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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Go back safely, Jun-woo! Don’t forget about the cat! The Hero’s party is… doing okay, so don’t worry too much! Be careful going back!”
After receiving Minerva’s farewell at the library…
I exited and surveyed my surroundings.
“A black cat in the nearby alley…”
Minerva had said that bringing it to Saten would have a positive effect on her.
I didn’t know if it was true, but Minerva, who had seen the future, would know.
“I have no choice but to trust her.”
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to give Saten a friend.
I was certain that a cat, with a personality somewhat similar to Saten’s, would make a good companion for her.
With those thoughts in mind, I walked towards the alley.
There, huddled in a small box, was a black cat.
Just as Minerva had said.
“A kitten? It seems the mother cat… isn’t around.”
They say that if you touch a kitten carelessly, the mother cat might not recognize her offspring due to the change in scent.
However, the kitten in the box was alone, with no one around.
It was small and frail, suggesting it had been separated from its litter.
I reached out towards the black kitten.
“Meow-?”
“Hmm, it’s not afraid of me at all.”
“Meow-?”
The kitten didn’t react to my touch, showing no signs of fear.
It seemed to have the personality of what they called a “dog-like cat.”
With this kind of personality, it would surely approach the standoffish Saten and form a close bond with her.
“You don’t seem to have anywhere to go, so I’ll take you with me.”
“Meow-?”
“Yes, stay still. I’ll take you to your new friend.”
Meeting the black kitten’s yellow eyes, I lifted the box.
“Me- Meow-!”
“Careful, you’ll fall.”
It was unnecessarily energetic.
The black kitten was startled by the sudden movement.
I muttered softly, trying to reassure it,
“I won’t eat you. Be quiet.”
“Me- Meow-!!”
I placed the curious black kitten, oblivious to its destination, back into the box.
Why was I doing this?
‘…I ended up kidnapping a cat too.’
After the Hero’s party, I had now kidnapped a cat.
I felt a strange feeling as if it seemed I was becoming a professional kidnapper…
As I walked towards the house where the Hero’s party was waiting…
“Is it going to rain…?”
For some reason, dark clouds had gathered in the sky.
As I opened the door to the house that resembled a mansion… Hare was waiting for me.
Seeing me, she ran towards me.
She looked me over once and then spoke, her voice laced with relief,
“Y-You don’t have any injuries, Mister…! W-Welcome back…!”
“I’m back.”
“G-Give me that box…! I-I’ll carry it… It must be heavy, Mister…?”
…Did she think I couldn’t even carry a box this small?
I lost an eye, not an arm.
As Hare tried to take the box from me…
I said to her in a gentle tone,
“It’s okay, Hare. There’s nothing heavy inside.”
“Y-Yes…? T-Then what’s in-”
“Meow-!!”
“A-Aah…!!”
Perhaps sensing the sudden change in atmosphere…
The black kitten jumped out of the box and pounced on Hare.
Hare fell to the ground, staring at the black kitten with wide eyes.
“A-A cat…? Wh-Why is there a cat in the box…”
“I brought it with me. It was abandoned on the street.”
“Y-Yes…? T-Then is it cat meat for dinner…? Sh-Should I prepare the pot, Mister…?”
“…No, cats aren’t for eating.”
Even in Korea, where I lived, there was a dish called “butterfly soup,” but…
It faced numerous problems and was becoming increasingly unpopular.
I wasn’t sure what happened after that, but it was probably banned altogether.
‘People tend to be swayed by cute things.’
Of course, those words applied to Hare as well.
“W-Wow… A black cat is on my head… It’s so cute… I-I won’t put you in the pot…! Mister…! What’s its name…?!”
“It doesn’t have a name.”
“T-Then can I… name it…?”
“Hmm…”
This cat was a gift for Saten.
It would be better if Saten named it, right?
That way, she could form a bond with it.
However…
‘…If I refuse outright, she’ll be hurt.’
She was looking at me with those pleading eyes.
I had no choice but to give in.
If it was a good name, I wouldn’t mind going with Hare’s suggestion.
“Alright. Go ahead and name it. I’m curious to hear what you’ll come up with.”
“Ah…! I-If that’s the case… I’ll name this cat…”
Hare stared at the black cat for a moment…
Then, with a smile, she announced its new name.
“Emergency Rations! I’ll name it Emergency Rations…!”
“…”
Why did she choose “Emergency Rations” of all names?
Butterfly, Nero, Meow Meow.
There were so many basic names she could have chosen.
I asked Hare, who was smiling brightly while calling the cat “Emergency Rations,”
“…Why did you choose that name, Hare?”
“W-Where I lived, there wasn’t enough food to raise pets… S-So I named it Emergency Rations… in case we run out of food…”
“Meow-?”
The black cat meowed, oblivious to its fate.
Even so, naming a cat “Emergency Rations” was a bit much.
“Rejected, Hare. That name won’t do.”
“Y-Yes…? W-Why not, Mister…?”
“…That’s like naming a pet chicken ‘Fried Chicken.’”
“Wh-What’s Fried Chicken…?”
“…I’ll make it for you next time. And don’t name the cat ‘Emergency Rations.’ Choose a different name.”
“Hmph…”
Anyway…
I had to reject Hare’s naming suggestion.
I took the cat from Hare and asked,
“Did you give the other children their food?”
“Y-Yes…! I did…! Estia ate it right away… but Saten didn’t… and neither did Luna…!”
“I see.”
Minerva had said that their conditions would improve if I left them alone for a while, but I still needed to check on them.
I decided to go to Saten’s room with the cat in my arms.
Hare looked at me with urgency and asked,
“M-Mister…! Where are you going with the… c-cat…?”
“To Saten’s room. This cat is a gift for Saten.”
“A c-cute cat… for S-Saten… N-No! She’ll definitely kill it…!”
Hare shouted urgently.
Why did she think the cat would die?
I didn’t understand what Hare was saying, so it would be best to talk to Saten directly.
Knock, knock-
“Saten, is it okay if I come in?”
“M-Mister…! The cat’s eyes will disappear…!”
-Come in, Mister.
“Ah… E-Emergency Rations will die…”
Hare sighed as soon as Saten’s voice reached her.
To understand what Hare meant, I opened Saten’s door and entered.
Creak-
The room was clean and smelled pleasant.
Hare looked around the room and spoke in a puzzled tone,
“Huh…? T-The… eyes are gone…?”
“Eyes? What are you talking about, Hare?”
“T-There used to be… so many of Mister’s e-”
“Hare.”
Flinch-
Hare flinched at the sound of Saten’s voice.
Saten approached, her gaze lingering on Hare for a moment.
Then, she spoke to Hare, her voice calm and collected.
“Didn’t you say you were going to clean the house? I remember the living room being quite dusty…”
“Ah, r-right… I-I was… Haha…”
Haha…
The atmosphere was awkward.
It seemed like something had happened between them.
Judging by their expressions, it seemed Hare had lost to Saten…
‘Well, it happens.’
Children grow up fighting.
Since they didn’t physically fight, I decided not to worry about it.
The atmosphere wasn’t hostile, after all.
“Goodbye, Emergency Rations… I-It was nice knowing you… Sob…”
Hare muttered to herself, her voice filled with sorrow, as she was pushed out by Saten.
It seemed she truly believed it was the last time she would see the cat.
“Saten, do you know why Hare is acting like that?”
“No, I have no idea.”
Subtly…
Saten said those words while distancing herself from me.
She was just as incomprehensible as Hare.
More importantly…
“Saten, what’s with the bandage on your wrist?”
The bandage was soaked in blood.
As I pointed it out, Saten hid her wrist behind her back as if nothing was wrong.
“It’s nothing. I was just… doing some magic experiments.”
“Did you use Blood Magic?”
“Yes, as you know, the wrist is the most efficient.”
“…”
She wasn’t wrong.
Most Blood Magic users drew blood from their wrists.
But regardless, I couldn’t bear to see Saten’s wrist constantly injured.
She needed to cut back.
“…Take it easy for a while. Don’t do any experiments until your wound heals.”
“Yes, I’ll try my best. And Mister.”
“Speak.”
“What is that black creature in your hand?”
“Ah, it’s a present for you.”
Meow- Meow-
The cat seemed to want to go to Saten, so I placed it on the floor.
The cat walked towards Saten and settled at her feet.
“What is it doing?”
“It seems to like you, Saten.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Saten’s response was indifferent.
She stared at the cat’s eyes, her gaze was like a wizard examining a spell.
“What do you think? Do you like it, Saten?”
“Hmm, I don’t know if I like it, but it’s valuable. I’ll put it to good use.”
“…You’re supposed to raise a cat, not use it.”
“Mister, what are you talking about? How can I not use it? How can I not experiment on a creature that appeared at the perfect time?”
…Did she really intend to use the cat for experiments?
If my suspicions were correct, Hare’s reaction made sense and Saten was certainly capable of experimenting on a cat.
‘…Should I just give the cat to Hare?’
Emergency Rations VS Test Subject.
Neither option was ideal.
Still, it would be better to give it to Saten.
She needed a living being she could connect with emotionally.
I said to Saten, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression,
“Saten, give it a name. We’re going to raise that black cat.”
“Test Subject No. 1.”
“…That won’t do. It’ll make Estia sad. Give it a normal name.”
Using the word “Test Subject” in front of Estia would trigger her PTSD.
Saten thought for a moment, then spoke in a confused tone,
“Mister, I really don’t understand. Why can’t I use this cat as a test subject?”
“Meow-?”
“I brought it here to be raised. You’re going to cherish and care for that cat, Saten. It’s all for you.”
“What do you-”
“That’s enough.”
I wouldn’t listen to any more protests, raising the cat was an order.
Using it as a test subject was unacceptable.
I gave Saten a firm response.
Saten seemed to have something to say, but she eventually sighed and said,
“…It’s a black cat, so… I’ll name it Blackie. Are you satisfied?”
“Good choice, Saten. Think of it as a friend and treat it well. Never use it for experiments.”
“I understand, Mister.”
Although Saten looked displeased, she reluctantly turned her gaze back to the cat.
This time, not as a wizard and a test subject, but as a human and a cat.
As friends.
‘I hope that cat will be the catalyst for Saten to awaken her emotions.’
Wishing for the best, I left the two black cats, who were cautiously sizing each other up, and closed the door.
Slam-
“…I hope they get along. Saten can’t die because she didn’t awaken her emotions in the end…”
Hoping that this cat would prevent Saten’s death…
I headed downstairs.
I’d check on Estia later.
It was best to put out the most urgent fire first.
‘Luna.’
It would be best to see her first, since she hadn’t even touched her food.
Luna, had shut herself in her room, refusing to eat…
I knocked on her door.
Knock, knock-
“Luna, is it okay if I come in?”
I knocked gently.
There was no response, even after a minute.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes passed.
Still, there was no answer from Luna.
‘Could it be…’
She wouldn’t try to run away from me because of the auditory hallucinations, right?
But I might have been too trusting of Luna.
It was a mistake not to lock the door.
Just in case, I opened the door and entered…
“Damn it…”
The window was open, and the wooden sword she used for training was gone and most importantly, Luna wasn’t in her bed.
As dark clouds gathered and rain began to fall…
It seemed Luna had left through the window.
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[Bro hes even a Catnapper now lmao]
