White Tiger Devours Steel
Recently, after a successful hunt, I woke up to a massive turning point in my existence.
Until then, I had slumbered curled up on the plush cushions of the Imperial Palace and indulged in fine meats, but now the beastly instincts slumbering deep inside me had awakened and began to rampage without restraint.
In a single word, my blood boiled.
I wandered through the vast garden of the Princess's Palace.
Normally, I would have been sunning myself belly-up under the warm rays and napping, but not today. My eyes sparkled with fierce intensity, and my fluffy tail wagged vigorously as I zeroed in on every twitch and movement in the vicinity.
Swish.
From the corner of the flowerbed beneath a rose bush, a small disturbance caught my attention.
I dropped my body flat to the ground, compressing the muscles of my hind legs like powerful springs, then braced my hips and prepared to leap.
The target was that troublesome intruder—the mole, who kept disrupting the garden's peace.
Taat!
"Squeak?!"
Under my paw, the mole I had crushed wriggled in a pathetic heap.
One-hit hunt, perfect timing. Too easy.
I snatched the unconscious mole into my mouth and dashed triumphantly across the terrace.
Just then, Kailian was gracefully savoring an afternoon tea. She sipped her steaming cup with serene contentment, lost in the peaceful rhythm of the moment.
How thrilled would she be if I brought her this gift?
"Kyaaang! Kyuu!"
Butler! Look at this! I got another one!
I dropped the mole right in front of Kailian.
"Ha... Blanc again? Please, just leave the living ones alone! Yesterday it was a snake, and today it's a mole?!"
"Kyuu..."
Why? Moles keep ruining the flowerbeds.
I tilted my head in a confused expression, unable to grasp her logic.
Having captured the culprit who damaged the garden, I expected praise. Instead, Kailian sighed and ordered the maids to carry the mole far away into the forest.
"Puu..."
"Ha... After one hunt, the wildness is overflowing. What happened to that once gentle kid..."
Kailian pressed her throbbing temple and sighed deeply.
I smacked my lips and turned away. The mole smelled too earthy, so I would let it slide. Next time, I would aim for something cleaner and crunchier.
My teeth itched...
Maybe because of the growth spurt, or perhaps it was the tiger instinct to gnaw, tear, and destroy. My mouth watered, and my jaw muscles tightened with anticipation.
I wanted to sink my fangs into something hard, something that would yield a satisfying crunch and that unmistakable snap.
I wandered the garden once more.
Old oak root? I gave it a try, but it was too soft. I only got wood splinters in my mouth. Ptooie, ptooie.
Garden stones? No flavor. The taste of rock is utterly bland.
Golden fountain statue? Too huge to fit in my mouth.
Nothing... I need something really hard and juicy...
Just then, in a corner of the garden near the training ground, something shiny lay on a bench.
It was the training sword Demian had left behind after his morning drills.
Of course, the blade wasn't razor-sharp. It was a solid steel rod with a dulled edge, shaped for practice, yet its heavy gleam caught my eye instantly.
Oh... there it is.
That smooth curve. The firm texture. The cool touch of metal.
Biting into that would finally soothe the itch on my gums. My instincts howled in triumph. This is the perfect chew toy.
I crept silently toward the bench.
Confirming no one was around, I leaped gracefully onto the seat.
The sword was longer than my body length, but the leather-wrapped handle and the pommel were the perfect size for my jaws.
Sniff sniff.
Cold steel scent. Bitter, but not unpleasant.
I gripped the handle with my front paw and pried my mouth wide open. My white fangs gleamed in the sunlight.
Time to chew.
Aaargh.
I clamped my fangs onto the blade edge of the sword.
Kwazik.
A sharp sound rang out. It wasn't my teeth breaking. It was the steel screaming.
Crunch. Snap.
".....?"
What? It's softer than I expected?
Like biting into frozen dark chocolate. Or maybe super-hard nougat?
Hard steel screamed and crumpled between my canines and molars. Did my bite force reach this level?
Ooooh... this is it! The perfect crunching taste!
The itch tormenting my gums vanished, replaced by a thrilling rush of pleasure.
I got excited and increased the pressure on my jaws.
Shaking my head side to side, I began tearing into the sword in earnest.
Clang!
With a crisp metallic ring, the blade snapped off.
I rolled the broken steel fragments around my mouth like candy.
Crunch, crunch, clack.
The sound of steel crumbling like snacks filled my ears. No flavor, but the texture was unbeatable.
"Bl... Blanc?!"
A horrified scream rang out behind me from Kailian.
"No!!! Spit it out! Blanc! That's not food to eat!!!"
Kailian sprinted over with a face drained of all color.
Her cheeks were ashen with fear. Of course, a little white tiger cub suddenly biting into a sword would scare anyone.
"You've gone mad! All your teeth will break! Let go!"
Kailian grabbed my jaw and tried to force my mouth open.
"Kyuu..!"
I was mid-chew when I startled and stared at her.
"Kyung?"
Why? I was having so much fun chewing, and you won't share my food.
"What's with that Kyung! That's steel! Spit it out right now!"
Kailian forced her fingers into my mouth and pried out the steel fragments I had been grinding.
The steel, now soaked in my saliva, clattered to the floor. It was already crushed with my teeth marks, leaving pockmarks everywhere.
"Ha... ha..."
"Kyuu..."
I hate my butler.
Being forced to keep my mouth open hurt. I pawed the ground beside her.
Kailian panted heavily and cupped my face. Her hands trembled slightly.
Her expression was filled with worry that my teeth might have been damaged.
Though I was annoyed, I obediently opened my mouth wider because my butler was so concerned.
"Waaang."
Kailian held my lips open and carefully inspected my teeth, lifting and lowering her tongue.
"......Eh?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
Fangs, canines, molars.
They weren't just intact. Not a single crack. They shone dazzlingly white and smooth. Even my gums were a healthy rosy red. Not a drop of blood. In fact, they gleamed as if freshly scaled.
"This... is possible?"
Kailian glanced at the mangled sword on the ground, then back at my perfectly healthy teeth.
"The sword broke, but your teeth are fine? No, not even a scratch?"
"Kyuu..."
Hmph. You make such a fuss over just a sword.
She poked my fang with a finger, unable to believe it.
It was rock-hard. As if it were the world's toughest gemstone.
"In the world... did you eat so much meat that your teeth strength changed... did you suddenly get aura blades?"
Kailian finally released a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the ground, her legs giving out.
Her heart seemed to drop and then snap back. Beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead.
"Thank goodness... I'm truly thankful... I thought you were going to lose all your teeth and have to eat only bread for the rest of your life..."
"Sniff... kyuu."
Even now, forcing my mouth open hurts.
"Aya..! Sorry for forcing it open!"
"Kyuuu..!"
I swatted her with my tail against the back of her hand. It didn't even hurt that much.
While she smoothed her chest, I eyed the steel fragments on the floor again.
I hadn't chewed them all yet. If I finished, my jaw joint would feel so much better.
I secretly stretched my front paw and dragged the pieces closer. Then, taking advantage of Kailian's distraction, I brought them back to my mouth.
Aaargh.
"BLANC!!!"
At Kailian's shout, my body jolted. I froze.
She snatched the steel from my mouth and hurled it far outside the garden.
"I told you no! Just because your teeth are fine doesn't mean you can eat steel! If you get a stomachache from not digesting it, what then?!"
"Kyuu..."
I'm not an idiot. I was just going to chew it a little and spit it out.
I looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"Ugh! Where did you learn that?! No snacks for you today. Confiscated. And what about Demian's sword? What are you going to do with it!"
"Kyuu?"
Demian would probably say I did great.
Kailian poked my nose hard with her finger, her expression stern.
It didn't hurt, but it stung my pride. I'm not stupid. A finger poke?
"Kyuu... snif..."
You'll be in trouble if you don't learn. There's nothing to eat, so you go for steel?
She grabbed my cheek and pulled it, launching into a lecture.
I tucked my ears back and lay flat on the ground.
Faking pitifulness! I made my eyes as round as possible, watered them with tears, and wagged my tail while looking up.
"Kyuuung..."
Sorry. I couldn't help it. My teeth were itchy. So please give me a treat?
"Ha... you really will shorten my lifespan by half because of you."
Thanks to you, I sleep better at night.
Finally, Kailian gave in to my ultimate cuteness act and burst into a soft laugh.
She scooped me up into her arms.
"Ugh, I can't even live anymore. What do I do with this accident-prone little troublemaker."
She held me close and showered my face with kisses. I snuggled in her embrace and thought:
Since the sword is confiscated, maybe next time I'll get the Emperor's gold button and chew it. That sounds much tastier.
Of course, I wouldn't dare do it. If I actually did, I'd probably get another butt pat just like last time.