It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 29

<29>

It had been a month since Eden started staying at Gridwolf. Finally, today was the last session of the special writing training.

“Give it here when you’re done writing.”

“Y-yes…”

Exhausted, I handed the notebook to Eden and collapsed onto the desk, resting my head.

“What did you even do to be so tired?”

“But my tail feels like it’s cramping.”

“That’s because your tail moves along with the pencil.”

“My brothers said it’s cute.”

“…Quiet.”

While Eden skimmed through what I had written, I twirled my tail to loosen it up. I couldn’t seem to fix the habit of putting more strength into my tail than my hands when writing long texts.

Even when I winked, suggesting we take it easy, Eden remained cold throughout the month. He was like a scary wolf teacher.

But it wasn’t like I hadn’t made any progress with the heartless wolf during the month.

First, Theo and Deon, who always kept their seats during my lessons, no longer showed up. It was because Eden suggested it to me.

“Kittyia. Your brothers’ chattering is annoying… no.”

“Yes?”

“If I’m going to teach you how not to act like a cat, it would be easier without your brothers, what do you think?”

If Theo and Deon didn’t know I was a cat, I couldn’t talk about cat things comfortably.

So, I subtly told Theo and Deon.

“Um, you don’t have to come to my lessons anymore since you’re busy too, brothers!”

“Huh?”

I still vividly remember Theo and Deon staring at me with wide golden eyes.

“Kitty, are you saying you’re going to take lessons alone with that wolf?”

“Soft paws, even if he’s nine years old, all men are wolves.”

“But I’m a wolf too, aren’t I?”

“Ah, that’s true. That’s true, but…”

“That damn Eden!”

But my brothers had no choice but to give in. The intensity of martial arts and theory classes had increased.

Now, they only came to visit when my lesson was about to end.

‘Why did Eden smile back then?’

When I said that my brothers wouldn’t come to the study anymore, Eden’s sharp blue eyes softened.

“Of course, that’s how it should be. I’m the only one who knows your true identity, right?”

As I nodded, the corners of Eden’s lips quirked up strangely. I clearly remembered his face, amazed that someone who was always so cold was smiling.

Also, I started calling Eden ‘Teacher’.

“Teacher, how is it?”

“Still reading.”

Theo and Deon told me to be careful not to become Eden’s one and only, but…

‘Sir Elliot also calls him ‘Master’, so isn’t that two relationships?’

Seeing that I wasn’t uncomfortable, it didn’t seem like Eden was particularly obsessed with me. If we get a little closer like this, will he eventually treat me kindly?

‘If we become close, he’ll keep my secret of being a cat forever out of loyalty.’

Meanwhile, Eden, who had been reviewing my writing, raised an eyebrow.

“Not bad.”

“Yay!”

“Now, all that’s left is to fix the way you talk like a child in the language section.”

“But the lisp will only be fixed when my teeth grow in.”

I opened my mouth wide, saying “Ah―”. Thanks to having my broken tooth completely pulled out shortly after coming to Gridwolf, new teeth were slowly growing in.

“They’re growing faster than I thought.”

“When they all grow in, I’ll be an adult too. Then I can speak clearly too.”

“An adult.”

Eden rested his chin on his hand and looked at me. I was still lying on the desk, grinning.

“What do you want to do when you become an adult?”

“I’ll probably have left the Gridwolf mansion by then.”

“…”

Eden’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“As soon as you become an adult?”

“Yes. I heard that wolves become adults at nineteen. I’m going to work hard until then and avenge my mother’s enemy.”

“Hmm.”

Eden reached out and tidied my hair. It was a difficult action to do between people who weren’t close, so I slyly leaned my head towards Eden.

I like being petted!

“What about you, Teacher?”

“Me?”

“Yes. What will you do when you become an adult?”

Eden, who always lightly ignored me when I asked pointless questions, answered in a serious voice for once.

“I’ll become stronger.”

“But you’re already strong, aren’t you?”

“Your flattery has improved.”

“Thanks to your good teaching.”

As I smiled, Eden ruffled my hair. Then he tidied it up again little by little. I felt ticklish and sleepiness washed over me.

“Haaam… Eden, you’re so smart, aren’t you? If you become strong too, you’ll be really cool.”

“You think so?”

“Of course!”

Eden chuckled and removed his hand from my hair. A bitter voice followed.

“But being moderately strong and smart isn’t enough. Otherwise, you’ll be seized by fear and throw your life away.”

“…”

In Eden’s blue eyes, there was deep sadness and burning anger at the same time. I felt like I knew why Eden, who inherited Mrs. Wibis’s intelligent mind, said he would gain strength.

‘Mrs. Wibis said she died to protect Eden.’

Is it a similar feeling to me trying to become stronger to avenge Jerian?

The study was quiet for a while because neither of us spoke. The silence was broken by Theo and Deon, who came running with a clatter.

“Kitty, is the lesson over?”

“Look at our soft paws, she’s exhausted. Her tail is drooping.”

Deon picked me up. Eden checked his pocket watch and complained to the two wolves.

“There’s still thirty minutes left.”

“But Kitty is so limp.”

“Eden, let’s go out and get some fresh air, huh?”

My brothers really seem to hate me being alone with Eden in the study.

Normally, Eden would have kicked them out with a stern face, but today, perhaps because I had finished writing well, he specially agreed.

* * *

The three wolves and the cat moved to the hill in the Gridwolf mansion to get some fresh air.

Theo transformed into a wolf for Kitty, who was drooping from the continuous lessons. Kitty was able to move comfortably, lying on Theo’s cozy and fluffy back.

Eden, walking next to Theo with Deon, said.

“Kittyia. This is an extension of the lesson, so listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“I recently received a letter from Father. A young and cunning leopard has taken the position of head of the Leopid family.”

“Leopid is the leading family of leopards, right?”

Kitty, who had been diligently attending classes, said. Eden nodded.

“Yes. I heard he became the head of the family at the age of sixteen.”

“Wow… he must be very strong.”

“My father was worried because he’s a guy who knows how to use his head and use people. He’ll start external activities as soon as the hierarchy within the leopard forces is settled.”

Kitty tilted her head. It was because Eden, Theo, and Deon were all looking at me with worried eyes.

“…Are you perhaps aiming for me?”

“Probably. They’ll take the weakest child from the wolf family as a hostage.”

That’s me!

Kitty was stunned and drooped. I was just getting used to the wolf family, and now the leopards are running wild.

“Why do leopards keep trying to fight? It would be nice if everyone could live happily…”

“Leopards have a great desire to dominate the beastmen [humanoids with animal features]. They’re probably trying to use the power of the Blue Moon to their heart’s content, which they obtained at the cost of great sacrifice about 12 years ago.”

Kitty, who had been diligently listening to Eden’s lessons, could understand the meaning of the words at once.

12 years ago, an unidentified jewel suddenly appeared in the leopards’ territory.

The jewel’s name was Blue Moon. It was one of the things the goddess left on the ground. Seeing the blue light of the jewel, the leopards lost their minds and returned to beasts.

‘So they massacred wolves, bears, and foxes indiscriminately.’

As a result, the bear beastmen cut off contact with the outside world and chose isolation, and the fox beastmen were almost annihilated.

‘The fox beastmen who were not harmed by the leopards ended up staying at the wolf mansion.’

Gridwolf provided the fox beastmen with food, clothing, and shelter, and the fox beastmen helped by using their bodies, which were sensitive to magic.

Sir Jackal and Ms. Karis seemed to be planning to fight the leopards again when the time came.

12 years ago, the wolf family fought to the end for several years and barely drove out the leopards, but the damage was enormous. Mrs. Wibis also lost her life in a battle with the leopards four years ago.

The leopards were everyone’s enemies.

“…My tail was also bitten by a leopard four years ago. Fortunately, only the end was cut off.”

“Ah… I see.”

Deon carefully stroked Kitty’s tail, which had a slightly cut-off end. Eden stared at my tail for a moment before continuing.

“The madness the leopards showed four years ago was different from the one 12 years ago. It seemed like they were only going as crazy as they needed to achieve their purpose.”

Kitty, who was listening to the story, tilted her head.

‘They can control their madness. How is that possible?’

The wolves were trying to figure out what tricks the leopards were using to control and use their madness.

Eden, who was thinking similarly to Kitty, added in a subdued voice.

“Father said that there seems to be a helper from another race. We’ll have to investigate further to find out the details.”

As we were having a heavy conversation, we were already at the highest point of the hill. The three wolves naturally shifted their gaze to the opposite hill far away.

The memorial stones with the names of the wolves who were sacrificed to the leopards were visible in small letters.

“The leopards will raid the mansion soon. If we can’t stop them, we’ll have to build another memorial.”

“…”

Theo and Deon, who were always full of playfulness, had serious faces now.

In two major battles, Gridwolf regarded the leopards as enemies.

As we were gathering information about the enemies in advance and preparing for battle, we had to win if we faced them again.

“Even if they attack right now, they probably won’t be able to get inside the mansion.”

“That’s right. Mother and Father have taken special measures.”

“Special measures?”

Eden asked back. Theo and Deon said with voices full of pride.

“They planted a lot of catnip on the hills around the mansion to prevent the leopards from attacking.”

“It’s not poisonous, but even the smell makes felines go crazy… wait a minute.”

The three wolves felt a chill down their spines and looked around. For some reason, the cotton ball that should have been right next to them was nowhere to be seen.