Chapter 9 - 9

Tail 9: 9.

Tail “Tap, tap, tap!”

A gust of wind passed as Fisher’s carriage wobbled into view, appearing in front of Keken City, which was still undergoing road repairs.

The newly completed city walls faced uneven, muddy terrain scattered with cart and hoof prints.

Guards holding guns patrolled the entrance, and numerous farmers laden with produce queued at the gate awaiting entry.

Countless posters adorned the city gate, heralding the town and advertising local shops, featuring paintings of barely clad blond women along with shop addresses.

A griffin flag fluttered above the city, catching Fisher’s eye beneath the brim of his hat.

Lucky for him, it was a Nali city.

Had it been a Schwali or Kado city, as a Nali citizen he would have had to pay an entry fee and probably taxes as well.

Fisher gently tapped his horse’s rump to move forward.

“Respected gentleman, please present your identity documents.”

At the gate, a bearded soldier holding a musket coughed respectfully, asking Fisher to show his documents.

Behind him, several eager young soldiers eyed Fisher’s intricately patterned carriage, seemingly impatient.

However, once Fisher produced his “South Continent Travel Permit” and “Citizen Certificate” issued by the Nali Government, the leading officer signaled the others, who, disappointed, returned to their posts to chat.

“So you are from Saint Nali, sir.

Have a pleasant stay and welcome to Keken City…

Next!”

Fisher glanced at him imperceptibly, retrieving his documents.

His carriage passed through the city gate arch followed by a burgundy carriage, clearly belonging to someone from Schwali, where deep red was favored even in wedding attire.

The same document check occurred, but this time the young men behind were busier.

Fisher averted his gaze, pulled his hat lower, and ignored the ongoing activity behind him.

The city’s roads were yet unfinished, littered with filthy mud and drainage from shops.

In cities on the South Continent, the priority was to construct walls and shops; other amenities could wait, resulting in somewhat embarrassing sanitary and living conditions.

But it was bearable, and Fisher didn’t plan to stay long.

“Sir, please look here; we have a night rest inn, free care for horses and carriages, and in the morning, warm water and a towel are provided, all for just 50 euros per night, with discounts for long-term bookings!!”

“Authentic Saint Nali cuisine!”

“South Continent natives!

Saint Nali ladies!

Schwali sisters!

Sir, are you alone tonight?”

The carriage moved slowly, and all along the way, shop boys ran after it, pitching their establishments to Fisher.

Of course, there were also promotions for eateries and brothels, each frantically highlighting their uniqueness.

Fisher paid them no mind and gently tapped the rear of the carriage with his hand cane, waiting for the door to be opened.

Suddenly, he pressed his hand against the door, preventing it from opening fully,

“This is a human city, stay inside for now.”

“But you were the one who knocked.”

After Fisher spoke in Dragon Language, the force pushing the door gradually ceased, with only a pair of emerald eyes peeking through the gap.

After buying some food and feeding them, go to the second room on the left to find a set of clothes to wear, then follow me to buy supplies.”

The eyes assessed him briefly before silently retreating back into the carriage, likely to inform her partner.

As his carriage was equipped with Space Magic, he didn’t need to stay in an inn’s room, but he still needed a place to park his carriage.

So, he summoned a boy from an establishment that allowed carriage parking only, and had him lead the way.

Once the carriage was backed into a corner of the rudimentary “Horse Parking,” he finally opened the rear carriage door.

Many travelers’ carriages were parked here, some residents being the drivers themselves.

Fisher deliberately picked the most distant corner to avoid any discovery of his carriage’s contents.

He ordered the chef at the hotel to prepare a meal for five people and a bread meal for one; the dragons’ meal alone nearly cost 100 euros, making Fisher grimace as he paid.

The money had come from an unfortunate fellow named Orn, whom Fisher had simply intended to ask for leads on the Red Dragon People.

Unexpectedly, the informer-cum-buyer decided to double-cross him, leaving Fisher no choice but to tearfully accept all his possessions.

Fearing the costs of his stay in the South Continent might be high, Fisher had brought almost all his assets, but every time he paid out, his facial expression grew more rigid, as if it were causing him physical pain.

There were plenty of ways to make money in this era, but none seemed to suit him.

It appeared the Mother Goddess did not intend for him to have financial luck this year, making his fiscal situation the worst phase of his life.

Fisher received the heaping platter of turkey and, under the horrified gaze of the hotel staff, steadily carried seven plates back to his carriage.

He had barely opened the carriage door when a cacophony erupted from within, making him feel as though he had walked into a cotton factory near Saint Nali.

“This definitely isn’t how it’s supposed to be worn; I think it should be turned inside out…”

“Ah, I see!

These are human clothes; no wonder there’s no gap for a tail.

That’s why we couldn’t find the correct way to wear them!”

Apart from Lord Raphael, Fasher was likely the next brightest of their group.

Despite her youthful naivety, she often noticed things her partners missed, like the current situation.

Just by listening to the conversation inside, Fisher could roughly guess the kind of “disaster” unfolding.

He descended the steps, carrying the turkey, and indeed, faced with the chaotic dressing room, he suddenly wanted to rub his brow but realized he didn’t have a third hand.

Apart from a few chattering Dragon Ladies, what caught Fisher’s attention next was a long red tail.

Following the tail up to where it connected to the spine, skipping over some smooth red scales, he saw a back covered in pale cream-like skin, scarred with faint red marks.

Even from the back, Fisher could still catch a glimpse of the broad, soft outline ahead.

Lord Rafael turned around in a panic towards Fisher, his tail lifting slightly, but possibly recalling something, he quickly lowered it again to cover his lower half.

“Human clothes don’t suit me well.”

Fisher collected the scene in his eyes without any outward reaction, before shifting his focus to the white shirt and trousers on her, which hung like tattered rags.

He had already prepared suitable clothing for these Dragon People and sealed them in the dressing room using Dragon Language.

Why hadn’t she found them?

“You, come and get your lunch first, one serving each, don’t take more.”

“Yummy!”

“Lar!”

“It’s all your fault, Mier, you must have spoiled her.”

“Eh?”

Lar was the most excited; just moments ago she was fiddling with clothes on the ground, but now seeing food, she hurried over, wanting to be the first to eat.

Her companion couldn’t hold her back and had to drop the clothes they were handling to come eat.

Their chicken had all been handed out, and after setting aside Rafael and his own portions, Fisher finally had the space to walk into the dressing room to help Rafael with her clothing.

He saw her claws had ripped through the holes of the white shirt, bursting the seams that once fit, and she simply draped her upper body with a long shirt that only covered the front, possibly stuck, restricting her arms’ movement.

Thus, large patches of red Dragon Scales appeared in Fisher’s view.

“I should have written the instructions for your clothes in Dragon Language right here.

Why did you scramble through everything?”

Rafael couldn’t see Fisher’s figure, just feeling his voice very close behind, even his breath felt by her scales.

Strangely, although Dragon People’s scales are typically very hot, at that moment her sensation of the breath on her scales felt extremely hot.

“It was…

it was Lar who came in first..”

She felt a bit embarrassed, especially looking at the messy dressing room around her.

Fisher didn’t respond but bent down to find among the clothing spread on the floor a box labeled in Dragon Language,

“Dragon lady’s clothing.”

Fortunately, the contents inside weren’t taken out by Lar the troublemaker, otherwise, it would be impossible to repair them on the South Continent.

“You shoved your head into the sleeve of the clothes; that’s why it got stuck…

Hold the clothes, and slowly pull your head out,” he suggested.

Fisher reached out to hold the long shirt hanging between her neck and red hair, and upon contact with her neck, her body suddenly shivered, followed by her thick dragon tail instinctively gently wrapping around Fisher’s waist, causing him to look down in surprise.

“Uh…”

Rafael’s scales slightly opened, emitting a bit of hot steam, but to Fisher, it felt warm, not burning like that night, so he didn’t withdraw his fingers.

The next second, the entire room fell into a second of silence, no movement, no speech, Fisher just felt a long tail gently tugging at his body, her red hair falling over his chest, but he couldn’t see any of her expressions.

Unprecedentedly, he was stunned for a second, before relaxing his expression and softly reminding,

“…Your tail.”

But that remark seemed to open a steam valve as if in a factory machine.

The familiar scorching steam burst uncontrollably from Rafael’s body, her previously gently wrapped tail at her waist suddenly thrust outward, causing Fisher to stagger back abruptly.

But he was still holding the cloth wrapped around her neck.

“Rip!”

“Bang!”

Predictably, at the moment the clothing tore apart, Fisher fell backward, and Rafael also fell forward dramatically, instantly two loud sounds echoed in the dressing room.

“You…you…you-you…”

Her red tail gently shook in the front covering her body as she fell, Rafael adjusted her posture, leaning in the corner of the dressing room, her intelligent red tail protectively wrapping around her.

While Fisher stared vacantly at the ceiling, not looking in her direction, the next moment it was Lar, with her mouth dripping, heard the commotion and hopped over, entering his view.

“Wow!

Lord Rafael has fallen, Fisher has fallen too!

Mier, come quickly, it must be because Lord Rafael’s tail is too big, it won’t fit in the clothes!

I told you so, no one believed me!”

It seems that even without research time, some information about Dragon People can be revealed.

He sat up, turned his head silently and tossed the clothes still in his hand to Rafael, who was sitting on the ground.

“There are instructions inside, this time you should be able to wear it properly, do not let Lar plan for you again.”

Ironically, he suddenly found himself expecting Rafael to assault him and then fail to await punishment…

He took a glance at Lar next to him, who unbelievably stared back and then showed a hint of grievance; he reached out, ruffled her head, picked up a piece of bread, and headed outside the carriage.