The Handbook for Completing Demi-Human Girls

The two people in the cave stood embracing for a long time. The temperature around them also rose little by little accordingly, but it wasn't an agitated scorching heat, instead merely making one feel warm and cozy.

Perhaps only at this moment did Eimhart understand that this Dragon-kin lady he had never met before was also extremely important to Fisher.

A very, very long time passed before the embracing pair separated slightly, transforming the tight, wordless embrace of lovers into a spacious distance sufficient for conversation.

Only now did Raphaela seem to have the leisure to survey Fisher's strange attire. Her tail wrapping around Fisher's waist couldn't help but lift a bit, poking here and there at the torn holes in Fisher's clothes, asking in passing,

"Why are you... wearing clothes like this? It looks too weird."

Although her words sounded a bit disdainful, at the same time, she reached out both hands and meticulously smoothed out the tattered, completely irredeemably wrinkled white robe.

Her gentle movements seemed a far cry from her explosive demeanor in the past. Looking at her face so close at hand, Fisher unavoidably reached out his hand and grasped her hand resting on his clothes, slowly brushing over her warm and smooth Scales, bringing a slight tickle.

"This set of clothes wasn't like this before. Back then, it looked quite presentable."

She pursed her lips, her gaze somewhat evasive, but the tail behind her wagged back and forth in a jump for joy, leaving Eimhart up in the sky completely dumbfounded.

Raphaela coughed lightly and still brought her gaze back to Fisher's body,

"I... I can tell..."

Raphaela glanced at Fisher's face, adding,

"I actually thought that, like me, you couldn't survive in Naris anymore, so you were being chased all over the place by humans. Otherwise, why would you only think of coming... to find me now..."

"It's more or less that. Currently, I am indeed a fugitive hunted by Naris. And many things happened previously, which is why I haven't had the chance to return to the Southern Continent... I'm sorry, Raphaela."

What originally started as just a complaint or self-deprecating remark, Raphaela never expected it to hit the nail on the head.

She paused slightly, a possibility involuntarily springing up in her heart. Concurrently, her words became somewhat guilt-ridden,

"Is it... because of me?"

Yes, from Raphaela's perspective, she thought it was because of her actions in the Southern Continent, and because Fisher, while taking her across the Southern Continent, had also encountered quite a few humans who recognized him.

After returning to the West Continent, they perhaps took the information regarding her relationship with Fisher back with them. That's why Naris punished him, ultimately causing him to be exiled from his own society.

Fisher paused slightly. Just as he shook his head and was about to explain something, Eimhart floating in the sky beside them flew back down, landing on Fisher's shoulder and excitedly speaking to Raphaela,

"You? No, no, no, of course it wasn't because of you. This is related to the current Empress of Naris, Elizabeth. She used a stratagem to usurp the throne from her elder brother, and Fisher witnessed the entire process, which is why his reputation was ruined and he was reduced to a fugitive."

Fisher didn't expect Eimhart had grown up.

During the process of explaining for him, he actually omitted Fisher's past relationship with Elizabeth...

He really did, he could cry to death from gratitude.

Raphaela looking at the voluble book couldn't help but be surprised. She had seen many Relics, but it was her first time seeing a sentient one that could speak. She glanced at Fisher and asked,

"This is?"

"He is Sir Book Artifact Eimhart, a good friend of mine."

Eimhart nodded in gratification, courteously standing on Fisher's shoulder and replying,

"Hello, Queen Raphaela. It's a pleasure to meet you. Fisher feels the same."

"I am also very glad to meet you, Eimhart."

After the initial passion and explosion of their reunion, the unfamiliarity stemming from a long separation was melted away by the warm atmosphere. The events and words pent up in their hearts these past years all poured out at this moment.

Past experiences are an endless chatterbox. The stories are many and chaotic, but often only those who truly care about you are eager to listen.

Because it is precisely because they missed that time by your side that they hope to make up for such regret through listening.

Fisher summarized his story after leaving the Southern Continent, omitting irrelevant details, primarily narrating his being wanted by Elizabeth of Naris. As for the Northern Border, the Stormsea, and even the Sanctuary, those were simply too distant for Raphaela, so Fisher largely didn't touch upon them.

Not to mention that even for the Naris affairs, Fisher only spoke of the events, not the people involved. Otherwise, who knows how long it would take to tell, or if he could even finish.

They sat together in a cool spot inside the cave, enjoying a temporary rest. The distance was very close. From behind, one would discover that at some unknown point, Raphaela's tail had also formed a semicircle behind them, framing Fisher inside. She occasionally tapped the ground, bit by bit shrinking the area of this semicircle.

Even with such appropriate omissions, Raphaela, having listened quietly, looked at Fisher before her. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but ask doubtfully,

"When we first went to war with Naris, we also inquired about Naris's intelligence. I... privately also wanted to know information about you back then. But strangely, everything related to you in Naris seemed to have evaporated. I couldn't get any intelligence connected to you at all. Furthermore, the spies responsible for those leads would often inexplicably be cut off..."

Eimhart wasn't surprised at all. Pouting his lips, he subconsciously said,

"Of course, exactly the kind of thing Elizabeth would do. I dare to say for sure, after Fisher left, all the things in his house ran off to the Golden Palace... Oh, um... I mean, after all he is a prisoner of very high status, and previously he also had... uh, close relations with Elizabeth... err, the Golden Palace, so..."

Fisher and Raphaela stared blankly at Eimhart before them. Only when he was mid-sentence did he realize he spoke out of turn and immediately tried to salvage it, only making it worse and leaving Fisher completely speechless.

"Pata..."

Behind his back, that warm and flexible tail had unknowingly already touched Fisher's thigh. That continuously closing semicircle had ultimately shrunk so small that Fisher and Raphaela completely fill it.

And beside him, Raphaela also glanced at Fisher, inadvertently asking Eimhart,

"Prior to this, did the Empress of Naris, Elizabeth, value Fisher highly?"

"Uh... well... this... She probably did. I mean... on an official level."

Eimhart shot an apologetic look at Fisher, indicating he wouldn't speak up anymore. Next, he decided to turn into air, pretending to know absolutely nothing.

Fortunately, Fisher was already mentally prepared even before he returned from the past to the present.

Since he had to pay back the debts he owed due to his greed, these problems inevitably had to be faced, even if there were severe consequences.

But as the saying goes, one should eat their food bite by bite, and conflicts must be resolved bit by bit; he had to act as such.

Fisher didn't deny it, only showing a rather helpless smile. Supporting himself on his knees with both hands, he lowered his head slightly to explain,

"Elizabeth used to be my university classmate, and also my first love. However, later we separated for some reasons. And when I was returning to Saint-Nazareth from the Southern Continent back then, she extended an olive branch to me."

"Oh, classmate, first love?"

Raphaela chewed over those two rather ambiguous words, seemingly unflappable, but the tail behind her unhappily raised up a bit to look everywhere, resembling a venomous snake flaunting its power with a flicking tongue.

Perhaps she should have guessed long ago that the relationship between Fisher and Elizabeth wasn't simple. Otherwise, that Elizabeth wouldn't have so frantically locked down all information regarding him, even rendering it a crime to discuss matters related to Elizabeth's ascension in Naris for a time. Naturally, the content included within this was Fisher.

She had also seen stories about Fisher and Elizabeth in the Naris newspapers earlier. She was very angry at the time, but also suspected the cropped story was merely gossip constructed by Naris people; otherwise, why was he subsequently wanted by Elizabeth?

Fortunately, now, he had explained everything.

Fisher is a very special and outstanding human. Even after so many years had passed, this impression in Raphaela's heart remained unchanged; on the contrary, it only grew more profound.

Even before herself and Elizabeth, she had already heard of a name called "Renee." It wasn't hard to explain that the Empress who now resembled the sun also had a past romance with him...

Raphaela even uneasily suspected whether, wherever Fisher went, there would also be a lady who had a relationship with him?!

The more she thought, the more depressed Raphaela became, her breathing slightly stagnating.

But then, on second thought, even in the end, Fisher didn't accept Elizabeth's plea to stay, instead leaving Naris. Even after fleeing for so long, he still came back to find her...

In the end, she was still the one who won.

At this moment, the tail showing off its power beside Fisher softened bit by bit, as if corroded by that sweet, trace sensation. It powerlessly flopped onto the ground, transforming from a venomous snake into an obedient cat.

Except on her face, the slightly raised smiling expression of Raphaela slowly restored its calm.

She coughed lightly, glanced at Fisher, and seemingly without any fluctuation, as if those thoughts had never occurred, relaxed and said,

"It's okay. Anyway, it's all in the past. It's just... good that you're back, Fisher."

Hmm, Miss Raphaela, I don't know if I should say it or not, it's just... it seems it hasn't completely passed yet.

Eimhart blinked, thinking so, but he truly didn't dare to speak up again.

"What about you, Raphaela? After entering the Southern Continent this time, I heard the name 'New Dragon Court.' I originally thought it was your masterpiece, but later discovered it wasn't the case."

Fisher didn't continue on his own topic, instead questioning Raphaela's circumstances.

Upon hearing the respective concept, Raphaela's expression darkened slightly. She let out a cold snort and stated,

"Yser, that traitor who betrayed the Southern Continent. He sold everything of the Southern Continent—the souls, history, and future of our brethren—to Naris. On the surface, he appealed for peace, hoping to stop the fighting. This stance made many Demi-humans who merely wanted peace cast down their weapons and willingly become vassals of that Pseudo-Court. Upwardly, they have departed from being 'slaves' and the risk of being sold, but essentially, we are still livestock in the eyes of humans."

The steam on Raphaela's body puffed out bit by bit, but eventually dispersed entirely.

She looked at her spread-open palm, finally saying dejectedly,

"I don't blame the many Southern Continent residents who defected to their side; the most crucial reason is still that we lost in the war against Naris. They seem like a completely changed nation all of a sudden. Originally loose power became concentrated. As for their already troublesome magic and muskets, now there's the addition of a type of machine they researched and developed...

"That machine can do many things. Scouting, offensive operations, transportation... And even if we luckily find wreckage, we fundamentally cannot study it. The advancement level of that technology is basically irreproducible. With their strength growing and ours waning, our army lost a lot of power too. Yet despite that, we all persisted. We were clearly so close to winning... But at the most critical juncture, that general named 'Barbatos' actually..."

Raphaela was somewhat unwilling. Her open claws tightened little by little, as if to crush something.

"Barbatos? You mean the general of that group of humans is Barbatos?!"

Eimhart floated up in disbelief, trembling his voice as he spoke consecutively,

"That is an Eighteenth Tier Demon God of the Demon-kin! It'd be strange if you could win! With a guy like that helping them, why hasn't Naris flattened the Southern Continent yet? Wait, wait. Shouldn't they still be locked up in the Demon Abyss? How... Ah! It must be because of Baimon! This is all Baimon's fault! I understand now!"

"Demon?"

Raphaela had also heard this name from the Patriarch of the Bat-kin. It seemed to be an extremely ancient concept, dwelling in the underground that was hotter than magma. The history of their existence was far longer than the time since the Dragon Court's birth and demise.

Regarding this powerful concept, she was both vague and had some apprehensions.

Vague, because she didn't possess a systematically profound understanding of the concepts of Mythical Species and Mythic Rank like Fisher and Eimhart. Naturally, she didn't know the chasm that existed between the Demon-kin and the living beings here, including herself.

Apprehension, because after all, she had just barely escaped death from the opponent's hands previously, and naturally glimpsed a corner of that massive power before that terrifying might.

She didn't feel fear or despair towards such a strong enemy; she was only somewhat curious how that group of humans hooked up with Demons. And of course, this was also what bewildered Eimhart and Fisher.

Fisher abruptly recalled the unknown Mythic Rank he encountered when entering the factory with Ingrid that day. Either that attacking individual was the Barbatos they spoke of; or a worse situation, the attacker wasn't Barbatos, but other Demon-kin. This also indicated there were more powerful Demon-kin on the Naris side besides Barbatos.

But regardless, some Demons had already escaped the fetters of the Mother Goddess, leaving the Demon Dynasty to arrive on the surface, even brazenly integrating into the Naris forces.

A Mythical Species integrating into a human dynasty—this indeed appeared to be an absurd event to Fisher, who had experienced the glorious era of the Mythical Species ten thousand years ago.

Since it was absurd, they definitely plotted something.

Perhaps Eimhart was right, all this truly was connected with Helaire.

It's just, why?

What did she want to do?

Fisher plunged into deep thought, but the Raphaela beside him wasn't swallowed up in the quagmire of self-doubt and stagnation. She quickly extracted herself from this news, turned her head to look at Fisher beside her with his grave expression, smiled, and thought the other party was worrying about her, so she said,

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought up these heavy topics today. Don't worry, since their last formal offensive was beaten back by us a few months ago, they haven't organized a large-scale offensive for a long time. At most, it's just occasionally some rats wanting to sneak in, which is also the reason I was staying here today."

Fisher awakened from his thoughts. Looking at Raphaela before him, who seemed as if she was fiercely burning, he was also involuntarily moved by her optimism and fearlessness. He couldn't help but reach out his hand, wanting to grip her shoulder. Yet Raphaela shot a glance at his hand and instead gently pressed her cheek against it.

Fisher paused slightly. Feeling the warmth of her soft skin and the fluid gaze welling up like water, his heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

As previously mentioned, the Dragon-kin either don't Tail-Match, but once Tail-Matched, their desire for their Tail-Compatible Partner would be unimaginably strong, acting as the mechanism guaranteeing the Dragon-kin's reproduction numbers.

Clearly, even Dragon Queen Raphaela adhered to such rules. Moreover, she hadn't seen Fisher for a very, very long time, and hadn't found release in just as long.

Turning to look at Fisher: Without needing an introduction, ever since he possessed the Demi-Human Completion Handbook—a Handbook that entirely didn't fit in among the Completion Handbooks—his body had improved day by day, and likewise his kidneys.

A Dragon-kin who hadn't seen her Tail-Compatible Partner in a long while, and a greedy human who basically didn't understand the concept of 'satisfied'. It was simply like dry kindling encountering fierce fire—on the verge of outbreak.

Eimhart floating in the sky looked left at Fisher, right at Raphaela, and realized that their gaze wasn't just practically forming threads; the distance between them kept shrinking even further.

He revealed an expression of having nothing left to live for, even feeling like he himself had begun to emit bright light like a lightbulb.

Perhaps he shouldn't be here, but outside on some tree.

"Wu! Wu!"

Yet at this very moment, outside the cave, an abrupt burst of a melodious Horn sounded.

Raphaela's lips were already inches from Fisher's. Her vacant, hazy, rippling gaze suddenly solidified, and subsequently, her excited tail behind her also protested as if splashed with a basin of cold water.

Looking at Fisher close at hand, Raphaela's face instantly turned bright red. She even felt that 'craving' was an understatement for her current state; the notion of wanting to thoroughly eat the person before her had already been laid bare for all to see.

But she had only been reunited with the other party for less than half an hour!

This... this was simply too shameless!

But... if it's the Tail-Compatible Partner, then... then it can't be helped... right?

"Smack, smack!"

The tail behind her thrashed against the ground in spasmodic twitches, just like an impatient customer urging the waiter to serve the dishes at a restaurant.

But she herself covered her face, red as a tomato, and stood up. She turned her face away slightly, lacking the courage to properly look at him, and murmured softly,

"It's... my subordinates are calling me. The army in the rear has come to relieve the garrison. Tonight, I will secretly take you back to my temporary quarters first. In a few days, I will return to the rear to handle some matters. There are quite a few humans there, and you won't need to be this cautious by then."

Fisher also stood up, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She wasn't the same as back then; she was the Dragon Court's Queen, bearing responsibility and anxieties for many things now.

Consequently, he also didn't have the intention of refusing. He'd just leave everything to Raphaela to arrange.

He smiled slightly and said to Raphaela,

"Then, it's all up to the arrangements of the Queen."

After hearing this, Raphaela thought of something unknown, the rosy flush on her face deepening a few degrees more. Even the originally flattened Scales released wisps of steam.

She wagged her tail, her evasive gaze sweeping over his body and face. Then she coughed lightly and murmured,

"Cough, cough, follow me first, tonight... I'll summon you... tonight."

She arranged her armor, bashfully turned her head away to straighten out her armor, and walked out the cave ahead in a hurry as if fleeing a disaster, leading Fisher towards the place she temporarily resided.

Watching her departing back, Fisher smiled faintly, not knowing what he was smiling about. Anyway, he just wanted to smile.

He looked at Eimhart flying in the sky bearing dead fish eyes, and called out,

"Let's go, Eimhart."

Eimhart shot him a glance and muttered,

"Don't, the lady said she's going to s-u-m-m-o-n you tonight... ahhh! Let go of me!"

He wanted to say more insolent remarks, but fundamentally couldn't resist Fisher's ruthless iron hand. He was easily grabbed over, and together, they followed Raphaela's steps.

With the two people gone, the cave suddenly appeared somewhat completely empty...

Only the spot where they sat retained a smudge of residual heat despite the absence of sunlight, keeping the cave company through future loneliness.