It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 43

Is it a cat, or was I adopted into a wolf family? Is it a cat, or was I adopted into a wolf family? – Episode 43 (43/153)

Arriving at the training grounds, Kitty began to warm up. She was hopping in place to get her body heated when suddenly, she felt warmth all around her.

“My lady, are you cold?”

Clyde’s tone had become less formal.

Elliot reacted instantly to the approach of Danger Factor 2.

“Clyde, the young lady is training, so keep your distance.”

“Without warming magic, she might catch a cold.”

Elliot sensed the natural air of intimidation that Clyde exuded.

‘I need to watch out for this guy too; he’s fixated on the young lady.’

Clyde, who had long since come of age, was as tall as Elliot. If he was a mage, he should sit and read books like a mage, but why did he build his body so sturdily?

‘Tsk, these foxes.’

Moreover, his gentle voice and caring consideration were perfect for worming his way into the heart of an innocent cat lady.

Now that the foxes had increased in number and their magic had become greater and more refined, they were winning Kitty’s favor with all sorts of unique magic that the wolves couldn’t even imagine.

“Warming magic isn’t helpful for training. The young lady will become soft and languid.”

Kitty, who had been dozing off in the gentle, warm breeze, snapped her eyes open with a start!

Clyde smiled, gently supporting Kitty’s back.

“Of course, temperature control is also possible. My lady, aren’t you cold?”

“Just a little bit, then…”

Kitty replied, glancing at Elliot. Clyde smiled contentedly and stepped back a few paces.

Elliot sighed deeply, seeing that he seemed to have no intention of interfering with Kitty’s training.

“Then let’s start today’s training.”

The main focus was on building physical strength through intense muscle training, followed by learning how to use magic.

Kitty slowly poured her warm magic into a clear glass bead. Even though she frowned and concentrated with all her might, it didn’t work well.

“My lady, if you strain your face, you’ll only get wrinkles.”

However, Kitty clenched her teeth and poured in magic. She managed to fill the bead somehow by pouring in a large amount of magic, but she was wasting too much magic.

Kitty glanced at Elliot and the wolf knights around her.

‘This is a disaster. Is it true that cats are worse at handling magic than wolves?’

Cats were supposed to be the animals that pulled the goddess’s chariot!

She wanted to use magic at a similar level, even if she couldn’t match their physical strength, but she was upset that even that wasn’t working out.

Just as Kitty was feeling dejected, Clyde quietly approached.

“It’s easier if you imagine a stream of water starting from your forehead and spreading to your fingertips.”

Clyde carefully placed his finger on Kitty’s forehead. With just that, Kitty’s magic became much more stable.

Clyde slid his finger down Kitty’s cheek with a gentle smile. Next was her nape, then her arm, and finally, he touched Kitty’s fingernails.

“Wow, it works now!”

Elliot rubbed his forehead slowly as he watched Kitty rejoice.

“Clyde, I appreciate you helping with magic manipulation, but please step back a little.”

“I’m glad I could be of help.”

“My lady, let’s do the next lesson.”

Elliot quickly blocked the space between them with his body. He had taught her archery and daggers to a proficient level, so from now on, he planned to teach her what was truly necessary for battles between beastmen.

“Then please transform into your animal form. You’ve learned how to use magic to some extent, so from today, we’ll practice fighting in your animal form.”

Stars twinkled in Kitty’s blue eyes.

“Does that mean I can finally do the ‘fly behind and strike down at a 45-degree angle’ like Jackal?”

“Well… I don’t know about right now, but if you work hard, yes.”

Excited, Kitty returned to her cat form.

Poof—!

The sight of the fluffy, downy cotton ball appearing stole the attention of everyone at the training grounds.

Thanks to Jackal, Caris, Theo, and Deon’s diligent teaching, Kitty stood tall with her body straightened, looking as majestic as a wolf.

The four plump paws like clumps of cotton, her pink nose, and perky ears were incredibly adorable.

As the wind blew, the soft fur that had puffed up in a circle fluttered gently. Elliot looked at the dignified Kitty with a pleased expression and ordered a desk to be brought.

‘As expected, my cat form is too small compared to the wolves.’

If so, she had to refine her movements to be more agile. Kitty swallowed hard and stood even straighter.

Elliot picked up Kitty. Her body, which had been rounded, stretched out like cheese and then shortened again.

“Your fur gets so thick every winter. It would be nice if you gained more weight or muscle.”

“But my claws and nails have gotten much thicker.”

Kitty gently placed one of her soft paws on Elliot’s forearm. Gasps of envy rippled from around them.

Elliot carefully took Kitty’s soft paw and pressed his thumb into the plump pink jelly [toe bean].

Squish—

Then, Kitty’s tiny nail, the size of a grain of rice, peeked out.

“This is enough for combat practice. Then, let’s get our spirits up and practice attacking with our front paws first, shall we?”

“Yes!”

“Now, get ready.”

“Yes!”

The wolves in the training grounds had now reached the point where they could mistake Kitty’s meows for wolf howls.

“From the left, one!”

“Nyat!”

“Two!”

“Ong!”

Kitty swung her adorable cotton paws. The Gridwolf knights who witnessed the sight swallowed their blissful exclamations.

‘If the young lady pounces like that, I think I’ll collapse from the cuteness…’

‘So, she’s decided to use cuteness as a weapon?’

Regardless of whether those around her were looking at her with sparkling eyes, Kitty continued her training.

After stretching her four legs for quite some time, Elliot stopped the commands.

“We’ll stop here for today.”

“Ugh.”

Exhausted, Kitty slumped down with a short groan. It was then that Clyde naturally went to pick her up.

“She’s my disciple, so I’ll take her.”

Eden, who had arrived unnoticed, suddenly hugged Kitty. Clyde’s eyes narrowed.

“The young master’s dark coat will be ruined.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

The two men’s gazes intertwined coldly. It was not a new thing for Eden and Clyde to be fighting, so Kitty calmly did her own thing.

“Sir Elliot, thank you again today!”

Hugging Eden, Kitty straightened her body and raised her soft paws high. Because of Eden’s coat, static electricity made Kitty’s white fur puff up like a cloud.

Elliot suppressed a smile at the lovely sight and gently tapped Kitty’s soft paws with both hands.

Squish—

“I feel like the lesson isn’t over until I do the ‘squish five’.”

“That’s right. Please take care of me in tomorrow’s lesson too!”

Just as the burning gazes of Eden and Clyde were directed at Elliot, a fox beastman approached from afar. It was Ben, Clyde’s aide.

“Sir Elliot, it seems you need to go for a moment.”

“Ben, what’s wrong?”

“The fox beastmen you brought from the market today have awakened…”

“Let them rest a little more. It’s not urgent, so the interrogation will be after they’ve recovered.”

However, Ben said firmly, as if there was no time for that.

“These fox beastmen weren’t sent by the leopards.”

“What?”

“A cat named Jerian sent them to get a strand of the young lady’s hair… It seems they’re referring to the leader of the cats.”

Jerian. As soon as those three letters were uttered, the blood drained from Kitty’s face.

* * *

The group moved into the building assigned to the fox squad, guided by Ben.

The fox beastmen who had been captured in the market today were recovering with the care of others.

Having returned to their animal forms for a faster recovery, the foxes were lying five to a single adult bed, welcoming the group.

Elliot, surprised to see them crowded into one room, asked,

“Clyde, are there not enough beds?”

“No, it’s just that we recover faster when we’re huddled together.”

“Then that’s fine. Everyone, stop wagging your tails and keep them down, it’s distracting.”

Kitty would normally have been captivated by the thick, soft tails of the foxes, but she didn’t have the luxury to do so now.

Kitty transformed into her human form and approached the bed that Ben pointed out. The foxes bowed their heads to her.

“So… you’re saying that Jerian is the reason you invaded Gridwolf territory? Not the leopards?”

The fox beastmen, who had roughly heard the situation from Ben and the squad members, nodded with heavy hearts.

“Yes, that’s right. We lost our minds after Jerian used the Blue Moon and…”

“Wait, Jerian has the Blue Moon?”

“We don’t know if it’s a fake or the real thing, but Jerian also used a blue jewel to capture the foxes.”

This was the same method introduced by the foxes who had arrived in Gridwolf first. It meant that Jerian was targeting her using the same methods as the leopards.

Kitty’s complexion darkened even more. She tried to remain calm and asked a few more questions.

Fortunately, the fox beastmen accurately remembered the information they had encountered in their state of madness.

“She told us to bring a cat named Kittia who is staying at the Gridwolf mansion.”

“That’s right, she was muttering anxiously that she had something to confirm. I don’t think she ever imagined that we would come to our senses and tell you, though.”

“She even ordered us to bring back a strand of her hair if all else failed, and we were about to move while out of our minds when the young lady saved us, so we’re so relieved.”

Kitty was silent for a moment. But her heart was beating faster than ever.

Jerian.

The enemy she had never forgotten was trying so hard to bring her in.

‘I thought I would have to go find her to meet her, but is she coming to find me first?’

As a murderous intent gradually formed in her emerald eyes, one of the fox beastmen added, remembering something important.

“She said that the young lady would soon bring Jerian’s henchmen close to her. I don’t know the exact method, though.”

“It seems Jerian is trying to put one of her people in my lady-in-waiting position…”

Kitty’s eyes curved beautifully, with Gridwolf’s unique sharp light in them. A haughty voice, resembling Caris, followed.

“Wouldn’t it be rude to the other party if I pretended not to know, even though I do?”

Those who had been watching Kittia’s growth did not stop her.

Because they knew better than anyone that Kittia Gridwolf was not someone to be underestimated just because she was cute.