Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Even at Dawn, the Cult Comes Knocking (1)
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The seemingly endless punishment time finally came to an end.
Because it was opening time, and customers would start arriving soon. I slipped out of the store and climbed up onto the utility pole.
"No more Anomalies in sight...?"
Having handled incidents back-to-back, I could really feel how much safer the area around the back alley had become compared to before.
No Anomalies lurking to ambush me at every opportunity, and not even the usual smokers poking around.
"This is exactly the picture I wanted!"
Just looking at the store operating peacefully made my heart melt.
At this rate, it'd soon gain fame as a back-alley hidden gem.
"...?"
...Hold on. If too many customers show up, won't the Owner get super busy?
"...That wouldn't be good?"
If lines start forming, the time I get to spend with the Owner from now on would shrink.
And it'd obviously get even harder to snag a burger than it already is.
"Wha—what?"
The better the Owner's shop does, the farther I drift from burgers—a bizarre conundrum.
"Gah!?"
With no way to cope with this horrific disaster (it's not), I panicked and flailed atop the pole.
Customers, please... don't come!
No, come on in!
The unusually large crowd that day felt downright malicious.
The malicious time dragged on until lunchtime break finally arrived.
"Lua."
"Peep!? Owner?!"
The Owner spotted me hiding on the utility pole and came over.
Thinking she might send me on an errand, I hopped down, but she just chuckled and patted my head.
"Shop's closed for the day. Ready to head home?"
"Mrr?"
Normally we'd close at 8 p.m., so what did she mean the shop was done for the day already?
"Why close early today?"
"Gotta show my little troublemaker her new place. Figured I'd make time for it and close up early."
When I asked with genuine curiosity, the Owner explained she was carving out time for her accident-prone dragon who'd returned after three days.
"Owner's the best!!"
"This kid..."
Touched by her kindness, I bounced around and hugged her tight.
As I poured out my heartfelt thanks with maximum cuteness, a trembling engine roar cut through the air, neon trails streaking toward us.
"...Grandpa?"
A pitch-black cyberpunk motorcycle gleaming in the light.
"I'll give you a ride home."
"F-For real!?"
"It's a pretty wild ride, so hold on tight."
I'd always wanted to hop on the back seat, and now my wish was coming true.
Unlike regular bikes, this one cruised along building walls—what would that feel like? I was dying to know.
Everyone dreams of riding in a cool sports car when one zooms by, right?
"Alright, Lua. Hop on here."
"Eep..."
It was big enough for three people with room to spare, so the Owner and I climbed aboard together.
I ended up squeezed awkwardly in the middle, looking ridiculous, but my chest thumped with excitement.
A motorcycle! A cyberpunk-style one, no less!
How dangerous and thrilling could it get?
I blinked my eyes in eager anticipation.
"Everyone, hold on tight."
Vroom—! My upper body lurched back as a buoyant sensation enveloped me.
The bike charged straight at a building, then defied physics by scaling the outer wall.
Common sense said the wheels should've slipped right off, but they clung stickily, refusing to let go.
"Whoaaa!!"
"Heh heh! Like it?"
"Y-Yeah...!"
How do you even describe racing while ignoring gravity?
A movie scene come to life. I felt an indescribable freedom.
"Wanna crank up the speed?"
"Grandpa! Wait— Kyaaah!!"
Vrooom—! The Owner screamed as he twisted the throttle and accelerated.
"We're here. Careful getting off."
"Thank you!"
We covered several kilometers in a flash, arriving right in front of the Owner's Moonlight Villa.
"...Urk."
The Owner, who'd kept it together for my sake, started dry-heaving the moment we dismounted at her doorstep.
"Are you okay...?!"
"Y-Yeah... I'm f-fine... Urp...!"
Unlike me, who'd flown through the skies countless times and was used to zero gravity, the disorienting sensation must've hit her hard.
I patted her back with my tail until the nausea passed.
"...Take care of my granddaughter. I've got business to handle."
"Huh? You're leaving already?"
Once I confirmed the Owner was coming around, Grandpa said he had work and roared off on his bike.
"...Let's head inside, Lua."
I stepped obediently into the house, and a faint phytoncide scent tickled my nose from the entryway.
"Pardon the intrusion...!"
Though I'd been here once before to deal with that flesh Anomaly, this was my first time seeing it all cleaned up, so it felt strangely new.
"...Wow."
The white-toned walls and navy furniture were neatly arranged, mirroring the Owner's calm personality.
And with a capsule coffee machine to boot, it almost felt like a café.
"Mrrow?"
As I gazed around with sparkling eyes, Mi-ra Owner grabbed my hand and dragged me to the bathroom.
"You're all grubby. Let's get you cleaned up nice and proper."
"I-I can wash myself!? Eek!"
Whoosh—! My clothes were forcibly stripped off, warm water poured over my head, and gentle hands began scrubbing me down.
Even if my body was child-sized, I could handle bathing myself just fine.
But this... this...!
"...Uuu."
I'm thirty years old, mentally...
A hard-to-articulate wave of embarrassment flooded me, turning my face red as I hung my head.
"Good job. Let me dry you off."
"Muu..."
She neatly toweled off the water from my waist-length hair and body.
"We'll dry your hair out there. For clothes... this hoodie should do for now?"
With nothing but kids' boxer briefs available, she dressed me in her hoodie.
It smelled pleasantly of fabric softener.
"Myaa...?"
Once fully dressed, the hoodie swallowed my entire body, top to bottom.
The hem dragged on the floor like a dress.
And with my hands completely buried in the sleeves, I looked utterly adorable.
"...Pfft."
The Owner stifled a laugh at the dragon girl who'd grown several times cuter, then scooped me up and sat me at the vanity.
Vwhirr—. Warm air from the hairdryer dried my locks.
"Grrr..."
The soothing sensation of gentle hands combing through relaxed me, fatigue melting away as drowsiness crept in.
A pampered dragon...
"Sleepy? Take a quick nap."
"...Yeah."
Her sweet voice brushing my hair lulled me, and I closed my eyes without resistance.
Soon, I dreamed of snuggling with the Owner over yummy burgers.
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
"Mmuuuh..."
The doorbell jolted me from sleep.
"Yaaawu..."
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
I tossed and turned, trying to ignore it, but it rang again, forcing my eyes open cautiously.
"...?"
Something weighed on me. Tilting my head, I saw the Owner sound asleep, hugging me tight.
The dim light of early dawn filtered through.
"..."
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
Someone was mashing the button relentlessly, filling the house with eerie chimes.
The Owner slept through it undisturbed.
I carefully extricated myself from bed and checked the intercom in the dark living room—its screen the only light.
"...A person?"
The camera showed a middle-aged woman who wouldn't stop staring, unblinking.
Neighbor, maybe?
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
It rang again.
...After all that, shouldn't she just leave if no one's answering?
Anyone would call nonstop doorbell-ringing at dawn a nuisance.
"...Gonna wake the Owner at this rate."
She was deep asleep, but if this kept up, her rest would be ruined. I decided to handle it.
I pulled the hood low to hide my horns and waddled to the door.
Creeak—. Reaching up barely to grasp the knob, I opened it and met the woman's eyes.
"...Who are you, ringing like that in the middle of the night?"
Even if she was a neighbor, this was rude. I snapped coldly.
"You are one fated for Nirvana... Huh? A child? Here, take this first."
Ignoring me completely, she handed over a small flyer from her bag.
...A handbill?
【Arhat Nirvana Cult 】
▣ Abandon the Mundane World and Return to Anomalies to Reach Heaven! ▣
Humanity's future lies in returning to Anomalies.
"...Pfft."
Return to Anomalies to head to heaven?
I couldn't help but snort once I grasped the content.
Her nonstop ringing at dawn made sense now—it was a cult proselytizing.
"I don't buy into this crap."
I flung the paper back at her coldly and reached for the door.
"Wait. Won't you talk with me a bit?"
Crack! She jammed her shoe in the gap, undeterred, trying to evangelize under the guise of conversation.
...Even in 2071, cults haven't died out.
"I said I don't believe it, so get lost."
Fueled by rage at being woken, my red pupils glowed as I glared.
"...?! Could it be!! The flow of Nirvana has finally begun!"
Realizing I wasn't human, she shoved her body through the gap.
"You crazy bitch! Scram!"
Whack—! I tail-smashed her back and slammed the door.
The house fell quiet soon after, but then came knocking.
"Can't we just talk? Please join the Arhat Nirvana Cult!"
She should've given up by now, but she kept insisting on chatting.
Her persistence suggested she wouldn't leave easily.
Should I go out and apply some physics...?
My first night at the Owner's was off to a great start, but this weirdo soured my mood big time.
"It's fine... The first candle is lit, so I can wait..."
As I stayed silent, a flyer slid under the door, followed by her mutterings fading away.
...Finally gave up and left.
"What kinda psycho is she...?"
Worried she'd ring again, I quickly hit the intercom mute button.
"Lua...? What're you doing out here...?"
While fiddling with the intercom by the sofa, Mi-ra Owner emerged, finally noticing I'd vanished.
"Someone rang the bell outta nowhere... It's nothing."
I brushed it off to avoid worrying her. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed heavily.
"Haa... Those people again, huh..."
"Those people?"
"The Arhat Nirvana Whatever Cult, right?"
She already knew the name, so they must've been showing up for more than a day or two.
"Started hounding me to convert about a month ago... Called the cops to keep 'em away, so now they come at night..."
Banned during the day, so sneaking in at night?
Pretty tenacious for a cult.
"Don't mind them. They spout nonsense about awakening to Nirvana and being loved by Anomalies."
"..."
"I'll handle it, so go back to bed. Stay up late, and you won't grow into a beauty."
As Mi-ra Owner headed to the door, I grabbed her hand with my tail.
"I already chased her off, so it's fine."
"...Huh? You chased her?"
"She tried forcing her way in, so I yeeted her...!"
Flexing my squishy arm muscles, I recounted the incident. She facepalmed, exasperated.
"...Haa. Lua, you're something else."
"Myaa...?"
She sighed deeply, then crouched to stroke my head.
"You're stronger than I thought, and that's what worries me..."
Her palm slid slowly up my cheek, rubbing gently.
"Heard a few customers asking about you at the shop today?"
"Huh? About me?"
"Asked around, and they all said they came to thank you."
No wonder the crowd was bigger today—folks remembering my promo work.
She placed both hands on my shoulders, sharing her warmth.
"You're not as fragile as a human, so I won't stop you from saving people or fighting Anomalies... But."
Her eyes gleamed softly in the moonlight.
"Don't get hurt. Promise."
In her gaze, I glimpsed a flicker of someone from her past behind me.
My eyes drifted to the family photo on the wall, the little sister in it, but I said nothing.
"Come home hurt, and no burgers for you."
"Myaa! Nooo!"
"Wanna keep eating burgers? Be careful from now on."
To lighten the mood, she joked and led me back to bed.
Soon as she hugged me and dozed off, I blinked vacantly.
I couldn't know exactly what happened to her in the past, but she'd treated me beyond my worth—I vowed silently to repay her.
I unfolded the crumpled flyer in my hand and scanned it.
【Arhat Nirvana Cult 】
▣ Abandon the Mundane World and Return to Anomalies to Reach Heaven! ▣
Humanity's future lies in returning to Anomalies.
Arhat Nirvana Cult, preaching rebirth as Anomalies...
Unlike your run-of-the-mill scam cults fleecing money, this one felt different.
To punish the ones who ruined my cozy time with the Owner, I quietly began analyzing the flyer's contents.