Chapter 76 - Essentially, Men and Women Can Never Fully Understand Each Other
「Evil Dragon? I don't know.」
The next morning, when Zunba came to invite us for breakfast, I asked her about it, but she seemed genuinely unaware.
Well, it's probably not the kind of story you tell a young child.
Anyway, Zunba saw us in a very embarrassing situation.
When she entered our hut, we were still half-asleep, and Faran had a firm grip on my exposed thing, which was in a fully aroused state.
「You, male?」[TLN: She said Osu]
At Zunba's question, which could only be described as belated, I hastily put away my private part and inadvertently answered, "O-Osu." [TLN: 押忍 = Male(animal), also you can use Osu (always used on sport)]
No, I didn't mean to make a pun.
But for some reason, Faran, who seemed to find it funny, covered her mouth and shook her shoulders with laughter.
After getting ready, we headed to Ziruko's hut together with Zunba.
Breakfast was already prepared, and when we entered the hut, Ziruko welcomed us, saying, "Welcome."
While having breakfast, I asked Ziruko about the Evil Dragon and the sacrifice.
She had a momentary look of surprise but shook her head and responded, "I can't say."
Then, she let out a deep sigh.
「I can pretty much guess where you heard it from. It's from Kairi, right?」
I tried to laugh it off, but Ziruko seemed convinced that Kairi was the one who said it.
「That child is really... If it's discovered that she spoke that, she could be expelled from the village. She's really careless. Even though she's already standing out from everyone else...」
「Oh, so she's standing out after all?」
「Yes, to the point where she's nicknamed 'The Star.'」
「She's standing out to the point of breaking through the stratosphere!」
Yep, well, she doesn't seem to have any friends...
Actually, I've never seen her talking to other beastkin.
As I smiled wryly, Ziruko suddenly leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear.
「About that matter we discussed earlier......Have you thought about that?」
That matter.
It must be the request to take Zunba with us when we leave this village.
As I pondered how to respond, I made eye contact with the sulking Faran.
「Ziruko... I think it's better not to get too close to that guy. He's a creepy man who imagines himself incorporating a beautiful girl like you into his own body when he eats the meal you prepare.」
「Isn't this going too far with rumors!?」
(Damn you, Faran!!)
I thought about why she suddenly brought this up, but it's not the first time she's done something like this.
It seems she still harbors a grudge from losing in the match, as she occasionally harasses me during conversations with other beastkin.
In fact, Ziruko distanced herself from me in an instant, and until the end of the meal, an awkward and tense atmosphere lingered.
「Because you said something weird, I couldn't get any more information out of her!」
As we returned to our hut and reprimanded her, Faran made a slightly sulky face.
「We don't need to ask her. It's okay, Oz can handle it somehow. Like, you know.......I think you'll do something.」
「It's okay, you say...Fine, but can you stop speaking based solely on women's intuition?!」
「Then, what else can we rely on besides intuition?!」
「Reasoning, maybe?!」
It's something I've occasionally felt with Arvine and Shirley as well, but there are times when it seems that women have a different way of thinking than men.
Maybe fundamentally, men and women can never truly understand each other.
「In the end, it seems there's only one person we can get information from.」
Of course, it's the eyepatch cat, Kairi.
If it gets out that Kairi talked, she might be kicked out of the village, so we can't casually ask other beastkin for information.
「But haven't you already heard everything from her?」
「No, she didn't spill the crucial parts... but there must be a way.」
For now, Faran and I decided to go hunting as usual.
Faran takes charge of the hunting as usual, and I'm treated like a hunting dog as usual.
After finishing the hunt, we return to the village, and out of nowhere, the eyepatch cat approaches us and starts inspecting the prey we're carrying.
「Oooh, there are birds again today. Oh, in addition to Hurok birds, there are also gray owls! Seriously, I've never eaten them before, but I really want to...」
「...We're totally fine selling the birds, but Kairi, about yesterday's conversation, I want you to tell me who will be the next sacrifice and when.」
「Huh? Hell if I know.」
「Hmm, you won't tell me? Well then, yesterday's birds will be your last meal.」
At that, the eyepatch cat looks at the birds with a fierce gaze and lets out a frustrated voice.
「I-It's not like I care! I-If you guys leave and don't come back, I won't be able to eat them anyway, s-so I'm not really bothered!」
What she says and her expression are completely opposite. It seems that even if she lies, it shows on her face. I can't help but think that she's actually a pretty good person.
However, I anticipated such an answer.
「Faran.」
When I snap my fingers, Faran, who was standing behind me, presents the frozen bird meat to the eyepatch cat.
「W-What's that? Is it frozen?」
「Well, too bad. We know a way to preserve bird meat for a long time, you know? By freezing it like this, you can keep it for a long time. Just thaw it and cook it when you want to eat it, and it'll last a long time.」
The eyepatch cat doesn't say anything. She just raises an eyebrow in surprise, as if trying to gauge my reaction.
「So, Kairi, since we've been helped by you, if you answer our questions, starting tomorrow, we'll make sure all the birds we catch are in a state suitable for long-term preservation. But even so, will you still not tell us?」
Kairi gulps audibly.
Actually, in reality, it would only last for a day without Faran to maintain the frozen state with magic. But well, sometimes lies are necessary.
Kairi's black eyes dart around as if surveying the surroundings. Then, she whispers in a low voice.
「It's not safe here. I-I'll come to your hut late tonight, and we'll talk there...」
However, no matter how long we waited, she never came.
Furthermore, from the next day on, Kairi's whereabouts were nowhere to be found.
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