It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 93

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“Teacher?”

Kitty asked, surprised. Eden’s face darkened further at the voice that seemed to question his presence.

He was silent for a moment, as if stunned, then forced out a question.

“Kitty, why are you in Clide’s arms?”

A low, rumbling voice, laced with urgency. The overwhelming presence of a high-ranking wolf froze the surrounding wolf knights.

But Kitty, being a cat, only flinched slightly.

“I helped Clide use magic.”

“Yes, that’s right. I asked for her help.”

Clide’s polite demeanor seemed twice as irritating as usual.

He meticulously dried Kitty’s fur, which was damp from the water droplets, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, making them look like a couple caught in an affair.

It was a thought Kitty would have vehemently denied if she’d heard it, but Eden was inadvertently thinking along those lines.

‘Why are you with another man?’

And why him, of all people?

Eden genuinely hated the sight of Kitty nestled in Clide’s arms like a docile chicken.

The person in charge of the central training ground would have already informed him of the special forces dispatch and its members.

Just like when he was young, chewing on the end of a pencil while waiting, he’d imagined she would be looking around, wondering when her teacher would come.

“…….”

Do you like him?

Eden sincerely wanted to ask, but the words wouldn’t come out. The moment he uttered those words, he would be admitting that Clide Foxtein was a rival.

In the first place, the only man who should be with Kittyia Gridwolf is himself, so how could he even voice such a thing?

“We should start searching soon, so everyone transform into human form.”

Eden said heavily, trying to sound nonchalant. However, not only the wolves but also the fox squad members noticed the barely suppressed emotion within him.

“Yes!”

Only Kitty answered cheerfully and jumped out of Clide’s arms.

Poof!

With a small sound, Kitty transformed into human form.

Rena and Vaniel hadn’t followed, so her hairstyle was a bit messier than usual, but that only made her even more adorable.

Eden felt a little better just by looking at Kitty’s pigtails, which were fluffy like clouds.

“Miss, I’ll redo your hair later.”

“Okay, Clide.”

“…….”

Seeing Clide wagging his tail made Eden uncomfortable again.

Kitty was too susceptible to Clide’s soft, thick fox tail. Even if Clide didn’t physically present his tail, she would fall for his affectionate tone.

“Then let’s get started.”

Eden said, cutting off the conversation.

He came as the leader of the special forces, but naturally took the lead according to the wolf hierarchy.

The wide stride he had when heading to the upper reaches of the Yaong River narrowed to a pace that was easy to follow.

‘How interesting.’

Catherine Weebs suppressed a laugh as she watched Eden’s emotions rapidly rise and fall.

She finally understood why his mood was fluctuating so much.

When Eden, who didn’t particularly like group activities, first went to Commander Forward and asked for extra credit for supporting Gridwolf, she thought he was simply bored with the training ground.

She thought that he was taking classes and taking several exams a day in order to graduate quickly and become the full head of the family to avenge his mother.

‘So there was another reason besides Mrs. Weebs.’

Honestly, it was a bit unexpected.

Even Catherine, who had lived almost like siblings with him, couldn’t stay by Eden’s side after Mrs. Weebs was attacked by the panthers.

Eden, who lost his mother at a young age, closed his heart tightly, leaving only a small gap.

Catherine always wanted Eden, who was like a younger brother, to be happy, but she couldn’t squeeze into that narrow gap and bring Eden out into the world.

‘And a cat beastman managed to do it.’

She had heard that cats could slip through even the smallest gaps like liquid.

Perhaps that’s why she could accept the fact that a cat lady with fluffy white fur and a pink nose had entered Eden’s tightly closed heart.

The problem was that Kitty frequently went out.

Kitty was toying with Eden, going in and out of the slightly opened door of his heart. As if it was no problem for her, a cat whose body stretches out.

‘So if I were Eden, I would be eager to graduate as soon as possible.’

He would have to graduate quickly to officially confess or propose to Kitty.

If he did such a thing while tied to the training ground, he would be stoned by the members of Gridwolf.

Catherine, as a cousin who had spent her childhood with him and as an aide, wanted him to be happy.

‘Should I help a little?’

Kitty seems to be somewhat aware of Eden, so if I just give her a little push, there will be better results.

‘For example… a jealousy-inducing operation.’

Her blue eyes narrowed.

* * *

“There are more than one or two oak trees.”

I muttered, pressing down on the surface of an oak tree.

The wolves were standing wide in a row, examining the trees one by one. Since they didn’t know what form the night cats’ nest would take, this was the best they could do.

The fog grew thicker as we headed up the Yaong River, and it felt like we were walking into an increasingly hazy and dark night.

‘Haven’t they already left to find another nest?’

If the wolves had approached this close, the night cats would have shown interest, but since there was no movement, I was starting to worry.

No, even if they have moved to another place now, if the wolves have approached this close, they would have contacted us first.

‘Let’s focus on what we’re doing now, and if not, let’s calmly wait for contact.’

But there was one thing that bothered me.

“Eden, I’ll continue searching over there.”

“Okay.”

One of the female wolves who followed Eden kept catching my eye. She was a cool and slender wolf like Caris.

‘Her name was Catherine, I think.’

We had to start searching quickly, so I didn’t even get to talk to her, but it was the first time I had seen a female wolf of my age, so I was fascinated and couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Catherine was a very dignified wolf, and she assisted Eden without the slightest hesitation. That reminded me of Caris, which made me like her even more.

When I looked at her, she would give me an alluring smile.

Then she would immediately dust off Eden’s clothes or give him an affectionate smile.

‘……It must be part of her job as an aide?’

I don’t know why she touches Eden every time I look, but one thing was clear.

‘If she can get along with that grumpy wolf, she can be friends with me too.’

Is our teacher’s personality a bit picky? He said he was obsessed with me, but he’s so indifferent that he gives me gifts that don’t fit the time.

I stared at Catherine, who was attending to Eden, and then looked away. I should tell them to finish the search quickly and bask in the sun together.

I didn’t know anything about her except that she was from Weebs and had been with Eden since she was young.

‘I should have asked for her last name. Are they childhood friends?’

I felt a pang of disappointment and quickly continued the search.

Maybe it was because I was staring too much, but Eden came towards me.

“Kitty.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“……Is that all you have to say?”

Eden made a sulky face as if he was about to poke my side. I felt like I knew what he wanted.

That day, he kissed me on the cheek on the balcony and left, which was very annoying, but I didn’t want to mention it because it seemed like I was the only one who cared about it.

So I should act normal.

“I missed you very, very much, Teacher! Was the trip uncomfortable? It was quick by carriage, though.”

As I mechanically flattered him, Eden chuckled.

“Me too.”

“Pardon?”

“It was quick.”

“……Ah.”

For some reason, his eyes crinkled. He looked very satisfied.

“Have you been well?”

My heart fluttered at his low voice that was about to reach me. I remembered the box-like arms that had trapped me that night.

But it wasn’t me who answered Eden’s question.

“Of course. You saw how fluffy she was earlier, didn’t you?”

Clide answered Eden’s question with a sly look. A subtle vein popped out on Eden’s forehead.

“I asked Kitty.”

“How important do you think the lady’s well-being is to me, her escort?”

“Protecting is your job, not answering for her.”

Sparks seemed to fly from the eyes of the two facing each other.

Well, if they start grabbing each other’s hair, I’ll be caught in the middle, so it’s better to back off.

I left the two bickering like they used to when they were young and hurried to the next oak tree.

But this tree felt different.

‘This is……’

I had felt this way before when I first saw Gridwolf’s bow at the training ground.

A warm and cozy power like sunlight. It was the magic of the Blue Moon that everyone else shuddered at.

And that power was emanating more clearly from the particularly large oak tree a few steps ahead.

The branch part of the tree was not visible due to the thick fog.

“You two, come over here for a moment.”

I called Eden and Clide, who were having a war of nerves. The two who came closer also showed interest in the particularly large oak tree in front of them.

“I don’t think there was such a big tree before.”

“The tree is saturated with magic. The surrounding fog seems to be affected by this tree to some extent.”

Clide diagnosed a little more accurately.

“Then……”

I took out Gridwolf’s bow, which I had put in my bag. Warm magic emanated from my bow as well.

As I approached the oak tree and touched its rough surface, I felt a stinging sensation as if I had been pricked by something.

At the same time, I felt a heavy gaze from above.

I slowly raised my head.

Then, the branch part of the tree, which had been obscured by the thick fog, became clearly visible.

“……!”

There, dozens of black cats, like fruits, were perched on each thick branch, looking down at me with shining greenish-yellow eyes.