Isekai - I’ll Screw Any Pretty Face I Want - Girl or Boy

Riku stopped in front of a small wooden building with a cheerful sign hanging above the door. "Here it is! The merchant shop, nya~!"

"Finally," Hiroshi muttered, adjusting the boar on his shoulder, feeling the weight of it.

Riku pushed the door open, a little bell chiming as they entered. The shop was cozy but cramped, filled with shelves stocked with all kinds of goods—herbs, fabrics, tools, and various knick-knacks.

An older beastkin with graying fur looked up from the counter. "Oh, Riku! You're back!"

"Nyaa~! Hi, Mr. Lem!" Riku chirped, skipping up to the counter, his tail flicking with excitement, and placing a small pouch of herbs on it. "I brought some fresh herbs for you!"

The merchant, Lem, inspected the herbs with a nod. "Good quality as always, Riku. I'll pay the usual rate."

"Thanks, nya~!" Riku beamed, his golden eyes sparkling.

While Riku handled his transaction, Hiroshi stood by the door, scanning the shop with mild curiosity. The atmosphere felt welcoming enough, aside from the unaccustomed stares still following him.

Once Riku finished, Lem's gaze shifted to Hiroshi —and then to the massive boar on his shoulder. His jaw dropped. "Is that… a Forest Boar?"

Hiroshi nodded. "Yeah. Riku said I could sell it here."

Lem blinked, clearly taken aback. "You… carried that here by yourself?"

Hiroshi smirked, enjoying the astonishment. "Yeah. Why?"

The merchant shook his head in disbelief, a mixture of admiration and incredulity in his eyes. "You Hyumans are something else…"

Riku stood proudly beside Henry, puffing out his chest. "Nyaa~! Isn't Henry amazing? He took down that boar in one kick!"

"One kick?" Lem repeated, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Yup!" Riku said, practically bouncing on his feet as if Henry's accomplishment were his own.

Hiroshi sighed, a bit sheepishly. "Can we just sell this thing already?"

"How do you want to sell it?" Lem asked, eyeing the massive Forest Boar with a professional gaze. "Part or whole?"

Hiroshi scratched his head, glancing at the beast. "I'll sell it whole. But can you spare some of the meat? I haven't eaten anything yet."

The merchant chuckled. "Fair enough. You earned it if you took this thing down yourself." He turned his head and called, "Glimarr! Get over here!"

A large beastkin with thick, fur-covered arms and sharp eyes entered from the back, wiping his hands on a bloodstained apron. "Yeah, boss?"

"Help this Hyuman butcher this beast and leave some of the meat for him," Lem instructed, nodding toward Hiroshi .

Glimarr's gaze flicked to Hiroshi , and his eyes widened slightly as he took in the towering figure. "This guy brought that thing here by himself?"

"Sure did," Lem said with a grin.

Hiroshi grunted, trying to play it cool. "It's not that big of a deal. Just tell me where to drop it."

Glimarr let out a low whistle, looking impressed. "Alright, bring that thing to the warehouse," he said, pointing toward a door at the back of the shop.

Hiroshi nodded, following Glimarr through the shop and ducking slightly to fit through the doorway. The warehouse was cool and dimly lit, filled with hanging cuts of meat and barrels of supplies.

"Just set it here," Glimarr said, patting a sturdy table in the center of the room.

Hiroshi swung the boar off his shoulder and placed it on the table with a thud that echoed through the space.

"Damn," Glimarr muttered, running a hand over the boar's thick hide. "This is a clean kill. Not even a scratch on the meat. You're a pro, huh?"

Hiroshi shrugged, trying to sound modest. "Not really. Just instinct, I guess."

Glimarr gave him a skeptical look but didn't press further. "Alright, give me a few minutes. I'll carve this up and set aside some meat for you."

"Thanks," Hiroshi replied, leaning against the wall as Glimarr got to work, stealing sideways glances at Riku, whose excitement was palpable.

Back in the shop, Riku was chatting animatedly with Lem, his tail swaying excitedly as he recounted how Henry had taken down the boar.

"...And he didn't even break a sweat, nya~! Just one kick, and BAM! The boar was down!"

Lem shook his head in disbelief, a smile creeping onto his face. "That's impressive. Your friend is something else."

"He's not my friend, nya!" Riku huffed, crossing his arms with a pout. "He's just… Henry!"

Hiroshi returned to the shop a few minutes later, carrying a small bundle of neatly wrapped meat. "Alright, I got my share. What's next?"

Riku's face lit up with a grin. "Next, we eat, nya~!"

Hiroshi smirked, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Finally, something we agree on."

Lem handed Henry a small pouch filled with coins. "Here's the payment for the whole boar, after deducting the meat you requested."

Hiroshi nodded, taking the pouch and tucking it into his pocket. "Thanks."

"Nya~! Thank you!" Riku chimed in with a cheerful wave as they stepped out of the merchant shop, his energy infectious.

Once outside, Hiroshi glanced at Riku, who was holding the bundle of meat with both hands. "So, catboy…"

"It's Riku! Nya~!" the catfolk huffed, puffing out his cheeks in mock annoyance.

"Alright, alright, Riku," Hiroshi said with a smirk, amused by his reaction.

"That's more like it," Riku said proudly, swaying his tail as they walked side by side.

Hiroshi glanced at the meat in his hands. "So… where should we cook this? I'm starving."

Riku tapped his chin, his tail swishing thoughtfully. "Hmm… how about my house, nya~?"

Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, hesitant. "Your house? I don't want to intrude. Your family might…"

"Nya?" Riku tilted his head, his golden eyes wide with confusion. "No, my family's in the city. They work there, and they rarely come home. They have a house there."

Hiroshi blinked, taken aback. "Wait. You live alone?"

Riku nodded, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Nya~! Yes! Why, is that strange?"

Hiroshi scratched the back of his head, pondering. "For an 18-year-old? Yeah, kinda. Don't you get lonely?"

Riku tilted his head the other way, his ears twitching in thought. "Lonely? Hmm… not really. I have the villagers, nya~! And sometimes I visit the forest to pick herbs."

"That's… something," Hiroshi muttered, still finding it a bit odd but intrigued by Riku's perspective.

"Come on, nya~! I'll show you my house!" Riku exclaimed, grabbing Hiroshi 's sleeve and tugging him along with infectious enthusiasm.

Riku led Hiroshi through the village, navigating past the curious stares of the beastkin villagers until they reached the edge of the settlement. Nestled between a cluster of trees stood a cozy little house crafted from wood and stone.

"This is it, nya~!" Riku said, spreading his arms dramatically.

Hiroshi took in the sight. It wasn't big, but it looked well-kept. The front garden brimmed with vibrant flowers and fragrant herbs growing in neat rows, while a couple of wooden chairs adorned the porch.

"Not bad," Hiroshi said, impressed.

"Of course, nya~! I keep it clean!" Riku declared proudly as he unlocked the door and gestured for Hiroshi to enter.

Inside, the house was just as inviting as it appeared from the outside. The main room featured a small fireplace, a round wooden table, and a couple of mismatched chairs that added character to the space. The walls were lined with shelves packed with jars, books, and various knick-knacks that hinted at Riku's interests.

"Make yourself at home, nya~!" Riku said, kicking off his shoes and hopping onto one of the chairs with a grin.

Hiroshi placed the bundle of meat down on the table, looking around. "You really live here alone?"

"Nya~! Yes! I told you already," Riku replied, his tail flicking playfully behind him.

"Come~! I'll show you around, nya~!" Riku chirped, his enthusiasm palpable as he led Hiroshi through the small house.

"This is the kitchen~!" Riku announced, gesturing proudly to a modest space with a stone stove, a wooden counter, and shelves filled with jars and utensils.

"Not bad," Hiroshi said, nodding in appreciation as the warmth of the space enveloped him.

"And this…" Riku opened a door, revealing his room. "Is my room~!"

Hiroshi peeked inside. It was small but cozy, with a neatly made bed, a small desk cluttered with books, and a window that let in soft, dappled light.

"Looks… organized," Hiroshi commented, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Of course, nya~! I keep it clean!" Riku said, puffing up his chest with pride.

"And this," Riku continued, opening another door, "is my parents' room~! But it's rarely used. All my family lives in the city now."

Hiroshi glanced inside, noting the larger bed and a wardrobe that looked slightly out of place with the rest of the house. Dust settled on the surfaces, as if the room had not been touched in a while.

"Your whole family's in the city, huh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nya~! Yes! My father works there, and my mother and siblings moved there too," Riku explained, his tone cheerful but with a hint of melancholy.

Hiroshi nodded, following Riku as he continued the tour.

"And this~!" Riku exclaimed, opening the last door. "Is the bathroom~!"

Hiroshi raised an eyebrow as he stepped inside. "Oh! It's big."

"Yeah~! Me and my family always bathed together, so it's good for this big, nya~!" Riku said casually, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

Hiroshi froze for a moment, caught off guard. "Wait. You bathed together?"

"Nya? Yes. Me, my brother, and my father. After that, my mother bathed with my sisters," Riku replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Hiroshi scratched his head, his face slightly reddening. "Oh… I thought you meant, like, a mixed bath or something."

"Mixed bath?" Riku tilted his head, his golden eyes wide with confusion, genuinely puzzled.

Hiroshi coughed awkwardly. "Uh, never mind. Forget I said anything."

Riku stared at him for a moment, ears twitching in curiosity, before finally shrugging it off. "Nya~! Hyumans are weird."

Hiroshi sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Let's just cook the meat."

"Nya~! Okay!" Riku chirped, bounding back toward the kitchen, his cheerful demeanor infectious.

( End Of Chapter )