novelraw Chapter 17: Punishment Segment
Chapter 17: Punishment Segment
The door creaked open timidly. From the edge of the doorway, a clawed hand covered in red scales slipped out. Raphaëlle pressed her lips together as she slowly stepped out of the steamy bedroom. Her tail swayed back and forth behind her, and after what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to drag half her body out of the bathroom.
That man had apparently bought himself a full change of shirts and was already dressed. Standing near the edge of the room, he lit the coal lamp.
"The light’s not as good as the one in the carriage, but it'll do..."
He held a small booklet in hand with an indistinct cover. Fischer turned to the second entry under [Dragonkin], and a stream of text—visible only to him—appeared in his view.
【Body Research Progress: 10%】【Dragonkin Society Research Progress: 2%】【Next Reward Threshold: Body 20%, Society 20%】【Reward: Constitution +2, Reproduction Potential +10, Fermabah Draconian Spellbook】
Fischer closed the notebook and looked up—just in time to meet eyes with Raphaëlle, who stood awkwardly in the doorway.
For reasons unknown, after shedding the heavy outfit she’d worn earlier and changing into coarse linen clothing, she now felt especially uncomfortable—particularly since this was the moment where this human was supposed to “punish” her.
“Don’t just stand there. Come here and let me re-bandage your wound.”
Raphaëlle glanced at the area where her scales had peeled. After being washed, the deep red skin underneath was exposed. A little pressure, and blood would definitely start seeping out.
“...” She said nothing as she walked up to Fischer. With no spacious chairs like in the carriage, he had her sit on the edge of the bed.
It was her first time experiencing such a soft bed. Curious, she swiped her tail across it, then happily coiled it around the pillow at the end.
Fischer picked up fresh bandages and herbs. As he applied them, he asked suddenly,
"There’s something I’ve been curious about. You mentioned earlier that Dragonkin have very strong reproductive abilities. That kind of offspring count is pretty high among Demi-humans. So why is your overall population still smaller than other groups?"
Raphaëlle hadn’t expected that topic. She originally didn’t want to answer—but since this was a punishment game, after a moment’s hesitation, she replied,
“Even though we… long for those kinds of things...”
Her scales shifted slightly, releasing a gentle puff of warm steam. Fischer noticed it immediately. These temperature shifts in her steam reflected her emotional state. When shy, the warmth was mild like this. When angry or furious, the steam burned hotter than a boiler’s exhaust.
So now... she was embarrassed.
“But those things only happen with a proper Tailmate...”
“Tailmate?”
Fischer paused his bandaging for a second.
“Heh, did you think we’re like you humans, picking mates so casually?” Raphaëlle scoffed, seemingly reminded of the moment he’d accepted that girl’s rose earlier. She clearly disapproved. “A true Dragonkin Tailmate is chosen with immense care. The bond must be a perfect match—body and soul. Only then will that... response occur.”
So that’s how it was.
For Dragonkin, finding the right partner was incredibly difficult. If they couldn’t find one, they’d simply choose to remain alone their entire lives—no mating urges, no offspring. But once they did find their Tailmate, all that buried instinct would surge forth, ensuring the survival of their lineage.
No wonder the mated couples in their tribes had so many children… though most of those children likely ended up as lifelong bachelors.
"I see."
With his curiosity satisfied, Fischer gently lifted her injured right leg onto the bed, then stood up.
“The wound’s been treated. Now let’s move on to our research. Since this is a punishment segment, some discomfort is unavoidable—do your best to endure it.”
The more he spoke that way, the more Raphaëlle panicked. It was like an ominous declaration before torture.
“Lie down...”
His devil-like voice echoed in the room. Raphaëlle pressed her lips together and followed his command. Her long, unkempt crimson hair fanned out over the white bedsheets like a sea of roses. Her long, elegant form was made even more striking against the pale fabric.
"Right, in case you're not used to it—there’s a blindfold. Want to cover your eyes?"
"As if I’d be scared. Just do it already..."
"Good."
"W-Wait! Wait!"
Feeling her clothes being gently pulled up, Raphaëlle immediately panicked and shouted.
“Do you want the blindfold?”
Fischer asked again.
“.....N-No..”
She trembled and shut her eyes.
Fischer’s gaze was as cold and detached as ever. He nodded, then slid one finger along her abdomen.
It was time to confirm the structure of a Dragonkin’s Magic Circuit. As mana began to flow, brilliant crimson channels—distinct from any human pattern—began to glow beneath her skin like a web of nerves.
Indeed, the anatomical difference in Magic Circuits between species was stark. Humans showed minor variations in layout, but Dragonkin had entirely different base structures.
Raphaëlle had no idea what he was studying. All she could feel was that man’s finger gliding along patches of skin untouched by scales. When he neared a more sensitive spot, she blurted out,
“I’ll take the blindfold after all...”
“......”
The next moment, her world was plunged into darkness. Without sight, her other senses sharpened. Fischer’s fingers continued their delicate inspection, and she trembled under his touch.
“Wait, actually... no blindfold, after all...”
Fischer gave her a look of silent exasperation, then reached out and removed it again. Ignoring her trembling eyes, he resumed with a solemn expression.
Once he entered research mode, nothing could shake his seriousness.
"Don’t move."
“Mm...”
More hot steam gushed out from between Raphaëlle’s scales—like a living furnace or sauna.
Fischer noticed that many parts of the Dragonkin body were surprisingly similar to humans. Through the magical halo from his ring, he could even see through her outer skin to observe her internal organs.
Their metabolic systems were vastly different from humans—likely explaining how she could generate steam at will, like she was doing now...
The entire room turned into a visible sauna, thick with steam. A maid passing by the hallway gasped and ran off holding her mouth.
Even someone as focused as Fischer noticed that something wasn’t quite right.
He lowered his head and saw Raphaëlle breathing heavily, eyes shut tight, as if enduring something unbearable.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Ha... huh... eh?”
Raphaëlle blinked in confusion. Her surroundings were hazy. Her limbs had gone weak. Her scales buzzed with an electric tingling, and her head throbbed violently.
Fischer frowned at her pale complexion. Silently, he pulled the blankets up over her ivory body and stood up.
“You’re not in the right state. I’ll go get Mir.”
“Mm...”
Just as he turned, something tugged at his leg. He looked down. At some point, a red tail had coiled around his thigh.
He looked up again—Raphaëlle’s face was flushed like she had a fever, and for a moment, Fischer felt something stir in his chest.
Just like he’d said before—the Dragonkin body truly was beautiful.
Gently, he took hold of her restless tail and unwound it.
"...This doesn’t really count as a punishment, does it?"