Uncomfortable Gazes and Quiet Drinks
The streets are noisy. That's why I tend to avoid crowded places unless it's absolutely necessary. Today, though, the voices are especially loud—and every single one of them is directed at us.
"Why do you keep falling behind?"
The Field Team Leader raises an eyebrow in clear displeasure. I hurry to match her pace, but the invisible pressure from the crowd soon pushes me back again.
"What are you doing? You've been like this since earlier."
"Mm."
She might already be used to it, but I'm extremely uncomfortable with this kind of attention. Just like during the meeting, she's dressed in a sharp suit, yet that striking figure can't be hidden, and her beauty radiates an aura far beyond what sunglasses can conceal.
"It's like… I've become public enemy number one."
"What are you talking about?"
Her confident stride and the alluring scent she leaves in her wake draw every gaze on the evening street, regardless of age or gender. Walking beside her like we're close must make me look like an eyesore. Even now, the mix of resentment and jealousy in the voices I hear makes me unconsciously shrink my shoulders.
I thought meeting Yerin had boosted my self-esteem as a man, but apparently I'm still not strong enough to enjoy stares like these.
"…Come over here."
"Huh?"
"Don't make weird noises."
The moment she links her arm with mine, I suck in a sharp breath. Her eyes flash at me from behind the sunglasses, so I quickly shut my mouth. But… this is touching. It's really touching. More than that—why is the Field Team Leader linking arms with me? My poor brain stutters, unable to process the situation.
Our arms fit together perfectly. It would be natural for me to be thrown face-first onto the asphalt right now, yet my vision remains upright. I can hardly believe it.
"You must feel uncomfortable too. At least my head isn't noisy."
"Ah…"
Her words move me a little. With senses far sharper than mine, she can't possibly miss these unpleasant, emotion-laden stares. If she doesn't enjoy them, they must be stressful. She's probably just pretending not to notice.
"Straighten your shoulders and look ahead. From the outside, you look like a decent enough male yourself."
"…Male."
"Showing weakness only gives those cowardly bastards—who don't even have the guts to speak to you directly—something to feed on."
I want to do that. I think she's right. But it's still touching.
"…Mm."
The reason I can't say anything is fear of retaliation? No. I'm afraid this precarious, happy contact will end the moment I open my mouth. In the end, I'm just as despicable as the rest of them. Even so, the sensation against my arm is dizzyingly addictive—another one of the women's breasts I've grown so familiar with. It feels unreal, as if one arm has already reached some kind of paradise.
"…Y-Yeah, let's stop linking arms after all."
Worried that I'd spend the entire day fixated on her chest, I finally shake my arm free. It took far longer than it should have to reach that decision.
"…I'll walk properly beside you now."
"Do whatever you want. We're almost there anyway."
"Ah?"
I was nervous about the consequences of rejecting her goodwill, but fortunately we'd already left the crowd behind and entered a quiet alley with few people.
…Jingle.
With that soft chime, we stepped through an unmarked door into a small, dimly lit bar.
"Field Team Leader… this place?"
"A bar I come to alone sometimes. Quiet. No customers. The master doesn't talk much."
Whether the lack of people is an advantage or a cause for concern is debatable, but the quiet interior and taciturn master earn my approval. Just as she said, the slightly dark bar has no other customers—probably because it's a weekday evening—and no one greets us. The middle-aged master, with his slicked-back hair and neatly trimmed mustache, simply wipes glasses in silence.
"…This is perfect."
"Right?"
Even his inner thoughts are hard to read. This really is a good place to drink. We sit side by side at the bar. She finally removes her sunglasses and sets them on the table.
"…Tsk."
She clicks her tongue the moment I look at her bare face. I assume it's because of me.
…Jingle.
The bell rings again. Now I understand why she clicked her tongue. Several people who had been enchanted by her on the street followed us inside.
"…This is exactly why I hate walking on the streets."
If she doesn't walk on the streets, where does she go? For someone who can run across building walls, the pavement clearly isn't her only path.
Screech…!
"Field Team Leader?"
She stands up so forcefully that her chair scrapes loudly across the floor, then walks straight toward the people loitering near the entrance. Her sunglasses remain on the table.
"Ah… um, over here…?"
Meeting her captivating eyes, they fidget awkwardly, trying to speak—
"Get lost. Right now."
"…Ah… well…"
Before they can finish, her cold, irritated voice cuts them off.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Ah, hehe… Understood…"
I worried a fight might break out, but it was unnecessary. Even after being scolded, they leave with dazed, almost happy expressions, as if simply hearing her voice was enough. The master looks slightly disappointed that his customers have vanished.
"…Ruins the taste of the alcohol."
She clicks her tongue again, face twisted as though she'd seen bugs on her food, then returns to her seat and orders. Several bottles of expensive-looking liquor are brought over. I'm not much of a drinker, but even I can tell this will be strong—and expensive. I suspect the bar's main source of income is her.
"What, not drinking?"
"No, I am. I'll drink."
Is this some new form of bullying? Dragging me to a bar on an empty stomach and making me drink straight liquor? She seems prepared to do the same.
"You've been spacing out since earlier. Still thinking about the meeting? That… Harpy, was it?"
"Well, yes… No, Field Team Leader, is it okay to talk about this outside?"
That wasn't the only reason I was distracted, but it was definitely on my mind. I glance nervously at the master, but he continues wiping glasses in silence.
"Cough… Well, yeah."
With the Field Team Leader right beside me, I down half the glass in one go and answer. Wow, this is strong. I cough immediately.
Today's meeting was connected to the previous business trip. While investigating why a young Harpy had been separated from her flock, the possibility of poaching had come up. That hypothesis, discovered while chasing the Vatican's trail, raised the troubling possibility of a third party besides the facility and the Vatican—one that might not be friendly.
"There have been a few cases before. Most of them were crushed by me or the President and quietly disappeared."
Is she trying to reassure me? She feels unusually gentle today. Almost like she wants to say something I need to hear. Bringing me here to drink in the first place is strange, but I sense no malice.
"…"
Should I ask? It was difficult while sober, so I finish the rest of my glass and set the ice-filled cup on the table. The alcohol is harsh enough to get drunk on quickly. I feel her gaze on my empty glass.
"Field Team Leader… why did you ask me to drink with you?"
"Did I do something I shouldn't have?"
"No… I just thought you must be angry with me."
…Wait. I already brought this up in the hallway earlier and got a negative reaction. Before I can take it back—
Gulp. Gulp.
Clink.
Without answering, she empties her own glass, pours more into mine first, then fills her own before speaking.
"Well… Honestly, I don't really know why I brought you either."
"…Pardon?"
It's a bewildering answer. She brought me here but doesn't know the reason herself. I wonder if she's testing whether I still don't understand her intentions, but her inner voice tells me otherwise. She really did bring me here on a whim, without any clear purpose in mind. Maybe she suddenly wanted a drinking partner…?
"I'm not exactly the life of the party at drinking gatherings…"
"I know. So shut up for a bit."
"…Yes."
She seems to be seriously pondering why she brought me. One hand propped under her chin, red lips touching the rim of her glass as she sips, she gazes at the empty ceiling.
"…"
It's awkward, but I'll stay quiet as instructed. Just being able to look at her beautiful profile is already a win for my eyes.
"Your staring is annoying. Look somewhere else."
"…Yes."
Well, since she brought me here, she can at least allow this much. Seeing her bare her fangs and growl softly, I'd better not push my luck. Still, all I can do now is sip my drink in silence…
…I wonder if the Field Team Leader is paying for the drinks.