The Hunter's True Feelings (3)
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"So, in short, a simple lovers' quarrel... I apologize. A remark that slipped out during an argument, was it?"
"Yes...."
After listening to Yuri's rambling, the patrolman arrived at that conclusion. A lovers' quarrel, was it? Well, that wasn't wrong. At those words, Yuri twisted her thighs together.
Me? I backed off quietly like I was told, and they still handcuffed me. Did this place not have Miranda rights? Seriously, I knew rape was a serious crime in this world, but did it make any damn sense to tie a man up immediately after hearing only one side?!
Still, it was a stroke of luck Yuri grabbed my sleeve and stopped me before I got dragged off. I nearly ended up in a shitty situation.
The patrolman scolded Yuri in a slightly exasperated tone.
"Don't make remarks like that, even as a joke. The atmosphere has been unsettled lately, and it could turn into a problem regardless of your own circumstances."
"The atmosphere is unsettled? Ah, could you uncuff these first?"
"Hm, you must not have heard the rumors."
The patrolman continued speaking as he uncuffed me.
"Word is some good-for-nothing from a wealthy family who tried to rape children got himself killed. Patrols have been increased because of that incident. Absurd, isn't it? As if increasing patrols is going to resolve what happens inside a private residence. Tch."
The patrolman looked at Yuri as he said that.
"So, throwing around words like that could actually get you hauled off. You're lucky it was me. If you'd run into one of the stricter fellows, it wouldn't have ended this lightly."
"S-sorry...."
Yuri answered in a voice that nearly disappeared, and I was speechless. Killing that pedophile had led to increased patrols. Damn performative bureaucracy. People really were the same everywhere.
"In any case, that aside. I'll need your names and your current place of residence."
"What? Why? I thought you understood that this was a misunderstanding?"
This was ridiculous. I get called a rapist and now I had to hand over my personal details? And it wasn't even a false accusation or anything, just nonsense shouting! But my protest was immediately dismissed.
"I heard you were running across the rooftops. If any damage is reported, you'll be liable for compensation."
"...Ah... yes...."
Right... damage to a roof was a serious matter. Yuri moved so lightly that I doubted she'd caused any damage, but saying that probably wouldn't get me anywhere.
Yuri's face now looked like she wanted to crawl into a mouse hole. Having confirmed our identities and residence, the patrolman looked us up and down and spoke.
"In any case, be careful. Don't go throwing around words like that, and don't go running across rooftops. Ah, the inn is that way."
"..." "..."
Recommending an inn at a time like this? And he even winked at me?
The patrolman tossed out one more line that only a stuffy middle-aged man would think was witty, then left us.
A few people who had been watching us from nearby began murmuring once the patrolman was gone.
-What, so he wasn't a rapist?
Those jerks had started spectating the moment the patrol grabbed us. Maybe because it was an affluent neighborhood, there weren't that many people out and about, but even so, running around screaming like that was bound to draw attention.
-They're dressed like adventurers, but the fighting was pretty pathetic. They were going at it pretty hot in front of the Guild, though. Yanking each other's hair out.
-Tch, waste of time.
Anyway, those bastards must have been disappointed the outcome didn't match their expectations, because they dispersed right after. Ridiculous pricks. You get a kick out of watching other people's relationship fights?
...Of course it was. Yeah... prime entertainment...
"..."
I turned to look at Yuri, who was scratching the ground with the tip of her boot.
"It'll be fine. Didn't look like anything got broken."
"Mm...."
After saying that, Yuri fell silent again. Her gaze remained fixed on the toe of her boot, as though scraping the ground were the most important task in the world. I put my hands on my hips and watched her.
"Hey. Got nothing to say?"
Glancing at me out of the corner of her eye while still scratching the ground. When I gave her a steady glare, she mumbled reluctantly.
"...S... sor..."
"Sorry?"
"...Y-you crazy bastard... Who told you to chase me when I told you not to...?"
"..."
"Wha— what the?! Wh-where are you going?"
I snatched Yuri's hand and started walking without another word.
# # #
"Welcome!"
"Two. One night."
"Payment upfront."
Sensing my curt tone, the clerk swiftly handed over the key. As expected of an inn in an affluent neighborhood, the price was fairly steep. I'd really been spending a lot since yesterday. The ring had cost a considerable amount too.
Ariel was handling meals and housing, so there were no fixed expenses draining away, but I still needed to earn money quickly.
My mind was wandering with pointless thoughts like that, but I kept my face as stiffly expressionless as I could manage.
Maybe because of that, Yuri had been restless and watching my every move. Yeah. The atmosphere I was creating made her nervous, didn't it? She needed to stew a little. This wasn't the first time she'd caused a scene—what the hell was she doing?
Once we were shown to the room, I shoved Yuri in first and locked the door.
"W-what's this? Why are you dragging me somewhere like this? You rap—... you perverted bastard... Are you trying to have sex again...? Is that it? You think you can solve everything by pushing me around with your body...?"
Yuri said that, but she wasn't as on edge as when she'd run off earlier. If anything, her voice had shrunk to an almost apologetic mumble. Her tone and words were completely at odds. She had quite a talent for that.
Yeah. I was gradually getting used to it. This girl had bravado and insults hardwired as passive traits regardless of what she truly felt. What a troublesome girl. When would she finally be honest?
"Yuri."
At my low voice, Yuri flinched.
"Uh... wha— what? Wh-why?!"
When I went down on one knee and looked up at Yuri, she covered her mouth with both hands and trembled. It looked as though she'd jumped to another useless conclusion.
Before Yuri could do anything weird, I quickly brought out the ring.
"This."
"Ah...."
Yuri's eyes went wide when she saw the ring.
"I held off because I wanted to set the mood, but I figured giving it to you now is better than worrying about that kind of thing. It might be a little late, but... will you still accept it?"
"Ugh...."
I heard a sniffle. Yuri couldn't bring herself to reach out and was turning her head away. Yeah, I get it. After all that hurt, getting the ring probably feels pretty moving...
"...I-if you had something like this prepared... it makes me look like the bad one..."
She was playing the victim now?! I could only gape at the absurdity.
"It kind of does. What on earth were you thinking, running off like that? Did you think I was only giving one to Reni?"
"Ugh...."
Yuri's face turned bright red. She really had thought that. I continued.
"And what's this about framing me as a rapist? There are things you can say and things you can't..."
"You are a rapist, you perverted bastard! After you cornered me so I couldn't get away and forced yourself on me!"
"Oh, is that so? Then do you not need this?"
"........................D-don't nee—"
Before Yuri could spout more nonsense, I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her close.
"Let go! I said no!"
You said no? Give me a break. Why hesitate that long before claiming you didn’t need it? And you still weren’t actually resisting.
Yuri said that, but there was no strength in her hand to pull away. She was only pretending to struggle. Ridiculous girl, what are you, a tsundere?
"Hold still."
"..."
She flinched at my low voice, but she stayed quiet. She was trembling, which made it a little tricky, but I still managed to slide the ring onto Yuri's ring finger.
A red ruby sparkling in the lamplight.
Yuri looked at her hand with the ring on it and sniffled.
"You... you bastard. You've never even said you like me, and you just force your way...."
"I like you."
"Hic... th-that's all it takes? One word...?"
This girl didn't look the type, but she actually wanted to hear it. During sex, she always seemed determined to take the lead, so I'd assumed otherwise. I obediently gave Yuri the words she wanted to hear.
"I like you, Yuri. Stay with me from now on. Always."
"..."
Another sniffle. When I looked up at her face, tears were streaming down Yuri's cheeks. I pulled her hand and silently pressed for an answer; Yuri gave a tiny nod.
I stood up and hugged Yuri. In my arms, Yuri murmured softly.
"You... mean bastard... if you were gonna do this, why did you act so intense and scary... making a whole scene...."
"What? How was I acting?"
"Like you were about to br-break up...."
Why had she jumped to that conclusion...? Had Reni's delusions rubbed off on her from spending so much time together? And if she felt that way, why did she keep playing so hard to get?
"...When are you going to get honest?"
"Y-you're the one who should get honest and say I'm your favorite."
I swiftly changed the subject.
"...I don't know about favorite, but you're definitely the one I most want to torment."
"What?!"
"Aren't you the one who likes being tormented by me? Going so far as to try to seduce me with stuff like this."
I took the fox tail out of my inventory and waved it. Yuri's pupils shook like an earthquake.
"Kuh—! Th-that's just a fashion item! What kind of misunderstanding is this, you pervert!"
"What kind of misunderstanding did I have?"
Yuri didn't answer and averted her eyes.
As I thought, this girl really was paying attention to the anal side of things. She barely even resisted when I told her to clean herself out thoroughly.
"...!"
Wait. Something suddenly occurred to me.
"Don't tell me the reason you didn't eat breakfast...?"
"Ugh...!"
Yuri's face flushed as if about to burst.
Th-this girl... she seriously prepared for it?!