Vol 2 Chapter 25 – Like I’d ever let the likes of you…!【Vol 2: The Cat-Eared Girl, Eclair】

“Ugh, I’m still woozy…”

It was the next day at noon. I was staggering along the cobblestone road toward the market. Strength still hadn’t returned to my body, and my legs felt heavy as lead.

“Sorry…”

Eclair, walking beside me, apologized in a small voice. Her violet cat ears drooped listlessly.

After that, it seems Eclair tried to wring me dry even after I’d passed out, but Milfy-san stopped her, and somehow I escaped with my life intact.

I really thought I was going to die…

By sheer number of rounds, my first time with Milfy-san had more. But I’d never been attacked so relentlessly without a single break. No wonder I blacked out.

“Really, I’m sorry… I wasn’t in my right mind…”

Eclair walked with her cat tail hanging dejectedly, her movements listless. Her usual boldness was nowhere to be seen. I started to feel sorry for her.

“Um… don’t beat yourself up about it. I’m not bothered.”

“Eh…”

“You had it worse. Having to do those things against your will… But that’s the curse’s fault. You’re not to blame.”

“Ah…”

Eclair looked up at me in surprise, then quickly averted her gaze. I thought I saw her cheeks turn faintly red.

“Th… thanks, you pervy monkey…”

“If you’re going to thank me, could you maybe drop the ‘pervy monkey’ part?”

That left me with complicated feelings…

Before long, we arrived at the market entrance. Our purpose was shopping, of course. Last time, she’d been too afraid to get close, worried the scent of men would trigger her heat. This was our second attempt.

“I can go shopping for you.”

“That won’t do. I can’t rely on others forever.”

At first, Eclair insisted on going alone, but that was far too dangerous. We somehow settled on me accompanying her.

Concerned about my condition, Milfy-san offered to come in my place, but with unfortunate timing, a massive horde of Cerberi appeared in the forest near town, and the Guild summoned her.

She left saying, “Sorry! I’ll wrap this up quick and be right back!” but… is that really something you can wrap up so easily?

“Ugh…”

Eclair grimaced slightly at the human scents drifting from the market.

“You okay?”

“Yeah… it’s not as bad as before.”

Perhaps yesterday’s effect lingered; she didn’t seem to slip into heat as easily.

“If it gets too much, tell me. I’ll go instead.”

Just as we were about to step into the market, a voice came from behind.

“Hey, isn’t that her?”

“Blue-black hair, cat beastfolk… no mistake.”

We turned around. Two men stood there. One was a slim man wearing glasses. The other was a large man with a leering grin plastered on his face.

The slim man stepped forward and spoke in an affected tone.

“Excuse me. You’re Eclair-san, aren’t you?”

Eclair’s ears perked straight up, her wariness plain to see.

“…Who are you people?”

The large man beside him let out a vulgar laugh.

“Hyoe~! This girl’s crazy cute, ain’t she? We hit the jackpot!”

Still laughing loudly and crudely, the large man elbowed the slim man next to him.

…What’s with these guys?

The slim man gave a light cough and bowed with exaggerated politeness.

“My apologies for the delayed introduction. I’m Yohan. I do menial work at the church. You may not remember, but we met when you visited the church the other day.”

The church… so when she went to consult about breaking her curse.

“Really? Eclair?”

“I don’t remember much… I think he’s the one who served us tea when I went with Mil-sis.”

“Oh, how honored that you remember!”

The man called Yohan spread his arms wide in an exaggerated display of joy.

“At that time, I heard you were afflicted by that particular curse. Presumptuous though it may be, I wanted to help dispel it—so I’ve been searching for you.”

“Help dispel it? You?”

“Yes. Well, more precisely, my friend here—Georg—is the one with the skill.”

Yohan gestured to the man standing beside him. Called upon, Georg twisted his lips into a nasty grin.

“I’ve got a dispel skill too, see. You’re in trouble, ain’t ya, missy? I’ll help ya out, heh heh.”

His vulgar laugh reeked of thug. Yohan wore an affable smile too, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all. …I don’t like these two. Not one bit.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m already dispelling her curse. We don’t need your help.”

I stood in front of Eclair and said it flatly. Yohan pushed up his glasses with a fingertip and let out a quiet, self-satisfied laugh.

“I see. You want to keep all the fun for yourself—is that it?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? Hehehe, are you sure you want me to say it here?”

A chill ran down my spine. I hadn’t told anyone about the dispelling method. And yet—

“I know about you, Theo-kun. You were practically living at the home of Milfy-san of the fox-eared folk, weren’t you?”

“…!”

“She too was afflicted by a heat curse and stopped showing up at the Guild for a while. Yet shortly after you started visiting her house, she made a full recovery and returned. And now Eclair-san, afflicted by the same curse, is traveling around with you. What are we to make of that?”

“If it’s just dispelling, there’s no need to stay overnight, is there? Kuku… what exactly are you two doing alone together in that house?”

“Grh…!”

It seems they didn’t hear it directly—they’d been tailing us.

What a filthy trick—

But frustratingly, they’d hit the mark.

“If that’s your kind of ‘dispelling,’ a scrawny little brat like this kid can’t satisfy you like I can. Heh heh.”

Leering disgustingly, Georg reached out and roughly grabbed Eclair’s slender wrist.

“Don’t mess with me! Let go!”

“Whoa there, don’t struggle now.”

No matter how desperately she resisted, the man’s arm didn’t budge an inch.

Heat flared in my head. What cooperation? What dispelling? From the start—they’re only after her body.

“Let go! Don’t touch her!”

I reflexively grabbed the man’s arm and tried to tear him off with all my strength. But in that instant—

“Butt out, you little shit!”

A roar and a flying fist. A heavy impact struck my cheek, and my vision tilted violently.

“Guh…!”

I was slammed to the ground, the chill of the cobblestones seeping into my back.

“Theo!”

Eclair screamed. But in the next moment, she was grabbed by the neck and hoisted into the air.

“Khah…!”

“E-Eclair!”

“I don’t want to get rough. So please, just do as you’re told.”

Yohan’s voice was gentle, as if reasoning with someone. That’s precisely why it felt bone-chillingly cold.

“Y-you…! You’re already being rough!”

Eclair tried to counterattack with her claws. But then her body jerked violently.

“Uh…?”

The strength drained from her arms, her clawed fingertips drooping limply. Ragged breaths escaped her lips, and her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.

“Oho? What’s this? She suddenly got a real lewd look on her face.”

“It’s the heat. She’s been affected by our scent.”

Yohan muttered matter-of-factly, as if conducting an observation.

“Kuku… I see, I see. Her body recognized the scent of stronger males.”

“I… who would…! For the likes of you…!”

Even as her breathing grew ragged, Eclair desperately squeezed out the words. But the light was fading from her eyes, and her legs and arms wouldn’t obey her. Her body was ruled by heat, and all she could do was writhe in agonized torment.

At this rate…!

I ground my teeth. My mind went blank. What should I do? How can I—save her?

Vol 2 Chapter 26 – I’ll protect Theo!【Vol 2: The Cat-Eared Girl, Eclair】

Just then, a handcart caught my eye at the edge of my vision. An elderly man was pushing it along, piled high with fruit.

“E-excuse me! I need to borrow this!”

I shouted and broke into a run. The surprised old man called out, “Eh, hey!?” but I couldn’t worry about that now. I grabbed the handles with both hands and shoved with all my might.

“Deyaaaaah—!”

The cart rattled noisily as it slid across the cobblestones. Fruit burst free and scattered as it barreled straight toward Georg.

“Whoa!?”

He had no time to dodge. It crashed into his massive body with a dull thud. The impact made Georg stagger, and from the force of it, Eclair—who’d been grabbed—flew through the air and crumpled onto the cobblestones.

“Eclair! Are you okay?!”

“…Kh… s-somehow…”

I’d barely let out a sigh of relief when—

“You little brat…!”

Georg glared at me, his face flushed bright red. Veins bulged on his forehead, his breathing harsh. His eyes were like those of a beast burning with rage.

“You… you’re gonna pay for that!!!”

With a roar, he kicked off the ground and charged. The cobblestones trembled from the force, and I involuntarily tensed up.

But—

“Not happening!!!”

Eclair spun around and swung her sharp claws. The sound of slicing air rang out, and a deep gash opened across Georg’s cheek.

“Gyaaah!”

The large man’s scream echoed through the market. His staggering body crashed into a stall behind him, fruit bursting and scattering everywhere. The surrounding people fled screaming.

Even as her breathing came in gasps, Eclair forced herself to stand on unsteady legs. Her tail bristled, and her flushed, tear-moistened eyes stared straight at the enemy.

“Theo… I’m the one who’s going to protect him!”

There wasn’t a trace of weakness left in her voice. A dignified presence radiated from her, like a beast unleashed.

“Tch… damn it…!”

The slim man—Yohan—drew a short sword from his waist. The blade gleamed with reflected light. The moment its tip pointed our way—

“That’s enough.”

A calm voice rang out. Flames flickered, and red-orange light illuminated Yohan’s face.

Before I knew it, a flame-wreathed sword tip was pressed against Yohan’s throat. His spine froze rigid, and in the next moment, he let out a pathetic noise and fell flat on his rear.

“M-Milfy…!”

I turned around. Milfy-san stood there. Her golden hair, emitting a faint glow, swayed in the breeze, and her crimson eyes looked down at the man.

“Could you at least add a ‘-san’? Yohan-san.”

She spoke pleasantly. Behind that gentle voice lurked the presence of cold steel.

“Thank you for your hospitality at the church the other day. You have such wonderful friends.”

“U-um, th-there are circumstances…!”

“Yes, yes. I’ll hear them. However—”

The flames intensified with a whoosh, the heat reaching Yohan’s cheek.

“Since you’ve hurt my precious friends, you must have quite an impressive reason, mustn’t you?”

Her expression remained smiling. But the anger lurking behind that smile made the very air tremble.

“H-hiieee?!”

“What’s wrong? Come now, make your excuse. …Quickly. Quickly. Quickly!”