It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 145

Minutes before Delta’s magic surged from Ethan’s arm, Kitty furrowed her brow, keenly sensing a suspicious energy.

“Blue Moon’s magic feels different than before.”

Of course, Jerian possessed the real Blue Moon. Since it wasn’t a fake, a difference in the scale of magic was understandable.

But simply dismissing it felt wrong; the texture of the magic had changed too much.

Upon hearing Kitty’s words, the wolf knights sharpened their senses, trying to discern the magic flowing on the wind.

However, they couldn’t detect anything.

“My lady, how has it changed?”

“Normally, the goddess’s magic felt warm, but now it’s chillingly cold and damp, yet also hot.”

Without particularly trying to imagine it, the image of someone trapped in a lightless dungeon flashed in her mind.

Someone furious and resentful, not knowing why they were trapped or how to escape.

‘Why has Blue Moon’s magic, which was always warm, suddenly changed like this?’

Since she didn’t possess the Blue Moon herself, she couldn’t pinpoint the cause, but one thing was clear.

The situation had changed, and she couldn’t be sure if the plan they had devised together would still work.

She had to decide whether to risk it and settle things with Jerian here or retreat and observe the situation.

“Either way, being ambiguous will result in significant losses.”

Just as Kitty finished speaking and was pondering with darting eyes—

Bang!

An explosion echoed from inside the basement, and the sound of cats purring spread through the quiet surroundings.

Kitty wrinkled her nose, catching the sweet and alluring scent of Gridwolf catnip. If she hadn’t been wearing a gas mask, she would have been rolling on the floor, completely dazed.

“My lady, the elite panthers seem to have used catnip inside the basement.”

“At this point, the scent has probably filled the basement. Let’s wait a bit before going in.”

Now that the panthers had revealed their hostility towards Jerian, there was no turning back. Otherwise, all the panthers in the hideout would be caught.

‘I can’t use the panthers who were burned by Sigma and Delta, not even me.’

Moreover, the magic emanating from the underground hideout felt too dangerous.

If Jerian was the one emitting this magic, he had to be subdued here.

That was the only way to prevent harm to other beastmen.

Kitty paused, taking a breath and waiting for the catnip scent to spread sufficiently, then signaled the wolf knights.

‘Now!’

Timing it with the brief lull in the ominous Blue Moon’s magic, the wolf knights charged.

Crack!

The wolves’ sharp and sturdy claws shattered the hideout’s lock in one go. Opening the door revealed the staircase leading to the basement.

“My lady, we’ll drag Jerian out, so please wait here.”

The wolf knights spoke with determined eyes before entering the basement. Kitty hesitated for a moment, then gripped her bow tightly.

“Something seems to have happened with the Blue Moon, so I need to go in too.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t worry. With this gas mask, I won’t be affected by the catnip like the other cats or panthers.”

The wolf knights’ eyes were filled with worry. Theo and Deon, sensing that something was amiss, approached and held Kitty’s hands tightly.

They desperately wanted to tell her not to go in, to wait outside until it was over.

However, they knew how long Kitty had yearned for revenge, so they couldn’t.

“Kitty, promise you won’t push yourself.”

“Let’s go together.”

Kitty shook her head at them.

“The Blue Moon’s magic has spread quite far. It’s not enough to drive the beastmen crazy yet, but with time, the weaker ones will be consumed by madness.”

“Kitty…….”

“Brothers, please take care of the outside situation. If you two do that, I can search the hideout with peace of mind.”

Theo and Deon exchanged glances before nodding. They knew that when Kitty’s emerald eyes sparkled like that, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.

“Then be careful, Soft Paws.”

“Leave the outside to us.”

“Yes.”

Kitty smiled brightly and headed inside the hideout.

Thanks to the wolf knights breaking the ceiling little by little, the catnip smell had dissipated enough that it wasn’t suffocating.

‘The cats around here must be unknowingly enjoying the free catnip smell.’

Further inside, she saw Jerian’s subordinates, who had reverted to their cat forms, unable to gather themselves and rolling on the floor.

The wolf knights were chuckling at the sight of the aimlessly rolling fluff balls.

“As you said, my lady, the cat beastmen are out of their minds.”

“Jerian probably sensed something and hid somewhere. He’s such a cautious cat when it comes to his safety that he always creates emergency exits.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Check the closets and high places thoroughly. He wouldn’t have gone outside.”

He wouldn’t be foolish enough not to know that numerous wolf knights were stationed outside.

In the past, the fact that he kept Kitty by his side to use her was now becoming her information.

While the wolf knights searched the hideout for Jerian, Kitty looked around for the elite panthers.

Soon, she found the panthers sprawled out like fermented bread dough.

“Seville. Do you know where Jerian is?”

“My lady…….”

Oh, dear.

“Seville?”

“Jerian… draining magic from the baby foxes… into the Blue Moon…….”

Since the panthers were the ones who had the catnip on them and set it off, Seville and his group were severely intoxicated.

“Ugh… Delta trash…….”

“Seville, focus and tell me where Jerian is.”

Then, Seville’s hazy eyes flickered towards something. A display case behind Kitty was reflected in Seville’s eyes.

Kitty felt a chilling shiver run down her spine and quickly turned her head.

Inside the display case was a set of knight’s armor made for exhibition.

“…….”

Looking closely at the knight’s helmet, she saw two bloodshot eyes.

“I don’t need any thieving stray cats stealing food in my territory. Throw those things outside the fence.”

Her mind involuntarily replayed the nightmarish voice.

But this time was different.

Instead of freezing up and crying like she did as a child, Kitty tensed her entire body and shouted.

“Jerian is inside the armor!”

The wolf knights reacted immediately to Kitty’s cry. They rushed over and dragged Jerian out of the display case.

“Ugh!”

Crack!

Jerian was thrown onto the broken display case glass. The burly wolf knights surrounded him and took out binding ropes.

Kitty narrowed her eyes.

Jerian, who would normally have been intimidated by the pressure of those stronger than him, was slyly curving his eyes.

Moreover, it seemed that he was unaffected by the catnip, perhaps due to some force emanating from his body.

‘His subordinates have all fallen, so the initial goal has been achieved, but…….’

The wolf knights growled menacingly, baring their fangs. There was only one reason they could be so confident in front of the real Blue Moon.

“Jerian. As long as Lady Kittia is here, you cannot harm us.”

“You know very well that the lady can drive away madness.”

They might lose consciousness for a moment, but the lady would always save everyone from the crisis, as always.

The wolf knights, who had trained and grown up with Kitty in the same training grounds, believed that without a doubt.

As if responding to that belief, Kitty infused her bow with magic. Her magic, as warm as sunlight, slowly spread warmth throughout the surroundings.

“Jerian. Give up and surrender at this point.”

“Soft Paws, you’ve grown a lot.”

Swish—

The knights drew their swords as soon as Jerian spoke to Kitty.

Jerian raised both hands as if to show that he had no weapons. Indeed, he was holding nothing in his hands.

But Kitty noticed something strange.

“……Take off Jerian’s clothes.”

Even considering that this was a poorly lit basement, Jerian’s skin was very pale.

The wolf knights immediately used the tips of their swords to remove Jerian’s clothes.

Then, his chest, with blue gems embedded like mold, was revealed.

Everyone present could tell that the Blue Moon was embedded in his body.

“Soft Paws, you know, I don’t go down easily.”

As soon as Jerian raised the corners of his lips, the Blue Moon’s magic spewed out like hot steam.

Kitty deflected the magic with her magic-infused bow. Polly’s mirror, which had become part of the bow, scattered the magic in all directions.

Despite successfully defending, Kitty couldn’t hide her dismay.

There was no way Jerian could manipulate the Blue Moon with his own magic.

“How…… Wait, could it be?”

Her eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. Sure enough, three baby foxes, exhausted and drained of all their magic, were lying in a corner like baggage.

Deep anger filled Kitty’s eyes.

“You still haven’t fixed your habit of using other beastmen just to gain some authority for yourself.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“What?”

“It’s okay for those born with power to live lavishly compared to those who aren’t, but it’s bad for me, who had no power, to try to become stronger by any means?”

The wolf knights began to tie Jerian up with ropes, as if he wasn’t worth listening to anymore. The knights’ movements were as usual because Kitty continued to drive away the madness.

But for some reason, Jerian was as relaxed as ever.

“Kitty, the Blue Moon’s magic has been leaking out since you arrived.”

“…….”

Kitty gritted her teeth. As if fleeing from the two holy relics she had purified, the Blue Moon’s madness was heading somewhere.

“Shut up, Jerian. I’m going to tie you to a pillar and shoot you now.”

However, at that moment as she readied her bow—

Bang!

The ceiling cracked, and someone’s figure, filled with madness, appeared.

Kitty immediately recognized who he was, the one who had absorbed all the Blue Moon’s madness that Jerian had released.

“Ethan……?”