It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 26

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Beastkins could conceal their animalistic traits to some extent once they reached a certain age. Ears or tails popping out was rare unless they experienced a significant emotional upheaval.

“Karis. You crossed the line first, so you’re responsible for me.”

“……Jackal.”

“Let’s live together, with me.”

In the dim air, the pungent smell of alcohol lingered from the night before. Jackal whispered, pulling me against his bare, broad chest.

That was the first and last time Karis visibly revealed his wolf ears in human form.

But as soon as Kitty gave him a surprise kiss, Karis’s self-control snapped.

Even after the kiss, Kitty still had her soft hands clasped together, her adorable lips pouting. Karis felt a jolt in his heart.

“Kitty, you really are…….”

At his strained voice, Kitty cautiously opened her eyes. Even though she was the one who kissed him, Kitty seemed a little shy.

‘But Karis seems to like it too.’

Kitty’s cheeks flushed like ripe peaches. She seemed somewhat proud that her affection had worked.

Karis barely suppressed the urge to hug Kitty and shower her with affection.

“Then do your best in your first lesson, Kitty.”

“Hehe, yes!”

Kitty bowed and trotted away.

Jackal, who had been watching the whole situation with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall, asked in a low voice.

“Karis. Is it really that good?”

There was a subtle envy in Jackal’s voice. Karis didn’t hide his elation at all.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it, since you haven’t received a kiss from Kitty.”

“…….”

Jackal silently followed Kitty.

Theo and Deon, who were about to go out for morning training with Kitty, narrowed their eyes when they spotted Jackal.

“Father, why do you have such a jealous look on your face?”

“I don’t.”

“But right now…….”

While the two sons were tilting their heads, Jackal lightly stomped his foot.

Bang!

A huge wolf appeared, the eruption of magic filling the hallway. Kitty, who was between the two older brothers, was startled and collapsed on the spot.

The thick gray fur covering Jackal’s entire body was well-maintained and had a wonderful sheen.

The triangular ears and fangs unmistakably revealed his wolf form, and his golden eyes were still sharp.

‘Scary. But……’

Kitty looked at Jackal’s broad back. The instinct of a cat who likes high places was craving that spot.

Jackal bent his legs to lower his posture and casually said in an indifferent voice.

“I’ll take you since it’s your first lesson.”

“Ah!”

Little stars began to twinkle in Kitty’s eyes. Theo and Deon chuckled as if they finally understood.

“Mother must have scored points with Kitty first?”

“No wonder she was wearing such a cute combat uniform set.”

Theo got on Jackal’s back first, and Deon lifted Kitty onto Jackal’s back.

The three of them sat on Jackal’s soft and warm back. Kitty couldn’t hide her joy, rolling around in all directions.

“It’s so soft! Will I ever have such wonderful fur like this?”

“Of course. It’s almost shedding season, isn’t it?”

“If you eat well and sleep well, you’ll grow wonderful new fur.”

“That would be really wonderful!”

Jackal walked gently toward the training grounds, listening carefully to Kitty’s compliments.

Elliot, who had come to the training grounds early in the morning to check the surroundings, let out a hollow laugh as he watched the gray wolf slowly approaching.

‘When the young masters had their first lessons, he insisted they had to be raised strictly and didn’t even take them there.’

It was supposed to be a temporary adoption, but he seems to be completely smitten. Elliot reaffirmed that he would not be charmed by the little cat.

Before long, Jackal entered the training grounds, lowered his posture, and said in a stern voice.

“You may slide down.”

“Kya―!”

Kitty shouted with joy and slid down Jackal’s side. Theo and Deon raised their arms and smiled involuntarily at Kitty, who was in ecstasy.

Jackal even subtly pulled Kitty up with his tail. Thanks to that, Kitty was able to enjoy the wolf slide for quite a while.

“It’s really the best…….”

Finally stepping onto the training ground, Kitty quickly ran towards Jackal’s face. Jackal subtly hid his sharp teeth so that Kitty wouldn’t be scared.

“Thank you for taking me, Jackal. You make my heart flutter!”

Kiss―

Kitty kissed Jackal’s cheek. With a huge surge of magic, Jackal returned to his human form.

“You don’t have to thank me for every little thing.”

“Ah, Jackal. You forgot to put your ears away.”

“…….”

Jackal Gridwolf showing his wolf ears in human form. Elliot and the wolves in the training ground barely managed to swallow their shock.

‘Besides, it seems like he’s going to attend the young lady’s first lesson until the end.’

Jackal didn’t go back and settled down in the training ground. Elliot instinctively knew that today’s lesson would be difficult in many ways.

* * *

Theo and Deon were learning martial arts techniques today, so they were sparring with other wolves far away. I stood alone in front of Sir Elliot.

“You’ve come wearing a wonderful combat uniform. Shall we start the lesson then?”

“Yes, Sir Elliot!”

At the answer with a fully energized voice, Sir Elliot nodded.

“You should answer that vigorously in the training grounds from now on.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good. Then I’ll teach you the things you’ll need for future training, starting with the attention stance.”

Attention!

I stood straight with my feet together. Sir Elliot looked a little embarrassed.

“Could it be that you’ve already learned the attention stance? It’s too perfect for a first-timer.”

I smiled brightly and answered in a loud voice as I had learned.

“Thank you, Sir Elliot! It’s thanks to working since I was young. There was an old man who said he would rip my neck off if I didn’t stand straight.”

“……Excuse me?”

Could it be that I’m the only one who has lived hearing such things?

“W-Well, every village has one or two of those… characters, right?”

“Ah…….”

Sir Elliot’s eyes looking down at me changed slightly.

“I would have preferred it if you had learned from me first, instead of from such… harsh individuals.”

“Is my posture still lacking?”

“No. Your posture is perfect, but I mean it would have been better if you had learned in a warmer atmosphere.”

Sir Elliot was thinking of me. I smiled and replied.

“I’m so, so happy to be learning from Sir Elliot now!”

“Ah…… I think I know what Sir Jackal has fallen for.”

Sir Elliot muttered something incomprehensible and covered his mouth. What does he mean?

With that question in mind, the lesson continued. I learned the basic stances needed for training and how to hold a wooden sword.

Then came a physical fitness test to determine the direction of future training.

“Now, young lady. You have to grab these beads one at a time, as quickly as possible.”

Sir Elliot poured the round glass beads onto a makeshift table. The beads rolled quickly towards the edges.

I love catching games!

I caught all the beads before they fell off the table. It had been a while since I moved my hands so quickly, and my heart was pounding.

“I’m honestly a little surprised. When I heard your nickname was Soft Paws, I didn’t think you could move so quickly.”

“I’m confident when it comes to catching things.”

Sir Elliot recorded my bead-catching skills on the document he was holding and moved to another spot.

There were several devices in the training ground to train and measure the condition of the Gridwolf knights.

There were also logs of different heights, like stairs, to evaluate jumping ability.

“We’re going to check how high you can jump at once. Don’t overdo it, just go as high as you can…… Huh.”

Whoosh!

I jumped to the highest log at once. It was a little higher than my height.

“How… without a running start…….”

Oh, right, wolves aren’t very good at high jumping.

“Um, it’s just that I like high places a little.”

“All baby beastkins are like that.”

Sir Elliot gave me a kind smile and gave me a comprehensive evaluation of my body.

“Your strength is very low, but your other stats are much better than expected. You should continue to eat a lot of salmon flakes and meat.”

“Yes!”

“If you were to handle weapons, it would be good to use a bow or crossbow that can be shot from a distance.”

I blinked for a moment. I had assumed that I would naturally learn swordsmanship since I had seen Theo and Deon training in swordsmanship.

‘Well, I’m small, so a bow would be better than fighting up close.’

But when facing Jerian, who is also a cat, I definitely wanted to fight with a sword.

Jerian always threatened other cats by throwing and catching small daggers.

“D-Don’t be too disappointed.”

“No. I’m not disappointed.”

“But young lady, your wolf ears are drooping like winter leaves.”

“Ah…….”

I hurriedly rubbed my ears and tucked them in. When did they pop out!

I felt bad for acting like a child to Sir Elliot.

“I’m sorry, Sir Elliot.”

“No. The young masters also trained their strength and learned to use the bow at first. When you think about it, the symbol of Gridwolf is the bow.”

I thought that wolves with exceptional strength used swords because they could use their strength most efficiently.

Sir Elliot handed me a wooden bow and said.

“You know that Karis went to a meeting the other day, right?”

“Yes. You said the wolves had a meeting.”

“That place is called the Central Training Ground, and there is a bow that the goddess used to use.”

“Really?”

I asked with wide eyes.

“Of course. You’ve heard the story of the goddess using a bow, haven’t you?”

“Yes! It’s in the lullaby too.”

“In the middle of the Central Training Ground, there is a bow that is stuck so deep that no one can take it out, and legend has it that it was used by the goddess.”

It seemed like Sir Elliot was lying to comfort me, but I didn’t feel bad.

I hugged the wooden bow that Sir Elliot gave me tightly.

“I’ll work hard, Master!”

“Master…… That’s not a bad title.”

Before I knew it, Sir Elliot’s wolf ears were perked up.