Chapter 279: I can't be bothered to reason with you; you don't deserve to hear it

It's still the same old situation; the chapters I owed from yesterday have been merged together. Dear patrons, please scroll up to read.

In order to save your little aunt, you decide to leave home and venture out into the world to find a way to heal the spiritual corruption.

Although you are still young, your strength is enough to roam this land; you feel like you are just like your uncle, but you don't know what kind of person your uncle really is—he is too mysterious.

You pack your bag and decide to head far away. Before departing, you decide to bid farewell to your little aunt; although she wants to keep you, your resolve to leave is firm, so she can only let you go.

Your father hands you a longsword he used in his youth, and formally bestows upon you a set of knight's armor.

Whether it's coincidence or not, it seems every true knight must at some point leave their homeland to travel the world; now, you embark on your journey with a new ideal in heart.

Before you leave, you go to the place where you last saw that catgirl, hoping to see if she's there, and as fate would have it, you actually run into her.

Originally, Geralt just went to look for that catgirl with a tentative mindset, thinking that way, and he arrived at the trash can where he had last seen her.

No cat—quite normal; you can't expect to meet her every time.

Just as Geralt sighed and was about to leave, he suddenly heard a noisy commotion and shouting.

Confused, Geralt turned around and saw a street vendor grabbing a familiar figure and repeatedly beating them.

「？」

That's....

It's that catgirl!

And that catgirl, baring her teeth, is obviously not someone to be messed with.

She landed a hard punch to the vendor's crotch; although her strength was small, it was enough to cause him pain for a moment.

You bastard!

Damned birth!

The vendor angrily snatched a nearby cleaver and swung it fiercely at her head.

Clang!

A silver-white sword blade blocked the vendor's cleaver; the vendor was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Geralt, who stood a head taller than him.

At 13 years old, his height already matches that of an average adult; compared to the short, chubby vendor, being a head taller is quite normal.

Another knight?

The vendor snorted disdainfully, while the catgirl didn't run, instead fixing him with a steady glare.

This guy is tough too—taking a punch to the crotch and feeling nothing.

Hiss... maybe he's too small to have hit?

Geralt's mind wandered a bit, but hearing the vendor's dismissive tone brought him back to reality.

Can you just kill people freely in the city?

Tch! She stole my stuff; I just wanted to give her a lesson!

You knights want to shield a thief in broad daylight?

This guy has a mouth full of yellow teeth and spouts nonsense whenever he opens his mouth.

I said I didn't steal!

A pleasant voice rang out; the catgirl glared at him angrily, then looked at Geralt, appearing somewhat nervous and flustered.

I didn't steal! I paid for it!

Apparently fearing Geralt wouldn't believe her, she explained again.

You say you didn't steal, but do you have any proof you didn't?

I really didn't steal!!!

The catgirl almost jumped up to bite him; Geralt furrowed his brow, and sinfulness revealed itself before his eyes.

One emanated a faint golden glow, the other a black mist; the right and wrong of this petty incident needed no further explanation.

At least, that black aura indicates the person has at least two lives on their conscience—a pattern he's deduced over time.

I think this person... looks a bit familiar.

The surrounding crowd happened to be watching the young knight's antics; for someone who just became a knight, they're usually full of righteous zeal and meddlesome.

But now they suddenly realized this young fellow looked familiar, and after careful scrutiny, sharp-eyed observers realized he was a scion of the Gordon family.

He is Gordon Geralt!

A gasp rose from the crowd, and the vendor, who had been preparing to continue his arrogant bluster, hearing the other's background, immediately deflated and switched his demeanor.

Haha, I said you looked familiar; turns out....

I think you look familiar too.

Upon hearing that, the vendor was stunned; he was about to say something, but Geralt's next line left him reeling.

Come on, criminal, how many lives do you have on your hands?

The surroundings fell silent instantly; the vendor's eyes widened, cold sweat poured down, and he forced a laugh.

Ha... haha, Sir Knight, you're joking, right? I'm just a small merchant.

You say you didn't kill, but do you have any proof you haven't killed anyone?

The question just thrown at the catgirl was tossed back unchanged, and the vendor finally realized how unanswerable it was.

He cannot prove it, but in fact, the question itself doesn't require proof.

Perhaps, without Geralt's sin-detection, he might truly confuse right and wrong because he once saw a thieving catgirl.

At this moment, the Imperial Guard has heard the news and rushed over, with someone in the crowd calling for them.

This is.... the young master of the Gordon family?

The guard captain knows Geralt; as members of the empire's most just and self-disciplined knightly family, they cannot directly judge who is right or wrong, but whenever they appear, justice follows.

Sir Knight... I really didn't....

I can't be bothered to reason with you; you're not worth listening to.

I'll give you two options: first, follow me back to the guard team for investigation; second, I swear by the Gordon Family's justice to execute you on the spot—arrest first, report later!

Everyone around was dumbfounded; even the vendor hadn't expected that the casual amusement they'd found would turn out like this.

Is he a wanted criminal?

Yeah, that's someone from the Gordon Family.

The Gordon Family isn't necessarily authoritative, right?

You're an outsider, you wouldn't understand.

The Gordon Family's image is precisely that of justice; of course, each of them must take responsibility for their words and actions.

If something goes wrong this time, Jierte will also face severe punishment.

The captain of the guard team understood the situation, exchanged glances with his subordinates, and the other party directly walked up with handcuffs.

Come with us.

No! What evidence do you have to arrest me!

I am the evidence.

Jierte wore silver-white knight armor; although his face was youthful, it exuded an unyielding dignity.

I didn't kill anyone! I'm innocent! I'm innocent!

The vendor was taken away; as for whether he killed someone, that's merely the lowest threshold of having a heavy dark aura—if he didn't kill, then he did something even worse than killing.

It looks like he'll have to stay here for a while, at least until the vendor's investigation results come out.

Just as he turned around, he met the catgirl's sparkling eyes.

You're amazing!

-I didn't expect that the noisy, troublesome guy just now would be dealt with like that; this knight is a real man!

Jierte looked at the catgirl covered in wounds, furrowed his brows, and asked concernedly.

Are you okay?

Ah.

Only then did the catgirl belatedly examine her own wounds, which were burning hot, but she was used to it.

Seeing the catgirl scratching herself all over, looking left and right, Jierte felt helpless, reached out, and warm Holy Light gently showered down.

The catgirl stared for a moment, then comfortably narrowed her eyes, her tail tip standing straight up and constantly trembling.

Wow, your Holy Light is much warmer than the Saintess's in the church.

Her Holy Light is both blinding and scorching.

Saintess?

Now this Saintess certainly doesn't refer to Feili; as for why she's felt the Saintess's Holy Light, it's probably the church's monthly free relief.

Yeah, I often go to the church to freeload.... cough cough.

Seems she exposed her nature; she fidgeted nervously, rubbing her hands.

Knight Sir, what's your name!

?

Jierte was full of question marks; what odd title is 'Knight Sir'?

How is this catgirl like a profiteer?

Looking at the other's grinning, fly-rubbing-hands manner, Jierte felt a black line.

Who did he learn this from?

Are you sure you don't know me?

Huh? We're meeting for the first time, Knight Sir.

The catgirl kept pretending to be clueless; although Jierte wasn't sharp, he wasn't stupid either.

He carefully examined the catgirl, looking her up and down, left and right, all over.

Black hair and tail, azure pupils, and a faint little fang at the corner of her mouth.

Confirmed, it's the same cat.

Facing Jierte's scrutiny, the catgirl broke into a sweat; although he'd helped her out of the predicament, being seen like this still made her uneasy.

First, get past this; then we can have a normal encounter later!

Who knew, the next moment Jierte suddenly pulled out a bottle of small gold beans from his pocket, and the catgirl's eyes went wide.

As the little bottle shifted between his fingers, the catgirl's eyes fixed on it like a pendulum.

What a pity, it seems you're not the one; I was planning to return this to the other party.

Jierte instantly put away the gold beans, turned and left; the catgirl, realizing what happened, hurriedly grabbed his cuff.

Wrong, wrong! I was wrong!

That night's cat was me!!!

No choice; she had painfully managed to give away that bottle of gold beans, and now it's unexpectedly back before her eyes!

Such a good opportunity, she really doesn't want to lose it!

Well, she's repaid it; if Jierte gives her the gold beans next, that'll be another price!

Hearing the other's admission, Jierte gave a half-smile, turned, and revealed the little bottle once more.

Answer a few questions for me, and I'll give it to you.

Mm-hmm!!!

The catgirl nodded like pounding garlic, her big eyes unblinking on the little bottle; Jierte smiled satisfied and slowly voiced his doubt.

Why are you avoiding me?

Because... because I'm socially anxious.

?

Looking at Jierte's extremely doubtful gaze, the catgirl could only compromise.

I'm afraid to come into contact with nobles....

Barely counts as a qualified answer.

Then the next question.

Did you steal my money before?

The catgirl fell silent, her big eyes darting between Jierte and the ground, but she ultimately couldn't withstand his gaze and began to speak hesitantly.

Stole.... I've stolen.

Jierte showed an expression of realization, and at the same time became more certain of his earlier guess.

Seeing Jierte's expression gradually turn serious, the catgirl's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly added.

I was too young and clueless back then! I've returned everything I took!

Well, she's still a catgirl who knows borrowing and returning—no wonder she doesn't emanate dark energy.

I don't owe a single cent! I've survived to now purely on my own!

The other party is very proud; although dressed in rags, they still live proudly, which is rare in such times.

Alright, let's just consider it as you repaying my money.

Last question, what's your name?

Name? None.

The catgirl spoke decisively: she was born here, has no name, no family, no companions, and was raised by cats alone.

That's right, she survives to now entirely thanks to those cats, relying on the food they got by using their lives to act cute and beg.

But they all call me Lan Baoshi.

The catgirl raised both hands, forming a circle with two fingers, framing her blue eyes.

Because my eyes are blue, that's why they call me that!

Jierte almost turned away to cover his face—what is this! Do I have to be this cute!

What's wrong?

Nothing....

Jierte forcibly suppressed the Ah Wei in his heart, and once again looked at the catgirl who kept showing him her big eyes.

Isn't that a name? Lan Baoshi, not bad.

Right, right!

Having received affirmation, the catgirl looked very happy, immediately accepted the little golden beans, and insisted on treating Jierte to a meal.

A person and a cat passed through towering buildings, arrived at the suburbs, went through lane after lane, and finally arrived at an extremely hidden restaurant.

Jierte even suspected this was a hideout for child traffickers—who would hide a restaurant so deep inside a respectable household, fearing people could find it?

The catgirl ahead bounced forward and pushed open the door; inside was brightly lit, but at a glance most of the patrons were dirty-looking people.

But it seems the restaurant owner doesn't mind these, as many large portions of dishes were brought out.

Boss! Two plates of vagabond fried rice!

The catgirl shouted loudly; the boss had responded warmly, but when he saw Jierte following behind Lan Baoshi, his face turned pale.

He ignored the onlookers' gazes, he knelt down with a thud, and opened his mouth saying:

Knight Sir! Please, don't come again!

Alright, knowing Lan Baoshi learned from whom, anyway it's inseparable from the restaurant owner in front of us....

Lan Baoshi looked doubtfully at the boss, then doubtfully at Jierte, her small eyes full of doubt.

First, let me clarify: I'm the one who brought this little catgirl here to eat.

Furthermore, I am Gedun Jierte.

If you have any grievances, tell me and I can help you resolve them.