“Sorry, Your Majesty the Demon King. We need to hurry and get out of here… Meow!”
Fengxiang Town was unusually silent under the Level One Alert across the entire city. The once bustling Adventurer’s Guild at the heart of town was now deserted, and all the shops had closed their doors.
The streets, which had once been cluttered with vendors and small shops, were now cleaned and cleared, revealing the wide main road beneath.
Herkate carried a small figure completely cloaked in a black cloak, deftly avoiding the Black Knights who thundered past on horseback, their hooves clattering loudly on the broad avenue.
“Cat Sister, can we still go home?”
“Meow? I don’t really know, meow.”
“Oh… Have they abandoned me?”
“Don’t think about such nonsense.” Herkate frowned. “Your Majesty the Demon King, I’m going to transform into a black cat. You hold onto me, and follow my instructions, alright? Meow?”
“I-I’ll try my best.”
“Don’t be afraid, Your Majesty.”
“Mm, I won’t be a burden to Cat Sister.”
“Meow.”
“Ah! Cat Sister, you’re so heavy!”
“How rude, meow!” The pitch-black cat reached out a paw and tapped the head of the black cloak. “Don’t say sorry. Also, head into the city first. The rich people here all flee by boat from Town Lower Port to other cities.”
“What about those without money?”
“Fool, they stay behind to protect their homes, meow!” The cat squinted in the little girl’s arms and continued, “Enough chatter, keep moving, don’t stop.”
“Okay.”
“There’s a Knight Checkpoint 300 meters straight ahead, meow.”
“Knight Checkpoint?”
“They specialize in catching illegal entrants like you, meow.”
“Uh, should I avoid it then?” The little girl seemed frightened.
“Avoid? No, just keep going straight, straight ahead, meow!”
“Mm, okay.”
“Don’t shake your legs, and remember—don’t talk to me in front of humans!”
“Alright, alright.”
On the desolate, chilly streets, the small girl wearing shabby black clothes limped forward, clutching a glossy black cat in her arms, heading toward the Knight Checkpoint at the street’s edge.
“Stop!”
The girl trembled all over and froze in place.
The Demon Hunter Knight on duty furrowed her brows slightly, puzzled why such a ragged little girl would appear on these thoroughly cleared city streets.
“Hello.” The female knight Fino greeted her companion, then slowly approached the girl, sword on her back, trying to use a gentle tone: “Are you lost?”
“I…”
The girl tightened her grip on the cat, hesitant. She didn’t know what to say. Since being driven out of Demon King City, she had nowhere to go, wandering aimlessly with the cat, unaware of her destination.
“Tell this human woman you’re going to find your mother, meow!”
That familiar voice echoed in her mind. The girl nodded nervously. “Big sister, I’m going to find my mother.”
“Find your mother?”
Fino was stunned for a moment, then sighed, reaching out to pat the girl’s head to comfort her.
Plop!
Suddenly!
The girl fell to the ground, clutching the black cat tightly, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at the female knight.
“Are you… alright?” Was I too scary? Look at how frightened this child is…
Fino awkwardly tried to withdraw her hand, but halfway back it froze, her embarrassed expression shifting into something unreadable, her voice trembling slightly:
“Your hands and your legs, they’re…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I just… didn’t stand properly…” The girl hugged the cat with one arm and tried to pull her clothes down with the other to hide the deformities.
“They’ve always been like this. It’s nothing, really…” Her voice grew quieter, like a pearl sinking into the deep sea.
“Meow!”
Ah! Really, what kind of parents are so irresponsible?
An inexplicable frustration welled up inside Fino’s heart, but then she realized the girl’s parents might already be lost to tragedy. That frustration turned into useless venting, leaking slowly from her body through invisible cracks.
Huff…
Fino sighed deeply and scanned the desolate, dilapidated street. Softly, she said, “It’s not safe for a little girl like you to wander alone. Come with me. It’s still relatively safe here.”
She forced a weak smile. “And there are sweet little candies, too. I’ll give you some later…”
“Eh, thank you, thank you, big sister.” The girl hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
“Meow! No need to say thanks, hurry up and follow! Smuggling depends on them!”
The black cat’s urging echoed inside her mind.
The girl pinched the cat’s tail in annoyance.
“Meow!”
“If you pinch me again, I’ll scratch you!”