— What nonsense are you spouting? When this body sees the weakest being in this space, it’s you.
— You’re human.
The cat was the first to realize that Shekina was human. Shekina was so surprised that she couldn’t say anything.
How did you know? No, what should I do? Sekina’s eyes wandered, lost.
— I sensed it because I am a great being. There’s no need to be afraid.
Shekina took a deep breath and then squatted in front of the cat, making eye contact.
“You’re the remnants of a phantom beast, but now you claim to be a great being. Are you kidding me?”
— Because I’ve received great power, I’ve become a great being.
“…You’re talking about the Demon Lord, right?”
— Indeed.
“But the Demon Lord didn’t know I was human.”
The cat spoke while tapping the floor with its tail.
— He will find out when his power returns.
“……..”
— If this body opens its mouth before then, maybe he will find out?
Shekina stared blankly at the cat’s wagging tail and twitching whiskers, lost in thought.
“Hmm. I’ve made up my mind.”
Then she abruptly stood up.
“I’m kicking you out.”
— What?
“Out. Out! Get out!”
Shekina rushed towards the cat, attempting to drive it out by any means possible, but the cat, being light and agile, proved to be too much for her efforts.
— Driving out a fragile cat in this harsh weather, you truly are an immoral human.
The cat, now perched on the windowsill, washed its face with its front paws and spoke. Shekina felt a pang of frustration.
“And you, hiding behind my identity, how moral are you?”
— It’s acceptable for me.
The cat raised its eyes significantly.
— Because I’m cute.
Geez.
While it was true that the cat was cute, it was still annoying. Shekina trembled with clenched fists.
— I’ promise.
Approaching Shekina’s feet again, the cat tapped her instep as it spoke.
— If you ensure three square meals and snacks and brush my fur at least three times a day, I won’t reveal your identity.
“Why so detailed and picky?”
Shekina narrowed her eyes.
“So, please become my phantom beast.”
— I don’t like it. I don’t want to sign such a trivial contract. When strength builds, this body will leave, so until then, listen to my help.
With furrowed brows, Shekina looked down at the cat, gently massaging her neck.
“So, as long as I take care of you, you won’t go blabbering elsewhere?”
— That’s right.
“Ha, I’m already exhausted.”
It’s hard enough to take care of myself, how am I supposed to take care of a cat?
If only there was someone else who could do it… Shekina crossed her arms, pondering.
At that moment,
“Shekina!”
Arthur’s voice echoed. Hmm. Should I leave it to Arthur? He seems capable… Huh?
‘Oh, I see.’
Calvin behind Arthur was making a hesitant frown, but Shekina could tell right away when she saw the blush on his cheeks and the half-open mouth.
‘I found it, my lucky charm number three.’
He loves cats, that guy.
***
Calvin has OCD.
He despises contact, mingling, and sharing space with anyone other than the Demon Lord because everyone else is dirty. It feels unpleasant!
Arthur is the only exception, and despite Calvin’s serious OCD, Arthur is clean enough for him to tolerate.
Calvin, with a severe case of mysophobia and a distaste for demons, couldn’t have a homunculus plus an animal.
“…. A beast?”
A homunculus plus a beast.
A cat whose fur sheds just by walking. Cold sweat ran down Calvin’s spine. He felt an intense desire to leave this place immediately. The air filled with floating fur is filthy. Staying here any longer will make me dirty too! Calvin’s eyes trembled.
‘But…’
Calvin swallowed dry saliva.
“Meow?”
So cute.
“Meow?”
Too cute.
However, he can’t touch it. Touching it would make him dirty. Calvin was stuck in a state of indecision, rolling his feet helplessly.
“What are you doing?”
Arthur frowned, looking down at Calvin pitifully. That’s right, because Calvin held out his right hand and held it with his left hand. What a crazy bastard. Arthur shook his head.
“Wash it as soon as you touch it. That’ll do it.”
“…Are you a genius?”
Calvin raised his thumb and immediately lunged towards the cat.
“Just once! Let me pat your belly just once!”
However, the cat skillfully evaded Calvin’s attempts, hopping around. Calvin chased the cat, sprinting down the corridor.
Tut-tut. Arthur approached Shekina, who was wearing a satisfied expression, tongue-in-cheek.
“Shekina, is that the leftover of the demon you faced back then?”
“Ung, you’re right. Dealing with it was difficult because it turned into a cat.”
Shekina’s mouth curled into a mischievous grin.
“Having that guy, Calvin or something, around will be quite entertaining.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Shekina and Arthur shared the same expression on their faces.
“Soft and squishy jelly…”
A look that said they would pamper and devour the fellow they’d found as a slave.
***
“Ahem!”
Calvin coughed to relieve tension. It wasn’t going well. A cat was perched on his thigh!
‘This must be what they call a lap cat…’
After the cat leaves, his pants would be covered in fur, but he could change them. If he pets it, his hands might get dirty, but he could wash them. Such concerns become trivial in the face of the cat’s cuteness.
“Um, well, let me explain why I came to see Shekina.”
“Huh?”
Sekina grinned.
“Did you come to see the cat?”
“I thought so too. You playing with the cat for three hours.”
“Ahem! No!”
Calvin waved his hands in denial, then composed himself and looked at Shekina seriously.
“First, let’s hear the story of why Shekina went to the Canyon and what conversation she had with the temple’s servant.”
Making a serious face while wrestling with a cat didn’t carry any weight… Shekina sighed.
She lied to Dehan and said she lost her footing while taking a walk. But she cannot lie to demons. It was obvious that she would be caught lying in the first place, and she didn’t want to raise suspicion over something as trivial as this.
“I went looking for an artifact. I think it’s underneath there.”
“What?!”
Calvin’s eyes widened.
“Do you sense any power from that artifact?”
“Ung. Occasionally.”
She didn’t mention that it was knowledge gained from the game rather than actual powers, but she saw no need to explain.
“Where is this artifact?”
“Gave it to Nisha.”
“What? Giving the artifact to Nisha? That should have been reported directly to sir Lyat!”
“I got the cat with that.”
“Well done.”
Calvin quickly withdrew his opinion, smiling brightly as he raised his thumb. Tsk tsk, Shekina clicked her tongue again.
“So, what conversation did you have with the temple’s servant?”
“Ung.”
Shekina replied, touching her chin with her right hand.
“I didn’t say anything. He was almost dead when I was there. I was thinking of just leaving him alone, but I guess it happened in our territory, so I saved him in case he avoided it.”
Calvin narrowed his eyes.
It’s believable that she went to the canyon because of the artifact.
But she ‘accidentally’ met the temple’s servant in that canyon? She didn’t meet there as planned?
There were many doubts. Calvin looked at Shekina with a somewhat serious expression.
“Can we trust this? If it’s a lie, Shekina won’t be able to avoid being discarded.”
Shekina chuckled.
“I won’t talk to someone with cat whiskers on their face.”
“Ahem!”
Feeling embarrassed, Calvin touched his entire face to remove the cat whiskers. But he didn’t throw them away. Cat whiskers were precious. Putting them carefully in his pocket, he spoke again.
“The priest and the temple servant are still in our territory. They’re staying at the inn. Because of the stormy weather, they haven’t been able to return yet.”
“So, you want me to go check on them?”
“Yes.”
Shekina narrowed his eyes at Calvin’s sly grin.
“If you want to go so badly, why don’t you go yourself?”
Calvin’s gaze briefly dropped before returning to Shekina.
“You have to go with me.”
It’s almost a threat.
‘If you don’t go, you’ll die’ is essentially what he’s saying.
“Well, I don’t really care.”
It’s bothersome, but it’s not something she can’t do.
However, Shekina became curious.
Why do they have to meet them?
And why keep them alive?
Leaning forward, Shekina asked,
“What exactly is the order from the Demon Lord?”
Calvin flinched for a moment. Shekina’s expression resembled that of the Demon Lord. Of course, comparing the great Demon Lord to this insignificant homunculus was absurd, but for a moment, they seemed similar.
Ahem. After spitting out another slight cough, Calvin slowly opened his mouth.
“That’s…”
୭ Click this ‘louyve’ bellow to see other project by me˚. ᵎᵎ
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