Oh, Iyer! Iyerpol! – Chapter 43

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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They drank at the pub until nearly all the other patrons had left. Wagner excused himself, mentioning work the next day, and Kundt followed soon after.

This left Wolf Who Chases the Wind, Guinness, and Iyer to continue drinking until they finally stumbled out of the pub.

“Take care, everyone!”

Iyer, looking pleasantly intoxicated, waved goodbye and started down the street.

With Iyer gone, only Guinness and Wolf remained.

Wolf grinned, watching Guinness stare after Iyer’s retreating form.

“I hear Dragonewts are naturally aloof and difficult to befriend.”

“……What?”

Guinness frowned at Wolf’s loaded statement.

The atmosphere had shifted dramatically since Iyer’s departure.

While he was present, Guinness had been unusually quiet, simply drinking.

Now, with him gone, her demeanor had become noticeably aggressive.

“Are you picking a fight?”

“Not at all. I’m merely observing. You and Iyerpol…”

“…….”

“I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately. Taking gathering requests, no less. That’s unusual for you, isn’t it? Sticking to subjugation work and all.”

Guinness’s eyebrow twitched at the mention of Iyerpol’s name.

She quickly turned her head, but Wolf’s sharp eyes caught the softening of her gaze.

He moved closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper.

“Why are you spending time with Iyerpol?”

“……Shut up. Stop asking.”

“Just curious. Iyerpol seems to think highly of you, but I’m not sure how you feel about him…”

Guinness raised a hand at Wolf’s goading words.

Normally, her fist would have connected with his face, but instead, she simply covered her face.

However, her reddening ears betrayed her.

Wolf’s grin widened.

“……I was just curious about what you were doing.”

“Why? Why were you curious?”

“Just…watching him…”

“So you’ve been watching Iyerpol.”

“That’s…”

Guinness clenched her jaw.

She seemed frustrated, but she couldn’t deny it.

The longer she remained silent, the wider Wolf’s grin became.

She looked angry, but she couldn’t refute his words.

She lowered her gaze, her hand still covering her face, then cautiously peeked through her fingers.

Wolf’s crescent-shaped eyes met hers.

“You bastard!”

“Heh!”

She lunged at him, her fist flying, the moment she realized he was teasing her.

But Wolf was the most agile adventurer in Tillasden.

He easily dodged her attack and stepped back.

Guinness cracked her knuckles, a menacing look in her eyes.

“I’m going to kill you today, you mutt…”

“Whoa, calm down. I’m on your side, lizard girl.”

“I don’t care whose side you’re on! I need to beat you to a pulp to get rid of this irritating feeling!”

Guinness advanced, her face flushed with anger. Wolf remained unfazed. As she closed the distance between them, he pointed at her chest.

“I think I know what this ‘irritating feeling’ is.”

“……!”

Guinness’s eyes widened at his words.

‘Heh heh.’

Wolf chuckled inwardly.

This was entertaining.

The ferocious Dragonewt, silenced by the mere mention of a name.

The girl who had known only negative relationships her entire life was now experiencing something positive.

Her unusual quietness at the pub had been amusing enough, but this was even better.

‘You must be confused, violent Dragonewt girl.’

He wasn’t sure exactly what Guinness felt for Iyerpol, but he was certain it was positive.

And the best way to figure out exactly what that feeling was?

‘That’s for the lizard girl to discover herself…’

Guinness’s shoulders trembled at his words. Her aggressive posture had vanished, replaced by uncertainty. She covered her face again.

“……What is this?”

“This feeling that makes your chest flutter and your face flush.”

“Yes! Why am I feeling this…!”

Her fingers couldn’t hide the trembling of her wide eyes.

She wanted to reciprocate the positive feelings, but she didn’t even know how to identify them, let alone express them.

She was simply following her heart.

Wolf grinned at her obvious distress.

“That feeling is called ‘desire.’”

“Desire…?”

“Yes, desire.”

The desire to know someone better, to spend more time with them, to become closer.

That was what Guinness felt for Iyerpol, Wolf explained.

Guinness’s eyes trembled as she stared at the ground.

“I don’t…feel that way…”

“Perhaps it’s too abstract for you right now.”

“……!”

“But seeing is believing, as they say. I know a way for you to understand your feelings for Iyerpol more clearly.”

“A way to understand…?”

Guinness’s eyes, filled with a desperate vulnerability Wolf had never seen before, looked up at him.

The ferocious Dragonewt, looking at him with such pleading eyes…he hadn’t imagined it possible.

‘I’ll give you the ultimate medicine, lizard girl.’

A way for Guinness to understand her feelings for Iyerpol instantly.

A mischievous image formed in Wolf’s mind, and his grin widened.

“Tomorrow. Come to the guild around lunchtime. I’ll show you there.”

“……Really?”

“Absolutely.”

He saw the distrust in her eyes, but also the desperate curiosity.

She wanted to understand the feelings that confused her so much.

He knew she wouldn’t refuse his offer.

And as he predicted, after a moment of hesitation, Guinness gave a small nod.

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The morning sky was clear.

Iyer rubbed his aching head as he left his house.

He had clearly overindulged the previous night.

The headache that had started when he went to bed lingered.

He remembered having dinner with his party, but the rest was a blur.

He had definitely drunk too much.

“I’m starting to get a bit of a gut. I should cut back on the drinking…”

He didn’t want a beer belly in his twenties.

He stretched and yawned, and a large figure approached from the opposite direction.

Someone that large was rare in Tillasden.

It had to be either Kundt or Wolf.

And as he predicted, Wolf emerged from the crowd.

Iyer waved back at Wolf’s cheerful greeting.

“Morning, Iyerpol.”

“Morning. Did you get home alright last night?”

“I did. Are you headed to the guild?”

“Yes. Got to work hard today.”

Though it was hardly work, he thought.

Wolf said, “Good,” and rummaged through a pouch at his waist.

He pulled out a small, pink box.

Why was he giving this to Iyer?

“What’s this?”

“Do you know the receptionist, Rigati, at the guild?”

“Yes, we’re somewhat acquainted.”

“I owed her a favor, and I completely forgot to repay it. If you don’t mind, could you give this to her on your way?”

“Sure, I don’t mind, but…”

Shouldn’t he give the gift himself?

Was it appropriate for Iyer to deliver it?

As he hesitated, Wolf pressed the box into his hand.

It was a beautiful box, as if it contained jewelry.

He smiled broadly.

“Thanks. I have a request right now.”

“Oh, okay…”

“Let’s have a drink again soon.”

With a final wave, Wolf turned and walked away.

…Why was he going in the direction of the guild if he had a request elsewhere?

It was odd, but it wasn’t a difficult task.

Iyer tucked the box into his pocket and continued towards the guild.

He had a feeling that Wolf’s smile had been…meaningful.

The morning of her meeting with Wolf Who Chases the Wind.

Guinness arrived at the guild earlier than their agreed-upon time.

“Why isn’t he here yet…?”

She was early, but she seemed anxious as she waited for Wolf.

She fidgeted, tapping her fingers on her arm and tapping her foot on the ground.

If Wolf had seen her, he would have grinned.

People, intimidated by Guinness’s presence, avoided the front entrance and used the back door instead.

Wolf arrived some time later.

“You’re late… What took you so long?”

“Heh. Don’t rush me, lizard girl. You would have had to wait even if I had arrived early.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, speak of the devil. Lizard girl, hide here.”

Wolf spotted something and gestured for Guinness to follow him into a nearby alley.

She wasn’t sure what he was up to, but she followed.

She peeked out from behind Wolf’s furry back…

“……!”

She saw a familiar figure.

Iyerpol.

He was entering the guild.

She instinctively ducked back behind Wolf.

She had come here to understand the strange feelings that stirred within her whenever she saw Iyerpol.

And now, seeing him again, those feelings resurfaced.

Wolf, seemingly waiting for Iyer to enter the guild, stepped out of the alley.

Guinness followed, grinding her teeth.

“What are you planning?”

“Look inside the guild. You’ll understand what this ‘desire’ is.”

“……What?”

Wolf’s grin was mischievous as he peered through the window.

She felt uneasy, but she had to follow him to understand the confusing emotions that plagued her.

She looked through the window.

‘Heh.’

Wolf chuckled inwardly.

The situation was unfolding perfectly.

It was all up to Guinness now.

How would she react?

Guinness looked inside.

The guild was relatively quiet.

Unlike the morning rush, there were few people inside.

Iyerpol stood at the counter.

He chatted amiably with the receptionist, a friendly smile on his face.

He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

…A small, pink box.

He handed it to the receptionist, who accepted it with a delighted expression.

“……Oh.”

A necklace emerged from the box.

The receptionist beamed as she held it up to her neck.

Iyerpol smiled.

Guinness’s eyes widened as she watched their exchange.

“Ugh…”

A sharp pang of something tightened in her chest.

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[NOOOOO GUINESS DONT FALL FOR IT]