The Entire Demon World is Fighting for My Favor: A Shura Field 67

Chapter 67

After several failed attempts, Little Feather realized it needed a reference for an adult human form. It sighed, perched on the sink.

Just then, An Hong Yu, An Xun’s father, tired of waiting for his wife, entered the restroom for a smoke.

He saw the small, burnt figure and swatted at it. “What the hell?! You scared me!”

Little Feather, about to erase his memory, froze, then glared at him. It wasn’t a “thing.”

An Hong Yu, oblivious to the danger, felt a chill, reminded of An Xun. “What are you looking at?! Freak! You monsters should all die…!”

Before he could finish, a black aura struck him, and he collapsed.

Little Feather stepped on his head, touching its empty eye socket. It wasn’t a freak. It was A-Ran’s precious cub. Conflicting emotions surged within it, its aura flickering between black and white, then merging into a chaotic grey.

I have to buy gloves for A-Ran. He’ll get cold. It repeated the thought, a mantra to anchor itself.

It dragged An Hong Yu into a stall. A few minutes later, the door locked, and Little Feather emerged, carrying a pile of clothes, much larger than itself. It transformed, its small body growing taller and broader, becoming a normal-sized adult.

It looked at its reflection: a young man with long, black hair and androgynous beauty, marred only by the burn scars on one side of its face. It took out the eye patch, now too small, and tucked it into its pocket, then used its magic to create a mirrored image of its unburnt side, the illusion lasting for half an hour.

Dressed in An Hong Yu’s clothes, it left the restroom, leaving the unconscious man shivering on the bathroom floor.

Its transformation was successful. People were staring at it, even the shop assistants bowing respectfully. It touched its face nervously, sure it wasn’t because of its disguised appearance. Anyone would stare at such a striking figure. An Hong Yu, though lazy, had been handsome enough to attract Lu Ya and father An Xun. And Little Feather’s unique features, combined with the expensive clothes, made it look like a wealthy socialite.

“Good afternoon, sir. Looking for anything in particular? Bags?” a sales assistant asked, her smile bright.

“…Gloves,” Little Feather said, and her smile widened. Customers who bought clothes were usually bigger spenders than those who only bought bags.

“For a man or a woman? Any preferred style?”

“These,” Little Feather pointed at the gloves on display.

“Excellent choice! Our most popular design! Almost sold out everywhere! We only have one pair left!” the saleswoman said, her practiced sales pitch making Little Feather even more determined. These gloves were meant for A-Ran.

It felt a surge of happiness, a feeling it had never experienced in “Demon World.” The human world was more interesting; it could buy so many things for A-Ran! Its joy softened its usually cold expression, its beauty even more captivating. Even the saleswoman, used to seeing beautiful people, blushed, momentarily stunned. He was breathtaking, his aura unique, almost otherworldly, perhaps not even from this country, his hesitant speech suggesting a foreign origin, though it was simply because, as a cub, it wasn’t used to speaking, preferring nods and shakes of its head.

“Just the gloves? Perhaps some matching outfits for your friend? They would be delighted! Gifts strengthen relationships!” she continued, her words making Little Feather pause.

A stronger bond with A-Ran? Stronger than with Sootball and Snowball? Being the last to arrive, it had always felt like an outsider, its memories with A-Ran shorter.

“And your friend must be very handsome. These gloves, with a few outfits, would look amazing on him!” Her words, praising A-Ran, made Little Feather nod eagerly.

“Yes!” A-Ran was incredibly handsome! It often watched him sleep, admiring his long eyelashes and pale skin, wanting to kiss him.

The saleswoman, seeing its eagerness, happily led it to the clothing section. It seemed genuinely devoted to this friend, buying anything she suggested. This was a huge commission!

Lu Ya, watching from afar, felt a flicker of recognition. Those clothes looked like her husband’s. But men’s fashion was often similar, and this man’s aura was completely different from An Hong Yu’s. And where was An Hong Yu anyway? Probably smoking somewhere. She scoffed, dissatisfied with her husband, who had quit his job after An Xun became famous, though she couldn’t complain, having quit her own job as well.

“I’ll take these. My driver will collect them later. I’ll be at the Guan Bai villa,” she said loudly, enjoying the respectful attention, the villa’s address a symbol of her status.

“Mr. Tao?” Lin Ran, carrying the Maine Coon, knocked on Tao Shu’s office, finding it empty. He remembered the CEO’s office password but hesitated to enter.

“Little troublemaker, can’t you just go in yourself?” he muttered, his arms aching.

Shao Mian, however, jumped down and gestured towards the door, annoyed by Lin Ran’s formality. He wasn’t a monster! He even considered moving Lin Ran’s desk to his floor, though that would probably cause an uproar.

[Lion cleaning its ears.jpg]

“Click—” The door opened, and Ser, the secretary, emerged. Lin Ran had heard about him from Tao Shu. He looked like an efficient and capable executive assistant, his cool demeanor reminding him of his own career aspirations, before realizing he wasn’t suited for such a role.

“Secretary Ser, I’m here to return the cat,” he said, slightly nervous.

“I know. Don’t worry,” Ser said, his usually cold voice softer now, as if afraid of startling Lin Ran, surprising even Shao Mian. Ser, a raven demon, constantly processing information through his countless avatars, was naturally detached, his emotions muted, a necessary trait for his role. He had shown no reaction to Lin Ran, even during the livestream incident, like a machine. But his reaction now was… different.

“Thank you. I’ll leave him with you then,” Lin Ran said, handing him the cat.

Ser took the cat, a blush creeping up his cheeks, feeling like he was covering for his boss’s mischief.

“Meow—” Shao Mian, however, rubbed against Lin Ran, and Lin Ran, holding his paw, said, “Don’t run away again, baby,” waving goodbye.

Ser, watching, said, “He’s not that young, you know.”

Shao Mian: ? Was he old? He was in his prime!

“He’s not a kitten anymore? He seems so energetic,” Lin Ran said, surprised.

Ser didn’t reply. He had been instructed to retrieve the cat, but he found himself wanting to talk to Lin Ran, an unusual urge.

“Should I put him in his bed? You don’t seem very familiar with cats,” Lin Ran offered, noticing his awkward hold.

“Please,” Ser said, leading him inside, and Lin Ran immediately regretted his offer.

The office was filled with expensive cat furniture, the latest D brand designs, far beyond his budget. So, the Maine Coon was a pampered pet. He secretly envied it, then noticed the brand-new cat tree and toys, despite Tao Shu saying the cat had been with Shao Mian for a long time.

“Meow…” Shao Mian, ignoring the cat tree, rubbed against Lin Ran, his tail wrapping around his wrist.

Lin Ran chuckled. “Does your owner not play with you?” he asked, then realized he had just insulted the CEO in front of his secretary.

“Mr. Shao is very busy,” Ser said smoothly.

“That’s a shame. What’s his name?” Lin Ran asked.

Ser: … One lie led to another.

“He doesn’t have one. Just… Cat,” he said before Shao Mian could object, making Shao Mian both annoyed and amused. He hadn’t realized Ser had such a talent for lying.

Lin Ran, however, thought it was a ridiculous name.

Just then, the phone rang, and Ser, excusing himself, answered it, then looked at Lin Ran with a strange expression. “…About Lin Ran, is it?”

Lin Ran, about to leave, heard his name.

“The little creature in your backpack… it seems to have flown away,” Ser said.

“Flown away!?” Lin Ran wondered how they even knew about that, and if this meant he would lose his internship.

“Don’t worry. Mr. Shao… is aware of its… nature,” Ser said, sensing his panic. He was among the first to learn about “Demon World’s” latest revelations, all connected to this human.

Lin Ran, stunned, asked, “Can I go find it?” His worry for Little Feather overshadowed everything else.

“Of course,” Ser said, watching him leave, a strange feeling in his chest.

“You’re more talkative than I expected,” Shao Mian remarked, having transformed back.

“…” Ser knew he had overstepped, but he had been concerned about Lin Ran. He knew his true form wasn’t exactly appealing to humans, so it was best to maintain his distance.

“Don’t worry, it flew towards the Central Mall,” Liliya said, as Lin Ran rushed back downstairs.

“And it left a note.” Lin Ran opened his backpack and saw a drawing of gloves and a clock showing 6 pm. Had it gone shopping for him? He had underestimated his cubs’ resourcefulness.

“I need to go. Ms. Liliya, Mr. Tao isn’t here…”

“Just go,” Liliya said, pleased he had called her “sister.”

“But be careful,” a voice said behind them, and Lin Ran turned and saw Shao Mian and Ser. He would have a word with Little Feather.

“Thank you, I’ll be going then,” Lin Ran said, more worried about Little Feather than about questioning Shao Mian.

“We’ll drive you,” Shao Mian said, grabbing his wrist, and Lin Ran looked at him, the gesture strangely familiar.

Shao Mian, realizing his action, quickly released his hand. “It’s a creature from ‘Demon World.’ I’m… responsible,” he said, feeling a strange sense of responsibility towards the human and his cubs.

“And it’s faster than the subway.”

Lin Ran, though surprised, knew he was right. But being driven by the CEO and his secretary was surreal.

“We’re here,” Ser said, as they arrived.

“They found it,” he added, looking at Shao Mian, unsure if he should prepare Lin Ran for what he might see.

“That’s great!” Lin Ran said, relieved, and rushed out of the car, not waiting for Ser’s explanation.

Little Feather, meanwhile, had encountered a problem.

“Will that be card or cash?” the saleswoman asked, as he was about to leave with his purchases.

A card? He had never seen A-Ran use one. He took out An Hong Yu’s phone, feeling no guilt.

“You can use your phone… Do you know the password?”

“Password?” Little Feather looked at her, confused.

The saleswoman realized something was wrong. This seemingly wealthy customer couldn’t unlock his phone.

“You can’t leave without paying,” she said, though his beauty made her want to pay for him herself.

“Here,” Little Feather offered her the phone.

“I need the password.”

She almost called security.

“Feather—?” A familiar voice made Little Feather turn around, its eyes lighting up.

“A-Ran!”

Lin Ran stopped, then stared, wide-eyed, as a tall, handsome young man rushed towards him.

“A-Ran?” Little Feather looked at him, disappointed that he was stopping him, then confused as Lin Ran held him at arm’s length.

“…Feather?” Lin Ran looked at the young man, a strange realization dawning upon him. Was this… Little Feather? His little fluffball?

“Yes— A-Ran!” Little Feather chirped, the only words it could say fluently.

Everyone, watching the tall, androgynously beautiful young man clinging to Lin Ran like a child, was stunned. He had been so aloof before, now so affectionate, his behavior, though strange for an adult, somehow endearing, his clinginess almost… flirtatious. Lin Ran, being hugged, became the object of everyone’s curiosity, especially the saleswoman, who thought the “real” customer had finally arrived.

“Gift. A-Ran,” Little Feather said, offering him the gloves.

“Thank you, Feather…” Lin Ran said, accepting them, now sure it was Little Feather. But why this transformation? Had he been ignored because he looked like a child?

“Sir, your total. Will you be paying?” the manager asked, approaching respectfully, handing him the bill.

Lin Ran, looking at the exorbitant price, almost dropped Little Feather. He couldn’t afford this! Would he be on the news tomorrow?

“Use this,” Ser said, offering a black card, and the manager, recognizing the card’s status and Ser’s aura, looked at Lin Ran with newfound respect. This young man was important, even his secretary impressive.

“Secretary Ser, I can’t…” Lin Ran protested, but it was too late. The card was swiped. He would be working at Morson for the rest of his life to repay this debt.

“Don’t worry, he’ll pay you back,” Shao Mian said, stepping forward, pulling Lin Ran behind him, looking at the Feather Clan cub. Smart, disguising its appearance, though the illusion was simple.

“…” Little Feather, usually afraid of Shao Mian, straightened up, though still holding A-Ran’s hand.

“Let go. You’re too old for this,” Shao Mian said, annoyed by their hand-holding. He hadn’t even held A-Ran’s hand in his human form!

Little Feather, reluctant, let go, looking at A-Ran with wide, pleading eyes. Why couldn’t he hold his hand just because he was older? He didn’t want to grow up.

“This is giving me a headache… Be quiet, both of you!” Lin Ran said, exasperated, forgetting even Shao Mian’s status.

But his tone, the same one he used to scold Yuanbao in “Demon World,” made Shao Mian feel a strange sense of satisfaction, then confusion. Did he have a masochistic streak?

Ser, watching them, smiled faintly.

Back at the office garage, Shao Mian looked at the large cub trailing behind Lin Ran. “Transform back,” he said, annoyed by its size. “You won’t fit in the car. Walk.”

Little Feather, not wanting to be separated from A-Ran, was about to transform back, uncomfortable in its adult form, its wings too small to carry its larger body.

“Wait, let me see,” Lin Ran said, stopping him, looking at him intently, surprised by his beauty, his scars now hidden. No wonder the sales staff had let him shop without paying; he looked like he belonged there.

Little Feather, his face being touched by A-Ran, obediently let him look, and Shao Mian felt a surge of annoyance. What was so interesting? Most Feather Clan demons looked like this, even Anvers. They were all the same. He was being irrationally prejudiced.