It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 60

I couldn’t bring myself to tell Kitty that Ethan was leaving for the central training grounds.

Jackal, too, was unhappy with his situation, where he had to prioritize his promise to a dark wolf over his daughter’s affection.

‘But in return, I made sure to finish Kitty’s lessons until the end.’

Ethan’s condition was that it be kept secret from Kitty until the day he left for the central training grounds.

Originally, Ethan had planned to finish the lessons around the summer when he began his succession as head of the Wibis family, but thanks to the secret deal, Kitty was able to complete her learning.

‘…Ethan must have accepted the tight schedule because he wanted to teach more lessons.’

It didn’t seem like he only had pure teaching intentions.

Anyway, Theo and Dion have to stay at the central training grounds for another year, and if Ethan disappears as well, Kitty will be very heartbroken.

Rather than letting her be sad for a long time, it would be better to do it on the day of, as Ethan suggested….

‘Still, too sudden a farewell is a bit…’

At least, she should have time to prepare her heart. Besides, Ethan was entering the central training ground dormitory right after the memorial service and the head succession ceremony.

Since everyone would be there, Kitty might not be able to grieve properly and would only swallow her emotions alone.

Jackal, who couldn’t bear to see that, gave Kitty a slight hint.

“Ethan seems to be planning a long trip after becoming the head of the family.”

“A long trip? Maybe to the central….”

As expected, Kitty was a perceptive cat. Jackal skillfully diverted the topic.

“Kitty, now that the central training grounds have come up, there’s something to discuss.”

Kitty momentarily forgot her reasoning at Jackal’s heavy voice.

“There’s intelligence that the leopards are planning to attack the central training grounds to coincide with Ethan’s succession ceremony.”

“Ah….”

Ethan’s succession ceremony was scheduled to take place immediately after the memorial service. That meant the central training grounds would be swarming with wolves that day.

To confidently carry out an attack in that situation meant only one thing.

“They’re planning to use the Blue Moon [a magical artifact or phenomenon that can incite aggression] to make the wolves fight each other.”

“Probably. The problem is that we can’t accurately predict the scale.”

“If it’s small-scale, I might be able to do something about it….”

If the swarming wolves were consumed by madness, the leopards could achieve what they wanted without getting their hands dirty.

But if the wolves found and dealt with the leopards first, no mishap would occur.

There were too many variables to predict. The leopards wouldn’t be able to completely control the situation within the wolf territory, so they would leave it to chance to some extent.

However, one thing remained unchanged.

‘Sigma will try to kidnap me again this time.’

Kitty swallowed hard. Jackal gently stroked Kitty, who was stiff with tension.

“It would be the worst situation if everyone had to rely on you, so you don’t have to worry. Kitty, just think about yourself.”

Kitty nodded with a determined look. Jackal, who had successfully navigated the crisis, simply continued to brush Kitty’s fur.

* * *

Before long, the day of the memorial service arrived.

“My lady, put on your cloak. The central training grounds are a bit colder than here.”

Lena handed me a cloak decorated with Jackal’s fur. I put on the cloak over the daggers I had received from my brothers on my belt.

“Thank you, Lena.”

“I wish I could go with you, my lady….”

Lena, who was older and couldn’t respond quickly, decided not to go with me because she didn’t know what might happen at the training grounds.

I was taking Anne and Marie as maids, but it was to monitor them, not to receive their service.

“Lena, I’m all grown up now, so it’s okay. I’m seventeen now.”

“Knowing that, I still want to take care of you by your side.”

I hugged Lena tightly and left the room. Theo and Dion, who were returning to the central training grounds, looked like they were about to die.

“Ah, I should have finished my assignments and taken a vacation….”

“To think we have to go back already.”

They seemed to hate returning to the central training grounds more than death. They were comforting each other that they could take more frequent vacations during the last year than before, which was somehow heartbreaking.

“If you’re ready, get on the carriage quickly.”

Karis said.

Whenever Theo and Dion had to return to the central training grounds, they would get on the carriage as if they were being dragged to a slaughterhouse, but this time, the whole family was going together, so the atmosphere wasn’t as gloomy.

“Let’s go, Kitty.”

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes.”

I smiled and showed ‘Persuasion’ [likely a weapon or item] inside my cloak. They subtly showed their respective daggers and the scarves I had given them as gifts, then smiled contentedly.

I held a small personal bag in my arms and got on the carriage. This time, it was between Theo and Dion.

Ethan and Hogwood had left early this morning. They said it was to stop by the Wibis mansion for a while, so they must have left for the central training grounds by now.

Karis, Jackal, and the guard, Sir Elliot, got on our carriage together.

‘Clide said he would take care of Anne and Marie.’

Now that there were many fox squad members, it was easier to separate and monitor them individually.

“Then let’s depart.”

As Jackal said, five Gridwolf carriages departed one after another towards the central training grounds.

* * *

“Kitty, that mountain you see over there is the famous Auu Mountain.”

“The highest mountain in the wolf territory, right?”

“Yes. The Gridwolf territory, with its wonderful natural environment, is the best, isn’t it?”

The three of us were stuck to the carriage window, observing the outside. The weather was clear and the air was clean, so the surrounding terrain was clearly visible.

Wolves usually participated in the memorial service at the central training grounds after they became adults. But this time, Ethan’s succession ceremony was also taking place, so I was able to attend as well.

‘Outings were always either to funerals or to the fields near the mansion.’

This was the first time I had come this far into the wolf territory. Perhaps that’s why the wolf family members were enthusiastically explaining the wonderful scenery to me.

“There’s a valley near here where salmon are caught well. Let’s have lunch there.”

“Kitty. The salmon in the fox territory are as small as anchovies. The salmon in Wibis are as big as goldfish. But the salmon in Gridwolf are thicker than your forearm.”

Karis and Jackal whispered like a mantra every time a valley appeared. After looking around the territory to some extent, I came to one realization.

‘There’s a reason why wolves are richer than cats.’

Unlike the cat territory, the wolf territory had a lot of plains where farming was possible.

It was barren now because it was winter, but in the fall, it would be abundant with grains and fruits.

The cat territory didn’t have a suitable place to farm, so the staple food was food bought from other places or fish caught in the territory.

This was also why Jerian was able to monopolize food and stand at the pinnacle of the cats.

“It must be hard to farm in such a large land.”

“Everything grows well, but there are not enough people to farm, so a lot of land is left unattended.”

Karis explained.

It would be really nice if cats with skillful hands could go and farm in such places.

Before the Blue Moon appeared, there were many beastmen who lived in other animals’ territories, but it seemed difficult now that inter-species conflicts had intensified.

“What about the rabbit beastmen who have entered the wolf territory to escape the leopards?”

“We gave them land to grow carrots and turnips before, but the yield wasn’t very good compared to the production.”

“Ah….”

Rabbits… they must have eaten it all in the middle. Rabbits have many children and live together in large families, so I thought that might be the case.

It was better for the rabbits to be self-sufficient than for the land to be idle, but it was a waste that these abundant lands were not being used efficiently.

‘It would be nice if there was a good solution.’

On the way to the central training grounds, I was lost in thought as I looked at the land covered with a cozy blanket of snow, stretching to the horizon.

* * *

Jerian was drinking wine in a comfortable room on the top floor of the food warehouse. His obese body was slumped as if he had become one with the chair.

At that moment, someone’s urgent footsteps were heard from the hallway.

“Please let me talk to Jerian, just once….”

“Shut up!”

“Let go of me!”

After a commotion, the door opened without a knock. It was an elderly cat woman wearing clothes that were close to rags.

Jerian’s men tried to grab her, but Jerian raised his hand to stop them.

“Let her go. It seems the old woman has something to say to me.”

At those words, the cat woman seemed relieved, as if she had found a glimmer of hope.

“Jerian, I’m sorry for being rude. My daughter is starving, so I was wondering if you could share a little more food….”

“But ma’am, the rations are fixed, aren’t they?”

“My daughter can’t work because her illness is getting worse due to the cold weather…. Besides, she’s pregnant.”

“Then her husband or mother should share their share.”

“They are, but it’s not nearly enough for a pregnant woman to get nutrition….”

Clang—!

Jerian threw the wine glass he was holding carelessly. The cat woman’s eyes trembled at the sharp cracking sound.

“Is there anyone in the cat territory who is eating abundantly right now?”

“But there’s so much food in the food warehouse that it spoils because it can’t be eaten….”

“Are you complaining that I, who take on difficult tasks for the cats, should at least have a proper meal?”

“….”

“Get out without whining. Or I’ll throw you outside the wall.”

Jerian spoke with a cold voice. His men forcibly dragged out the cat woman, who was trembling with humiliation and despair.

Jerian slammed the door shut nervously. The cat woman’s pleas reminded him of someone he had kicked out of the territory a long time ago.

“Jerian. Please, just once. Mom is just hungry….”

Kitty was a cat who had grown up in the same neighborhood as Jerian since childhood, the daughter of Icarus.

Jerian hated Icarus, who was superior to him in every way. Whenever he saw him smiling like sunshine and taking care of the people around him, he felt a sense of humiliation.

When the kind and lovely cat he had been secretly in love with married Icarus, he writhed in jealousy for days.

Jerian had completely forgotten that he had once secretly loved her and wanted to tear the newlyweds apart.

‘I never thought I would actually do that.’

It started simply. A few years after the Blue Moon appeared in the world, some leopards visited the cat territory and looked for Icarus.

Jerian didn’t know at the time that they were henchmen of Delta, who had risen to the top of the leopard clan at the age of sixteen.

The leopards were looking for a cat who knew the surrounding circumstances well and asked Jerian. Each word was oppressive.

“Hey. I’m looking for a cat named Icarus.”

“Are you talking about Icarus, who recently had a daughter?”

The leopards were animals that had inflicted considerable damage on wolves and bears as well. Jerian, who knew this well, could not resist and guided them.

Jerian had always yearned for power, but he had no choice but to admit that he was not strong, only big among the cats.

As he resigned himself and guided the way, Jerian heard them talking about Icarus’s abilities.

‘Whether it’s God’s arrangement or coincidence.’

The fact that there was a power that only cats could have made Jerian’s heart race.

When Icarus’s dwelling was in sight, Jerian, who was walking ahead, fearlessly said to the leopards.

“Before visiting Icarus’s residence, I would like to make a suggestion.”