It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 27

It’s been a week since I started martial arts lessons.

Since Ethan, who was supposed to be my teacher, hadn’t moved in yet, my morning routine consisted of waking up early and practicing martial arts in the training hall.

After that, I’d stop by the kitchen for a snack to recharge, then visit Theo and Dion’s rooms to study letters together.

‘Ethan said he’d arrive this afternoon.’

The Gridwolf mansion had a room prepared for Ethan, complete with all the necessary supplies.

The thought of living under the same roof as a wolf with a nasty temper who knew I was a cat already made me feel like my future was bleak.

‘But I’m training in martial arts now, so it’ll be okay.’

I bent my arm, flexed, and tapped my forearm. It felt a little harder.

Theo and Dion, who were flanking me as we headed to the training hall, chuckled.

“Kitty, you’re still a long way from building muscle.”

“Your soft paws are still as soft as ever.”

“Hmph……”

My two older brothers patted my shoulders as I quickly became dejected.

“Master, good morning!”

“You’re all here on time.”

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the training hall where Sir Elliot was. Theo and Dion greeted him and headed to the side to begin their training.

While I was warming up as I had learned, someone stealthily approached. It was Clyde, the fox who was staying at the mansion.

“Young lady, your bootlaces are untied. Shall I tie them for you?”

Clyde knelt in front of me, his red eyes curved into a slender smile. Clyde carefully began retying my loose bootlaces.

“Please leave these kinds of chores to me from now on. It’s my pleasure to be of service to you, young lady.”

“……”

I had heard that foxes were cunning, but I didn’t expect him to change his attitude so quickly. Seeing someone who was supposed to be the heir of the Fox family suddenly lower himself like this, he must have something up his sleeve.

“Clyde, you weren’t this kind when we first met, were you?”

I snapped, but Clyde didn’t seem fazed as he softly creased his eyes and replied in a gentle voice.

“It was my fault, young lady. I was being presumptuous and teasing you because I wanted to see your perky wolf ears.”

I don’t know why, but Clyde was showering me with compliments while avoiding people’s eyes. He seemed to be trying to get on my good side, so I couldn’t let it slide.

“But I was jolted awake when I was bitten by your sharp wolf fangs.”

“Ah…… Wolf fangs?”

“Of course. I misspoke to a young lady who clearly has the appearance of a brave wolf. You look so magnificent even now.”

Clyde wagged his fox tail, which I hadn’t even noticed he had taken out. I couldn’t help but be drawn to the thick, glossy tail.

“Hmph, it’s not like compliments make me feel good. I’m a wolf, after all.”

If I had said the same thing to Ethan, I would have heard a cold sneer, but Clyde whispered in a soft voice.

“As you say.”

“……”

“I’ve made another mistake, haven’t I? Please forgive me?”

Clyde’s eyes sparkled sweetly like strawberry jam. His golden hair, which shone like real gold, also captivated my eyes.

Just as I was about to say it was okay without realizing it, Sir Elliot casually placed his arm on Clyde’s shoulder.

“Clyde, don’t flirt with the young lady.”

“Flirt? Sir Elliot, those are difficult words that I don’t understand.”

“Don’t pretend to be a clueless ten-year-old only at times like this. I can hear your brain working from all the way over here.”

“I’m just apologizing to the young lady. If I’m in the way, I’ll be going now.”

Clyde gave me a slight smile and left without hesitation. Sir Elliot chuckled as he looked at my bootlaces, which had been retied into pretty butterfly shapes.

“Foxes, honestly.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“But wolves are good at wagging their tails too, aren’t they?”

Sir Elliot widened his eyes as if he had been wrongly accused.

“Young lady, such misunderstandings leave deep wounds in the heart of a wolf who has lived for 20 years knowing only pure love.”

“But in the fairy tales that my neighborhood friends read, wolves always…….”

“Are sincere in their affection. That’s what wolves are like.”

I recalled the contents of the book that my friends had read aloud.

“They said they’d just hold hands and sleep…… Do wolves usually say things like that to someone they like?”

“……Ahem, ahem.”

Sir Elliot coughed for a long time like someone who had choked.

But ‘I’ll just hold your hand and sleep’ was a line that always appeared when wolves were involved, so I was very curious. I didn’t retract my question and waited for Sir Elliot’s answer.

“Master?”

“Ah, um…… Please wait a moment. I feel like I’ll lose my job if I answer incorrectly. Have I mentioned that I’ve dedicated my entire life to taking the position of Jackal’s adjutant?”

“……?”

“Um, so, what I mean is, it’s something you say to someone you like…… Ah, please don’t tell Jackal and Caris that I answered.”

“Is it like saying ‘I love you’?”

“Um…… That’s another difficult question. It might not be love…… No, the young lady is too young to hear such trashy answers.”

“……?”

“It’s a way of saying ‘I like you’ that can only be used after you become an adult. An expression of affection.”

Sir Elliot clearly summarized it for me. I nodded with sparkling eyes.

‘Wolves have a strange way of saying they like someone.’

I should add it to my ‘How to Speak Like a Wolf’ dictionary. My hands are soft, so it must feel good to hold them and sleep.

“Young lady, shall we start the lesson?”

“Yes!”

Sir Elliot, who was sweating profusely for some reason, taught me diligently again today.

As the lesson was coming to an end, Jackal and Caris arrived. I remembered that they said they were coming to pick him up to welcome Ethan, who would be arriving soon.

My older brothers, who had finished their training before me, stood next to Jackal, who was as solid as a rock.

Sir Elliot transformed into a magnificent wolf and stood in front of me.

“Now, then, let me teach you how to howl as the last thing. You’ll be able to follow along quickly.”

“Um, when is howling necessary?”

“The biggest purpose is to let the wolves know where the young lady is. I’ll demonstrate first.”

“Awooooo!”

When Sir Elliot howled, the surroundings seemed to echo with his thunderous voice.

I also transformed back into my cat form, took a deep breath that made my body swell, and shouted.

“Meoooowwww!”

“……”

For some reason, everyone in the training hall’s eyes trembled slightly. It sounded completely like a wolf’s voice to me.

“Is it a little strange?”

“Um, we can still tell right away that it’s the young lady’s voice…… Shall we fix the first part a little?”

“Awoo-ooo-ong!”

“……”

“How about now?”

Sir Elliot couldn’t say anything. Was he surprised that I did such a great job with the loud howling?

My temporary family members hurriedly approached from afar and surrounded me.

“That was a wonderful howl, Kitty.”

“Soft paws, howling is originally about letting people know who you are.”

Seeing them comfort me, it seemed like it was different from the wolves’ voices after all. But for some reason, everyone’s cheeks were flushed.

“Ugh…… Kitty is an angel.”

“Soft paws, you’re already overworked, but if you raise your tail straight up when you howl…….”

“Um, that’s because I’m a baby wolf.”

When I replied, the wolf family members groaned and carefully stroked me. I don’t know why…….

‘I love being petted!’

* * *

From far away, Wibis’ carriage was coming. Ethan said he would be staying for a long time without setting a deadline, and there were three luggage carriages.

‘It’s not like he’s moving into an empty house, so it’s quite a fuss.’

I crossed my arms and stared at the carriage. Next to me, Theo and Dion also sighed.

“Are all those things in the carriage books?”

“Probably those kinds of headache-inducing things.”

“Ah…….”

How could all the luggage be books? It seemed like there was a reason why Ethan was so smart. In many ways, I had to get on Ethan’s good side, so I couldn’t help but worry.

“Brothers, should I give Ethan a ‘Bbo’ [a peck on the cheek] ? He’s going to be a close friend and my teacher now.”

Theo and Dion simultaneously made questioning expressions.

“Bbo? Are you talking about a kiss? Absolutely not.”

“No, not a kiss, but a ‘Bbo’ [peck]. Isn’t ‘Bbo’ what you call it when close friends who aren’t family give each other a peck on the cheek as a greeting?”

“Ugh…… So cute.”

The two made strange noises and clenched their mouths tightly.

Could it be that wolves don’t use that word? I was a little worried and glanced at the two of them.

“Yes, that’s what you call a ‘Bbo’ [peck].”

“I used to use that word often when I was a baby wolf, but I forgot about it because I was too busy living.”

Phew, that’s a relief. It seems like Theo and Dion know the word too. As I felt relieved, Theo and Dion said firmly.

“No ‘Bbo,’ no kiss, no ‘Bbo Bbo Bbo’ [multiple pecks].”

“Oh……! I wasn’t even thinking of doing something like ‘Bbo Bbo Bbo’ [multiple pecks] to Ethan in the first place!”

“What on earth is that…….”

“Soft paws, anyway, no. You only do that with family or people who will become family.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Wolves’ standards are so hard to understand.

While I was thinking about this and that, Ethan got out of the carriage. Since I couldn’t greet him with a friendly ‘Bbo’ [peck], I had no choice but to keep praising Ethan and wagging my tail.

……If only my true identity hadn’t been revealed.

It was frustrating, but I ran to Ethan with a bright smile. Ethan greeted Jackal and Caris in turn, skipped over Theo and Dion, and looked straight at me.

“It’s been a while, Ethan! I missed you so, so much! You must be very tired from riding the carriage for so long?”

“A little.”

Ethan was still aloof. Even when I put on my ultimate ‘nice kitty smile’ and tried to talk to him, he didn’t seem to be listening because he was busy giving instructions to his subordinate who had followed him.

“Ethan, you’re so dependable…….”

“Kittia.”

“Yes?”

“Are you trying to skip class today?”

Thud. Ethan seemed to think that me hovering around him and trying to please him was to skip class. I was just trying to gain his favor!

I clenched both fists tightly and whispered softly only to Ethan.

“No. I want to start class today. I’ve had a crush on Ethan ever since I first saw you.”

“……What?”

Ethan’s eyes shook greatly when I just kept flattering him as I had been doing.

As I tilted my head, Ethan turned his head away and muttered.

“What should I even start teaching him……?”