Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Chapter 19: Interest Should Compound (4)
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“It's K.”
Now that I understood the beastkin traits, I figured I could overlook their near-rudeness.
But that didn't mean I had to abandon my familiar human ways.
I'd just told them that since I'd respect their customs, they should respect mine as a human.
“Oh, right.”
I wasn't sure if they fully grasped my intent.
But Horpe grabbed my hand in return and shook it vigorously.
“I'm Horpe.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Horpe was the king of their kind.
I had no idea how their power structure worked, but being the head of a group was never a light position.
‘I can't let the beastkin king see me as just some easy catnip supplier he can treat casually.’
Giving them what they want isn't hard.
But if I just hand it over every time without pushback, they'll view me as something they can take whenever they please.
At the very least, I had to make it clear they needed basic courtesy to get anything from me.
That way, mutual respect could flow both directions.
“Nice to meet you too. I hear you have this catnip stuff? Mind if I take some?”
Now that I'd received the bare minimum respect, I was willing to go along with this hot-headed, my-way-or-the-highway tiger's approach.
“I do have some, but...”
I answered readily and pulled out the last catnip product from my inventory.
Horpe immediately shoved his face into my hand and sniffed.
“What's this? No smell?”
Instead of explaining, I popped open the plastic lid and pressed down firmly on the nozzle with my finger.
Pssht-pssht!
“Haaah.”
I never thought I'd see this sight again.
Not just Horpe, but Breche, who had sidled up close.
Two massive tiger beastmen united in front of the catnip spray.
They rolled around on the training ground floor, reveling shamelessly in the catnip.
Eyes gathered on them as they indulged.
Soon, Belta—who had been watching the catnip-dazed adults—toddled over to my side with quick steps.
She thrust out the doll clutched in her arms.
“This no smell. Do again.”
From the state of the doll, it looked seriously grubby.
‘No way she's been carrying it around nonstop for days?’
Letting out a faint sigh, I took Belta's doll.
“While you're here, take a different one.”
“No!”
“It smells the same.”
“Then okay.”
The kid—who had bared her teeth, ready to snatch the doll back—flipped her expression in an instant and shot her tail straight up to the sky.
‘Is she simpleminded? Or just honest?’
Maybe both.
Shaking my head with a wry smile, I pulled another fish doll from my inventory.
‘This one's gonna need sucking on it.’
A new doll and skin for the kid, and catnip spray for the adults.
As I tended to cats of all sizes, a familiar voice called out.
“K... sir...?”
Chentler looked back and forth between me and the tiger beastmen with a bewildered expression.
What the hell did I do to turn these my-way tigers into a pack of tame housecats?
Reading the blatant question on his face, I shrugged.
“Just worked a little magic.”
Pssht.
“Hiaa.”
Pssht.
“Hyaaang!”
The reactions were so good, it was kinda fun.
The weird addictiveness made me want to keep spraying.
‘I get why people keep cats now.’
Not that I'd ever get one.
With all the responsibilities I already had, adding a pet?
I'd never care for it properly, so it'd just be self-indulgence in the end.
I stuffed the spray catnip into my pocket and reached out.
To pick up Belta, who had plopped down on the ground again.
“Heeheehee.”
Belta didn't care if I picked her up—she was too busy giggling with her nose buried in the new doll.
Thanks to that, I lifted the kid off the ground without much resistance.
I brushed the dirt and dry grass off her clothes and settled her securely in one arm.
Then I turned back to Chentler.
“Is this the guest you mentioned?”
“...Yes.”
“Got it.”
“Yes?”
Chentler's puzzled reply told me I needed to explain a bit.
“They seem to have business with me.”
I shook the spray canister in my pocket and continued.
“I'll give it to them once they snap out of it, so no worries.”
Once the catnip wore off, hand over the spray and send them on their way.
‘They're the type to keep it short and sweet for business, so they'll leave after getting the catnip.’
That's why I told Chentler he didn't need to stick around.
“Ah.”
With that brief explanation, Chentler let out a soft sound of understanding.
He glanced down at the tiger beastmen with a complicated look, bowed slightly, and said,
“Then I'll take my leave.”
After Chentler left, I scanned the area with the two catnip-high tiger beastmen at my side.
I was looking for Alens, who'd been pestering me earlier, but unfortunately, he was nowhere in the training ground.
‘Slipped away already...’
Too bad—I still had that ink from the kitchen kid.
Not a big deal, though. Alens had nowhere to go in this mansion.
The knights had to do regular patrol shifts for security and stay inside for quick response in emergencies.
Unless he was off-duty, he was in my palm.
‘I can hit the barracks later.’
Holding Belta, I waited for the tiger beastmen to come to their senses.
Watching the three spotted tails swishing around me, I practiced my teleportation magic until the two adult tigers started recovering.
“It's sealed, so it'll be easy to use.”
Regaining his composure, Horpe took the spray canister with a refreshed face.
“We'll settle up later.”
“Huh?”
“Humans are picky about that stuff, right? Trades and all.”
It sounded like a jab at human calculation, at first.
But his tone and expression held no sarcasm.
So the reason was simple.
‘He's just straightforward.’
Belta had always stated exactly what she wanted, too.
Horpe was the same.
‘He must've seen humans obsessed or touchy about deals before.’
Though he didn't seem to judge or dislike it personally.
He was just saying what he saw.
No need to get defensive over an offhand comment.
“In my case, it's less that I like deals and more that I hate owing people.”
I'd been hustling just now to pay off that debt, after all.
Horpe threw his head back and laughed heartily at my response.
“Krahaha!”
Then he thumped my shoulder.
“Ugh.”
His heavy hand nearly tilted my steady stance.
I barely kept my balance when his hand finally pulled away.
Not by choice—Belta had bared her teeth and chomped down on it, forcing him back.
“Don't touch!”
“Huh?”
“Mine! I found him, I brought him!”
Horpe grabbed Belta by the scruff and hoisted her up.
“Look at this one putting up her fur.”
“Let gooo! Let go! Go away!”
“No can do. Why do you think I came straight here from the plains? I'm keeping you with me all day, so get used to it.”
“Nooo!”
Hah hah hat! Horpe bellowed a laugh and strode off, still dangling Belta.
I watched their retreating backs and let out a light chuckle.
‘They're so consistent.’
No formal greetings coming or going—just doing their own thing.
‘Kinda free-spirited, in a way.’
Different from how I'd lived, but it didn't feel bad or awkward.
A few encounters had let me understand their ways a bit.
I watched the father-daughter pair fade away for a moment.
“Always so noisy, that one.”
A tongue-click drew my gaze, and a massive bulk crouched beside me.
Sensing my look, Breche raised his head.
“Belta, I mean. Little squirt takes after who, acting all willful.”
Pot calling the kettle black.
I stared in disbelief, and Breche tilted his head.
“Why look like that?”
“I believe you know why.”
“Huh?”
If he needed it spelled out, he wouldn't have asked.
Instead of pointing out his behavior, I shook my head and changed the subject.
“You're not going?”
“Why would I?”
Fair enough. Just because they came together didn't mean they left together.
Same destination, different purposes—splitting up made sense.
“Came along for the ride. Said we'd meet again, right?”
As expected, Breche plopped down casually.
Horpe had come for catnip; Breche for me.
Belta probably tagged along when the two said they were going.
“And you?”
“Hm?”
“You don't go outside? Other foreigners all head to the contaminated zones.”
“Ah.”
I glanced up at the symbol overhead.
Still eye-catching, but I'd lost the 'unique' title.
While I learned magic, some frontrunners finished onboarding.
‘Ethan's mana passed 20k already.’
That's why I'd gone hunting yesterday and today. Couldn't lag behind.
“You went?”
“Yeah? When next? Let's go together.”
“What?”
“You guys like killing lots of monsters, right? I'll catch 'em for you.”
So, help with hunting, give catnip?
First Horpe, now Breche.
I could see how beastkin viewed humans in this world.
‘No.’
Breche might've realized after Horpe mentioned trades that he needed to offer something too.
No prior thought, but now felt obligated?
‘Doesn't matter why.’
Breche tagging along wasn't planned, but no reason to refuse.
“Works for me. Tomorrow, first thing.”
“What time?”
Mornings were knight training.
Factoring that in, hunting with Breche...
“One-thirty at the gates should work.”
“I'm staying a few days. Horpe-nim's visiting Mom, so he won't head home for a bit.”
“We can head out together then.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
Breche waved lazily and headed toward the mansion.
I pulled out the snack from the kitchen kid, turned the opposite way.
“Guess I'll go too.”
Toward the knight barracks.
With Horpe gone, time to find Alens hiding somewhere.
My hobby these past few days, getting the hang of it.
* * *
Next day, after morning training, I had lunch with Ahel and did magic lessons.
Needed to mask my mana afterglow before heading out, so killing two birds.
Up to then, Breche not showing didn't faze me.
‘Some prioritize sleep over food.’
Mine was food first, but different strokes.
He'd come down when ready.
But even at departure time, no Breche.
Worried something happened, I asked a servant about him...
Goddamn system