On the grounds of my forest home.
I was doing my daily grooming routine.
Using a comb.
“I always wonder, Nyanko-san, why don’t you groom yourself with your tongue~?”
[If I do that, I’ll get hairballs in my stomach!]
Stray cats sometimes gag and cough up hairballs, looking miserable.
I’d rather not end up like that.
After finishing grooming, I flop down on my stomach on the mat.
“Graawr! (Aurene! If you’re free, come out with me!)”
“Where to~?”
“Rarrh! (Just to the castle.)”
The castle?
“Nya (What for?)”
“Grawrh! (It’s lonely to stay angry!
So we must make up!)”
“Nyaa (Does Aurene really need to come too?)”
“Grawrr! (If it’s just me, we’ll probably fight again…)”
“This golem is such a chicken-hearted coward~”
Sylph baa-san, who had been listening nearby, stood up.
“I shall accompany you. Bastet-sama, we’re off.”
“Nyaa (Should I come too?)”
“It’s a mere errand unworthy of troubling Bastet-sama.
We can handle it ourselves.”
“Nyaa (I see. Have a safe trip).”
The three headed toward town.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
It’s dusk now.
I just received a telepathic message from Flamberge.
They successfully made up, and everyone will stay at the castle tonight.
Near my house, the elves are petting their tamed dogs and boar-like creatures.
I wish I could pet a cat, too.
But stray cats run away when they see me. The cats at the meeting hall flinch when I approach.
When I finally got rid of my cat allergy, life didn’t go my way.
Or should I say, cat life?
――――――――――――――――――――――――
There is intruder activity in the forest, approximately one hundred beasts.
――――――――――――――――――――――――
The warning from the Lord of the Forest has reached me.
Lately, those who covet the Demon King’s throne occasionally venture into the forest.
According to Aurene, someone with the qualifications to be a Demon King candidate can become Demon King by overthrowing the current one.
In other words, they’re beasts targeting my life.
They’ll leave quietly if I hurt them just enough to make them think twice about coming back.
Since I can now use alchemy without limits, I’ll likely go wild this time.