The Handbook for Completing Demi-Human Girls

Chapter 560: Moment of Confession

As soon as Yali'er's words came out, the Ancestral Court, with only the two of them left, instantly became exceptionally quiet, as if even the playing sounds of the children in the Dragon Court outside were gradually fading away, leaving solely the lingering echo of Raphaela's mother's words.

Fisher was stunned for a moment. The guard he had just let down due to that gentle atmosphere was also gradually picked back up at this moment.

It seemed he wasn't being too naive; Yali'er, acting as the mother of the Dragon Queen and the wife of the previous leader of the South Branch Tribe, was far from being as easy to talk to as she initially appeared. Perhaps ever since he followed Raphaela to the Dragon Court, she had already gained a preliminary understanding of him.

Facing Fisher's temporary silence at this moment, the previously loving-mother-like smile of Yali'er grew increasingly faint. She stared at the tea in her cup, of which she hadn't drank much. Faintly flickering within it was the countless firelight behind her, representing the ancestors of the Dragon Court.

Urged by the slightly swaying candlelight, she opened her mouth once again,

"Although as you see, Raphaela has grown up, and I am also gradually aging, completely unassociated with Dragon Court affairs. Neither does she consult me anymore regarding her decisions. But as her mother, such private matters definitely cannot be hidden from me no matter what..."

"Yesterday, when Raphaela brought you back from outside, I already knew. It turns out Jasmine, who has helped the Dragon Court quite much over these years, also has a profound relationship with you. Raphaela even developed a rift with her because of this, not meeting face-to-face even once from yesterday until now... Mr. Fisher, I hope my judgment is wrong, I hope the connection between you and Priest Jasmine isn't as profound as I imagine."

Meeting Yali'er's words, Fisher also looked toward the empty cup in front of him. After a moment of silence, he admitted without any avoidance,

"Aunt Yali'er, your judgment isn't wrong. Jasmine indeed has a profound relationship with me."

Having obtained an answer, Yali'er looked mildly at Fisher before her. She had long anticipated this answer, thus she continued to ask,"So, what do you plan to do, Mr. Fisher?"

"..."

In truth, the greedy Fisher had internally prepared a standard answer very early on. He didn't want to give up anyone, so what lay before him was never a multiple-choice question. What he had been doing from beginning to end was stabilizing the situation as much as possible, making them accept one another.

Although just as stated previously, the family situations of the ladies Fisher was familiar with were mostly as simple as Fisher's own, right at this moment Jasmine and Raphaela in the Southern Continent uniquely required consideration of this issue.

Because of this, the goals of "stabilizing the situation" and "making them accept one another" would naturally also extend into their family members' sphere. Yali'er was precisely the first hurdle he had to face.

Fisher took a deep breath, raising his eyes to gaze at Yali'er. After pondering for a second, he immediately continued,

"Aunt Yali'er, perhaps you already know my origins?"

"...I know some. Kexir and the others said you are a native Nari Person from the West Continent. On that land, you are a highly reputed upper-class person. Even coming to the Southern Continent tens of thousands of miles away, there are still juniors who admire you and companions who thirst to exchange ideas with you. They said you are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. You not only saved my daughter's life, but also returned freedom to them. If it weren't for you, I might never have had the chance to reunite with her, and naturally wouldn't have today."

"You praise me too highly, Auntie. If I have to say, I was only an ordinary scholar serving as a teacher in Naris... furthermore, that was before I was wanted by Naris and reduced to being a fugitive."

"Wanted?"

"Ah, that's right... when I was serving as a professor, I once engaged in an irreversible conflict with the current Empress of Naris, Elizabeth, for the sake of a student of mine. Although I saved her in the end, I also became notorious from then on, reduced to a fugitive wanted by the entire nation of Naris."

Yali'er newly sized up the human male before her, but very quickly she withdrew her gaze. She also involuntarily touched the tea cup on the table with her hand, feeling the residual warmth upon it,

"Is that student exceptionally important to you?"

"...Indeed it is so, Aunt Yali'er. Although it wasn't entirely for that student, undoubtedly, many decisions were implemented because of her."

Fisher tapped the table surface. Subsequently, he raised his eyes to once again look at Yali'er, immediately saying,

"That student's name is Jasmine, a Whale-kin who infiltrated Naris wanting to seek her aunt's whereabouts."

"..."

Yali'er didn't open her mouth anymore, only silently gazing at Fisher before her.

She naturally heard the hidden meaning beneath Fisher's words. Openly stating "I want it all" would appear too presumptuous. Stating out what his relationship with Jasmine was like could already serve as a response.

Yali'er remained silent for a long time. After she reached out to lift her cup and take another shallow sip of tea, when she finally spoke again, she had shifted to another topic,

"Does Mr. Fisher understand Dragon-kin?"

"Which aspect are you referring to?"

"Regarding the Tail-Compatible Partner."

"...I know some, but not too much."

Fisher looked at the Yali'er before him with a mindset of seeking knowledge. Unexpectedly, upon seeing Fisher's demeanor, the faint smile on her face appeared even more profound. Amidst Fisher's bewilderment, she smiled and said,

"The so-called Tail-Compatible Partner, even people aside from Dragonewts can probably guess it is intimately related to marriage, union, and reproduction, not to mention those little dragon cubs. Within the settlements of Dragonewts, unions are sacred, and a Tail-Compatible Partner is also sacred. This is something every Dragonewt must learn and understand. Not to mention romantic stories of wind, flowers, snow, and moons always attract attention and curiosity..."

"In the past when we were still in the South Branch Tribe, when the children were still little, every time it was time to rest, those children of mine would crowd together, wanting to ask me about legends left behind by couples how many years ago... they would rejoice upon hearing good endings, listening with envy and delight; they would regret because of the incompleteness between lovers, listening with sadness and indignation..."

"However, Raphaela, that child, that sole girl wasn't like this. She is the most... most special one among my children. Not merely referring to her crimson scales perfectly identical to the Dragon God in legends, nor referring to her stronger physique and even more scorching soul compared to other children... She was never interested in these concepts and stories. She was unwilling to believe in the beauty created by others. She was so confident and arrogant, arrogant to the point she felt she didn't need the support and help of a partner..."

The smile on Yali'er's face carried a benevolent and warm reminiscence, as if that fire-breathing little dragon princess was about to jump out from her memory,

"Perhaps it was because of such arrogance that she confidently left her hometown, conceitedly thinking she could traverse all the scenery outside the tribe; or perhaps it was because of the scarcity of those love stories that made her appear so immature and clumsy regarding relationships..."

"The so-called Tail-Compatible Partner isn't a choice of life. For us, reproduction isn't the purpose of tail compatibility, but its superficial expression. This is also why, if a Dragonewt doesn't encounter tail compatibility in their entire life, they wouldn't have reproduced desires... Tail compatibility is a choice of the soul, Fisher. Raphaela's soul chose you because you provided her help when her arrogance was shattered, because you provided her certain reliance when she was doubting, because you provided her freedom when she needed respect..."

"Her completely isolated and unsupported soul instantly gained a target to rush towards. Just like when I married her father, she thought she had seized a beauty exclusively belonging to her. For this, she didn't even hesitate to stand beside you regardless of the cost, standing beside a noble upper-class Naris person like you. But who asked her to be so unconcerned when she was little? Thus she neglected that you are a human, you won't become tail-compatible, your soul won't generate the same scorch and certainty as hers."

"For this, she must definitively taste the price, taste pain that no other Dragonewt has ever tasted before. For Dragonewts, sharing a partner with others is tantamount to having her soul torn apart. That kind of pain is something she constantly feels but has never voiced. You don't possess dragon horns, so even if your body is already strong to such an extent, you still have no way to decipher the thoughts brimming within her dragon horns—that burning jealousy that seems to plunge her into the abyss..."

"Let me ask, Mr. Fisher... if you had a daughter in the future, would you be willing to hand her over to a person like yourself?"

When the words reached their end, it was a very simple putting oneself in another's shoes.

Mother Goddess above, how simple, how straightforward, how fatal, how vicious this phrase was.

It was so straightforward and simple that Fisher only needed to use his brain to think to conjure corresponding scenarios; it was so fatal and vicious, that even someone like Fisher had no way to offer any affirmation.

Fortunately, Yali'er herself didn't hope for Fisher to give a specific answer; or rather, right now, whatever Fisher said could no longer change her thoughts and outlook.

Immediately following, she continued to say,

"As Raphaela's mother, speaking from my heart, I am opposed to your union. I don't wish for tail compatibility, which is originally sacred and sweet to Dragonewts, to turn into an endless torment. Simultaneously, I also hold a pessimistic attitude towards you, towards the feelings Mr. Fisher Benavides gives Raphaela... forgive my presumption, but I must say, I object to your marriage."

"..."

Fisher looked directly at Yali'er before him. Listening to this mother of Raphaela speak a lot, a very lot, right until the end when she voiced her own viewpoint, he had always listened silently without interrupting the other party's words.

Only after quite a few seconds passed, and Yali'er didn't say anything more but merely raised the tea cup with slightly trembling fingers and drank the majority of the tea water within, did Fisher give a helpless smile and say,

"...Aunt Yali'er's acting skills are too good, I was almost deceived by the affability you showed when I just came in with Raphaela."

Yali'er looked at him and shook her head, subsequently saying,

"In reality, speaking these words in front of you also requires courage, Mr. Fisher."

"Courage?"

"That's right, courage... I actually want to confirm your identity again right now, are you truly a human?"

"I..."

Fisher lowered his head to cast a glance at his own palm. Perhaps even he himself didn't expect that while immersed in Yali'er's statement, the already terrifying Rank upon his body was also blooming bit by bit, seemingly generating very terrifying pressure as his mood fluctuated.

Yali'er's words at this moment had once again reminded him of a fact he had known for a long time: he was currently just a chaotic monster of Mythic Rank wearing human skin.

Yali'er quietly observed the slightly stunned Fisher before her, then further said,

"Honestly, the feeling you give me is exceedingly terrifying. Just your entry made my scales tremble in fear. I truly couldn't sit still anymore, so I stood up to pour tea to relieve the pressure... I was even worried, upon saying these things to you, that you would kill me in fury. That would definitely be a disaster, wouldn't it?"

"But I still have to speak my thoughts, Mr. Fisher. Even if you are such a powerful lifeform, simply for Raphaela, I must frankly express my thoughts as a mother. Honestly speaking, I don't possess much capability, just being an ordinary Dragonewt. I believe you can also discern this point, otherwise I wouldn't be completely unhelpful to Raphaela, instead staying within the Myriad Flower Court doing this bit of simple work for the Dragon Court..."

"In my youth, her father took care of me too well, showing me far too much tolerance. Even though I was such a fragile Dragonewt, he still became tail-compatible with me and married me. Perhaps exactly because of this, I fearlessly suspect you..."

Hearing Yali'er's worries, Fisher also couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Yali'er's words were indeed not wrong. Actually speaking about right now, many Rules were mere decorations to Fisher. He had already entered the Mythic Rank; many constraints imposed on humans could be easily leaped over by him.

If one had to actually count, in truth, the majority of the ladies he was acquainted with were inferior to him in Rank. Compared to Yali'er before him, this was even more so. He could completely ignore her opinion, and there was nothing she could do to him. He could even use strength to forcefully coerce Raphaela into accepting the other females.

He could also act utterly unrestrained to make Raphaela feel guilty, making her feel inferior. She didn't even know how terrifying the demon enemies they faced were; she didn't even know the World-Ending Prophecy. Anyway it was all him worrying about it...

He could even completely disregard the Dragon Court. He could even directly slaughter his way back to Naris. Why should he even worry about Elizabeth's excessive possessiveness?

But could Fisher really do this?

Or rather, did Fisher really want to do this?

Could every problem be solved relying on one's own high Rank like this?

Just like him right now, he could flip the table at any moment, threatening Yali'er with the safety of Raphaela and the Dragon Court, telling her: If she doesn't accept him, doesn't accept the relationship between him and Jasmine, then the Dragon Court will just wait for destruction, and your daughter will just wait for death! What will you do, choose for yourself?

Moreover, this intrinsically was the truth, and he didn't lie. If she requested examples and evidence, he could grab a massive handful, openly presenting the things Raphaela had concealed before Yali'er, letting her understand what the current circumstances of the Dragon Court truly were like.

This way would be so wonderful; she would definitely be frightened speechless by this terrifying Rank disparity. Her love and worry for Raphaela would compel her to lie, leaving her memories suspended precisely at the harmonious and friendly moment when Raphaela left.

To everyone's delight, every problem would be solved satisfyingly!

What's more, he was only at the Fifteenth Tier right now. What if he could read more Completion Manuals: Soul, Death, Life, Destiny, Cardinal... even the Magic Completion Manual?

If his Rank climbed step by step, and he finally reached the same tier as Renee... what if he became a True God?

Shouldn't he have long discarded this so-called human identity? Why exactly did he still need to maintain an anatomy whose strength was entirely insufficient to exert Mythic Rank capabilities?

But merely thinking of this, Fisher suddenly felt tremendously guilty, guilty as if he was about to shed tears, as if he had suffered some sort of exceedingly agonizing torture.

It was as if the moment these thoughts were born, his existence suddenly lost its meaning, as if the name "Fisher Benavides" was about to be insulted, bringing shame to its origins.

His name stemmed from the gift of a devout nun, his life originated from her acting without thinking compassion toward an unfamiliar orphan, his today stemmed from her warm and profound teachings, his independence sprang from the moment he personally delivered that nun's ashes into the church...

Therefore, from beginning to end, even climbing to his current state, turning no longer humanoid, he firmly believed he was "Fisher Benavides", a human being.

At this moment, facing Yali'er before him—who harbored some worry yet bravely and frankly voiced her own thoughts—Fisher also took a deep breath, retracting the restless wriggling upon his body back into his physical form, slowly pacifying his aura, transforming it back into a human appearance.

Looking at Yali'er before him, he first apologized,

"I am truly sorry, Aunt Yali'er. I scared you, I didn't do it on purpose, please understand..."

The dragon horn upon Yali'er's head flickered for a moment. The trembling scales beneath her elegant robe also seemed to quiet down slightly along with Fisher's sentence. However, Fisher's words weren't finished; there were still things he must confess.

"Returning to the main topic, Aunt Yali'er. Actually, besides Jasmine, I still have many other females I possess profound relationships with. Their number... is roughly more than the fingers on one hand."

Yali'er, who had only just calmed down, blinked her eyes and instantly froze in place, blankly staring at Fisher before her.

On the tabletop, the remaining half cup of tea inside her cup swayed slightly, reflecting the candlelight on the rear wall which had turned uniquely quiet right now. It was as if even they were frightened by Fisher's words, and thus remained utterly motionless.

Yali'er opened her mouth. She blankly cast a glance at the claws on her own hand, as if it was only today that she had to finally confirm precisely how many fingers there were on one hand.

Subsequently, she spoke somewhat unbelievably,

"You said... how many?"