Volume 6, Chapter 36 – The Fire Cat in the Alley

“What kind of magic is this…”

“If you fall down, you’d definitely be smashed to pieces!”

“Are all elf magic casters like this?”

It wasn’t until ten minutes after Fia and Nola returned to the ground and Fia used [Airflow Control] to settle the dust filling the sky that the chaotic plain gradually regained some resemblance of life. Bold adventurers craned their necks to observe, looking from afar at the edge of the forest where Fia and Nola had been—it was more appropriate to call it a canyon now. Then, they saw a scene that left them unable to close their mouths for a long time.

The originally dense mountain forest was now a mess. The mountains and plains were covered with miserable tree stumps that were only half-left. Green vegetation like tree crowns and bushes had literally disappeared completely, as if eaten by a tengu.

Beneath the forest was a canyon a hundred meters wide that had appeared abruptly. Due to the angle of view, these adventurers couldn’t tell exactly how deep the canyon was. But just from the ground shaking earlier that made it impossible to stand steady, they could feel it wasn’t as simple as digging a big pit. Especially the way the canyon itself stretched from the left side of their vision all the way to the right, continuing to spread into the distance, was even more terrifying. It was as if the earth had been torn open alive by a pair of invisible hands, scraping away the fertile soil on the surface in the process, leaving only the exposed yellowish-brown rock, turning it into a barren land.

It wasn’t until Fia ran to notify Anastasia’s group to prepare for the enemy that Nola remembered she should also have Tsukuyomi and the others come out of the city quickly. Although Fia’s magic solved most of the monsters along the way, the monsters on the other side of the mountain were not included. Coupled with the fact that the commotion caused by Fia’s magic was too great, disturbing even more monsters, manpower was still needed to deal with the subsequent arrivals.

Thus, the current situation arose.

Liti’s group, who arrived first, was dealing with the monster horde on the side of the canyon closer to the forest. The soldiers who arrived later and the bold adventurers were watching from afar on the side closer to the city. Especially the freely moving adventurers; some lay on the ground, sticking their heads out over the cliff to peer into the bottom of the canyon, while others threw stones into the pitch-black depths to test the depth. A cold wind mixed with the smell of sand and dust swept through the canyon. The sheer rock walls made people’s legs go weak.

“As… as expected of the Eldest Princess who defeated two Demon Generals simultaneously… Just in the time we retreated, she created such a natural chasm. If this had fallen on the city, I’m afraid people would have gone to the other world before even waking up from their dreams…”

Withdrawing her gaze from peering into the bottom of the canyon, the Charm Cat matriarch revealed an apologetic smile mixed with fear. Not just Tsukuyomi, but the other two cat-person representatives also smiled apologetically in agreement, their faces full of fawning, showing none of the previous doubts about Fia boasting.

Nola crossed her arms, curling her lips in displeasure.

“That’s why I told you not to run your mouths. Even the weakest of the Seven Demon Generals can cause a disaster that slaughters a city, let alone the two quite powerful Demon Generals Fia defeated. She should have reached the eighth rank.”

By the end, Nola secretly glanced at Fia, confirming the fact with her.

Fia just responded with a smile. She turned her head to look at Liti’s group at the other end of the canyon. With Anastasia and Claire dividing the battlefield, the monsters that had originally rushed toward Liti’s trio in a swarm were being deliberately controlled, attacking the three in batches. Although one could see from Liti and Tilulu’s flustered movements that they were a bit rusty in actual combat—several times, if not for Milu’s timely reaction, these two would have been hit by monster claws and fallen into the canyon—considering the considerable number and rank of the monsters, this was actually a pretty good response.

Of course, this was just a general opinion. In Fia’s view, it was far from enough. Tilulu would stay in Cold Night later, so the requirements didn’t need to be too high for now. But Liti was going with her to the Netherworld. Being rusty now would mean dragging others down in a life-and-death battle. She had to train more later. Anastasia couldn’t do anything about Liti’s status as a princess and didn’t dare to be as strict as she was with Milu. Fia had to do this herself.

“But why did the Princess deliberately leave a path in the middle?”

Just as Tsukuyomi said, Fia used [Spatial Rift] twice in total. Between these two [Spatial Rift]s, Fia left a path about fifty meters wide. Liti’s group was guarding this fifty-meter-wide passage.

Nola answered for Fia.

“I guess this is to prevent monsters from swarming to other places. Without any path, monsters would go in other directions or quietly open up paths themselves. But if there’s a ready-made path, monsters will only go through this path. As long as we set up checkpoints and defense lines here, we can deal with the monster tide. It’s equivalent to concentrating the originally dispersed pressure together.”

Although that meaning is there, I mostly considered that adventurers will still enter the forest to make a living in the future. Not leaving a path would cause trouble for people who make a living by hunting monsters.

Setting up checkpoints here according to Nola’s words… I feel like this place will evolve into a sentry post or toll gate in the future, convenient for collecting taxes from passing adventurers.

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Praying in her heart that it wouldn’t turn out like that for the adventurers, Fia switched back to a serious expression to warn them.

“But we still can’t be negligent. High-ranking monsters can use flight magic, not to mention there are types of monsters that can fly naturally. It’s best to build high walls along the cliff and set up anti-air weapons in the next few days. Later, I’ll go set up rifts in other directions. During this time, Nola, you have to arrange people to confirm if the foundation of this area is stable. After all, it’s a result smashed out by violence; the cliff might collapse after being washed by rain. Pay special attention to this.”

“Leave this to our Charm Cat soldiers. We Charm Cats are naturally sensitive to environmental changes and are most suitable for surveys. But to be able to deliberately leave a path using magic of that level…”

The second half of the sentence was Tsukuyomi talking to herself. No one heard it except her.

“Ahem,” Nola coughed dryly twice. “Fia, let’s call it a day. Making such a big commotion, people in the town might think a terrible earthquake happened. We’ll leave some people here to monitor the monsters’ movements. The others will go back to the city to gather craftsmen and mobilize manpower, trying to create decent fortifications in these few days. Just building a checkpoint in this section shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Ah, no problem! It’s just the monsters drawn out by the earthquake just now…”

Tsukuyomi looked hesitantly at the monster group Liti’s group was intercepting across the canyon.

“With Anastasia, monsters on the outskirts of the forest aren’t a problem, not to mention Claire is there too. You just watch here. Send someone back to the city to summon more soldiers. Just fill in the spots after Claire and the others stop hunting monsters. These monsters are different from yesterday’s; they are all ordinary goods.”

“Yes!”

Tsukuyomi hurriedly ordered the soldiers as Nola said, guarding the edge of the canyon in full battle array, ready to take over Liti’s group’s position at any time.

“Fia, let’s go back too.”

“Me?”

Why should I go back? Fia originally wanted to answer this way, but she changed her wording temporarily.

“I’ll watch Liti and the others here.”

“Ugh,” seeming unable to find a suitable reason, Nola’s breath hitched. She looked left and right at the others. After confirming Tsukuyomi’s group wasn’t paying attention to her, she quietly moved a step toward Fia, saying somewhat anxiously, “I have a favor to ask you.”

“A favor?” Although she didn’t know what it was, Nola wasn’t the type to make boring jokes. Fia nodded lightly without understanding. “Then let me notify Anastasia and the others first.”

“Mm.”

It wasn’t until Fia and Nola left that the timid adventurers in the distance finally dared to stomp their feet in anger.

“Damn it! My monsters!”

“With such a large area, if it were any other magic, there would definitely be countless corpses for us. Now they’re all gone!”

Because they didn’t lower their voices, the capable, skilled adventurers frowned repeatedly.

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“If you like monsters so much, just go kill them yourself in the front. No one’s blocking your way. How about you charge first next time a monster tide comes?”

“Er!”

Ignoring the speechless young adventurers, the skilled adventurer turned to look at Liti’s group hunting monsters in the distance, sighing softly.

“Warriors from the Silvar Kingdom really are different. When I earn enough money, I’m going to the Silvar Kingdom for further studies too.”

“And that Princess specially left a path for us. Later, when a checkpoint is built here, we’ll definitely have to register when entering and leaving the forest. That way, if someone doesn’t come back for a few days, the checkpoint can react immediately and organize people to search the mountains.”

“It can also prevent those bandits hiding in the forest from sneaking into the city for supplies. Let’s see who dares to hide in the forest and ambush us then!”

The skilled adventurer’s words resonated with many experienced adventurers. Everyone nodded repeatedly, offering awe and gratitude to Fia in their hearts.

Unfortunately, Fia, who returned to the city with Nola, knew none of this. Her attention was entirely on Nola’s profile, weighed down by worry.

When the two entered a corner of an alley in the city, Nola finally stopped. Fia instinctively felt Nola was going to say something important. To make the atmosphere less heavy, she curled the corners of her mouth, revealing a teasing look, and cracked an off-key joke at Nola opposite her.

“Bringing me here suddenly, are you conquered by my power and want to confess?”

Nola looked speechless.

“I’d rather die than confess to you.”

As her voice fell, Nola’s expression changed slightly. She hesitated, her conflicted expression like a love fool who had brewed emotions but didn’t know how to say them.

This atmosphere, and especially bringing me to a small alley… she’s not really going to confess to me, is she?

Fia couldn’t help but stiffen. Having experienced the Tilulu incident, she already had psychological trauma regarding confessions.

Although she asked herself honestly and knew she hadn’t done anything to make Nola like her—even teasing and mocking Nola whenever she found a chance—feelings were something no one could explain clearly. Most of the time, it was just catching the eye, knowing a bit about the other person, hitting the strike zone, and naturally liking them without needing a special reason.

Connecting this to the fact that beastmen were simple and crude in terms of emotions, Fia couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t impossible. It was just that if Nola really confessed to her, things would get big.

Putting away her teasing, Fia tightened her expression. One after another, words of polite rejection floated in her mind, until Nola covered the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, blushing and looking away in embarrassment, her toes also twisting gently unconsciously.

“Although it’s untimely to bring up this topic now, maybe this is the only time we can be free. I have a question I want to ask you…”

“Mm, I’m mentally prepared.”

Fia was ready for battle. However, Nola suddenly looked up, looking at Fia with an extremely surprised, even baffled gaze.

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“What do you mean by mentally prepared? I wanted to ask you, regarding the request I asked you to ask Anastasia about what Erin Slate likes, did Anastasia answer? If it’s something that can be bought, it’s best to start preparing now. No one can say how busy it will be next. I want to apologize to Erin Slate as soon as possible. You know, dragging this kind of thing out too long will seem insincere… Mistaking an acquaintance for a Darkborn and sneak attacking, it’s embarrassing to the extreme…”

“Er.”

This time it was Fia’s turn to pause. It took half a second to switch back from the mode of rejecting a confession.

Turns out I was too narcissistic. No, I should say no one would expect Nola to still be brooding over this.

She coughed dryly twice, covering her lips with her fist in embarrassment. Then, she brought out her exquisite expression control ability, answering with a knowing smile that Nola wouldn’t see through.

“So it’s about this. I asked on the way here yesterday. Anastasia said Erin Slate likes exquisite things like brooches and formal dresses. If Nola takes these two things to apologize, Erin Slate might be very happy.”

“Brooches and formal dresses…” Nola bit her lip. Her fiery red tail, which had been swaying non-stop, stopped swaying, seeming troubled. “Formal dresses are luxury goods in the Fire Cat territory; no shops sell such things. And I don’t know the size suitable for Erin Slate. Then I can only choose a brooch… Fia, did Anastasia mention specific styles? Like preferring understated ones, or gorgeous ones?”

“This… no.”

To be precise, I didn’t ask.

Fia stuck out her tongue in her heart. She had only been an elf princess for half a year; how would she know buying a brooch had such particulars?

In Fia’s view, all brooches in the world were much the same. As long as they could be worn and looked good, there was no problem. Naturally, she wouldn’t ask for detailed categories.

“Anastasia doesn’t know either? Then it can’t be helped. Tch, and I just happen not to understand these things either.”

Nola crossed her arms, clicking her tongue in a very beastman style. She leaned against the wall, sighing in frustration. However, when she caught a glimpse of the exquisite formal dress on Fia from the corner of her eye, she suddenly had an idea. She stepped forward curiously, picking up the hem of Fia’s skirt, rubbing it lightly between her thumb and forefinger.

“I didn’t notice before, but you bas—Fia’s taste isn’t bad.”

You wanted to say “you bastard” just now, right?

Seeing Fia’s subtle expression of wanting to speak but stopping, Nola knew she almost misspoke. She quickly stood up straight and glossed over it, beginning to praise Fia.

“Fia and Erin Slate are both nobles; your tastes must be very close. And Fia is a cute and beautiful elf just like Erin Slate. How about Fia helping me choose?”

By the end, Nola’s voice had an obvious probing tone. She looked over carefully, the word “help” practically written on her face.

This girl knows how to ask for help too.

Although I really want to help you, with my aesthetic sense, I’ll probably only be a disservice.

Fia looked helpless, speaking the truth.

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“Although I am indeed a cute and beautiful elf, don’t forget I’ve lost my memory. The taste of this outfit belongs to the former Eldest Princess, not me. I’ll probably only make things worse if I help you.”

“No, no, no,” Nola denied repeatedly. She tugged at the collar of her own pure white formal dress. “No matter how bad your taste is, it must be better than mine, born a warrior. Don’t look at me wearing a dress now; actually, I’ve always felt these things are flashy but useless, so I haven’t learned about them at all. In this aspect, I’m more like a man than a man.”

Then why are you wearing a dress now?

Thinking Fia was unwilling to help her, Nola pleaded further. She bumped Fia’s shoulder lightly with her own, practically clasping her hands in prayer to Fia.

“My taste is completely unpresentable. I… I will prepare the same gift for Fia as a thank you. Just choose one according to your own preference, and then I’ll commission a craftsman to make an identical one for Miss Erin Slate. H-How about it? Making two for Fia is fine too!”

By the end, Nola’s voice had begun to tremble.

It must be that she was really worried sick, and felt that asking others would let more people know she mistook Erin Slate for a Darkborn, which was very embarrassing. So she could only ask Fia, hence the pleading.

Fia seemed to see the words “Please~” written in Nola’s eyes.

Thinking about it this way, this kitty is quite cute.

I’ll just force myself to give her some ideas.

Just in case, Fia deliberately kept a straight face and straightened her back, emphasizing with a look of reluctance.

“I have to say this first: if Erin Slate doesn’t like the gift I choose, you can’t blame me. Also, if you think what I picked doesn’t look good, you can’t question it. Otherwise, don’t expect me to help you with this kind of favor again.”

“Of course! You are elf royalty; who else can question you? I believe in your taste!”

Fia’s relenting made Nola overjoyed. She nodded repeatedly to Fia like a chick pecking at rice. Then, she very proactively grabbed Fia’s hand, leading Fia toward the alley entrance.

“No time to lose, let’s go now!”

I understand you’re happy, but isn’t this a bit too proactive?

I feel Nola has been a bit strange these past two days. Especially when not involving serious business, she’s like a different person—more lively and girlish, even clingy.

I hope it’s my illusion, Fia prayed in her heart. Being dragged by the wrist by Nola, Fia had to walk quickly to keep up with the impatient Nola ahead.