Uncomfortable.
That was the first thought that came to my mind as I nestled into Orca’s embrace.
Even though I was nestled against her soft and plush body, I couldn’t help but feel a bit ungrateful.
Cats are inherently creatures that don’t like being held.
Their wild instincts make them dislike situations where they feel restricted.
This is something ingrained in their DNA, so even if I were a reincarnated being, it wouldn’t be easy to change.
So, if it weren’t for the fact that I was a spirit beast, I probably wouldn’t have allowed myself to be held like this.
“…Could you stop looking at me like that?”
“Nine, you’re so cute…”
“I don’t understand why you feel that way, but let’s get some sleep, okay? We don’t have much time to rest in the dungeon.”
In the dungeon, sleep time was limited to about 5 hours.
At least in the game, they emphasized realism and kept it that way, so I figured it would be the same here.
“Look over there. Irina is sleeping soundly. You should sleep like that too.”
“Ha, but…”
“What’s with the ‘but’? We have to explore the dungeon tomorrow too.”
Even if it’s just a training dungeon, a dungeon is still a dungeon.
If we don’t get proper sleep, it could lead to a significant failure.
Especially for someone like Alice, whose mental state is as fragile as wet tissue.
“…Goodnight.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I drifted off to sleep, enveloped in the warmth of 36.5 degrees.
—————
Day 2.
I was the first to wake up and carefully slipped out of Orca’s embrace.
It wasn’t easy because of Orca’s incredible strength, but if a cat couldn’t escape from something like this, it wouldn’t be a catāit’d be dog food.
I stretched and shook my body to fluff up my fur, which had been flattened.
I would have liked to wash up a bit, but… that’s a luxury in a dungeon.
I quietly covered Orca with a blanket up to her neck and checked on Irina.
…She’s unusually quiet, so the difference is striking.
I approached Irina and peered at her face.
Her sleeping face looked so serene that it was hard to believe it was the same Irina.
She looked every bit the noble lady.
Well, it’s possible because she’s pretty.
Now, let’s go check on Alice…
“Too slow.”
No matter how good your body is, you can’t match a cat’s reflexes.
I tapped Irina’s forehead with my paw as she lay sprawled out.
“Do you really think you can catch me with just that?”
After all the business I’ve handled, do you really think I’m that easy?
“Hey, after all the effort I put in, isn’t it good manners to let me catch you once?”
“I’ve never heard of such manners.”
“I’ve given you a lot of food, though.”
“Just say you want to hold me. Then I might consider it.”
“Let me hold you for 5 minutes!”
“1 minute.”
“4 minutes!”
“1 minute and 30 seconds.”
“3 minutes!”
“2 minutes.”
Sigh, she’s going to keep bothering me, so I might as well compromise here.
I skillfully hopped up and settled onto Irina’s lap as she sat cross-legged on the bedding.
“Exactly 2 minutes.”
“Hehe… I’ll make sure you never escape my embrace again.”
Should I just leave?
While I was pondering, my body was suddenly pulled into Irina’s arms.
The soft, plush sensation enveloping the back of my head.
Even though it was covered by clothes, the force of her hug half-swallowed my head.
Come to think of it, she’s also quite well-endowed, isn’t she?
I had forgotten because I no longer have much interest in human chests.
After all, being held by a human isn’t much different from swallowing chocolate.
If these girls weren’t the protagonists they were meant to be, if they weren’t guaranteed to be safe, I wouldn’t have allowed them to hold me.
“It feels better to hold you because you’re this big, right?”
“I get it, so stop rubbing my belly. It’s so ticklish I could die.”
Why are humans so obsessed with rubbing cats’ and dogs’ bellies?
I just couldn’t understand it.
Maybe it’s because I’ve become too distant from humans to understand…
How long had I been pondering these pointless philosophical questions when Irina’s arms started to tighten around me as the time limit approached.
“You won’t be able to escape now, right?”
“Will I?”
I effortlessly slipped out of Irina’s embrace and stretched.
“It hasn’t been 2 minutes yetā”
“I know it’s been more than that.”
“Tch.”
What’s with the “tch”?
I left the disappointed Irina behind and approached Orca, pressing my paw against her cheek.
“Wake up.”
“…Just 5 more minutes.”
“You don’t really think I’m going to keep pressing for 5 minutes, do you?”
“…Ah…”
As if struck by the truth, Orca’s eyes widened.
“You caught me.”
“You’ve become quite shameless, Orca.”
“But I’m going to give you spirit herbs, Nine.”
“Should I press harder?”
“No, I’ll get up now.”
I moved away from Orca, who had lost her excuse, and approached Alice.
Alice seemed to know it was time to wake up, as she looked up at me with half-open eyes.
“Nine…”
Do they think I’m some kind of doll?
I swatted away Alice’s reaching hand with my tail and urged her on.
“Hurry up and get ready. We need to prepare to leave.”
“Hiiing…”
Even if you pout, it’s not going to work.
“We’re in a dungeon, you know. There’s no time to relax.”
It’s my first time in a dungeon, but I know from games that this is no place to take lightly.
“Okay…”
Alice nodded with a look of regret and began to tidy up the bedding.
I stepped out of the small cave where we had slept and looked around the passageway.
“It’s quiet…”
No matter how big it is, it’s strange that there’s no sign of anyone.
Caves are supposed to echo, right?
…Well, it’s not something I need to worry about.
I’m just here as a mental recovery shuttle, after all.
My only job is to keep Alice’s mental state in check.
If I get the chance, I’ll explore some hidden spaces…
“Nine, we’re ready.”
“Alright? Let’s get going. I’ll take the lead today.”
“You’re taking the lead?”
“I’m a cat, Irina. My ability to sense danger is better than yours, so it’s only right that I take the lead.”
It’s also a bit boring to always stay in the back, so I’ll take on the scouting role.
Since I came in as a “familiar,” I need to at least put on a minimal show.
We’re not the only ones here, after all.
It’s better to play a small role than to risk being talked about.
In any case, during combat, I’ll just be Alice’s launcher.
“Come on, let’s hurry.”
I walked ahead on all fours for the first time in a while.
Into the dimly lit passageway.
—————
“Everyone, stop.”
At my words, the group halted and turned their gazes toward me.
I pointed ahead with my paw and relayed the fresh information I had just gathered.
“Three orcs and about twenty goblins up ahead. Hmm. That’s a lot more than expected.”
Is the difficulty higher because the party composition is different from the original?
“…I can’t even see that far.”
“I’m a cat.”
My night vision is much better than yours.
Since becoming a spirit beast, I can see in the dark as if it were day.
“Miss Alice, Irina. Put down your bags and prepare for battle.”
“Got it. We should target the orcs first, right?”
“Yes. When the orcs get within engagement range, take care of the goblins that will swarm from behind.”
Orca naturally took command.
This was the command structure we had established through three previous battles.
Orca, with her combat experience, gave the orders, and I assisted while staying in the rear.
I quietly moved to Alice’s side and looked back the way we had come.
It didn’t seem like anyone was there, but my neck felt prickly for some reason.
“Nine, what’s wrong…?”
“Nothing, just my neck feels itchy.”
It feels like something’s comingā
“…Wait, seriously?”
I frowned as I saw a pale figure approaching from the distance.
Are they giving the protagonist some kind of burning event?
“Monsters are coming from behind too.”
“Uh, this means…”
“I’ll change the formation. I’ll handle the front alone, so Miss Alice and Irina, take care of the enemies coming from behind.”
Orca issued commands without a hint of panic, even in this sudden situation.
So reliable.
I unsheathed my claws and stood by Alice’s feet.
It was a precaution against any potential ambush.
“Alice, fire a flame spell straight ahead.”
“B-but isn’t fire dangerous?”
“Not as long as they don’t get close to us.”
As long as you don’t shoot it backward, that is.
Above me, Alice began chanting.
A spell filled with killing intent to annihilate the enemies.
I narrowed my eyes and watched the approaching enemies through the gaps in her chant.
About 50 meters.
Not too far, not too close.
The sound of their footsteps grew louder, and the pale figures began to take shape.
Which meant it was time to fire the signal flare for battle.
“Alice!”
At my call, a fiery blaze shot through the passageway.
The unexpected battle had begun.