IBWMD 37

~Chapter 37~

Lingering Ties and Bear Pelt Promises

“It’s especially a problem because I think I’ve gotten attached to him.”

And it hasn’t even been that long since we met.

“…But I’m not the only one getting attached to the people here.”

Even Jeremy grumbles less at me now.

This from the guy who used to twist in discomfort just to get me kicked out.

Just a few days ago, he even told me not to wait too long outside since it was cold.

“That guy who used to mock me the first time we met and told me to stand out there forever.”

It was getting obvious over time that he was starting to care.

“He must’ve grown some grudging affection for me.”

Not just him. Even the innkeeper smiles whenever he sees me now. The pickpocket kids’ attitudes are bound to change too.

And Karl…

Even while always snapping at me, he hides a strange tenderness behind that playful glint in his eyes and his twisted way of saying thoughtful things.

That boyish smile he gave me when handing over the musket… The way the fuzz on his ears stood on end. It all flashed through my mind.

“I don’t think you’re foolish.”

Above all, his voice — the one that told me my life wasn’t ruined just because I let others sway me…

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly, like I was scolding myself.

No. It’s nothing. Nothing serious.

“Affection’s easy to form, right?”

Right, for example…

“Even in the Holy Knight Order, just being assigned together for a few days could spark a bond.”

“The newcomers from the 3rd Order don’t seem very pious. And not exactly pure, either…”
“Huh? Can’t hear you with that tiny cross.”
“…”
“How’d it get so small? Ah. Didn’t the 4th Order get their budget cut because their kids got caught selling drug-laced cigarettes with their crosses?”
“Deputy Commander, they’ll cry if you keep going.”

I once stormed over when I heard some 4th Order punks picking on our new recruits.

I’d barely seen those newbies more than once or twice.

“If I did that for people I barely saw…”

Let alone someone I saw every day — ate meals with, shared snacks, piggybacked, held hands, guarded, walked through the market with, gave gifts to, became a personal human shield for…

And hunted monsters with.

Karl was different.

“…How did so much happen in such a short time?”

No, it made sense. With all that we did together, it was only natural.

I thumped my chest to calm my suddenly racing heart.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You seem to be in pain.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Yeah. It’s really nothing.

“And besides…”

Even if it weren’t Karl—

I’d still feel guilty keeping quiet about strange happenings around the Duke’s estate when I now knew people’s names and faces here.

I sighed and added, “Anyway… it’s not confirmed yet, so I’ll think about it.”

“If possible, I’ll also try to warn His Grace, the Duke.”

At least that was a relief. If the Duke was aware, he could prepare.

“But actually…”

Karl looked over at me. His eyes clearly said he had something serious to discuss.

He lowered his gaze and voice, moving a little closer.

“What is with this suddenly secretive mood?”

The air felt weird — a little too intimate…

“About the monster you saw today…”

“…”

“I was going to ask if you could pretend you didn’t see it.”

Oh. That was it?

A little anticlimactic, but maybe that was just me.

“Since you said there may be political schemes around the estate…”

“Well, that’s true.”

I shrugged and replied, “Even if you didn’t ask, I wasn’t planning on saying anything.”

“You looked like you’d eat me alive if I refused.”

“Eat you…”

“You were giving me that look. Like you’d swallow me whole if I opened my mouth.”

“…I didn’t think it was that bad.”

Sounded like he had thought about it just a bit.

“If you refused, I was only considering locking you up somewhere you couldn’t escape.”

“…”

“Something like that.”

Before I could respond to that nonsense—

“Hearing you say that…”

“…”

“Now I’m a little interested in how it’d go if I did devour you.”

Karl said, eyes darkening.

“…Devour how?”
Why is he staring at my cheek like he’s really about to bite me?

“Ugh. Please don’t.”

I waved the tension away with a flutter of my hand.

“Anyway, I get what you mean.”

“You do?”

“Those pickpocket kids are locals. If we ask them not to talk about the monster, they probably won’t.”

But I was a bit different.

“If someone from the capital says they saw a monster near the Duke’s estate while the Duke’s away…”

“…”

“It’s going to spark all kinds of rumors.”

And technically, the monster was spotted within Saint Portou’s wall boundaries.

“If the wall had a weak spot, the monster could’ve slipped right inside.”

Worse, they might blame the Duke for failing to protect his territory while he was away hunting monsters.

“I know enough not to blab about that.”

“…”

“And you might get in trouble too — for taking me somewhere dangerous.”

Even though I was the one who insisted on going, I didn’t want an innocent person blamed.

Karl gave me that smug “gotcha” face again. I knew exactly what he was about to say.

“Once again—”

“Yes, yes. You were worried about me. Okay?”

I snapped on purpose, but Karl didn’t tease me like I thought he would.

He just stared at me, eyes darker than before.

I suddenly grabbed the bear pelt slung over my shoulder and clutched it tightly, even digging my nails into it. Karl noticed.

“You’ll damage it.”

“This isn’t enough to ruin it.”

“What are you going to do with that pelt?”

“Ah.”

It was scratched up a bit from the monster, but it was still good quality.

“In that case…”

I held up the pelt and handed it to Karl.

“What to make out of it…”

“…”

“That’s your problem now.”

“Mine?”

“Because it’s a gift. For you.”

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.

I’d already been thinking I should give him something in return for the musket.

I only held onto the pelt because I was enjoying the feeling of a good hunt.

“I’m done enjoying it now.”

Karl’s brow twitched slightly.

“…You’re giving it to me?”

I nodded. I’d even asked him to skin the bear for this.

“You gave me a gift, now I’m asking you to make mine yourself.”

“…That’s what you’re saying?”

Well, there was no way around it. I answered with a cheeky face.

“Only a professional can treat the leather properly.”

“I don’t even know how to skin leather.”

People used to tease me for being so delicate with guns yet useless with anything else.

“This was the only way to make sure you got it in good shape.”

I barely finished the sentence when Karl smiled ominously again.

“Wait a second…”

“You gave me, not your husband…”

“Don’t you dare—”

“A carefully skinned gift you hunted yourself.”

“….”

“You’re giving that to me first.”

You’re the one who skinned it!

This man never let his guard down.

Just as I opened my mouth to retort—

“Miss!”

Beth’s voice called out. We were near the inn again, I hadn’t even noticed.

She stood outside the door, but her face…

“Looks like she just saw something hideous.”

Beth only ever made that face if she saw something really ugly… or was in a really bad mood.

“A letter arrived for you, Miss.”

“A letter? What letter?”

Just then, a hunched old man came rushing out from inside.

I immediately recognized him — the small old man who’d hunted monsters with Karl before.

“Long time no see!”

“….”

“What brings you all the way here? Running errands for the Duke?”

The old man squinted at me, then spotted Karl walking beside me and his face turned red with rage.

Well, from the outside, Karl did look like he was playing the servant, carrying my things.

No wonder his hunting buddy was pissed.

As I tried to stay calm, Beth, still looking like she bit a lemon, turned to the old man.

“He just barged into the inn, yelling—”

“And that thing on your back?”

The old man pointed at the musket poking out from behind me.

His voice was trembling now.