Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Rapi's Door Manners
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“Ranyori.”
“Yeah?”
“You wouldn't happen to feel like taking a nap?”
“??”
My sudden request left Ranyori looking utterly baffled.
“Right now?”
“Yeah, right now.”
“Out of nowhere? Why?”
“Research.”
“What kind of scene are you even trying to write...”
What I had in mind was switching perspectives to Karen waking up and seeing Senyora sleeping peacefully by her side.
I thought the buildup to waking up and realizing they'd slept in the same bed was pretty solid.
The problem was, I had nothing to describe afterward.
Ranyori and I... well, we'd just woken up, grasped the situation, and gone our separate ways. She'd drifted back to dreamland, and I'd headed off for breakfast.
We hadn't even realized we were sleeping together at the time, and nothing memorable happened after waking up either.
So now, I figured I'd put Ranyori to sleep and observe her a bit.
It was an important scene. One where Karen opens her heart to Senyora—and starts developing real affection for her.
Not just person-to-person fondness... more like an emotional pull, the kind that makes your heart flutter.
I wasn't planning a full-blown romance line, but I could sprinkle in a hint of that vibe. It'd be nice, right?
Of course, first I had to convince Ranyori.
“What are you even planning to do once I'm asleep...! To a defenseless Ranyori!”
“...Observe like usual and use it in the novel? But what's with that phrasing?”
“I was just trying it out... Yeah...”
Why was she suddenly pulling a light novel heroine move with a “Kyaa, pervert!”?
She was fidgeting with her fingers—clearly embarrassed too.
“I-I'm really just curious, but... will this actually help...?”
“Of course it will. There's a big difference between imagining and describing something you've seen firsthand.”
“Couldn't you just imagine it well enough...?”
“It helps a ton. How your ears and tail move, the light in your eyes, the sound of your footsteps—those are things I can only learn by watching.”
“Ah... I see... Yeah...”
Did I explain it too in detail? She was avoiding my eyes a little.
Yeah, it might come off as a bit embarrassing depending on how you hear it.
“...ArenAren! But putting that aside.”
“Yeah?”
“Asking me to nap out of the blue might be a bit much, don't you think?”
“Is it?”
“What if I asked you to sleep right now? How would that feel?”
“It... might take a while.”
“Exactly! But I'm different, right?”
“Aren't you...?”
“...Why!”
“Because I'm Aren, and you're Ranyori?”
“?!”
Ranyori's eyes went wide, like she'd been struck.
But Ranyori, you lounge on the sofa in the living room all the time, basking in the sunlight and melting into a drowsy puddle.
You're the perfect comparison. I've been cutting back on sleep lately, not adding more.
“This is beastkin discrimination...!”
“Is it?”
“...You have to deny it! What kind of response is 'Is it?'!”
“I was wondering if it's a cat beastkin trait or just your personality.”
“I'm not the type to nap all the time! This is so unfair!”
“Yet I've seen it plenty.”
“Hmph...! Fine, check for yourself right now! See if I'm that easy!”
It was easy, of course. I sat on the sofa, had her lie down, and gently stroked her head.
She grumbled at first, like “You think this'll work?” but it did.
The sunlight filtering through the living room window wasn't harsh—it wrapped her in a cozy embrace.
I even shaded her a bit with my body. Direct light in her eyes bothers her.
And the result?
“Grrr...”
Out like a light. Dead asleep.
While she was out, I jotted down observations in the notebook and pen I'd grabbed ahead of time.
One thing was clear: whether from last time or now, Ranyori felt totally at ease mentally.
This had to go in the novel. Proof that Senyora felt safe next to Karen.
And... well... since she was asleep, I decided to let her rest and get up quietly.
“Mnyaang...?”
“??”
Why did she keep waking up right as I tried to leave?
At this point, I was convinced: this must be how cat beastkin are.
Gotta add this to the novel too...
I'd finished the early part. Not quite complete, but I could polish and expand it later.
I described Senyora asleep beside Karen, her unconsciously thinking how cute she was.
And the moment where she carefully tries to get up without waking her, only for Senyora to open her eyes and meet her gaze.
I'll keep building that affection this way. Until it's almost matching the fondness readers feel for Senyora.
By then, her image with the readers should improve a lot.
From my time on Earth, I knew characters who shared readers' thoughts always came off more likable.
Isn't this just some pretty, great figure, talented girl who posts on the bulletin board?
The psychological descriptions when looking at Senyora, unconsciously petting her head—it all feels the same.
I couldn't understand her getting over being mad because the illustrations were pretty, thought it was ridiculous, but now I'm genuinely fond of her.
Someone pretty with a great figure and talent wouldn't post here anyway.
Don't say mean things.
...Something like that. You get the vibe, right?
Next scene? Karen using her connections to take down 'that company.'
She'll realize during the investigation that way more is tangled up than expected.
They'd been tiptoeing the line so far, but they'd crossed it long ago.
She'll instinctively know that exposing this alone could bring them down.
And that info? I don't need to make it up anymore.
The bulletin board has it.
Hello. This is Ben, investigating the 'Rika Slave Contract Incident.'
As promised, here's this week's report on the findings.
To sum up: we've got more of the same, but it keeps piling on.
Including past misdeeds, expect even more ahead.
Found links to other companies too.
I shouldn't speculate rashly, but honestly... most there seem unethical.
Details below if you're interested.
...
...
...
Thanks as always.
That place is basically a slave camp for beastkin... feels like a isolated society.
Honestly, the odds of stumbling in there by accident are zero—it's deep in a sketchy area.
That place should've blown up ages ago, right?
They've hidden it well + beastkin woes were never anyone else's business before.
I can just use this.
Reality overlapping with the novel again? Pure coincidence. Obviously.
The bulletin board was as lively as ever after a while away.
How's their long-hidden crimes getting exposed... because of a novel?
Wronged?
Wronged?
Wronged?
Sorry...
Ha... If it weren't for those 'few' readers who believed a fictional novel was real, this wouldn't have happened...
How'd he know all this? Did he plan the novel around it from the start?
Some descriptions are insanely detailed now that I think about it.
Putting this plot in and not dropping vol. 3 fast, you son of a— who? Oh, you know who.
Aha.
Does that mean Senyora is based on a real person? The movement descriptions are too detailed for pure imagination.
Eh?
Eh?
BRB
? Where to?
Where the hell did this guy go?
Hm, peaceful. Lingering here would waste time. Time to get to work.
To write the mid-volume 3 takedown, I need that info to crush those guys—plus one more scene.
This one's not on the bulletin board. Gotta get it in person.
“...Here.”
Last time, someone guided me. This time, pure memory.
Still looks rundown. How do people live here?
Hope nothing bad happened in the meantime.
I knocked. She home? If not, I'll wait. Worth it.
“...Sis!”
Oh, door opened.
Not who I expected. But thinking about it, this one's far more likely.
Before me stood a girl who'd just run to the door, face full of anticipation.
Now her eyes were wide with shock. Someone unexpected at the door.
The girl's name was Rapi, Ulpi's little sister. I'd come to see Ulpi.
“Hi?”
I greeted kindly, smiling softly and crouching to seem less scary.
Rapi's response was concise.
“Hwaaang...!”
She bolted inside. Yeah, a stranger showing up when you're alone would be scary.
...But shouldn't you close the door first?