It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 75

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‘Come to think of it, marriage.’

It was a topic I had never seriously considered. My top priority had always been to avenge my mom, the little ones, my dad, and my brother.

Even after dealing with Jerian, I only thought about starting a knitting business or settling down in a comfortable territory.

‘Mom always said she was happy being married to Dad. And Dad loved Mom with all his heart.’

The letters Dad sent to Mom always had the words ‘I love you!’ along with a left paw print.

Sir Jackal and Lady Caris also seemed very happy being married to each other. Having gone through two harmonious families, I naturally came to think that I, too, would get married and be happy with my family.

I don’t know when it will be, but when I become independent, I must create a cozy family.

I needed a family that would quietly hug me on sad days and jump around with me, sharing delicious salmon dishes on happy days.

‘What kind of furniture should I get?’

For the first time, I began to vividly imagine the daily life I would share with my own family. I hadn’t dealt with Jerian yet, but it was a pleasant fantasy.

“There’s nothing as happiness-inducing as a harmonious family.”

As I spoke, Sir Jackal gently stroked my head.

“I’m glad I can give you happiness……”

“I think it would be nice to have about three children! Four would be okay too.”

“What?”

Sir Jackal and Sir Elliot gave me a look that asked for an explanation. When I told them I was planning for the future, their eyes widened.

“My lady, I naturally assumed you were talking about how harmonious Gridwolf Manor is.”

“Of course, Gridwolf Manor is harmonious and comfortable.”

Sir Jackal muttered, ‘Three children?’ before advising me.

“Kitty, you tend to think too far into the future. I think it would be better to focus on the present and your current happiness.”

Sir Jackal’s voice sounded somewhat dejected as he said that. I said I would, and then made a short request.

“When the first baby is born, I would like Sir Jackal to name them.”

“……!”

A strange light flickered in Sir Jackal’s eyes. Sir Elliot, who was next to him, quickly added with sparkling eyes.

“My lady, then I, your teacher, will name the second child……”

“Elliot.”

Sir Jackal cut off Sir Elliot’s words with a stern voice.

“The names of the children are originally decided based on the name of the first child.”

“……”

It seemed Sir Jackal wanted to name all the children I would have.

I offered comfort to Sir Elliot, who seemed a little disappointed.

“I will definitely teach our babies to call you their teacher.”

“That would be… adorable.”

Sir Elliot smiled brightly, as if he had never been gloomy.

* * *

It didn’t take long to reach the place where the white-furred rabbits stayed. We were planning to go and talk to the leader of the white-furred rabbits, who was called ‘Grandpa.’

Although the clover had withered to brown in the harsh winter wind, and snow that hadn’t been cleared was piled up everywhere, the country house where Grandpa stayed looked cozy.

This was because the figures of rabbit beastmen, huddled together and talking by the steamy windows, were visible.

‘It was said to be a mansion where Grandpa and many rabbits live together.’

While Sir Elliot was discussing the entrance, I leisurely admired the exterior of the mansion.

I thought that the mansion where the leader of the clan stayed would be heavily guarded and systematic, but in reality, it looked like a large family home.

“Let’s go in.”

Sir Elliot guided Sir Jackal and me inside. Perhaps because so many families lived together, rabbits were lying around everywhere, asleep in their animal forms.

‘Kya―!’

I barely suppressed the urge to poke the soft, round baby rabbits with my soft paws and moved my feet.

I saw an old rabbit sitting in the largest armchair in front of the fireplace. His thick, round eyebrows and lush hair were all white, making him look like a gentle hermit.

The moment Sir Elliot was about to say something about his rude attitude of not getting up from the chair, Sir Jackal raised his hand to stop him.

“Are those your grandchildren?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Sir Jackal.”

On Grandpa’s lap, who was sitting in the armchair, were about six baby rabbits curled up and napping.

The adult rabbit beastmen were startled and took the sleeping baby rabbits away from Grandpa.

“I’m sorry, Sir Jackal.”

“I said it’s okay.”

……Even if he says it’s okay with such a stern voice and expression, the listener would flinch.

It had only been a month since he had my fur cloak made, so Sir Jackal’s hair was still short like a gangster’s.

‘It’ll probably grow back to its original length in a month.’

Moreover, the baby rabbits, who had suddenly woken up, began to whine, making it difficult to have a conversation.

“I’m sorry, Sir Jackal!”

“……”

Sir Jackal seemed very embarrassed to have heard the word ‘sorry’ three times in just ten minutes of his appearance. It wasn’t obvious on the outside, but that’s how I felt.

‘I need to calm the baby rabbits down first…….’

If I solemnly told the rabbits to be quiet, there was a risk that the atmosphere would become stiff. After a moment of thought, I whispered to Sir Jackal.

“Yes, yes? The rabbits will like it too. I liked it so much when I was young.”

“……”

Poof―!

Instead of answering, Sir Jackal transformed into a large wolf. The crying rabbits gasped and froze.

Waving my soft paws, I said.

“Who wants to ride the wolf slide?”

“……!”

The baby rabbits flocked like clouds and began to explore Sir Jackal’s soft wolf fur. The faces of the adult rabbit beastmen turned pale.

“Kids, you shouldn’t do that……”

“It’s okay. Sir Jackal likes children.”

As if to prove my words, Sir Jackal used his tail to pull the fearless baby rabbits who rushed towards him up to his midsection.

“Kya―!”

“Wooheehee!”

More and more baby rabbits came from somewhere.

As expected, the wolf slide is the best.

I also pretended to help the children and slid down a few times. Sir Jackal was such a big wolf that I could slide down no matter how much I grew.

Looking at the movement of his tail, Sir Jackal seemed quite satisfied with the laughter of the baby rabbits.

As expected, he’s kind, unlike his appearance.

Grandpa smiled, oblivious to the fact that his rabbit ears were sticking out, watching the children cheering.

“I’m sorry, Sir Jackal.”

“It’s okay, let’s get to the point.”

As Sir Jackal rolled his large eyes, Sir Elliot handed the file he was holding to Grandpa.

Inside were the personal details of several rabbit beastmen with white fur.

While Clyde was recovering, the fox squadron members, along with the knights of Gridwolf, investigated all the rabbits.

The white-furred rabbits in the file were like Toby, unaware that Jerian’s magic was imbued in their bodies, and they turned violent at night.

“All ten are white rabbits. Grandpa, you must have interacted with all the white-furred rabbits, so please tell us about them.”

Sir Elliot said. Grandpa looked at each portrait with a sorrowful expression and asked in a trembling voice.

“Are these children all alive? They were clearly kidnapped without a trace, but where……”

“They were scattered within the wolf territory, hidden from the eyes of others.”

“How could this happen……”

The voice was so weak it seemed like it would break at any moment. The genuine concern revealed many facts.

Grandpa knew all the white rabbit beastmen in the file and seemed to miss them very much.

The image of Lady Caris wailing as she looked at the small tombstone with the name ‘Diel Gridwolf’ written on it in the central training ground overlapped in my mind.

Around the time when the baby rabbits, who had been enjoying the slide, were exhausted and began to fall asleep one by one.

Grandpa stroked the portraits with his wrinkled hands, which felt like plant roots, and began to speak.

“When the rabbit beastmen with brown fur left the rabbit territory, we thought we should stay and protect our place. Until these children disappeared……”

“Were all the rabbits recorded in the file missing?”

“Yes. No matter how much we searched the bushes, we couldn’t find these children. It was as if they had been taken to another territory.”

Sir Elliot explained Toby’s condition, who moved for Jerian at night. Grandpa sighed and told us about the rabbits’ situation.

Listening to the story, I was able to piece together what had happened.

Some of the white-furred rabbits who were protecting the territory went missing, and the rabbits, unable to find them, trembled in fear and eventually chose to migrate.

‘Jerian must have kidnapped the rabbits.’

Otherwise, there was no reason for the white-furred rabbits, including Toby, to be loyal to Jerian.

“Still, I should say it’s a relief that they’re alive……”

Grandpa let out a deep sigh and got up from the armchair. Then, he bowed to Sir Jackal, me, and Sir Elliot.

Even though the difference in power between rabbits and wolves is great, he should have pride as the leader of a race.

“I’m sorry, but…… please save these rabbits.”

Grandpa was a rabbit who would not hesitate to put aside his pride to save his beloved family.

Rabbits are animals that are weak enough to be harmed by cats, so this might have been the best way.

The moment a weak person asks a strong person for help, their inner self is shattered.

I knew very well the despair of realizing that you cannot save your loved ones with your own strength.

The moment I buried my mother in the ground and blamed my helpless self came to mind, and my eyes welled up.

I placed my hand on Grandpa’s respectfully gathered hands.

Squish―

“Grandpa, Jerian will definitely be punished. Because he tore apart families who cherish and love each other.”

“My lady……”

Sir Jackal, who had already returned to his human form, stroked my head and continued.

“The rabbits who are detained in Gridwolf Manor will be returned as soon as the investigation is completed. The investigation into what happened in the rabbits’ territory will also begin today.”

Grandpa was relieved by the answer from Sir Jackal, the leader. Tears welled up in the small eyes visible under the drooping eyelids.

“Thank you, Sir Jackal. My lady……”

Grandpa bowed to us for a long time. The baby rabbits were peacefully enjoying their nap, unaware of what was happening.

* * *

And a few days later. Sir Elliot, having completed the field investigation, returned from the rabbit territory with the fox squadron.

“It’s as you said, my lady.”

“Really?”

I sparkled my eyes at the thought of having caught Jerian’s weakness.

“Yes. Kidnapping the rabbits was entirely Jerian’s doing. According to the fox squadron members, it seems he used Blue Moon [likely a type of mind-control magic or drug] on the kidnapped rabbits to conduct experiments to control their minds.”

There was more evidence. The fox beastmen who had been captured by the leopards replied that they had never heard of the rabbit incident. On the other hand, Ann and Marie confessed about Jerian’s rabbit kidnapping as soon as the rabbit story came up.

It was Jerian’s mistake and the leopards’ mistake to use too much manpower to kidnap me.

“In that case……”

Jerian would already be in trouble because of the fake information I had leaked to cause confusion. Now that his relationship with the leopards has soured because of Blue Moon, this was an opportunity to completely separate Jerian and the leopards.

“I’ve got a good idea.”

I went straight to Sir Jackal and Lady Caris.