It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 92

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A cat adopted into a wolf family?

The carriage diligently traveled, eventually arriving at the cat territory near the Yaong River. Welsh, representing the trading company, checked into the inn where he usually stayed.

“Welsh, thank you for always using our inn.”

“Then, please take good care of us during meal times. Thanks to the chef’s skills, I sometimes crave the food of the cat territory.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

The group stayed at an inn where the Welsh Trading Company had built trust over the years. They had reserved an entire building in advance under the company’s name.

While Welsh filled out the necessary documents and the merchants moved the luggage, Kitty diligently looked around.

‘Cat beastkins!’

Because she was disguised as a dog beastkin, she couldn’t approach them and chat intimately, but her heart was full just knowing that members of her own race were nearby.

Several beastkins with sharp, upturned eyes were staying at the inn.

Judging by their attire, they all seemed to be middle class or higher, which meant they didn’t need to work under Jerian and receive food rations.

‘Rich cats go on trips too, huh.’

In her memories, her mother had to work the next day, so Kitty’s trips were limited to walks in the nearby fields. Her mother was always sorry about that.

‘But anywhere was good as long as I was with Mom.’

Kitty smiled. Being among the cat beastkins made her truly realize that she had arrived in her homeland.

It was very different from the cat territory she remembered, but it was so wonderful that it brought tears to her eyes.

The sight of male and female cats rubbing against each other and exchanging blatant ‘meows,’ and the scent of catnip [a plant of the mint family known for its effect on cats] wafting from the underground bar….

“Miss, you keep moving towards the catnip smell.”

Clyde pointed out in a very small voice, trying to hold back his laughter.

“Ahem.”

Kitty firmly held onto her sanity so as not to be captivated by the catnip.

Meanwhile, the Gridwolf’s wolf knights, including Elliot, were somewhat taken aback by the cat beastkins.

‘They all look so sleek?’

‘I thought all cats had fluffy fur like the young lady….’

When they actually came to the cat territory, it seemed that only Kitty was round and fluffy. Most cat beastkins who looked over ten years old had a slender and aloof image. Their fur wasn’t as abundant as Kitty’s either.

‘The young lady… is it because she’s the youngest daughter and receives a lot of love?’

‘Maybe she’s spent so much time with the young masters that she’s forgotten all her cat-like behaviors.’

Theo and Deon had spent a lot of time with the dog beastkin Paul, the head butler, instead of their busy parents. Kitty’s little habits being similar to those of dog beastkins were somewhat understandable.

The dog beastkins of the Welsh Trading Company seemed to like that aspect of Kitty even more.

“Shall we move then?”

Welsh, who had finished checking in, led everyone to the building next door. The cat beastkins politely greeted them and then left the building.

Welsh began to explain, as if appealing to Kitty.

“I heard that the traditional houses of cat beastkins have warm floors.”

“That’s right! The warmest part is especially warm. It’s even warmer when you’re gathered with other people.”

Kitty was very pleased, and Welsh felt it was worth asking for the heating to be extra warm.

After enjoying a hearty meal of Yaong soup and bread specially prepared by the inn’s chefs, the group went to bed early for the next day.

* * *

The next day was busy from early dawn. Sir Elliot summoned the wolf knights who had been patrolling the area all night to check the security status.

“There were no unusual movements from the inn. The Welsh Trading Company has a long-standing friendship with them, so they don’t seem to be suspicious.”

“Good work. But don’t let your guard down.”

“Yes, Sir Elliot.”

The wolf knights, Clyde, and I were scheduled to head to the upper reaches of the Yaong River before sunrise.

This was due to Clyde’s opinion that starting at this time was the most appropriate for performing large-scale magic.

“Then I will be waiting here.”

Welsh and the merchants would pretend to be resting at the inn to avoid being discovered that we were gone.

Before sunrise, I packed the Gridwolf’s bow into a bag and went outside.

In the forest a little away from the inn, the wolf knights and fox squad members, who had returned to their animal forms, were shining their eyes and straightening their ranks.

I also returned to my cat form, standing upright with my chest puffed out. I held the bag containing the bow with my tail.

“Young lady, get on my back.”

“But I can run too?”

“…….”

Sir Elliot looked back and forth between his long legs and my small body.

“When you get a little bigger, you’ll be able to run with the pack.”

“This is all I’m going to grow, Teacher.”

“…….”

She was fully grown, but still much smaller than the wolves. It couldn’t be helped since she was a cat.

I didn’t insist any further and climbed onto Sir Elliot’s neck.

I had to be careful not to drop the bow, or Sir Elliot would fall over.

The wolves and foxes ran at full speed, and it wasn’t long before we reached the upper reaches of the Yaong River.

The beautiful, blue Yaong River was frozen on the surface, making it difficult to fish.

“Young lady, do you really think Clyde can melt all these rivers?”

Sir Elliot seemed genuinely curious. I answered into the wolf’s ear, which was pushed back by the wind.

“Of course! We did fireworks together last time, and Clyde was also skilled at handling fire magic.”

Boiling the river water might be impossible, but melting the ice on the surface should be more than possible.

“Thank you for believing in me, young lady.”

Clyde, who had been following closely next to Sir Elliot, winked his eyes.

After Clyde performed the magic at a suitable place in the upper reaches, the plan for today was to search the hideout of the special forces and night cats who were supposed to come from the Central Training Center.

“Protect Clyde and the young lady.”

Sir Elliot, who had returned to his human form, said in a stern voice and signaled to Clyde.

Clyde did a backflip and returned to his human form.

“Then I’ll borrow the young lady for a moment. My mana core is most stable when I’m with the young lady.”

“…….”

Sir Elliot looked at Clyde with a very displeased face. But to increase the probability of success of the magic, it was right to do as Clyde said.

I put the bow down on the floor for a moment and jumped into Clyde’s arms.

He delicately arranged my outstretched fur and wore a somewhat bitter smile.

“Young lady, you’re always in cat form when you hug me?”

“Always cute, right?”

When I tilted my head slightly and said playfully, Clyde quickly agreed.

“……Yes.”

Clyde tapped my nose and then hugged me and headed towards the river.

At this time of year, the Yaong River was frozen solid enough to run on, making fishing difficult.

‘That’s why they have no choice but to spend it hungrier.’

But if the ice of the Yaong River were removed, the cats who depended on Jerian’s rations would be able to secure food by fishing.

It was something that had to be done to reduce the influence of Jerian, that bad cat.

“Clyde, please start.”

At my words, Clyde created a fire in his hand. Unlike what I usually saw, it was a blue fire.

“Young lady, this is a water-attribute flame. Do you want to touch it?”

I stretched out my soft hand and touched Clyde’s flame. It was truly a wet flame like water.

When I pulled my hand out, the wet feeling immediately disappeared, and my fur was fluffy and dry.

“Raising the water temperature to melt the ice can have a negative impact on the ecosystem.”

If white-cooked fish floated to the surface, anyone would find it strange and investigate.

“I thought you would only melt the surface to break the ice.”

“But that’s too cumbersome.”

Clyde flicked his finger and turned the flame in his hand into several strands of thread.

The thread crawled over the ice like a snake and stopped for a moment.

Crackling—

“……!”

Not only me, but also the wolf knights who were guarding the surroundings widened their eyes at the extraordinary sight.

The ice was cut into several pieces along the thread and floated up, then became small grains and spread like fog in all directions.

The sun was rising, and each water droplet sparkled like a jewel.

When the wind blew and the fine water droplets flew, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the surroundings.

Only a thin layer of ice that would break if touched remained on the surface of the water. The magic was a success.

The enchanting sight swept away the gloomy feelings that had been in my heart.

“Kya—!”

While I was looking around and admiring the rainbow, Sir Elliot crossed his arms and asked Clyde.

“Clyde, you… was this the reason why you said you had to use magic at this time?”

“This kind of magic is the prettiest when used at this time. You like it this way, don’t you?”

“Young lady…….”

Sir Elliot looked at me with a dumbfounded face. Clyde had a very satisfied face.

I was just as satisfied. My heart was pounding with excitement from the enchanting sight.

“Young lady, you have a lot of water on your whiskers. Shall I wipe them off?”

“Ah, yes.”

I stretched my face out towards Clyde. He carefully wrung out the wet face fur with a soft handkerchief.

I entrusted myself to his skillful touch when I felt a presence in the distance.

“……Kitty.”

Then I heard a familiar voice. I was startled and opened my eyes.

There stood Ethan, with two swords on his waist, and several black-haired wolf beastkins following him.

Clyde smiled and hugged me even tighter.

“I didn’t know that the special forces sent from the Central Training Center would be the Lord of Wyvis.”

……There’s no way Clyde didn’t know who was coming as a member of the special forces.

Ethan’s face contorted at the sly voice.