# 57. Sick Mister! Let's Take Care of Mister! (3)
"Take care, Jun-woo! Don't forget the cat! The Hero Party is doing... okay, so don't worry too much! Get home safely!"
After receiving Minerva's farewell at the library, I left and checked my surroundings.
"A black cat in a nearby alley..."
If I brought it to Saten, it could have a positive influence on her. That's definitely what Minerva said. Whether it was true or not, I couldn't know—only Minerva, who had glimpsed the future, would know.
"I don't have a choice. I can only trust her."
Well, making a friend for Saten would be good all around. If it was a cat with a personality somewhat similar to Saten's, I was confident it would become a good friend to her. With that thought, I moved my steps to the side alley, where there was a black cat curled up in a small box. Just as Minerva had said.
"A kitten. There's no mother cat around... I suppose."
They say if you carelessly touch a kitten, the mother cat might not recognize her baby due to the changed scent. However, the kitten curled up in the box right now was alone with no one around, and its body was so small and frail that it seemed to have been separated from its group. I reached my hand toward the black cat.
"Meow-?"
"Hmm, not wary at all."
"Meow-?"
A cat that showed no reaction whatsoever to my touch, completely unguarded. It seemed to have a personality similar to what I'd only heard about—a dog-like cat. With this kind of personality, it could approach even the taciturn Saten first and form a good friendship.
"You don't seem to have anywhere to go, so I'll take you with me."
"Meow-?"
"Yes, stay still. I'll take you to a new friend."
Meeting the black cat's yellow eyes, I lifted the box containing the cat.
"Me, meow-!"
"Careful. You'll fall."
Unnecessarily dramatic movements. The black cat, startled by the sudden motion. To reassure it, I murmured softly.
"I won't eat you. Be quiet."
"Me, meow-!!"
I put the curious black cat, who didn't know where it was heading, into the box. Why was I doing this?
*...I've even ended up kidnapping a cat.*
A life that had progressed from kidnapping the Hero Party to kidnapping a cat. Feeling the subtle sensation of becoming a professional kidnapper, I headed toward the house where the Hero Party would be waiting.
"Is it going to rain..."
For some reason, dark clouds were rising in the sky.
When I opened the door of the mansion-like house and entered, Hare was waiting there. Seeing me, Hare came running over. She looked me over once and said with relief.
"Th-there are no injuries, Mister...! W-welcome back...!"
"Yes, I'm back."
"Th-that box, please give it to me...! I-I'll carry it... It's heavy, isn't it, Mister...?"
...Did she think I couldn't even carry a box like this? One eye disappeared, not my arm. Hare tried to take the box from me. I spoke to her in a gentle tone.
"It's fine, Hare. There's nothing particularly heavy inside."
"Y-yes...? Th-then what's in it—"
"Meow!!"
"Kyaa, kyaaah!!"
Had it sensed the suddenly changed atmosphere? The black cat burst out of the box and pounced on Hare. Hare fell to the floor and stared at the black cat in surprise.
"A c-cat...? Wh-why is there a cat in the box..."
"I brought it. It was abandoned on the street."
"Wh-what...? Th-then is tonight's dinner cat meat...? Sh-should I prepare a pot, Mister...?"
"...No, cats aren't for eating."
Even in the Korea where I lived, there was something called "butterfly soup," but... it was heading toward decline as various problems overlapped. I don't know what happened after that, but perhaps it was completely banned?
*'People's eyes turn to cute things, after all.'*
Of course, that applied to Hare as well.
"W-wow... A black cat on my head... It's so cute... I-I won't put you in a pot...! Mister...! What's its name...?!"
"It doesn't have a name."
"Th-then can I, can I name it...?"
"Hmm..."
That cat was a gift for Saten. If we were going to name it anyway, wouldn't it be better for Saten to do it? That way she could become attached to it. Still.
*'...If I refuse outright, she'll be hurt.'*
She was making a request with such bright, sparkling eyes. I had no choice but to grant it. If it was a good name, following Hare's suggestion wouldn't be bad.
"Alright. Try naming it, I'm curious what name you'll choose."
"O-oh! Th-then I'll name this cat..."
Hare made eye contact with the black cat for a moment, then smiled and shouted out the cat's new name.
"Emergency Rations! I'll name it Emergency Rations...!"
"..."
Why on earth did she name it Emergency Rations? There were basic names like Nabi, Nero, Meowmeow. I asked Hare, who was calling the cat Emergency Rations and smiling innocently.
"...Why did you choose that, Hare?"
"Wh-where I lived, we didn't have enough food to keep pets... S-so just in case we run out of food, I named it Emergency Rations..."
"Meow-?"
The black cat was meowing away, unaware of its situation. Even so, naming a cat Emergency Rations was a bit much.
"Rejected, Hare. That name won't do."
"Y-yes...? Wh-why not, Mister...?"
"...That's no different from naming a pet chicken 'Chicken.'"
"Ch-chicken, what's that...?"
"...I'll make it for you next time. And name the cat something other than Emergency Rations."
"Hiiing..."
Anyway. Having Hare name it was rejected. I took the cat from Hare's hands and asked her.
"Did you give food to the other children?"
"Y-yes...! I did...! Estia ate right away... Saten didn't eat... and Luna didn't eat either...!"
"I see."
Minerva said if I left them alone, their conditions would improve, but I should still go check on them. I decided to hold the cat and go to Saten's room. Seeing me like that, Hare asked urgently.
"M-Mister...! That direction is...! Wh-where are you going with the cat...?"
"To Saten's room. I'm giving this cat to Saten."
"Th-the cute cat... to S-Saten... N-no! Sh-she'll definitely die...!"
Hare cried out urgently. Why would this cat die? I couldn't understand Hare's words. So it would be best to talk directly with Saten. Knock knock—
"Saten. May I come in?"
"M-Mister...! Th-the cat's eyes will disappear...!"
—Please come in, Mister.
"Ah, ah... Emergency Rations is going to die..."
The moment Saten's voice was heard, Hare let out a lament. To understand what Hare was talking about, I opened Saten's door and entered. Creeak. Inside was clean and smelled fragrant. Hare looked around the room and said in a puzzled tone.
"Uh, uhhh...? Th-the eyes are gone...?"
"Eyes? What are you talking about, Hare?"
"U-usually Saten's room has lots of Mister's e—"
"Hare."
Flinch— When Saten's voice was heard, Hare trembled in surprise. Saten walked over leisurely, stared at Hare for a moment, then murmured to her with an elegant air.
"Didn't you just say you'd clean the house? I remember there was a lot of dust in the living room..."
"O-oh right... Th-that's right... I'm so forgetful..."
Haha... This atmosphere is a bit awkward. It seemed like something had happened between the two. From what I could tell, it seemed Hare had been defeated by Saten, but...
*'That can happen.'*
Young children grow through fighting, and since they hadn't physically fought, I decided not to worry about it. The atmosphere wasn't hostile either.
"Goodbye, Emergency Rations... Thank you for everything... *sniff*..."
Pushed out by Saten, Hare muttered to herself and made a lonely exit. She seemed to genuinely think it was the last time she'd see the cat.
"Saten, do you know why Hare is acting like that?"
"No, I have no idea."
Slide— Saying that, Saten distanced herself from me. She didn't understand either. More importantly...
"Saten, what's that bandage on your wrist?"
A bandage soaked with blood. When I pointed it out, Saten hid her wrist behind her back as if nothing had happened.
"It's nothing. I just did some magic experiments."
"You used Blood Magic?"
"Yes, as you know, the wrist is most efficient."
"..."
She was right. Most people who use Blood Magic cut their wrists. But regardless, it was hard to watch Saten's wrist keep getting injured. She needed to reduce it a bit.
"...Exercise some restraint. I'd prefer if you didn't experiment until the wound heals."
"Yes, I'll try my best. And, Mister."
"Speak."
"What's that black creature in your hands?"
"Ah, it's a gift for you."
Meow— meow— Since the cat seemed to want to go toward Saten, I put it down on the floor. Then the cat approached Saten and stayed at her feet.
"What is this behavior?"
"That cat seems to like you."
"Hmm, is that so."
Saten's reaction was indifferent. She quietly stared into the cat's eyes. It was the gaze of a mage studying magic.
"How is it, do you like it, Saten?"
"Hmm, I don't know if I like it, but it has value. I'll use it well."
"...Cats aren't for using, they're for raising."
"Mister, what are you saying? Not use it? How can I not use a creature that appeared at the perfect moment for experiments?"
...Don't tell me she was planning to use the cat for experiments. If my guess was correct, Hare's reaction made sense. And Saten was certainly the type who would experiment on a cat without hesitation.
*'...Should I just give the cat to Hare instead?'*
Emergency Rations VS Experimental Subject. Neither was a good choice. Still, giving it to Saten would be better. What she needed was a living being she could share emotions with. I spoke firmly to Saten, who was questioning me.
"Saten, name that child. We're going to raise that black cat."
"Experimental Subject No. 1."
"...That won't do. Estia's heart would ache, so give it a proper name."
If you use the word "experimental subject" in front of Estia, she'll get PTSD. Saten thought for a moment, then spoke in a tone that showed she didn't understand.
"Mister, I really don't understand. Why can't I use this cat as an experimental subject?"
"Meow-?"
"Because I brought it to raise. Saten, you will cherish and raise that cat. It's all for your sake."
"What do you—"
"Enough."
I wouldn't listen to any more objections. Raising the cat was an order, and using it as an experimental subject would not be tolerated. I responded firmly to Saten. Saten seemed to have something she wanted to say, moving her mouth, but eventually sighed and said.
"...It's a black cat, so I'll call it BlackMeow. Is that acceptable?"
"Good choice, Saten. Think of it as a friend and get along well. Never use it for experiments."
"Alright, Mister."
Though Saten looked displeased, she had no choice but to make eye contact with the cat again. This time not as mage and experimental subject, but as human and cat. As friend and friend.
*'I hope spending time with that cat becomes an opportunity for Saten to understand emotions.'*
Hoping inwardly, I left the two black cats eyeing each other and closed the door. Bang—
"...I hope they get along well. Saten shouldn't die because she fails to understand emotions at the end."
Hoping that with this cat as a catalyst, the future where Saten dies would disappear, I moved my steps toward the lower floor. I'd see Estia next time—it was right to put out the most urgent fire first.
*'Luna.'*
It would be better to meet her first, since she wasn't eating. Luna, who wasn't eating and had shut herself in her room. Her door. Knock knock—
"Luna, may I come in?"
I knocked lightly. No answer came even after a minute passed. Even after 5 minutes. Even after 10 minutes. Luna's answer never came.
*'Don't tell me...'*
She wouldn't be thinking of running away from me because of the hallucinations, would she? However, had I trusted Luna too much? Was it a miscalculation not to have put a lock on it? Just in case, I opened the door and entered...
"Damn it..."
The window was open, and the wooden sword she used for every training session was gone. And most importantly, Luna wasn't lying on the bed. At this very moment when dark clouds were gathering and rain was beginning to fall, Luna had apparently left somewhere through the window.