First Mission

In Hito's house at the training room, we see Maxwell in Wulmar's form fighting Hito.

Maxwell, now in Wulmar's towering form, faced off against Hito in the training room. With a powerful swing, Maxwell aimed for Hito, who agilely evaded, his cat-like reflexes guiding him. The room echoed with the sound of their blows as they exchanged fierce attacks, each one aiming for dominance.

Suddenly, they both stopped as their fists collided with a resounding clang, echoing through the room. Hito sighed, "Good, good... You have grown up well."

Maxwell's tail wagged slowly behind him. "Really?!"

Hito chuckled and wiped his arms clean. "You have grown a lot since those two weeks. That is quite impressive... However, you need to update your reflexes."

"Ah, right... You're kinda fast, Sensei..." Maxwell admitted, catching his breath.

Hito laughed and winked at him. "That's just the spirit of a feline..."

Maxwell couldn't help but admire Hito's speed. Yes, he was a cat, but he was definitely much faster than any ordinary feline Maxwell had ever encountered.

"Did you get in contact with Wulmar?" Hito asked.

Maxwell shook his head. "Hm... not much. He's occasionally there, but barely talks."

Wulmar would sometimes appear out of nowhere just to see Maxwell, but they hadn't really had a conversation since their last encounter.

Akuro spoke from his chair, his voice carrying a weight of wisdom. "You know, even if you transform as Wulmar, there is still a hint of him inside your mind."

Maxwell pondered Akuro's words. "But how... if he's still there, why doesn't he use me?"

Hito interjected, "There's some reason as to why, but they might be false...?"

Maxwell leaned in, intrigued. "Like what?"

Hito nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps he wants to wait for the right moment... or maybe he's trusting you?"

Maxwell's expression softened, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Trusting me?"

Akuro spoke from his chair, his voice carrying a weight of wisdom. "You know, even if you transform as Wulmar, there is still a hint of him inside your mind."

"I see..." Maxwell said looking down at his hand.

--

Later, we see Maxwell and the gang in the living room. Looking at his phone, he said, "Damn, already 2 pm..."

Hito chuckled while feeding the cats. "Time in summer is strangely faster than usual, haha."

Maxwell sighed. "Can't argue with that..."

Akuro was sleeping on the couch, enjoying his own quiet place.

Maxwell looked at Hito feeding the cats. "Say, Hito... how are you so chill with all those cats? Do they not bother you?"

Hito turned around to face him. "To be honest... I wish they could bother me more..." He sighed.

"What do you mean?"

Hito caressed one of the cats. "Every end of the week... the cat souls disappear into the afterlife..."

Maxwell's eyes widened. "What do you mean their souls disappear?"

Hito continued to stroke the cat in his lap, his expression somber. "Every week, the souls of these cats ascend to the afterlife. They move on, and once they go, they never come back. It's their time to find peace, but it means I have to say goodbye over and over again."

Maxwell watched as Hito's gaze softened, the reality of his words sinking in. "That must be hard," Maxwell said quietly.

Hito nodded. "It is. I get attached to each one, knowing our time together is limited. But I also find solace in knowing they are moving on to a better place. It's a bittersweet part of this life."

Maxwell looked at the cats, a new understanding in his eyes. "I didn't realize... I'm sorry, Hito."

Hito smiled gently. "It's okay, Maxwell. It's just part of the cycle. We cherish the moments we have and let them go when it's time."

There was a silence in the room.

Hito broke the quiet with a contemplative question. "Hey, Maxwell... do you think life is unfair?"

Maxwell stood silent at the strange sudden question. "Well... I have my fair share of angst as a teen, and yeah, I think so," he chuckled.

Hito chuckled in return and shook his head. "I mean... when you discovered about the phantom and found out you were cursed... does this make you... angry?"

Maxwell's expression shifted, his laughter fading as he considered Hito's question. "Yeah, it did make me angry at first," he admitted. "I felt like I was being punished for something I didn't understand. But... over time, I've come to accept it as a part of who I am."

Maxwell paused, considering Hito's question carefully. "I guess... because it's the reality I'm faced with. There's no use in dwelling on anger or resentment. Besides, with this curse, I've gained abilities I never would have imagined having. It's like... making the best out of a bad situation, you know?"

Hito's eyes widened in surprise, while Akuro smirked knowingly, as if impressed by Maxwell's response.

Hito chuckled. "I love your spirit, kid."

Maxwell laughed, but their moment was interrupted by the sound of knocking at the door.

Hito got up, a curious expression on his face. "Hmm, strange... I rarely get company."

--

We see Hito and Maxwell sitting in front of a mysterious bluebird. Maxwell looked at it with curiosity and surprise. Besides Hito being an anthropomorphic cat, seeing another creature like this was astonishing to him.

Glade looked at Maxwell with surprise and strange interest. "Since when have you been friends with humans?"

Hito sighed. "He isn't human, Glade..."

Glade stood silent, giving one last glance at Maxwell before turning back to Hito. "Listen... I need your help with my shop."

Hito sighed again. "I told you already... I won't do your stupid advertisement."

Glade sighed in frustration. "It's not about that... strange stuff has been happening there... like REALLY strange."

Hito's ears perked up slightly. "Go on."

"At night, tons of strange encounters have been happening in Ishtoro Town... like... tons of strange ghosts began to attack the town."

Hito stood silent, listening intently. "Go on."

"Well... yesterday my store was robbed by strange red ghosts. I wanted to defend myself, but they were strong as hell."

Maxwell's eyes widened. "Red ghosts?" he repeated.

Hito turned to him in curiosity. "Know something about them?"

"Well... Akuro and I encountered one, but we managed to miss it."

Akuro, who had been quietly observing, nodded. "Indeed... and strangely, I do not know what those things are."

Maxwell frowned. "Maybe they are grave ghouls?"

Glade shook his head. "Not at all... I know grave ghouls are strong, but not THIS strong."

Hito thought for a moment. "Well, why didn't you ask the rangers?"

Glade rolled his eyes. "Dude... you know how greedy they are. I have to pay a huge amount just to get ditched the next day."

Hito sighed, looking down at the floor. "Right... I forgot about that."

Maxwell looked puzzled. "Who are these rangers?"

Akuro explained, "They are the equivalent of a police department, but for monsters only... and you have to pay them."

Maxwell thought for a moment. "You have to pay... like... a guild?"

Hito nodded. "Pretty much."

Glade sighed. "Listen, dude... money is pretty tight right now. I seriously need your help..."

Hito thought for a moment, then looked at Maxwell, an idea forming in his mind. "Alright... I will do it, and Maxwell, you're coming with me."

Maxwell's eyes widened in surprise. "R-really?!"

Hito nodded. "It's kind of a way to wrap up your training and also to show you more about our kind."

Maxwell stood silent for a moment, then nodded enthusiastically. "A-alright...!"