Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Catnip POWEEEEEEERRRRRRR!
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A few hours had passed since the carriage procession resumed its journey to Klauzen following a brief rest.
Every time they passed through a small town or a baron's territory, the escorts would glance at him with eyes pleading, *Wouldn't it be better to just rest here?* But Sion shook his head.
If the knights or soldiers wanted to stay there, that was fine, but he had no desire to re-enter those chaotic places just to make himself more comfortable.
If they entered and the Celestials targeted him again, it wouldn't end with just one carriage destroyed—there could be countless casualties.
"You're not thinking of resting in some inn room, are you?"
"We're soldiers of the Margrave Territory, more accustomed to tents than our own homes."
"I'm a son of the Margrave Territory too.
Don't worry about pointless things. Let's just hurry along.
I want to get home as soon as possible and sleep my fill."
Was it because incidents kept happening wherever they went? Their young master, Sion Klauzen, said as much.
*He must be exhausted now that even home feels distant.*
Muttering to themselves, they quickened their pace.
But Klauzen was still quite a distance away, so naturally, Sion and his group ended up camping nearby.
"Thoroughly scout the surroundings.
Suspicious bastards might target the Young Lord again."
"Got it."
The knights divided the soldiers and themselves into four shifts to ensure no lapses in vigilance.
Watching them, Sion muttered inwardly, *You don't need to work that hard.*
When the Celestials ambushed them, Lily had let her guard down, but things were different now.
Rishika was on high alert too, and above all, Kim Yu-hyun was with the group.
He wasn't sure exactly, but anyone approaching them with ill intent would probably have a personal audience with the King of Hell in three minutes flat and rocket through underworld immigration at lightspeed.
*More importantly, how do I deal with these sneaky chicken-grabbers?*
In truth, "dealing with" them was easier said than done.
Kim Yu-hyun would later display incredible prowess against the Celestials, but that was a year from now—after his body had nearly fully recovered.
Even if Kim Yu-hyun himself thought he fought well, every clash with the Celestials left multiple powerhouses around him dead or gravely wounded.
*The Great War was the real problem.
All the renowned elites and named characters got wiped out, so there weren't many left who could properly resist the Celestials.
Even those who survived were mostly injured, unable to muster even a third of their strength.*
Before the Celestials' World Purification Protocol activated, the greatest villains threatening Kim Yu-hyun could be grouped into three.
One was, naturally, the Succubus Queen, Lily.
Another was the chieftain of the northern barbarians, called "Khan."
And the last was a battle-mad lunatic known as White Death.
*Of those, Lily's right here with me. Assume Khan gets sent north later with the Daughter of Winter to lure him in somehow... Yeah, White Death is the issue.*
They say the scariest people in the world are the crazies you can't even talk to.
White Death fit that bill perfectly.
He wouldn't listen to a word, charging in with eyes only for battle.
Kim Yu-hyun tried persuading him somehow, but in the end, White Death laughed maniacally as he fought and met his end at Kim Yu-hyun's hands.
*As someone whose mouth moves faster than his fists, he's the trickiest for me to handle.*
One fortunate thing: he didn't need to confront White Death right away.
Prioritizing surveillance of the north and establishing contacts with the beastkin came first.
White Death could wait; it wouldn't be a big problem.
At dinner, Lucia rolled up her sleeves and showed off her skills.
Sure enough, this was the moment where "Lucia's cooking," which Kim Yu-hyun praised in the novel, shone through.
The knights, worried Sion might get a subpar meal, sighed in relief and thanked her profusely.
An utterly ordinary day drew to a close, and those who finished camping preparations retired one by one.
Normally, he'd spend the night in a tent, but Sion noticed the soldiers' tents were cramped and suggested they use his instead.
The soldiers naturally protested it wasn't necessary, but Sion marched straight to the carriage and overrode their objections anyway.
*Why sleep in a tent when we've got this nice carriage?*
He was the one shouting that the sofa beat the bed.
Recalling weekends spent merging with the sofa, doing nothing at all, he gazed at the night sky outside the window, pondering future plans.
Tap-tap!—
Suddenly, something darted inside and plopped down opposite him.
It stared at him for a moment, then—
Flop!
—face-planted right there.
"...What're you doing?"
"Protecting."
"...Protecting?"
At Sion's echo, Winnie nodded silently.
But if she was serious about protection, shouldn't she stand watch or guard the carriage perimeter? That was standard.
No matter how he looked at it, Winnie's posture screamed *I'm just sleeping next to you.*
"You're not scared to sleep alone or anything, right?"
Twitch—
*...Did she just flinch?*
Sion waited quietly for her response.
But she ignored him, pretending she had nothing to say, fixing her gaze on the carriage wall and rustling about.
*Hmmm.*
Sion eyed her for a bit, tempted to pet that fluffy mess, then stood and leaned back in his chair.
Deliberately shifting to the corner, he cleared just enough space beside him for her to lie down.
Twitch-twitch—
Winnie's ears, which had seemed asleep, flicked rapidly with his movements.
Still staring at the wall, not looking at him, but her tail tip started swishing slightly—she'd grasped everything by sound alone.
*What'll you do, tsundere kitty?*
Sitting-sleeping was already mastered, so no issue there.
Wondering when the cat would sneak over without a word, Sion gazed out the window.
He radiated *I'm ignoring you now* vibes.
About three minutes later?
A faint rustle made him turn, locking eyes with the cat creeping right up beside him.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Nya, nyaaang."
Winnie let out a tiny mew in panic, and Sion chuckled inwardly but turned back to the window so the baby cat wouldn't bolt.
As the man turned away like *I saw nothing*, Winnie tilted her head, then finally scooted over and lay right beside him.
She fidgeted a bit, then slyly extended a hand, placing it right next to his.
*If—if you wanna touch, fine, the hand's allowed. Hmph.*
It was as if those words whispered right in his ear.
Soon after, Sion glanced over to see Winnie breathing evenly, fast asleep beside him.
*...She's a cat, but weirdly defenseless. Is it the Felinoid imprint trait?*
Felinoids were even more wary than Lupinoids, rarely approaching humans.
Yet this cat girl, Winnie Portable, shunned other humans but stuck close to him.
Gazing down at her, Sion felt a powerful urge to touch the ears poking up from her head.
*Those look so soft. Ah, wanna touch. Gotta pet.*
*...No.
Don't wanna hear midnight yowling or wake up with staff lines scratched on my arm, you demon cat.
No petting, nope!*
If Winnie heard that resolve, she might've been a tiny bit disappointed.
Deep down, she'd hoped he'd stroke her head.
—
"Young Lord.
We'll reach Klauzen by tomorrow morning, probably."
"Oh, that's quick."
"If we'd stayed in cities or nobles' castles, various delays would've slowed us.
Anyway, as per your wish, everyone can return to the home they've longed for tomorrow."
Pretend all they want—home was best, plain as day.
Knights and soldiers alike grinned nonstop, far happier now with home just ahead than back at the royal castle.
Meanwhile, Lucia, thrilled that everyone loved her cooking the night before, handled breakfast and lunch herself, start to finish.
All delicious as expected, but by dinner, the soldiers started holding her back.
"Miss.
We truly appreciate your meals.
But we feel too guilty just taking. Let our meal duty handle tonight, at least."
"Oh... no need to feel burdened.
I was just doing what I always do."
"Our soldiers feel bad too.
We'll show our skills for dinner, so why not rest this time?"
Not just soldiers—even knights urged her to step back.
She wasn't their meal handler, and freeloading every time made them uncomfortable.
Lucia finally nodded in agreement and withdrew.
They weren't quite at her level, but prepared a decent dinner anyway.
For battlefield fighters, the best stress relief was eating, so meal-duty folks naturally cooked well.
Lucia, impressed by their skills, asked questions left and right.
"I just lightly cooked this to keep the juices in."
"We sear the outside fast over high heat for crisp exterior, soft inside.
Even the guys who hate underdone stuff accept it."
"Aha... Oh, and that powder on the soup earlier?"
"That? Dried 'baka' wild herb. Adds a bit of aroma, no real flavor impact."
"I see."
Dinner ended, and the final camp began.
Sion yielded his tent to the soldiers again and entered the carriage.
Others found it uncomfortable, but to him, the plush seat was cozier than anywhere—a heaven beyond heaven.
*Can't fathom why anyone hates sofas.
Lying here, no shaking, comfier than any bed. Paradise!
Chunsan!*
Muttering so, he waited for the cat sneaking in tonight.
*Tonight, I'll seize the chance—tail or ears!
If not, at least head pats!*
A total cat fanatic who'd stare at strays on the street, Sion steeled his resolve times over: *Pet the cat today, no matter what!*
Shortly after, Winnie slipped in like yesterday.
Sion, waiting, scooted to the corner again, making space for her to flop beside him comfortably.
*Today, I pet that cat or bust!*
Anyone overhearing might call it pathetic, but Sion had to do what he wanted or it wouldn't satisfy him.
Flop—
Hearing her settle, Sion targeted the fluffy ears first.
Arm-scratch risk be damned—he couldn't resist.
Just as he moved his hand, a strange sensation hit his forearm.
Squeeze—
*Huh?*
Sharp prick on skin, slightly damp.
*What? What?*
Sion turned.
There was Winnie, gnawing his arm: *Aang!*
Had she sniffed out his nefarious ear-petting scheme and warned *No way*?
But it didn't hurt for a warning.
Too gentle—not biting, more like nibbling.
Then the dampness intensified, and Sion shook her in alarm.
"Hey, hey!
Winnie!
Saliva, saliva!
I won't touch, let go!
You're drooling!
Hey!"
But Winnie showed no sign of releasing.
Even as he shook, she clamped on with an *ang*, no response.
Frustrated, as Sion reached with his other hand to grab her—
"Ugh... Nyaaang, haat, nyaaaan..."
A suspiciously lewd sound escaped.
*What situation is this?*
Muttering, Sion gripped her chin, tilting it up to meet eyes—and realized things were going south.
"Uu... Haaah... Nyaaang..."
Her cat eyes, sharp and wary around humans at dinner.
Now fully dilated, hazy with erotic allure.
Saliva dribbled from trembling lips, her quivering body screaming she was far from normal.
"W-Winnie?
What's wrong?
You okay?
Hey, fluffball!"
"B-Benefactor...
M-My body's weird."
*I can see that!
Be more specific!*
At his shout, Winnie panted lewdly and barely opened her mouth.
"B-Body's hot.
B-Burning.
Hic!
Haak!
F-Feel like dying!
Nyaaang!
Sion...
S-Save me.
Save me!
Nyaaaaang!"
Fuck, what the hell is happening?!
Sion screamed, staring at the Felinoid girl clinging tighter, radiating heat.
―――――――Afterword―――――――
6連載 complete...!
(Flop)
Ultimate move properly landed...!
Next連載 cooldown will be super long...!
Recommendations might shorten the cooldown...!
PS.
Check out the new illustration before you go.