Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Cat Lord (3)
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[Special Quest Activated!]
[Special Quest: Kitten Rescue Operation]
[Reward: An item from a sponsor whose name cannot yet be revealed]
No, why's the reward worded like that? I wasn't particularly invested in this quest since it was one I had to do regardless of the reward, but now it's pissing me off for no reason.
'...Rewards or whatever, solving this comes first.'
This wasn't the time to be sitting around. I stood up and asked Kali,
"Where are the culprits... no, the kittens?"
-Somewhere in this realm of chaos.
The realm of chaos.
It was the place people commonly called the 'dream world.' Anything was possible here, but it was literally 'in a dream,' hence the chaos. In this space, many beings regained their freedom and could interfere with one another.
For Rausian to descend into reality, it would require a great price. But here, she was free as well. Ironically, it was because this place was the 'realm of chaos.'
Find the kittens who stole Rausian's quill pen in a space like that?
Finding kittens in the realm of chaos was like finding a needle in a desert or Kim from Seoul—impossible.
"Is there a way to track them down...?"
-......
"Right?"
Kali's tail swished lazily. From experience, that was never a good sign.
"Damn it. You want me to start by figuring out where the kittens are?"
-There is a way, but...
"But?"
-It's a gift far too grand for you.
"Cut the crap and let's just do it, whatever it is."
Rausian was destroying their 'sanctuary,' and they were this laid-back? Even for cats, this was too much. I barely restrained the urge to pinch Kali's nose and watched as he stroked his whiskers with a very serious expression.
-Emergency calls for desperate measures.
Kali plucked out one of his whiskers with a pop and tossed it toward me. The golden whisker fluttered through the air, tickling the bridge of my nose before vanishing in a sparkle...
And then something strange happened.
"Wh-what is this?"
I had grown cat whiskers too.
To be precise, they hadn't sprouted from my face. It was like applying a special skin to a game avatar—sparkling cat whiskers were now attached to my face.
No, I could maybe accept it on a game avatar, but on a thirty-year-old man? I touched my face in horror. But this damned 'skin' wouldn't disappear or hide.
-Use it well.
It wasn't empty talk about 'using' it 'well.' Unlike a mere cosmetic skin, the cat whiskers seemed to have special abilities.
How did I know?
-Twitch, twitch.
The cat whiskers moved on their own, sending a prickling 'sensation' through me.
Instinctively, I could feel it.
The presence of the kittens.
I closed my eyes for a moment and focused on the sensations coming from the whisker tips.
'But this only gives me a rough direction.'
Could I really find the kittens in this chaotic space with just a vague direction?
'Impossible.'
That left only one option.
'...Instead of me finding them, I need to make them come to me.'
I turned to Kali. The cat whiskers on my cheeks twitched.
"Where's the sea?"
* * *
We headed to the beach on the east side of the sanctuary.
A beautiful shore where waves sparkling like the Milky Way lapped at the ivory sands.
I broke off a sturdy, long branch from a nearby moonlit tree and trimmed it lightly. Then, I braided thread spun from golden silkworm cocoons onto the tip.
'Golden silkworms that would cost a fortune back home are everywhere here. If I could take some back, I'd be rich in no time.'
But there was no time for such idle thoughts. I tied a plump golden silkworm to the end of the thread on the wooden rod.
Fishing rod complete.
'It looks crude, but it'll have to do.'
Beggars can't be choosers. I gathered the remaining golden silkworms into a basket and boarded a glass sailboat anchored at the beach.
"Aren't you getting on?"
-......
-Meow.
Kali and Jeomsuni hesitated in front of the sailboat. Ah, right. They're cats. They must be wary of falling into the water.
"We have to save the kittens."
-...Fine, I get it.
"Hurry up. We're in a rush."
-Humans are said to be both foolishly reckless and bravely daring when facing danger. You're no different.
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
-A compliment, a compliment.
With my help, Kali cautiously boarded the boat, while Jeomsuni leaped aboard with astonishing jumping power from her plump body.
I rowed hard toward the deep sea. The chaotic sea appeared filled with pitch-black darkness one moment, then beautifully emitted lights like the Milky Way the next.
'...It's like a dreamscape, literally.'
I doubted fish could live in a place like this, but according to Kali, all sorts of delicious fish swam here...
'I'd settle for less than a full boat, just enough for our needs.'
Using golden silkworms as bait—unimaginable luxury back home... Please let it work!
"...Hey, could you both not play with the fishing rod? You'll break the line."
-Ah, that wiggling thing... I just couldn't look away. Right, Jeomsuni?
-Meow.
'Yeah, cats love fishing rod toys...' No, get serious. I snatched the fishing line from their paws, which they'd been tapping, and cast it forcefully into the deep sea.
-Whoosh!
-Splash!
The golden silkworm sparkled as it sank. I focused my senses on my fingertips and stared piercingly into the sea. The whiskers on my face twitched, sharpening my senses further.
[Lucky One effect activated!]
[Mass spawn of 'Dream Parrotfish'!]
Perfect timing for the trait. Fishing always needs luck!
-Splash!
"...Now!"
Before the rod even shook, my whiskers stood on end. I yanked the rod with all my might. Something heavy hung at the line's end, arcing through the air and landing on the boat.
-Thud!
The fish, which had looked arm-sized in the water, was now much larger than Jeomsuni—half a person's size—once aboard. Optical illusion? Or because this was the realm of chaos? Either way, a monster catch right off the bat!
'Dad the fishing nut never caught anything like this...!'
Imagining how happy and envious my fishing-obsessed father would be made me chuckle.
-Ooh, impressive. To catch a 'Dream Parrotfish' with that pathetic tool!
"Pathetic? Harsh words."
-Humans are truly wondrous!
"You're ignoring what I say, huh?"
Kali and Jeomsuni watched the silver-scaled, flapping Dream Parrotfish with drooling faces. Of course, I'd warned them not to touch it, and I kept fishing.
-Whoosh!
-Thud!
-Whoooosh!
-Thud!
-Thuud!
-THUD!
How much time passed? No sun rose or set here, so it was hard to tell—maybe a long time, or just a moment.
Anyway, the fishing was a huge success. Thanks to [Lucky One]. The glass sailboat was packed with Dream Parrotfish, on the verge of sinking. Beyond a full load.
We returned to the beach and began unloading the massive catch. Kali and Jeomsuni kept smacking their lips, which made me uneasy, but thankfully nothing happened.
I piled the Dream Parrotfish in a suitable spot and started prepping them. I boiled the severed heads together for a rich extract, finely minced the boneless fillets, and mixed them with the oily flesh and thick extract...
-Gulp.
-Meow.
Homemade churu, complete. Tasty-looking perfection.
Unlike regular fish, the perfect harmony of rich extract, abundant oil, and tender flesh—no cat could ignore this homemade churu's 'flavor.'
The kittens wouldn't either.
-May I taste it?
"Go ahead."
I portioned the churu into nine dishes and shared the leftovers with Kali and Jeomsuni. The two cats tasted it, then widened their eyes in awe.
-Whoa, this is incredible. Same fish, but how?
"There's a trick to it."
-No cat could resist this. Those kittens definitely...
Kali smacked his lips. He clearly wanted more, but what remained was for the kittens. I hoped the salty, savory aroma would spread across the entire realm of chaos as I focused on the whisker sensations.
-Tremble...
Soon after, my whiskers began to quiver. I looked up at the rainbow-hued sky.
-Meeeow...
-MEeeeOWWWW...
The high-pitched, chirping mews unique to kittens echoed. More squeaky than meowing—adorably cute.
'As expected, no cat can resist churu.'
But I couldn't let my guard down. Rausian the goddess might hear it too. I had to capture the kittens before she did. Otherwise, I'd just be handing them over to her.
-Look over there!
Kali pointed with his sharp claw tip toward the sky. Pointy ears poked out from behind cotton-candy clouds, perked up.
"...Huh?"
Something was off.
I rubbed my eyes hard and looked again where Kali pointed.
"Eh?"
There, filling the entire sky, were gigantic kittens. No exaggeration—they were truly sky-filling huge.
"K-Kali, you didn't mention they were that big!"
-Does size matter?
It does, damn it!!! I nearly yanked Kali's whiskers but lifted my head again at the ominous sound from afar.
-Rumble...
-Flash!
Behind the kittens, lightning filled with Rausian's fury approached.