Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Suspicious Meat Shop (2)
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"Animal Lover, huh. Nice ring to it. At least better than a beast-fucker."
"R-right?"
I answered before realizing how weird that sounded. It was almost like admitting I was the freak! I had to change the subject. I mumbled vaguely, nodding as I pulled two silver coins from my pouch.
"H-here's the payment for the food."
"Oh my."
"Why the surprise?"
"Didn't think you'd actually pay."
Of course you pay after eating. What good is running out without paying? Anyone who eats and runs deserves to get beaten to death.
I stood there with a confused look, and Remilia smirked.
"You're not very adventurer-like, miss. Bringing a wolf and reserving the place already set you apart from the norm, though."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Remilia chuckled softly as she took the two silver coins and tucked them neatly into her pocket. Her movements made it clear she had no intention of giving them back.
"Take it as a compliment. It means you're special. And female adventurers are rare, after all."
"Yeah, all the guys around me seem to have their brains in their dicks."
"Couldn't agree more. If we meet again, I'd love to get friendly. Hmm... what would be good? Right. Every afternoon at 3. I can clear an hour for you."
I widened my eyes and said,
"For real?"
"No customers at this hour anyway. Might as well take a break."
"Thanks a ton!"
"Then, to celebrate our new friendship starting today, how about popping a bottle of champagne?"
"Ooh! Champagne! That sounds... wait, what?"
Before I could finish, Remilia slipped into the kitchen and reached into an ice bucket, pulling out a long crystal bottle. Clear glass with no label, filled with an amber liquid...
"Didn't you say you don't sell booze?"
"This is for me to drink. Personal stash. You get it, right?"
Remilia muttered proudly.
"Took a lot of effort to get this baby. Wanna share?"
Booze, huh. Tempting. Back then, I didn't enjoy it much, but I'd drink anyone under the table if given the chance. Things were different now, but champagne? No reason to say no.
The problem was, I'd never had a drop in this body.
My constitution had changed. I used to smoke like a chimney on Earth, but here I couldn't even touch the stuff. Once, I picked up some discarded tobacco from the street and tried it—spent two days suffering. One puff and I was coughing, couldn't even breathe.
And one more thing nagging at me.
"I thought there were no champagne shops around here."
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
Homebrew, obviously.
No label confirmed it. Connected to the slums, maybe? Either way, she wasn't your average person.
"Those eyes scream drinker. That calm vibe despite looking so young... You seem like you'd be a great drinking buddy. Backing out now?"
"...Ahem. Well, if you insist."
Screw it.
Let's eat, drink, and die.
It's what I'm good at, right?
- Pop!
A cheerful cork pop echoed as she pulled it out.
- Fizz...
Soon, the glass in front of me filled halfway.
Bubbles rising looked downright delicious.
Remilia shed her earlier poised, veteran air and shouted with a bright smile.
"Cheers! To Raon and Bori!"
"Ch-cheers?"
"Urgh..."
Unlike tobacco, one sip didn't knock me flat. My alcohol tolerance had tanked, but not to the point of instant death.
This body used to handle three bottles of soju with a clear head. Now, two glasses and I'm wobbling like this—but Remilia pushed, insisting my eyes had a drinker's glint, so I threw caution to the wind and got smashed.
"Agh... my head..."
The sun had long set outside.
The streetlights of the night city dazzled my eyes.
If you had to pick the most dangerous time in an adventurer's city, it'd be nighttime streets, hands down. Bad neighborhoods are all the same, but adventurer cities were wolf dens themselves. No dumber move than hunting prey in one.
In a place living under the hollow pretense of public order, there were only two kinds of people.
The duped and the unduped.
And the exception: the clueless.
Nothing more pitiful than living duped without even knowing it. Not a great feeling.
Honestly, I didn't get it either. This world's rules. As a 21st-century Earthling, their barbaric mindset was hard to grasp.
"Bori... should we crash at the inn...? Got plenty of coin..."
On that note, turning down Remilia's offer to crash and stumbling out was peak stupidity.
"..."
Even drunk, I felt the stares.
Stares.
Wolves' eyes piercing me. Staring openly. I snorted and buried my face in Bori's warm scruff. A clear fuck-off to even their gazes.
The street wolves had to notice, but whatever. I had a real one under me.
Bori's eyes burned fiercer than ever. Did he know his owner was defenseless? Or was he pissed someone eyed his personal onahole? His reactions so far leaned toward the latter, but whatever.
I was safe.
That truth hit my brain, erasing all restraint. They were just caged chimps. Tease them, poke them—they could only jump around inside.
But greed is a siren's touch on the mind. Moths know their fate yet dive into flames.
I sensed footsteps trailing us.
I squinted and gripped the leash. Drunk haze, but the presence was crystal clear. No attempt to hide.
- Grip.
Tighter.
Clutched Bori's leash.
Truth was, that was all I knew to do. Bori, guys behind us. Watch out. Fragmented thoughts only.
"...Grr."
Snort.
Bori turned with a look of utter disdain—worse than pathetic.
"Bori... not that alley...?"
Bori headed for the lawless blind spot. The back alleys called demon realms. I yanked the leash in panic, but he ignored it and kept going.
Bori knew that place. If I did, he did. Partial communication, intent sharing—that was [Animal Lover]'s power.
"It's fine, right...?"
Drunk brain couldn't judge straight.
All I could do was trust Bori. Pathetic helplessness, but trembling grip on the leash was my limit.
Some owner I am...
How long would I leech off him?
Who even owned who anymore?
- Step.
Bori halted.
Then, a rough voice echoed from afar.
"Dumb or sharp?"
"Crawled here on your own—says it all, right?"
Silence fell, then unfamiliar men's voices stabbed my ears. I chewed my lip anxiously. Bori's strength aside, their intimidating tone shrank you.
"Now?"
"Go for the mutt's throat first."
The men exchanged glances and hands went to sword hilts.
Hitmen.
People who killed for a living.
No idea if they were contracted for me. Doubt I was worth killing. More importantly, they sucked at stealth. Even a little girl like me noticed.
But one thing was sure.
They were killers, and I was next.
"Bori, watch the left one..."
- Whoosh.
"Wha—hey?"
- Thud.
Bori shook, and I tumbled off limply.
Rolling aside, I stared at him dizzily.
"B-Bori?"
Bori didn't turn, just snorted.
Then, his will slammed into my mind.
—Don't interfere.
I gaped, sitting frozen.
Not fear buckling my legs. Something stronger—faith, inexpressible relief—settled deep, calming my heart.
Wha...?
Unfamiliar.
Feelings manipulated.
But not unpleasant. Females fall for brave, strong males. Modern society mimicked it, but raw 'power' had faded there.
Not here.
Conviction this male would protect me.
Overwhelming might, the safety of watching it.
That certainty. That security.
Made me blissfully mad.
"N-nooo... hee... heh..."
I bowed my head, bursting into hollow laughter.
"What the hell's she doing?"
"Ignore her! Grab your weapons!"
No.
This can't...
"GRR—!"
"Fuck! Kill it!"
Claws met steel. Sparks flew. Bori's iron-hard claws. Their weapons crumpling. Splattering crimson. Fishy stench. Victorious howl. Screams. Tearing, devouring sounds.
Moment's flash.
I just clamped my mouth, fighting hot breaths.
- Step.
Seeing that.
- Step...
That form.
But—last pride blocked voicing the 'desire' in my head.
Pride.
Not human pride—as owner.
Chances to reject this twisted bond weren't zero. In fights, public—I was owner, he pet. Clear-cut.
But this... total surrender.
Brain alarms blared.
Bow now, and Bori would never see me as owner again. Just an onahole for urges. Drag me to alleys whenever.
"Yelp."
That clear cry snapped me.
Awake to my state.
Bori waits for me. Because I want it, want to writhe like a beast. Why you...?
Empty laugh. Deluded till now. Never owner. From start, in Bori's mercy—a pathetic bitch dependent for life itself.
True owner.
The real master handling this bitch
Status Ailment [Heat] inflicted.
Submissiveness increased by 87.
Ah.
It's over.