Chapter 26: The Nun’s Curiosity and the Demon’s Teasing

To protect her homeland, the nun had no choice but to agree. Yet, beneath the resignation, the emotion overwhelming her thoughts was undeniably curiosity. The nun had never encountered a human mingling with the demon clan. Her heart was filled with a desire to understand this mysterious girl. This was a perilous sign, akin to opening Pandora’s box. What fate awaited her was unknown to anyone at this moment. However, one thing was certain: the agreement between the nun and the girl was akin to a rabbit entering a fox’s den and negotiating terms. Although the ‘fox’ had promised not to harm the ‘rabbit,’ it was merely a game of words. The girl, leader of the demon clan, was as cunning as any wild animal. It would be easy for her to take advantage of a naive girl like the nun.

‘You foolish woman, since you’ve agreed to stay here for five days, you might as well be useful. I have a task for you,’ the girl said, walking to a closet and retrieving a special garment. ‘This is a dress I designed, originally intended for Little Eagle. Since you’ve shown up, you can try it on first.’

The nun felt a sense of foreboding as the girl pulled out a dress. Examining it with an artist’s eye, the nun noticed that the fabric was of high quality, its value matching the girl’s animal hide clothing. The dress itself was a masterpiece, crafted over six months by the girl, who had studied various fashion books. The design incorporated current trends and elements popular among girls, making it nearly flawless. The only flaw, as the nun shyly pointed out, was that the skirt was almost transparent from the waist down. ‘You must be joking. This dress is half-transparent. Did you mistakenly pull out an unfinished piece?’

The nun, with her conservative mindset, couldn’t imagine the embarrassment of wearing such a dress. Her undergarments would be fully exposed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she thought, ‘Thank goodness it’s just an unfinished piece, so I don’t have to wear it.’

‘I’m not joking. This dress is complete, just waiting for you to wear it,’ the girl insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument. ‘And you must change into it right here,’ she added, her voice firm.

The nun felt as if she saw demonic wings sprouting from the girl’s back. ‘You truly are the leader of the demons, more demonic than demons themselves!’ The nun was at her wits’ end, but what could she do? The girl had only promised not to ‘lay a hand’ on her, not that she wouldn’t tease her. Reluctantly, the nun agreed to the girl’s demands, but she wasn’t going to be a mere puppet.

The nun’s eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use. Soon, she spotted a blanket, a simple yet effective tool. She lifted it, wrapping it around her chest and waist, creating a makeshift barrier. The blanket was long and wide enough to cover most of her body, allowing her to change discreetly.

‘How can someone be so sly?’ the girl muttered, clearly frustrated. Yet, she had no right to complain. Meanwhile, the nun had secured a small victory, planning to use the blanket to avoid any further embarrassment. The girl, noticing her strategy, added another command: ‘Don’t use my blanket for strange purposes.’

‘Compared to your mistreatment of the fabric, I haven’t done anything wrong,’ the nun retorted. ‘But that’s not allowed! My room isn’t clean, and the floor is dirty. Don’t get my blanket dirty,’ the girl insisted. ‘I’ll wash it if it gets dirty,’ the nun offered. ‘No, I have to wash my own blanket,’ the girl replied, her tone firm.

Facing this ‘aggressive’ kindness, the nun slowly unraveled the blanket, revealing the dress underneath. The girl, even from a distance, could clearly see the nun’s undergarments through the transparent skirt. ‘You foolish woman, you’re quite cute! Not only is your dress white, but your underwear is the same color too,’ the girl remarked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. ‘I thought you were a prude, with a clean exterior but perhaps wearing something more revealing underneath…’

The girl apologized, ‘I was wrong about you,’ but her words only made the nun more embarrassed. ‘Can I change back into my original clothes now?’ the nun asked, her voice trembling. ‘No, but don’t worry, I’ll only make you wear this dress in front of me,’ the girl replied, her tone softening slightly. ‘This isn’t comforting at all!’ the nun muttered under her breath.

‘Don’t be so picky. You’re a nun, be more generous… Wait!’ Realizing she didn’t know the nun’s name, the girl decided to ask. ‘What’s your name, foolish woman?’ she inquired. ‘I’m a nun,’ the nun replied, her voice soft. ‘I mean your actual name,’ the girl clarified. ‘I don’t remember. No one in my family or village ever called me by name, so I forgot it. I use ‘nun’ as my name,’ the nun explained.

The girl, now aware of the nun’s plight, decided to give her a new name. ‘Since you’re the first human to compliment my name, I’ll return the favor and give you a name,’ she declared. ‘No need,’ the nun protested, but the girl insisted. ‘You can’t refuse a name from me. Let’s use ‘white’ as a starting point, since you wore a white dress. But ‘white’ reminds people of funerals, so it’s not suitable,’ the girl explained, her mind racing. ‘How about ‘colorful’? It’s a mix of various colors, like a rainbow. Your new name is ‘Cai,’ which means ‘colorful.’ ‘

‘Why not ‘seven’?’ the nun asked, confused. ‘Stop asking so many questions. From now on, your name is Cai,’ the girl declared. The nun, though not entirely satisfied, accepted the name, thinking it was better than ‘flower something.’ ‘From today on, I am Cai,’ she said, her voice steady. Little did she know, this name would stay with her for a long time, and she would never forget the events of the next five days. These days would be etched in her memory, a time when she truly felt alive. But for now, she had to endure more teasing from the girl.

Without any prompt, the girl made a new demand: ‘I’m hungry. Make me something to eat.’ ‘You just said we should do our own chores,’ the nun retorted. ‘Am I being inconsistent? No! You’re cooking for yourself, and I’m just eating what you make,’ the girl explained. ‘So, I can make anything, and you’ll eat it?’ the nun asked, her voice tinged with resignation. ‘Just don’t make fish, celery, green onions, or beans. Anything else is fine,’ the girl replied, her tone light.

The nun, blushing deeply, slowly made her way to the kitchen, her steps as slow as a snail’s. Her workload had decreased since leaving the village, but the embarrassment she felt from the dress would take a long time to fade.

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