Chapter 417: Three Women, One Show
Kaise lunged forward with lightning speed, but Yuliya was even faster. With a swift push, she pinned Kaise mid-air.
“Who are you? I don’t know you!”
“Lady Riya! It really is you! I can’t be mistaken about this feeling!”
Kaise struggled but couldn’t move an inch, though her mouth ran a mile a minute.
“Even though Lady Riya has gotten shorter, it definitely must be you!”
“What are you talking about? I’ve never seen you before! You’ve got the wrong person!”
Yuliya vehemently denied it.
What a joke!
After painstakingly building an image of a wise big sister in that little kitty’s mind, I can’t let it crumble now!
Mitina is really something else! Just when Kaise enrolls, she ends up right here with me!
She’s taking the fall for this!
“Lady Riya, please let me down. I’m begging you.”
“I’m not Riya! You have the wrong person! My name is… Little Li!”
“Whoa?”
Inif stood nearby, looking completely baffled.
But within moments, she started to piece the situation together.
The person wasn’t wrong; she called the right name.
So, she must know her! But for some reason, she doesn’t want to admit it.
However, a Beastman…
Saint Felis Academy is a mixed school that doesn’t judge by status or race—once you’re in, all students are technically equal.
Hence, there are many different races represented: humans, beastmen, elves, dwarves, crystal folk, winged folks, and aquatics.
But there are definitely some vanishing divisions and barriers among races, especially between humans and beastmen.
Inif had some old beef with the beastmen.
When she glanced at Kaise, her expression instinctively turned icy.
Kaise noticed Inif’s gaze and tilted her head curiously.
Yuliya sensed the tension and released her grip on Kaise.
“Alright, Kaise, I am Riya.”
“I know! I can’t possibly be mistaken! The scent of Lady Riya will forever be burned into my memory!”
Kaise finally cooled down and didn’t leap forward again. “Although Lady Riya is a bit shorter now, she’s definitely still the same Lady Riya!”
“…”
Oh, this poor kid. If you can’t say something smart, don’t say anything at all.
But hey, it seems like the damage isn’t irreversible; there’s still a chance to salvage this!
“Ahem… Kaise, this is Inif, famously known as the Ice Queen of Saint Felis Academy.”
Inif: ???
Inif’s face was a mix of confusion.
We’re not sisters… What on earth are you talking about?
“This is Kaise, a Cat Race. Do you know the Cat Race, Inif?”
“Oh, the Cat Race…”
Inif had heard a little about this offshoot of beastmen.
They rarely get involved in disputes and tend to be less sociable among their kind.
She didn’t have much of an opinion about the Cat Race specifically.
But I guess she understood why Riya introduced herself that way.
She hoped she could get along just fine with this Cat Girl.
“Kaise, right? I’m Inif, a third-year student at Saint Felis Academy. Welcome!”
She offered a greeting, though her tone was barely cordial.
“Hi, Senior! I’m Kaise.” Kaise responded naturally, showing no signs of discontent.
But suddenly she dashed over to Yuliya and wrapped her arms around her right arm. “But Lady Riya is mine!”
Yuliya tilted her head at her.
What does that mean? How did I become yours? What’s with this little kitty?!
“Kaise, you’ve got it wrong! You’re mine!”
“Oh right, I’m Lady Riya’s!”
With that, she squeezed even tighter.
Yuliya chuckled, reaching out to pinch her cat ears, prompting Kaise to squint in delight.
So, my image is still towering!
But as she savored the cat-petting moment, a low voice interrupted from beside her.
“Riya.”
“Yeah?”
Inif’s tone turned even chillier. “You’re human; she’s a beastman.”
Hold on! You’re not really an Ice Queen, are you? You said that was just for self-preservation!
“Well… Saint Felis Academy does not discriminate by race.”
“Exactly! No discrimination!” Kaise chimed in enthusiastically, “And besides, Lady Riya is different! She’s our holy maiden!”
Inif squinted at Yuliya.
Yuliya shook her head vigorously. “No, that’s not right! Kaise is just talking nonsense; I don’t even know what a holy maiden is.”
“It’s just that others haven’t acknowledged it yet! They will recognize her! After all, Lady Riya is already my holy maiden! She saved my life!”
Kaise threw her head back proudly.
But in reality, she was only about one hundred fifty centimeters tall, barely taller than Inif.
Inif glared down at her, clearly annoyed. “Riya saved me too; is she my holy maiden now?”
“Lady Riya got me something really important!”
Kaise revealed a red gemstone ring on her finger.
“She also left me something very important.”
Inif pulled out her necklace.
“Lady Riya took me on quite the adventure, navigating all sorts of dangers to find Kaistes!”
“Riya guided me through so many dangers to get to Saint Felis Academy!”
“Lady Riya gave me a very important gift!”
“This…”
Oh no, Inif genuinely didn’t receive any gifts.
“I also gifted Lady Riya something very important!”
Entrance exam qualifications, that counts, right?!
But even as she said this, her gaze was locked on Yuliya, her eyes screaming one word—GIFT.
Yuliya felt a chill run down her spine.
“Lady Riya also…”
“Riya also…”
The two exchanged words like a rapid-fire duel, and it started off strong with specific examples.
But soon enough, they were completely lost.
Yuliya felt her head spinning.
Did I really do all that stuff?
Wait a minute! How did you guys accidentally end up in a comparison battle?!
Yuliya followed their words as they volleyed back and forth, and Little Li was forced to spin along with them.
Finally, Little Li gave her face a little pat with her paw, producing a “Gah!” sound.
It seemed to say three words: “Women, huh.”
