In response to the cat spirit Houma’s suggestion, Almoa showed interest. I decided to let her follow her curiosity.
We walked through the back alleys, guided by Houma.
At first, Almoa and I couldn’t help but smile at Houma’s adorable little figure leading us, but the atmosphere shifted when Houma abruptly climbed up onto a fence surrounding a house.
It’s… narrow.
There’s barely any footing…
We navigated between narrow gaps between houses and through small spaces between objects.
Almoa and I held onto each other as we stumbled along, trying to keep up with Houma.
“Why do cats have to be like this…!”
“Hah… phew… Ahaha. This is ridiculous!”
Almoa laughed, her voice light and cheerful. Her hair caught dust from the alley, but she seemed to be enjoying the cramped, awkward journey as much as the struggle to keep up.
Eventually, we emerged onto a moderately spacious street.
Our clothes were filthy. When we get back, Mitera’s going to scold us…
“I’ve been meaning to ask,”
Houma glanced back, completely unaffected by our disheveled state. Typical of a cat—even as a spirit, he retained that carefree attitude.
Houma’s gaze landed on the top of Almoa’s head.
“That person sitting on the human kid… has an impressive power, huh?”
It was Avril.
“Why are you with the human kid?”
“Almoa… is my master.”
…!?
Did Avril just speak!? Though her words were halting, she was clearly communicating. When did this happen?
“Oh, is that so? Human kid… Almoa, right? You’re quite amazing. To command a great spirit, you must be quite the renowned spirit user.”
“Not really.”
For some reason, she glanced my way.
“Isto… this guy here is more impressive.”
“What a way to put it.”
“Oh, so that’s what a human male is called? Isto, right? If he’s more impressive than Almoa, he must be like… a ‘Legendary Hero’ among humans?”
Hold on a minute.
A Legendary Hero wouldn’t be trudging through alleyways covered in dust like this.
Almoa hugged Avril, her contracted spirit, close to her chest.
“Something like that, yes.”
“Something like that.”
Such a close bond!
Almoa met my gaze, and her expression softened. I felt a bit self-conscious.
Honestly, if she keeps looking at me with that “I truly believe in you” face, how am I supposed to respond…?
“Hm? Wait…”
I looked away from Almoa and noticed something.
I recognized this alley.
“Aren’t we behind Barva’s place? When did we end up here?”
“Oh, so that’s the guild where Isto used to work?”
“Well… yeah.”
Scratching my head, I looked up at the building.
It was a three-story structure I’d seen countless times. My time working there had ended in the worst way, leaving only unpleasant memories—
Wait?
What’s this? I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would.
The bitterness of those unjust days felt faded, as if they’d become a distant memory.
“Are you okay now?”
I turned at the quiet voice.
Almoa looked up at me. Her soft smile from earlier had turned into a slightly worried expression.
I realized then—maybe Almoa wanted to show me that “the past is the past.”
Perhaps that’s why she chose to come to Barva with me, to help me realize I was okay.
“Yeah.”
I gently patted her head.
“I’m completely fine. Thank you.”
“Good.”
Her tone was indifferent, yet Almoa’s unique kindness shone through.
I’m really lucky to have such a good friend.
“Are we ready to go? The hangout spot is just around the corner,” Houma chimed in.
We started walking again.
Now that I think about it, I remember a small fountain square a little way from Barva’s back entrance, a place where cats often roamed.
Sure enough, as my memory served, Houma led us to that fountain square.
Today, nearly ten cats lounged around in various postures.
“Welcome to our paradise!”
Standing skillfully on his hind legs, Houma raised his voice, prompting the cats to meow in unison.
A human is here—
I know that person.
Nice to meet you.
I’m sleepy… I’m hungry…
They chattered freely in their own way.
“No way. I can understand cat language…!”
Almoa’s face was filled with astonishment.
I suppose I hadn’t explained her skill to her yet.
“It’s called the Gifted Skill, Heart of Life. It lets you hear the voices of animals and plants. It’s your skill, Almoa.”
“Wow…”
Almoa approached the cats and started chatting with them.
The silver-haired girl fit right in among the group of cats with fur in various shades of white, brown, and black.
She really is outgoing with animals.
As I sat on the fountain’s edge watching, a glowing orb of water floated up, drifting in front of me.
“Here you go, Isto. This is my special Spirit’s Water. It’s delicious.”
“Spirit’s Water?”
“Well, it’s just the fountain water with some of my spirit magic cast on it.”
Houma puffed out his chest.
“Because I conquered water, I can remain a spirit. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“Ahaha. Well, then, I’ll gladly accept.”
I cupped the water in my hands and brought it to my lips.
It felt as if a refreshing breeze flowed gently through the center of my body.
Refreshing drinks, interactions with animals…
It was like a stylish cat café. Very relaxing.
“Thank you, that was delicious.”
“I’m glad. Now, Isto, I actually wanted to discuss something with you—about water.”
I blinked in surprise.
If it’s drinking water, isn’t the fountain enough?
“I can control water to some extent, and I’ve used that ability to protect my friends from the chill of rain. But lately, for some reason, I can’t seem to use my power as effectively… I keep exhausting myself, like earlier.”
“Your power isn’t working? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Well… how should I put this? It feels like the quality of the magic that fills this town has changed a bit. There’s something strange mixed in that wasn’t here before.”
Houma’s whiskers twitched as he muttered.
Could this be more serious than I thought?
Is it possible that something strange is happening in Wigarlus?
“My friends are numerous, as you can see, and if they can’t receive my protection, they’ll have to fend for themselves. I don’t want that. So, Isto, do you know of any place where we could all shelter from the wind and rain? Preferably somewhere we wouldn’t be a nuisance to humans.”
Houma added that some of his friends are wary of humans.
So that’s what he wanted to ask us.
“A place that won’t inconvenience humans, huh…”
The first place that came to mind was Griffau’s mansion.
The maids there could probably handle the cats, but I can’t ask them for such a big favor.
What about the inside of Rederia?
There’s certainly enough space, but I’m a bit worried about them living with the children.
In response to the cat spirit Houma’s suggestion, Almoa showed interest. I decided to let her follow her curiosity.
We walked through the back alleys, guided by Houma.
At first, Almoa and I couldn’t help but smile at Houma’s adorable little figure leading us, but the atmosphere shifted when Houma abruptly climbed up onto a fence surrounding a house.
It’s… narrow.
There’s barely any footing…
We navigated between narrow gaps between houses and through small spaces between objects.
Almoa and I held onto each other as we stumbled along, trying to keep up with Houma.
“Why do cats have to be like this…!”
“Hah… phew… Ahaha. This is ridiculous!”
Almoa laughed, her voice light and cheerful. Her hair caught dust from the alley, but she seemed to be enjoying the cramped, awkward journey as much as the struggle to keep up.
Eventually, we emerged onto a moderately spacious street.
Our clothes were filthy. When we get back, Mitera’s going to scold us…
“I’ve been meaning to ask,”
Houma glanced back, completely unaffected by our disheveled state. Typical of a cat—even as a spirit, he retained that carefree attitude.
Houma’s gaze landed on the top of Almoa’s head.
“That person sitting on the human kid… has an impressive power, huh?”
It was Avril.
“Why are you with the human kid?”
“Almoa… is my master.”
…!?
Did Avril just speak!? Though her words were halting, she was clearly communicating. When did this happen?
“Oh, is that so? Human kid… Almoa, right? You’re quite amazing. To command a great spirit, you must be quite the renowned spirit user.”
“Not really.”
For some reason, she glanced my way.
“Isto… this guy here is more impressive.”
“What a way to put it.”
“Oh, so that’s what a human male is called? Isto, right? If he’s more impressive than Almoa, he must be like… a ‘Legendary Hero’ among humans?”
Hold on a minute.
A Legendary Hero wouldn’t be trudging through alleyways covered in dust like this.
Almoa hugged Avril, her contracted spirit, close to her chest.
“Something like that, yes.”
“Something like that.”
Such a close bond!
Almoa met my gaze, and her expression softened. I felt a bit self-conscious.
Honestly, if she keeps looking at me with that “I truly believe in you” face, how am I supposed to respond…?
“Hm? Wait…”
I looked away from Almoa and noticed something.
I recognized this alley.
“Aren’t we behind Barva’s place? When did we end up here?”
“Oh, so that’s the guild where Isto used to work?”
“Well… yeah.”
Scratching my head, I looked up at the building.
It was a three-story structure I’d seen countless times. My time working there had ended in the worst way, leaving only unpleasant memories—
Wait?
What’s this? I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would.
The bitterness of those unjust days felt faded, as if they’d become a distant memory.
“Are you okay now?”
I turned at the quiet voice.
Almoa looked up at me. Her soft smile from earlier had turned into a slightly worried expression.
I realized then—maybe Almoa wanted to show me that “the past is the past.”
Perhaps that’s why she chose to come to Barva with me, to help me realize I was okay.
“Yeah.”
I gently patted her head.
“I’m completely fine. Thank you.”
“Good.”
Her tone was indifferent, yet Almoa’s unique kindness shone through.
I’m really lucky to have such a good friend.
“Are we ready to go? The hangout spot is just around the corner,” Houma chimed in.
We started walking again.
Now that I think about it, I remember a small fountain square a little way from Barva’s back entrance, a place where cats often roamed.
Sure enough, as my memory served, Houma led us to that fountain square.
Today, nearly ten cats lounged around in various postures.
“Welcome to our paradise!”
Standing skillfully on his hind legs, Houma raised his voice, prompting the cats to meow in unison.
A human is here—
I know that person.
Nice to meet you.
I’m sleepy… I’m hungry…
They chattered freely in their own way.
“No way. I can understand cat language…!”
Almoa’s face was filled with astonishment.
I suppose I hadn’t explained her skill to her yet.
“It’s called the Gifted Skill, Heart of Life. It lets you hear the voices of animals and plants. It’s your skill, Almoa.”
“Wow…”
Almoa approached the cats and started chatting with them.
The silver-haired girl fit right in among the group of cats with fur in various shades of white, brown, and black.
She really is outgoing with animals.
As I sat on the fountain’s edge watching, a glowing orb of water floated up, drifting in front of me.
“Here you go, Isto. This is my special Spirit’s Water. It’s delicious.”
“Spirit’s Water?”
“Well, it’s just the fountain water with some of my spirit magic cast on it.”
Houma puffed out his chest.
“Because I conquered water, I can remain a spirit. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“Ahaha. Well, then, I’ll gladly accept.”
I cupped the water in my hands and brought it to my lips.
It felt as if a refreshing breeze flowed gently through the center of my body.
Refreshing drinks, interactions with animals…
It was like a stylish cat café. Very relaxing.
“Thank you, that was delicious.”
“I’m glad. Now, Isto, I actually wanted to discuss something with you—about water.”
I blinked in surprise.
If it’s drinking water, isn’t the fountain enough?
“I can control water to some extent, and I’ve used that ability to protect my friends from the chill of rain. But lately, for some reason, I can’t seem to use my power as effectively… I keep exhausting myself, like earlier.”
“Your power isn’t working? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Well… how should I put this? It feels like the quality of the magic that fills this town has changed a bit. There’s something strange mixed in that wasn’t here before.”
Houma’s whiskers twitched as he muttered.
Could this be more serious than I thought?
Is it possible that something strange is happening in Wigarlus?
“My friends are numerous, as you can see, and if they can’t receive my protection, they’ll have to fend for themselves. I don’t want that. So, Isto, do you know of any place where we could all shelter from the wind and rain? Preferably somewhere we wouldn’t be a nuisance to humans.”
Houma added that some of his friends are wary of humans.
So that’s what he wanted to ask us.
“A place that won’t inconvenience humans, huh…”
The first place that came to mind was Griffau’s mansion.
The maids there could probably handle the cats, but I can’t ask them for such a big favor.
What about the inside of Rederia?
There’s certainly enough space, but I’m a bit worried about them living with the children.
