Chapter 82: The Predator’s Soft Side

Today, I planned to use my illness as an excuse to cling to Jinhyang all day.

But it seemed like she had something else to do.

“I’m going out for a bit with Raxy, so get some rest.”

“Yes.”

“If you start feeling strange, press the call button right next to you.”

“This one?”

A red button was right beside the bed.

I reached out to press it for confirmation, but Jinhyang quickly grabbed my hand to stop me.

“You should only press it when you’re actually in pain.”

“Oh.”

Since I wasn’t in pain right now, I shouldn’t press it.

As I nodded in understanding, Jinhyang patted my head and left the hospital room.

Feeling an unexpected emptiness, I stared at the door for a long time.

Maybe she forgot something and would come back.

Maybe she’d come up just because she missed me.

I kept looking at the door with hope, but no one came back.

‘Tsk.’

My energy drained.

My ears and tail drooped as I lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

‘I don’t want to be alone.’

I thought about what to do, but nothing seemed fun.

At this point, playing alone wasn’t entertaining anymore.

‘I wish someone would come quickly.’

With my body still weak, I couldn’t do anything on my own.

I had no choice but to rely on someone’s help.

Going to the bathroom in an emergency was one thing, but bathing would be impossible.

Taking a bath required a lot of movement.

‘What should I do…?’

Given my circumstances, I couldn’t exactly ask someone to wash me.

But I couldn’t wash myself either.

I’d have to figure out a way to bathe alone.

Just as I was rolling my eyes, deep in thought

Click.

The door opened, and someone entered the room.

“Harang.”

“Hm?”

I turned my head and saw Delphine walking in.

She was holding a large towel in her hands.

“Harang, you must’ve sweated a lot.”

“Yeah.”

My body felt a little hot, so I had been sweating quite a bit.

That was why I had been worrying about how to take a shower.

“I’ll wipe you down. Want to take off your clothes?”

“H-Huh?”

Instinctively, I covered my body at Delphine’s words.

Even though she was an adult, she still looked like a young girl.

Stripping in front of her wasn’t something I wanted to do.

It was embarrassing, and it felt like I was doing something wrong.

“Are you embarrassed to be naked?”

“Yeah… Sorry. I’ve never shown my bare body to anyone else before.”

That wasn’t a lie.

Other than Yoon Bora, who helped me when I first wore underwear,

I hadn’t even shown myself to Jinhyang.

“Huh? But back when you overheated”

Delphine suddenly covered her mouth with both hands.

“Overheated?”

“A-Ah, never mind! I must’ve confused you with someone else.”

Of course, it had to be a mistake.

There was no way I had shown my naked body to anyone else.

“Harang, then how about just keeping your underwear on?”

“My underwear?”

“Yeah. That should be fine, right?”

“Well…”

At this point, just being in my underwear wasn’t a big deal.

I could take care of the important areas myself, and Delphine could help with the rest.

I nodded and slowly got up.

Shff

I took off my top, then slipped off my pants.

Since it was a hospital gown, it was easy to take off.

Delphine stared at me in my underwear for a long time.

Just as I was starting to feel awkward under her gaze, she lowered her head and looked down at her own body.

For some reason, her fists clenched tightly.

“Delphine…?”

When I looked at her with slight apprehension, she flashed a soft smile and reached out.

“Harang, we’re about the same height, but why…?”

“W-Why what?”

“No, never mind.”

For some reason, she didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

But since I didn’t know why, I simply kept quiet.

“Ahhh.”

I sighed in satisfaction.

I never knew washing up could feel this good.

Lying on the bed in just my underwear, I giggled at the refreshing sensation.

“How do you feel, Harang?”

“I’m so happy.”

“That’s a relief.”

After saying that, Delphine climbed onto the bed and lay down beside me.

The bed was large enough that we both had plenty of space.

Or maybe it was just because we were both small.

“Alright.”

I reached out toward Delphine.

I wanted to hug her.

Since we were already lying on the same bed, it would feel even better if we cuddled.

Squeeze

I pulled her into my arms like a big stuffed animal.

Unlike Jinhyang or the twins, Delphine didn’t have that soft, plush feeling, but she had her own unique charm.

As I stuck out my tongue, wondering if I should lick her cheek, I noticed her ears had turned bright red.

Like a flustered girl.

“H-Harang…”

“Hm?”

Why was she embarrassed over something as simple as a hug?

I looked at her in confusion, and she quickly lowered her head.

“W-Well, you’re only wearing underwear right now…”

“Yeah, I am.”

I took them off to wash up.

That was obvious.

“Hugging while only wearing underwear… feels kind of embarrassing…”

“Embarrassing…?”

Why?

I stared at her face, puzzled.

Of course, being in just my underwear was a little embarrassing.

But hugging wasn’t.

It was one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to express affection.

The happiness of hugging outweighed any embarrassment from my outfit.

There wasn’t even room for shame to creep in.

‘I’m just happy.’

I could feel her scent, her breath, and her warmth.

There was no space for embarrassment in this.

“Delphine, do you really dislike it?”

“N-No, it’s not that I dislike it…”

She trailed off, rolling her eyes everywhere except in my direction.

She was deliberately avoiding looking at me.

‘Should I let go?’

I wanted to hold on for at least ten more minutes.

Feeling reluctant, I just fidgeted with my fingers when

Click.

The door opened, and Raxy Bora stepped in.

“Harang…”

She froze mid-sentence.

Her hand remained on the doorknob, and her gaze was fixed on us.

She didn’t move at all, simply staring at me and Delphine.

“Raxy?”

Wondering why she was acting like that, I lifted my head slightly.

Then, she strode over to me with firm steps.

“Harang, what exactly are you doing right now…?”

“I washed up and now I’m resting.”

“Resting?”

“Yeah. Hugging tightly like this makes me happy, so it refills my energy.”

Wasn’t that common knowledge?

Why were they acting like strangers?

As I looked back and forth between them in confusion, Raxy Bora gently stroked Delfine’s head and spoke.

“Delfine.”

“Y-Yes…?”

Delfine’s voice was stiff as she responded.

She looked as tense as I had been when I first met Jinhyang.

“Let’s switch for a moment, okay?”

“A-Ah, yes. Go ahead.”

With an awkward smile, Delfine slipped out of my arms.

“Aww…”

The emptiness in my arms felt disappointing.

But before I could dwell on it, Raxy Bora immediately filled the space.

Just like that, the disappointment vanished.

“Hehe.”

With a delighted expression, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

“B-Bora…”

She was squeezing me so tightly it felt like I was going to burst.

She hadn’t done this in a while.

Why was she suddenly acting like this?

“Ugh!”

If this kept up, I was going to die.

I had to do something.

I stuck out my tongue and licked her face all over.

But unlike my usual affectionate licks, this was a desperate, rapid-fire series three times in a single second.

“H-Harang!”

“Nyaghhh!”

But instead of loosening, her grip only grew stronger.

Maybe today was the day I died.

With no other choice, I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.

I was being carried in Raxy Bora’s arms.

At least I was fully dressed this time.

“Sorry, Harang. Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m totally fine. Alive and kicking.”

“That’s a relief. Sometimes you’re just so cute, I lose control.”

“R-Really? But I’m not cute. I’m fierce and scary, aren’t I?”

I looked at her in disbelief.

Not once had I ever considered myself cute.

“Well, you are fierce, but right now, you’re my little sister.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Technically, I was older than her, but I wasn’t about to argue about that now.

I just nodded.

“No matter how scary or fierce you are, you’re still my sister, so you’re not scary at all.”

“Is that so?”

“You’d never attack your sister, right?”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

She had a point.

No matter how scary or fierce I might be, if it was someone close to me, there was no reason to be afraid.

‘So Bora doesn’t find me scary anymore, huh?’

That was… a little disappointing.

I was supposed to be a fearsome beast to everyone.

But just because we were close, I wasn’t scary at all?

It felt like I had lost my dignity as a predator.

‘Tsk.’

Raxy Bora had wounded my pride.

She had poked the sleeping lion or rather, the tiger.

Just wait.

Even the people closest to me should know I’m a force to be reckoned with.

But for now, I couldn’t do anything.

I would prove my fierceness once I fully recovered.

Once my body was in top shape, I would rule the world like a true tiger.

Of course, I’d have to get Jinhyang’s permission first.