The First Errand is Tough!
"Hehe! This body's finally setting foot in the human world for the first time시다!"
Red hair tied in side ponytails, purple eyes. A beautiful girl whose looks would make anyone glance back at least once—Leah was walking down the street, her excited heart lightening her steps.
"This mart place must be amazing시다. Si-hyun said puddings are piled up like mountains시다."
Hop. The girl bounced along lightly, taking in the sights of the neighborhood. The sunlight was warm, and the gentle breeze blowing between the street trees tickled her red hair pleasantly as it passed.
"It's a path I've walked with Si-hyun many times, but coming alone makes it feel so different시다."
The world changes so much depending on whether someone's by your side or not. Just being apart from Si-hyun for a bit made everything look so different.
"Si-hyun always carries this body around, so the distance feels super unfamiliar right now시다."
Suddenly, the girl felt a worry creep in: Will I be able to find the mart okay?
But that anxiety didn't last long.
—
"Leah. If you're feeling uneasy, believe in me—the one who believes you can do it."
"Hehe... Si-hyun believes this body can pull it off시다. So this body just has to believe in Si-hyun시다!"
Si-hyun's smiling words stood like a sturdy pillar, keeping Leah's heart from shaking.
—
Rustle.
"And Si-hyun even drew a map to the mart by hand for this body시다. If I follow this, this body won't get lost no matter what시다."
The girl unfolded the crumpled drawing paper from her overalls pocket and compared it to her surroundings to find her way. Straight ahead, then right. Stop briefly when she saw the pharmacy, then left. Cross at the signal only on green.
"And at the fork, go straight down the middle to arrive시다!"
Leah's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the huge sign in front of her.
[Kisara(きさらぎ) Station]
"Hmm? This body needs to go to the mart, so why's a subway station here시다?"
The place marked Kisara Station looked like it belonged to another world entirely. The entrance leading underground was unusually dark, the stairs covered in thick dust. The tracks behind the station were rusted over, no subway in sight—but,
Clank clank.
Something unknown scraped along the rails above, the metallic grinding sound continuing nonstop.
"Si-hyun's map says to go this way... so I just go in시다?"
Step— Leah stepped forward without a hint of doubt.
The cold, dark entrance gaped wide, ready to swallow the innocent, beautiful girl whole.
"No humans around, and it's way too quiet시다. Why's the mart in a place like this시다?"
The mysterious ghost story known as [Kisara(きさらぎ) Station], which appeared out of nowhere, swallowed people, and vanished. Inside that ominous subway station, the 'black hand' lurking in wait for prey began inching toward Leah.
—
Screech screech.
The 'Kisara' ghost story had never failed once. It always ended the same: devour the poor human that wandered in.
Today was no different.
"Hmm~ I definitely followed the map, but no puddings, not even any tasty snacks시다."
The red-haired girl standing there holding the map was pure, untainted humanity.
This is easy prey—the ghost story was certain.
Grab the cute lost girl, eat her, and leave. Just another day, same old hunt.
But.
Foolishly, the ghost story didn't know.
It had no idea what the red-haired girl it targeted truly was.
"Anyway, something's gotta show up once I go in시다!"
The moment Leah set foot in the subway entrance, a bloodcurdling shriek—SKREEEEEEEEEE—echoed through the station interior, twisting the ghost story's form.
The creaky old entrance sign crumbled to dust and vanished. The ominous black mist blanketing the building evaporated in an instant. The red letters crawling up the walls cracked and steamed away.
[······?!]
The ghost story instinctively knew the moment it sensed its body breaking and dissolving.
It had touched something it absolutely shouldn't have.
The 'something' at the core of the purple-eyed girl was on a level so incomparably superior, no comparison was possible.
Shoooo...
The dilapidated, dark Kisara Station vanished without a trace, as if it had never been.
No ominous mist, no twisted sounds—gone.
* * *
"Hmm~ The subway station just up and vanished시다."
The red-haired girl stood blankly in the middle of the park, slowly looking around.
"This is weird시다. I swear I followed Si-hyun's map perfectly..."
She glanced around briefly, but saw only unfamiliar buildings and trees. She'd never been here with Si-hyun either. The moment she realized she was in an unknown street, the girl had to admit it.
She was lost!
"Huuu... Th-this body got lost시다······."
She'd thought she could handle it alone. Si-hyun had trusted her with the errand!
A noble knight and powerful ghost story like her, lost on a simple street!
Standing there dumbly in the park, she felt so stupid and pathetic she thought she'd cry.
"Hic...! N-no crying시다... Instead of crying, I gotta find the way—"
The moment Leah's purple eyes welled up with moisture,
"Meow."
A cat with gleaming white fur approached and rubbed against Leah's face.
"C-cat?"
Leah wiped her teary eyes and looked at the cat nuzzling her affectionately.
Its fur was too clean and white to be a stray. It looked like a noble aristocratic cat, but its expression was incredibly gentle.
"C-cat... Did you come to help this body find the way시다...?"
"Meow."
"Ha...! R-really시다? Then can you guide me to the mart시다?"
"Meow."
"Ooh...! So you're saying lead the way시다!"
"Meow."
The cat meowed softly and trotted ahead.
"Meow."
"Hehe, this body won't cry anymore, so don't worry시다!"
Was it because Leah was so pure and innocent? Or because she was special?
To others, it was just 'meow,' but Leah could understand the white cat's words.
"Once we get to the mart safe, this body will gift pudding to Cat Lord too시다!"
"Meow."
"Hehe, once Cat Lord tries it, you'll see how amazing puddings are시다!"
"Meow."
Leah happily followed behind the helpful cat, her steps bouncy. Strangely, the bustling crowds parted for them, making it easy to move.
"Hmm? Why are the humans suddenly running away시다?"
Leah tilted her head, then patted the cat's back as if realizing something, murmuring.
"Cat Lord! The humans must finally realize this body's majesty시다. They're all backing off from this strong, scary ghost story시다!"
"Meow."
About 20 minutes into their fairy-tale-like journey with the mysterious cat,
Leah finally arrived safely at the mart she'd longed for.
《Yee Mart》
Unlike the rundown, crumbling subway sign from before, the sparkling, pretty rectangular one made it clear.
"Ooh...! This body finally made it to the mart시다!"
Leah could really feel she'd arrived.
"Meow."
"Hehe, all thanks to Cat Lord시다."
Leah gently stroked the white cat's big ears and chin with her small hand.
—Purr purr.
The cat purred happily, circling her.
"Cat Lord feels good too시다?"
"Meooow~♪"
"Hehe, this body feels great when Si-hyun pets it too시다. Glad Cat Lord gets that feeling시다."
But the joy of reaching the mart was short-lived—
Grrrowl.
"Huuu... Been walking on an empty stomach since earlier, so this body's out of energy시다···."
She'd already devoured the pudding Si-hyun gave as emergency rations before leaving.
Just one more step to the pudding mountain mart, but her legs wouldn't obey.
"Cat Lord... This body's legs keep giving out시다aa···."
Plop! Leah finally collapsed, resting her head on the cat's belly, sprawling on the ground.
Just a little farther. The goal was right there!
"Wah, Cat Lord... What should this body do시다?"
The pure white cat gently rubbed its face against Leah's cheek, meowing softly.
"Meow."
"Wha...? Cat Lord, what'd you say시다?"
"Meow~"
"You'll carry this body on your back시다?"
"Meooow!"
"Ooh...! Cat Lord is so smart시다!"
Flop. The cat lay down and pulled the prone Leah onto its back.
The girl buried her face in the fluffy, soft fur and entered the mart with the cat.
—Dun dun dun duuun duuun duuun~~♪♪♪
The automatic doors opened, CM song blaring as the white cat carrying Leah entered the mart.
"Wh-wh-what the hell is that?!"
"Whoa, Mom! A super pretty cat's carrying a super pretty girl!"
"Wh-what? CG?!"
From the cashier to shelf-stocking staff to shopping customers—everyone froze.
* * *
"I wonder if Leah made it to the mart safely."
Is this what it feels like for parents sending their kid on their first errand? Half worried, half expectant, I calmed my pounding heart and sat on the sofa, sipping coffee.
I drew the map properly, warned her not to follow strangers. I eliminated every worry factor, so why... this inexplicable anxiety...!!
"Haha, worrywart me. Leah's not some toddler—don't overdo it."
Best to chill on comms or YouTube.
—Tap tap.
I pulled out my smartphone and scrolled my usual community posts.
"Same old boring stuff today too······ Huh???"
Then, a keyword at the top of popular posts caught my eye.
[Beauty on a White Tiger's Back—Is This Real? lololol.jpg]
I rubbed my eyes, checked again, but the titles stayed the same.
"A red-haired beauty... Nah, no way, right?"
Even if it was, Leah riding a white tiger? What the hell?
I clicked the post with trembling fingers, praying it wasn't her.
==========
She's insanely pretty lol
Contrary to my desperate wish it wasn't Leah, the post's photo clearly showed her riding atop a huge white cat...-like animal.
"What the glitch is this?"
What the hell happened?!