Chapter 13: An Unexpected Promise

The monster’s previous form was still faintly discernible. Its red fur, colossal claws, humanoid shape, and bear-like bulk were still evident.

Yet, there were stark differences now. Fine slits had ripped open across its blood-red torso. Its fur writhed and pulsed like an invertebrate, as if… as if it were breathing through gills in the water.

Most striking was the colossal maw beneath its head. The crimson tentacles Gasla had been dragging had emerged from there.

‘That thing… it was truly disgusting.’

Especially when Votila considered that it shared her own bloodline, she felt as nauseated as if she had eaten Gasla’s excrement.

Tilting her head, Votila glanced at Mulee Hua beside her. The young girl’s face bore a similarly complex expression, her eyes clouded with shifting emotions.

‘Poop-scooper, you also think this guy is particularly disgusting, right?’ the black cat mused.

Seemingly sensing the black cat’s gaze, Mulee Hua looked at it, offering a bitter smile. “Rinna, I know you aren’t just an ordinary cat,” the girl stated, her lips parting.

‘Ah!? Did this human see through my identity!?’ The black cat felt a sudden, inexplicable panic, turning its head to feign interest in the scenery.

‘No, wait! Why am I panicking? A mere human! Why should I feel guilty? Besides, after I used the Dragon’s Eye on her, even an idiot would realize I’m not just a common housecat.’

With this thought, the black cat turned its head again, staring directly into Mulee Hua’s eyes.

Seeing the black cat’s flustered appearance, the girl smiled brightly and continued, “I know you can understand what I say. But I don’t care if you’re a high-level magical beast or some other intelligent race.”

“I only hope you promise me one thing! Don’t just wander out of my sight anymore!”

‘Hmm… that’s still up for debate… Isn’t that restricting someone’s personal freedom?’

The blonde girl’s gaze burned into the black cat’s eyes, her expression unexpectedly serious.

‘Hey! Hey! This is hardly the time for this, is it!’ the black cat gestured indignantly with its paws.

“Can’t… you?” The pure, emerald eyes of the girl seemed to well up with a hint of grievance.

The black cat gestured even more frantically. ‘Hey! Look around! Look around! Read the room, poop-scooper!’

“Woo…” A film of mist seemed to cloud the girl’s eyes, and the corners of her mouth drooped.

‘Don’t! Don’t! Look around! Around!’ The black cat was furious. It didn’t know if Mulee Hua understood its meaning, but it couldn’t speak. It was just a cat, and it felt utterly desperate.

Because! The monster’s tentacles had already reached behind the girl!

“Hm…?” Perhaps it was the foul stench of the monster’s tentacles that caused a flicker of displeasure to cross the girl’s face. “Gasla!”

“Awooo!” Gasla, the muscular canine brother, panted heavily as he rushed over, plopping down to sit on the tentacles behind the girl with a *splat*.

Black cat: ‘…What else can I say? Who told me I’m just a cat? …How did this dog train like this!!’

The girl stood up, placing the black cat on her shoulder, and gazed at the distant monster. “Rinna… there are too many dangers in this forest. If you’re not by my side, I can’t protect you. I’ll… worry…”

‘Ugh… Kid… you don’t have zoophilia, do you?’

The black cat couldn’t help but think with a shudder.

The girl smiled, and even the black cat had to admit her smile was beautiful; such a conclusion could be drawn even with different racial aesthetics.

“So, Rinna, just watch quietly from here. I am your owner, so now, leave it to me.” The girl’s tone grew colder, yet the black cat sensed within it a complex emotion—was it anger or something else entirely?

‘Was this girl truly the same weak Mulee Hua who had wept before her father’s grave just moments ago?’

“Those who dare touch what is mine will pay the price.”

As if infected by its owner’s fighting spirit, the muscular canine brother let out a high-pitched howl the moment the girl’s words fell. “Awooo~~~!!!”

‘This dog doesn’t have wolf blood, does it? That would truly be… an embarrassment to wolves.’

Even the red-furred monster in the lake couldn’t stand it any longer. It thrashed through the water, waving its colossal claws, and charged towards the girl, the dog, and the cat on the shore.

Gasla half-crouched, his claws digging into the muddy ground. His muscles tensed, like a fully drawn longbow, ready to unleash its power at any moment.

“Gasla! Use Impact Punch!”

At the girl’s command, Gasla shot out like an arrow from a bowstring. The shallow water by the lake splashed violently to either side, as if sliced by a blade.

‘This muscular canine brother possesses such speed!’ The black cat was slightly astonished; this linear speed was far beyond what it could achieve currently.

The red-furred monster seemed to have developed a sliver of rationality, or perhaps it sensed a hint of threat from the dog. The instant the muscular canine brother charged, its colossal claws lunged forward.

During its sprint, Gasla’s figure left a trail of afterimages on the water. Even with its current vision, the black cat could only perceive Gasla making a clenched-fist, punching motion.

In a flash, the two crossed paths. A shockwave instantly spread, whipping up towering waves across the lake’s surface.

Plopped on the girl’s shoulder, the black cat felt a gust of wind pressure blast towards it, making it difficult to keep its eyes open.

Even from such a distance, the impact wielded such power, underscoring the sheer terror of their collision!