Chapter 28
At the same time, Royal Minister Honneste returned to his residence.
The moment he entered the living room, he sank lazily onto the sofa and lit a cigar.
He took a deep puff. So satisfying.
“Can’t even smoke in front of the Queen. It’s almost killed me.”
He exhaled, then glanced at the adjacent sofa.
“When did you get back to the Royal Capital?”
A black-haired youth was lying lazily on the armchair, his legs propped up on the coffee table. His face was covered by a red baseball cap, as if he were asleep.
Honneste continued, “I just came back from the palace. I happened to overhear a conversation between the Saintess, Kefei’er, and Queen Tristina. It seems someone has appeared who can thaw the permafrost.”
The black-haired youth was silent for a moment.
“…For real?”
“You’ll be seeing her soon enough.”
“The Queen also entrusted me with a task. She wants me to investigate the Beastkin situation.”
“Need my help?”
Honneste exhaled a cloud of smoke and chuckled. “Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? You’re the adventurers’ No. 1. I’ll just send a Gold-level adventure team. Easing the Queen’s burdens is our duty as her subjects.”
The black-haired youth remained silent, then activated his magic—and threw a sealing card at him.
The playing-card-sized sealing card shot over like a hidden weapon, and Honneste caught it between two fingers.
“There are a thousand goblins sealed inside.”
“Hunter, you really are my best brother. This… will be enough for everyone to play with for a while.”
“Money’s at market rate. Send it to the orphanage, right?”
The black-haired youth said nothing. Just then, the female housekeeper—wearing a black suit that couldn’t conceal her ample bosom, along with framed glasses—walked over and said respectfully, “Lord Honneste, we’ve brought the person.”
Vivian had been kidnapped and brought to Honneste’s estate. Upon arriving, she couldn’t believe that someone would actually build a ski slope in their manor.
Two men in black suits escorted her past the ski slope’s wire fence. As she looked out, she witnessed a scene that she would never be able to forget for the rest of her life.
In the snow, someone used Manipulation-type magic to control an iron cage, tilting it and dumping out a large horde of goblins.
One goblin was still clinging to the cage, refusing to let go, but was eventually shaken out like trash from a can.
The goblins climbed up from the snow and looked around, bewildered, when a gunshot rang out! On the starting line not far away, several nobles on husky-pulled sleds, waving magic-enchanted machetes, charged toward them!
“Erha, forward—! Faster! Faster!”
Encouraged by their masters, the huskies, tongues lolling, dashed across the snow with even more vigor.
Some of the goblins cowered into a ball, while others scattered and fled. In an instant, they were completely routed by the husky-pulled sleds.
The nobles, holding the reins in one hand and waving their machetes with the other, charged into the goblin horde, hacking and slashing relentlessly.
Goblin blood splattered across the white snow.
“Go for the goblin with the ‘1’ ball on its head first! Kill them in order! Don’t kill the one with the white ball! The white ball is last! Ah, idiot! You’re out!”
Not far away, several noble ladies were watching while enjoying afternoon tea.
“There were too many goblins. I just… killed it by accident,” the “out” noble youth said sullenly, stepping off his sled and walking toward them.
“Rookie,” one of the noble ladies muttered, feeding a piece of ham to the husky that had pulled the sled.
“Good boy, Erha. You were so good today.”
“Awooo—”
“Ladies, have you seen the ‘Eight of Spades’ goblin?” Another sled zipped past, the noble youth on it asking them.
“Thanks! Pipi, let’s go!”
The sled turned and charged toward the goblin with the ‘8’ ball on its head.
The balls on the goblins’ heads not only had numbers, but were also differentiated by spades, diamonds, clubs, etc., to ensure no one killed the wrong one. Of course, this was a game that tested one’s eyesight.
Vivian stood outside the fence, watching, a horrified expression on her face.
“Don’t… Don’t you think this is cruel?” she asked, turning to the two men in black, tears in her eyes. The tragic fate of the goblins had moved her.
“Cruel? No, no, don’t worry. The huskies are all protected by their masters’ magic. They won’t get hurt.”
“I’m not talking about the hus—I mean… the goblins!”
“Huh? Someone actually pities goblins?”
The man in black gave her a shove.
“If a female member of your family was… violated… by goblins, you wouldn’t be saying that! Stop wasting time. Let’s go!”
Vivian took one last look at the goblins in the snow and forced herself to swallow her tears. Her strength was too small. She… was powerless to help.
She was led into the living room by the two men. The first things she saw were the taxidermied heads of various exotic beasts, mounted on the walls. In Vivian’s eyes, this proclaimed that the master of this house was… an “executioner” who loved to hunt.
“Sit, child.”
Honneste sat on the sofa, smoking his cigar.
Vivian stood still. He must be the mastermind behind my kidnapping, she thought. She also noticed the black-haired youth, who was lying lazily on the armchair, legs on the coffee table. Under the brim of his cap, a pair of red eyes watched her silently. Vivian could faintly sense an unfathomable magic power from him.
“You’re in the same school as that useless son of mine. This… estate… feels colder than other places, doesn’t it?” Honneste snapped his fingers. “Get her a cup of tea.”
The female housekeeper impassively handed Vivian a cup of steaming tea.
Vivian did not accept it.
In her eyes, everyone in this room had their hands stained with the blood of innocent animals.
How could she possibly accept tea handed to her by hands stained with the blood of innocent animals?
She gathered her courage and asked, “Why did you… bring me here?”
“I heard… your magic can thaw the permafrost?”
Vivian didn’t answer. In Honneste’s eyes, this was as good as a confirmation.
“I also heard… you are a very… loving… person.”
“So?”
“Since you are so loving, I’d like to ask you to do a good deed.”
Honneste got up and walked to the curtains. With his back to the blood-red sunset, he pulled the silk cloth off a “statue” in front of Vivian.
It wasn’t a statue. It was a block of permafrost. And frozen inside… was a mermaid.
“I have collected this block of ice for twenty years. I’ve always hoped that one day, she could be thawed. Now, you will help me thaw her.”
So they kidnapped me… just to thaw this permafrost?
Vivian stared at the mermaid inside the hard ice. She… should have been able to swim freely in the sea, but was instead tragically frozen for eleven thousand years.
When she thought of this, her sympathy overflowed. She couldn’t help but reach her hand toward the ice, the light of magic gathering in her palm—
“—”
Suddenly, Vivian thought of something, and her hand recoiled.
Chapter 29
Vivian’s hand reached for the mermaid—
Honneste watched, his wish about to be fulfilled!
Then, Vivian’s hand pulled back.
She… simply did not trust this man.
In that instant, Honneste’s expression went from excitement… to disappointment.
“You want me to help you thaw the mermaid… and then what? Won’t that just be… sending a sheep into the tiger’s mouth?”
Honneste took a drag on his cigar. “How do you know… I won’t treat her well?”
At this moment, the female housekeeper offered Vivian a pouch.
“This is just a small token from Lord Honneste. Nothing more. The path of magic is a difficult one. You should… take care of your health.”
However, Vivian refused her “goodwill.”
“This isn’t about money!”
She stared suspiciously at Honneste.
“I suspect… she will just become your plaything! Hmph, you’re not thawing her to… satisfy your lust? If that’s the case—I refuse!”
“Don’t refuse a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit,”1 the female housekeeper said coldly at her side.
“Even if you beat me to death, I won’t help you! …You are all too cruel! Taking the lives of animals… as toys for your amusement! Even goblins are living beings! In the eyes of people like you, any animal that isn’t human is just your plaything! A mermaid… will not have a good fate in your hands!”
Honneste continued to smoke, unfazed.
“Do you eat chicken?”
“What—”
“I asked, do you eat chicken? You pity goblins. Why don’t you pity the chickens on a farm?”
“I am a vegetarian!” Vivian declared righteously.
“Very good. I admire animal-rights activists like you, who lead by example.”
Honneste gestured to the female housekeeper.
The housekeeper understood and left, returning a moment later from the kitchen… with an entire roast chicken.
“Wh-What are you doing—”
Two men in black grabbed Vivian’s arms, forcing her to “sit.” The female housekeeper tore off a drumstick and held it to her mouth.
“Eat. Eat the chicken, and you’ll be just like us. You’ll also have a part in harming animals, in devouring their flesh.”
Vivian shook her head, struggling, but it was useless. The drumstick was pressed against her lips, trying to force its way in. She clamped her mouth shut, refusing to make a sound, helpless tears streaming down her face.
“That’s enough.”
The black-haired youth on the sofa spoke, without even lifting his head from under his cap.
Only then did the female housekeeper stop. Theoretically, he wasn’t her master, but his words carried a powerful authority.
Honneste nodded at her, and she took the roast chicken away.
When faced with someone like Vivian, who wouldn’t respond to force or persuasion, they were at a loss.
Just then, one of the men in black pushed the door open and entered.
“Lord Honneste… the Saintess is here. And… she brought a lot of people.”
…The black-haired youth’s eyes opened.
Honneste, holding his cigar, looked thoughtful.
He saw the look of “salvation” on Vivian’s face and seemed to understand.
“She’s here… to get you, isn’t she?”
He turned to the black-haired youth. “I’m stepping out.”
The black-haired youth sat up, saying nothing.
“You’re coming too?”
“I… want to see her,” he said, adjusting the brim of his cap, his voice deep.
…So this is Royal Minister Honneste’s estate?
Vivian was kidnapped and brought here. I’m sure of it. The carriage used as the “weapon” is parked right at the gate.
I, Lian Qi, and Qifeng have led a squad of Holy Light Church Knights to surround the place. Nothing… personal, you know.
I was still wondering how to get in, when the main gate opened. It was Honneste? He was… greeting me personally?
The moment he saw me, he extinguished his cigar and put on a welcoming smile. Ugh, he’s being weirdly nice.
I had assumed he would hide her away, then act like nothing had happened. Then, I would have had to search the entire estate, top to bottom.
However—Vivian was right behind him.
Seeing her safe and sound, the stone in my heart finally dropped.
“He’s just… handing her over, without you even having to say anything?” Lian Qi said.
“…Yeah,” I whispered.
If I weren’t the Saintess, this probably wouldn’t have been so simple.
“Ahem. Saintess… why did you bring so many people?”
“Nothing personal. I’m just visiting you. It would be rude not to make it a grand occasion, wouldn’t it?” I said with a smile (the kind that doesn’t reach the eyes).
“It’s so cold out here. Why… why don’t we go inside and talk? You could even stay for dinner. Sir Bron, the young lady of House Ossido, Baron Wyl’s eldest son and daughter… they’re all here. They would be honored to dine with you.”
Why are there so many nobles here? Are they having a party?
“I’m just here… to pick up my person.”
Vivian froze, then scurried over to my side. Honneste didn’t stop her.
“This was just a… misunderstanding. I didn’t know she was… your person,” he said to me, very calmly.
“He… He tried to force me to thaw a mermaid for him…” Vivian tattled to me.
“Oh? Honneste… were you eavesdropping on my conversation with the Queen?”
“I meant no harm. I’ve collected a mermaid for twenty years, hoping one day to thaw her. So I invited Miss Vivian here. Since… she is unwilling, then… we’ll just forget it.”
“Really a ‘misunderstanding’? If she wasn’t ‘my person,’ would it be okay for you to just… grab her from the gates of the Magic Academy in broad daylight? If Headmaster Aijieliya found out you kidnapped her student, what would you do?”
“Kidnapped…? I merely… invited her to be a guest at my estate.” Honneste glanced at the two men in black and barked, “You used violence? Who told you to do that!?”
The two men in black dropped to their knees with a thud.
“L-Lord! She… she was fighting back and screaming! We had no choice!”
“You idiots! You’ve ruined my reputation! And angered the Saintess! If word of this gets to the Queen, how am I supposed to explain myself!?”
“We were wrong, my lord! We were wrong!”
“How… do you plan to atone?”
Honneste suddenly pulled out a firearm, aimed it at the carriage, and fired twice. BANG! BANG!
In an instant, he blew the heads off both horses. I was horrified. Then, he aimed the gun at the two men in black.
They kowtowed, begging for mercy.
I couldn’t watch. I stopped him.
“You… You’re abusing animals again!” Vivian clutched her chest, her voice pained.
Honneste, still holding the gun, turned to me, his face sincere. “Saintess… they are my subordinates. It is my responsibility that they were not properly managed. I hope… you can be magnanimous and forgive them.”
“…That’s enough. We’re leaving.”
As I turned to leave, my gaze inadvertently drifted to a black-haired youth leaning against the wall by the door.
Red cap, red jacket… black shirt underneath…
Does he look… familiar? Not really, but… I just feel like he’s been… staring at me. He is…
“Saintess, please take care,” Honneste said, as a final farewell.
Chapter 30
I walked to the carriage. A Church Knight opened the door for me.
“You get in first,” I said to Vivian.
She nodded shyly. “Thank you, Saintess. Thank you for coming to save me.”
“No… You don’t have to thank me.”
I felt a little ashamed. After all, this only happened because Minister Honneste overheard my conversation with Tristina.
Once we were in the carriage and on our way, Lian Qi crossed her arms and glanced at me. “There was a guy… staring at you just now.”
“Eh? You… noticed that?”
I looked at her, but she deliberately looked away. “O-Of course I did. Do you… know him? Who is he?”
“N-No, I don’t!” I denied it immediately. I was worried she would misunderstand. She didn’t say anything when I recognized an uncle like Honneste, but she gets very sensitive about younger guys.
“I know what she’s worried about, but her worrying is completely unnecessary. Even if I’m wearing girls’ clothes and living as a girl, I still like girls.”
“I noticed him too. The guy in the cap, right?” Qifeng chimed in. “He… is supposedly the strongest adventurer in the Adventurers Guild.”
Lian Qi and I both said, “Eh?” in unison.
“The strongest adventurer in the guild is that young?” Lian Qi was surprised.
I was also a little incredulous. “He… is actually that close to Honneste?”
“Mhm. His strength is recognized as Number One in the guild. As for why he’s so close to Minister Honneste…” Qifeng gave a silly laugh. “I don’t know that part.”
“A lot of nobles and ministers have a few adventurers working as their personal thugs,” I said.
Qifeng had a point. Even that Lord Man, the one who mixed sand into the disaster relief grain, had a few Gold-level adventurers protecting him.
“Still, Honneste has a lot of confidence, doesn’t he? Bringing the guild’s strongest adventurer out to greet Fei’er,” Qifeng said.
…Why… was he staring at me?
“Hmph. Don’t tell me… it’s because you’re dressed so ‘loli’ today?” Lian Qi glanced at me with a meaningful smile.
“It’s not because of that, right!?”
No… no…
If the strongest adventurer in the guild was that superficial, it would be… too disappointing.
I suddenly realized the three of us had been ignoring Vivian. She had been listening quietly the whole time.
“Sorry, we just got caught up in chatting. Did… Honneste hurt you?”
Vivian shook her head. “The harm I suffered… is nothing compared to what those goblins are going through.”
“…” I froze. Vivian suddenly gripped my hand tightly.
“You… only you can save them!”
“Who? The goblins?”
I was completely confused.
I mean, we just wiped out a whole goblin nest and arrested the druid disguised as their leader. Now someone is asking me to save goblins? What is going on?
“Saintess, you don’t know… These nobles… they abuse animals, using goblins as toys for their amusement, trampling on their lives… It’s…”
“Are you talking about Honneste…?”
“Mhm. I saw it with my own eyes. They… they dumped a horde of goblins out of a cage. Imagine… dozens of goblins squeezed into one cage… how much they must be suffering!”
“Right, right…”
“And then… those nobles… ride on husky-pulled sleds, chasing them down and slaughtering them in the snow… just for fun.”
Isn’t this… the game Qifeng mentioned that’s popular with the nobility—“Riding Dog and Slashing”?
I looked at Qifeng. “Qifeng, do you know the details of this… ‘Riding Dog and Slashing’?”
“The rules are… the goblins are divided into four groups: Spades, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds. Each group has number IDs. The nobles participate with their own huskies. At the start, all the goblins are mixed together, and the nobles have to ride their sleds and hunt down the goblins in their group, in numerical order. Oh, right, there are also goblins with white balls on their heads. Those have to be killed last. If you accidentally kill one… you’re ‘out’.”
“What if you accidentally kill someone else’s goblin?” Lian Qi asked.
“Then… it counts as a point for the other person. They have one less to kill.”
“And if you kill them in the wrong order?”
“The goal is to see who can kill their numbers in the cleanest, most efficient sequence.”
“…Honneste came up with this… cruel and sick game?” I asked.
“Mhm. I heard there are other ways to play… this one is just… the most ‘goblin-efficient’.”
“Senior, have… have you played it?” Vivian tilted her head and asked.
“How could I play such a sick game? I’ve just… heard about it,” Qifeng denied, waving her hands frantically.
“It really is… sick,” I whispered.
“So, Saintess… please, have mercy… save those goblins!”
Vivian squeezed my hands. Is she pinning all her hopes on me? But… how should I answer her?
To be honest, I really don’t have any good feelings for goblins. They aren’t harmless animals; they attack humans. I don’t know how many people are just venting their hatred for goblins by taking it to this extreme.
But… from the standpoint of the Saintess, “eliminating a pest for the people” and “torturing for sport” cannot be equated. Is it… really good for the nobility to be encouraging this kind of cruelty?
“Goblins are despicable… but a ‘game’ like ‘Riding Dog and Slashing’ is… inhumane. I will look into this matter,” I told Vivian.
“Then I’m counting on you! You must rescue those goblins!”
Uh…
Something… seems off.
“You want Fei’er to ‘rescue’ the goblins… and then what?” Lian Qi asked, arms crossed.
“Let them go, of course,” Vivian said, as if it were obvious.
“Letting goblins go is a disaster, isn’t it? You can’t just… ‘let them go’.”
“Then… lock them in prison? But… give them enough living space. They can’t be… squeezed in a cage,” Vivian emphasized. “It’s too pitiful.”
Qifeng, the Church Inspector, and I just looked at each other. “If we… lock goblins in prison… will they really… reform?”
“To be honest, I haven’t thought that far… I just… we can’t abuse animals! It’s inhumane!”
“I know humans see goblins as ‘bad.’ But… it’s not just goblins. Humans… cruelly kill many animals. Or… maybe it’s just human nature? Is it… because of this ‘nature’ that professions like ‘adventurer’ even exist?” Vivian said.
“Let’s be reasonable here. Human civilization was built by people with a spirit of exploration. The ‘adventurer spirit’ is the foundation of the human kingdoms. It’s not some ‘nature to harm animals’!” I couldn’t help but rebut her.
Chapter 31: Interlude
“But… humans have also harmed many animals in order to survive.”
Vivian lowered her gaze, a trace of melancholy disappearing into the shadows of her eyelashes.
“Can’t… humans and animals… just live in peace?”
“Live in peace…”
I stared at her intently. Those words… resonated with me. Not about humans and goblins, of course… but about… humans and dragons.
Once upon a time, when I saw the Sword Saint, Livi, smashing those dragon eggs… I couldn’t help but want her to… at least… leave one for me.
That surviving dragon egg is still in my house… but I don’t know how to hatch it.
Uwaah… I suddenly miss that dragon “sister”… She was the kindest dragon I’d ever met. I wonder where she is now…
“My ideal… is to realize a world where humans and animals live in peace.”
Vivian’s gaze was like a torch, as if she could already see the future she longed for.
I smiled at her. “My thoughts are… a little different from yours. I was thinking… whether it’s the Beastkin, or the Dragon Tribe… I just wish they could live in peace with humans, just like the elves do.”
She stared into my eyes. Nothing more needed to be said. In essence, wasn’t our shared goal… peace?
The carriage stopped. The driver said to me, “Saintess, we’ve arrived at the Magic Academy.”
The door opened. I saw Vivian off the carriage. She stood at the academy gates, her back to the setting sun, and looked back at me.
“Only you can save those animals. Because… you are the Saintess. You have the ability to change all of this. I… I really wish I could be like you.”
I watched her leave, pondering her words. Lian Qi ruffled my hair.
“What are you spacing out for?”
“It’s nothing… I was just thinking… why was I, the Saintess, brought into this world?”
Lian Qi scratched her cheek. “In order to—”
“Wasn’t it to meet us?” Qifeng spun around, her hands behind her back, and skipped in front of me.
I couldn’t help but laugh, and shot Qifeng a fond, reproachful glance.
“Silly girl.”
Then, I turned back to Lian Qi. “You just said, ‘in order to’… In order to what?”
“…It’s nothing.” Lian Qi suddenly seemed nervous.
“So, where are we going next?” she asked. Am I crazy, or is she trying to change the subject?
“Let’s just go home? I’m so tired today…”
“Shouldn’t we get something to eat first?” Lian Qi suggested. “To be honest, I… I’m hungry.”
Oh!
It hit me. Lian Qi and I only ate a few fries for lunch. How could that possibly be enough?
Thinking back, so much happened today. Half the day was my “date” with Lian Qi, but we ended up at a museum, met Vivian who can thaw permafrost, and Lian Qi even fought a T-Rex. (On a date!)
Then I was summoned to the palace by Tristina to meet the Beastkin envoys. In the afternoon, Vivian was kidnapped by Minister Honneste.
My first date… was so full of twists and turns. It’s… destined to be unforgettable.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the continent—
(Dragon language) “I heard your ‘Environmental Protection Side’ was a complete failure.”
The “person” speaking was a busty loli, wearing revealing armor. She had long, sea-blue hair, and a pair of small horns near her temples, which did not detract from her beauty.
She sat gracefully on a throne forged of dragonflame, her chin propped on her fist, her tail hidden behind her.
All signs indicated she was not human, but a member of the Dragon Tribe… and a Blue Dragon at that.
With the thawing of the permafrost, a few dragons had awakened after eleven thousand years. Galataxia was one of them.
“It’s all because someone saw through our plan.”
The one answering her was none other than the Great Apothecary, Mist Trec—the culprit wanted by the Holy Flame Kingdom, the Holy Light Church, and the Adventurers Guild; the one who dumped poison into rivers to fake “magic pollution” and injected werewolf virus into “organic” vegetables.
(Dragon language) “My side isn’t going so well, either. I was too late. Eleven dragon eggs… all of them… were destroyed by human adventurers. And one… is missing.”
“What? They… destroyed the precious dragon eggs? In the eyes of the Animal Protection Side, that is an absolutely unforgivable act!” Mist Trec declared, incensed.
Galataxia sighed, still resting her chin on her hand. (Dragon language) “It’s all because the permafrost is melting too slowly. If this keeps up, I worry that even if the dragons wake up one by one… you humans will just pick us off, one by one.”
“Please rest assured. Paving the way for you… is our mission,” Mist Trec said, bowing respectfully.
(Dragon language) “A pity your plan failed. The Environmental Protection Side is finished. The Druid organization has lost half its strength… and you… are the only survivor.”
Mist Trec gave a cunning smile. “Strictly speaking, I belong to both the Environmental Protection Side and the Animal Protection Side. The druids of the Animal Protection Side… they’re all using my potions to fight the adventurers! And, good news… using the dragon essence you gifted me, I have successfully developed… a new ‘Dragonification’ potion.”
(Dragon language) “Oh? …Betraying your own kind for the sake of the dragons, without a second thought. People like you… make excellent servants.”
“I hate the nobility. I would rather be ruled by you than by human nobles,” Mist Trec said, his voice full of hatred.
“And… I will not fail again. I have already developed a mutated werewolf virus. This time… I will… I will… capture all the nobles from every country in one fell swoop… and turn them into idiots.”
(Dragon language) “Be careful not to get burned.”
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s worth the risk.”
(Dragon language) “You… really are obsessed with this… ‘making humans stupid’ project.”
“If all of humanity becomes idiots… wouldn’t it be easier for you to enslave them?” Mist Trec said to Galataxia with a smile.
(Dragon language) “…So idiotic they can’t use magic… that would be ideal.”
“In fact, some people really are that stupid. Those druids from the Environmental Protection Side… they really thought they were ‘protecting the environment,’ hahaha—”
(Dragon language) “No, no… of course you must protect the environment.” Galataxia revealed a meaningful smile.
Mist TTrec was puzzled. Why would she say that? He waited for her explanation.
Galataxia, seeing his confusion, added: (Dragon language) “You must take good care of the environment… so you can leave it to us.”
Galataxia’s wit impressed Mist Trec. He chuckled and clapped lightly, then puffed out his chest, his voice filled with pride: “Overthrow human rule! The world belongs to the dragons!”
Chapter 32
The next morning, I got out of bed and opened the window for some fresh air.
I opened my heart, taking a deep breath of the crisp, clean air—
—only for a raven to dive-bomb me, slapping a letter onto my face.
Why does even a bird like to bully me?
I peeled the envelope off my face. It was from the Church. Why send a letter? Couldn’t they just tell me in person?
I tore it open, read it, and crumpled it into a ball, all in one smooth, angry motion.
“What’s wrong?” Lian Qi asked, coming over.
“It’s a letter from the Church. The bishops… know Tristina is holding a banquet tonight. They are… suggesting… I wear my Church robes to the banquet. They say it’s ‘more appropriate’ and ‘fitting for the Saintess’s status,’” I said, annoyed.
Lian Qi let out an incredulous “Huh?”
“This must be… how do I put it? They must have found out I wore a Lolita dress yesterday. So they can’t accept that ‘image’ of me. After all, I’m the Saintess.”
“What’s wrong with that image? It was cute, okay?”
…Being praised like that by Lian Qi actually made me a little happy.
“The bishops… other than Bal, they’re all old. Their generation’s views are… different from ours. Hmph. Why do they get to control what I wear?”
“Weren’t you… just dying to wear high heels to the banquet?”
…I felt Lian Qi’s gaze focus on my thin nightgown. I’m not wearing my Church robes right now. What is she imagining?
“The more they try to interfere, the less I feel like listening to them.”
“Oh? Look at you, being all rebellious.”
“I-It’s not… It’s not like that! Am I?”
“Rebellious…” Lian Qi smiled. “I was really looking forward to seeing you wear that black dress to the banquet.”
“That… black dress?” I looked at the black dress Lian Qi had bought for me.
“How could I wear that? It’s strapless. How many layers of padding would I need?” I said, bashfully.
“As the Saintess… everyone who’s seen me probably already has a good idea of my… chest size. If I really wore that strapless dress to the banquet, people’s first impression would be… wondering how many layers of padding I’m wearing… I don’t want people saying that!”
I whispered, “Besides… padding… I don’t even have any…”
“And… would Qifeng have…?”
“Qifeng!? …Why would you…? Qifeng doesn’t need padding, does she!?”
And besides, how could I ask to borrow something so private? Just imagine… if Qifeng had used it… and then I borrowed it… Just… the shame of “feeling her residual warmth”…
“…Well… then I guess I won’t get to see you in that dress today.”
“Why… Why don’t you wear it, and let me see?”
“Me?” Lian Qi seemed surprised by this sudden idea.
“This… isn’t a sudden idea. I’ve had this wish since we were in the changing room. But… I bought it for you.” Lian Qi said, standing with a hand on her hip, all serious.
“Please… just try it on? Let me see?” At the same time, my hand… restlessly… reached out and hooked her finger.
Lian Qi looked troubled, as if my pleading was working. “I… can’t say no to you, can I? Where… Where is that dress?”
I didn’t expect her to agree.
“I’ll get it!” I pattered over to the wardrobe and easily found the black dress (everything else in there is white or light-colored).
“Here—”
“Eh? Eh? EHHHH?”
I turned around… and Lian Qi was… right in front of me… unbuttoning her nightgown!?
I was so embarrassed I whipped my head away, my face smoking.
“Wh-What… Why…?”
“It’s been so long… and you still react like this?” Lian Qi’s voice was full of amusement. On one hand, she’s just not shy around me at all. On the other… is she deliberately trying to see me get flustered?
“Y-You… You’re not wearing a bra!”
“Who wears a bra to bed? Besides, we’re both girls, what’s the big deal?”
Although I’ve seen Lian Qi naked, that was an accident… Looking back, my reaction back then was… surprisingly calm.
I am speechless. If she finds out the truth one day, will she fly into a rage and kill me?
“Give me the dress.”
I held the dress out with both hands, deliberately not looking… though I could still see glimpses of skin.
“Are… Are you dressed?” I asked, after a moment.
“…Mhm.”
Only then did I look at her. Lian Qi… in that dress… it was stunning. She really is a girl. Even with her short hair, the dress didn’t look out of place at all.
“See? It fits me, right?” Her voice was a little smug.
“Eh?” I stared at the… strapless part… and paused. “You… don’t need padding?”
“What… What do you mean by that?” Lian Qi, hearing this, looked a little embarrassed and annoyed. “Just because you’re flat doesn’t mean everyone is!”
“N-No! I just… I always thought your chest was… an A-cup…”
“D-Didn’t you… feel them? H-How… how can you… say… you… don’t know my size? …Be careful, or I’ll… I’ll… hit you…” she stammered, becoming bashful herself.
“Mhm… Yesterday… in the changing room… when I felt them… they were… bigger than before. Bigger than I imagined.”
“Before…?” Lian Qi froze, then she must have remembered. She bit her lip, shyly. “‘Before’… was probably… when you tackled me on the bed… I was lying flat, so… they… they felt smaller, right?”
“Oh… so that’s it. My perception was wrong.” I gave a weak laugh. …Does that mean… Qifeng… isn’t just a C-cup, either?
“…Does… Does it look good?” she asked me, bashfully.
“Mhm!” I nodded. “It… It looks really good.”
“…Really?” Her voice was uncertain.
“Hmph. It was… bought for you.”
“When… When I buy padding… I’ll definitely wear it for you. …Why don’t you just wear this dress to the banquet today?” I suggested.
“Ehhh?” Lian Qi was so surprised, the “idiot hair” on top of her head sprang up.
“Are you serious… You’re… you’re luring me into wearing it, and then you won’t let me take it off…”
“That’s not it at all!” I denied.
“You… seem really keen on having me wear skirts. Do you… like the ‘girly’ side of me?”
“Because… you’re really cute,” I said, tilting my head with a smile.
Lian Qi looked down at herself, lifting the hem of the skirt and letting it fall.
“But… If I wear this… I’ll have an ‘accidental exposure’ incident if I have to fight.”
“Why… why would you need to fight?” I puffed out my (flat) chest, full of confidence, and assured her, “Don’t worry! From now on, when you’re wearing a dress… I’ll protect you!”
…Ahem. My chest is too flat. That wasn’t very convincing.
Lian Qi hesitated, then finally said, her face crimson, “…Alright. I… I’m a girl anyway. There’s nothing wrong with me wearing a dress. Besides… I used to have long hair. It… it just… got cut off for… special reasons.”
I thought… If Lian Qi had long hair… she’d be even more beautiful in a dress.
Footnotes
-
This is a Chinese proverb (敬酒不吃吃罚酒 - jìngjiǔ bù chī chī fájiǔ), meaning to refuse a polite offer only to be forced into a worse situation. ↩