Busted
"Oh, so this is where you work, oppa? No customers around—total honey pot."
...What the hell. Who is this? Some weird girl barging into the store and chatting like we're besties. Is she nuts? Then it hits me—maybe she's someone the original owner of this body knew.
Shit, this is bad. I don't have any of his memories.
"How's the job treating you?"
"Uh... it's alright, I guess."
She's a customer, and I have no clue who she is, so I'm being polite. But even though she looks younger than me, she's talking all casual with banmal. Maybe they were pretty close. If so, me using formal speech would look even weirder. What excuse do I even make?
Come to think of it, ever since I possessed this body, not a single friend or acquaintance has hit me up. Were they really that close?
In the end, I decide to just ask straight-up. If she turns out to be a real acquaintance, I can play it off as amnesia or something.
"Um... excuse me, but do you know me?"
"Huh? No, not really."
...Strangers, then! So why the friendly act?
"Do you need something from me, then?"
"Yeah. Gimme your number, oppa."
The weird girl shoves her phone at me, demanding my digits out of nowhere. This conversation's giving me whiplash. She's no ordinary psycho.
"Sorry, but I've got a girlfriend. Can't give you my number."
"No way, for real?"
"Yeah, for real."
Total bullshit, of course. Who in their right mind hands out their number to a random like her?
"Ugh~ You really won't?"
"Nope. Really won't."
"You'll regret it, you know?"
"Doubt it."
God, she's persistent. She's drop-dead gorgeous on the outside, sure, but it's the inside that counts. No thanks on tangling with a freak like this.
"Tougher than I thought, werewolf oppa."
"Yeah. So if that's all, could you please—wait, what?"
...Huh? What did she just say?
"Heehee. Look at your face. Shocked?"
"N-no, how...?"
I'm so flustered I start stuttering. Too late to deny it now—she's acting like she knows I'm a werewolf.
How the hell did she figure it out? I've only transformed outside three times, and none ring a bell.
"Don't you remember my voice?"
"...No clue."
"Kyaaaaah! Pervert! ...Even now?"
"Ah."
I don't remember the voice, but that scream? Unforgettable. It was the girl from that day—the one who mistook me for a perv, screamed at my naked ass, and bolted. Marie's teammate.
"...What do you want."
"Told ya. Your number."
"And if I say no?"
"Got a favorite hero, oppa? Might meet 'em soon if you do."
Damn it. She's threatening to snitch to the heroes. What's her game? More importantly, who the hell is she?
She's no civilian—that much is clear. No sane person threatens a werewolf. Sun's still up, so I can't transform yet, but who'd risk retaliation from a monster?
Though she seems unhinged enough that maybe... Nah, logically, not a civilian.
Hero? Doubt it. She'd have killed me on the spot once she knew. No point dragging it out for a number when I'm defenseless.
That leaves...
"...Who the hell are you."
"Ever heard of Little Devil, oppa?"
"Nope. No idea."
"What? For real? Why not?"
Why? 'Cause I don't know, that's why.
"Ugh. You look like you really mean it. I used to be pretty famous, y'know. Shocking."
She seems genuinely thrown, like I should know her. How big a deal was she?
"Anyway, getting the picture now?"
"Villain, huh."
"Ding ding! Not a total idiot after all?"
She claps like I won a prize, but I'm not thrilled. A villain approaching me—what for? She's probably Villain Alliance. They know I killed Bomberman by now.
Her vibe says she's not here to kill me. The Alliance is just scared crooks banding together—no loyalty or revenge plots there.
Most likely? Recruiting me. With war on the Hero Association looming, they want firepower. I've proven mine by offing Bomberman.
No way I'm joining those terrorist psychos. But right now, I play along. Show hostility, and I might not walk away.
"Why so scared? Gonna eat you?"
"...Here."
I punch my number into Little Devil's phone and hand it back. She calls to verify, then grins and pockets it.
"Hehe~ Good boy. Pick up quick when I call, got it?"
"So, what's the point of this."
"Secret. I'll tell you when we meet. Don't slack off at work, wolf oppa~"
She smirks at my stiff face and saunters out.
Haa. I'm screwed.
That day, exposed to Little Devil, I tell the boss I have to quit part-time due to personal reasons. He's pissed, but tough luck.
Can't risk being out in daylight now that I'm made. Alliance knows, but I'll never join them. Will they ignore me? Or eliminate the loose end? With my Bomberman kill on record, probably not leaving variables alive.
Can't ask Hero Association for help—I'm hunted by them too. Solo it is.
Fighting an organization alone? Even as a werewolf, insane. But no choice.
Days holed up at home, no call from Little Devil. Waiting for that unknown ring is nerve-wracking. Blood pressure through the roof daily.
Can't last—my sanity cracks first. Maybe that's the plan.
Time to make my move.
I call Little Devil.
Rings forever before she picks up.
"Huh, oppa? What's up?"
Her voice is so casual and friendly, like calling an old pal. Is this really a villain?
"Meet tomorrow evening."
"Outta nowhere? Kinda random."
"You've got business with me too, right? Let's cut the crap and handle it."
"Then lunch tomorrow and grab food. Deal?"
"You think I'll meet daytime?"
"Don't wanna? Fine by me. You're the desperate one."
Meeting a villain who knows my secret in daylight? Hands her total control. She could kill me anytime.
But yeah, I'm desperate.
"Fine. I pick the spot. Cool?"
"Sure~"
—What, you meeting a guy?
—Jealous?
—Not some weirdo, right?
—Total beast, actually.
—You're insane!
As I'm about to hang up, I overhear another woman's voice. Sounds like bickering sisters—tension melts into absurdity. Villain with a normal family? Sure, she's human. But... really?
Wonder if that other voice knows she's talking to a villain.
"Anyway, texting spot and time. See ya tomorrow, oppa."
Click. Gone.
Flabbergasted. No clue what her deal is. Am I really risking death with her tomorrow? Starting to doubt she's even a real villain—maybe just a crazy chick pretending.
"Hoo..."
I sigh and flop onto the bed. Tense as hell, soaked in sweat, sticky. Evening meet failed as expected, but I got my spot. Small win.
Guessing recruitment pitch. Play along, stall till sunset, transform, end it. She won't cooperate easily, but best I've got.