Volume 6, Chapter 64 – The Drunken Fire Cat Again

Although Fia noticed Nola’s unhappiness, she didn’t think too much about it. Nola’s thoughts were nothing more than what she had said herself: the reason why the Fire Cat Tribe could bring the Charm Cat Tribe under its rule was that she, as the Clan Chief, had defeated the Charm Cat Tribe’s Clan Chief, Tsukuyomi, in the field Charm Cats were best at. Now that someone stronger than her in energy appeared, it was reasonable for Nola to be dissatisfied. The core was similar to something originally belonging to her being snatched away.

As everyone left, Fia, holding the fruit wine, got up and walked to Nola, who was frowning and full of dissatisfaction—the current dissatisfaction should be due to Fia interrupting her confession.

Sinking into the sofa with a poof , Fia moved the Flame Greatsword blocking her legs in front of the table to the side, looking at Nola’s sullen face with amusement.

“No need to put on such an expression, right? I am pulling you back from the brink of a cliff.”

“So I am a horse?”

“Aren’t you a cat?” Answering Nola with a joke, Fia pouted at Nola, gesturing for Nola to look at her fiery red tail. “Before coming out, didn’t you say it yourself? Helian might be lying to you. Why did you forget this completely after only a few minutes?”

“I—”

Before Nola could defend herself, Fia reached out to block between herself and Nola, forcing Nola to swallow the words on the tip of her tongue.

“Don’t think I didn’t see it. When you took down the Flame Greatsword, your expression was like bidding farewell to the Flame Greatsword.”

Nola curled her lips impatiently, looking down at the coffee table.

“Arguing now is meaningless. I just don’t want to deceive friends. Since there is a possibility of not being a Holy Son, then make everything clear.”

“Haven’t you thought about the consequences of saying it? What if the surrounding nobles hear it?”

While speaking, Fia stretched her neck to look around the sofa. In just a short glance, her gaze met with many young beastman nobles. The latter looked away awkwardly one after another, either pretending to look around or touching their noses to cover up their embarrassment. It was worth mentioning that Tsukuyomi and others were also chatting not far away. Sensing Fia’s gaze, Tsukuyomi even smiled and raised her glass to greet Fia.

“If they hear it, they hear it. My position as Clan Chief was won by myself; it has nothing to do with being a Holy Son or not.”

“That makes sense,” Fia couldn’t help finding it funny that the reasoning she used to refute Nola just now was used by Nola against her. “Getting the position of Holy Son might be irrelevant to you, but losing the position of Holy Son will definitely bring negative impacts to you. Uninformed people will suspect you of colluding with Darkborn and such. Anyway, better hide the matter first. Don’t pull a long face. Want to drink some?”

Fia shook the wine glasses in her hands at Nola. Nola’s gaze lingered on Fia’s right hand for a moment. She glimpsed the cat ring on Fia’s right ring finger. Under the hall’s lighting, the cat ring reflected a dazzling silver luster. Although not a valuable item, it fit exceptionally well on Fia’s hand, adding a few more points of girlish cuteness to Fia.

A strange emotion welled up in her heart. Nola didn’t bicker with Fia. She took the wine glass and clinked it with Fia’s, making a light clink sound, then drank it in one gulp.

“Ugh.” She frowned. “This is wine?”

“Don’t like it? This is the wine I took out when we were in the room just now. Seeing Nola drink it clean in one gulp just now, I thought Nola liked this taste very much.”

Can’t say I like it or dislike it. At that time, I felt alcohol could numb emotions, Nola answered in her heart, but her mouth said something else.

“Anyway, it’s more palatable than Cold Night’s wine. I didn’t touch alcohol much before. I tried Cold Night’s wine here two days ago, but it wasn’t as delicious as your Silvar wine at all. It’s just that your Silvar wine has too high an alcohol content; can’t drink too much.”

“If this sentence is heard by your Cold Night winemakers, they will definitely be too angry to sleep for several days.”

“If skills are inferior to others, one must admit it honestly. On the contrary, you, why do you still wear this ring on your hand? Doesn’t it make you lose face? A dignified Elf Princess wearing cheap goods bought for only three silver coins. I heard you Silvar nobles are very particular. If they find their noble friend using inferior goods as quality ones, although they won’t say it openly, they will label them as tasteless in secret and slowly alienate them.”

“At least the nobles I know don’t have this saying. It must be your Cold Night’s custom.”

Neither Erin Slate nor Liti, nor even her mother Yulisha, would despise something because its value was low.

“Besides, this is very cute—” Seeming to think of something, Fia rolled her eyes, deliberately extending her right hand forward and spreading her five fingers, making a gesture of observing the ring. “Besides, this is a token of love given to me by Nola. How can you say it’s cheap goods? Feelings are priceless.”

“Huh?” Nola’s voice instantly became loud enough to attract the attention of people around. She hurriedly coughed to cover up her embarrassment, then stared at Fia’s face closely and asked in a low voice, “When did I say this is a token of love? At that time, wasn’t it you threatening me that if I didn’t put it on, you would show the recording crystal to Claire, so I reluctantly satisfied your wish?”

“Was there such a thing? Clearly, it was Nola who put it on for me personally, and directly on the ring finger. The right ring finger means being passionately in love; that was chosen by Nola herself. Although I already have Claire, if Nola insists on pestering me no matter what, I can reluctantly agree.”

“Hmph,” talking to this point, even Nola could see Fia was making fun of her. She filled the glass again and drank it in one gulp, snorting unceremoniously. “Daydreaming. Even if I die, I can’t possibly pester you.”

“Ho, surprisingly calm. I thought Nola’s reaction would be more intense. If it were when we first met, you would definitely have grabbed my collar by now.”

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“Am I that violent?” Nola’s eyes were full of doubt.

“Of course.” Fia nodded extremely seriously.

“Tch. It must be because of Claire’s matter that I dislike you.”

“Then not making a move now means you like me?”

“…”

Nola didn’t answer, and the conversation fell silent. She started pouring pale blue liquor for herself one after another. Fia didn’t take it to heart either. She took this opportunity to observe Nola. From a long time ago, she felt that although Nola was reckless, she was actually a nice person. Especially when not speaking, her curvaceous figure complemented the red hair cascading down behind her, full of passion. Coupled with the bewitching cat eyes and beautiful face, calling her a beautiful girl with a unique temperament wasn’t wrong either. Belonging to the type that looked hard to provoke but was actually easy to bully.

After silence passed for quite a while, Nola smacked her lips. As if borrowing the courage from alcohol to speak, she gulped down a mouthful of wine, her tone full of unwillingness.

“Sort of. It’s impossible between me and Claire anymore. It’s about time to let go of previous grudges. You are a good person. Leaving aside helping me in various things before, just the words that woke me up earlier were enough to make me full of gratitude towards you. Saying words contrary to my heart again would violate my principles. It’s just that you are overly kind, making me not quite adapted. Sometimes I think, if you weren’t so kind, and didn’t come close to caring about me like that, maybe I would feel better.”

Seeming to know these words were excessive, Nola scratched her head vigorously in distress.

“Ah, I know this is my problem, unable to accept others’ kindness honestly. But I have my difficulties. Think about it, if you stood in my position, you definitely wouldn’t be honest with a guy who stole the person you like. That would be simply sorry to your own feelings… Although saying so, I am not angry anymore. Yes, not angry.”

By the end, a drunken flush appeared on Nola’s cheeks. She leaned back against the sofa, her tone like persuading herself.

Isn’t this still being angry?

Looking at the drunk and blurry-eyed Nola, Fia couldn’t help laughing. She suddenly had the feeling of taking care of a stupid junior. She leaned forward, moving the wine bottle on the coffee table to the side.

“You drank too much.”

“No!” Seeing the wine she liked being moved away, Nola retorted loudly, grabbing Fia’s wrist to snatch the wine bottle back. To avoid it being snatched by Fia again, she simply hugged the wine bottle in her arms, pouting and making a muffled sound. “I am not drunk. This is just right. If not borrowing the alcohol effect, I definitely couldn’t say it no matter what…”

“If you continue talking, it will become like in the bathhouse again. This isn’t my palace. Going crazy here, the whole Fire Cat Tribe will know tomorrow morning.”

Fia tried to snatch the wine bottle from Nola’s arms. However, Nola held it quite tightly, even bending over to press the wine bottle with her body. This action caused Fia’s arm to get stuck between Nola’s well-developed chest instantly.

…

Surprisingly soft.

And so white.

This guy is also a woman.

Fia suddenly realized that she had never treated Nola as a female, only viewing Nola as a friend. Of course, she was still a friend now; the difference was the current Nola possessed more feminine softness and delicateness.

Nola argued stubbornly.

“No, I will drink.”

“… You said it yourself.”

To avoid Nola clinging to her afterwards, Fia specially took out a recording crystal from her spatial backpack, activated it, and placed it on the table—that said, if Nola really did unsightly acts, Fia would still stop her immediately.

“Hmph… should be like this.”

Not noticing Fia’s action, Nola hummed with satisfaction holding the wine bottle. She tried to straighten her waist to fill her glass, but just as she sat up straight, her body tilted toward Fia instantly, her head hitting Fia’s right arm with a bang.

“Ugh… I’m a little dizzy.”

“You are already in a state where you can’t drink at all.”

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Although knowing Nola’s alcohol tolerance was poor, it was a bit too poor. Being drunk like this after drinking only two-thirds of the bottle.

Ignoring Fia’s words, Nola spoke to herself.

“Damn it, why do you treat me so well? Doesn’t this only make me distressed… If you were a bad person, I could push you away. But you, hic … but you help me in more and more places. First Chazo and the Demon General of Absolute Death, then asking Princess Consort Yulisha to send me grain… and then… already countless. Making me so conflicted, all blame you…”

Her purple cat eyes were full of trance. Nola used the top of her head to butt Fia’s right arm as if venting dissatisfaction, muttering low words like sleep-talking from her mouth.

“If I didn’t know you from the start… didn’t know Claire, how good would that be…”

Does this count as speaking the truth after drinking?

Fia only found it funny. She straightened Nola’s body.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I am speaking from the bottom of my heart… Why am I the only one suffering this kind of torture? Do you know, there is something I kept buried at the bottom of my heart, daring not speak out.”

There is such a thing?

Fia became interested instantly. She first confirmed no one was eavesdropping, then said with feigned reserve.

“If you dare not speak out, then don’t say it.”

“No, I must say it.”

While speaking, Nola poured wine for herself with trembling hands. However, because her vision was blurry, the bottle couldn’t align with the glass at all. Only after Fia poured it for her did she reveal a satisfied smile, explaining stammeringly like a shy little girl.

“Before… when fighting the Demon General of Absolute Death and the Demon General of Gluttony, I thought I would die there. I only thought about dragging one down with me. As a result, I overestimated my strength and was defeated by the two of them. I even… I even wet my pants…”

“Hah?”

No wonder when I caught Nola, I felt her skirt was wet…

Fia’s expression instantly became subtle. Usually, this was indeed an unspeakable secret.

“Wuu wuu…” Not crying, but a shy sound. Nola leaned her body against Fia again, so that the wine in the glass almost spilled on Fia. Her breath was not only hot but also full of the smell of alcohol. “That wasn’t from being scared… it was because Gluttony broke my bones; it hurt so much that my body was out of control…”

“Better stop talking.”

Fia was speechless and reached out to cover Nola’s mouth. However, Nola would rather explain in a muffled voice than stop talking.

“When I saw you then, hic , when I saw you coming, actually I was extremely happy, as if a savior had arrived… It’s just… just that I couldn’t tell you frankly, so I only say it now… Also seeing your flames before, clearly the fire I’m most afraid of, yet it felt as gentle as Claire… I also dreamed you ran into my dream to save me… So strange, why would I think so… as if hoping you would help me…”

“That must be because I’m too strong—don’t lick my hand!”

Probably feeling Fia’s hand was in the way, Nola extended her warm tongue to lick the hand covering her mouth. Fia instantly withdrew her arm as if touching something dirty, looking at her palm glistening with water and foam with disgust, then wiped it on Nola.

This guy turns from a fire cat into a fire dog after getting drunk.

“So sweet. Indeed has a feeling of reassurance. You are really a tormenting goblin, Fia… making me love and hate you. If I were a man, I would definitely be captivated by you. Both cute and gentle, and also very powerful. Where in the world is there such a perfect woman… Damn it, why isn’t such a person me? If it were me, I would definitely, hic , I would definitely marry both Claire and you!”

While shouting in a posture of sliding onto Fia’s thigh, Nola waved her arms, her face full of silly smiles.

This guy is already drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

Actually saying she’s captivated by me, even starting to have delusions and daydreaming.

“Do you really know what you are talking about?”

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Indifferent to Fia’s questioning, Nola pouted with a drunken tone, her words full of awkwardness.

“Isn’t this quite good? We beastmen are all like this. Now you are the wife tolerant of her husband, and I am that drunk husband… A wife being gentle to her husband is a matter of course here wuu … a matter of course. Hehehe~ Claire and you are both my wives. I can embrace one on the left and hold one on the right, fragrance everywhere… Heaven…”

If I show the recording crystal to Nola after she sobers up, she will definitely flee Cold Night overnight.

Fia patted Nola’s cheek helplessly.

“It’s about time you woke up. I never said anything about becoming your wife.”

“What! Clearly valuing the ring I gave you so much, making me embarrassed, and now not admitting it…”

“I just think this style is very cute. Besides, the other ring has already been given to Anastasia.”

“Eh?” As if splashed by a basin of ice water, Nola, whose head was resting on Fia, sat up instantly, staring blankly at Fia. “Not because you were embarrassed to take it off so you didn’t take it off?”

“Of course not. Your imagination is too rich.”

Fia answered truthfully. At that time, letting Nola put it on for her was just to tease Nola; there was no other meaning.

“How could it be… Wuu wuu…”

Between words, Nola hunched over and sobbed like a heartbroken child. The strange scene attracted surprised gazes from nobles looking over from afar.

Fia instantly felt like sitting on pins and needles. She could indeed say truthfully that Nola was drunk and going crazy, but that would make Nola lose the dignity of a Clan Chief. She pretended to cough twice, bent down quietly, and whispered into the ear of the sobbing Nola.

“Okay, okay, I value you very much. Don’t make a spectacle of yourself anymore; go back quickly.”

“Really?”

Nola raised her head instantly, her teary eyes looking at Fia with anticipation.

Alcohol not only made people speak the truth but also made people childish. At this moment, Fia had a personal experience.

Answering “really” directly was embarrassing. Fia asked back without changing her expression.

“Then does Nola like me?”

“Ugh…”

This time it was Nola’s turn to hesitate. She looked away as if guilty, racking her brains to think.

“Although I hate you very much… but when you said in the room just now that you wouldn’t abandon me, you were very handsome… Attracting people like a magic spell on your body. Pr-Probably like, I guess… Why do you make me say such things to your face? Too much bullying, wuu wuu…”

By the end, Nola covered her face with both hands, her face full of shame.

Fia couldn’t help being stunned. Even she, who thought she understood Nola well, couldn’t figure out Nola’s psychology at this moment. For a moment just now, she actually felt Nola wasn’t lying; that was a conclusion reached after serious thinking.

No, no, this guy is drunk. No matter what she says, I shouldn’t take it seriously. Taking it seriously would make me no different from a fool.

In Fia’s memory, a person after getting drunk would even call their male friend “honey” and even do unsightly kissing actions. Nola at this moment was no different from those people.

Even more embarrassing than hugging me and calling Claire’s name in the bathhouse back then.

“What about you? What does Fia think of me?”

Still immersed in the game of playing house, Nola waited for Fia’s affirmation full of anticipation like a shy maiden.

If she denied Nola, she would definitely cry again. Better go along with her words.

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Fia agreed with disgust.

“Okay, okay, I am the same as you. Is this okay now?”

“Hehehe~ I knew it was like this…”

Exceptionally satisfied, Nola lay down intimately on Fia’s thigh, her cheek rubbing constantly against Fia’s soft belly, her hands also hugging Fia’s waist, her voice becoming smaller and smaller.

She seemed to have fallen asleep.

“Hey.”

“Mom…”

“…”

Although the voice was very light, Fia still heard Nola’s final whisper full of grievance.

Doesn’t this make it impossible to push Nola away?

Probably the stimulation received today was too great, mental instability exploded all at once with the help of alcohol. A person can’t always appear strong; there is always a fragile side. Venting emotions occasionally is normal.

But treating me as a mother is too…

“Um… Her Highness the Princess, what’s wrong with Nola?”

Ying, who had been paying attention to this side, quietly leaned over. She looked at Nola hugging Fia’s waist, her eyes full of doubt. At this moment, Nola was already asleep, her breathing incomparable steady.

Fia put her index finger to her lips in a hush gesture, her exquisite doll-like features full of a bitter smile.

“She was stimulated and needs rest. Can Ying arrange a room?”

Although Ying still looked puzzled, she didn’t pursue the question.

“Okay, sorry to trouble you to take care of her.”

“Just doing what can be done from the standpoint of a good friend; no trouble.”

“Then I’ll go arrange a room—do you want to sleep for a while too? You must have been very tired last night.”

Ying cast a tentative glance. Fia shook her head gently.

“I won’t. To be honest, I haven’t eaten well yet.”

“I understand. Please wait a moment.”

“Mm.”

Watching Ying leave in a hurry, Fia looked down at Nola’s profile. The latter’s peaceful sleeping appearance showed no trace of a Clan Chief’s dignity. Coupled with the tear stains at the corners of her eyes, calling her an un-grown child wouldn’t be wrong either.

Nola said before that smelling her scent gave a sense of reassurance; it was probably the truth, otherwise she wouldn’t sleep so sweetly.

This world was too harsh on her. She wasn’t a genius, just a hardworking ordinary person.

Sighing with emotion in her heart, Fia carefully wiped away the glistening liquid at the corner of Nola’s eye. Only when Ying came back to find her did she wake up the still unconscious Nola, ending the busy day.