Chapter 96: The Cat’s Preference

Playing the guitar demanded a surprising amount of energy. Once they were tired, the children went off to play amongst themselves. She, in turn, settled onto the grass, drawing her legs up, and watched the boisterous group with a serene expression.

Naturally, the children quickly found a suitable playmate: Zelin.

Although Zelin often gave off an untrustworthy impression, the children’s reactions suggested he was a regular playmate. The moment Lamia announced, “I’ll rest for a bit,” their attention immediately shifted to Zelin. They eagerly dragged him into the center of the clearing, forming a lively circle around him.

Wade, being rather inept with children, politely declined the invitation from Zelin and the kids. He had no desire to accidentally send a child flying with an over-the-shoulder throw. With a dismissive wave, he joined Lamia, settling onto the grass beside her.

Yet, the enchanting melody of Lamia’s guitar had drawn in more than just children; a small cat had also appeared.

It didn’t appear to be a stray, yet it clearly hadn’t been meticulously groomed either.

Lamia had spotted the kitten earlier, tucked away behind a tree. Its white and yellow fur was a common sight, even among the demon races in the Demon Lord’s castle. She could unequivocally identify it: it was a cat.

“It’s been drawn in by your music.”

Following Lamia’s line of sight, Wade also noticed the kitten. Unlike her cautious observation, he was far more casual. He rubbed his hands together, then let out a series of “woof woof woof” sounds at the tiny creature. Unsurprisingly, this dog-summoning technique proved entirely ineffective on a cat.

Wade rose to his feet, planning to simply scoop up the cat. However, his sudden movement only startled the animal. It immediately arched its back, fixing a wary gaze in his direction.

Wade raised an eyebrow at the cat’s bristling posture. He couldn’t fathom what he had done to earn such a strong reaction.

‘Could it be that, accustomed to the small children here, it simply couldn’t handle someone as large as me?’

‘But it wasn’t like this when it first saw Lamia… Do I truly look that menacing? Please, I’m famously known as the gentle type within the Knight’s Order.’

Lamia remained silent, simply observing Wade’s awkward stance before her gaze drifted back to the kitten still cowering behind the tree.

She uttered no words, yet a single thought from her mind filled Wade with an inexplicable sense of defeat.

‘[Ah, that cat is going to be scared away by Wade.]’

‘—It’s not me!’

‘I didn’t do anything; it’s the cat that has a problem!’

Though it was a trivial matter, hearing Lamia’s inner thoughts stirred a sense of indignation, even mild displeasure, within Wade.

‘Lamia is interested in this cat, but I’ve scared it off?’

‘No, this won’t do… I have an image to uphold…!’

“Lamia, wait here for me for a bit. I’ll be right back, immediately.”

As he spoke, Wade, now standing, gently patted Lamia’s head. It was a gesture reminiscent of how one might reassure a child, a silent command for her to stay put.

Surprisingly, such a gesture was fitting for Lamia, whose grasp of human society sometimes mirrored that of a child.

Lamia remained seated, quiet and still, engaging in a silent staring contest with the cat.

Ordinarily, a charming young woman spotting a cat would coo “meow meow” or “kitty kitty” to entice it closer. Lamia, however, was not ordinary.

Instead, Lamia was contemplating the fundamental differences between such an animal in human society and the fully developed demons of her own kind.

Form, consciousness, cognition—they were essentially the same species, yet disparate amounts of demonic energy led to entirely distinct evolutionary branches.

‘Could the same apply to humans and humanoid demons? They share similar forms, walk on two legs, and manipulate objects with two hands, yet their differing reserves of demonic energy lead to vastly distinct perceptions…’

‘Then—could this cat become a demon? If I were to imbue it with demonic energy, would it grow powerful?’

‘By the same logic, if humans were granted demonic energy, would they then be able to approach problems from the same perspective as demons?’

Lamia wasn’t contemplating any heinous experiments on humans. She was simply wondering: could she share her own demonic energy?

Not to alter, but to grant.

Humans struggled to comprehend demons due to their differing ways of life and powers. But what if she simply bestowed those things upon them directly? If she granted them immense power, the very capacity to survive, then surely—

“I’m back.”

While Lamia was still lost in her musings, Wade’s voice sounded in her ears. She looked up, only to find him curiously peering in the direction she had been gazing.

Lamia watched as Wade strode quickly towards her, and in his hand… he held two fish?!

Wade now had his sleeves rolled up, his clothes damp with water stains. He approached, clutching two fish in one hand. Lamia couldn’t identify the species, but any ordinary person would instantly recognize these red and white specimens weren’t wild catches. Wade, the cunning old man, had simply pilfered them from a nearby ornamental pond!

Since the cat refused to approach willingly, Wade decided to offer a bribe. He unceremoniously slammed the two fish onto the ground, a rather “brutal” display that momentarily stunned Lamia. Then, he carefully arranged the two fish—whether merely dazed or already departed to the great pond in the sky, it was hard to tell—on the grass. Squatting down, he waved at the cat once more.

Wade had thoughtfully selected two particularly attractive fish. The cat, seeing them, seemed less wary now. After a tentative “meow,” and perceiving no hostility from either Lamia or Wade, it crept forward with a low, cautious gait. Instinctively, it chose the fish closer to Lamia, completely ignoring the one by Wade.

Observing the cat’s preference, Wade pouted with mild displeasure. However, seeing the creature behave so docilely, even permitting Lamia to stroke its head, he decided against further action.

Lamia gently stroked the cat, her touch exceptionally tender. Sunlight dappled their forms, casting soft shadows, creating a scene straight out of a tranquil novel.

‘The Demon Lord… who would have ever imagined?’

The legendary Black Demon Lord, who had just serenaded the children with her guitar, was now tenderly providing for a stray kitten from the orphanage.

That imposing demon, clad in black armor and wielding a greatsword, actually possessed such a gentle and peaceful side.

‘But… this is truly wonderful, isn’t it?’

No worries, no burdens, no lingering animosity—just sitting here, simply and ordinarily, engaged in the most mundane activities of everyday life.

…

‘This… this is truly good, Lamia.’

‘This is the life you deserve to enjoy.’

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Wade also extended his hand. Perhaps he, too, wished to partake in this tranquil moment, to stroke the kitten alongside Lamia. Or perhaps… he simply wanted to touch Lamia’s hand.

Yet, the moment Wade extended his hand, the kitten’s fur bristled. A sharp “Hiss!” erupted from its throat, freezing Wade’s hand mid-air.

Lamia gazed at Wade with a hint of confusion, a sentiment he clearly mirrored.

It was evident, however, that his presence carried a more formidable aura than Lamia’s.

Lamia, born from the earth’s ley lines, possessed a power that was inherently more “natural,” making it quite normal for the kitten to be drawn to her. Wade, on the other hand… well, he was the sort of man who, while appearing benevolent to casual observers, carried the ingrained decisiveness of a warrior deep within his very being.

Animals with keen instincts were adept at discerning a person’s true nature, especially little creatures like this one, accustomed to the carefree company of children.

Thus, one could say this cat either harbored a slight “dislike” for Wade or was genuinely “afraid” of him.

“Seriously… and you don’t even consider who brought you these fish—”

“Hiss!”

A second attempt yielded the same result. The cat’s hiss caused Wade’s hand to awkwardly stiffen in mid-air, a faint twitch appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“The food you’re eating was brought by me—”

“Hiss—!”

“You wretched cat…! Let me pet you…!”

“Hiss—!!”

After being hissed at three times by the cat, Wade found his composure slipping. Following a fourth attempt—

“Hiss!”

…

And after the cat hissed a fourth time—

“Hiss—!!!”

This time, it was Wade who hissed.

Just as the cat arched its back, poised to hiss, Wade directly hissed back at it, startling the feline so thoroughly that it promptly exposed its belly, splayed all four legs, and ceased its defensive posturing.

…

“Hahahah.”

Watching the cat’s stunned reaction and Wade’s flustered annoyance, Lamia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Wade had initially felt his pride smarting, but seeing Lamia laugh, he joined in—after all, if he ignored the recent hissing incident, he had indeed become a part of this tranquil afternoon.

This time, when he extended his hand, the cat did not hiss at him again.

He didn’t actually have a strong desire to pet the cat; he simply enjoyed…

…being with Lamia and doing something together.

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