This is Part 13, Chapter 6.
Quite some time had passed since Kuro had found an opponent.
Initially, Kousuke had intended to observe them for a while, but since they caused no particular problems and lived at ease within Kousuke’s divine realm, he ended up keeping them together permanently.
As a result, Eifa, who was Kuro’s mate, had given birth to three children.
The problem that arose was that Kuro and Eifa, having been born in the Tower’s floors, naturally learned how to hunt. However, their children, having been in Kousuke’s divine realm since birth, were unable to hunt anything, not even ordinary animals, let alone monsters.
Recognizing this as a problem, they had moved their base to a floor where it seemed safe for Kuro and the others to hunt.
Naturally, other Black Cats also appeared on that floor.
The reason for deliberately choosing such a floor was to provide consideration so that when the children became independent, they could return to the wild at any time.
Perhaps this consideration paid off, as the three children that were born disappeared from their base after a certain period.
Kousuke, realizing this, figured they had properly become independent and left to establish their own families (?), and let out a sigh that was half lonely and half relieved.
Then, one day, Kousuke, who was at Kuro’s base, was met with a look of exasperation from Shurein, who had a temporary break from child-rearing.
“Kuro too, but Eifa was also wild, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah? She was?”
“……Why is she so attached to you?”
Eifa, being petted by Kousuke, was completely relaxed. When Kousuke tried to stop stroking her, she would rub against him as if to say, “More.” Her behavior, no matter how you looked at it, was just like a cat that had grown large.
Of course, Shurein knew that Eifa only acted that way towards Kousuke, so she didn’t approach her carelessly.
“Well, if you ask why… it’s her original personality?”
“That can’t be it!”
Kousuke shifted his gaze as Shurein pointed this out so accurately.
Even if asked why, Kousuke didn’t know the reason himself. Some people would become attached to him, while others wouldn’t try to become attached at all. This was the same even for Kousuke. However, the range of that attachment was simply very wide for Kousuke. Shurein suspected that if an ordinary tamer’s attachment was like a pond, Kousuke’s might be as wide as an ocean. Since she knew that if she said that to Kousuke, the answer would clearly be that it wasn’t the case, she deliberately didn’t mention it.
Unaware of Shurein’s thoughts, Kousuke, who had been petting Eifa, suddenly stopped. It wasn’t that he was tired of petting her, but rather that Eifa showed signs of being concerned about something else.
“…What’s the matter?”
When Kousuke asked, Eifa, as if understanding the meaning of his words, stood up with a hop and began to walk towards the entrance of the base. Since she wasn’t running, it didn’t seem like any imminent danger was approaching. Furthermore, Kousuke, watching her, felt that she seemed to be hopping with joy.
Shurein, who had also been watching Eifa, asked, tilting her head.
“What’s going on?”
“Who knows? I don’t really know, but it doesn’t seem like anything bad. Has Kuro returned?”
Kuro had left the base before Kousuke arrived. Since this was common, Kousuke didn’t pay it any mind, assuming Kuro had gone hunting somewhere. In any case, Kousuke and Shurein followed Eifa, heading towards the entrance of the base as well.
What Kousuke and Shurein saw near the entrance of the base was three Black Cats interacting with Eifa as if observing her. Furthermore, there were three other Black Cats around them. The latter were undoubtedly the children of Eifa and Kuro.
“Ah, I see. I thought they had left the nest and gone out on their own, but they’re the type to come back.”
“Is that so? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
After all, wild Black Cats weren’t the type to gather in groups. The fact that they were in a group was surprising, and above all, Shurein found it strange that they had returned to the base.
Kousuke, tilting his head at Shurein’s words, replied,
“Is that so? Then perhaps those children are special? Or maybe they came back because they knew they could get food properly here.”
Around the base, just like with his familiars, there was a steady supply of appropriate food through summoning circles. Therefore, there was no shortage of food even without expeditions. Kousuke believed that Kuro was currently away from the base out of hobby.
Shurein nodded at Kousuke’s words.
“The latter seems more likely. If they can get along with Kuro and Eifa, living here would be heaven.”
Being able to constantly obtain food without going hungry was an invaluable advantage for those living in the wild. It wouldn’t be strange for them to consider living there if they could come to an understanding with the existing residents. However, it was also possible that Black Cats themselves had such an ecology from the start.
As Kousuke and Shurein were having such a conversation, for some reason, three newly arrived Black Cats approached them. However, all three approached Kousuke, not Shurein. Shurein, having anticipated something like this might happen, was laughing inwardly as she watched Kousuke’s bewildered reaction. She found it amusing to see Kousuke, who always seemed bewildered no matter how accustomed he should have become.
Ignoring Shurein, Kousuke, though still perplexed, gradually reached out towards the three Black Cats that had approached him. He wouldn’t do something reckless like immediately trying to touch them, as there was a risk of being bitten, not even Kousuke would do that. Even when Kousuke extended his hand, the three new Black Cats didn’t hasten to touch it. Perhaps losing patience, Eifa’s children approached and touched Kousuke’s hand as they pleased. Seeing this, the three Black Cats finally seemed to have made up their minds and gently touched Kousuke’s hand.
Once they had touched his hand, things moved quickly. They began rubbing against him and licking his hand, acting as they pleased.
“Hmm. So it turned out alright.”
Shurein was even relieved by the scene, which was predictable in a way. Mitsuki, who had been waiting in the shadows, was also relieved that a situation requiring subjugation had not arisen.
Whether it was because Kuro and Eifa’s children were there, or perhaps showing obedience as the top of the base, the three new Black Cats had successfully adapted to the base.
—Successfully completed their greetings to Kousuke. At this time, Kousuke had no idea that this would be the greatest trial for the Black Cats who would now reside at the base.
He’s successfully charming them.
