It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 140

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“You’re going to… burn my thesis?”

Sigma asked, sounding incredulous, as if she’d heard someone suggest throwing a priceless jewel into the middle of the ocean.

“Maltese, you don’t seem to realize how important this record is.”

Kitty calmly explained to Sigma, who was scoffing in disbelief.

“Of course, this is a one-of-a-kind record in the world. I know you’re the most capable researcher in this field.”

Even the elder mages of Foxstein unanimously acknowledged one fact: Sigma had studied the relationship between holy relics and their magic more diligently than anyone else.

It wasn’t that others hadn’t attempted research, but their results were not as good as Sigma’s, who had engaged in all sorts of illegal activities.

This was partly due to her lack of ethics, but it also meant that this research was that important in Sigma’s life.

“You know my research is the best? Then why are you going to burn it?”

“Well…”

Flick—

Kitty struck a match and lit it.

“This research isn’t that important to anyone else but you.”

Her voice, consistently gentle without any highs or lows, struck deeply into Sigma’s heart. She retorted in disbelief.

“Maltese, what are you talking about? Even if other stupid guys don’t know, you have the power of the Goddess.”

“But what you researched isn’t that important.”

“Whether it’s important or not, my research is the truth of the world. Do you think you can go against the truth?”

There was some truth in Sigma’s words.

The Goddess was the being who created the world. Research related to her should continue.

But not by Sigma.

“But this research that you’ve dedicated your life to, it seems like people aren’t that curious about it.”

Tear—

Kitty tore off the first page of the thesis and lit it with the match. Because the preservation was so excellent, the paper burned away in an instant.

Tears began to well up in Sigma’s eyes, which had widened to their limit.

‘Sigma’s reason for living is this research.’

Of course, she had made a copy through Cleed. As Sigma said, research on holy relics and the Goddess was a very important field. Erasing the results obtained through the sacrifices of many was morally wrong.

Since the data was preserved, Kitty just needed to burn this thesis to drive Sigma out of her mind.

‘Just enough to get a confession.’

Kitty hummed a tune and struck the next match. Sigma’s face turned paler than ever.

“Just so you know, cats love ruining things that others have painstakingly finished. It’s very fun.”

Kitty, wearing an evil cat smile, tore off a few pages of the thesis, crumpled them, and dropped the match on top. The paper engulfed in flames burned away in an instant.

Tear—

Each time a page of the thesis was torn and thrown into the flames, Sigma writhed in agony.

The more she did, the more boldly Kitty burned the thesis.

“Sigma, the things you’ve researched with your life are all disappearing.”

“What is this…”

“The beastkins [humanoid animal people] will continue to remain in the realm of ignorance. No one will delve as deeply into holy relics as you did.”

There could be no more painful words for Sigma, a celestial scholar. Kitty was certain as she shredded the thesis with her cat claws.

“All the truths you’ve researched and discovered will disappear. In a few minutes, no one will even know they existed.”

Kitty ordered the knights, who were in awe of the cat’s wickedness, to bring all the remaining theses.

It seemed like it would be fun to throw the theses into the flames in chunks and roast potatoes or sweet potatoes in front of Sigma.

“I can make all the efforts you’ve put in disappear, Sigma.”

“Why…”

“It’s the same as you thinking that other people’s happiness or unhappiness doesn’t matter.”

“……”

“How does the sense of futility you’re feeling for the first time feel?”

Kitty threw a bundle of theses into the flames. Sigma collapsed, her legs giving out.

Her eyes held only emptiness and the blazing thesis.

“What should I…”

“Huh?”

“What should I do to preserve those records?”

Kitty paused, intending to start a campfire with the thesis if Sigma brazenly said, ‘What did I do wrong!’

It was because Sigma was finally starting to yield as she had hoped.

“Do I even have to preserve this? It doesn’t seem like people would be interested.”

“The value of knowledge isn’t determined that way, Maltese.”

“You can’t arbitrarily determine the importance of life either.”

Kitty winked at Elliot.

As they had discussed in advance, he placed thick paper, a pen, and ink inside Sigma’s iron bars.

“Write down everything you know about Delta Leopard. Also, that Blue Moon came into the world through his body.”

Revealing that fact would completely undermine Delta’s support within the Leopard territory.

“And, that Jerian becoming a hero was a scheme with Delta.”

There was no leopard who didn’t know that Sigma was Delta’s right-hand man. Also, as a contact, she was quite well-known among cats and other beastkins. All the cats who frequented the food warehouse knew her face.

A mad scientist chosen by Leofold.

If such a Sigma confessed, the repercussions would be significant.

Kitty placed the stone she had received from Katrina in front of the iron bars. The magic of the holy relic contained within began to record Sigma’s appearance without missing a single detail.

“Huh.”

Sigma stared blankly at the empty paper, even while feeling dumbfounded.

Delta was already dead anyway, and she didn’t care about Jerian’s well-being.

What was important to her was that she had dedicated her life and passion to researching the unknown.

Her own life was not more important than that fact.

“I want you to write in great detail. I’m going to have you confess with that manuscript later.”

“Confession, huh. Weren’t you going to kill me anyway?”

“That’s right. You’ve committed many sins, haven’t you? However, if you don’t confess properly, instead of beheading you, I’ll burn the thesis and cremate you with that fire. There are many materials secured from Delta’s castle, so don’t even think about lying.”

Sigma chuckled and looked at Kitty.

When she first ran to the news that a cat chosen by the Goddess had appeared, she was like a small cotton ball, but the way she threatened her in a soft voice was quite intimidating.

“Now that I see it, you’re quite the beast, Maltese.”

“Thanks for the compliment, Sigma.”

“……”

Kitty watched Sigma, who was moving the pen, unable to bear the glares of the wolves.

‘I won’t see her after this.’

Kitty knew better than anyone that the members of Gridwolf would not simply let Sigma go.

Once the flames of revenge took hold in their hearts, they would not subside until the revenge was complete.

‘Theo and Deon are especially good at pretending.’

As expected, I heard that the execution took place in a very dark place for a long time.

Finally, Sigma disappeared from the world, leaving behind only her research records and confession.

I spent several days sorting through them and sending them to the Leopard and Cat territories.

I used various methods to more effectively inform everyone of Delta’s sins, and the items sent from the Bear territory were very helpful.

‘It’s convenient to have Hashuka there because the contact is faster.’

I wrote a letter asking if she could send me more stones that record the surrounding situation.

Katrina, who received the letter, had Hashuka, who was staying in the Bear territory, send me two sacks of stones.

“We greet the young lady of Gridwolf and co-owner of the merchant guild!”

“Hashuka-nim [term of respect] asked us to convey that the construction of the Maltese branch is proceeding smoothly!”

The gray sled merchant guild’s dog beastkins who pulled the sled were very kind to me. I could tell just by the way they wagged their tails energetically at me.

Anyway, I skillfully manipulated my magic to replicate Sigma’s confession into several stones.

Adding a bit of mirror magic to this, anyone could see Sigma’s confession in video form just by touching it.

‘It might be good to make this into a device and sell it.’

I packed the stones while thinking about this and that and sent them to the Leopard and Cat territories.

That was a few days ago, so by now, the other beastkins would have encountered the shocking facts revealed by Sigma.

[Shock! Fabricated Hero]

[How Did Jerian Become a Hero?]

The newspaper ‘Meow Daily,’ which had started to be published again after Jerian abandoned the food warehouse and ran away, was already featuring related news prominently.

Jerian’s supporters would also have realized that all of Jerian’s activities were just a well-orchestrated play.

‘Jerian must be cornered with this.’ Now, all that’s left is to face Blue Moon and Jerian based on Sigma’s research data remaining in the Leopard territory.

Sigma said that she wrote the most important documents in ancient languages for security.

‘Cleed said he’s working hard to decipher them.’

So, I should leave that work to the foxes and black-furred wolves and find a way to deal with Jerian.

‘As expected, the most effective way to win the fight against the cats would be to use that.’

Just as I was about to check if the secret weapon was in good condition, I heard loud footsteps. It was Theo and Deon.

I quickly opened the door for them.

“Maltese, special report.”

“We just received a letter from Nero.”

Theo and Deon handed me a letter sealed with the cat paw print. I quickly tore open the outer envelope and read the letter quickly.

[Jerian’s hideout has been found.]

Among the dense letters, a single sentence caught my eye.