one.”
My red hair stood out too much, so I needed a hat.
Sure enough, there was one on the wall above a mirror.
But before taking it, my eyes were drawn to my reflection.
It was the first time seeing my human face.
Under double eyelids and thick lashes were warm, dark brown eyes.
My soft skin looked lively, and my plump red lips made me want to press them.
My face was small and round, with smooth red hair flowing down.
Not flashy—but lovely.
And somehow… I could still see traces of my hedgehog self.
“Pretty.”
It felt embarrassing to say it myself, but it slipped out, since it still felt like someone else’s face.
Snapping back to my senses, I grabbed the brown hat.
I tied up my long hair and tucked it inside.
Hmm… very raccoon-like fashion.
Everything was oversized, but at least it didn’t stand out.
Unless someone looked closely, I’d just seem like someone with poor fashion sense.
Alright. Let’s go.
…Wait. I almost forgot the most important thing.
After hesitating, I opened the drawer beside the bed.
It should be around here…
Clink.
I pulled out a heavy pouch.
Inside were silver and copper coins, along with shiny buttons and accessories.
Bigus, Zeros… I’m sorry. I need money too.
