TPA 06

Chapter 6

The Gourmet’s Table (1)

When he said he wanted them to “be together,” it meant more than just keeping in touch. It meant sharing every moment—down to invading Misa’s personal living space—and she had no choice but to accept that interpretation.

But still—

“You’re not seriously planning to come into my house too, are you?”

“Of course.”

“Are you insane?”

“We made a contract.”

“I never agreed to live together.”

“Isn’t that what being together means? Living in the same space, at the same time.”

Living together.

Letting a strange man into her house?!

“Can’t you stay somewhere else?”

“The whole point is to be with you. That would defeat the purpose.”

“Ugh…”

“Or you could leave the city and live with me in the forest.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Going back and forth between the city wastes time. And there’s no guarantee people won’t notice me.”

“But still—!”

“You’d draw more attention that way. Rumors could start. You’d be the one in trouble.”

I’m already in trouble enough as it is!

This was completely insane.

A hunter who hunts beast-people living under the same roof as one?

If anyone found out…

Just imagining it was horrifying.

She wouldn’t just have to quit being a hunter—her entire life could be ruined.

People might suspect her of colluding with beast-people behind the scenes. She’d be branded a traitor.

She could be executed.

Or rot in prison for life.

Or beaten to death by a mob.

Absolutely terrifying.

“…Fine. I don’t have a choice. But you stay inside like a dead mouse. Without my permission, you do not go outside. Ever.”

“Drawing human attention would only be troublesome for me as well. I have no intention of doing that.”

How had her life gone so horribly wrong?

Grabbing her throbbing forehead, Misa groaned and glared at Ul.

“I should’ve just ignored you, injured or not. This is what I get for being nosy…”

“Your nosiness saved your life.”

She couldn’t argue with that.

She undeniably owed him her life.

They had arrived at her house.

Misa carefully scanned the surroundings. It was early dawn, when everyone was asleep. The street was quiet and dark.

Even so, anxious that someone might see, she hurriedly shoved Ul inside.

“Fine, we’ll live together per the contract—but don’t invade my private space. Deal?”

“I have no desire to.”

“Hah! Same here, okay?”

Once inside, Misa immediately turned on the light.

The house was a disaster.

Ul clicked his tongue at the miserable sight.

“Disgusting.”

“Haha… I’m barely ever home, so I don’t really have time to clean…”

“If you’re never home, why even buy a house?”

“It’s my job. When I’m chasing suspects, I sometimes live outside for almost a month.”

Laughing awkwardly, Misa opened a tightly shut door.

The room had originally been used as a storage space.

“Here. This is your room.”

“I’d believe you if you told me this was a pigsty.”

“Haha! We can clean it starting now! Come on!”

Misa handed him a broom and picked one up herself.

“If we’re living together, chores are shared.”

Could a human even live in a place like this?

Ul sighed and took the broom. He’d rather die than live buried in dust and mold.

Thus, their cohabitation began with a massive cleaning session.

“It’s been a whole week. A week!”

Misa—who everyone thought was dead—returned alive and well.

Team leader Glam shouted, veins bulging in his neck.

“No matter how obsessed you are with hunting beast-people, you’re going to get yourself killed! Do you hear me?!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Everything in moderation! Moderation!”

“I get it.”

Watching her reckless temperament never change, Glam vented his frustration—then sighed heavily and sat down.

“At least you’re alive.”

“You were worried?”

“Is that even a question?!”

“I’m sorry.”

More than anger, Glam felt relief. She was like a daughter to him. The fact that she returned alive was enough.

“Submit a report. You’re off investigations for now.”

“Off? What do you mean? What am I supposed to do then?”

Glam raised an eyebrow.

“Vacation. Rest. Clear your head.”

“…Vacation?”

“This is the first time. You don’t seem like you want to talk, so I won’t pry. Just go rest.”

“…How long?”

“One week.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.”

Normally, Misa would’ve refused.

Vacation was a luxury for someone who chased beast-people nonstop.

Her uncharacteristic acceptance made Glam suspicious.

“What’s gotten into you? You didn’t even protest.”

“I just think it’s time I take things a little slower.”

“…Nothing happened, right?”

“Nope.”

Something huge happened.

There’s a thousand-year-old white wolf beast-man living in my house right now, waiting for me to get home.

No one would believe this. I can barely believe it myself.

The real reason she accepted the vacation was Ul.

With his striking appearance, he couldn’t go outside. They’d agreed he’d stay in her house while she worked, only moving freely at night.

I wonder if he’s eaten.

He’d lived alone for a thousand years—surely he could manage. Still, she couldn’t help worrying.

Like leaving a newly adopted puppy home alone for the first time.

“I’ll see you in a week.”

“Yeah. Please actually rest. And don’t go causing trouble somewhere.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not a kid.”

“You always say that and then cause a huge incident.”

“This time will be different. Probably.”

“Stay home and rest. If you get caught doing something stupid, you’re dead.”

Laughing, Misa left the investigation bureau.

“Do I even have food at home…?”

Probably not.

With that house, there was no way the fridge was fine.

It was either empty or full of rotten food.

And now she wasn’t living alone. Plus, she had vacation.

“I should go grocery shopping first.”

When it came to beast-people, nine out of ten times they ate humans.

Tearing flesh. Eating organs.

Choosing food was the first hurdle.

Ul was a beast-person too. He probably preferred human flesh.

But obviously, she couldn’t buy that.

Assuming any meat would do, she bought every kind she could find—fruit, vegetables, necessities, clothes, daily items.

When she returned home, arms full, Ul was nowhere to be seen.

“Ul?”

As she looked around, the door clicked open behind her.

She gasped and covered her eyes.

Ul stood there, wet, wearing only a towel around his waist.

“You’re back early.”

She peeked. Again.

Beast-people were said to be born beautiful to lure humans.

But Misa had never found them beautiful.

They were monsters.

Yet her gaze kept drifting to him.

His wet, well-built body, his calm eyes—everything felt strangely sensual.

Was this instinct overpowering reason?

“I was waiting.”

Ul approached casually, bare-chested.

Misa snapped back to her senses and thrust out her hand.

“S-stop! No closer!”

“Why?”

“We’re different species, but we’re still a man and a woman! At least put some clothes on!”

Ul tilted his chin and smirked.

“I suppose my existence is fatal to females.”

“Could you please talk like a human? ‘Females’? Say women!”

“Your face is red.”

He leaned down to her eye level.

“You seem warm.”

His large hand touched her forehead.

“Or is there another reason?”

Her breath caught. Every cell in her body went rigid. Heat rushed through her.

“Are you okay?”

She knew he was teasing.

But his breath was too close. Their lips almost touched.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Ul straightened, expressionless.

“Scaredy-cat.”

He laughed and sat down.

“Nothing like that will ever happen. Relax.”

“….”

“I do have eyes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?! I’m not lacking in any department!”

“From how you act, you seem like someone who’s never dated.”

“I-I have!”

“Hard to believe, but I’ll humor you.”

“Seriously, stop joking. Here—put this on.”

She tossed him the clothes.

“And put the groceries away. I’m changing and showering!”

She rushed into her room, panting.

This is worse than I expected. Bad for my health. Am I going to die early at this rate?

One joke and her heart nearly stopped.

Now I get why beast-people can seduce humans.

That overwhelming attraction.

Victims probably followed them willingly.

Now she understood.

That confidence of his made sense.

That abnormal beauty.

“If someone like that approaches you, who wouldn’t fall for it…?”

She changed clothes and came out.

Ul was organizing the fridge, fully dressed.

“It suits you.”

White shirt. Black pants. Simple—but unfairly striking.

Feeling wronged by the universe, Misa joined him.

“You didn’t eat all day, did you?”

“I don’t need to eat.”

“Right… Do beast-people actually taste humans?”

“Yes. Very stimulating. Delicious.”

“…That figures.”

“Once you start, you get addicted.”

“Have you eaten humans?”

“In the beginning.”

His calm tone made her skin crawl.

She laughed awkwardly.

“Scared?”

“I’d be lying if I said no.”

“It’s been about 800 years since I stopped.”

“…That’s possible?”

“That urge nearly drove me mad. I quit.”

“…So you didn’t eat anything for 800 years?”

He nodded.

She stared at him blankly.

Suddenly, she felt sorry for him.

“Maybe there’s something else you’d like.”

“There isn’t.”

“Times have changed. There’s so much food now.”

“If that were true, beast-people wouldn’t hunt humans.”

She pulled out beef and handed it to him.

“Try it.”

He bit, chewed, then spat it out.

“Disgusting.”

Nothing worked.

Finally, she handed him something else.

“Try this.”

“What is it?”

“Snacks.”

It was dog food.

He ate it.

“…This is edible.”

It was a revolution.

He emptied the bag.

That was the day a thousand-year-old beast-man discovered dog food as a substitute for humans.