The Secrets of the Beastkin Lolis

My daughter once served Saroyan’s lady. I was never quite sure what her duties entailed.

Then, not long ago, I received the devastating news of her unexpected death.

Grandma Sharp gazed out the doorway. “Only these children remain,” she murmured.

“I’m so sorry,” Iordera whispered. “Please accept my condolences.”

Though the atmosphere was hardly suitable for such inquiries, Iordera found a delicate way to voice her curiosity.

She began, “Um, I have a question. I’ve heard that beast-eared people, those with only ears and tails, yet otherwise entirely human in form, shouldn’t exist.”

“That’s both true and not entirely true,” Grandma Sharp replied. “They certainly cannot be born through normal reproduction, for instance.”

Iordera’s eyes widened slightly. “Are you saying—”

Grandma Sharp offered no verbal answer, merely a telling glance.

Having been immersed in countless films and novels from her previous life, Iordera’s mind immediately conjured a myriad of possibilities.

Biological experiments, genetic splicing, and so much more…

“My daughter secretly sent these children to me before her passing. Their existence must remain hidden; if discovered, the consequences would be dire,” Grandma Sharp sighed. “And as you’ve seen, they all carry physical imperfections.”

“I certainly won’t speak a word of it,” Iordera quickly promised.

She had witnessed the condition of the beast-eared lolis herself.

Little Rabbit Loli Duo Duo’s eyes were blind, and Little Dog Loli Little Pa could not bend her knees.

“Awang, on the other hand, seems quite fortunate,” Iordera remarked. “I don’t see any obvious defects in her.”

Grandma Sharp shook her head. “Her situation is the most dire. She doesn’t have many years left.”

“What? Is she ill?”

“No illness. Her time is simply drawing to an end.”

This explanation left Iordera utterly bewildered. “But she looks barely ten years old.”

“She is five this year,” Grandma Sharp clarified, “but her inherent lifespan is only about eight years.”

The limited lifespan of small animals, combined with dormant genes activated by their beastkin transformation, had been severely exacerbated by the biological experiments.

A sudden pang of sorrow struck Iordera.

Little Cat Loli Awang had been the first to interact with her, polite and sensible, utterly endearing.

Yet, Awang was steadily approaching the end of her short life.

“They seem very fond of you,” Grandma Sharp said aloud. “And thank you for protecting Duo Duo.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. If it weren’t for me, the cage wouldn’t have fallen in the first place, so it’s only right.”

Iordera scratched her head. “As for being fond of me… perhaps it’s because our appearances are similar in age, and they see me as a peer?”

“There are plenty of unadult children around,” Grandma Sharp countered, dismissing her guess. “You are the only one they’ve taken a liking to.”

“Is that so? Then I don’t know.”

Still, a thought did occur to Iordera.

‘They were all “manufactured” by others,’ she mused. ‘In a way, they are of the same kind as me.’

“Ahem, actually, I took a quest from the tavern,” Iordera admitted, clearing her throat. “Someone noticed you buy food for multiple people every day and grew curious, wanting to uncover your secret.”

“Hmph,” Grandma Sharp scoffed. “Just idle busybodies with nothing better to do.”

“Indeed, but that’s precisely the problem; someone will always find out,” Iordera urged. “If possible, it would be best to relocate.”

Grandma Sharp gave a bitter laugh. “I know, but in Saroyan, where else can one both live and remain hidden?”

This is a vast city, after all.

“Then we can only be more careful,” Iordera said, rising and dusting off her clothes. “I will come again next time, to wait for them.”

Grandma Sharp hummed in acknowledgment. “Next time, don’t hide in a box. Just knock.”

“Understood.”

As Iordera passed the cellar, she hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided against going in to say goodbye.

Her emotions were a tangled knot.

Leaving West Street, she didn’t head straight home. Instead, she made her way to the tavern in the quest market.

“Back so soon?” Cat Head greeted her from his perch at the bar. “Did you uncover the secret?”

“No, I’m not doing it anymore,” Iordera stated plainly. “Mark the quest as failed for me.”

Cat Head regarded her with a knowing smile. “Alright. Care to look at other quests now?”

“No, I’ll rest for a few days,” Iordera refused, shaking her head. After a moment of thought, she added, “This reconnaissance quest… it’s not right. It’s someone else’s private matter. If possible, could you persuade the person who posted it to drop the whole thing?”

Cat Head spread his hands apologetically. “I’m sorry, little beauty, but that’s against the rules.”

“…Alright then.”

Leaving the night market, Iordera returned home and immediately collapsed into sleep.

She hadn’t had a full night’s rest in two days; exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

Weariness permeated both her body and soul.

After sleeping until the next afternoon, Iordera made her way to the academy library, found her usual corner, and settled down to simply stare into space.

Her mind still felt hazy, as if she hadn’t fully awakened.

The revelations from last night left a lingering ache in her heart, yet she felt utterly powerless to change anything.

During her conversation with Grandma Sharp, the old woman hadn’t even explicitly stated the facts, only hinting with her eyes.

Perhaps Grandma Sharp herself didn’t know who was truly involved in creating the beast-eared lolis with their inherent defects.

‘Imperial nobles in the capital? Or perhaps all of them were.’

As for the reasons and motives, one only needed to look at the three lolis: all girls, delicate and adorable.

Iordera recalled a remark Hecate had made a few days prior, during a conversation about beast-eared girls.

‘Such attire has long been present in pleasure houses.’

‘Of course, darling. Never underestimate the desires of the powerful lords.’

‘Well then,’ she thought wryly, ‘I guess you could say we truly are the same kind of people, all destined to be used by others. Myself, my two maids, and now three beast-eared lolis—our “family bucket” has become a super-sized, extra-large one.’

Just then, Iordera caught a glimpse of her in her peripheral vision, walking upstairs.

“Hecate!” she called out, waving frantically. “Hecate, Hecate!”

The witch, with her dangerously elegant hairstyle, paused and offered Iordera a soft smile. “Darling, if you speak any louder, the entire academy will know there’s an Imperial fugitive hiding within their halls.”

Iordera’s youthful face flushed. “My apologies, Professor Luna.”

“It’s quite alright, dear Iordera,” Hecate said, smiling as she settled nearby. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes, well, it’s about… I wanted to ask your advice.”

Iordera fumbled for a moment, trying to find the most delicate phrasing. “Last time we discussed beast-eared girls… ahem, no, we discussed the recessive genes of beastkin, specifically their short lifespans.”

“Yes, we did,” Hecate affirmed, extending a hand. A steaming cup of black tea materialized from the rooftop room and floated into her grasp. “Would you care for some tea?”

“Thank you,” Iordera said, taking the teacup. “That’s quite an impressive trick you have.”

“So convenient, fetching tea from such a distance.”