Chapter 14 : So, I took action

Evening.

After finishing all the deliveries, Qianya drove the ground-dragon cart back toward the pizza shop at a leisurely pace.

She had completed a full twenty orders that day.

To be honest, her back ached, her legs were sore, and she was covered in dust, but the thought of earning eighty copper coins made her grin anyway.

Qianya: Hehe (ˊ˘ˋ)

Eighty whole copper coins! (˃ ⌑ ˂ഃ )

Not only would she easily win the bet with Iris, it was enough for extra meals all week~

“Ahem, Iris, say something! Why so quiet?”

“Are you just the silent type? („ಡωಡ„)”

Qianya turned her head, looking smugly at Iris sitting in the back of the cart.

“Yeah, yeah… look at you getting all cocky.”

Iris leaned against the compartment wall, sipping the grape juice she’d just bought, her eyes faintly thoughtful.

Technically she had lost the bet… but she wasn’t upset.

She had watched Qianya work hard all day.

Running half the city under the blazing sun to deliver on time, patiently dealing with difficult customers, and perfectly completing every order.

Iris: This girl… maybe she isn’t completely useless after all.

She thought silently, but her tsundere nature wouldn’t let her voice any praise. She just acted indifferent and turned to look at the shops along the street.

Soon the dragon cart stopped in front of the pizza shop.

“Hya!”

Qianya hopped down and turned to Iris.

“Wait here a sec. I’m going to collect my wages~ Eighty copper coins! I’ll treat you to fruit wine tonight!”

“Yeah, yeah…”

The elf girl nodded and leaned against the doorframe with a sigh.

Iris: So full of herself (￢_￢)

After mentally rolling her eyes, Iris kept sipping her grape juice.

Qianya excitedly rushed to the counter.

The boss was slumped over the counter doing accounts. When he saw her, he lifted his head and forced a stiff smile.

“Yo, little miss, back already? Good work today.”

“Boss, I delivered twenty orders today without a single delay.” Qianya said, pulling out the contract she had signed earlier.

Then…

“Here, your wages.”

The boss took ten copper coins from the drawer and placed them on the counter.

“Huh… ten?” Qianya froze.

She picked up the contract and pointed at the terms.

“Boss, you got it wrong, right? It clearly says four copper coins per delivery. Twenty deliveries should be eighty!”

The boss calmly picked up the contract.

“Yep, eighty is correct… but delivery riders have to cover ground-dragon rental, work-hat rental, and the ‘pretty coworker viewing fee.’ Dragon rental is fifty copper a day, hat is five, pretty coworker fee is fifteen. Total seventy deducted. Leaves you with ten, right?”

“…‘Pretty coworker viewing fee’ (O_O)?” Qianya’s eyes widened.

“What pretty coworker?”

“There.” The boss pointed outside at the ground dragon.

Qianya: “What does that mean?”

Boss: “Female.”

Qianya: “(°口°๑) Huh???”

So the “pretty coworker” was the dragon!?

What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this Σ( ° △ °|||)︴

“This isn’t fair! This is fraud!” Qianya’s face turned red with anger. She waved the contract.

“You’re scamming me! None of these random fees are written here!”

“Of course they are.” The boss pointed to the very corner of the contract, where in ant-sized letters it read: “The owner reserves the right to charge additional fees as circumstances require.”

“You signed it yourself. Can’t blame anyone else.”

Qianya leaned in and looked closely. Sure enough, there was a tiny line!

Who could even read print that small!

“You (╬◣д◢)!” Qianya shook with rage.

The boss dropped his smile, his face turning cold.

“Alright, take your pay and go. Don’t block my business.”

He started pushing Qianya toward the door.

Qianya tried to argue, but was shoved straight outside. “Bang!” The door slammed shut.

Qianya: (°ー°〃)

She stood there, clutching the ten copper coins, staring blankly at the closed door.

She looked down at the contract, then at the coins in her palm, and suddenly felt her nose sting.

She wasn’t satisfied!

She pounded on the door again.

“Give me my wages! You fraud (╬◣д◢)”

Soon the door flew open.

“Quit making a scene!”

Two burly dog-beastkin guards stepped out and pushed her away without a word.

“Ah!”

One of them shoved too hard. Qianya fell to the ground, and the ten copper coins scattered everywhere.

“Ah…”

She knelt there, head lowered, shoulders trembling slightly, not getting up right away.

“? What’s going on?”

Iris, who had been waiting nearby, was stunned to see Qianya on her knees.

Everything had been fine just a moment ago. What happened?

Iris hurried over, picked up the fallen contract, and read it.

“This is…”

When she saw the tiny print in the corner, she instantly understood. It was a trap set by the boss.

Qianya had missed it and worked all day for only ten copper coins.

“Looks like you got scammed. I knew this wasn’t a decent place… I told you to read the contract carefully—hm?”

Iris had been about to scold her, but when she saw Qianya’s trembling shoulders and bowed head, the words died in her throat.

Qianya’s breathing was uneven, like she was holding something back…

“Hey…” Iris suddenly felt a strange ache in her chest.

She cleared her throat.

“Ahem, fine, fine. Even if it’s only ten copper coins, if you budget well it’s still enough for a day’s meals. You win, okay? From now on I won’t restrict you from coming and going freely. How’s that?”

She thought Qianya would retort or gloat like usual, but Qianya didn’t move.

“Wuu… wuuwuu…”

Clear tears soon rolled down Qianya’s cheeks, dripping into the dust.

“Hey, hey… why are you crying?” Iris started to panic. She had never seen Qianya like this.

The old Yaxi had always been arrogant. Even after turning into a girl and often acting pitiful, she had never been this upset.

“It’s just getting cheated out of a little money. Why lower yourself to that jerk’s level? Don’t make me look down on you!”

Iris tried the provocation tactic.

“Wuu… huu…”

Qianya still didn’t speak. She just slowly reached out and began picking up the scattered copper coins one by one.

Her movements were gentle, fingertips turning white from gripping too hard. She carefully collected each coin into her palm, as if protecting something precious.

“Qianya…” Iris watched, lips pressed together.

The elf girl’s eyes gradually filled with anger as she turned toward the pizza shop door.

“…Eh?”

The next second, Iris bent down, scooped Qianya into her arms, carried her to a nearby bench, and set her down.

“Wait here five minutes.”

Qianya looked up, teary-eyed and confused.

“…What are you doing?”

Iris didn’t answer. She just tied her hair up high, her gaze turning sharp.

She strode to the shop door and knocked hard.

Soon, the same guard who had pushed Qianya opened it.

“I told you the wages are paid! Stop bothering us!”

He swung an irritated fist at Iris.

But Iris casually caught his fist and twisted slightly. A crisp “crack” sounded.

“Woof woof woof—!” The guard howled in pain.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just here to provide after-sales service~”

With that, Iris kicked the guard aside, stepped inside, and closed the door with a “bang,” locking it from within.

“What the— what are you doing! Woof aaahhh—!”

“Awooo! Roar roar roar!”

…

“Wuu ( ๑ŏ ﹏ ŏ๑ )”

Qianya sat on the bench, nervously listening to the screams coming from inside.

They sounded worse than Tom ( ).

Five minutes later, the door opened.

Iris walked out without a single scratch, only a bit of dust on her hem.

Behind her, the boss and the two guards followed, faces bruised and swollen, carefully holding a heavy money pouch with fawning smiles.

“Big sis… no, ma’am… no no, great-auntie! Eighty copper coins, not a single one missing, plus extra compensation… Please come enjoy our pizza anytime! Take care X﹏X”

Iris ignored them and walked straight to Qianya, handing her the pouch with a huff.

“Here, take it.”

“What did you do to them?” Qianya was still dazed.

“Nothing. They gave it willingly.”

“W-Willingly…?”

Qianya looked at the heavy pouch, then at Iris.

“Seriously, so many questions! Just take it when I tell you to (´^｀)”

Iris shoved the pouch into Qianya’s arms.

“This is what you earned. Keep it safe.” She added.

Qianya opened the pouch. It was full of copper coins, plus several silver ones—far more than the eighty she was owed.

“Nn…”

She had almost stopped crying, but Iris’s actions made her eyes fill with tears again.

♡♡♡

“Iris… thank you…”

On the way back to the café, Qianya spoke up.

Iris’s ears suddenly turned red. She looked away.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It wasn’t for you. I just… didn’t want to lose to you, that’s all!”

Qianya blinked in confusion.

“Huh?”

Iris stared at the ground.

“Back when you were the master, you were pretty terrible… but you never let us get wronged. Now that I’m the master, I absolutely won’t allow anyone to bully you either.”

Iris: “That’s why I stepped in.”

“…I see.” Qianya smiled, a little touched.

After walking a bit, Qianya hesitated, then blushed and asked,

“Um, Iris… can I help with the café renovation?”

Iris paused, glanced at her, and a faint smile crossed her lips.

“Hmph, you can… but don’t forget the fruit wine you promised.”

“I know~”

Qianya happily caught up to Iris.

The two walked side by side toward home.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long, and the air carried a gentle warmth.

Qianya: Actually… maybe it’s not so bad after all, this Iris (ˊ˘ˋ)♡