Chapter 144
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: No Heroics
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"Blackie. Don't you like me?"
Winia, who had buried her head in my shoulder, spoke in a trembling voice. The anxiety laced into her tone spoke volumes about her feelings. Right now, Winia was terrified of being rejected by me.
"...I'm asking seriously. I won't get mad, so just answer me."
It showed in her actions too. With that bull-like strength of hers, she was hugging my neck so tightly it was hard to breathe, and she was blatantly rubbing her chest against me. She was even seducing me with her body.
As I kept my mouth shut, her symptoms only grew worse.
...Thinking about it rationally, it was downright bizarre for someone like me—a hyper fucking loser—to be liked. What the hell did I even have going for me? All I could count on was my tall stature, good build, and handsome face. Nothing else.
What? Was that actually it?
Was that why?
"I don't dislike you. I told you last time too. I don't dislike you."
Yeah. I didn't dislike her.
But fuck. I didn't really know myself. Part of me wanted her to just fuck off, while another part felt sorry that I couldn't comfort her more deeply. I'd said it a million times, but Claudy was the only one for me. I couldn't fulfill what Winia wanted.
"Then why do you keep dodging me? That girl is fine with it. Doesn't that make it okay? Blackie, please. I'm barely holding back my shit right now to talk to you. Just... just once... just..."
"I already told you I have a girlfriend. No matter what Claudy says, I can't do it. It's not okay for me."
Winia snapped in irritation. But she didn't let go of the arm around my neck. If anything, she squeezed even tighter, like she wanted to choke me out completely.
"...I fucking hate it. What, first come first served? Everyone else is okay with it, but you're the only one making a fuss. Right?"
Ah, this was bad.
Dangerous.
Rear naked choke.
My life was in jeopardy.
So this was her plan to take me out.
"...Kkhg. Sorry, Winia."
"You fucking bastard... I was first... I was first... I've liked you since way back..."
Anyway, at this rate, I was gonna die, so I slowly patted her back to calm her down. She was pleading with me. But what couldn't be done just couldn't be done. Even if Claudy pushed me toward it, I had no intention of going there.
"And then that bitch shows up out of nowhere...!"
"Don't call her that."
"You're defending your girlfriend even now?"
"Yeah."
Winia shoved me away.
Her eyes were sharply narrowed, filled with tears that didn't suit her. Her face was flushed. A tear trickled down from Winia's eye. It slid down her cheek and dropped onto her chest.
Winia glared at me for a while.
But the tears pooling in her cleavage were so distracting that I couldn't meet her eyes properly.
"Don't cry, Winia. I don't dislike you. I just... I just don't want you to be sad because of me. What can I do?"
"...Then don't say shit like that."
I couldn't just leave her trying to hold back tears. I immediately took her to a nearby chair and sat her down. If I'd had a handkerchief, I would've handed it over for her to blow her nose, but I didn't have one. It hurt my heart.
"Sit next to Blackie."
Winia patted the seat beside her. It felt awkward to stand, so I just sat down next to her. I felt so goddamn guilty that I crossed my arms and hung my head. Then, "Hand," Winia said softly.
As I uncrossed my arms, she grabbed my hand.
"...Blackie."
"What."
"You know you're being a real fucking pain in the ass, right."
She forced my fist open and hooked her pinky with mine. Her hand was small, but the grip strength hidden in it was terrifying. Honestly, if we arm-wrestled right now, I wouldn't last three seconds before losing.
"Is this what you call frustrating?"
"...Interrupt me again and I'll kill you."
"Yes."
She suddenly squeezed so hard my fingers nearly burst. I answered obediently. Listening wasn't too much to ask.
"Our Blackie doesn't get it when you talk to him. You gotta force it for him to listen. You're such a fucking pushover and a total loner, but I really like that about you?"
What the hell kind of example is that, you bitch.
"So even when you're pulling this shit, I just let it slide. You're just a born fucking retard asshole, Blackie."
"No, what, why do you have to say it like..."
"It's been less than a minute since I told you not to interrupt?"
"..."
She spat coldly and massaged my hand.
"You need that girl's permission?"
"...Even if she gave it. I can't."
"Yeah, everyone's fine with it but you. So I'll ask again. Look at my face, Blackie."
I turned my head to look at Winia. Her pink hair and signature sharp eyes. Her crimson irises seemed to burn with rage, and her flushed face looked like it was pleading for affection.
I thought she was pretty. I was aware her chest was seriously huge, and that appearance was probably why she'd been bullied since way back...
"Blackie, do you dislike me? Or do you like me?"
"That dichotomy is like black-and-white thinking, piercing right through human history itself..."
"Shut up."
Escaping with bullshit wasn't an option!
"Dislike or like? Pick one and say it."
"..."
"Blackie...! You fucking asshole! Can't you see I'm barely holding back right now?! Don't beat around the bush—just say it! Or do you hate even telling me that much? Huh? You hate it?! Answer before I fucking kill you!"
"Uwaaaah!!!"
Winia exploded in rage and started twisting my wrist.
A-at this rate, my wrist was gonna snap!!! I quickly sorted out my thoughts on Winia. This was life-or-death. To survive, I had to give her an answer that would make her happy!
But.
Would that really do?
Was Kim Katt, man of the hour, the kind of lowlife who'd lie to a woman fervently confessing her love just because he couldn't take the pain?
No.
I was no longer the old hyper fucking loser Kim Katt.
I'd changed.
Changed a fucking ton.
I had obtained "strength."
Winia was the first being to turn my isekai life into a shitshow.
Back when I was an F-rank adventurer, we'd bumped into each other by chance, and after that, she'd tormented me every time she saw me. Physical abuse, mental torment. Financial damage. Dignity stripped away... Listing it all would take as long as my military service.
And that lasted at least one or two years.
Even after becoming E-rank, it was the same. Luckily, she'd gone off on some distant job midway, so the bullying stopped for a bit, but when she came back and we subjugated the cockatrices, and on the holiday when I ended up as a porter—that was just shocking.
Yeah.
Back then, I hated her guts.
But not now.
Dislike or like. If I had to divide my feelings that way, "like" was the answer.
I remembered her softness.
I remembered the shape of her bursting chest.
So was it okay to say I liked her?
In relationships, like and dislike pretty much meant those feelings. Would it be okay to say "like" and set fire to Winia's reed-like heart? Or should I lie and say "dislike" to do the right thing?
"...I like you."
The deliberation didn't last long.
I said what I felt. That was the man Kim Katt. No matter the situation or fate handed to me, I didn't lie to my heart. If I had to say like or dislike for Winia, my answer was "like."
"..."
I glared at Winia with infused strength, signaling her to stop before she crushed my hand bones. Unable to withstand my gaze, she lowered her head.
"...Then can you kiss me?"
And murmured softly.
"Can't do that."
"You fucking cocksucker."
What couldn't be done couldn't be done. Winia flung my hand away like trash, shot up, and turned back to me spewing curses.
"You real fucking cocksucker."
"..."
Her eyes were filled with pure killing intent. If lasers shot from them, I'd be dead right there. Combined with her signature sharp glare, that look was utterly destructive.
"Follow me, Blackie."
"Hm?"
That's what she said.
"Deaf? I said follow."
"..."
Her voice sounded ready to kill me any second, so I stood up and followed her. Her tears had stopped long ago.
"Today's my puppy."
"What? Puppy?"
Back to her usual self, she was pure Winia.
"Don't follow and I'll beat your ass and put a leash on you, so just come nicely. You think I'll go easy just 'cause that girl's not here? Do what I say if you don't wanna die, Blackie."
"...Yes."
I'm fucked, for real.
"Hand."
Winia looked at me like trash and held out her hand. Puppy, so she meant stick out your paw like a dog.
Well, this was fate too.
If I could end it here, I'd take it.
I held hands with Winia. She started dragging me along like she was walking her dog. The leash wasn't an empty threat...
"Puppy wanna eat?"
"Kinda hungry."
"Answer only in barks."
What?
Did I hear wrong?
"Yes?"
"Gonna get mad?"
"...Woof."
Reluctantly barking, Winia finally grinned like she was pleased. I'd seen a few real psychos in my life, but Winia was top-tier, a genuine fucking maniac.
Her liking me didn't erase her psycho tendencies. Winia was always Winia.
"One bark for yes. Two for no. Bark twice and I'll rip you apart, so think carefully and answer right. Okay, try again. Woof."
Unbelievable.
"...Woof."
"Kyahahahaha!!"
Winia's ominous laughter echoed.
The place she dragged me to was clearly an upscale restaurant in a fancy district—expensive as hell. No, calling it a restaurant felt wrong. It was too refined for that.
The moment I stepped in, a hyper loser like me felt like he'd turn to dust.
Winia grabbed a table for two, sat me down, and took the seat across. The chair was plush. Looking around, I saw mages and people in fancy armor dining. No, not dining—feasting.
To my bewildered self, Winia—
"What does puppy wanna eat? They have dog food here too—want that?"
—said that terrifying line in a cutesy voice.
Fear gripped me.
Winia would definitely make me eat it and then have dessert after.
"Wh-y don't you an-swer?"
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. With zero patience, she started drumming her fingers hard on the table. It felt like a death sentence, so I gave up and answered.
"Woof."
"Oh? For real? Puppy really gonna eat dog food like a bastard? Kyahat! Kyahaha! Good. If my Blackie wants it, I gotta feed him! Waiter."
She called the server and ordered some menu for two.
...Not dog food?
"Just kidding. How could I feed that to my beloved Blackie? Kyahat, you're so cute when you're scared. Why is our Blackie so adorable? 'Cause you're a retard?"
"..."
In that hellish time, the food arrived. Greasy dishes with zero carbs in sight. Pathetic me actually got an appetite in this situation. The enticing smell made my mouth water.
"Wait, Blackie."
"Woof."
"Now eat."
It was utterly humiliating meal.
I tore into the meat while crying inside. It was so good I cried while eating.
Heh heh, beaming. Winia rested her chin on both hands, endlessly watching me eat, looking overjoyed. Seeing her thrilled at treating me like a dog made my mind fly, but Winia had always been this kind of bitch.
Goddamn it...