A Blissful Kitty Nap Beneath the Dappled Shade Chapter 7

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 7

Seda: I came to this Valley for that reason. It’s a hidden valley for those who want to hide, where no humans come close.

If I’m here, I can live all by myself.

Faust: …

His tail swung sideways, and he quietly opened his mouth.

Faust: So you wanted to be alone.

Seda: Mmhmm.

Faust: Why.

Seda: Uhm…I just hated everything. My brother is so annoying. 

A little sulky, Seda rolled on the ground with his ears down.

Seda: He’s always been like that since I was a baby. He’s uh…fifteen years older than me.

It’s been decided since I was born that my brother was to be the heir. ‘Cuz he’s smart, and serious, and works out. 

That’s why Father lets me do whatever I want at my own pace. It’s my brother that doesn’t. 

“Father is too lax on you. Seda, you need to work hard so that in the future you won’t have any trouble in life wherever you go.” he said.

Mitile: That’s…

Shino: He’s right, though? All the other young masters that Heath knows have little brothers who can’t do anything. 

Seda: But he’s so strict! He always has something to complain about everyday. He even increased my tutors by two!

A moody Seda slammed his tail on the ground a couple times. If he was human, he’d probably be pouting. 

In short, Seda’s brother is a little overprotective and very meddlesome.

Add the age difference into it, it must’ve felt like he had another parent. 

Akira: (He doesn’t sound like a bad kid though. He may have done something incredibly dangerous…but I do get the feeling of wanting to care for him…)

Seda: And ever since Father became ill and my brother inherited his position, he’s become even more harsh!

…Father’s illness really was sudden after all. Brother was probably scared about what could happen at any moment. 

That’s why Seda put up with the homework and criticisms his brother gave him, while still complaining on the side. 

He put up with it, kept going, and then–

The Great Calamity visited.

Though they’re both humans, they were the type that gets affected by the Calamity if it gets close. 

Seda: I can’t remember all of it but, I do remember me and my brother yelling at each other angrily. It was too much…it felt awful.

That’s why I ran away to the Valley, saying I was going to stay at the villa.

I heard stories about the hidden wizards of the Valley before. I’m not going to live with my brother anymore, I’m going to live like everybody else here.

No one’s gonna complain to me any longer, not my brother, not anyone…not in true isolation…

Mitile: True…isolation…

Taken aback, Mitile parroted his words. Even I blinked repeatedly.

“True Isolation” were pretty heavy words coming from a young and cute voice like Seda’s. It took me by surprise. 

Faust observed the almost drunken Seda with his faintly open eyes. 

Rutile: It’s a relief you’re safe at least. The spirits of the Valley of Storms are very strong, so even a wizard like me finds it scary…

Seda: Mn…me too, I got lost as soon as I entered the valley. 

There were strange lights, and I saw tons of dreams. I didn’t know whether it was day or night…

and before I knew it, I was on the ground as a cat. That’s when the old man came out.

According to the Cat Wizard, Seda had come when the wizard was in the middle of fixing his barrier after the spirit’s tempest the previous day had broken a part of it.

Seda, who had touched a half-baked barrier, had transformed into a half-baked cat.

Seda: “Though it resembles my spell, since you were transformed in an odd state, you ended up as an incomplete cat. Child who bears such terrible misfortune, I will turn you back into a human.”

Riquet: Is that supposed to be the Cat Wizard?

Shino: Were all his teeth pulled out? 

Seda: No! He had a voice like a scholar and a hard way of speaking.

Anyways, he tried to turn me back into a human. 

So I told him to let me turn into a cat, and to let me stay here until I became one fully.

The old man didn’t want to, but he said “Since your appearance is that of a cat it’d be a pity to see you die, so why not.” and I got to stay. 

After that, the two lived together. 

“I’ve never seen a cat as selfish as this one.” the Cat Wizard would complain, but he never tried to chase Seda out. 

Faust: What about the letter addressed to your brother? You made the Cat Wizard write that, didn’t you?

Seda: Yeah. I realized I didn’t leave my family a note or anything, so.

My brother makes a big deal over the smallest of things, and I thought it’d be a bother to the old man if he sent a search team.

Rutile: So it was for the Cat Wizard’s sake. That’s very sweet of you, Seda.

Seda: Ehehe…he didn’t want to write it at first, but I just kept kneading his feet until he gave in. 

Akira: (I…I wouldn’t be able to say no to that either…)

And one night, the Cat Wizard used the bell on a magic tool of a cat toy to create a silver collar for Seda. 

Lennox: …Everything after that is what we already know. You put on that collar to become a cat, and the Cat Wizard passed on after he left a message.

Seda: Yep. Mm~...

He pulled over a catnip with his front feet, and rolled onto his side. 

Sniffing and biting the catnip, he spoke in a loud voice like a drunkard.

Seda: Yeah…that’s right. I’m gonna become a real cat, and be alone, living in solid…solidude.

Riquet: Solidude?

Faust: Solitude?

Rutile: I’m guessing Seda didn’t like studying much…

Seda: I won’t go home. I don’t care about my brother at all.

Eating beetles and bunnies is still…a bit too much…but as a cat, I’m gonna live all by myself!

Shino: Yeah, yeah, we hear you. Seda, you’re drunk. 

Mitile: I think we’ve had enough of the catnip. Come on, hand it over. 

Seda: Aaah~...my catnip…

Akira: (He reminds me of the drunkards on the last train of the night…)

Aside from his drunkenness, Seda seemed to be having fun being taken care of by Shino and Mitile. 

It reminded me of Faust from when I first came to the manor.

As someone who sought seclusion in this Valley, he detested the idea of living with us from the bottom of his heart.

Seda came to this valley in search of solitude, but I truly wonder if deep down the loneliness he desires is the same loneliness that Faust experienced. 

Akira: (Does he want to be like Faust when we first met him…I can’t really imagine it…)

Faust: …What’s wrong, Sage?

Akira: Nothing…

Seda: …! H-Hmph! This is enough, right? I’ve told you a lot.

See ya.

Mitile: Ah, Seda!

He’s gone…did he really only calm down because of the catnip…

Riquet: That may be…either way, it’s good that we’ve confirmed his will to become a cat. 

Shino: Sage, you better add this to your testimony. There was never any kidnapping wizard, that boy wanted to become a cat of his own will.

Akira: Y-Yeah…I will…

I nodded, despite the anxiety still sitting within me. I can’t help but stare in the direction Seda left from. 

Rutile: …

And I wasn’t alone in watching the grassbed.

Beside Rutile, Mitile tilts his head.

Mitile: I wonder why the Cat Wizard was so friendly to Seda.

Akira: Hm?

Mitile: At first, he only let Seda in because he looked like a cat, but the longer you live together the more you would realize that he isn’t a cat on the inside, but a human.

Despite that, he still planned to invite Mister Faust over and created a collar for Seda to wear, a while after they started living together. 

I just thought it was odd for someone who has a lot of background in hating others.

Akira: …You have a point…

Riquet: Maybe he was actually kindhearted?

Shino: Would a kindhearted person put a meanhearted barrier like this up? 

Faust: …There’s no point in thinking about it. The wizard in question is already stone. 

Expression unchanged, Faust used magic to gather the scattered catnip into his hands. 

Wondering why for a split second, I quickly notice the cats with pointed tails coming towards him from all directions.

Tuxedo Cat: Meow meow meow…

Brown Tabby: Wamm? Meow…

Bent Tail Kitten: Myaaam!

Riquet: Woah, that’s a lot of them! I see some with collars on! 

Akira: The cat density by Faust’s feet…!

Faust: Hey…I’m gonna guess that was…stop, stop! Don’t fight. …The Cat Wizard’s signal for mealtime.

Rutile: I, I see. That’s why the cats are so energetic.

Faust: Still, I have nothing more to give them…even I don’t carry an infinite amount of cat food on me. 

Lennox: Then let’s make something. I’m sure this residence will have the ingredients for cat food, so let’s use some.

I hope it’s okay to cook the dish I used to make for my dog. 

Faust: Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll go with you. 

The rest of you can distract these cats by playing with them. 

Akira: Sure. Faust, Lennox, we’re counting on you.

Bradley: ‘Sup…huh? What, I thought the whole gang was back, but it’s just you two fellas. 

Mithra: Where are Rutile and Mitile?

Lennox: They’re taking care of cats outside. We’re going to make catfood.

Faust: Since you’re here, you might as well help out too.

Mithra: Hah? No way.

Bradley: Hell no I ain’t helpin’.

Faust: Sure. I don’t care either way, but if you continue to lay there…

Big Cat: Waaaaah~...

Bradley: Urgh! Hey, ya fat cat! What’d you jump on me for!?

Carefree Cat: …, …?

Mithra: Mrgrr…why is this thing touching my mouth? Peh, peh, urgh…stop…

Faust: Whenever we say our strange spells, they seem to think it's a sign for mealtime. Like as simply as when you twist a doorknob the door will open. 

If you don’t want to continue being pestered, then I suggest not sleeping around. 

Look, do you see that big cat climbing the shelf to jump on you again? They think by annoying you it’ll make Lennox and I cook faster. 

Big Cat: …

Bradley & Mithra: …

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