novelraw Chapter 44: Exposure
Chapter 44: Exposure
The street naming system in Fieron City wasn’t nearly as cultured or historical as that of Saint Nary—it was simply a rough numerical order from the outer rim inward. The farther from the center, the more crowded and cheaper the houses became. Like most other cities, this outer area was lined with retail shops—the perfect spot for Fischer and his group to purchase supplies.
Fischer’s carriage came to a halt at the end of Second Street. He glanced at Qiqi, who was clenching her fists nervously. Adjusting his gentleman’s hat, he said to her,“We're here. Go ahead—we’ll be watching you the whole time.”
“Okay... got it!”
Face flushed, Qiqi stepped off the carriage while hugging a gift box that was half her size. She walked down the street, carefully checking the address Angela had written in her letters. In front of a residential building that sold fruit on the ground floor, she hesitated for a long while before deciding this must be it.
“An... Angela...?”
Trying not to show her fangs, she called out softly toward the upstairs windows. But no one responded, even after a long wait.
Qiqi stood still for a moment, then took a deep breath and shouted louder,“Angela!”
“I’m here! Who is it?”
That voice finally drew attention from nearby vendors and passersby, but it also got a reply from a child’s voice upstairs.
Oh no—my teeth! Qiqi immediately blushed and clamped a hand over her mouth, terrified that someone might notice her inhuman traits. A tea-brown-haired girl peeked out from a second-floor window. She looked about Qiqi’s age, had a few freckles, and wore a wide, toothy grin—though she was missing a tooth or two.
“Ah! Are you... are you Qiqi?!”
Angela looked down at the shy girl in a green dress and bonnet, then suddenly exclaimed with excitement,“Wait there, Qiqi! I’m coming down!”
As she rushed back into her room, her voice echoed from inside:“Mom! I told you my pen pal wasn’t a scammer or a kidnapper! She’s just a girl my age! I’m going out! I’ll be back before dinner—I’m just staying nearby!”
A flurry of noise followed from the apartment. Seconds later, Angela appeared at the door, hopping as she put on her shoes.
“Qiqi! I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you!”
She bounced forward and hugged the smaller Qiqi, rubbing her cheek against Qiqi’s smooth hair, then looked at her happily.
“An... Angela, this is a gift for you.”
Blushing, Qiqi handed her the wrapped box. Her tail, thrilled by the interaction, lifted the hem of her dress, but she quickly pressed it down to keep it from wriggling.
Tail, tail, stop moving! Or I’ll be found out!
“Wow, thanks, Qiqi! But I didn’t bring anything for you...” Angela scratched her head sheepishly, then suddenly smiled. “How about I treat you to coffee instead? Come on!”
She grabbed Qiqi’s hand and led her down the street.
On the outskirts, cafés weren’t the polished kind with maids, music, and incense. This one was really more like an open-air drink stand. Workers often stopped by for a drink—mostly alcohol—and a break.
There were no waiters here, just a burly uncle with a bare chest and a pipe in his mouth, moving from table to table with drinks.
“Burt! I brought a friend—two milk coffees!”
“Call me Uncle, you rude little thing...” Burt muttered, signaling to his wife in the kitchen to make the drinks. Then he noticed the doll-like girl beside Angela. “Where’d you meet this one? If she’s lost, go tell your mom to call the guards.”
“She’s not lost! She’s my friend, Qiqi. I’m buying her coffee!”
Angela stuck out her tongue at Burt mischievously.
“Alright, alright. Grab a seat. Drinks coming up.”
Angela helped Qiqi onto a tall stool, placing the gift on the table and then resting her chin in her hands as she looked at her.
“Angela... um, did you read the last letter I sent you?”
“Yeah! I didn’t know you liked Madame Lauffan’s poems too! We read a bunch of them in school. They’re hard to memorize, but so beautifully written.”
“I... I saw her poetry book in my dad’s study once. He said her words were gentle... I think so too.”
“Wanna write poems like her? I brought a pencil!”
Angela pulled a pencil from her pocket, grinning.
“Sure!”
Qiqi’s eyes sparkled, her legs swinging back and forth happily on the stool.
Behind her, Fischer had entered the drink shop with the Dragonkin girls. Their presence instantly caught the eye of everyone nearby. Some drunken men looked like they were about to sneer, but when they saw the well-dressed gentleman leading them, they fell silent.
“What would you like, sir?”
Fischer figured the Dragonkin wouldn’t like the bitterness of coffee, so he ordered one for himself and got sweet juice for the girls. Everything here was cheap—six drinks cost barely more than twenty euros. They picked a table, and Fischer kept his gaze discreetly locked on Qiqi.
The girl in the bonnet was blushing but animatedly discussing Saint Nary’s classical poets with her friend. Even though the words from a child’s mouth were simple, they revealed a different kind of world—one even seasoned poets struggled to replicate.
The drinks arrived quickly. Larr eyed her juice with curiosity, cautiously licked it, then eagerly drank it down once the sweetness hit her tongue.
She drained her glass in no time and, still unsatisfied, tried to sneak juice from Cachil and Fassil’s cups. Fassil caught her and hugged her drink tightly to her chest like a warning.
“Alright, Larr, you can have mine.”
Mir chuckled and handed her own cup over. Larr hesitated, gulped, then shook her head and pushed it back.
“You drink it, Mir. I’ve had mine. It’s really good, though!”
She then noticed Fischer’s steaming drink and stared at it.
“Fischer... can Larr try your drink? Just a teeny sip?”
She held her thumb and forefinger close together to show just how small of a sip she wanted.
“Go ahead.”
Larr took his cup, sipped—and immediately grimaced.
“So bitter, ugh...”
“You idiot!”
The coffee here wasn’t great. Fischer barely drank his before pulling out the Fermabah Royal Spellbook to study magic. During his duel with Raphaëlle, his modified spell had worked—but it seemed to have overcompensated, weakening the original force. One tug from Raphaëlle and it collapsed.
He needed more work—maybe by mimicking the human closed-loop circuit structure and drawing power from magical echoes, he could boost the spell’s strength.
“Hey, Burt, a beer!”
“...Coming right up.”
As Fischer pondered, a bald man with a cigarette in his mouth walked into the shop. His stubble was wild and unkempt, and he hunched as he leaned on a table and scanned the crowd.
His eyes soon landed on Angela and Qiqi.
“Hey, little Angela, your mom home?”
Angela and Qiqi turned around. Angela’s cheeks puffed up.
“Barik! My mom told you not to come anymore! You’re not getting any money from her!”
“You rude brat! I’ve told you—call me Uncle! Come with me, and we’ll see if your mom changes her mind!”
“Let go! Barik! Let go of me!”
Barik grabbed Angela’s wrist, making her struggle desperately. But she was just a child—he easily lifted her off the ground. Seeing her friend in trouble, Qiqi panicked and shoved the man with her small hands.
“Let go of Angela!”
Thanks to her Werekin strength, her push actually made Barik stagger a step. He stared at the panting girl on the stool—her fine dress, her little bonnet—then licked his lips excitedly.
“Hey, when did you start hanging out with rich kids? Which street are you from? Come here, let Uncle get a good look—”
He reached for her neck, but Qiqi dodged. Still, he managed to grab her bonnet.
The ribbon had been tied in a dead knot. As he yanked it off, it caught on the back of her head—and the next moment, her pointed ears were exposed.
Barik, Angela, and every onlooker froze, their eyes fixed on Qiqi’s ears. Her face went pale, and she instinctively tried to cover them with her hands.
“Ah... no... not my ears...”
“Hahaha! Little Angela, look—turns out she’s a demi-human mutt! Who dressed you up like a human, huh? Your human master who beats you every night—?”
Before he could finish, a steel-like cane grabbed him by the neck.
Before he could react, a sharp blow smashed into his knee, forcing him down.
“Who the—mmph!”
A fist crashed into his face. His nose caved in, blood spraying. Dizzy and dazed, he looked up to see Fischer in a suit, his face unreadable.
Fischer grabbed his head like lifting a chicken, holding him before the two girls.
“Tell me—how old are they?”
“I—”
Before he could speak, Fischer kneed his face. Several teeth fell out with the blood.
“How old?”
“I... I don’t know...”
Another punch. His eyes swelled shut. He could barely see anymore.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-two...”
Another blow. His limbs went limp. Fischer hoisted him like a ragdoll and turned to Angela.
“You. How old are you?”
“S-seven...” Angela was trembling from the scene before her.
Fischer looked back down at the dazed man.
“You know how old they are now?”
“Y-yes...”
Fischer slammed another fist into his face. Barik’s head drooped—completely unconscious. Fischer dropped him to the ground.
The previously leering drunks all looked away, now silent and absorbed in their drinks.
But Qiqi, pale as a sheet, had begun to tremble. She had seen those gazes—seen Angela’s shocked expression.
She couldn’t bear it.
She clutched her ears and bolted from the shop.
“Qiqi!”
Angela’s voice echoed behind her as Qiqi’s small figure disappeared down the street.