novelraw Chapter 34: Settling Scores After Autumn
Chapter 34: Settling Scores After Autumn
"I'm Fischer Benavides, a scholar. I’m heading north to Port Crete, but I heard the city is currently restricting people from leaving, so..."
"Ah, Mr. Fischer, I’ve long heard of your name. I read your work during a Nary academic salon—notably your research on steam ethics. It was immensely enlightening..."
A wisp of steam hissed from beneath Fieron's mask. Even though only his eye was visible, Fischer could still hear genuine delight in the man’s voice.
"Oh? You know me?"
"Not everyone gets the chance to study at the pinnacle of academia, but I’ve always admired that environment. So I keep an eye on their academic updates—like, for instance, ‘The Rebel of the Royal Academy,’ Mr. Fischer."
That was much more in line with how Fischer Benavides would be viewed in Saint Nary. The deference shown by someone like Lord Keken had actually surprised him.
After all, both his resume and research focus ran contrary to mainstream academia. His conclusions were often so bold that people branded him as radical.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a genuine Saint Nary-style appraisal in the Southern Continent. Just like this city of Fieron... it almost feels like I’m back in Saint Nary—except without that filthy stench of coal gas."
"Hahaha."
Fischer tossed out the jest, and Fieron laughed with him. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he added, "Ah, I nearly forgot—we have matters to settle. Mr. Fischer, why don’t you wait inside while I get these demi-humans settled? We can talk more over dinner."
"No problem."
Fischer turned back and called for Raphaëlle and the others to disembark. The moment the crimson-scaled Dragonkin stepped down from the carriage, the Bovinekin girl beside them—Nana—visibly tensed, as if she wanted to say something. But Fieron raised his hand, signaling her to stay silent.
"Assign the new arrivals to the newly constructed quarter. One attendant officer per three households—make sure they adjust well to life here..."
"My Lord, we don’t have enough officers who speak Werekin dialects."
"Didn’t we hire some Werekin who learned Nary? Get them to help—same pay as the regular attendants."
"Yes, sir."
Nana directed the soldiers to lead the demi-humans to a separate area. Only Harry and his group remained, still holding onto the children.
"My Lord, these kids... their parents are already..."
Fieron’s single lens turned toward the children. He slowly walked in their direction. When the goblin children saw his masked face, they instantly panicked and began to cry.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Hey, stop crying—this is the City Lor—"
But Fieron raised a hand to cut Harry off. Then he gently picked up one of the sobbing goblin children.
"Uwaah! Uwaah! Uwaah!"
Despite the violent struggle in his arms, Fieron calmly held the child up so they were face to face. The goblin child peered through the mask and saw the eyelid-less eye inside—soft and gentle.
"You don’t even speak yet... still so small..."
"Wuu..."
The crying lessened. Fieron chuckled softly and stroked the child’s forehead.
"Your name will be Lyon from now on. I’m your dad, okay?"
"Ba..."
"Hahaha."
Fieron held the now-quiet child close again, then addressed the soldiers, "Bring all the orphaned kids to my manor... Qiqi, looks like you’ve got more siblings."
Several demi-human children behind him puffed their cheeks and ran over to hug his legs.
"No way! Daddy is mine!"
"He’s ugly."
All the children spoke fluent Nary—clearly raised in it. Some of them might’ve never even heard their ancestral language.
"Don’t say that, Boqi. They’ll grow up to be just as cute as you."
"Wuu..."
Fischer folded his arms, watching Fieron. Even Raphaëlle looked surprised, taking in the estate. Everywhere, demi-humans were peacefully going about their lives. They chatted with human attendant officers in awkward Nary, managing daily tasks.
Was this... paradise?
Even after witnessing so many tragedies, seeing this scene still made it feel surreal to Raphaëlle.
"You all may go rest. Thank you. Mr. Fischer, this way, please. I’ll ask the maids to prepare dinner."
"Much appreciated."
Fischer glanced back. Mir and the others were stepping down slowly behind Raphaëlle, eyes wide with curiosity as they took in the tranquil surroundings. Even the usually talkative Larr was silent—clearly taking mental snapshots of everything.
But once they entered the City Lord’s estate, Larr was quickly distracted by the various steam machines inside.
"Fischer, look! What’s that?"
"A mechanical toy."
Fischer looked at the various gadgets on display and answered Larr patiently.
"Mr. Fischer, you speak Dragonkin language?"
Fieron turned, surprise showing in his lone eye.
"I know a few everyday phrases."
"Haha, even that’s impressive. These days, the only Dragonkin we see are barely-speaking children or half-dead warriors. Learning their language is no easy feat..."
Fieron looked at the shelf of toys and smiled. "With so many kids at home, I had to come up with a few toys to keep their energy in check... You all behave now. Go play with Sister Felin. Mr. Fischer and I have business to discuss."
"Dad! Don’t forget to check my drawings later—I drew so many!"
"Get going, Qiqi—or I’m drinking all your milk."
Fieron handed the child in his arms to a maid. As the children ran off, Fieron led Fischer and the others to the nearby dining room.
The well-decorated dining hall already had several maids tidying up the table. Since Mir and the others didn’t understand what Fischer and Fieron were saying, they stayed quiet—except for Larr, who continued looking around curiously.
Soon, Nana entered the room, having finished her tasks.
"My Lord, everything’s been arranged."
"Good. Come have dinner."
Nana nodded and took a seat beside Fieron.
Fieron picked up his knife and fork, cutting the meat into small pieces and sliding the plate toward Nana.
"My apologies, Mr. Fischer. I can’t eat in front of you. Please, go ahead—don’t mind me."
He gestured toward his face, hidden beneath the mask.
"A long time ago, I suffered severe burns. I’ve spent years trying to recover, but now I have to stay submerged in healing fluid at all times."
"It’s been a very long time since I’ve breathed fresh air. What a shame..."
As he spoke, little streams of steam hissed from his mask, and Nana looked on with a trace of sadness.
"But let’s not dwell on that... Mr. Fischer, you’re hoping to continue north, correct?"
"Yes."
"That may be difficult. The Lords’ Alliance in Schwalli numbers around a dozen. They're a formidable force across the Southern Continent. Many demi-human tribes have fallen to them. The most I can do is offer shelter to their surviving women, children, and elders."
His magnetic voice was clear and measured.
"This time is no different. They discovered a gold mine rich in reserves and started a war with the largest goblin tribe in the area. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. But within fifteen days, that goblin tribe will be wiped off the map."
"It won’t take long—intel says under fifteen days."
He sounded regretful. Then he continued,
"Unfortunately, human plunder is inevitable. Protecting demi-human tribes means opposing every human in the Southern Continent... However, once those fifteen days pass, you can travel with my unit that retrieves surviving women and children. They’ll escort you safely to Port Crete."
Fischer tapped his fingers on the table. Waiting fifteen days would double the length of his journey, but he didn’t have a better option. The full mobilization of the Schwalli lords meant a full-blown war. Taking Raphaëlle and the others through now would be suicide—no matter which side they encountered.
"Alright. I’ll stay. Thank you for your hospitality in the meantime."
Fieron nodded, but before he could reply, Nana—who had just finished eating—suddenly looked seriously at Fischer and spoke.
"Please wait. I have a question before that, Mr. Fischer."
"Go ahead."
Nana raised her head and looked at Fischer with a solemn gaze.
"Do you know Ohn? Ohn of Fieron City?"
Fischer’s fingers froze. For a brief second, the atmosphere in the room turned deathly still.