Cats Rain Down from the Heavens of Popularity
Cats poured down from the sky amid the surging popularity. These cats were inhabitants of Solorb's inner world, now selected as residents for the newly built desert village and relocated here.
The cats descending to the ground perked up their ears the moment they spotted me and came rushing over all at once.
［Gauntlet, nice to meowt you!］
［Meow!］
［To actually see Gauntlet in the flesh! I'm so thrilled meow!］
［Can I just hold your hand once, nya?］
［It's really Gauntlet meow! So cool meow!!!］
［I made it out here through fierce competition meow!］
［Necro Puppeteer's here too meow! But where's Merino Ulla nya?!］
Quadrupedal ordinary cats. Bipedal cats. Cat beastkin with human bodies. And so on. Cats of every variety swarmed me, greeting me enthusiastically.
Behind them, even more cats waited in perfectly orderly lines, taking turns. It felt just like hosting a fan meet-and-greet with autographs.
I exchanged greetings one by one with the cats, taming them in the process. No need for Necro Puppeteer's Mind Control ability. They'd been watching me steadily through Bastet, so their affinity was off the charts. Or maybe Solorb handpicked them.
［Heh heh.］
A total of 625 cats had crossed over from Solorb's world. Among them, twenty were S-grade, and three were even SS-grade. The lowest threat level was D-grade. I shared the measured threat levels with the supporters too.
Some cats clung to me, but plenty preferred other monsters.
［That liquid looks yummy nya. Can I have just a little nya?］
［Beep!］
A cat eyeing Medical Mushroom's liquid.
［Necro's so cool nya! When I die later, make me a puppet too nya.］
［I'll consider it.］
A cat showing affection to Necro Puppeteer.
［Niara! Gauntlet isn't your son meow!］
［Oh my. As if that could be? You cats are so silly?］
Cats circling Niara Nephensis, constantly chatting her up.
［Snake Head! Do your job right nya! Don't slack off while others work nya!］
［Roo roo...］
A cat scolding Snake Head.
［Where's Black Magma Slime meow!!!］
［BlmaSl went on a picnic with Merino earlier meow.］
Even cats desperately hunting for Black Magma Slime.
As everyone basked in the cats' attention, one stood out for getting none: Kinogine Arachne.
［Father. Why am I not popular...］
"Guess you're not their type."
［How could that be...］
Arachne sulked. I gave her a quick pep talk, then gathered the villagers again, telling them to pick houses they liked as they toured the village.
Of course, the manager and deputy manager's homes were pre-assigned. Deepest in the innermost circle, at the village center beside the towering Tower of Life—that's where the new building for Pharaoh Devil and Anubis Dragon stood. The crystal orb house would serve as a meeting hall. Giant Caterpillar's place was right next door, no outer walls, just a high roof—like a gas station, if you had to compare.
［Aberrural! My house, my house!!!］
She seemed thrilled, rubbing her body all over the ground beneath her new home in delight.
Anyway, once all residents picked their homes, interior work would begin. It'd take time, but I'd customize to each one's taste. And whatever they wanted, it should be doable—Omega's robots included interior experts.
"Omega, how long for the interiors?"
［Hmm. Could take longer than building the village. Everyone wants different styles, and specialized machines aren't that many. Poof poof.］
"Yeah? No rush, take your time."
［Got it. Poro poof poof.］
Once interiors wrapped up, the desert village would go fully operational. For now, the vertical farm in the Tower of Life would supply food to future villages. With Omega starting the undersea village soon, this one would fulfill its role then.
But the desert village's duties wouldn't end there. Plans included forming its own labyrinth exploration team. I supplied them with severed arms—not the central one, but two new ones for the team. No need to dispatch Iris separately; local Iris would rotate in.
After desert exploration settled, they'd push into other areas. Besides the door to the shelter, a massive door loomed at the desert's edge. Naturally, we'd scout beyond it. Our goal: explore every inch of the labyrinth.
Oh, and organize a vigilante group. To handle and manage new monsters spawning in the desert.
'Might even get a new SS-grade... Vigilantes should be SS-grade cats then.'
Anyway, leaving interiors to the robots, we warped back to the shelter. As we arrived, Omega headed straight to the deep sea for undersea village scouting. Construction would likely kick off in days.
Labyrinth Day 70.
"I want chicken yang! Catch some chicken for me yang! I'll cook it yummy yang!"
［Please wait just a moment. I'll fetch some right away.］
At Merino's craving for chicken, Art Pega Unicorn headed to Passage 7 with one Iris.
Passage 7: blocked partway, with a massive hole stretching high into the ceiling—home to Blood Orangutans and Chickens. Our go-to spot for occasional chicken hunts.
Art Pega never went as a centaur, but with wings post-evolution, she wanted to catch flying prey herself.
Oh, and Passage 7 exploration was complete. It dead-ends at the ceiling.
A bit later.
—［Strange. No monsters at all. Not even Chickens or Blood Orangutans.］
Art Pega's voice came through Iris from the habitat. She scratched her head, looking around.
"Moved their habitat higher up?"
—［Seems so. I'll check the ceiling first.］
Art Pega hugged Iris tight, spread her wings, and shot upward with a whoosh, slicing the air.
The blocked path to ceiling: reached in seconds. Still no Chickens or Orangutans.
And then—a massive door embedded in the formerly blank ceiling.
It hadn't been there before.
—［Explorer. Was this door always here? I remember nothing from Iris view...］
"Your memory's right. Just sealed before. Probably newly spawned."
—［...I'll open it first. Chickens must've gone through.］
Art Pega shoved the door upward with all her might.
As it opened: a dark sky twinkling with countless stars. Snow-white clouds drifting amid them.
Not just night sky. More like space with floating clouds—a mystical blend of vast cosmos and planetary atmosphere, boundaries blurred.
As I stared blankly, Niara—who'd been playing with Merino—sidled up, peering at Iris's screen.
［Oh my. Looks just like the heavenly realm?］