Chapter 8: Sorry, I’m Not That Kind of Person!

Before Wu Qingsong could continue to gradually improve his relationship with the catgirl maid and find an opportunity to escape from it, Kleine brought him a new companion.

A furry beastwoman who was shivering uncontrollably. She was curled up tightly because of her fright, making it impossible for Wu Qingsong to discern what she truly was.

“What’s this?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Someone to keep you company,” Kleine replied nonchalantly.

He had been inquiring around for information about Karazhan and Medivh recently but to no avail.

It hadn’t been easy. Although the domain of Baron Elyar was located in the central part of the continent and wasn’t too far from the core regions of the empire when measured accurately, most of the area consisted of mountains, hills, and forests. Only a small portion of land in the south was relatively fertile. Even within the territory of Grand Duke Sentalus, it wasn’t considered an important place, let alone in the context of the entire empire.

Most of the half-elves who ended up here were unwanted orphans from other places, lacking in abilities. Some, like him, were illegitimate children who were banished here for some reason and were unwelcomed.

For the vast majority of them, the imperial capital was forever an unattainable dream.

Any news about the imperial capital was major news here. This also meant that it was impossible to obtain any truly important and accurate information in this place.

Forced to swallow his pride, Kleine had to rely on his father’s social connections. Yet, even then, it would take at least two months for any news to return.

How was he to deal with this half-elf who called himself Wu during this time?

Kleine felt a slight headache.

The simplest and most prudent method would have been to tie him up, place him in a sturdy box, and after securing it with chains, bury it in the cellar or the garden. After all, he wouldn’t die. Once everything was clarified, he could just dig him up.

For Kleine, this method would have been the most satisfying way to vent his frustration and anger.

However, if he had done so, the two of them would inevitably become sworn enemies. Yet, Kleine had continuously pondered over one issue. 

Wu Qingsong might have been a runaway slave or an escaped test subject. Based on his observations, aside from Wu Qingsong’s seemingly indestructible body, he seemed unfamiliar with any martial techniques or magic. So, how had he managed to escape from a heavily guarded magical tower?”

Kleine had never been one to attribute much to luck, especially given Wu Qingsong’s depiction of Karazhan. It certainly wasn’t like Rem City, a place without significant protection, where one could come and go with ease, even someone like Wu Qingsong who possessed an indestructible body.

He was more inclined to believe that someone close to the archmage Medivh had aided Wu Qingsong.

While many elves still regarded half-elves as abominations that tainted the elven bloodline, the status of half-elves within the empire had greatly improved over time. This shift occurred as more and more half-elves began handling the mundane tasks at the grassroots level, allowing the elves to freely pursue their passions.

Yet, such reasoning wasn’t compelling enough to prompt a promising elf to risk offending an archmage for Wu Qingsong, unless there was a deeper connection between them.

An illegitimate child.

That was Kleine’s conclusion. A child of an elf and a beastkin from an apekind tribe.

A detestable anomaly with a deplorable temperament.

Such an assumption would surely drive Wu Qingsong to furious indignation. Yet, Kleine felt confident in his conclusion.

Even without such ties, as an important test subject, Medivh might give some consideration to Wu Qingsong’s feelings. Therefore, if Kleine hoped to gain any favor from Karazhan, or even from Medivh and Kadgar in the future, he had absolutely no reason to become irreconcilable enemies with Wu Qingsong.

The previous beating and prolonged imprisonment were certainly issues, but understandable considering the situation. Sending Wu Qingsong back to Karazhan might upset him, but having lived there for so many years, he might not necessarily hate it. More importantly, the potential gratitude of Archmage Medivh for returning such a valuable experiment outweighed any personal grievances Wu Qingsong might have held. 

The beatings and confinement could possibly be mitigated. However, if he continued to imprison or bury Wu Qingsong underground for a month or two, the resentment would certainly intensify.

Hence, Kleine planned to mend their strained relationship and gradually gain Wu Qingsong’s trust.

Since Wu Qingsong was just a half-elf who had been confined in a magic tower all his life, it shouldn’t be too difficult as long as he used the right methods.

Thus, when he went to the slums at the edge of the city today to recruit new subordinates, Kleine found something he could use to bridge the gap between them.

“She’s of mixed blood, you can play with her as you wish, and it doesn’t matter if you break her,” he said to Wu Qingsong.

Kleine quickly departed, giving Wu Qingsong some privacy, yet it left Wu Qingsong feeling disconcerted.

Mixed blood?

Play however you wish?

It doesn’t matter if you break her?

Damn it! Even if one let such words go in one ear and out the other, they were still a blemish on one’s soul.

But that furry head buried between her knees and those pointed ears, they were even more tempting than that little cat maid, making one itch to playfully rub them

“Uh, well…”

After a long time, Wu Qingsong finally spoke. But his voice made the young beastwoman even more frightened, causing her to shrink further to the edge of the cage, her body trembling more intensely.

“I’m not… what you think,” Wu Qingsong said awkwardly. “Don’t worry, you’re safe, I won’t touch you. Are you hungry? Would you like some of this?”

He split the food that Kleine had brought into two portions. Only then did he realize that one portion was usually intended for the cat maid. But now, with this new, unidentified beastwoman present and given her timid demeanor, would the catgirl even dare to come around for the coming days?

Because of the youngbeastwoman’s presence, the daily routine of relieving himself against the bars before sleeping couldn’t be done anymore. Instead, he had to sneakily use the chamber pot. What made it even more awkward was that the corner where the beastwoman curled up was the exact spot where he usually relieved himself.

Ah, how should he handle this situation?

As darkness gradually enveloped the room, the situation didn’t improve. On the contrary, any movement or sound from Wu Qingsong would send the unfamiliar beast girl into a panicked attempt to hide.

But the cage was only so big, where could she possibly hide?

“I’m going to sleep, you do as you please,” Wu Qingsong could only say. Since he wouldn’t get hurt or die, he didn’t need to worry about any drastic actions she might take.

He tried his best to lean his against the bars where the wind blew, resting his head on his arm and closing his eyes. After a while, his breathing grew steady and deep.

Yet, the young beastwoman remained curled up motionless in the corner.

What had happened to her? Why was she in such a state?

Many dark possibilities naturally surfaced in his mind. Although he had never personally witnessed such events, as someone who once lived in a world with advanced information, it wasn’t difficult for him to know and imagine.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

It seemed the world he now inhabited was far worse than even the worst he had imagined when he first arrived.

In this enveloping darkness and silence, his alertness began to wane, gradually succumbing to the pull of sleep, when she finally, silently, lifted her head.

The faint glow of her eyes stood out, similar to the wolfwomen he had seen before. She subtly shifted her body, her gaze fixated on Wu Qingsong’s face, seemingly trying to discern if he had truly fallen asleep, before making a swift movement.

Wu Qingsong was startled, but he managed to suppress any reaction. In the pitch-black room, he felt the beastwoman quietly observing him for a while longer. Soon, the faint sounds of chewing and swallowing echoed.

‘She must’ve been hungry after all,’ Wu Qingsong thought as he shook his head slightly and eventually drifted off to sleep.

When he awoke, daylight had already broken. Sunlight streamed through the ventilation hole that the catgirl usually used, shining directly onto the empty plate.

Kleine pacing back and forth could be heard. He always wore hard leather boots, making his footsteps easily distinguishable.

The beastwoman was clearly awake for some time. However, given the cramped space, she had nowhere to go and could only pitifully huddle in the corner. When she saw Wu Qingsong was awake, she buried her face again.

‘Hey, you’re a beastwoman, not an ostrich,’ Wu Qingsong lamented internally. ‘If I truly wanted to do something to you, I would have done it last night. Why would I wait until now?’

“Good morning,” he greeted with a hint of annoyance in his voice before getting up.

The beast girl panicked again, but she had nowhere to hide.

Wu Qingsong paid her no mind, grimacing as he stretched his slightly numb body. He drank some water and then sat down to face her.

“We’ll likely be in this cage together for some time. It can’t go on like this,” He decided to temporarily disregard the young beastwoman’s behavior and communicate his thoughts, “You being in distress not only affects you, it’s taxing for me as well. And beyond that, we both have basic needs, right? Given how you’re behaving, how are we supposed to handle those?”

However, the beastwoman seemed not to be listening to him at all. She huddled tightly in the corner, much like a startled rabbit, eyes shut in self-deception, her body shivering continuously.

“My name’s Wu. What’s yours?”

No response.

“If I wanted to do something to you, I would have done it last night, not waited until now. Isn’t that logical?”

Still no response.

Wu Qingsong finally lost his patience, leaned toward her, and shouted loudly, “Hey!”

The beastwoman finally, in desperation, grabbed the iron bars and cried. Wu Qingsong also felt desperate.

“You want to cry, I feel like crying too. Is this tormenting you or tormenting me? Can’t you be a little rational?”

Yet again, silence was the only answer.

“I get it now. That bastard Kleine sent you here to torment me.”

Her sobbing continued.

“Alright, you win. Do whatever you want,” Wu Qingsong said helplessly.

From above came the heavy sound of a door closing. Kleine had left. Before this new arrival, the subsequent moments would have been the most pleasant and relaxed for him and the catgirl. But evidently, the rhythm of their lives had been disrupted with the arrival of this unfamiliar beastwoman.

The petite figure of the cat maid soon appeared outside the vent, but just as Wu Qingsong had anticipated, she didn’t dare to come in. Instead, she cautiously peeped inside. Sitting in this corner of the cage, Wu Qingsong could clearly see her tail swishing back and forth in annoyance. For some reason, this sight made him want to chuckle.

Well, even if things couldn’t be as usual, at the very least, he could sing her a song.

He then began to hum softly. Unexpectedly, by the time he finished the song, he saw the newly arrived beastwoman had at some point lifted her head, her face covered in tears.

‘I won’t deny that my singing is indeed pleasing to the ear, but your reaction…  Aren’t you overreacting a bit?’ he thought.

Suddenly realizing something, the young beastwoman started to frantically wipe her tears with the back of her claws. Instinctively, she tried to retreat back into the corner. Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh, “You don’t need to be afraid of me. Did you like that song?”

Once again, the beastwoman’s head dipped, hiding behind her knees. However, after a long while, she silently nodded.

“Then let me sing another,” Wu Qingsong offered.

The cat maid outside the ventilation shaft finally settled down, savoring this brief moment of respite. As the new beastwoman once again listened to his song, silent tears flowed anew. Yet, imperceptibly, the chasm between them began to dissolve.