Karishu was bursting with excitement, practically bouncing around, wagging his arms and tail enthusiastically.
I'm not a big eater like Karishu, so I just ordered the Quattro Cheese Triple Wagyu Patty Set. For reference, the set includes a burger, French fries, and a cola.
Soon enough, our orders arrived, and we each took our trays and found seats. Watching Kari Shu's tail wagging energetically as he headed to his seat, I realized something interesting—beastfolk seem to wag their tails when they're happy, almost instinctively. I made a mental note of it.
Karishu was clearly impressed by his burger.
"A huge burger with four types of cheese and three juicy beef patties! I've been dying to try this!"
With that, Karishu took a massive bite.
*Crunch, crunch, crunch.*
"Kyaaa~ This is amazing!"
"That good, huh?" I asked.
"The best! You should hurry up and try yours!"
I picked up my burger and took a bite as well.
*Munching.*
"Hmmm. The chunks of beef in the patty are huge. The cheese, beef, and sauce create a perfect blend of sweet and savory."
It really was delicious. Apparently, even in another world, the classic combination of cheese, beef, and a sweet-salty sauce remains unbeatable.
I glanced over at Karishu, who was devouring his food like he hadn't eaten in days.
I figured this would be a good chance to ask Karishu about Kasha's preferences in men.
"Karishu, can I ask you something about Kasha?"
"Sure, ask away."
"What kind of person is Kasha? Is she into the cute type? Or maybe the strong type?"
"Heh, Kasha? Kasha is truly something else—a heavenly man."
"Huh? Wait, Kasha's not a woman?"
"She is, but she'd rather protect others than be protected."
"So, how should I act around her?"
"Don't overdo it by trying to act tough. Show off your cute side. Kasha loves cute guys, so she'll appreciate it if you lean into that."
'Exactly like the Kasha I read about in the novel.'
"What if I act tough?"
"Can you beat Kasha in a fight?"
"Uh, no."
"Then don't even think about it. If Kasha challenges you, you'll be in for a world of pain. Don't provoke her unnecessarily."
"I'll be careful."
After chatting with Karishu, I felt like I had a better grasp of how to behave around Kasha.
"So, Karishu, what do you think Kasha will wear on our date?"
Karishu thought for a moment before replying.
"Honestly? It's your first date, so I'm guessing she'll show up in her special forces uniform. Oh, and she'll probably bring Harley along."
"Harley? You mean her companion wolf?"
"Wait, how do you know about Harley?"
I had slipped up. In this world, influential beastfolk families often raise massive animals as pets from a young age. In the novel, Harley is Kasha's giant gray wolf. Kasha loves riding Harley, and at the academy, Harley stays in a special barracks for the pets of noble students.
"I, uh, overheard some werefolks talking about Kasha while passing by," I quickly explained.
"Ah, makes sense. You're pretty into Kasha, huh?"
"Yeah."
Karishu gave me a curious look.
"There are people who look at Kasha like that, you know, as a love interest."
"What do you mean?"
"Since Kasha has such a strong, manly presence, most guys are intimidated."
"I kind of like that about him."
"To each their own. Personally, I prefer smaller, cuter girls who seem like they need protecting."
"Well, nothing wrong with that either."
Karishu finished his meal and gave me a serious look.
"I have some advice for you."
"What is it?"
"You can date Kasha, but don't even think about marrying her."
"Let me guess—she said she'd only marry the man who can beat her, right?"
"How the heck do you know that too?"
Karishu looked at me, puzzled.
"Just a wild guess."
"Wow… Seriously, though. You're still planning to meet Kasha?"
"As long as I beat her, right?"
"You think you can manage that? Kasha can take down fully transformed adult beastfolk. She's practically invincible!"
"Well, the only way to know who's stronger is to try. I might lose now, but someday, I'll win."
Karishu stared at me in shock, then started patting me on the shoulder as if to encourage me.
"Hey, I'm rooting for you! Damn, you're the type of guy Kasha needs. Honestly, Kasha's got ridiculous standards for marriage, but if you stick with it, I think she'll come around."
"Thanks for the support."
"No, I mean it. I don't want my sister to end up as a lonely old maid. I think you're the right guy for her."
"Phew, that bad, huh?"
"I'm not kidding. Everyone thinks Kasha's going to stay single well into her thirties."
"So it's serious."
We talked for a while longer, finished our food, and then parted ways. Karishu thanked me for the burger before he disappeared.
'I can't wait for Saturday when I meet Kasha.'
I headed home, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation.
*************************
Saturday finally arrived.
In the days leading up to it, I spent my time with Jenny, Aris, and Lena, and continued working hard at the Jazlyn SS.
I calmed my nerves by reminding myself of the progress I'd made so far.
'Today, I'm getting closer to Kasha!'
I dressed in a slightly oversized sweatshirt and jeans, aiming for a cute, boyish look, and made my way to the academy's main gate.
I got there around 9:50, but Kasha hadn't shown up yet.
After a short wait, I heard something large thundering towards the front gate from inside the academy.
*Doo doo doo doo doo*
*Kkkkk!!!*
With a piercing wolf's howl, Kasha appeared, riding a massive gray wolf that stood as tall as a person.
Kasha, with her silky silver hair, wolf ears, and silver tail, was a sight to behold. Standing at two meters tall, she had a lean, muscular build and a confident presence. As Kari Shu predicted, Kasha was dressed in a white tank top and a purple commando uniform.
She slicked back her hair, greeting me with the cool, commanding tone of a gang leader.
"Yo, Zeon. You been waiting long?"
I put on my cutest smile and greeted her.
"Kasha noona~ Hi!" [T/N: Blergh~]
"Ugh! Heart attack!"
Apparently, my cuteness was working. Kasha clutched her chest like she'd just been struck by Cupid's arrow.
"Sister?"
"Nooo~"
Still seated on Harley, Kasha extended her hand towards me.
"Come on. Hop on."
"Where are we going?"
"I'll take you somewhere fun, just get on already."
"Yes, noona!"
As soon as I took her hand, Kasha effortlessly lifted me onto Harley's back behind her.
"Hold on tight, or you'll fall off."
"Yes! Noona, your tail's tickling my chest~"
Kasha's fluffy wolf tail was caught between us, making me laugh.
"Deal with it."
"Can I hold onto your waist?"
"Hehe! Another heart attack! Sure, do whatever you want."
I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her just firmly enough. Her waist was strong with muscle, yet soft in a way that reminded me she was still a woman. Her tail twitched playfully against my chest.
Kasha gave Harley a light tap with her foot.
"Harley! Let's go!"
"Awwooo~~!!"
Harley howled and took off at full speed.
*Doo doo doo doo doo*
*Kkkkk! Kkkkk! Whoa! Kkkkk!*
As Harley ran, the world around us blurred. People ahead of us screamed and scrambled to get out of Harley's way.
"Whoa! You maniacs!"
"Don't run on the streets!"
At that moment, an elderly woman fell in our path, unable to move out of the way in time.
"Oh no! Watch out!"
*Pabat! Paaaat!*
Harley leapt high into the air, soaring over the old woman without slowing down in the slightest. Kasha, riding confidently, was grinning from ear to ear.
"Hahaha! Run, Harley, run! Kyahahahaha! This is awesome~!"
"Sister, this is way too fast!"
"Kyahaha! This is what I call a Wolf Drive! It's even faster in the jungle!"
*Doo doo doo doo*
*Kkkkk! Kkkkk! Kkkkk!*
Harley barked excitedly, clearly loving the thrill of the run. I clung tightly to Kasha, trying not to fall off. She urged me on, shouting with excitement.
"Feel the wind in your face! Enjoy the speed!"
"Yes, Sister Kasha!"
"Kyahahahaha! Harley, faster!"
"Awwooo~!!!"
*Doo doo doo doo*
Harley charged down the road like a blur, weaving skillfully to avoid crashing into anything. People yelled at us, cursing under their breath, but Kasha didn't care one bit.
I decided to embrace the rush of speed, just like Kasha. It felt like riding a roller coaster back on Earth, and I couldn't help but shout with excitement.
"This is so fun! So exhilarating!"
"Kahahahahaha! That's the spirit! Shout it out~ Waaaaa!!"
"Waaaaaa!!!!"
Following Kasha's lead, I yelled at the top of my lungs. It felt as if my heart had been set free, the wind rushing past us.
Before long, we had left Brisen City behind and reached the open plains. Slimes and horned rabbits wandered about, and I could see a forest looming in the distance.
Harley, breathing heavily, let out a soft whine, and Kasha patted her affectionately.
"Come on, girl. Just a bit further. There's plenty of tasty stuff in the forest."
"Woof!!"
Harley let out a spirited bark and dashed towards the forest.
*Thud thud thud*
*Growl growl* "Awooo!!"
As soon as we entered the forest, the wildlife scattered in all directions, terrified by the presence of a massive wolf. Tree branches whipped past us as Harley charged forward.
Suddenly, a goblin that hadn't managed to flee raised both hands, screaming in terror.
"Aaaaa!!"
*Krrrr! Awooo!!*
*Smash! Thud!*
Harley barreled past the goblin, sending it flying like a ping-pong ball until it crashed into a tree, crumpling in defeat. Kasha laughed heartily and praised Harley, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Kyahahahaha! Harley, you're the best~!"
"Woof!!!"
Before we knew it, we had arrived at a secluded spot with a cave big enough for a person to enter.
Kasha patted Harley's head and spoke, "Alright, Harley. Time to stop here."
"Woof!"
Kasha dismounted first, then took my hand and helped me down from Harley's back.
"Kasha noona, where are we?"
"This? It's my secret hideout, a place I come to whenever I'm bored. Pretty neat, huh?"
Kasha spread her arms wide, proudly showing off the cave.
"It really is cool!"
"Haha, you little flatterer."
She chuckled, ruffling my hair. It was clear that Kasha was in an exceptionally good mood.
Just then, a loud grumble came from Kasha's stomach, signaling it was lunchtime. Embarrassed, she blushed and looked away, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Ah... I guess it's already time for lunch. What should we eat?"
"Actually, I brought something. Want to have it together?"
"Wait, really?"
"Yep! I made some kimbap while thinking of you."
Of course, it wasn't something I made myself—it was store-bought. But the thought was there.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Support the Translation! 🌐✨
20 Advanced Chapters are currently available in Patreon, make sure to visit and support our team.
patreon.com/Immortal_author
https://ko-fi.com/immortalauthor
https://discord.gg/KscfBegBPT