Chapter 19 : Qianya’s ultimate battle of wits
The next day…
“Nnmu…?”
Qianya groggily opened her eyes and rubbed her swollen temples.
The familiar ceiling of her own room greeted her. A soft blanket covered her body, and she was wearing loose pajamas.
“Did I drink too much last night? Wait, no… I only had one sip (´-﹏-`；)”
Qianya propped herself up, trying to recall the hazy memories of getting drunk.
The details were fuzzy. She remembered falling asleep, then Iris carrying her back, and then… nothing.
“Ah… this body’s alcohol tolerance is actually this bad. How embarrassing…” Qianya sighed.
…Huh, something’s off?
“Why does my mouth feel weird?”
Qianya stuck out her tongue and licked her lips. A salty, sticky taste spread across her tongue.
“What is this flavor… ugh X﹏X”
Qianya frowned and muttered.
Did someone feed her something weird while she was drunk?
Nn… so strange…
But she quickly pushed the doubt aside.
Because…
“No more thinking about it! Today is my date with Luko-chan. I can’t let something this small ruin my mood (◦`~´◦)”
Qianya swiftly changed clothes, chose a light pink dress, paired it with white knee-high socks, spun in front of the mirror, and happily patted her cheeks: “Mm, this should be good enough!”
…
“Urgh what am I doing ˃ʍ˂” Qianya grabbed her hair.
Why did it feel like she was getting more and more used to this girl’s body (sad)
“Hang in there, hang in there, Qianya… no, Yaxi! Remember your goal is to remove the slave mark and turn back into your original self (˃ ⌑ ˂ഃ )”
Even the date with Luko was… for the sake of removing the mark…
Qianya: Yes (｀へ´), that’s exactly it.
♡♡♡
While washing up, Qianya gargled away the salty sticky taste in her mouth… but for some reason her throat still felt strange… she drank several cups of water before it got better.
Heading downstairs, just as she reached the door, she saw Luko standing on the steps in a pale blue lolita dress, long pink hair flowing, hands behind her back.
The moment she saw Qianya, her eyes lit up: “Xiao Ya (｡>∀<｡)”
Luko ran over and naturally took Qianya’s hand. Warmth spread from their fingertips.
“D-Date!” Luko was so excited she could barely speak properly.
“Mm-hmm!” Qianya squeezed back, and the two little cuties walked out of the café side by side.
First step: rent a dragon cart.
Because Cat Cat Patisserie was on the edge of the capital. Walking would take too long and they’d have to pass through the sketchy slums.
A dragon cart was faster and safer.
…
The dragon cart traveled steadily, passing through the bustling commercial district and gradually entering a quieter area. The houses along the road grew more and more rundown. Occasionally, ragged people could be seen sitting against walls—this was the slums.
Luko instinctively scooted closer to Qianya and whispered, “It’s a little scary here…”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be past it soon.” Qianya patted her hand and urged the ground dragon to speed up.
When she first transmigrated here, this place was already like this… and after so many years, nothing had changed.
Qianya sighed inwardly.
Soon, a cute little shop appeared ahead with a “Cat Cat Patisserie” sign hanging at the door.
All kinds of desserts were displayed in the window, and catgirls in maid outfits could be seen bustling inside.
“We’re here!”
Qianya stopped the cart, secured the ground dragon, and led Luko inside.
The moment they pushed open the door, several catgirls in pink maid outfits rushed over, their fluffy cat ears twitching, voices soft and cute:
“Welcome nyaa! Big sisters (ฅ’ω’ฅ)”
They pulled the two to their seats.
…
But when ordering…
One particularly tiny catgirl loli recognized Luko:
“Wu nyaa! It’s big sister Luko! You used to come here all the time with Lord Yaxi! Where’s Lord Yaxi today?”
She asked the fatal question.
“…Ah eh?”
Luko instantly panicked and looked at Qianya.
How should they answer?
They couldn’t exactly say Yaxi is—
“Gu…” Qianya’s heart sank.
But she kept smiling on the outside and laughed it off: “Hahaha, he’s away on a long trip right now. It’ll be a while before he comes back. I’m keeping Luko company today.”
“Then who are you?” The catgirl loli tilted her head, staring curiously at Qianya. “You look super familiar nyaa… Are you Lord Yaxi’s new slave nyaa?”
Qianya: Wu (╥﹏╥)
She nearly cried on the spot hearing that.
But she quickly covered: “No no no! I’m Yaxi’s little sister, Qianya. I’m here in place of my brother to accompany big sister Luko!”
“Wu nyaa~ So you’re Lord Yaxi’s little sister.” The catgirl loli’s eyes sparkled as she turned and shouted into the shop.
“Everyone come quick! Lord Yaxi’s little sister is here!”
All the catgirls: “What nyaa (♡⌂♡)?”
The catgirl maids instantly swarmed over, chattering away, enthusiastically guiding Qianya and Luko to the window seats and piling the table high with desserts.
Cakes, cookies, cream puffs… they even gave two extra beautifully packaged boxes of macarons for free.
…
Luko took small bites of strawberry cake and curiously asked:
“Nom nom… Xiao Ya, why does everyone at Cat Cat Patisserie like you so much? Did you come here a lot before?”
“Uh… good question.”
Qianya’s fork paused. Her smile stiffened.
She would never tell Luko that she was the one who built Cat Cat Patisserie back then to enslave Zero and also give a home to a bunch of homeless catgirls.
As for the full story… it was too long ago, and Qianya didn’t want to remember.
Anyway, all her hard work back then had gone to waste (つД`)
“Uh… I just helped them out a little before. Nothing special.” Qianya brushed it off vaguely and stuffed a chocolate cookie into Luko’s mouth.
“Nn…”
Luko chewed the cookie. Though still curious, seeing that Qianya didn’t want to talk about it, she obediently dropped the subject.
The two chatted and laughed, soon clearing nearly everything on the table.
“Luko-chan, want to go somewhere else after this?” Qianya wiped her mouth and suggested.
“Yes!” Luko nodded.
Then Qianya told Luko to wait for her at the street corner while she went to pay.
As she approached the counter, the earlier catgirl loli leaned in and whispered:
“Lord Yaxi’s little sister.”
Qianya: “Just Qianya is fine (´-﹏-`；)”
Catgirl loli: “Oh oh, Miss Qianya, I just wanted to warn you nyaa.”
Qianya: “Did something happen?”
Catgirl loli: “You two have to leave soon nyaa. And it’s best not to take the slums route.”
“Why?” Qianya asked, puzzled.
“There’s a really scary bounty hunter in the slums lately,” the catgirl loli said with a slight tremble. “Apparently hired to catch dragon girls. Big sister Luko might be a target too. You have to be careful and not stay around here too long nyaa!”
“…Ah?”
A bounty hunter catching dragon girls?
No way, someone like that came to the capital?
Shouldn’t they be hunting in the dragon territory [Nibelungen]?
Why come here (￣～￣)
Well, just to be safe, better leave quickly.
Qianya thanked the catgirl loli, quickly paid, and hurried out.
She jogged to the street corner.
Just as she turned the corner, she saw Luko standing there waving at her: “You’re so slow, Qianya.”
Qianya let out a breath of relief and ran over: “Sorry sorry~ I was just talking to someone about the bounty hunter… do you know about this?”
“Oh? Qianya doesn’t know? They say the bounty hunter is named Pandora. She’s an expert in transformation magic and can turn into anyone, even people you’re close to… And she carries a magical bottle that can suck you in just by saying your name. Super dangerous~” Luko answered with a smile.
“That’s terrifying?” Qianya’s face went pale. She grabbed Luko’s hand tightly. “Luko, don’t scare me… Let’s get out of here quick!”
“Hehe, so her name is Luko~”
“…Eh (°ー°〃)?”
Qianya blinked.
The “Luko” in front of her suddenly grinned wider, her expression changing instantly. The pink hair and golden eyes rippled like water.
The next second, she transformed into a purple-haired big sister wearing a pointed mage hat and short skirt, eyes sharp.
She shook off Qianya’s hand, pulled out a black cloth from her pocket, draped it over herself, and vanished on the spot.
“Ah ∑(°口°๑)?!”
Qianya stumbled back a step in shock.
Before she could react, a soft, cute voice came from behind: “Xiao Ya? Who are you talking to?”
Qianya whipped around— the real Luko was holding two milkshakes, looking at her in confusion.
The real Luko had gone to the drink shop next door to buy milkshakes, while the “Luko” who had been talking to Qianya was Pandora in disguise!
She had tricked Qianya into saying Luko’s name!
Qianya: This is bad, she actually used psychological tactics QAQ