“How have you been lately? Seems like things are going well?”
“I think I’ve improved a little…”
“That’s good to hear.”
Orca responded to my question with a somewhat indifferent expression.
…I had definitely heard the rumor that ‘Lady Linnaeus smiles brightly when she hits people.’
Well, if that’s how she is, then that’s just how it is.
I decided not to involve myself further in this matter.
At this point, it was time for her to figure things out on her own.
Anyway, now that she has a friend named Irina, it shouldn’t be too hard to expand her social circle with her help.
“Um, but recently, I’ve been having lunch with Irina.”
“Oh, really?”
See?
You’ve made at least one friend.
“She’s a friend you worked hard to make, so get along well.”
“Thank you, Nine.”
“Yeah, keep smiling like that.”
Thinking about all the trouble I went through for three days to fix that, it brings tears to my eyes.
But at least this time, there was something resembling progress, so that’s a relief.
“Nine, I heard you had something to say today…”
“We have a joint class soon, right?”
“…Yes. It starts next Monday.”
Monday, huh.
Since today is Friday, that means there are three days left.
If this were a game, it would be a simple task that wouldn’t even take 10 minutes, but this is reality, so it’s a long training session that takes days.
Whether in the military or as adventurers, forming formations and moving strategically is essential, so joint classes with other departments are mandatory.
Even in the game, it boosts your main stats, so it’s an event you absolutely have to do.
It won’t boost your stats like in the game, but… this is a good opportunity to use the joint class as an excuse to get the main characters acquainted.
“I’m worried. Will we be able to form a party?”
“That’s up to you.”
I have some plans to arrange things, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work out.
I can manage Irina and Orca, but the rest isn’t confirmed yet.
I’ll have to stay busy until Monday when we form the party.
We need to at least fill the minimum of three members.
My goal is to group Orca, Irina, and Alice together.
It’s nice to form a party with playable characters, right?
The combination of front/back/support fits perfectly.
…Actually, Madison, the priest, would be a better fit for the party, but unfortunately, it’s too difficult to bring Madison in right now.
He’s a guy.
It would be awkward for him to join an all-girls party.
It feels like it would get complicated if we gathered like that.
Anyway, there’s plenty of time to win over Madison, so for now, I need to focus on the most urgent trio.
“The joint class is with other departments, so if you team up with Irina, you only need one more person, right?”
“That’s true.”
Orca’s face brightened a little.
But it quickly darkened again.
“The last person…”
“I know someone. I’ll talk to her.”
It’s obvious that I’ll have to go through a lot of trouble to talk to her, but what can I do?
There’s no better rear guard than Alice.
She’s not someone you can easily replace with another student.
“I’m sorry for relying on you so much.”
“It’s too late for that now. Just focus on preparing for the joint class.”
I’ll be busy trying to win over Alice over the weekend.
“Then I’ll get going. Class is about to start.”
“Take care.”
I saw Orca off and stretched.
Sitting in the garden like a normal cat is starting to get uncomfortable.
I don’t want to go around announcing that I’m a spirit beast, so it can’t be helped.
I turned to the brown fur next to me, who was busy gnawing on the jerky Orca had brought.
“Hey, I have something to do today, so I’ll be out for a while. Play nice by yourself.”
“Can’t I come?”
“It’s a crowded place, so no.”
“If it’s crowded, there’s lots of food, right? I want to go!”
Is this guy really trying to become a pig?
I considered smacking the back of the brown fur’s head, who had been gaining a bit of weight lately, but I held back.
“It’s a place with scary humans, so stay here.”
Leaving him with Professor Ruyen is an option, but Professor Ruyen has a habit of feeding him endlessly like a grandmother spoiling her grandchild.
If I leave him there for a few days, he’ll double in size. How can I leave him like that?
Once you gain weight, it’s hard to lose it.
“That’s disappointing… So you’ll be back tonight, right?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m scared being alone…”
The brown fur looked at me with pleading eyes.
There’s no one here who would harm you, so why are you looking at me like that?
I stroked the brown fur’s head with my paw and said,
“If you’re really scared, go stay at the gardener’s house. At least an owl won’t snatch you there.”
As a spirit beast, I don’t have to worry about being eaten, but the brown fur isn’t like that.
The brown fur is still a naive and foolish cat.
But reassured by my words, the brown fur wagged its tail and replied,
“Okay… Come back soon.”
The brown fur’s voice lacked energy.
—————
“Nine! Uwuwu~ Come here!”
Are you really going senile?
I stared blankly at Ruyen, who was crouching and reaching out to me, not acting her age.
Ruyen, displeased with my reaction, stretched her hand further.
“Nine, paw!”
“I’m not a dog.”
“Aw, you can do it just once for me.”
Ugh.
I placed my paw on Ruyen’s small palm, tired from the start.
Even as a cat, I have to socialize.
Life is tough.
“So soft, it feels good~”
“Now that you’re satisfied, can you listen to my request?”
“Just let me hug you once!”
“I’ll tell Kazein where you hid the snacks.”
“I’ll definitely help if it’s your request! Yes yes!”
…Ewww.
Swallowing what felt like the umpteenth sigh, I brought up today’s agenda.
“Do you know Alice?”
“Alice? Uh… who’s that…”
“She’s a freshman in your department. You don’t know her?”
“…Ah! You mean the girl with pink hair?”
Ruyen, finally remembering Alice, still looked unsure.
“Yeah.”
“Why her?”
“I want to know her dorm room location.”
“As a professor, I can’t allow sneaking into rooms!”
When did you take out your glasses?
“Don’t act like a professor only at times like this.”
“Heeing.”
“It’s not your jurisdiction, but it’s still a bit much to leave her alone, right?”
“…It is. But it’s also difficult to intervene carelessly…”
I already knew that Ruyen, with her childlike demeanor, would find it hard to handle a delicate student like Alice.
So I had to step in.
As a cat, I can approach Alice without making her uncomfortable, and having transcended the limitations of a walnut brain, I can approach her with less resistance.
We’ve already met once, which helps.
“But I did tell the dorm supervisor…”
“That won’t be enough.”
Her presence is so faint that even trained assassinos would miss her, let alone a dorm supervisor.
“Do you know Alice well?”
“I’ve met her before.”
“I see~”
Ruyen nodded without suspicion.
“But I don’t know where she lives!”
“Well, that’s expected.”
I didn’t expect her to know every student’s dorm room location anyway.
The conversation so far was just a buildup to the real request.
“Can you lend me Kazein for a bit?”
“Sure! But only if you let me hug you once!”
“…Ugh.”
I jumped into Ruyen’s arms, ready for the hug.
————
“Nine, you feel heavier than before you became a spirit beast.”
“I’ve actually grown bigger.”
I’m about a head taller than a normal cat, so it’s natural.
“But you’re even fluffier now, so it’s nice…”
Kazein, holding me, buried her face in my back.
Her breath clearly seeped through my fur.
It tickles.
My inner tiger screamed, but I suppressed it with reason.
Business should be done chill.
Nyaa.
After enduring the torment, Kazein, who had lifted her face from my back, spoke.
“Nine, the girl you’re looking for is Alice, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why her?”
“Well, the first-year joint class is starting soon, right?”
“Ah, it’s already that time.”
“I want to put her in Orca’s group.”
“Is there a reason you want Alice specifically?”
“I’ve seen her a few times, and she’s a loner. Orca’s in a similar situation, so I thought I’d help her make a friend.”
A prepared excuse.
Kazein, not doubting my excuse at all, spoke in a touched voice.
“Nine… you’re really kind, aren’t you?”
“Enough of that, let’s go in. We can’t stay at the entrance forever.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
The girls’ dormitory.
I boldly stepped into the forbidden male zone.