Chapter 342
Chapter 342
Chapter 342
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 342 – Lan Qi’s Favorability Was Rising Just a Second Ago
A soft chime rang from the bell above the inn’s entrance.
“Meow meow meow, so cold, so cold…”
As the old wooden door of the inn was slowly pushed open, a wave of frigid air poured into the room—yet the person who opened it was nowhere to be seen.
Only by lowering one’s gaze could one spot a small black cat stepping inside.
Behind it floated several paper bags, neatly tied and filled with food ingredients.
Those shopping bags, heavy with goods, hovered midair as though grasped by invisible hands, perfectly keeping pace with the little cat’s movements.
A few delicate snowflakes clung to its fur, but as it gave its body a small shake, the unmelted snow scattered to the floor.
Its four paws crossed the inn’s threshold, entering the wide common room, where only a few guests sat near the fireplace, driving away the winter chill.
Though the patrons noticed this magic-wielding familiar, no one found it strange—in the Protos Empire, having a familiar by one’s side was nothing unusual.
Outside, the weather remained bitterly cold, the kind that seeped into one’s bones. Even those accustomed to the northern chill still sought the comforting embrace of fire.
Technically, spring had already arrived in the Protos Empire.
But it hardly felt like it.
Who could say if spring had truly come at all?And if the northern provinces went to war soon, this snowfield would truly never know peace.
Occasionally, such conversations drifted across the spacious lounge, pricking the ears of the inn’s feline guest.
The soft glow of the hearth made its fur look even glossier as its ears twitched attentively.
As it passed the counter, the young woman working the reception desk, propping her chin in her hands, couldn’t help but murmur to herself when she saw the adorable little cat bringing back groceries:“I wish I had a familiar like that…”
“Meow.”
The little black cat snorted softly.
It was no familiar or pet.
In theory, if it obtained Lan Qi’s spell [Transformation: Human], it could assume human form and make running errands much easier—but under the laws of the Protos Empire, any transformation or disguise magic capable of altering one’s race was strictly prohibited.It had no desire to break the law and become a death-row cat!
The cat bounded up the old wooden staircase, agile and swift.The shopping bags followed like planets orbiting a star—sometimes moving ahead, sometimes lagging behind—perfectly avoiding the steps and walls.
First floor.Second floor.Finally, it reached the third floor.
The bags slowly descended to the floor as the cat stopped.
With telekinetic magic, it guided the key into the lock and quickly opened the door, revealing a warm and cozy room.
The natural wooden décor filled the space with a soft, gentle warmth. Sunlight slanted in through the windows, playing across the simple wooden floor and walls, creating the feeling of a little haven.
In the innermost bedroom lay a large bed, and under the fluffy white quilt, Sigrid’s breathing was slow and steady.Her long hair spilled over the pillow—just as it had been when the cat left. She was still fast asleep.
On the other side of the room, sitting by the wall at a tall wooden table, a young man was focused intently on the book in his hands.
The cat exchanged a glance with Lan Qi, signaling its return, then slipped out of the room with a graceful swish of its tail, heading to the small dining area.
This more private space could be sealed off with a soundproofing barrier, its wooden frame and curtains creating a cozy nook.As soon as it unpacked the groceries, a faint aroma of food began to spread.
In the center stood a marble table, atop which the cat set out its portable cooking tools.Without missing a beat, it began its culinary performance.
An hour later
In the bedroom—
“Siiiid-meow, wake up for lunch, meow, time to eat.”
Something was softly patting Sigrid’s blanket, coaxing a faint groan out of her. She reluctantly opened her eyes.
But as the aroma of food reached her nose, she found the strength to break free of the “Great Sealing Technique” that was her quilt, and instinctively crawled out from under it.
A thoughtful black cat had already brought today’s lunch into the bedroom.
The main dish was chicken fricassée, simmered with cream, onions, mushrooms, and white wine—its sauce thick and fragrant with wine—served with mashed potatoes made from potatoes, butter, cream, and milk.
There was also a pan-seared steak, paired with either a red wine sauce, truffle, or pepper sauce.
Finally, the vegetable salad was topped with bacon and egg, built on a bed of fresh lettuce and finished with crisp bacon bits, boiled egg, and dressing.
Considering the limited ingredients available in this snowy city-state, this was all the cat could manage.
But judging by the look on Sigrid’s face, it was exactly to her liking.
Being able to cook for a Cardinal Bishop of the Resurrection Church was already an accomplishment worth writing in bold letters in a chef’s résumé—but the cat secretly hoped that once they returned to the southern continent, no one would ever know it had once cooked for the fearsome “Dominating Bishop.”
Sigrid sat on the edge of the bed but shivered slightly, tempted to crawl back under the covers.
Her hesitant glance toward the cat was almost like a child looking at a warm stuffed toy.
“Meow…”
The cat hesitated, then cautiously padded over and hopped into her hands.
If she went back to sleep now, lunch would get cold.
Sigrid hugged the little black cat tightly.
“...Sigrid, did you just smile, meow?”
The cat tilted its head back with some difficulty, peering at Sigrid’s lips with suspicion.
“No.”
Sigrid denied with a serious expression.
“...Really?”
The cat couldn’t shake the feeling that this “female Lan Qi” was a little untrustworthy.
Still, Sigrid no longer seemed as terrifying as before.The cat no longer feared being swatted to death with a single slap, nor accidentally crushed in her grip, and it relaxed in her arms.
Every time it thought of how her injuries had been earned fighting with her life on the northern frontier, the cat’s wariness softened despite itself.
Before Sigrid turned back into Sid, it might as well treat her as a human in need of care—and look after her properly.
That thought warmed its heart.
Sigrid began to enjoy her meal at leisure, while Lan Qi glanced at the clock hanging on the side wall.
“In about an hour, we have to leave this city-state. We need to cross the mountains and make it back to the snowfield before dark,” Lan Qi said, calm as ever.
“Mm. You should put down that book and get some rest.”
Sigrid remembered waking briefly in the middle of her sleep and seeing Lan Qi reading.
Though his quiet presence, reading so elegantly nearby, had made her feel safe, he likely hadn’t closed his eyes for quite some time.
She decided that she would drive the carriage later so that Lan Qi could rest.
“Mm.”
Lan Qi set down the book in his hand—“Snowfield Maps Even a 3-Year-Old Could Understand.”
“……”
Seeing what he had been reading all this time, Sigrid froze mid-bite, her spoon suspended in the air.Her eyelids drooped instantly.
Just like that, his serious, studious look from before suddenly became… downright irritating.