Chapter 30

When I woke up from my nap, something was in my mouth.

“Monyu monyu?”

It was a strangely addictive taste.

“Monyu?”

I wondered what was in my mouth, and when I checked, I found a black cat.

It seemed that I had picked up the cat with my left hand and was chewing on its tail.

“Sorry?”

‘…………’

The black cat didn’t meow.

“You have two tails, don’t you? Did you get hurt?”

‘…………’

I was worried that its tail might be split due to an injury, but it didn’t seem to be the case.

“You have wings too… cool. You might be a new type of cat.”

‘…………’

“I’ll show Mom.”

If anyone would know about a cat with two tails and wings, it would be my mom, who is knowledgeable about creatures.

The black cat was very quiet.

“Kyu kyu”

Carro, who was being held in my right hand, was staring at me.

“Carro, did you sleep well?”

“Kyu!”

“What about Daru and Koruko?”

“Bau!” “Kokou!”

I greeted Carro, Daru, and Koruko while still holding the black cat.

Then, I took a closer look at the black cat.

“This black cat… hm? Could it be a spirit?”

‘…Nyaa~’

It was too late for it to start meowing like a cat now.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an animal. It was a spirit.

I hadn’t realized I was holding it because I wasn’t using magic to cover my hand.

I didn’t know why I was able to hold it.

“…A well-formed spirit…”

‘Funyaa~’

“Can you let go?”

‘Nyaa~’

It seemed like it wasn’t going to stop imitating a cat.

Newborn spirits are soft and blurry in shape. As they grow, their outline becomes clearer, and with that, their sense of self becomes stronger, and they’re able to speak.

The fact that it could take the form of a proper cat meant it was definitely a powerful spirit that had grown quite a bit.

There was no way it couldn’t speak. But it wouldn’t.

“…I might not be able to talk to spirits in this life…”

‘Nyaa~’

It was different from my past life. In this world, there was a good chance I wouldn’t be able to talk to spirits.

But for some reason, I felt like I could communicate with this black cat spirit.

“Ah… are you not talking because you don’t like me?”

‘Nyaa!?’

“…Because I… couldn’t protect everyone…”

At the end of my previous life, I sacrificed myself to burn everything around me.

That was all I could do.

But I didn’t know if that allowed the spirits to escape.

If I had more power in my past life, I might have been able to destroy the metal tube that trapped the spirits.

No, if I had more power, maybe the spirits wouldn’t have been caught in the first place.

It was no wonder the spirits might hate me.

Even though they had helped me so much, I couldn’t help them when they were in trouble.

“…I’m sorry.”

I felt so sad and guilty that I almost started crying.

‘No, no! I don’t hate you!’

The black cat hastily spoke.

“…Can you speak?”

‘…I can speak.’

After that, the black cat spirit started speaking slowly.

‘Back then, Lady Louisa… helped everyone.’

“Did the metal tube burn properly?”

That was what I was worried about.

I did everything I could.

But I died before seeing the result.

‘It didn’t burn, but it melted properly.’

The black cat spirit stared into my eyes.

‘I was also in that tube. Thank you. Really, thank you, Lady Louisa.’

I was glad I was able to help the spirits.

Louisa’s life had been full of misfortune and pain, and there hadn’t been much good, but at least it wasn’t wasted.

“Everyone, was everyone saved?”

‘Yes, all the spirits were saved. Thank you.’

“…I’m so glad… really, so glad.”

I hugged the black cat spirit tightly.

It shouldn’t have been a physical being, but it felt warm.

Daru started licking me as I held the spirit.

“Um… Is Loa okay?”

‘Loa-sama, after that, not long after… unfortunately, he passed away.’

‘…I see.’

Passed away. In other words, he died.

Tears naturally started to fall.

That kind, gentle spirit king Loa was gone.

I would never be able to see him again.

‘Please don’t cry, Lady Louisa. Even if we die, spirits will eventually reincarnate.’

“…Will I be able to see Loa again?”

‘That I don’t know. But it’s not completely impossible.’

“I see. Thank you.”

Just knowing there’s a chance was enough for me.

No, it was still very sad.

But if it’s not absolutely impossible, then I could keep going with that hope.

“I hope I can meet him someday.”

‘Yes, I hope so too.’

“If you see Loa after he reincarnates, will you know?”

‘I don’t know. I’m sorry.’

“No, it’s okay. You don’t need to apologize.”

I hugged the black cat spirit tightly again.

“Thank you for staying alive.”

‘Yes… Yes… Thank you, Lady Louisa.’

As I held it, I started feeling that I should give the black cat spirit a name.

Loa had told me never to give a name to a spirit that hadn’t fully grown yet.

Because young spirits could get bound by that name.

And if they grew too strong, they might lose control of their power, or conversely, be hindered in their growth because of the name.

I didn’t fully understand what it meant for them to be “bound” or what “losing control of power” meant, but that’s what he had said.

“Can I give you a name?”

“Is it okay? I’m happy, but…”

“Yes! Then, your name will be… Kuro.”

“Name… my name… Kuro?”

“Yes, is that okay? Or would you prefer something else?”

“I’m happy. My name is Kuro!”

Kuro purred happily.