Chapter 161: Cat Lord Part 2

"What on earth is going on?"

I barely made it through the portal and asked Kali, who was busy tidying up his ruffled fur. Without stopping licking his fluffy golden paws, Kali responded absentmindedly.

– Can't you tell? It's the wrath of the goddess Lausian.

"The wrath of the goddess Lausian?"

"That's right."

Lausian.

The goddess of temperance and order.

Lausian was the twin goddess of Keraion, the god of magic and knowledge, and she possessed magical powers on par with Keraion. However, it is said that Lausian chose to uphold temperance and order because she despised the primal chaos inherent in magic.

As the goddess of temperance and order, Lausian was known to be the most strict among the twelve gods. There's even a saying that the goddess of temperance and order Lausian is more terrifying than Beleth, the god of war, Helder, the god of vengeance, and Shauta, the god of pain.

In line with her role as the goddess of temperance and order, Lausian also presided over law and judgment. The laws of various nations were in Lausian's hands. Every country, no, the entire continent, respected and revered Lausian as the epitome of fairness.

But why is the wrath of the goddess Lausian chasing after cats?

The lightning I had seen before crossing the portal had been huge and powerful enough to cover the entire sky. It was the kind of magic that no human could ever produce, and after hearing that it was the wrath of the goddess Lausian, that overwhelming power finally made sense to me.

But there was something else that didn't make sense.

Why on earth was the wrath of the goddess Lausian chasing after cats?

Kali finished grooming his fur and looked at me with his emerald eyes.

– I'm sorry, we had to bring you here without any explanation.

"And where exactly is this place?"

– A sanctuary.

When I looked around, I noticed cat trees and silver vines planted here and there, along with scratched trees and torn-up grass. Butterflies fluttered about, while cats lazily chased after them.

Is this some sort of cat kingdom?

I started walking alongside Kali and Camellia. In the distance, a structure that resembled a giant cat tower came into view.

…Could that be their 'castle'?

– According to the plan, we were supposed to conduct the verification and explanation first, then hold the appointment ceremony here… but things have gotten complicated.

Kali shook his head. His golden tail was twitching nervously.

– No, no. If we appoint you as [Cat Lord] and have you face Lausian…

"Stop talking nonsense."

Was this cat out of its mind? Even if I became the [Cat Lord] and gained nine lives, going against a god would be reckless, if not outright foolish.

– Well, it's impossible anyway. To appoint you as [Cat Lord], we'd need the approval of the other council members.

"That's a relief."

– But since it's an emergency, they might all agree.

"I don't agree."

– You're an unusual one. Aren't you tempted by nine lives?

"What good are nine or even a hundred lives if I lose them as soon as I get them?"

Kali tilted his head repeatedly before shrugging. That, that, that annoying cat. Does it really think I'm a fool?

Despite what I said, I had to admit I was tempted by the effect of the [Cat Lord] title, those nine lives. If things hadn't gotten so complicated, it would've been an amazing reward.

"Still, why on earth did the goddess Lausian…?"

– It's a long story.

"I need to know."

– Are you serious?

"Of course."

– I'm not sure if it's a tragedy a human can handle.

"I can handle it."

– Oh.

Kali stroked his long whiskers and hesitated for a while before speaking as if he had made up his mind.

– The Quill of Lausian.

The Quill of Lausian?

The symbol of Arzan, the god of justice and the sun, was the sun. The symbol of Donar, the god of rivers and seas, was a droplet of water. The symbol of Lynshaka, the goddess of forests and earth, was a leaf. The symbol of Nemeya, the goddess of mercy and the moon, was the moon. The symbol of Liadel, the goddess of art and fortune, was a small bird. The symbol of Keraion, the god of magic and knowledge, was a pentagram…

The gods each had their own symbols. Hammers and coins, swords and shields, flaming skulls, broken bones… Each god had a different symbol, and these symbols were very important. In a place like this pseudo-medieval land, where the literacy rate was high, the impact of a recognizable symbol was immense. Even if people couldn't read, everyone could recognize the symbol of a god, a royal family, or a noble house. It was easier.

That's how important a "symbol" was. Would you believe it if I told you that wars could start over the animals, plants, or colors featured in a family's crest? In this world, it wasn't uncommon.

The symbol of a god was something that could never be violated, something that was literally sacred. It wasn't something that could be ignored or insulted.

Anyway, the symbol of Lausian, the goddess of restraint and order, was a "quill". This quill was made from the most beautiful feather of the Crystal Crane, also known as the "Crystalline Crane" which had cradled the "world" for eons to bring about its birth. Each feather shone as if it were made from starlight. The laws that Lausian wrote with this quill were said to shine eternally, like constellations…

Wait a minute.

No way.

"I really hope what I'm thinking didn't actually happen."

Kali twitched his chubby snout as if to say something, then nodded his head.

– You already possess the wisdom required of a [Cat Lord].

"Oh my god."

– The curiosity of young cats can sometimes shake the world.

Kali's explanation was simple.

In this place called the "Sanctuary," nine special cats who watch over the nine worlds are born. These nine cats possess a kind of "clairvoyance" to observe their respective worlds, and that clairvoyance is what discovered Lausian's quill.

What happened next was predictable.

The kittens stole Lausian's quill in their boldness and bravery. Kali spoke as if he was proud and impressed, but to me, it just seemed like madness. Stealing a god's symbol? No wonder Lausian was so furious.

"Then, can't we just return the quill?"

– ....

"No way."

– ....

"Where are those cats now?"

– They're probably playing with the quill somewhere.

"Oh my god. Aren't you planning to find the quill?"

– Once they get bored with it, they'll return it to the goddess. Honestly, can't the gods even tolerate a little prank from children? They're so narrow-minded.

This must be what they call adding insult to injury. I was feeling a headache coming on, so I rubbed my forehead and then looked at Kali.

"We're dealing with a god. A god. If we don't return the quill, it won't just end with shaking the world. This entire 'Sanctuary' or whatever it is will be destroyed."

– …Hmm.

"This is crazy. As expected, I decline the title of [Cat Lord]."

At my words, Kali's whiskers twitched. Camellia who had been lazily rolling around nearby also poked his head out to look at me.

What was the point of having nine lives? Before the goddess's wrath, even a hundred lives would be snuffed out in an instant. It was unfortunate, but quickly stepping away seemed like the wisest course of action.

"…Alright, then please send me back."

At my request, Kali's ears perked up. He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before slowly opening his mouth to speak.

– You must help us.

"Why should I?"

– Because we can help you too.

"If it's about those nine lives, I already said I'm not interested…"

– That's not what I'm talking about.

Kali revealed his sharp claws and slashed through the air. The scene before us tore apart like paper, revealing a swirling void.

In that instant, a red light flashed. Like a laser scanning the space, the red light swept over the void. Before it could reach the tear, Kali clapped his paws and the fluttering butterflies swarmed in to cover the gap.

– I hadn't planned on telling you this, but given the situation, there's no choice.

"What… what was that just now?"

– Did you really think you could mess with two demons and get away safely?

"....!"

– You've caught 'their' attention. But whether by fortune or misfortune, you also harbor 'chaos' within you like us … It won't be easy for the darkness to find your roots.

Indeed.

Strictly speaking, I didn't belong to "this place".

But no one knew that fact.

Not the gods who watched over me, nor the demons I encountered.

The demons sensed something 'different' about me, but they didn't know what it was.

If they ever discovered the secret of my soul…

I don't know what would happen, but it certainly wouldn't be anything good.

– We are those born from chaos and wander the nine worlds.

"..."

– We are not strong. But we can transcend worlds that even the gods cannot surpass.

In some ways, that ability was more powerful than the gods' own powers. The ability to perceive beings from another world… and to transcend worlds.

Perhaps, with their help, I could return to my "original world".

Perhaps, these beings were my only hope to open the path back to my 'original world.'

– There is no one who can tame us.

"..."

– Because of that, we can keep your secret safe.

It was crazy.

Whether to reveal my secret, which could be the most powerful "weakness" in the world…

Or to risk my life in a showdown with the goddess.

"Haaah…"

I slumped to the ground and clutched my head. It felt like I had been struck hundreds of times by a cat's paw on the skull. Oh, what am I supposed to do? Can I even win against a goddess in the first place?

-Meooow.

At that moment, Camellia approached and started purring as he rubbed his head against my feet.

"…Are you asking for help?"

-Meooow.

The rumbling vibrations from Camellia's entire body somehow put me at ease. Of course, not enough to feel confident about facing the goddess.

But still…

"Haaah…"

But what choice did I have?

Given the situation, there was only one path left.

[Special Quest Appears!]

[Special Quest: Operation Save the Kitten]

Save the kitten from the clutches of the goddess.