Into the Dungeon
I realized just how utterly ridiculous my actions had been the moment we entered the dungeon, and I froze up solid. A chilling sensation washed over me, like my blood was running backward through my veins. I'm screwed.
"You understood what I just said, right?" Karen had her hand tucked under my armpits, hoisting me up as she stared at me. The faint glee and excitement swirling in her eyes were intensely unsettling.
"To think there's a cat out there that understands human speech... If my finances were even a little better, I'd have taken you home. Sorry."
No. Don't apologize. I inwardly sighed repeatedly at the hopelessly tangled situation. Judging by Karen's wavering eyes and her excited reaction, she had no intention of letting me go anytime soon.
Think.
It would take at least ten minutes to shift back to human form and return to class. Getting caught any longer would spell trouble in all sorts of ways. If I'd known things would turn out like this, I should've just bolted right away.
No, it's not too late now.
I racked my brain. Shaking Karen off by force was impossible in my current state. Even in human form, I'd lose an arm-wrestling match against her in a heartbeat. As a cat? Forget it.
So...
I'll have to make her let go.
What could force her to release me? I pondered briefly, but only one idea came to mind. It was a bit violent, which pricked at my conscience, but...
No choice.
I steeled myself and retracted my claws.
Sorry about this.
I murmured an apology in my mind, then slowly raised my front paw. "Hm?"
"Meow!"
Thwack!
I unleashed a full-powered kitty punch straight at her cheek. The soft, squishy texture lingered on my paw as a wave of liberation hit from under her armpit.
"Kyaaak!"
Seizing the moment she dropped me, I bolted without a backward glance, squeezing out every ounce of strength I hadn't felt since nursing days.
"Sundae~! Don't run away~!"
Karen's affectionate call of my name—her pet name for me—echoed in my ears, but I ignored it with effort. Along with it came a hard lesson: never casually synchronize with street cats or dogs.
After ducking into a secluded corner and safely reverting to my original form, I managed to slip back into class just in time.
"Ah, you're back? But... you look even more exhausted than before. Something happen?"
Tsuno Ume asked with his usual gentle smile as I returned.
"...Knowing would hurt you."
"Aww, what is it?! Teasing us like that without spilling is so unfair!"
I had to endure quite the ordeal brushing off the kids' curiosity-filled barrage of questions.
And then, during break time after class, as I strolled down the hallway...
"..."
I ran into Karen, who was slinking past with her shoulders hunched low. Our eyes met.
"...Don't talk to me."
Her prickly response shut me up tight.
Time flew by, and the weekend rolled around again.
That's right. Today was the day to tackle a dungeon with Karen.
"......"
I was lounging on a bench at a bus stop near the outskirts, eyes half-closed in rest.
-Screech.
Soon, a bus pulled up to the stop. A human girl with striking pink hair stepped off through the back door, thudding along.
"Got held up sharpening my weapon a bit."
A massive greatsword was slung across her back. A petite girl about 20cm shorter than me wielding something so huge and vicious—it wasn't a combo I'd seen often even in my previous life.
"...What're you staring at?"
As I admired her imposing figure with the greatsword, Karen furrowed her brow and snapped at me irritably.
"Just think the greatsword looks cool. First time seeing you geared up like this."
"Didn't you say you know pretty much everything about me? No way you'd miss that I use a greatsword. What a joke."
She sneered, quoting my earlier words, then gave me a once-over.
"By the way, didn't you say you'd prepare all the supplies we need for the dungeon?"
"Yeah."
"...So cocky. Can't even muster the energy to nitpick. I don't see any supplies—or even a weapon—on you."
She couldn't wrap her head around my lack of backpack or gear. At her mutter, I flashed a grin and pointed to the small pouch at my waist.
"Everything's in here, so no worries."
"...A sub-space pouch?"
Karen's sharp eyes instantly clocked that it wasn't ordinary.
"Yep. Figured I should get one while I'm at it. Cost a fortune... Whew, just thinking about it makes me dizzy."
My wallet was feeling the pinch. Might need to hustle some performances Sandra Gurs lined up soon.
Still, worth every penny.
"Bragging?"
"C'mon, don't be so frosty. You asked, so I told ya. Anyway, no need for much prep on supplies. Weapons... well, I don't really need one."
"If you pull some lame excuse later like 'I forgot something,' you're dead."
"I'm more meticulous than you think. Ready to head out?"
Karen sighed softly, her expression dubious, and started to nod—
-Grrrowl.
A familiar stomach clock chimed from somewhere. Not mine—I'd filled up on fruit lightly.
"...What? I'm fine."
Karen's cheeks flushed ever so slightly as she growled pointlessly.
It was 8:21 AM. From memory, she lived in District 3 of E City, so she'd left home before 6. No wonder she skipped breakfast.
Maybe my fault for scheduling so early.
"Sorry. Didn't eat breakfast? Wanna grab a quick bite at a nearby spot? My treat."
I offered politely, and after glancing skyward in mock thought, she nodded curtly.
"Fine."
She wasn't pondering at all, that one.
After a light meal at a nearby sandwich franchise, Karen and I hustled toward the dungeon. Crumbling ruins dotted the landscape, lending a desolate air. Crossing the dank terrain really drove home that we'd entered the notorious outskirts.
"......"
We didn't chat much on the way to the dungeon. Not from any fight during breakfast—just vigilance thinning our words until conversation died out.
The outskirts weren't just undeveloped; they were lairs for vicious villains. An ambush anytime, anywhere wouldn't be odd.
About 30 minutes of stealthy steps later, ever alert...
"Here."
We reached a ramshackle, half-collapsed cabin.
"...This is it?"
Karen frowned and tilted her head skeptically. Fair enough. Dungeons usually blended into untouched nature like forests or deserts.
But "usually" meant not always.
"...Whatever. Lead on."
Abandoning further questions, she waved me ahead. I nodded and stepped inside.
The cabin was pitch-black, cobwebs everywhere. But Karen didn't flinch. A scene that'd horrify most girls her age was routine for her.
"This way."
Glancing back to check she followed, I descended the stairs to the basement cautiously. Karen trailed right behind into the cellar.
"No dungeon in sight, even if I squint."
I brushed off her sarcasm and lit the space with my smartphone. Brick walls enclosed us. Scanning intently, I spotted a cracked brick.
Found it.
"Smash that crack hard with your greatsword."
"It's not a pickaxe."
"Call it one for today then."
Karen shot me a side-eye, suddenly a miner, but—
-Shing.
She gripped her massive greatsword from her back.
"Hup!"
She swung full force at the crack I pointed out.
-Crunch!
The fissure widened, bricks tumbling down. A small passage emerged.
"You've got a knack for mining. Alright, in we go."
I cleared bricks to widen the entrance and stepped into the dungeon. Hearing no footsteps behind, I turned.
"......."
Karen stood frozen, staring blankly.
"Not coming?"
Only then did she move, hurrying after me.
"...Where the hell do you pick up intel like this?"
Her murmur carried a faint tremble.