Bonus Episode — The Black Cat’s Party
The city of Felsen is taking shape piece by piece. That guy—Zect—is lying around as lazily as ever on the sofa today, muttering things like, “I wonder when those points will drop.”
(…Honestly, he looks happy in his own way.)
I sat by the window, ears twitching toward the city. From afar, the faint echoes of construction work reached me. The “Blueprint for Utopia” he drew is currently becoming a reality.
(But behind the scenes, it’s still a mess of problems.)
Monster remnants, disturbances in the forest’s mana, and the loosening seals on ancient ruins. It’s my job to clean them up before he notices.
“Mew. (…I’m heading out for a bit.)”
I slipped quietly off his lap and melted into the night. Under the moonlight, I shifted into my human form—Meina.
(Now then… the mana in the northern forest is feeling a bit rowdy tonight.)
With a light leap, I moved from branch to branch. The night wind brushed my cheeks, and the scent of the forest tickled my nose.
“Hey, you! The girl over there!”
(…Oh, dear.)
The light of torches flickered, and two shadows emerged. A man with a massive shield on his back—Kyle. Beside him was a female mage with calm eyes—Rin. The two I met on the night of my “groundbreaking ceremony.”
“You two again… surveying?”
“That’s right. Construction in Felsen is ramping up, so we got an additional request from the guild. …And you? Another ‘stroll’?”
“Mew—I mean. I just felt some annoying mana.”
Rin knit her brows.
“I see you’re planning on going in alone again.”
“It’s dangerous, Meina. You might not get lucky enough to be saved like last time.”
(…Mind your own business.)
But these two aren't bad people. In fact, they’re the type that’s strangely hard to just ignore.
“…You can follow if you want, but don’t get in my way.”
“O-Oh! Leave it to us!”
“Heh, how reliable.”
(…Well, this isn't so bad once in a while.)
As we moved deeper into the forest, the air began to feel gritty. The mana flow was distorted—proof that monsters were near.
“…They’re coming.”
The moment I stopped, the bushes exploded. Three shadows, then four. Baring their fangs, they lunged at us with low growls.
“Shadow Wolves… there’s too many of them!”
(Well, for this level of trash—)
I took a step forward and gave a light flick of my fingers. Pitch-black mana formed into blades, accurately slicing through the wolves’ necks. One, two, three—the sounds of them hitting the ground overlapped almost simultaneously.
“Wh-what the… did you see that? You’re as insane as ever.”
“I didn't see anything. What even was that…?”
(The main attraction… is further in.)
At the back of the forest, before an old shrine. An “unusual presence” was swirling there.
“…There you are.”
A massive beast emerged from the shadows of the shrine.
“Why is a Black-Horned Bear this far into the forest?!”
“Meina, get back!”
The Black-Horned Bear roared, and the ground trembled.
“GRAAAAAOOOOH!!”
I kicked off the earth and slid into its reach. Readying my mana blades, I aimed for the base of its horn—
“Meina, your right!”
Rin’s voice. The bear’s left arm swung out in a horizontal sweep.
(…Good call.)
I twisted my body, avoiding the attack by a hair’s breadth, and dove under the bear’s feet.
“Kyle!”
“On it!”
Kyle took the charge with his shield, and sparks flew.
“Ghh…! It’s heavy…!”
“Now, Meina!”
I jumped, concentrating mana at the base of the horn.
“…Shatter.”
*CRACK.* The horn splintered, and the bear’s mana went haywire. I slid my blade across its throat, and the massive body slowly collapsed.
“…Phew. That’s that.”
Kyle sat down on the ground, gasping for air.
“Y-You… who the hell are you, really…?”
“I thought so last time, too… you aren't just a normal girl, are you?”
(…Well, I suppose you’d think that.)
“Just a traveler who’s a little on the strong side.”
“Your definition of ‘a little’ is broken…”
Rin gave a wry smile, and Kyle scratched his head in exasperation.
“If you’re okay with it… why don't you team up with us from now on?”
“I hate the idea of letting you head into dangerous places alone anymore.”
(…A party, huh?)
It’s faster alone. But—with these two, it might not be so bad.
“…Only when necessary. I’ll hang out with you only when I’m free.”
“Whoa! That’s good enough for me!”
“Hehe, nice to have you, Meina.”
(…Yeah, not bad.)
Before dawn, I quietly returned home. Slipping through the window, I returned to my cat form and curled up on the sofa. A short while later, that guy woke up.
“…Hm, Tama. Morning.”
“Mew… (I’m going to sleep for a bit. Goodnight.)”
I narrowed my eyes sleepily and rubbed my head against his hand.
(…You don’t need to know anything.)
With that thought, I quietly closed my eyes again.