You Said You Were a Hunter, Not a Wolf - Chapter 110

Chapter 110. The Return of Memories

 

“Hold this and drink. It should warm you up a bit.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Rayne answered politely as she accepted the wooden cup. The warm steam touching her palms instantly eased her tension. She took a cautious sip of the tea, and a rich aftertaste lingered on her tongue.

 

“It’s delicious…….”

 

As she muttered softly, he let out a low chuckle.

 

“Even if you’ve become younger, your taste buds haven’t changed at all.”

 

“Huh?”

 

She asked reflexively, but he merely narrowed his eyes.

 

“Just talking to myself. Now, can you close your eyes for a moment?”

 

She obediently shut her eyes, and the man began wiping her cheeks with a damp towel. It was the first time someone had cared for her like this since her mother passed away. Fidgeting under the unfamiliar touch, she heard his soft laughter.

 

She raised her head slightly, her eyes meeting his smiling face. Gaining courage from his affectionate gaze, Rayne suddenly spoke.

 

“Uh, um…….”

 

“Yes?”

 

“What’s your name? Since you helped me so much, I just wanted to know who you are.”

 

Oh, I suppose it’s natural she wouldn’t know.

 

He realized his oversight belatedly and answered softly.

 

“Ban. That is my name.”

 

Ban. Rayne whispered the name to herself, her eyes darting around again. She clearly had another question but lacked the nerve to ask it.

 

“It’s alright, go ahead and tell me.”

 

Encouraged by his gentle prompt, Rayne squeezed her eyes shut as if making a grand resolution and shouted.

 

“Then, are you married yet……!!”

 

Pfft—!

 

Suddenly, laughter erupted. When she opened her eyes to the startling sound, she saw his beautifully chiseled jawline shaking. She looked up into amber eyes that were curved with genuine joy.

 

Tears actually welled in his eyes because he was laughing so hard. Not understanding the joke, she simply blinked. He barely managed to catch his breath, wiping a tear away.

 

“Hoo… Marriage. No, I’m not married yet.”

 

This was driving him crazy. He couldn’t stop smiling. He knew it was rude to laugh like this, but he couldn’t help himself. How could she ask such a thing? She was too precious. Just as he tried to sober up by thinking of something somber, Rayne grabbed his hand.

 

“……?”

 

He stared at her, and Rayne dropped another bombshell.

 

“Then please wait for me! I’ll grow up to be very pretty, just like my mother!”

 

Her purple eyes sparkled with intensity. He laughed again at her radiant expression. Was it because her physical form was still an adult?

 

“Why? Do you like me that much?”

 

When he asked with a smirk, she nodded vigorously.

 

“Yes! I think it would be okay to look at you differently when I’m older.”

 

“Differently?”

 

When he raised an eyebrow, she declared with total confidence.

 

“As a man and a woman!”

 

Ah. What am I to do with her?

 

He wanted to squeeze her cheeks right then and there. The spirit of a young Rayne was so visible in her innocent face. It was so cute it made his heart ache. He suppressed the urge to reach out and steadied his breathing.

 

“You don’t have to grow any larger. I like you just as you are now.”

 

“Huh? Really?”

 

When he nodded, Rayne tilted her head in confusion. Her purple eyes widened.

 

“But I’m only nine years old. I really don’t need to grow more?”

 

Nine years old?

 

He was speechless. It had been a thoughtless remark since her appearance remained adult. But nine? He knew she had regressed, but he never imagined it was by that much.

 

A cold sweat broke out on his neck. When he froze in silence, Rayne pouted her lips in disappointment.

 

“Nine years old is impossible, isn’t it?”

 

“…Yeah. That won’t work. No, absolutely not.”

 

When he shook his head, repeating the refusal to himself, Rayne puffed out her cheeks.

 

“Tch, I expected as much.”

 

At that moment, as she was whining and swinging her feet in the air…

 

Growl—

 

“……!”

 

Rayne’s face turned instantly crimson. She grabbed her stomach and lowered her head in shame.

 

“Is meat alright? Just wait a little longer.”

 

As he walked to the kitchen to prepare a meal, Rayne screamed internally. Why did her stomach have to make that sound right then?

 

Eekk, I’ve completely ruined it!

 

***

 

A commotion suddenly broke out in the bathroom. It was because Rayne, while washing, had caught her reflection in the mirror.

 

Clatter. Bang!

 

Rayne threw the door open and shouted while touching her face.

 

“Ban! Look at this, I’ve suddenly become an adult! Look at me, hurry, hurry!”

 

Ban, who had looked up without thinking, suddenly held his breath.

 

“…….!”

 

Where on earth did she leave her clothes…!

 

He stared. Water was dripping down her pale skin. She hadn’t even rinsed off all the soap yet. The hastily wrapped towel looked precarious, as if it would slip at any second. He quickly turned his back to the sight of the towel draped over her voluptuous curves.

 

“Ha….”

 

It was already difficult enough to restrain himself, and now she was dressed like this. It was pure torture.

 

“No matter how surprised you are, you must put on clothes before coming out!”

 

He exhaled sharply and shouted, but Rayne came running over anyway.

 

“Don’t be like that, look at me. I’m a full adult.”

 

She stood so close that his muscles tensed automatically. He gulped, his throat feeling as stiff as if he had swallowed a thorn.

 

Calm down. She is a nine-year-old child right now. She is not a woman. He took a deep breath to settle his nerves and spoke as calmly as possible.

 

“I understand you’re surprised because you’re so pretty, but dress yourself first. Adults don’t walk around like this!”

 

His voice rose, but he couldn’t help it. He gripped the shelf to suppress his impulses and closed his eyes. Damn it, the blood was rushing to all the wrong places due to the sudden stimulation. Rayne, oblivious to his struggle, touched her body with excitement.

 

“My arms are so much longer, and I have br*asts! Look, I can’t even fit one in my hand! They’re so plump!”

 

At her bright shout, Ban sank to the floor and covered his head. For the first time, it was painfully clear that Rayne’s mind was truly young. Every word she uttered was a disaster. Ban, battling the devilish thoughts inside him, grabbed the small hand that kept poking his back.

 

“……!”

 

Fixing his gaze on the floor, Ban desperately turned away and said.

 

“Go back to the bathroom and finish washing. When you are fully dressed, I will look then. But absolutely not now.”

 

He emphasized every syllable. Rayne puffed out her cheeks but eventually obeyed his stern yet soft voice. When he heard the bathroom door click shut, he finally exhaled.

 

“Haa……….”

 

No matter the circumstances, she had come out in nothing but a towel. He sighed, holding his pounding head. She had done this once as a wolf, and now she was doing it again.

 

‘I can’t even touch you now.’

 

That was the most frustrating part. Knowing she was mentally a child, he couldn’t do a thing. He knew his physical reaction was natural, but he couldn’t risk confusing her. He gritted his teeth, forcing his urges into submission.

 

A short while later.

 

Clatter.

 

Rayne emerged fully dressed and ran to stand before him. She spun in a circle, spreading her arms wide.

 

“Tada!”

 

Am I pretty? Do I look nice?

 

Rayne’s continued antics made his heart melt. The corners of his mouth kept twitching upward.

 

“Do you really like it that much?”

 

“Hehe, it’s like magic. I wanted to grow up quickly, and it actually came true!”

 

Rayne couldn’t contain her energy and jumped around. Ban, dealing with the frantic energy of a nine-year-old who couldn’t stay still, shook his head.

 

“Come here. You’ll catch a cold.”

 

He guided her to a chair and draped a towel over her.

 

“Huh?”

 

She blinked, confused, as he began rubbing the towel over her w*t hair. Rayne tilted her head back to look up at him while he worked.

 

“Are you drying my hair for me?”

 

“Do you not like it? Do you want to do it yourself?”

 

Rayne wiggled her fingers at his playful tone.

 

“…No. I like it.”

 

Her ears turned pink as she glanced at him. He snickered and continued drying her hair with great care. Rayne sat quietly, hugging her knees. Her heart fluttered at his rough yet affectionate touch. Would it feel like this to have a father?

 

“You know……. I was really shocked when I looked in the mirror earlier.”

 

“Why? Because you realized you were beautiful?”

 

Rayne laughed softly at the vibration of his deep voice.

 

“Hehe, I am pretty, right? But it was because my mother was in the mirror. I didn’t know we would look so much alike.”

 

When his hand brushed past her ear, she shrugged her shoulders, and he paused.

 

“Do you miss her?”

 

The smile she wore while thinking of her mother slowly faded. She remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

 

“…It’s really hard. But it’s okay. Mom said she would always be with me.”

 

Then, she spoke up in a brighter tone.

 

“This is better, actually. Now that I’m an adult, I can save money more easily, right? I’ll get rich so much faster!”