A Blissful Kitty Nap Beneath the Dappled Shade Chapter 3

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 3

And, most of all…

Cats: …?

…, …

Riquet: Cats! Look! There’s so many cats! 

Rutile: It’s like their faces are saying “Who’re these guys?”, but none of them are running! How cute! 

Shino: Some of them have collars on. Did the wizard here put them on?

Lennox: I suppose so. The cats here look well fed, so they must be taken care of properly. 

Akira: And their fur is so clean! Not a speck of dirt on their coats…cute…

(Except…)

When I examine the manor, I notice how in contrast to the serene surroundings, the curtains of the residence were firmly closed, as if to reject the outside world.

Akira: (So what Rutile heard from Murr wasn’t wrong…)

Mitile: I wonder what the neighbour is like. Have you ever met them before?

Faust: Never. The wizards of this valley keep to themselves.

That wizard moved into the southwest a little after I settled down here myself. 

The first few decades the spirits seemed to avoid them, so I figured they were a western born. That’s all I know. 

And well…there were also some rumours I’m not sure about the genuinity of. Rumours like how they’re a ‘Cat Wizard’ who erases humans.  

Riquet: Erases humans?

Akira: They have that cute title, but do awful things instead…?

Faust: Yes. They supposedly turn humans they meet on the spot into cats. 

Once transformed, they forget they were even human, and simply become a pet cat of a wizard. That’s where the erasing humans part comes from. 

Akira: (The title was the only cute thing…)

Lennox: So they don’t release the humans they transformed into the woods.

Faust: Yeah, they take proper care of them. Aside from that, they’re feared as an disorderly and enigmatic wizard. 

Rutile: …A western born…that really loves cats…ah!

Lennox: What’s up, Rutile?

Rutile: Oh, it’s just that I remembered this story I heard once from Murr at Shylock’s bar. 

Long ago in West Country, there was a wizard who despised humans yet adored cats.

Both those feelings kept on intensifying, and they started researching magic that would turn humans into cats. 

They said something like, “I’ll turn every single one of those disgusting and wicked human beings into adorable and lovable cats.”

Akira: Talk about a cat fanatic…

Rutile: And then, they perfected their spell, and started turning every human they met into a cat.

From civil workers to neighbours, even water peddlers and the people who passed by their home, anybody into cats. 

Mitile & Riquet: Eeeh…

Rutile: They were banished from town after town, and didn’t have anywhere else to go after that, is what Shylock said.

Akira: So that wizard might actually be…

Faust: Well, it’s only a possibility. This valley is an ideal home for those who hate humans.

Lennox: …

After the spotted cat meowed at the entrance to the manor numerous times, it crouched down, and passed through the cat door. 

Riquet: It looked like it was asking for the door to open, but the Cat Wizard didn’t come out…

Mitile: Yeah…should we try and knock too?

Shino: Don’t. I sense something strange from the manor. Is there some weird barrier casted? 

Lennox: Yes, a little too ominous to be a protection barrier…it may be one that attacks trespassers. 

Faust: No, not that sort. This is…

And as he was about to answer, it was then–

Bradley: …ah, achoo! 

Mithra: Augh! Don’t sneeze right into my face! 

Akira: Bradley!? Mithra…!?

The two who had just appeared before us gripping each other’s shirt collars were Bradley and Mithra. 

They were already deep in a fight, and as soon as they saw us they scowled. 

Bradley: Hah? What the hell’re you chumps doing, sitting ‘round here? Hey, isn’t this East? 

Mithra: Isn’t it obvious that we were flung here after you sneezed. Ugh, I left the snake I was eating on the table.

Bradley: Hey, you’re the one who picked a fight with me first! I left the fried chicken I was eating behind too! 

Mithra: Huh? Are you saying it’s my fault?

Bradley: That’s what I said alright, you too dumb to get it the first time?

Bradley & Mithra: …

They glared at each other, both heads turning to look at the manor and its supposed ominous barrier at the same time. Then, the pushing contest began. 

Akira: (They’re trying to shove the other into the barrier first…!?)

Mitile: Mister Mithra, Mister Bradley! No fighting!

Faust: You two, stop it! I’m sure you can already tell, but that’s no simple barrier!

We don’t know what’ll happen yet if we make contact or use magic on it carelessly…

Bradley: That’s why I’m doin’ it. Raaah!

Mithra: That hurt, you!

Akira: Wait wait, stop fighting like you’re in elementary…!!

Rutile: We just have to pull them away at this point. If they’re not using magic, then maybe our numbers will physically stop them!

Mitile, Riquet, & Akira: Y-Yeah!

Seeing Rutile and Mitile swarm Mithra, Riquet and I hurriedly clung onto Bradley.

Even Saccy meowed to get his attention, and pawed at his elbow. 

Mithra: Rutile, Mitile! Out of my way!

Bradley: Ya want me to throw all three of you into the barrier!?

Akira: Uhm, I dunno what you’re fighting over, but why don’t we talk it out first…!

Faust & Shino: Guys…!

Lennox: Rutile, Mitile! Master Sage!

I felt bad seeing Faust and the others rush to join in on this, but I continued to pull Bradley with all my might. 

Akira: (I mean, no matter how you put it, this is getting REALLY bad…!)

The threatening and fearful meows of the nearby cats watching us echoed loud in our ears.

And as if working together, an aggressive wind blew, like it was irritated.

I felt a great pressure on my chest, and the atmosphere was filled with frenzy.

Some of us were trying to stop one another, some of us were trying to push another. Nine people and a single cat struggled, shoved, and–

Everyone: Waaaaugh…!!

Feet picked up by the strong gust of wind, we were all thrown towards the manor.

The moment we flew near, a strange dizziness fogged my brain. I could hear the concerned calls of Saccy. 

Faust: Satillquinart Mullcreed.

Shino: Matztzah Sudipas!

Bradley: Adnopotensum! 

Mithra: Arthim. 

Lennox: Master Sage…!

He must have come to save me straight away. He grabbed my arm as I fell, and flung me opposite of the house.

With a thud, my back lands on the soft grass bed.

Akira: (Uugh, owie…w-was I saved? How is everyone?)

I rubbed my back as I tried to stand up, but my hand felt something that wasn’t supposed to be there.

Akira: (Woah, what the!? There’s a furry snake stuck to my butt…? Can that happen here??)

(Not only that, my head feels sorta heavy too…)

Leaping from my arm, Saccy jumped around my body and began sniffing.

Thinking those actions were a little weird as I finally stood up, I locked eyes with Mitile.

Mitile: Ma…M-M-Master Sage!?

Akira: Mitile…!?

Mitile & Akira: …

You…

You’ve got cat ears!?!?

Rutile: A tail!! You have tails too! It’s even moving! It’s so brush-like!

Riquet: Look at yourself Rutile, you’ve got them too! E-Everyone has them…!?

Shino: Hey, what the hell is this get-up? Is this ‘cuz of the barrier?

Lennox: Even our clothes have changed…is it a transformation curse?

Lennox asked him with a puffed up tail. Faust touched his own ears and tail as he wore the same expression as usual.

His own tail was somewhat puffing up too.

Faust: …Our ears and tails have a sense of touch…when I use magic to make them stop moving, it feels unpleasant like someone’s tied up my arm. 

However, our regular ears are working as normal. It’s transformation magic, near on the level of a permanent curse.

Bradley: Curse or transformation magic I don’t give a crap. This look is a disgrace to the name of the Great Bradley. 

Mithra: I agree. Arthim.

Bradley: Adnopotensum.

Mitile: Ah! Great, you’re…

Bradley & Mithra: …

Mithra: Arthim.

Bradley: Adnopotensum!

Damnit! There’s no going back no matter how much we try! What’s with this stupid spell?!

Mithra: It’s so overboard and detailed, yet malicious and resentful…it's like a spell crafted with the worst aspects of West and East magic. 

Mitile: You…you can’t reverse it? Not even you two?

Mithra: No, I can. It’s just that it goes back on its own right away.

Riquet: So basically, you can’t reverse it.

Akira: N-No way…!

We all felt our ears and tails in a panic once we heard those words from Bradley and Mithra, who can solve generally anything with magic. 

I know I’d get a good laugh reading those “One day, I grew cat ears and a cat tail.” sorta manga, but this was NO laughing situation at all.

Akira: (How am I to wear my regular clothes now with this tail? What do I do during the bathroom…no, more importantly, can I still sit on the couch?)

(Am I gonna have to sleep on my side forever? Water is definitely gonna trickle in my cat ears when I shower…)

Mitile: Are…are we ever gonna turn back? Are we gonna stay like this forever?

Riquet: It’s not a good habit to complain at first sight…but, I would like to turn back. I won’t be able to wear my hat this way.

Shino: There is no way I’m going back to Heath like this. He’s gonna poke fun at me. And call me cute. 

We all looked at each other. We were all tense with anxiety, and I could feel my cat ears drooping downwards. 

Until one of us, who had been nervous a second ago, neatly straightened his back nice and tall. 

Rutile, with his hands on our shoulders, looked into our faces.

<      Index      >