ATAPOW Chapter 203
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Chapter 203: Restaurant
Other than the significant area it occupied, this inconspicuous and desolate town failed to meet any criteria of a thriving settlement.
The area was dotted with houses constructed from bamboo or short wood planks, their aged walls littered with dark patches that contrasted with the original material. A cursory glance revealed that the houses and walls were likely made from different types of wood.
Its antiquated streets exuded a sense of bleakness. Occasionally, one could spot a few gaunt individuals with cat-like ears scurrying by with pallid complexions and dressed in tattered garments.
They did not have the luxury of paying attention to foreigners. Despite that, those with better upbringing would respond with an extremely forced smile when someone looked at them.
When coupled with the overall atmosphere of the town, it created the impression of a village lacking in development.
However, the artistic style of the ancient stone decorations on the roadside stood out in stark contrast to the rest of the town. They were particularly remarkable, like a precious gem buried amidst a pile of sand.
The intricate relief engravings, as well as the precise craftsmanship exhibited in the cutting and polishing of the stones, suggested that they were not the handiwork of a less sophisticated civilization.
Therefore, Ji Bai speculated that Nolan City had experienced a period of flourishing civilization and order in the past, evident in the architectural style which rivaled that of the vampires. The small and dilapidated houses had likely been constructed after the war.
The lives of the Asiatic Cat appeared to be dismal under the troll’s rule. It was already a blessing for them to have a shelter against the elements.
The pursuit of art was often built upon the foundations of a society that was free from concerns about basic necessities and food. In a situation where everyone was struggling to feed themselves, who would have the luxury of dedicating their time to the intricacies of construction and artistic expression?
After entering the city, Ji Bai had donned his armor. On his waist was the pitch-black [Tranquilty] as well as the silvery cross-shaped longsword he had received from Lin Tuo.
The golden-haired cat-eared girl was aimlessly trailing behind him, her vacant eyes seemingly on the verge of transforming into a tangible abyss.
“Come on, this was your own idea.”
“I’ll just die and end it all…” Lil’ Sha’s eyes were lifeless as her mouth seemed to spit out an object in the shape of a soul.
“…” Ji Bai calmly took a small step to the side.
The two had relied on Lil’ Sha’s idea and successfully sneaked through the border.
However, the repercussions of their plans soon manifested.
After enveloping herself in a heap of moldy garbage, Lil’ Sha’s body had become saturated with a repulsive odor and swiftly turned into a walking embodiment of a trash can.
With her entire body now emanating an unbearable stench, even Ji Bai had to distance himself five steps away from her.
Even though the smell and dirt covering her entire body did not cause her any physical discomfort, for a hygiene-obsessed cat like her, it felt like a fate worse than death.
But what could she do? She had gone out in a hurry without bringing any set of clothes. There was no way she could run around naked…
“This is unwise. I suggest you cover up your appearance for the time being.” Ji Bai slightly knitted his brows. If his memory served him right, the royal family of the Asiatic Cat were all included in the troll’s list of wanted individuals.
The larger the crowd, the greater the risk of being discovered. It was impossible to discern who could be trusted amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces.
For someone with such a remarkable appearance like her to parade herself in enemy territory so ostentatiously was practically the same as lighting a torch in a latrine.
“It’s fine if I get caught. I don’t care about it anymore.” Lil’ Sha said with an emotionless tone, rolling her eyes.
“Although they might be a bit big for you, you can just wear my clothes. There’s still some hot water in the thermos. It should be enough for you to clean yourself up for a bit.”
“Ahhh??” Some radiance returned to Lil’ Sha’s eyes upon hearing that.
“Let’s go. If you want to take a quick shower, we’ll have to find a secluded place.” Nolan City was vast and deserted, making it relatively easy to find a secluded corner.
Lil’ Sha’s spirits instantly lifted at the mention of a “shower.” Her vacant and dazed gaze quickly cleared, and she hurriedly followed Ji Bai.
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“Whoosh…” The sound of flowing water echoed gently from a small alley.
Holding onto the hilt of his sword, Ji Bai stood at its entrance, resembling a living example of a vigilant sentry manning the gates.
“Um, I’m finished…” A soft voice was tinged with a hint of indescribable shyness as it faintly echoed through the alley.
“…” Ji Bai silently handed a towel and a piece of clothing behind himself.
“…Do you have any pants?” The girl asked after a momentary silence.
“Don’t take off your undergarments. You can wear this clothing as a dress.” Explained Ji Bai without turning his head.
“…” A series of rustling resounded.
After some time, a figure with dripping wet golden hair slowly emerged from the alley, dressed in a spacious shirt with long sleeves that was a complete mismatch with her small frame.
With her headband removed, Lil’ Sha’s hair cascaded downwards in all directions, making her feel somewhat anxious.
“It actually fits you surprisingly well.” Ji Bai nodded his head.
Despite his serious tone, his words were nothing more than hogwash.
Not to mention her other qualities, just her extraordinary appearance, shiny grandeur golden-white hair and dazzling crystal-like eyes were enough to make her stand out.
Despite the common adage that clothes made the man, the flex topcoat seemed rather crude on her no matter how he looked at it.
It made people unable to help but think that those clothes didn’t fit her at all.
However, Ji Bai’s main concern was clearly not in her appearance.
In terms of practicality, Ji Bai was mostly concerned with ensuring that the hem of the clothes fully covered Lil’ Sha’s ankles. This should prevent her appearance from stirring up the lust of trolls in the city and causing trouble for both of them.
“Really?” Lil’ Sha expressed her disbelief as she rolled up her overly-long sleeves.
However, under such circumstances, it was already enough to have clothing that covered her body, so she had no reason to be fussy.
“Let’s go, it’s already noon. We can take a walk down the street and see if there are any restaurants.”
Upon hearing that, Lil’ Sha’s attention immediately shifted. She stroked her small, deflated stomach, realizing that she was indeed quite hungry.
With slightly oversized cloth shoes on her feet, she swayed back and forth with every step, resembling a walking duck.
“So, where are we going… Awu…” Lil’ Sha, who had caught up to Ji Bai in two steps, suddenly felt her head being covered by a black cloth.
“Cover your hair and face properly.”
“Oh.”
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Ji Bai had taken her situation into contemplation as well. Even though his taste buds might not be accustomed to Asiatic cat’s cuisine, he was a grown-up man and willing to settle for rations.
In contrast, Lil’ Sha was different – she was young, short, and lacked any noticeable secondary sexual characteristics. In fact, if her appearance was masked, she could pass off as an adorable boy. This made it all the more important for her to get proper nutrition.
If missing one or two meals affected her ability to match her nutrition needs, he would have to be responsible for her stunted growth.
Two silhouettes, of which one was much larger than the other, were linked together by their hands. They resembled a father-daughter pair, as they entered a spacious bamboo house with the word ‘restaurant’ written outside.
“Do you actually understand Asiatic Cat’s language, Ji Bai?” Asked Lil’ Sha, somewhat in disbelief.
“Just a bit.”
“Eeeh? Did someone teach you?”
“…” Ji Bai went silent.
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“Oh dear~ To think that you have the confidence to barter with me. Has my Little Bai Ji entered her rebellious phase?” The evil witch supported her cheek with her hand in slight distress.
“To expect you to fully master a language within a month is already a generous enough requirement, you know~. When I was 6 years old, I had already learned all the languages that were recorded in existence, including the ancient vampire language.”
“Since you think one month is too short for you, hmm~~ Let me think, then…” The witch slightly contemplated before answering in a serious tone.
“Let’s make it one week then.”
“!? …Hey, I said…”
“Oh? Seems like one week is still a bit too short for you~ How about 6 days then~”
“?! D-Do you have some sort of misconception of what the word ‘short’ means?!”
“You didn’t use honorifics when speaking to your mom. 3 days.” The witch raised three of her slender and delicate fingers. As she looked at the pitiful girl below her who had fallen into despair, she wore a smile devoid of any trace of pity.
She licked her cherry-red lips and grinned, revealing her fangs.
“Within 3 days, you must master the Asiatic Cat Language thoroughly. Otherwise…” The witch pointed at the mountain of cream cakes piled up on a nearby table.
“Otherwise, these will be your sole source of food for the next 6 months.”
“I’m not eating that!” The poor girl seemed to recall some sort of terrifying memory. Her complexion was pale as she shook her head like a rattle drum.
“Eehh? How can that be? If you don’t eat anything, your body won’t be able to meet its nutritional needs. Is my Little Bai Ji suffering from anorexia?” The witch pressed her finger against her temple in frustration before clapping her hands.
“Does your highness have any orders?” An emotionless, experienced and capable maid whose demeanor and appearance were well-suited to the situation-at-hand appeared out of nowhere.
“Mhm. I have a difficult and important mission for you,” the witch said with a playful smile on her face. “Our eldest princess, Her Highness, is suffering from anorexia. Skipping meals is out of the question for her. Starting today, you will become her personal maid, responsible for all matters concerning her diet. Mhm, if she is unable to eat, you must fulfill your obligation as a maid and ‘feed her at all costs’. Do you understand?” The witch rested her cheek with her hand and spoke with a playful smile on her face.
“Understood. I look forward to working with you, Your Highness the princess.”
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“Obscene middle-aged man?” As he returned to his senses, he realized that a small, white hand was waving to and fro before him.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re stumbling around, it’s really scary to watch…”
“It’s fine,” Ji Bai shook his head, pushing away the memories of the witch that he had unintentionally surfaced in his mind.
Despite his best efforts to appear nonchalant, Ji Bai’s back, concealed beneath the layer of chain armor, was already soaked with sweat.
This was a stark contrast to his former self, who had ruthlessly battled demons and intentionally made their lives miserable without giving them any room to breathe.
“Dear guests, are you here for a meal? Please, come in.” The owner of the restaurant was a tall and skinny Asiatic Cat elder with graying temples. His polite amicable voice gave one a sense of comfort.
No matter the place, a polite attitude was always appreciated.
“Mhm.” Ji Bai answered with a grunt. As he slightly sized up the place, he realized that the bamboo house was significantly more spacious compared to the small, broken wooden houses outside.
Despite its simple and rudimentary setup, the restaurant exuded a refreshing atmosphere.
Bamboo tables inlaid into the wall and a few small stools without back support; That was what the entirety of the restaurant consisted of.
Ji Bai’s entrance into the restaurant immediately drew the gaze of the patrons, all of whom were Asiatic Cats. In other words, it was an exceedingly rare sight for trolls, who held positions of power and governed the city, to be present in such an unrefined and crude establishment.
The duo was being scrutinized by all sorts of gazes. Despite Ji Bai’s somewhat bizarre armor, all of them showed pity in their eyes when they swept past Lil’ Sha wearing a torn and ill-fitting linen topcoat.
‘Another famished child…’
Despite the pitiful gazes thrown in Lil’ Sha’s direction, it was evident that such a restaurant could only be patronized by Asiatic Cats with significant financial resources and background.
The struggling economy of this city was a clear indication that food and clothing were a problem for most Asiatic Cats.
“Dear guests, please have some tea.” A lovable and docile cat girl gently placed two cups of tea on their table and performed a polite bow.
“Thank you.” Ji Bai froze after sweeping his gaze toward the pieces of bread on the table.
“This is a gift from our manager.” The cat-eared girl said with a smile.
Like flowing water striking against a silver bell, her gentle tone was sweet-sounding and pleasant to the ear.
Upon seeing Ji Bai nodding in acknowledgment, she slightly moved back.
Lifting his cup, he savored the tea in his mouth.
“Just take the helmet off, will you?” Lil’ Sha couldn’t bear it any longer. Standing up from her stool in discontent, she removed his helmet.
“Dear guest, your… Eehh!” The cat-eared girl who had arrived to deliver their meal was shocked upon seeing Ji Bai’s appearance. Fear and caution appeared in her limpid eyes, as she took a step back involuntarily.
“A-A human?!”