10. Wolf and Mermaid (3)
Putting aside the giggling of the greatest pirate (self-proclaimed), I reviewed the facts I was able to gather.
First, the mermaid in front of me was a bounty hunter.
Second, it seems she’s after the wolf I had taken in.
Third, this bounty hunter is someone who attaches ridiculous nicknames to herself, so, a lunatic who’s suffering from a chronic disease known as chuunibyou.
Fourth, although it’s a mystery on what this girl plans to do with me, this has long crossed the line that could be alleviated by simply saying ‘I’m sorry, my jokes went a bit too far, ehe’.
“I understand.”
I quickly wiped off my exhaustion and put a smile on my face.
“But could you stop hitting my bathtub? Your hand must hurt.”
“Kyahahaha!! Normally, people who end up corned by the great Usavich fall into despair, start crying, or get mad, you know?”
“...”
“Ooh. Maybe, you think this is a joke?”
“I don’t.”
Since this situation had already crossed the line of possibly being a prank a long time ago.
“Also, if a young girl lets out such an undignified laugh, then people would start to suspect her class…”
The silver eyes of the mermaid, who had stopped moving for a moment, glistened. I continued speaking before her smile could return to her eyes.
“Only half was done.”
“Hmm? What, do you mean?”
“The answer. I asked why you haven’t killed me yet.”
“Ah, tha–aats.”
The smile in her eye deepened. This response, if I look back at the patterns up till now.
“Do you perhaps…”
Twitch.
The girl let out a ‘Mm–’ sound.
“...not know the reason yourself?”
“Since when did humans!! You shouldn’t have the ability to read minds!”
The fact that these type of people do not mature, that it is nearly impossible to reason with them, that they lack a tremendous amount of self-restraint in their actions, and that just these characteristics alone could make an individual terrifying.
In other words, I was now dancing in the hands of a mentally unstable girl.
My life depended on her whim.
How amazing.
However, if that were so, then there’s still one fact that I can’t understand.
The wolf princess she’s after… actually, I’ll put off that thought for now.
“But why are you trying to torture me? I seriously don’t know where this ‘wolf’ is.”
“Are you curious?”
“Yeah. Is it similar to the feeling of kicking a dog?”
“Mm, well, something like that… There’s a lot, a lo~~t of annoying things piled up. Ehem. I need someone to vent it out on. And the reward is pretty good too!”
“Aren’t you a pirate? You can just torture some sailors, no?”
If I’m remembering correctly, that's what pirates in history did. At least, until the British navy hunted them all down.
“This idiot!!”
Usavich shouted and pounded the tub powerfully. After doing so, she shook her hand rapidly as if in pain.
“Uu~ my hand… There’ll be problems if Usavich tortures the people of the sea. That’s why!!”
“Accordingly?”
“Isn’t tormenting beings from completely different worlds! More! Rational!?”
Truly, it’s things outside logic.
“Are you going to do it…immediately?”
“Yuup~”
An immediate response.
I really got caught by a bad person.
“But how? Can mermaids even walk on land?”
I was about ten feet from the bathtub where Usavich was splashing around. Unless I walked there willingly, there was no possible way for her to reach me.
“Hmm? Do you intend to, resist?”
“That’s obvious. Why should I stand still and get tortured?”
“Hmph. Unlike my sisters, I can’t use any spells other than teleporting. Furthermore, even that teleporting ability—.”
Abruptly, the sense of falling enveloped me.
“Huh?”
Without even being able to react, I fell backwards.
“Kuh…!!”
A sense of impact spread from my bottom, back, and to the back of my head. My field of vision was distorted for a moment before it restored itself. And then, the sensation of cold water surrounding me along with something hot on top of me.
“Like this, I can only teleport things. It isn’t like those fantasy novels where a vow of loyalty comes along with it. Disappointing, disappointing.”
On top of me.
Straddling my chest, with hers against mine.
The sensation of her arms and hands pressing me down with surprising strength.
“Kyahahaha!! Are you amazed by Usavich’s power?!”
…
…!!
What.
What happened, just now?
What had she said… teleporting. Teleporting, huh.
She had teleported me to her.
It’s a seemingly simple concept to grasp, but as a human who’s lived in a world where the laws of physics are obeyed, well, at least, used to be obeyed, this was quite jarring.
“I can teleport a lot of things! Be amazed, human!!”
Splash!
She plunged her hand right next to my head, into the water.
And when she pulled it out, a weapon was revealed.
“Kyahahaha!! My old faithful!”
An antique revolver. It had a vintage feel, something you would probably see in an old western movie.
This weapon was set against my forehead.
“Human…!!”
Calm down.
Keep your composure.
My heart was thumping rapidly. With our chests pressed together in this tangled position, she most definitely could sense my fear too.
Just… think.
She won’t kill me, if her words are to be believed. I’ll be tortured, but not killed. So my end isn’t now.
As long as I don’t lose my head, I can analyze the situation and redefine it. It’s not difficult.
Not difficult at all.
Her face, which had become so close to mine.
“What will you do now, human…?”
Her large eyes which had now become moon-like crescents.
Her mouth which had been twisted into a thin smile.
Our clothes had both become soaked, so the sensation was like flesh against flesh.
Damn it.
At that moment, white letters appeared in my vision.
[The second perk of the Casanova System has been activated!]
[When direct contact is made for longer than ten seconds, affection will be generated.]
[Affection has increased!]
[Current favourability: Affectionate.]
“Haha…”
At the sight of the system working overtime, I could only let out a laugh.
With this, I’m sure it could be done.
“Have you lost your mind, human? Be grateful, not everyone is allowed such contact with–”
“...!”
I sat upwards, pulling the mermaid girl tightly into my arms. This action was allowed without resistance, which I’m sure is due to the increase in favourability.
Furthermore, I pushed her down into the water, until I was the one who was on top.
The situation had done a complete 180.
“Miss Usavich, let's make a deal shall we?”
“W-W-What!! Human, what are you doing right now!! Let this Usavich go!!”
There were two different categories of people coming after the wolf I had taken in.
Assassins and bounty hunters.
Now, what’s the difference?
I’m not an expert, but assassins are the ones who are paid to take jobs. Thus, they carry out the mission with little to no deviancy. The key detail is that, most of the time, they receive their reward before they take out the target.
However, bounty hunters are different. They only get their reward after they turn in their ‘bounty’.
Thus.
If I were to offer a reward greater than what was posted for said bounty.
“Usavich.”
I held her left hand and squeezed it softly.
“You like sweet things, don’t you?”
“Well…mm. W-Wait, let me go!!”
“How about this?”
I felt the corners of my mouth turning upwards.
“Work with me for a month. You seem like a strong girl.”
“W-Why should I!?”
Slowly, I raised my other hand and put a finger to her mouth.
“In return, I’ll introduce you to something sweet, enough to last a year.”
“E-Ehh… mmm.”
“It’s quite delectable, with a sugary taste and a variety of flavours.”
“...!”
Her eyes widened.
For a moment, the only sound was the water sloshing against the sides of the bathtub.
“…Sweet?”
Usavich repeated slowly, as if tasting the word itself.
“You mean… like candy?”
“Exactly like candy.”
I kept my tone light and steady.
“But the most important part… It's cold. It’s a unique flavor that I promised you’ll become addicted to.”
“Ghh—!”
She clenched her jaw.
“D-Don’t look down on Usavich! I’m not some child who can be bribed with snacks!”
“Then think of it as… research.”
I lifted my finger away and leaned back just enough to give her space.
“You said it yourself. There are a lot of annoying things piled up. A year’s worth of sweets gives you something to enjoy while venting them.”
“…A year?”
Her voice cracked just slightly.
…
Splash.
She slapped the surface of the water in frustration, sending droplets everywhere.
“Gahhh!! This is why I hate humans!! Always talking, always scheming!”
She glared up at me.
“You’re saying… if Usavich doesn’t turn in the wolf… you’ll really give me all that?”
“For a month of ‘teamwork’.”
“…And after the month?”
“Then you’re free to decide what to do.”
Her face contorted, but despite that, her cute appearance was only enhanced.
“Tch. You’re annoying.”
The revolver vanished with a splash as she let it sink into the water.
“Fine.”
Usavich said, crossing her arms.
“One month. Usavich will temporarily work with you.”
I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
“But!”
She pointed at me sharply.
“If you are to lie, if you are to delay, or if your reward isn’t worthy…”
She leaned forward, silver eyes gleaming.
“You’re dead.”
How menacing.
I leaned forward as well, until my forehead was pressed against her large forehead.
“Deal.”
