“Sorry, Demon King, we need to hurry and get out of here... ow!”
Fengxiang Town, under full first-level alert, was eerily quiet. Once the busiest spot, the Adventurers’ Guild entrance now stood deserted. Shops were shuttered, stalls and stands cleared away. Streets once cluttered with peddlers and booths had been swept bare, restoring their wide avenues.
Helcat led along a small figure cloaked head to toe in black, deftly slipping away from the clatter of hooves as squads of Night Knights thundered down the main road.
“Cat-sis, can we still go ho?”
“ow? I don’t know either, ow.”
“Oh... so they don’t want anymore?”
“Stop thinking nonsense.” Helcat frowned. “Demon King, next I’ll turn into a black ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) cat. Hold onto and follow my directions. Can you do that, ow?”
“I-I’ll try my best.”
“Don’t be afraid, Demon King.”
“Mm. I won’t drag Cat-sis down.”
“ow.”
“Yah! Cat-sis, you’re heavy!”
“How rude, ow!” The black cat smacked the little girl’s hooded head with a paw. “Don’t apologize. Just head inward. The rich here will all flee by ship from the lower-town harbor.”
“What about the poor?”
“Dummy, of course they stay to protect their hos, ow!” The cat narrowed her eyes, nestled in the girl’s arms. “Enough chatter. Keep moving. Don’t stop.”
“Oh.”
“Three hundred ters straight ahead—knight outpost, ow.”
“Knight outpost?”
“They’re the ones who catch illegal entrants like you, ow.”
“U-uh, should... should I avoid them?” The girl’s voice trembled.
“Avoid? No. Walk straight. Walk straight, ow!”
“Mm, okay.”
“Stop shaking your legs, and rember—don’t talk to in front of humans!”
“Y-yes, okay.”
On the desolate, wind-blown street, the little girl in ragged black clothes limped along, clutching a sleek black cat. She hobbled toward the outpost at the street’s end.
“Stop!”
The girl froze, body trembling.
The demon-hunting knight on guard frowned slightly, puzzled at seeing such a tattered child on a street that had already been cleared.
“Hello.” Knight Fino greeted her companion, then, sword strapped to her back, walked slowly toward the girl, softening her tone.
“Are you lost?”
“I...”
The girl hugged the cat tighter, tongue-tied. Since being cast out of Demon King Castle, she had nowhere to go, wandering aimlessly with the cat. She herself didn’t know what her goal was.
“Tell this human woman you’re looking for your mom, ow!”
The familiar voice rang inside. The girl nodded frantically. “Big-sis, I’m looking for my mom.”
“Looking for your mom?”
Fino paused, realization dawning. She sighed, reaching out to pat the girl’s head, aning to comfort her.
Thud!
Suddenly!
The girl collapsed, clutching the cat tight, staring at the knight with fear in her eyes.
“You’re okay... right?” Am I that scary? Look, I’ve frightened her...
Fino awkwardly began to draw back her hand. But midway, her hand froze. Her embarrassed expression stiffened into sothing unreadable, her voice trembling:
“Your hand... and your leg, they’re...”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I just tripped...” The girl, one arm hugging the cat, tugged at her clothes with the other, trying to cover the deformities.
“They’ve always been like this. It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter...” Her voice grew smaller, like pearls sinking into the deep sea.
“ow!”
Ah! Honestly, what kind of parents are this irresponsible!
Irritation welled inside Fino. Yet the thought that this child’s parents might already be gone made that anger dissolve into a hollow breath leaking out of her chest.
Hoo...
Fino sighed, lifted her gaze to the bleak, deserted street, and spoke softly:
“It’s not safe for a little girl to wander alone. Co with . At least where we are is safer.”
She forced a smile. “And there’s sweet little candies too. I’ll give you a few later...”
“Eh, thank you, thank you, Big-sis.” The girl quickly bowed her head in thanks.
“ow! What are you thanking her for? Hurry and follow! Our smuggling depends on them!”
The black cat’s urging echoed in her heart.
The girl pinched the cat’s tail in protest.
“ow!”
“Do that again and I’ll scratch you!”
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