Skadi, My Wife

After arriving in Chernobog, Exusiai first made a phone call to inform the people here that they had arrived, then began waiting together with Texas.

According to Ch'en, after they arrived in Chernobog, the people responsible for receiving them and taking custody of a certain escorted individual would be staff from the Human Resources Department. Yet after Exusiai made the call, the person who came to meet them was an acquaintance from Chernobog, a colleague from Penguin Logistics—an orange-haired, double-horned beauty from Minos with monstrous strength and an exceptional obsession with making money: Croissant.

"Yo, Exusiai, Texas. Long time no see. I'm the receptionist this time. Are you surprised to see me?" Croissant greeted them cheerfully.

Both Exusiai and Texas were somewhat surprised. "Croissant, why are you here?"

"The goods I ordered haven't arrived yet. Then I heard you two were coming, and since I happened to have time, I took this reception assignment."

Croissant shrugged. "You know Emperor reached some kind of business deal with the boss here a while back. He sent me here as an external employee, so technically, I'm Chernobog personnel now."

Exusiai crossed her arms and nodded pretentiously. "I thought you might have trouble adjusting to life here. Looks like you're doing pretty well."

"You've got some nerve saying that!"

Croissant shot her a glare. "You and Texas were supposed to be the ones sent here, but neither of you wanted the job. You left me all alone to come here, and now business is harder to do too."

Texas turned her face away, while Exusiai grinned cheekily. "External assignments come with a pay raise. We gave that wonderful raise to you, so you should be thanking us."

"Pah!" Croissant spat. "You make it sound nice, but really, you just couldn't bear to leave Chen An, so you threw me out to take the blame."

"What do you mean, we couldn't bear to leave him? He's the one who can't live without us, okay?"

Exusiai muttered, "Good people don't get good endings these days. That guy's a useless fool who gets chased all over the place by street punks, yet he's always thinking about others. If Texas and I left Lungmen, nobody would be watching over him. With how he runs to the Lower District every chance he gets, who knows when he'd run into trouble and get himself killed. He only gets to live so carefree because Texas and I are protecting him, okay?"

Croissant curled her lip in disdain. "Keep bragging. Don't think I don't know what Skadi used to do. With her protecting him, why would Chen An need you two?"

Exusiai was displeased. "Skadi's only one person, and she wasn't even a bodyguard before. Why wouldn't Chen An need us?"

Croissant could not be bothered to argue with Exusiai. Once Exusiai got going, she would chatter endlessly, and Croissant had no interest in suffering through that.

She changed the topic and brought up something else. "While I was working here, I think I heard someone mention Chen An's name. The person who mentioned him seemed to be some big shot around here... Hey, Exusiai, do you know whether Chen An ever stayed in this place?"

"You probably heard wrong."

Exusiai answered without hesitation. "How could Chen An know some big shot here when he rents a dorm room like we do? Besides, Chen An came from Yan Nation."

Croissant thought about it and felt that made sense, so she said no more.

At that moment, a certain escorted individual who should have been the protagonist, yet had been ignored the whole time—not only by her escorts, but even by the person sent to receive her—Rope finally exploded.

"Hey! You two were supposed to take me to the Human Resources Department here, weren't you? Why are you chatting away with this freakishly strong woman instead? Do you even have any respect for me, Rope?"

Exusiai shrugged carelessly. "It's not like this is some urgent matter. What's wrong with catching up with an old friend we haven't seen in ages? Why are you making such a big deal out of it, Rope?"

"Rope?"

Croissant knew Rope, of course, though they were not close.

Croissant had been too busy talking nonsense with Exusiai earlier, and only now noticed Rope's existence. Her face was full of surprise. "Wasn't it supposed to be a special operator recommended by Superintendent Ch'en from Lungmen? Why is it you?"

"Hey, hey, what's with that attitude? Is Rope really that bad?"

Croissant's disbelief made Rope furious. Her ears stood straight up, and her chest heaved with anger. Then she glared at Exusiai and Texas, bared her fangs, and snapped at them:

"And you two! You obviously know me, and you know I didn't want to come here. That old woman forced me to come, and you actually brought me all the way here! You heartless monsters will get what's coming to you sooner or later!"

"It's a mission," Exusiai said indifferently.

Because Exusiai often went to the Lower District with Chen An, she and Rope were fairly familiar with each other, though their relationship was merely average.

Besides, before setting off to escort her, Exusiai and the others had not known that the person Ch'en wanted them to send to Chernobog was Rope. They only found out after the mission began.

And since Ch'en had casually mentioned that Chen An knew about it when handing Rope over to them, Exusiai and Texas ignored Rope's protests and resistance along the way and delivered her to Chernobog as required by the mission.

Texas had no interest in wasting more time listening to Exusiai and Croissant chat, so she gave Rope a push.

"Quit talking and follow Croissant. Once you get to the Human Resources Department, you can protest to the people there."

"Damn it! Just you wait."

Little Rope gritted her teeth, swallowed her anger, and followed Croissant, who had already walked ahead to lead the way.

Exusiai: So I Want to Sleep with Him?

On the way.

Exusiai and Croissant, walking in front, started chatting again.

"Croissant, are you sure you really heard Chen An's name here?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"But Chen An never said he'd stayed in Chernobog."

"Then I must have heard wrong. Maybe what I heard wasn't Chen An's name, just something that sounded the same. You said it yourself—Chen An came from Yan Nation, right?"

"True." Exusiai smacked her lips, though she still had her doubts.

Then Croissant asked, "Speaking of which, so much time has passed. How are things progressing between you two and Chen An?"

"Huh?" Exusiai looked confused. "What are you talking about? What progress?"

"Your relationship."

Croissant looked at Exusiai irritably, thinking she was playing dumb despite knowing perfectly well. "Don't you like Chen An? It's been so long already. Don't tell me there still hasn't been any real progress?"

She bumped Exusiai with her elbow and giggled. "If there has been, tell me about it. Don't worry, I won't tell Skadi."

Exusiai panicked. "What nonsense are you talking about? Who likes that guy? Other than being a decent cook and a stupidly nice person, what good points does he even have? Texas and I aren't idiots. How could we like him? We're just friends, okay?"

In a rapid-fire stream of words, Exusiai rambled on and on, and not once did she say anything nice about Chen An.

Texas, who was watching Rope from behind, had sharp ears and heard Croissant and Exusiai's conversation. But her ears merely twitched, and she said nothing.

Croissant was stunned. "You don't like him? No way. If you don't like him, why did you stay in Lungmen for him? You're joking, right?"

"Who's joking?"

Exusiai immediately retorted, "It's only a little salary. How could that compare to a friend's life? If you were in his place, I'd stay in Lungmen for you too. Skadi is the one who likes him, not Texas or me. Got it?"

"I see."

Croissant nodded thoughtfully. She did not argue with the suddenly agitated Exusiai, merely muttering to herself:

"Every three sentences are about him, she never forgets him no matter what happens, she can stay at his home until late at night wearing pajamas, she worries herself sick over his affairs, and he can touch her tail, ears, and head whenever he wants. So this isn't what it means for a woman to like a man. Learned something new."

Exusiai: "..."

Her mouth opened slightly as she froze in place.

Texas passed by with the reluctant Rope in tow and kindly reminded her, "Keep up. Don't get separated."

According to Exusiai's original plan.

After arriving in Chernobog and handing over the trafficked Rope, she and Texas would stay in Chernobog for two days.

They would look around, see whether there was anything interesting, buy a few local specialties, and only then head back.

But now, that plan fell apart halfway through—after handing Rope over, Exusiai hurriedly dragged Texas away from Chernobog.

The car drove across the wilderness.

After leaving Chernobog and Croissant behind, Exusiai, who had been silently driving the whole time, suddenly spoke.

"Texas, do you like Chen An?"

"Didn't you just tell Croissant you didn't? Why are you asking me?"

"You heard that?"

"My ears aren't decorations."

Texas rolled her eyes at Exusiai, took out a chocolate stick and put it into her mouth, then said casually, "Whether I like him or not, it doesn't change anything. Liking him won't change anything, and even if I don't, things have already become what they are now. I think things are pretty good as they are. It's comfortable."

Exusiai snorted. "Fine, do whatever you want. Let's see what you do when you go into heat. Don't think Chen An will go along with you just because you offer yourself up. Skadi still hasn't managed to win him over."

Texas clicked her tongue. "You make me sound like an animal."

Then she took out her phone, lowered her head, and started playing one of its built-in games. "We'll deal with it if that time comes. At worst, I'll get some medicine. Anyway, Chen An won't be the one losing out."

"!?"

Exusiai was stunned. It was the first time she had failed to keep up with Texas's train of thought. If it didn't work, drug him? What savage words. That was way too explosive, wasn't it?!

Texas continued, "And stop asking me questions just to change the subject. Ask yourself, Miss Experienced Love Expert."

Exusiai pursed her lips, turned her head away sullenly, and continued driving.

"I'd never like that guy," she muttered quietly.

But what she truly thought, only she herself knew.

Chen An received a call. It was from the gentle and virtuous, elegant and dignified, incomparably wonderful, endlessly kind—rich lady Swire.

"Yo, rich lady. You haven't called for so many days, I thought you didn't want your figurine anymore."

"Don't call me rich lady! I'm not called Rich Lady! Call me by my name, idiot!" An exasperated voice came from the phone.

"Okay, rich lady."

"...You bastard!"

She had probably been angered badly, because only after a long while did Swire's huffy voice return. "You've pissed me off to death. Hey, my figurine... Pah, what figurine? It's all your fault, and that Exusiai girl's too. Is my wooden sculpture finished?"

"It's been done for ages. I've been waiting for you to contact me."

Chen An paused, then asked, "By the way, do you really want this figurine? If you've changed your mind, I can make you a different one."

"You asked when you were making it, fine. But you're asking again after it's finished? Are you an idiot?" Swire fired back with a forceful complaint.

Chen An moved the phone away from his ear, scratched it, and put it back. "All right, then. By the way, where should I deliver the figurine this time? Still to the Lungmen Guard Department? I really don't know what you're thinking. Of all places, you keep making me deliver it there. Aren't you afraid people will misunderstand?"

"Forget it this time. Nobody can see this sculpture. Bring the wooden carving downstairs. I'm already outside your building."

"Huh?"

Chen An froze for a moment, walked out the door, stood by the corridor railing, and looked down. On the road beside the building, a golden-haired beast-eared girl stood beside a black private car, glaring at him from afar while holding her phone.

Then Swire's tsundere voice came through the phone again. "What are you staring at, idiot? Get down here already!"

Chen An came downstairs with the figurine Swire had ordered this time.

It was worth mentioning that Swire had commissioned quite a few figurines from Chen An. Most were buildings and animals. Occasionally, she would bring him pictures of handsome or cute creatures from games and comics that did not exist in reality, as well as photos and information about her family elders, and ask him to carve them.

But this time, the subject Swire wanted Chen An to carve was not any of those things, but herself.

That was right. Herself.

That was why Chen An had repeatedly asked whether she truly wanted this figurine.

Swire liked wearing bodycon skirts. Although she wore safety shorts whenever she worked at the Lungmen Guard Department, she often lazily skipped them when she was off duty. Though she always wore a long coat and was careful not to expose herself in everyday life, carving was different. If she dared to go without safety shorts, she had to be ready for someone else to know their style and color.

And the image Swire had asked Chen An to carve was herself in a bodycon skirt, and not in her work attire.

Because of that, when Chen An first received the order, he nearly got beaten up—Swire became furious with embarrassment when he asked what style of underwear she wanted.

Then again, she was embarrassed about having him carve her off-duty appearance, yet still insisted on it. Couldn't she have compromised and asked for her work appearance instead? He really did not understand what she was thinking.

One Invitation After Another

Watching Chen An approach after putting her figurine into the car's trunk, Swire looked utterly disgusted. Her complaints poured out like a barrage:

"Why are you still wearing such tasteless clothes? In winter, fine, you could barely say it's for warmth. But it's summer now, and you're still dressed like this. Aren't you hot? Honestly, you've made so much money from me, yet you have no idea how to take care of yourself or improve your fashion sense. Are you some kind of antique?"

Chen An was wearing a robe, black and extremely plain in style.

People often commented that Chen An's clothing choices were far too monotonous. Exusiai, for one, complained about it every day. But Chen An had no intention of changing.

He shrugged. "I'm used to dressing like this. If I changed clothes, I'd feel uncomfortable instead. Besides, I have Skadi to take care of, along with some patients in the Lower District. You know their situation. If I spent all my money on myself, they wouldn't have money for medicine."

"Then why don't you come to me for that sort of thing?"

Swire's eyebrows rose, and her face filled with displeasure. "You call me rich lady every day, but when you need money, you never come to me. Has that Street Dragon rubbed off on you? What nonsense. I'm not stingy when it comes to charity."

"No need. It's not like I don't have enough money, and you've already helped me plenty. I only help people see doctors. The reason so many civilians in the Lower District can find work and change their lives is all thanks to you."