Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Is This Your Rabbit?
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As soon as the contract was sealed, she seemed to finally snap out of her daze, glancing back and forth between her damp hand and mine.
"F-First... could you let go of my hand...?"
I released her hand without protest. She fumbled awkwardly, her face still faintly flushed, and clasped her hands behind her back.
"Ahem, ahem."
Clearing her throat, Jegal Seo tried to compose herself and spoke up in a forced casual tone.
"For now, the Alliance Leader asked if the Vice Squad Leader could personally look into the matter."
"Pardon?"
Investigate? What was I supposed to do, how?
"Truth be told... we have zero leads right now."
"So you're telling me to investigate nothing?"
"...Just wander around here and there... like that...?"
She trailed off.
My instincts kicked in.
This woman is hiding something.
To keep her from dodging, I subtly reinforced my whole body's strength with suggestion. Then, like unleashing a master's Capturing Hand technique, I snatched her wrist again at invisible speed.
"Eek!"
Gripping her wrist firmly, I demanded,
"Tell me. What are you hiding?"
Her eyes started spinning in panic.
"W-Well... actually... I was hoping you'd act as bait...?"
"......"
"Since Black Elder and Cheonha Young seem interested in you, Vice Squad Leader... maybe they could lead us to some clues...?"
Ha.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"First the Mountain King rumor, and now you're trying to sell me out again?"
"S-Sorrrrrry...!"
Her voice sank so low it was practically burrowing into the ground. This time, she'd gone too far. It wasn't like she treated human lives as cheaply as flies.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo... Did the Alliance Leader really say that?"
"N-Nooo...!"
Just as I thought.
From what I'd seen of the Alliance Leader's righteous character, he would never approve using one of his own—let alone a Vice Squad Leader—as bait. This was all her independent judgment.
"Mind if I relay what you just said directly to the Alliance Leader?"
Jegal Seo's face drained of color.
"N-No, please don't...!"
I let go of her hand with a flick and pointedly raised my index finger. Then, without hesitation, I jabbed it toward her upper body.
Pok.
The tip of my finger nailed the perky nipple bulging under her Vermilion Bird Squad uniform.
"Hyah!"
She writhed and let out a lewd cry. Ignoring it, I looked down at her and said,
"You just tried to use my life as bait. And you dared invoke the Alliance Leader's name to do it. Don't you think you owe a price for that? So, what should you do?"
She huddled up, sniffling.
"I-I really won't anymore...!"
I spun on my heel and headed for the archive exit.
"No choice then. I'll go see the Alliance Leader."
I had no idea where he was or even what he looked like, but it was worth a shot.
"Aaaah!"
A desperate scream erupted behind me.
"If you don't want to, then don't. I'm not forcing you."
At my words, she finally gave in with a trembling voice.
"I-I'll do it...!"
Just as I turned back, I felt a delicate tug at my sleeve hem. There was Jegal Seo, tears streaming down her face, clutching desperately at my sleeve. Her petite frame shook pitifully. I'd only meant to tease her a bit, but this woman was far more fragile than I'd realized. She definitely has some menhera tendencies.
"I was joking."
Her head snapped up. Her teary green eyes gazed up at me with hope.
"...Really?"
Thump-thump.
Through the tense air, her heartbeat reached me via my senses. Hearing that pitiful sound stirred my mischievous side again.
"Maybe half-joking?"
"Ugh... ugh...!"
Her face twisted in despair. She bit her lower lip hard to stifle the sobs, looking precarious. She was about to wail loud enough to shake the archive. If she cried that noisily now, the Vermilion Bird Squad members on duty would swarm in thinking something was wrong.
I waved both hands frantically.
"Joking, total joke! For real, so stop it. Stop!"
Her hiccuping sobs cut off like magic. I nodded, satisfied, and hoisted the iron box containing the three Mad Demon Swords lightly onto my shoulder. Then I headed straight for the archive entrance without looking back.
"W-Wait a sec...!"
A frantic voice grabbed me from behind. I sighed and turned.
"What?"
"D-Did you... lose faith in me...?"
She asked with a face on the verge of tears again.
"Kinda, but it's fine."
"Uuugh... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...!"
Tears burst from her eyes again. I rubbed my forehead. At this rate, she'd cry all night. Time for drastic measures.
...Her crying face was kinda hot, too.
"Then flash your tits once."
Her crying stopped dead.
"...Flash?"
"Just show me your nipples once."
She hesitated with a "Uuugh..." Her flushed face darted glances at me, unsure. I turned away again.
"If you don't want to, no need."
Then a meek voice came from behind.
"H-Here...!"
I turned to see Jegal Seo tremblingly parting her red uniform collar with shaky hands. The generous curve of her breasts peeked out precariously, crowned by a shy pink nipple. She pointed at it with her other index finger, sniffling.
"H-Here... my nipple...!"
Wow.
Look at that.
Against her pale skin contrasting the red uniform, it bloomed like a bashful pink flower bud. Suppressing my boiling desire, I spoke as loftily as possible.
"Saw it good. Anger gone, we're square."
With that, I turned and left the archive.
Thud!
Faintly, I heard her collapse beyond the door. Guess she earned it.
Unlike yesterday, the sun was still high. I headed straight back to the Azure Dragon Squad quarters. Creeeak. As I opened the door and stepped in, an ear-piercing wail greeted me.
"Waaah!"
Bang Soso was bawling in the middle of the room, her face puffy. Spotting me, her eyes lit up.
"Senior Brooo!"
Pat-pat-pat!
Barefoot, she charged and leaped into my arms. I set down the iron box with the Mad Demon Swords and caught her familiarly. Like she'd been waiting, she wrapped her arms around my neck and legs around my waist, clinging tight. Her shuddering sobs soaked my shoulder in seconds.
"Shh, my Soso. Why the waterworks?"
I patted her plump rear soothingly. But instead of answering, she wailed even louder.
"Senior Brooo! Hwaaaang!"
With a troubled look, I glanced at Haeun, who stood in the corner with arms crossed. She sighed deeply and said,
"Woke up looking for the rabbit, and it was gone. Total meltdown."
Did I see the rabbit when I got back last night?
Racking my brain, I didn't recall spotting it. Soso had been sleeping peacefully, so I'd assumed the little guy was snoozing somewhere too.
"Don't worry. I'll find it, so quit crying."
Her sobs stopped. She sniffled, lifting her head with wet eyes to peer at me.
"Sniff... R-Really?"
I nodded silently and slipped into self-hypnosis. Focusing my mind, my expanded senses began scanning the space. Starting with our quarters' room.
Maybe it got scared and hid under furniture or in the bedding. Though I doubted any rabbit had the guts to sleep through Soso's hearty cries.
My senses swept every corner, even under the dusty bedframe, but no white furball. Not in the room, then.
I slowly extended the range outward. Around our quarters: the apothecary thick with herb-grinding and decoction smells. The training grounds filled with Azure Dragon Squad's booming shouts. And... thunderous snores from the Squad Leader's office. Byeok Cheonwi was still deep in his rumbling slumber.
But no trace of a little rabbit anywhere. No helping it.
I concentrated harder, expanding my senses across the entire Azure Dragon Squad grounds. My mental energy drained rapidly, head throbbing dully.
"Mm..."
Soso still buried her face in my shoulder, sniffling. Naturally, I reached out and grabbed her soft, ample breast. Squeeze, knead. The warm, plush feel filled my palm, slowly replenishing my depleting mental energy. Soso's tits really are the best in the world.
Recovering focus, I combed the sensory net thoroughly. Then, something familiar yet off snagged my senses.
...What was that?
By the shape—long ears, round body—it was definitely a rabbit. But the size... defied logic.
Nearly as big as a regular dog. Was my sensing off? Only one way to check.
"Found it, I think. Let's go."
I patted Soso's rear in my arms. Haeun nodded and followed.
We headed to a small vegetable patch behind the Azure Dragon Squad building. Paeng Daesan had offhandedly mentioned it was Senior Physician's hobby garden. Neat rows of green veggies grew invitingly.
And smack in the middle, some massive thing was chomping away at the lovingly tended vegetables.
"It's the raaaabbit!"
Soso spotted it from my arms and bolted barefoot. Oops, forgot shoes. Ignoring the dirt, she dashed over thud-thud-thud and reached to hug the giant white furball.
But she grunted "Nngh..." and failed. The fully grown, Jindo-dog-sized rabbit was too heavy for her to lift. It just nuzzled her chest and perked its long ears.
"Soso... is that really your rabbit?"
No matter how I looked, it wasn't the tiny cute one I knew. No way it grew that much overnight.
But Soso nodded firmly.
"Yes! It is! My rabbit!"
If Soso said so, it was. Still, this was ridiculous. I shot a baffled look at Haeun beside me. She sighed deeply and spoke.
"Yesterday... it just shot up like crazy."
"That possible? Overnight to that size?"
Haeun pouted at my question.
"Actually, Soso bawled a ton yesterday too."
"Yesterday too? Did it escape then?"
"No, not that... Remember Soso's wooden ring?"
The wooden ring.
"Yeah. It sprouted a leaf back then. You eyed it hard, begging for one too."
Haeun's face flushed red.
"N-No! That's not the point!"
She coughed awkwardly, desperately changing the subject. As if she didn't treasure hers.
"Anyway, that leaf had grown a lot by yesterday. Soso was thrilled... then the rabbit gobbled it up."
Ah.
No wonder she cried.