The Blanc Effect
I leaped off Leo's belly and landed with a soft thud, shaking out my fluffy tail like I was brushing off yesterday's dust.
"Nyaow!" I looked down at Arman from my superior position and let out a loud meow, the sound full of pure arrogance. My pink paw pads gleamed in the torchlight, and I had to admit they really were soft and cushy—jelly-like in the best way.
"......"
Arman's face turned scarlet, as if he might explode any second. The proud envoy from the Barkan Empire, the man who had introduced himself as the "Continent's Strongest Beast" and the guardian of his lion, was now whining and rubbing against me like a pampered housecat after his master slapped him silly with one single paw-pad touch.
Around us, the nobles were already chanting my name, cheering with loud applause and bright eyes. Emperor Carchion himself was laughing so hard tears nearly spilled from his crimson eyes. The empire's dignity? What a joke. The old man looked like he was having the time of his life watching the whole spectacle.
"Your Highness, the Saintess...!"
Lina dropped to her knees right on the marble floor, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gazed up at me with pure worship in her eyes. She looked more like a devoted paladin than the saint herself right now.
"Leo! Get up! Show some dignity! You are the Barkan's guardian beast!"
Arman grabbed his lion's ear and yelled into it, voice cracking with panic.
But the lion already belonged to me. He just flicked his gaze my way once, then started purring softly, completely ignoring Arman. His huge body had melted into the warm heat of my fur and the soft glow of my paw pads.
Even my butlers had barely held out after a single touch. How could a lion possibly resist?
Leo’s thick tail wrapped gently around my tiny body, trying not to let go as I stood there looking utterly unimpressed.
"You traitor! How could you do this to me after I raised you my whole life?!"
Arman trembled with betrayal, pounding his own chest like a broken pride.
I clicked my tongue at the pathetic sight. Tsk tsk. Acting like you can train when you can’t even handle one little lion. True mastery comes from overwhelming cuteness, not force or food.
Look at yourself. You got caught by a divine beast’s jelly paws in one go.
"It looks like the match is already decided," Emperor Carchion said, his laughter fading into a solemn declaration. "The Empire’s Blanc has subdued Barkan’s Leo. Not a single hair was harmed. And in such a peaceful, almost affectionate way."
"I don’t accept this! This is impossible! That tiger must have used some kind of hypnosis magic! Unless magic was involved, there’s no explanation!"
Arman tried to protest, voice rising in denial, but Carchion only smiled with clear pity.
"If you say our Blanc used magic, then it simply proves how powerful he is. A divine beast using its natural abilities? What’s wrong with that?"
"But...!"
"Besides, our grandson is just adorable. If he used magic, I’d be the one who doesn’t understand it."
With that, Carchion’s firm tone shut Arman up completely. The emperor looked at the lion and then at me with calm eyes.
"Then, as promised, admit defeat. Take your beast and disappear from my sight at once. I’ll reward you for serving my grandson’s bed so well, but never step foot on the Empire’s land again."
At those words, I hopped off Leo’s belly with a light pat.
Bedtime routine over. Good night, Master. Ignore the rules and sleep well.
"Krrroooow..."
Leo whimpered sadly, his huge head resting on my back leg and refusing to leave. He was clinging to me like a baby tiger cub.
"Kaang!"
Hey, no way! The sight of this massive lion clinging and whining to a little white tiger cub was actually pretty entertaining.
"Leo! Come on! Stop embarrassing me anymore!"
Arman grabbed the lion’s mane and started dragging him away. Leo dug his claws deep into the marble floor, leaving long scratches as he was pulled. The pitiful sight made me want to feed him a whole rack of jerky just to cheer him up.
"Kuuwaaaak!"
Leo’s heartbroken wail echoed through the Grand Banquet Hall.
I waved my tail in a cheerful goodbye. See you later. If you come back empty-handed, tell the butlers to chase you out. If you bring anything tasty, I’ll play with you all night.
After the Barkan delegation fled like rats into their holes, the banquet hall finally returned to something like peace.
Or rather... it turned into absolute pandemonium.
"Blanc-sama! Kyaaaaah!"
The first one to rush over was the heavily muscled Margravine who had wiped out assassins with wrestling lariats earlier. She knelt before me with a shy, elegant expression, as if she had never once shown any bloodlust.
Her muscles were huge, yet her face was so cute and flustered.
"You were so amazing! You subdued that enormous lion just with your gaze!"
"M-may I touch you too? You must have been exhausted after fighting. I’m really good at massage!"
"Stand back! I was first in line! I’ll offer the special herbs from my estate as tribute! Please eat them to replenish your energy!"
One by one, the nobles surrounded me. The fierce aura from earlier had completely vanished. Everyone was staring at me with hearts in their eyes, dying to touch me.
"Kyaow."
I didn’t refuse. This was the winner’s privilege, after all.
I flopped onto the floor, belly up, and spread my paws wide.
Come on, feel. Unlimited service today. You all worked so hard today—killing water beasts and all that—so you deserve a little reward.
"Oh my! Look at that! Pink belly button!"
"So soft! Like the finest silk!"
"I’m blessed... my life is complete with this... I’ll die happy today."
Hands ran everywhere over my body—legs, chest, tail, ears. It tickled a little, but it felt amazing. Some rubbed my paw pads firmly, others gently stroked my ears, and a few played with my fluffy tail while smiling like they had won the lottery.
I purred happily in response, the deep grrr sound vibrating through the hall.
Grrrr... grrr...
Everyone’s faces broke into bright, genuine smiles.
That’s when Kailian pushed through the crowd, her long silver hair swaying.
"Everyone, step aside! Back off! My Blanc is mine!"
She snatched me right out of the nobles’ hands and pulled me into her embrace, eyes blazing with fierce protectiveness as she scanned the surrounding faces.
"Blanc is mine. Don’t touch him."
"Your Highness, we’d love to serve the Divine Beast as well!"
"Quiet. And he has lion saliva on his fur. It’s dirty. You all need to leave right now and wash your hands."
Kailian pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and started gently wiping my fur. Her movements were careful and thorough, and no one else seemed to exist for her in that moment.
Thanks for the towel, butler. It feels... a little itchy...
"Aaah... Blanc-sama..."
"Don’t go... just one more touch of the jelly..."
Kailian’s possessive aura exploded. She wrapped me tightly inside her cloak, and the nobles let out longing sighs.
Even if you lose your entire country, you still won’t cry that hard.
I peeked my face out from under the cloak and winked at them one last time.
"Kyaowuu~"
See you again soon. It was fun. Don’t fight over me anymore.
"You did a very big thing today, Blanc," Emperor Carchion said, coming over and ruffling my hair. His face was full of pride.
"Thanks to you, we’ve strengthened the Empire’s honor and flattened Barkan’s pride. And most of all..."
He looked around the ruined banquet hall.
Dishes were broken, food scattered everywhere, yet every face in the hall was brighter and more alive than ever. The nobles who usually glared at each other like they were ready to bite were now huddled together, laughing and talking happily about my cuteness.
"I’ve never seen anyone smile like this before. Before you arrived, this palace was colder than an ice rink."
Demian nodded beside him.
"Exactly. Usually these kinds of things just turn the atmosphere deadly—accusations, purges, the works. But today everyone’s just talking about Blanc. This must be the famous Blanc Effect."
Blanc Effect.
It sounded like a pretty good name to me.
I puffed out my chest and let out a proud little meow. Yeah, I was pretty amazing, wasn’t I?
"Kyaoot!"
The walk back to the Princess’s Palace was quiet and refreshing. The night air was crisp after the torches had been extinguished, leaving the palace in peaceful silence.
I rested comfortably in Kailian’s arms, gazing up at the starry sky. It looked like the stars were about to fall.
"Blanc."
When we reached the bedroom, Kailian gently set me down on the bed. From the bathroom she brought a warm towel and began wiping me with the utmost care. Her hands felt endlessly soft as she removed every trace of the lion’s scent and dust.
"When I saw you all over there on that lion’s belly earlier... I thought my heart would stop."
Her fingers carefully stroked through my fur. Her voice trembled just a little.
I softly licked her worried fingers.
"When I saw your fur being cut... it felt like the whole world was collapsing. I promised I’d protect you... yet I almost put you in danger again."
Her eyes grew wet at the edges.
She always acted so strong, so scary, like the infamous Blood Princess. But in truth, she was the most scared and lonely of all my butlers. To her, I wasn’t just a pet—I was the heavy pillar that kept her standing.
I stood up and climbed onto her lap, then gently wrapped my front paws around her neck. My short legs felt like they were just resting against her, but I held on tight.
"Kyaong... grrr."
Our crying butler is fine now.
I licked her cheeks with my rough little tongue as if I could erase all the tears.
"......Thank you."
Kailian pulled me into a tight hug.
It was warm.
The warmth of the lion’s belly earlier was nice, but her embrace was better. It felt safer. Everyone loved me, but only Kailian truly loved me the most.
"Now sleep. You worked hard today."
She lay down beside me and made a pillow out of her arm. I curled up against her, using her arm as a soft pillow.
The fluffy blanket, the faint scent of roses, and the steady sound of her heartbeat lulled me to sleep without needing a lullaby.
"Sleep well, Blanc."
Before long, Kailian’s breathing evened out. She had fallen asleep.
I slowly opened my eyes. The room was dark, but my night-vision eyes clearly saw the object on the table—the one Emperor Carchion had given me as thanks for my hard work. The best jerky in the entire empire.
I hadn’t been able to eat it during the banquet because of the fuss, but now...?
I carefully wriggled off the bed without waking her. Silently stepping across the sheets to the table, my target was that adorable piece of jerky.
Scritch.
I gently pawed at the bag, opening the top. The rich, savory scent tickled my nose. I swallowed hard, drool almost pooling on the floor.
Just one. Exactly one. That’s all I’m eating. It’s my reward for today’s hard work.
I took one small piece into my mouth.
Crunch.
The sound was crisp and delicious!
"......Blanc?"
A cool voice came from behind me.
I froze like ice, jerky still in my mouth.
Wait... I definitely checked that she was asleep?
Slowly turning, I met Kailian’s bright red eyes staring straight at me from the darkness.
"......You just brushed your teeth, didn’t you."
Munchmunch.
"Kyaow?"
I didn’t eat! I just refreshed my breath!
I brazenly swallowed the jerky and tried to play it off.
"You... watched me eat three steaks at the banquet earlier."
Twitch.
Kailian yanked the blanket off and got closer.
"No. You’ll get fat if you eat at night. And this is rotten."
"Kyuung!"
Just one! Really, just one more!
I rubbed my head against her desperately, putting on the saddest puppy-dog eyes I could manage, but Kailian was firm. She snatched the jerky and tossed it onto the high shelf.
Ah... my jerky... my happiness...
"Come here. Tonight you’re staying in my arms and sleeping—no escape."
She dragged me back to the bed, this time hugging me so tightly escape was impossible.
I was trapped between her chest.
"Kyuang..."
Too tight... give me the jerky!