I Want It
"I want it." "Please, please, please... I'll pray like this. If I pull it this time, I'll go to church every week, I swear..." The claw had grabbed the top of the cake doll, right on the blueberry section. This time, as the claw rose, it lifted the doll up in a precarious wobble.
"Yes! Stage one complete. The Lord inside me~ is overflowing with that mighty faith~"
Hana started belting out a hymn I'd never heard in my life. A demon singing a hymn made me feel like the apocalypse was upon us. The half-demon church kids really needed to see this.
The real problem with claw machines is getting the prize all the way to the chute. I just hoped there wasn't some cute little prank mechanism waiting. If I got screwed by that again, I'd have to take the full brunt of the Balrog's wrath with my entire body.
The claw inched its way toward the exit slot, little by little. Hana's tail followed it too, swishing left in the same rhythm. Then the claw let go.
"Last coin, let's do this~"
"Here it comes!"
With our cheers ringing out, the doll dropped into the prize chute. But it didn't come out. It bounced off the wall of the compartment as it fell and reset right back to the exact spot where the claw had first grabbed it.
"Whoa... It's like Yone's skill from League of Legends in another world. Soul liberation ends and it snaps straight back to base."
"....You fucking bastards!!"
The Balrog's fury, strong enough to erupt a volcano, swallowed the entire arcade.
"Wait, is there actually a person inside this machine? Or maybe an automaton controlling it with radio waves from outside?"
"Conspiracy theories already?"
"Does that make any logical sense to you?? Look, if it missed from the start, fine. But bouncing off the divider after it falls? What the actual fuck~"
"Hana, I get that you're mad—I'd be furious too—but we're out here in public, so please, just calm down a tiny bit..."
"Could you stay calm if it was you?! No, wait, Seha. Today I'm going to prove there's a trick inside this machine. If I just burn the whole thing with flames..."
Hana was genuinely pissed off and looked ready to roast the machine like a barbecue. There was no one else in the store right now, but causing a scene like this would be bad. If other people saw, or worse, if she actually destroyed it, we'd have to pay for damages.
Last time she failed to get a doll she was upset, but she hadn't exploded like this. Maybe getting screwed over in such a creative way finally broke her.
This was dangerous. Before Hana could turn the machine into charcoal, I reached from behind and grabbed her tail.
".....! Yoon Seha, have you lost your mind? Ngh... suddenly grabbing my tail... why are you..."
Demons and beastmen both have weak points in their tails or wings. If someone suddenly touches or pulls them, the reaction is extremely vulnerable, like their whole body goes limp. It's where their emotions show, so the sensitivity is off the charts. That's why touching that spot on someone you're not close to can get you charged with molestation and a very serious one-on-one life consultation with the police.
Still, this was to calm my childhood friend, so it counted as self-defense. Not only the police but the judge in court would clap, shed tears, and declare me innocent.
By the way, Hana's tail was incredibly smooth and soft. It was thin and long, like a sleek black rope. Unlike regular demon tails that ended in a spade shape, this gave a completely different impression. Most of all, the tip looked like a scorpion's stinger, so overall it really did resemble a whip.
It was exactly my aesthetic! Like a demon that had stepped straight out of a fantasy novel.
"Ahh... I told you to stop!!"
Hana's tail lashed at me like an actual whip.
"That really hurts... Got me on the shoulder. Is this going to bruise?"
"Yah, Yoon Seha. I'm not a kid who suddenly turned stupid... You know exactly what it means when someone grabs a demon or beastman's tail. And knowing that, you still grabbed and touched a female demon's tail from behind while she was completely defenseless? Even if I stabbed you with my horns you wouldn't have the right to complain."
"If you stabbed me with your horns, wouldn't it hurt so much I literally couldn't speak?"
"Ugh... not letting a single word slide. You really surprised me. If you're going to do it, at least warn me first or do it when we're alone..."
"Hm? What did you say at the end? I heard the surprised part, but the last bit was too quiet."
"Never mind. It's better you didn't hear. So why did you touch my tail anyway? We're outside—couldn't you hold back?"
"The way you're saying that sounds like you're trying to make people misunderstand. I grabbed it to calm you down before you went on a rampage. You were about to smash up the arcade machine. Someone had to stop you. I couldn't just sit there eating popcorn because it was scary."
"Sigh... Okay, your intentions were good. Sorry. I got completely worked up after being screwed over so many times. Still... it's so unfair that I couldn't get that doll!!"
Not fully calmed yet, Hana stomped her feet on the floor to vent the last of her anger.
In that case, maybe I should give it a try. I had exactly a thousand won in coins left anyway. If the coin slot was on the machine~ Ah, right underneath. Perfect.
"You're going to try too? After watching me get screwed six times?"
"Landing the final blow always feels the best. In games or in real life."
I flicked one 500-won coin, then fed them both in succession. The claw machine whirred to life and the claw clacked open and shut.
"Your eyes look different from before. That serious look isn't bad at all, hee."
Hana muttered something beside me, but I had to focus on the game now. I nudged the lever little by little, adjusting the angle. When Hana tried earlier it had been almost perfectly perpendicular. This time I'd try a slight diagonal.
I moved the claw carefully, set the angle with precision, and locked it in. Now I just had to press the button.
The countdown... twenty seconds left.
"Hana, let's press the button together."
"Huh? After I got smacked by the machine so many times, won't it fail if I touch it?"
"Two hands are better than one. Let's even borrow the Balrog's Blessing. Come on, hurry. Time's almost up."
I took her hand and placed it on the button.
"....! You're being pretty bold..."
She seemed startled by me suddenly grabbing her hand, but she didn't pull away. Instead, her tail wrapped around my leg. What was that about? Using it as a support?
I ignored it and placed my hand over hers.
"Ready? On what second should we press?"
"As close to the wire as possible. The instant it hits one second, press right away."
"Got it. Starting the countdown then. Five, four, three, two... one! Now, press!"
"Doll, please come to us!!"
We pressed the button hard, pouring all our wishes into it, then let go. All that remained was to wait quietly for the result.
"Jackpot! This time the claw grabbed the cake's body! It's a little close to the edge so it's still risky, but..."
"No negative thoughts~ Watch in ultra-positive mode~"
Hana covered her mouth with both hands. It looked cute and ridiculous at the same time, like a puppy covering its snout with its paws.
"The claw looks even shakier than before... but I think it's still okay?"
"Flag statements are also banned! Just watch quietly."
Now it was my turn to cover my mouth. The claw swayed unsteadily even though there was no wind, carrying the doll bit by bit. Every time it moved sideways the doll slipped a little more from its grip, and our hopes sank along with it.
But as if it really had received the Balrog's Blessing, the claw carried the doll directly above the chute and stopped moving.
"Claw, now!!"
The moment I shouted, the claw's grip released completely. The doll dropped like a skydiver straight into the center of the exit chute. A heavy clunk echoed as it rolled inside the plastic.
I carefully reached into the chute and felt around. Between the hard plastic, my fingers found something soft.
Bingo.
"How is it, Seha...? Did we get it this time?"
Seeing Hana fidgeting anxiously, I grinned.
"Of course we did."
At first I really thought I'd get the doll right away. When the claw grabbed the blueberry part, I believed we'd finally succeeded. Of course, when it fell like that and failed, the volcano inside me erupted anyway. If Seha hadn't stopped me... I might have actually set the machine on fire. Once a Balrog gets angry, it's really hard to calm down... I almost disappointed everyone, but thanks to Seha I managed to pull myself together.
Though I never expected him to do it by grabbing my tail. Having my tail touched by someone—especially a boy of the opposite sex—felt completely different from when I touch it myself while grooming. Back in kindergarten when Seha grabbed my tail saying he'd pull it off, I only felt pain. But this time... it felt like something was burning inside my chest. I got so embarrassed I whipped him with it. It's my fault too, but you have fault as well! We both messed up, yeah...
Even so, after I calmed down and was about to pack up and head home, I was surprised when Seha put his own money in the machine. He usually teases me about still collecting these things, so why now? I was going to poke fun at him, but his eyes were so serious that I just watched his face from the side.
Those serious eyes were different from his usual dense look. I don't think I've seen them except when he's playing ranked games at the PC bang as Iore or whatever. It's a good look. Mother always told me to watch the other person's eyes. Find the one and only pair of eyes that makes you want to pour all your passion into them...
Yes. Those eyes. I want to pour even more passion and energy into those eyes. And when he didn't stop there but took my hand so we could press the button together, I felt a real thrill. Is he making a move on me right now? On me—the daughter of the great demon Balrog? I'd always thought I was the one approaching him. Being on the receiving end like this was new. My heart pounded harder, the flames inside me burned hotter, and it felt like they were telling me to run straight into his arms.
Whether he knew how I felt or not, when Seha smiled and showed me the doll he'd won... Ah... I really want it. (Is this what a dragon's desire for treasure feels like?)
I want to give him all of me. (I want to shower him with luxury and pleasure.)
I want to make him mine.