Volume 6, Chapter 39 – Two Unusual Blocks of Wood

If not for the female salesclerk with pink cat ears, Fia would have thought she had walked into a retro-style coffee shop. There was a glass door with a wooden frame and large floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Inside the shop, wooden tables and chairs were placed by the street-facing side, and there were even hanging green spider plants. The exquisite style was completely incompatible with the ruggedness of Cold Night.

Fia chose this shop precisely because of its exquisite decoration.

“I can’t believe there’s a place like this in my territory…”

Nola, standing beside Fia, looked up at the jewelry store and muttered softly.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that? And didn’t I say it when we first arrived?”

“You are you, I am I. I’ve only seen shops like this in your Blossom. I didn’t expect one here either. Using glass curtain walls… aren’t they afraid of someone smashing them and rushing in to rob the place at night?”

“That’s a problem for you to consider, Nola. Rulers have an obligation to protect the safety of their subjects.”

“That’s easy to say, but we beastmen aren’t as peaceful as you elves. Beastmen are naturally combative, especially carnivorous beastmen like Tiger-folk and Lion-folk. They are naturally irritable and rely on their stronger physique compared to other beastmen to bully others. When they get angry, they can’t control it like ordinary people.”

To prove the credibility of her words, Nola nodded her chin toward the other end of the street, signaling Fia to look there. A male beastman was openly pinning a Charm Cat girl against the wall (kabedon). Although they were a couple, doing this on the street in broad daylight under everyone’s gaze was clearly not something a normal person would do.

“That couple has entered estrus. Except for us beastmen, other races don’t have this special period where they can’t even control their own desires. When you were in the Snake-folk city, didn’t you fight Chazo’s army? You should have seen those Lion-folk forget their formations and military orders as soon as they entered battle, only knowing how to howl and charge forward.”

“I have seen that…”

But those people regained their reason immediately after seeing [Spatial Rift].

However, one shouldn’t judge ordinary people by one’s own standards. Having been on the World Tree Continent for so long, Fia had long realized she was in a category far beyond the norm. Among normal people, it was difficult for anyone to have enough strength to contend with large carnivorous beastmen. Take Tilulu, a White Tiger, for example. Tilulu was just an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, but without using magic, her strength was comparable to Liti and Milu. This was a terrifying bonus. Being a beastman brought them the defect of being irrational, but also gave them physical abilities surpassing most other creatures.

Wait, if that’s the case… When Tilulu confessed to me and pushed me down on Claire’s bed, besides the teardrop pendant, was there also the reason that as a Tiger-folk, her reason couldn’t suppress her desire? Although I didn’t resist at the time, the fact that Tilulu could push me down shows her strength value is truly considerable.

Recalling the scene of Tilulu untying the ribbon of her dress and licking her neck with the tip of her pink tongue, Fia couldn’t help blushing. She quickly banished the suggestive thoughts from her mind. Tilulu was very cute, yes, but too young.

To divert her attention, she looked at Nola beside her, who was busy tidying her pure white formal dress and long fiery-red hair.

“Are fire cats considered carnivorous beastmen? Nola doesn’t seem to control her temper easily either.”

“Hey, what do you mean? Cat-people are omnivorous beastmen. It’s not easy for me to control my temper because the ‘fire’ in ‘fire cat’ isn’t for nothing. Besides manipulating flames, we fire cats also have fiery tempers. Aren’t you elves naturally good at nature magic and only eat vegetarian food?”

“No, we’ve switched to eating meat.”

Before the founding of the Silvar Kingdom, elves indeed only ate vegetarian food. But after the founding of the Silvar Kingdom, because the founding emperor took the lead in eating meat, coupled with the popularization of cooking methods and spices, people’s demand for food variety increased daily. Meat quickly became popular among the people. After four hundred years of precipitation, it has now become part of daily life.

Thanks to this, the physique and height of elves had grown considerably compared to before. The most obvious change was in the chests of female elves. Elves measured whether a wife was qualified by the size of her breasts and buttocks. This tradition existed because in the past, elves didn’t eat well, so it was difficult to produce female elves with considerable breasts and buttocks. Now, although everyone eats well and elves have excellent genes, resulting in an average cup size of C-D for female elves, the tradition of measuring a woman by the size of her breasts and buttocks has continued.

Fia’s statement left Nola speechless for a moment. But Fia didn’t focus on this; she looked toward the shop door.

“Standing outside won’t solve anything. Let’s go in first.”

With that, Fia pushed open the wooden-framed glass door. Accompanied by the crisp sound of wind chimes, the Charm Cat clerk’s cheerful welcome greeted them.

“Welcome~ Is there anything you need? Besides ordinary jewelry, we also have magic metal jewelry, which is currently on sale~”

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The sales-pitch style made Fia smile bitterly in her heart. She first glanced at Nola, who didn’t know how to react, then waved her hand, smiling and declining.

“We’ll just look around first.”

“Okay~ Please find me anytime if you need anything.”

The Charm Cat girl dressed as a clerk quickly retreated to the side. Fia led Nola to wander around the spacious and tidy jewelry store. Since coming to the World Tree Continent, she hadn’t had a good shopping trip with plenty of time like this. Although she had the experience of going out with Claire, that was a date, not wandering around. The leisurely feeling made her relax unconsciously, having the leisure to slowly examine the various accessories displayed on the counter.

Even though I would never have thought about shopping before… is it because I became an elf princess that my preferences and temperament changed too? But why can’t I find a single image related to shopping in my memory?

While thinking, Fia was also looking down at the accessories under the transparent counter. The store manager here had put magic lights inside the counter to make the jewelry shine brighter, showing considerable business acumen.

As for the jewelry in the counter, there were rings and pendants inlaid with various decorative gems, as well as magic accessories with magical effects. Magic accessories were often five to ten times more expensive than decorative ones, and their style was more magical—specifically, they were engraved with magic characters or magic circles. If placed in a world without magic, these things would definitely be treated as student preferences and not accepted by adults.

In addition, there were only a few exquisite and beautiful elf-style accessories here. Most other jewelry was in the style of Cold Night, either carved with beast heads holding gems in their mouths, or shaped like cat ears or leaves. Fia even saw a cute Q-version cat head ring. Although it wasn’t inlaid with gems and was just a ring made of cheap silver, it was quite cute and unique, making one want to buy one in passing.

“Too expensive. Is jewelry always a rip-off like this? No wonder the shop is so deserted.”

Looking through them one by one with Fia, Nola, bending over, whispered with a frown. Each accessory with a magical effect cost dozens of gold coins. In Cold Night, where per capita consumption wasn’t high, this was a considerable sum.

Fia glanced at the smiling Charm Cat clerk in the distance, leaning close to Nola’s ear to admonish her softly.

“You are the Holy Son. Would the acting clan chief of the Fire Cat Tribe be short of money?”

“This is my personal matter, not the Fire Cat Tribe’s matter. I can’t use the clan’s money to fill my own pocket.” After Nola explained seriously, her frown deepened. “But if I don’t choose an accessory with magical effects, Miss Erin Slate will definitely laugh at me. A clan chief giving such a shabby apology gift…”

“I don’t think Erin Slate is that kind of person.”

In Fia’s view, Erin Slate was someone who cared more about the inside than the price. Suddenly, she remembered how happy Erin Slate was when she gave her the recording crystal. She explained to Nola mysteriously.

“Erin Slate likes swordsmanship very much. Maybe we came to the wrong place; a weapon shop would be more appropriate.”

“Didn’t you say Miss Erin Slate likes exquisite jewelry? Why did it become an accessory again?”

Nola withdrew her gaze from the display case, her purple cat eyes wide with confusion.

“It’s a long story…”

Omitting the identity of Thanatos, Fia told Nola about Erin Slate’s delighted reaction when she gave her the recording crystal. After hearing this, Nola nodded seriously, stroking her chin while her cat tail swayed.

“So Miss Erin Slate is so obsessed with swordsmanship. True, if she didn’t like swords, she definitely couldn’t become a Sword Saint. In that case, should I buy something related to swords for Miss Erin Slate after all? But at Miss Erin Slate’s level, ordinary weapons definitely won’t do… Should I choose jewelry?”

By the end, Nola’s voice was full of lack of confidence. A weapon that could catch Erin Slate’s eye would have to be at least Orichalcum or Scarlet Gold grade. The price of these weapons was several times that of magic jewelry, exceeding Nola’s financial ability. Even if she wanted to give one, she couldn’t.

Seeing Nola’s difficulty, Fia said with concern.

“How about I lend you some? This amount of money is nothing to me; I can even give it to you for free.”

“Better not. I don’t like owing people money, and I don’t want to owe favors.”

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Especially owing you.

Nola criticized secretly in her heart.

“Hurry up and help me see which kind she would like if it were Erin Slate. Even magic jewelry is fine; it’s better than magic weapons.”

“I’m not Erin Slate; how would I know which kind she likes?”

“Then decide based on your preference. Your taste must be better than mine, a rough person.”

“You can’t laugh at me if I really choose.”

Although she said this, Fia actually began to feel troubled. Unconsciously, her gaze fell on the cat ring she saw earlier. If she had to choose, she would definitely choose this cheap, cute, and unique accessory. Compared to other accessories priced in gold coins, the cat ring only cost three silver coins.

She deliberately stretched out her index finger solemnly and tapped on the cat ring under the counter.

“I think this one is not bad.”

Nola’s expression froze.

“…Do you want to see me make a fool of myself? Something worth three silver coins will definitely be laughed at by Miss Erin Slate.”

“But don’t you think it’s cute? Compared to other jewelry around, this is fresh and refined. Erin Slate has definitely never seen such jewelry. The thought counts in a gift; price is secondary.”

“But this is an apology gift, not a regular gift.”

Although what Nola said was correct—an apology gift that was too light would make people feel a lack of sincerity and look down on the other party—she was still unhappy that Nola refuted her aesthetic. She pouted.

“Tch, kept saying to follow my preference, but when I chose, you said it wasn’t good.”

“I’m being realistic. Besides, this style of jewelry would definitely only be liked by little girls like Tilulu. Miss Erin Slate is a mature lady; bringing it before her would only make her laugh.”

“Are you laughing at me for not being mature enough?”

That’s right.

Nola answered very honestly, but since she had promised Fia not to laugh at her, she racked her brains thinking about how to rephrase it.

“I meant to say that everyone has different preferences and we should respect each other.”

“That’s more like it.” Although Nola was still laughing at her, being able to say such words wasn’t easy for her. Fia considered it a pass. She waved to the clerk in the distance, then pointed to several gorgeously styled brooches on the counter. “Please take these out for me. No, just wrap them up.”

“A-All of them?”

“I want all the ones I pointed out.”

“Okay!”

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Like seeing a fat lamb delivering itself to the door, the Charm Cat clerk ran behind the counter to wrap the accessories for Fia. Nola opened her mouth wide, looking at Fia with an expression of not knowing what to say. Obvious guilt appeared in her eyes as she whispered.

“I don’t want to owe you a favor…”

“Huh?”

Fia widened her eyes blankly, not understanding what Nola was saying. It wasn’t until a moment of thought that she realized Nola probably saw her buying so many accessories as paying for her. After all, she had said buying these things was no burden at all.

To avoid being narcissistic, she confirmed.

“Why does Nola say that?”

“Aren’t you buying an apology gift for Erin Slate for me…”

As expected.

Fia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Nola already said she didn’t want to owe me favors; of course I wouldn’t be presumptuous, especially buying so many at once to make you feel indebted. I know you still have some grievances against me in your heart, so these aren’t for you.”

“Eh?”

The moment Fia’s voice fell, Nola tensed up all over, her fiery red cat ears and tail standing straight up. Embarrassment made her exotically charming face flush red rapidly. She was dazed for two or three seconds before gradually reacting.

“N-Not for me…”

Don’t say that with such a sad smile.

Although she knew Nola wasn’t expecting her to give her gifts, but was simply embarrassed by her own high sense of self-importance, Fia followed Nola’s words and suggested casually.

“If Nola likes any, choosing one to give to you is no problem.”

“N-No need, I didn’t mean that.” Nola looked away blushing, embarrassed by her presumptuous misunderstanding just now—thinking someone else was paying for her, such excessive self-consciousness was simply shameful. To make the atmosphere less awkward, or perhaps wanting to quickly discard her embarrassing memory, she hurriedly changed the subject. “Then who are they for?”

“Guess. You know that person too.”

“How would I know who you’re giving them to—” Before she finished speaking, a figure with blue hair suddenly appeared in Nola’s mind. She clicked her tongue unhappily, her tone becoming slightly stiff. “Is it that girl named Calista?”

“This tone… is Nola still angry with her?”

“Running into someone else’s home and denying their god on her own accord, who wouldn’t be angry? The Goddess saved my life. We beastmen don’t forget others’ kindness, nor do we allow others to insult our benefactors. Besides, you already have Claire; is she really worth your attention?”

“No, no, Calista and I aren’t what you think. She’s just an acquaintance, not even a friend. In the first place, why does Nola think these are gifts for Calista?”

Fia completely couldn’t understand Nola’s brain circuit. No matter how one thinks about it, she should think of Claire and the others first, or even Mother Yulisha.

Nola turned her face away, seemingly sulking.

“Who believes she’s just an acquaintance? You kept saying I was the first friend you made, but that day you chased after Calista without looking back.”

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In another setting, Nola would absolutely never reveal these secret thoughts. But now, for some reason, she just naturally spat out the displeasure in her chest. It was as if unless she said it, Fia wouldn’t realize that she actually treated her as a friend properly, and she wanted Fia to value her feelings too.

So that’s what she cares about.

Fia understood instantly.

Thinking carefully, Nola’s attitude toward her had been quite stiff since she returned that day.

Although she was a clan chief, she was still an adolescent fire kitty, wasn’t she? Being unhappy because a friend treated her differently from others was simply a petty thought unique to schoolgirls. In Nola’s eyes, she treated Fia as a friend, but after she argued with Calista, Fia stood on Calista’s side, as if she, the friend, wasn’t as important as Calista. Under these circumstances, it was reasonable to sulk.

She had always put Nola in the position of a leader, ignoring that she was actually also a girl just beginning to understand love and full of emotions. It was her mistake.

Fia carefully weighed her words, resting her chin on one hand.

“How should I put it… Calista came to a foreign land alone after all; it’s only natural to take care of her more. Didn’t I take care of Nola when you went to Blossom alone too?”

“Ugh.”

Fia’s explanation made Nola pause, then her attitude gradually softened. Just as Fia said, when Nola went to Blossom alone, Fia took care of her a lot, and at that time she hadn’t even considered Fia a friend yet.

In fact, precisely because Fia didn’t bully her, a romantic rival, using her power, but instead took great care of her—not only giving her a holiday but also inviting her to enjoy various cuisines, treating Nola like one of her own—Nola gradually understood and acknowledged that Fia was a good person, accepted Fia, and treated Fia as a friend.

She glanced at the clerk packing accessories not far away, her voice becoming muffled.

“Then how do you explain these accessories?”

“These are for Anastasia and the others. Hah, I didn’t expect you, a clan chief, to be fussy—obsess over such things like a little girl. It changed my view of you. Before, I thought you were a block of wood emotionally, but it turns out you’re a sensitive beautiful girl too.”

Having it put this way, thin-skinned Nola blushed all over. She simply gave up on herself, snorting dishonestly.

“So what? I’m a clan chief, but also a girl who hasn’t come of age yet. Don’t look at me like this; apart from Ying, I don’t have many friends. It’s your honor that I acknowledge you. Besides, acting one way at work and another way in daily life is very normal, isn’t it?”

“Is that something you can say out loud…”

Pity she didn’t record it with a recording crystal. Otherwise, if she showed it to Nola when they got back, Nola would definitely be unable to control herself for the rest of her life. Every time she remembered shouting about having no friends just now, she would suddenly crawl out of bed and slap herself.

However, just knowing that Nola actually cared a lot about her attitude toward her and treated her as an important friend made this trip very rewarding. Not to mention seeing Nola’s current tsundere look. Although Nola wasn’t smart enough, she was a beautiful girl no less than Estelle, a feast for the eyes.

“Here you go. The total is one hundred and seventy-one gold coins.”

The clerk who finished packing the accessories came to Fia. Because the amount was too large, the Charm Cat clerk, afraid Fia would go back on her word, added with an effort to smile.

“The accessories you chose are all relatively mature styles. Are they for adult beastman friends? We can give you this ring as a gift. Recently, spring has arrived, and we beastmen are troubled by the special period. Most beastmen can’t even feel when they enter the special period. With this magic ring, one can detect in advance if they have entered the special period. Ah—the method of use is that it glows as long as you wear it on your hand. This is a recent new product; please accept it.”