Chapter 33: Don’t Rob Fish Stores (2)

“…Ahem, what brings you here today?”

“I came because I had an appointment with the guild leader…”

‘I hope Nine is doing well.’

Thinking that she was on a secret mission like a protagonist in a novel, Kazein’s body tensed up involuntarily.

To anyone watching, her nervousness was evident, but most people were too distracted by the massive layer of fat covering her upper body to notice.

With the blessing of a goddess that supposedly extends one’s lifespan just by looking, it was only natural that they would focus on that. Obviously.

“May I ask your name?”

“Kazein Mascarpone.”

The staff member, who was struggling to keep his eyes from wandering back to Kazein’s chest, began flipping through the visitor log.

He found Kazein’s name around the sixth page.

“Kazein Mascarpone…”

Not a noble.

But given that her name was written in purple, she must be a rather important guest.

“We’ve confirmed your identity, Ms. Kazein. Alfred! Please escort this lady to Marco.”

“Understood! Ma’am, this way, please.”

A staff member named Alfred bowed politely and began leading the way toward the office.

‘I hope Nine returns safely.’

Even if she fails, it’s fine.

There will be plenty of opportunities.

But… the thought of Nine being harmed was unbearable.

With concern for the pure white cat that had somehow found its way into her heart, Kazein walked toward the lion’s den.

————

A cat’s body is soft.

Unlike the firmness of a human or a dog, a cat’s body is so soft that jokes about them being liquid aren’t far off.

Scientifically speaking, it’s because they have a lot of cartilage.

But regardless, this trait allows cats to squeeze into places better than any other animal.

Their bodies, half-slime-like in softness, can easily fit into tight spaces.

Ah, this looks good.

After sitting by the wall of the guild building and surveying the area for a while, I spotted what looked like a ventilation duct on the roof.

In this academy-style world where medieval and modern systems coexist, it was likely a ventilation duct.

I waited until no one was passing between the wall and the guild building, then pushed off with my hind legs and leaped.

The landing spot was a pipe.

As I landed lightly on the pipe, the hot warmth heated my paws.

This feels pretty nice.

If I slept here, wouldn’t it be like a heated floor?

If I had continued living as a stray cat without a care, I probably would have just dozed off here.

I pulled my drowsy body along and climbed up the protruding part of the pipe until I reached the ventilation duct.

Is it broken?

The airflow is weak for a ventilation duct.

But it’s not like they would have built a chimney this way.

…Whatever.

I’ll just go in and see.

I quietly stepped into the ventilation duct.

The duct was wide enough that someone as small as Alice could crawl through without much trouble.

And for someone as small as me, walking around comfortably wouldn’t be a problem.

Now that I’ve successfully entered, all I need to do is find something related to the scales or the shadowy figures.

Where could they have hidden it?

Since I’m attempting this infiltration a year and a half earlier than in the original story, it’s not much help.

Even a week earlier or later could change the future, but with over a year’s difference, it’s no use.

The only clue I have is that I roughly know the layout of this building.

If the room arrangement is the same as in the original, there are about two places where the scales might be.

Assuming they’re here, of course.

Shall I start exploring then?

I began my ventilation duct tour in earnest.

“The work never ends…”

“Another overtime today?”

“Looks like it… Sigh.”

“At least they pay well. Godwin’s guild doesn’t even give half of this.”

People sighing and scribbling something diligently with pens were visible through the gaps in the ventilation duct cover.

Nothing interesting here.

Next.

“The branch manager said we’ll get a bonus this month for our hard work.”

“You’re the GOAT…”

Bonuses are always welcome.

Next.

“Hey, Martin. What’s for lunch today?”

“Bread, beef stew, and potato salad!”

“That’s pork stew, you idiot. Are you not taking guild life seriously?”

“No, sir!”

What a mess.

Next.

“Senior, is it really okay to do this here?”

“It’s fine, no one comes here.”

Are they having a secret rendezvous during work hours?

How interesting. Not.

This isn’t important right now.

I continued my room exploration.

By the time I reached the seventh or eighth room, I spotted a familiar purple-haired head.

Is this the office?

“It’s fine, no one comes here.”

Are they having a secret rendezvous during work hours?

How interesting. Not.

This isn’t important right now.

I continued my room exploration.

By the time I reached the seventh or eighth room, I spotted a familiar purple-haired head.

Is this the office?

“Thanks to the item you provided, things are progressing smoothly…”

“That’s good to hear. It was quite difficult to obtain, after all…”

“I never dreamed you’d provide such an item for research purposes.”

“Haha, we have a great interest in your research, Ms. Kazein.”

The mundane conversation filtered into my ears.

Kazein seems to be doing well, so I’ll leave the areas I can’t search for now and check other places first.

Just as I was about to move to the next room.

“Hmm?”

Ah.

I think we just made eye contact.

I quickly distanced myself from the ventilation duct cover.

“Is something wrong?”

“…No, I must have been mistaken.”

The branch manager’s sharp instincts are a pain.

If I hadn’t disguised myself as a black cat, I would have been caught for sure.

I sighed in relief and moved on.

Since I couldn’t investigate that area right now, I decided to check another storage room where the scales were more likely to be.

…Alright!

I peered through the cover into the treasure vault.

A dazzling sight that would make crows go mad with desire.

Most of the items were in boxes, so I couldn’t see what was inside, but the boxes adorned with jewels alone spoke volumes about their contents.

Thankfully, the cover was hinged.

If it had been detachable, I would have been in trouble.

I pushed the cover open with my body and landed inside the vault.

I couldn’t rule out the possibility of someone being in this vast vault… but the chances were low.

Places like this usually have tight security.

To break in through the front door, you’d need the physical strength of a tank or some powerful magic.

But they probably didn’t think about the ventilation duct.

After all, it’s not a passage meant for people.

Among the creatures that can navigate such small passages, there aren’t any with intelligence like mine.

…Well, except for spirits, but they wouldn’t have any reason to visit this vault.

To spirits, human treasures are no different from a stray cat’s handmade toy.

Shall I start searching then?

I began opening all the boxes I could.

Due to my size, there weren’t many I could open, but even those numbered in the dozens, so I had to keep moving.

Rings, necklaces, daggers with ornate decorations.

A tea set made of materials I couldn’t even guess.

An old book that, just by looking at it, exuded historical value.

Countless treasures appeared and disappeared before my eyes.

“…Tastes bad, so bad.”

I couldn’t touch the boxes that required keys, so I couldn’t open them all.

At this rate, I’ll never find the scales.

……Well, I expected as much.

In the end, the ‘real’ thing is probably stored in the branch manager’s secret vault.

I’d have to break into that.

But how?

I don’t have a good method.

Squeak-

The sound of the tightly shut door scraping against its hinges made me immediately hide among the boxes.

Since my body is black, I shouldn’t be easily spotted.

“Hey, which section was Valent’s Tears in?”

“How much did you drink last night to forget that? D-2! It’s D-2!”

“Ugh, alright, alright. I’ll get it quickly, so shut up.”

Did they just crawl out of a dumpster?

The mix of alcohol and body odor was unbearably foul.

I felt like throwing up right then and there.

But in my position, hiding between shelves, doing so would get me caught immediately.

I hid in the shadows between the boxes and waited for the staff to take the item and leave.

“What’s this, why can’t I find it?”

…Why are they dawdling?

Just leave already.

I can’t get back into the ventilation duct.

As my frustration peaked at the sluggish staff, the one bending over picked something up.

“Fur?”

Ah.

“What is it?”

“There’s some animal fur here.”

I saw the staff member holding something between his thumb and forefinger.

My fur must have fallen off.

“Probably got stuck on you from outside. Hurry up and get the item. We can’t keep the guest waiting.”

The man at the door scolded him as if it were nothing.

“Alright, alright… Here it is.”

Soon, the alcohol-smelling staff member left the vault with a box.

The vault door closed, and I let out a sigh of relief.

I overlooked how easily cat fur falls off.

But at least they didn’t seem to think a cat had gotten in.

I survived thanks to the staff being idiots.

Or maybe they were just too lazy to care.

So… should I try to get into the secret vault now?

Or call it a day and try again later?

Just as I was thinking that.

“What’s this?”

While trying to extricate myself from the shadows, my paw caught on a small box.

A box barely big enough to hold something the size of a ping-pong ball.

It had a lock, but it didn’t seem to require a key, just a twist to open.

Should I open it?

It’s safe for now, so satisfying a little curiosity shouldn’t hurt.

You never know.

This box might hold the clue I’m looking for.

I turned the handle with my front paw and lifted the lid.

The box, with its antique charm, shyly revealed its contents.

“…Wow. I can’t believe I’m seeing this here.”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the breathtaking beauty inside.