The golden rope of Gleipnir unraveled, and Nia’s eyes glowed fiercely.
“Haru-nyang…!”
Her black tail swayed dangerously. Like a cat, she curled her body and stared at the moonlight for a while.
“Are you going to abandon Nia again?”
Her voice trembled. Tears welled up in her amber-colored eyes.
Her claws gleamed. With the sound of wood splintering, deep scratches were left behind.
“How long… how long did I wait…”
Nia’s ears twitched. Her whole body stiffened with tension, unsure whether it was anger or sadness.
“Since the first time we met… Nia knew…”
Tears sparkled beneath the moonlight.
“Only Haru-nyang… could be Nia’s master…”
Her claws, which had been scratching the tree by the window, stopped. Nia slowly rose.
“Everyone else… only called Nia a stray cat…”
Her voice had changed. There was no longer any playful tone.
“Haru-nyang was different… the only one who understood Nia’s heart…”
Her black tail no longer swayed.
“That’s why… Nia wanted to be something special…”
She gently touched the scratch marks. The deep wound etched into the wood glimmered.
“Like the other females… by Haru-nyang’s side…”
Suddenly, Nia froze. Her ears perked up.
“That’s right… the other females…”
Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously. Her silhouette began to shift under the moonlight.
“Dragons, elves, or holy maidens… they’ll try to claim Haru-nyang…”
Nia’s claws grew even sharper. Her shadow loomed larger in the dark.
“That can’t happen… it absolutely can’t happen!”
Her ears stood up straight, and her tail swung violently. The cat-like appearance of hers began to blur.
“I won’t let anyone take Haru-nyang from me!”
Her shadow flickered in the moonlight. No longer a small cat girl, but the form of a massive predator.
“To abandon Nia… Haru-nyang is so cruel.”
Tears fell over the claw marks.
“Still… still, Haru-nyang…”
Suddenly, Nia’s voice grew weak. The shape of the predator flickered for a moment, then returned to the form of the small girl.
“Haru-nyang is the best…”
She curled up, hugging her knees. Her black tail wrapped around her body like a protective shield.
“Nia can’t… can’t hate Haru-nyang…”
The moonlight illuminated her tearful eyes. The complex emotions of both anger and love swirled within them.
“Even though it hurts so much… I still love you…”
In the waning moonlight by the window, Nia stared at her own claws.
“If only Nia were stronger… If I were stronger…”
A cold breeze brushed her ears. Her black ears trembled faintly.
“Everyone called Nia the greatest thief…”
Her golden eyes glinted in the moonlight. A self-deprecating laugh escaped her.
“The greatest thief? In the end, I’m just a weak cat who can’t steal the one thing I want the most.”
Nia hugged her knees again. Her black tail wrapped around her body.
“That’s why… that’s why Haru-nyang… didn’t take me seriously.”
Her voice trembled. Her silhouette wavered beneath the moonlight.
In the dimming moonlight, Nia’s small silhouette appeared. The love she felt for him made her despise herself.
Now she understood why Haru hadn’t taken her seriously. She had acted like a spoiled child who only knew how to steal and complain.
Suddenly, a fiery feeling ignited in her chest.
“If only I were stronger…”
Her claws dug deeper into the ground.
“I could overpower Haru-nyang… make him completely mine… and do whatever I wanted!”
Suddenly, her whole body grew hot. It seemed as though even the moonlight was turning black.
“What… What is this…?”
A black energy began to envelop her body. Her form under the moonlight began to change.
“It’s hot… my whole body…”
White stripes began to emerge through her black fur.
“This power… is this…”
Something began to flow into Nia’s consciousness. Ancient memories, the bloodline of the extinct black tiger…
“Ah…”
Her golden eyes shone brighter than the moonlight.
“Now… now I understand…”
An overwhelming power wrapped around her body. No longer a playful thief cat, the ancient predator had awakened.
“Now Nia… can stand alongside Haru-nyang…”
The black energy swirled and vibrated the air around her.
“Next time…”
Her voice had changed. No longer the cute “nyang-nyang” sound, but now carrying the dignity of a predator.
“Next time, I won’t let you escape…”
In the darkness, where the moonlight had completely vanished, only Nia’s golden eyes glowed brightly.
“No, it’s fine if you try to run… I’ll find you no matter what… Haru-nyang… is my mate…”
The roar of a massive black tiger pierced the night sky.
“By force if necessary… I’ll make you mine…”
In the darkness, her silhouette had completely transformed. Now, she had overwhelming power that encircled her body, making escape impossible.
As the moon was hidden behind clouds, the shadow of the black tiger crossed the night sky. Now, the only path ahead of her was clear.
To find Haru… and make him hers forever.
Her black claws gleamed in the moonlight. This was just the beginning.
In the night streets of Goldenhaven, where the moonlight gently filtered, the shadows wearing black masks crept over the wall and into the garden. They were the elite of the Imperial Special Forces.
Through the window, the silhouette of Estelle could be seen. The twelve-year-old merchant was diligently sorting books at her desk.
“I’ll show this to Haru-ssi when he returns.”
Her mumble drifted into the night air, but soon the sound was drowned out by the chilling wind.
Swoosh—
The black shadows moved in unison. Sharp iron wires flew toward the window.
Krrrrr—
A black silhouette shot out from the darkness. Golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
The iron wires were torn apart mid-air. It was the trail left by sharp claws.
“Who, who is it?!”
The special forces members, startled, drew their swords. But their movements were too slow.
Whoosh—
The black shadow streaked through like the wind. In the blink of an eye, three of the special forces members collapsed.
“This is…”
Deep claw marks were etched into the walls and floors. The wounds that dug into the stone glimmered brightly under the moonlight.
“Retreat! Hurry!”
Before their cries could finish, a roar echoed from the darkness. The shadow of a massive beast emerged beneath the moonlight.
“Ahhh!”
With a scream, the remaining special forces members fell to the floor. It all happened in an instant.
The black silhouette visible through the window slowly turned its head.
“Nyang-nyang… no, it’s ‘argh’ now.”
Under the moonlight, Nia’s golden eyes sparkled.
“Nia-ssi?”
Estelle’s eyes widened. It was no longer the usual playful cat, but a heavy, overwhelming presence that radiated from her.
Nia walked slowly between the fallen special forces members. Dark energy emanated from the tips of her claws.
“Now Nia is… not weak anymore.”
She removed the mask from one of the special forces members. The Imperial emblem engraved on the cloak shimmered in the moonlight.
“Hmm? Was this sent by the Empire?”
A sharp light flickered in her eyes.
“To find Haru-nyang… doing such pointless things…”
The tips of her claws scratched the floor. New marks were carved under the moonlight.
“Estelle.”
Nia approached the window. Her usual playful tone was gone.
“Nia prefers being alone, but right now, the situation is bad.”
Estelle’s voice trembled. A smile spread across Nia’s face.
“So, why don’t we join forces?”
“Huh?”
“Are you just going to wait until you grow up?”
Nia’s golden eyes shone brighter than the moonlight.
“To court Haru-nyang as an adult? You won’t even have the chance before that.”
Estelle’s silver eyes trembled. Nia’s words dug deep into her heart.
“But… I’m still young…”
“Nyang-nyang! That’s why Nia is offering to help!”
Nia grabbed Estelle’s shoulder. Under the moonlight, her smile deepened.
Her golden eyes gleamed coldly, like the moon.
“Finding Haru-nyang… isn’t just Nia’s task.”
Nia’s tail sparkled in the moonlight. White stripes subtly glimmered through her black fur.
“What do you mean?”
Estelle’s eyes widened.
“Do you know how terrifying the obsession of the Dragon Sage Aris, a dragon who has lived for thousands of years, is?”
Nia’s claws scratched the window frame. The sturdy wood split like paper.
“The saint Seraphine… the madness hidden beneath her pure white wings. The sacred obsession… Queen Sylvia of the Elves’ persistence. The spirits’ surveillance…”
The moonlight illuminated Nia’s silhouette. In the darkness, her form shifted like that of a massive beast.
Estelle’s face paled. With every word Nia spoke, the fear inside her deepened.
“And even Princess Iris… with the power of the Empire, is searching for Haru-nyang.”
“They’re all… after Haru-ssi?”
“Yes. Nia will help. If our powers combine…”
Nia extended her hand. Her sharp nails gleamed.
Estelle hesitated for a moment. Doubt lingered in the eyes of the ten-year-old girl.
But soon, she took Nia’s hand.
“Then… it’s an alliance of heroes!”
Estelle’s face flushed. The pure-hearted girl’s feelings were revealed under the moonlight.
“Such a foolish little one. The genius cat, Nia, has completely tricked her.”
Nia’s golden eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Estelle wouldn’t know. At this moment, how dangerous it was for her to be joining hands with such a predator.
“Together… we’ll protect Haru-ssi, right?”
Estelle murmured in a small voice. A victorious smile spread across Nia’s face.
“Yes!”
Nia smiled cutely, but within that smile hid a wicked calculation.
“This young female… I can discard her anytime.”
Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously beneath the moonlight. No longer a playful thief, but the eyes of a true hunter.
“In the end… Nia will steal Haru-nyang.”
In the dimming moonlight by the window, Nia’s silhouette wavered.
From a cute cat to a dangerous predator, from a pure smile to the sharpness of a hunter, and once more, a cat yearning to be loved.
Now, the real hunt begins.
And the final victor… will naturally be Nia herself.