The Gluttonous Divine Cub Finds True Comfort in a Paper Box
The divine beasts knew nothing of the hearts of working adults.
Emperor Carchion’s mood was better than ever.
For years he had endured the endless family discord, the agonizing chronic illness, and now the tiny fluff ball had finally eased it all.
The Emperor was desperate to give the wondrous divine beast something—anything at all.
“Tower Master.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You’ve worked terribly hard lately. But one more favor is all I need from you.”
The Emperor pulled the exhausted Tower Master aside and issued his command in hushed tones.
“Create a bed for our Blanc. The most comfortable, the most luxurious, the perfect fortress no monster or nightmare could ever dare approach.”
“…Yes?”
“I’ll fund the entire project. Use every ounce of the Magic Tower’s expertise. Deadline: one week.”
After seven days and nights of relentless effort, Rosalia’s masterpiece finally arrived at the Princess’s Palace.
“Come in.”
Kailian’s voice brimmed with anticipation as the doors of the princess’s reception room opened.
“Please forgive the intrusion…”
Rosalia entered with her servants, carrying several medium-sized paper boxes. Her face was gaunt from sleepless nights, yet her eyes sparkled with manic brilliance—the look of a master who had completed a masterpiece.
“Kya-woo?”
Is this the gift inside?
“Oh, Tower Master! It’s finally finished?”
Emperor Carchion’s eyes shone with delight. Such an uncharacteristic display of emotion.
Next to him, Saintess Lina and Kailian watched the boxes with curious eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I poured every drop of my magical life force into it.”
“Kya-woong.”
I feel grateful for the effort, but that tone makes me feel awkward.
Rosalia tore open the boxes with a solemn expression.
Srurrk.
The wrapping fell away, revealing the contents.
“Wow…”
“The world…”
Awe escaped everyone. It was no ordinary bed—it was a work of art named “Bed.”
“The base frame is carved from the finest elven moonstone. The cushion is stuffed with compressed fur from the Cloud Sheep, the sacred beast produced by our Magic Tower. The headboard features the highest-grade clear crystal to clear the mind.”
At Kailian’s explanation, even Blanc’s ears perked up.
“Let me explain the features. This bed is enchanted with several preservation spells. First, [Automatic Temperature Control]: it senses Blanc’s body temperature and keeps him cool in summer, warm in winter. Second, [Zero-Gravity Cushion]: lying down feels exactly like floating on a cloud, preserving spinal health.”
“Oh…”
“Third, [Insect Repellent]: any fleas or ticks within a ten-meter radius vanish instantly. Fourth, [Nightmare Defense]: triple-layered mental-protection magic ensures peaceful sleep. And finally…”
Rosalia proudly pressed a button on the corner of the bed.
Win.
A soft vibration rose from the mattress, accompanied by a gentle lullaby melody.
“It also has [Sleep-Inducing Vibration]. This is the only bed in the Empire made for a divine beast—its construction alone consumed an entire month of the Magic Tower’s budget.”
“Kya-woo…”
Wow… even though it’s my gift, this is over the top. But I like it.
A hush fell. Everyone was too stunned by the overwhelming quality to speak.
“I want to sleep in it…”
Kailian muttered, genuinely jealous.
“Uyu, I’m dying to see it. I want it so badly!”
“Kya!”
Hey! I just finished grooming this morning—don’t mess up my fur!
Kailian nuzzled her face against mine.
“Heh heh, as expected from the Tower Master. Perfect! This is exactly what our Blanc deserves as a gift.”
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, then slipped out of Kailian’s arms and gazed at the box on the sofa.
“Here, Blanc! Come and try it!”
I shot Kailian a sideways glare and slowly walked toward the Emperor, clearing the path as the servants parted.
Golden and white, inlaid with jewels, the luxurious bed and plump cushions came into view.
“Kya-woo…”
With this, I could probably stack a mountain of meat.
My gaze lingered on the box beside the bed, and I froze.
That… is perfect material.
The right shade, the right texture, the cozy darkness inside, the corners that would surely make satisfying crinkles.
A wrapping paper box.
Just seeing it made my heart race. Tiger instinct? My brain screamed in protest.
Go in. This is where you’re supposed to sleep. This is Eden.
I moved without hesitation.
“Oh! Blanc is climbing onto the bed!”
Rosalia cheered, voice full of hope.
I passed by with graceful steps and leaped straight into the paper box beside it.
Poljak.
The moment I landed inside, I felt it: the slightly scratchy texture of the paper against my paw pads, the perfect sense of enclosure, the full, snug satisfaction of being curled into a tight space.
“Kya…”
Yes. This is it.
If heaven existed, this would be it. I scratched the bottom of the box with my front paws to settle in, then curled into a perfect ball and rested my chin on my paws.
A contented purr rumbled from my throat.
“Grrrrr… grr…”
“Grr…”
The reception room fell into complete silence.
“……”
“……”
Emperor Carchion, Kailian, Saintess Lina, and the Tower Master who had poured her soul into the bed—all of them stared in a daze.
Rosalia’s eyes filled with tears as she watched the divine beast who had sacrificed a week of her life.
“……Blanc?”
Rosalia called out, voice trembling.
“That’s… not a bed. It’s just a wrapping box.”
“Kya-woo.”
I know. I don’t care. This box is my bed now.
I flicked my tail in reply and refused to leave. I’d rather stay in this box than eat jerky today!
“No, Blanc! Look! This is the highest-grade Cloud Sheep fur! It’s supposedly zero-gravity magic! It’s on a completely different plane from ordinary paper scraps!”
Rosalia switched to casual speech, pleading with me.
“How expensive is this?! It’s my week-long masterpiece!”
“Kya-woo.”
I ignored her. I rubbed my cheek against the box corner and marked my territory.
Crinkle, crinkle.
“Puff”
Kailian finally burst out laughing.
“AHAHAHA! What is that?! You turned down a bed that cost an entire month of the Magic Tower’s budget for this box?! I can’t even stop you!”
“Heh heh heh… You really have strong tastes.”
The Emperor looked slightly disappointed but smiled anyway, since Blanc liked it.
“Tower Master, don’t be so down. It’s not that your bed is lacking—it’s just that my grandson has very particular tastes.”
“But… but…”
Rosalia dropped to her knees in despair, unable to accept that the Empire’s finest bed had been defeated by a paper box.
“Blanc, please! Just try it once! Okay? I’ll give you the best meat! I’ll prepare the finest!”
Rosalia crawled toward the box, clearly intending to pull me out and onto the bed.
Impossible.
I curled even deeper into the box.
A problem had appeared. The box felt… a little smaller than I thought. No—exactly the opposite. I was a little bigger than the box thought.
Twitch. Twitch.
I twisted every way to cram my entire body inside. Cats and dogs are liquid.
If my head fits, the rest should too. That’s the academic consensus. So I should be able to fit.
I wriggled my hips and shoved the last hind leg inside.
Kiiiik. Kiiik.
The box let out a pained scream as its paper walls stretched and bulged dangerously.
“Uh… Blanc? You’re kind of sticking out there…”
Kailian asked worriedly.
“Blanc! Don’t force it! The box will break!”
Lina shouted too.
“Kya-woong!”
It’s noisy! I can fit it! I’m liquid, after all!
I gritted my pride and poured every last ounce of strength into flattening my belly and shoving it in.
That was the moment.
Crreeeeeak—!
A sharp, cruel crack echoed through the reception room.
“……”
The side of the box that couldn’t handle my plump belly burst open in a grand explosion.
White fur and belly exploded out like confetti.
Thud.
My perfect fortress was instantly reduced to rags.
Dead silence.
I froze. My exposed belly, poking out from the torn box, felt the cool air. Shame washed over me.
“Ah…”
Rosalia let out a deep sigh—part defeat, part pity, and a hint of quiet victory.
“FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
Kailian rolled on the floor, clutching her stomach.
“It exploded! The box exploded because of the belly! AHAHAHA!”
“Krrrm, hah! Kug, heh heh heh!”
The Emperor tried to hold in his laughter, shoulders shaking, but his red face showed he had reached his limit.
“Oh my, Blanc… your fur… your fur is fluffy, right? Yes, it’s the fur.”
“Kya-woong…”
That’s the real wound here, you idiot!
Saintess Lina tried to comfort me, but her eyes were glued to my protruding belly.
I slowly lifted my head. The box was dead. My sanctuary had been destroyed by my greed and appetite.
I stared sadly at the torn box, then at Rosalia.
“Kya-woo…”
Hey, that bed. Is it still usable?
Rosalia adjusted her glasses and grinned.
“Of course, customer. It’s generously sized and designed to support up to one ton. Go ahead and climb on with confidence.”
“Kya-woong!”
One ton?! You idiot! I’m nowhere near that heavy!
“Kya-woong!”
“Ouch! Sorry…”
I bit the Tower Master’s fingers when she tried to grab me like a pig, crawled out of the broken box, and hesitantly stepped onto the magnificent magical bed.
Squish.
Softer than I expected… no, amazingly comfortable. The zero-gravity cushion gently enveloped my belly, and warm air soothed every inch of my body.
“Grr… grr…”
Without realizing it, the purr rose again.
“See? I knew I’d end up here.”
Kailian wiped her tears and poked my belly.
“But Blanc, you really need to go on a diet. If you’re tearing boxes apart, it’s serious.”
“Kya-woong!”
I didn’t use any miracles recently! I can lose it in no time!