TPA 05

Chapter 5

The Wolf and the Hunter (5)

“What… what kind of nonsense is this?”

She blinked blankly for a while, then slowly inhaled. With an almost dumbfounded expression, she finally asked back to Ul.

“Excuse me?”

“I want you. I want to have you.”

Once again, his blunt declaration left her mind reeling.

“Why…?”

She had never dated anyone in her 25 years of life—a complete lifelong single. She had never been confessed to, never confessed to anyone. Her entire life had been consumed by one single purpose: hunting and dealing with beast-people. Love, marriage, men—none of that had a place in her life.

It was natural she was bewildered by this sudden confession.

“Because you are necessary in my life.”

“So… why? Do you like me? What… what are you basing this on? We haven’t even spent a full day together.”

Ul, with his calm tone, began explaining the situation he found himself in.

“Do you know why beast-people kill humans?”

The sudden change in topic left Misa with a hesitant expression.

“To eat them, I guess. They have an instinctual desire to feed on humans.”

“No. Beast-people don’t need humans to survive. Their bodies don’t die if they don’t eat.”

“…Excuse me? Then why do they kill humans?”

“Because they are tormented by a desire to kill.”

“…A desire to kill?”

“I don’t know why. That’s just how we were made. Anyway, this urge to kill grows stronger over time.”

“So… they kill humans just to satisfy this urge?”

“Yes.”

“Then… why eat them afterward?”

“At first, the urge to kill is the main reason, but over time, it transforms into various desires. It can become a strong appetite, sexual desire, or other urges at any moment.”

“…I see.”

“I’m no exception.”

Misa shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine at his words.

Right. This man was a beast-person. He seemed so human that it was hard to believe he was capable of such cruelty.

“But I don’t want to kill humans mercilessly.”

“….”

“I’ve held back for a long time, lived for ages, and now I’m nearing my limit. If I continue like this, I might succumb like other beast-people, killing humans for fun.”

It was agonizing.

More agonizing than the loneliness and emptiness of eternal life was the anxiety of not knowing when he might become a monster.

“I don’t want to become a monster.”

“So… why tell me all this?”

He had injected her with pheromones and observed her writhing in pain, and he had realized something crucial.

“The day you treated my wounds, I was on the brink of losing control. I could have torn you apart without a second thought.”

“…You were that dangerous? It wasn’t just because you were hurt and exhausted?”

Ul let out a bitter chuckle and answered:

“It was me who caused those injuries.”

“….”

“I tore my own flesh. I was going crazy, wanting to bite something.”

“…Good heavens.”

“But I didn’t die. I just can’t die like other beast-people.”

If he could die, he probably would have chosen death without hesitation.

“The day you healed me, I slept well for the first time in a long while.”

“….”

“It felt good. Even my obsessive urge to kill was subdued.”

Was it coincidence?

It couldn’t be.

“I suspected you had something to do with it.”

“….”

“After watching you for a week, I became certain.”

“….”

“I don’t know why, but your existence seems to affect my state.”

“That’s… unbelievable. You want me to believe that?”

“I think it’s unbelievable too.”

“So you want me to stay with you… for that reason?”

Misa looked at Ul, her face tense and confused.

It was already amazing that a beast-person could communicate rationally. And now he wanted her to spend all her time with him?

Humans had never considered coexisting with beast-people.

What about everyone around her? They still feared beast-people. And her job was to hunt them.

Hunter and beast-person—natural enemies.

“This is impossible.”

“Why?”

“You’re a beast-person. I’m human, and my job is to hunt your kind.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Absolutely! If anyone finds out I’m with a beast-person, I could be executed. They’ll say I was helping them, giving them information secretly…”

All beast-people are to be eliminated without question.

To be seen with one is unthinkable.

Ul remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:

“What you do… isn’t it to protect humans?”

“…Yes.”

“Then all the more, you should accept my request.”

“….”

“I’m not like ordinary beast-people.”

“I have the power and body to kill far more in a short time than they do.”

“If I were to lose control of my urges, it would be humans like you who’d die.”

“….”

“I told you, I’m at my limit.”

Ordinary beast-people were no match for him. The aura and confidence he exuded were unlike any other beast-person she had encountered.

If left unchecked, who knew what disaster could occur? This was no empty threat.

“Ha… I suppose I’m doomed either way.”

“Why would you die? Do you think I’d just let you die?”

“That’s not it. If anyone discovers you’re a beast-person, I’m finished. I could be executed. I don’t want to die like that. If I die, I want to at least have killed one more beast-person myself.”

“If that happens, I’ll protect you.”

“Even if I were a recluse in the mountains, maybe. But I work in the Imperial Special Investigation Unit. I can’t be with you in these circumstances.”

“You won’t know, not for a while.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Just for a few hours, it’s enough.”

Even brief contact with him seemed to affect her for days. She didn’t need to be with him every day.

“I just want you by my side until your life ends.”

“…For life?”

“For me, it’s only a short time anyway.”

“Will you be mine?”

Misa exhaled deeply, scratching her head.

“Mine? I’m not some possession.”

“Being together for life, isn’t that what I meant?”

“….”

“That’s what I meant.”

“…That’s nonsense.”

She wondered if it was fair to demand a lifetime for having saved her life.

“Beast-people are possessive of what’s theirs.”

“….”

“And wolves only mate with one partner for life.”

“You’re not a wolf, you’re a beast-person.”

“Half of my blood is wolf, anyway.”

“So… you mean I’m your mate?”

“Yes. I can’t let another take you.”

“You’re crazy.”

Misa squinted and scolded Ul, pointing at him.

“Thanks for saving my life, but demanding a lifetime in return? That’s robbery!”

“….”

“And I’m just an ordinary human woman. I want to live a normal life someday—marriage, children, a family. I can’t spend my whole life tangled with you.”

Ul chuckled and held her hand as she gestured angrily.

“If you truly love someone someday, I’ll let you go then.”

“…Really? What do you mean ‘won’t happen’?”

“If I’m here, you won’t even notice other humans.”

“…What kind of confidence is that?”

“Humans are visually honest animals. They obsess over appearance and beauty.”

In other words, since she would be in front of him, no one else would matter.

“…I can’t really argue with that.”

“Anyway… stay with me.”

Misa’s gaze wavered.

“I want you.”

“….”

“I need you desperately.”

Her internal conflict radiated through her trembling gaze.

Ul slowly continued, like driving a wedge:

“I’ll give you all my knowledge about beast-people.”

Misa flinched.

“And if you’re ever in danger, I’ll protect you.”

“You mean… fight against beast-people? Kill your own kind?”

“I’ve been opposing beast-people for a long time.”

“…I’ve never heard of a beast-person killing another.”

“I killed the one who tried to kill you.”

“….”

“This way, you have nothing to lose by agreeing.”

True. It might even be beneficial: He would restrain his urges, prevent human slaughter, provide high-level information about beast-people, and ensure her safety.

But could she fully trust him?

He was a highly intelligent beast-person, after all. What if he had another motive?

‘Can I trust him? Should I?’

“What if I refuse?”

“I’ll kill you here.”

“…That’s harsh.”

“Otherwise, I’d go on killing humans recklessly.”

It was essentially a threat.

There was no choice. She could either die at his hands or accept this absurd proposal. The latter seemed far better than dying immediately.

After long deliberation, Misa extended her hand to Ul.

“I’m Misa.”

Ul grasped her hand, a smug smile on his face.

“I’m Ul.”

Thus began a relationship that shouldn’t exist, unacceptable in any era.

*

“How long has it been?”

“A week and three more days.”

“Ah… I’m doomed…”

“Why?”

“I’ll be killed if I return now.”

“Who would kill you? I’ll handle that before anyone else does.”

She sighed at the thought of how serious Ul could be.

“Where are we going?”

“Where else? Back to the capital.”

“Isn’t that quite far from here?”

“Yes, it took three whole days to get here—nonstop, day and night.”

“Why come all this way?”

“Three people died. Their organs were eaten. There’s no one else but beast-people. I came to stop more victims.”

They came to hunt beast-people, but she ended up at risk herself.

“If we walk this whole way, it’ll never end.”

“Then ride.”

Misa reached for Ul’s hand, but he grabbed it.

“Walking for days is out of the question.”

“Then what choice do I have? There’s no vehicle, no transport—nothing.”

As she spoke, something unbelievable happened.

A bluish smoke began to flow from Ul, filling the entire space and obscuring her view.

Misa waited for the smoke to clear, then gasped, falling to the ground.

“…A wolf?”

A massive wolf appeared.

Its size was beyond comparison to a normal wolf—bigger than a bear or tiger.

It exuded a terrifying presence yet was mesmerizing. Anyone would be spellbound.

“Sit tight. Don’t fall off.”

“…What… is this?”

Could this man have both human and beast forms?

She’d never heard of such a beast-person.

“Beast transformation. That’s what this is.”

“…Impossible. I’ve never seen such a beast-person.”

“The history of beast-people is longer than you think. There are many types, and more might exist.”

So others might also be capable of transformation.

“If that’s true… it’s terrifying.”

“Now, ride.”

Misa hesitated, then climbed onto Ul’s wolf form. The fur looked soft and fluffy, beyond imagination.

Overwhelmed by the texture, she buried her face in it, breathing in its fresh, faintly sweet scent.

“Hold on tight!”

“Yes! Go!”

Ul sighed at Misa’s excitement but accelerated, running swiftly under the moonlit path, her excited movements trembling atop him.

Though he could find her behavior annoying, he couldn’t help but feel a strange satisfaction, and so he ran on.