Chapter 160: Cat Lord Part 1

-Meow.

I slowly opened my eyes at the sound that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Something fluffy, plump, and swaying came into my blurred vision. Without thinking, I grabbed it.

-Meooow!

Almost at the same time, a sharp pain shot through my face. Startled, I quickly sat up. As I held my stinging face and looked around, I saw a plump spotted cat with its tail stiffly raised glaring at me.

"A c-cat…?"

I muttered in a dazed voice. The spotted cat with a dot under its nose, like a smudge of black bean paste, looked at me with disdain and shook its head. Wait a minute, that face looks familiar. I slowly tried to recall my memories. And then…

"…Could it be, Camellia?"

Camellia.

That was the name our family had given to a scruffy cat that used to loiter around our house when I was in elementary school. It was such a pitiful sight, scrawny and no bigger than a fist, that we gave it some tuna can washings and occasionally fed it chicken whenever we had boiled chicken at home. Over time, it gained weight and eventually became the neighborhood boss. I named it Camellia, but I was a bit shocked when I found out it was actually a male with quite the impressive… assets.

However, Camellia disappeared around the time I graduated from middle school. It was winter, and I was worried because he suddenly started losing weight and looked frail. Just as I was about to take him to the vet, he vanished without a trace.

Unlike humans, animals are skilled at hiding their pain. The moment they suffer an injury or illness, it becomes a life-threatening weakness. To survive, they conceal most of their suffering, and when death is near, they quietly slip away to an unknown place to face their end alone.

Camellia was likely no different. Back then, I felt nothing but sadness and resentment that he had disappeared without saying goodbye. But now, when I think about it…

Camellia must have not wanted to show any weakness.

-Meoooow.

"So it really is you, Camellia."

-Meeooow.

"Wow, you haven't lost a bit of weight."

-Meow!

Ouch. I recoiled as his sharp claws scratched my hand, then cautiously moved it to his head. Just like I did long ago, I gently petted Camellia's head.

"If I'd known I'd see you, I would've brought you a Churu … Oh, but you wouldn't know what that is, right? It's this super popular treat that cats go crazy for these days…"

-Camellia. Are you sure that's the same human?

Suddenly, a strange voice interrupted and I pulled my hand back from petting Camellia. I then turned to look behind me to see where the voice had come from.

There, standing with fur that gleamed as if it had been polished with sesame oil, was a golden-colored cat. That's right. The cat was "standing". Its back was perfectly straight! Wait, a cat walking on two legs!? Even though this is a pseudo-medieval land with a touch of fantasy, I had never seen a cat walking on two legs before…

"What the…?"

That's right.

I wasn't on Earth, Asia, or in South Korea anymore. I was in some kind of pseudo-medieval land on an unknown planet.

But how could Camellia who was also from Earth, Asia, and South Korea, be here with me?

I looked at Camellia with a confused expression. Naturally, Camellia who was a cat didn't care at all about my confusion.

-You seem surprised.

"Huh, wh-what…?"

-Let me introduce myself. I am Kali, the Head of the Cat Council.

The Cat Council?

A phrase I had read in the old book flashed through my mind. [The Cat Council will summon you.] That's what it said, right? It did say "soon", but I didn't think it would be "this" soon. I didn't even have time to learn anything about this so-called Cat Council!

Could it be that this guy is also the one who gave me the title of [Lord of the Cats]…?

Whether I was confused or not, Kali, the so-called Head of the Cat Council, continued his conversation with Camellia.

-Hmm, I see. So when you met, he was just a 'small human'? He was still 'growing' is that right?

-Meoooow.

-Yes, humans are inferior beings, so they grow much slower than we do. It's not surprising you didn't recognize him immediately. But as you said, he has the 'same scent,' so this 'big human' must be the same 'small human' you knew.

-Meoow.

-He gave you something called 'Xtuna'? Alright, let me ask if he has any more.

"Uh… what?"

-Hey, do you have something called 'Xtuna'?

"Uh, no…?"

-Too bad, Camellia. It seems he doesn't have any more of this 'Xtuna'.

What on earth were these cats talking about?

Could I be hallucinating?!

…No, that couldn't be. The item I had just obtained was a pair of gloves made from the hide of a starfish. The gloves had a 'hallucination immunity' effect. So, this situation definitely wasn't a hallucination.

In that case…

"…Is this really happening?"

I muttered unconsciously, and both Kali and Camellia turned to look at me at the same time. Camellia twitched his whiskers as if mocking me, while Kali stared at me with an exasperated expression.

-It seems you haven't grasped the situation.

"…Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit it, but that's correct."

Put yourself in my shoes. Would you be able to make sense of this situation? I suddenly ran into an old cat friend I had completely forgotten about (which, to be fair, I was grateful for), and now I'm watching a cat walk on two legs and speak.

-Are you aware that you are the new [Lords of the Cats]?

"…Yes."

-I'm glad to hear you know that much.

"...."

-You have brought the greatest joy to the young cats, who are the light and hope of all worlds.

…Is this about that cat tree?

-Not only that but in this time when the world is filled with darkness and evil, you've shown that our status remains unshaken.

…This must be about hunting rats.

Kali, with a serious expression, looked at me before pulling out a scroll that had been strapped to his back. The long scroll which unfurled down to his feet had the words [Cat Lord Appointment] scribbled in a messy handwriting similar to that found in an old book. Below it were nine different cat paw prints.

-And so, the Great Cat Council of the Nine Worlds has decided to appoint you as [Cat Lord].

"...."

I silently listened to what Kali was saying.

Whether it's [Cat Lord] or [Dog Lord], that didn't really matter. What truly mattered was the "effects" that came with the title. However, the [Cat Lord] title didn't have any "effects" yet.

As if he knew what I was thinking, Kali gave two soft claps with his jelly-like paw pads, then rolled up the scroll and slung it back over his shoulder.

-Those who possess the qualifications of the [Cat Lord] are granted the blessing of 'Nine Lives'. This is a gift unique to us cats.

…Nine Lives!

So it was true that cats here really have nine lives.

In this pseudo-medieval land, there was an interesting saying: "Cats and Hydras have nine lives. Therefore, do not mess with Hydras or cats."

However, technically speaking, a Hydra didn't have nine lives but nine heads which was a completely different ability from dying and coming back to life.

If the title effect was "Nine Lives", that would be a total jackpot!

-Are you ready to receive the great blessing bestowed only upon the cats who live in the Nine Worlds, [Cat Lord]?

"Of course."

I nodded my head with a very serious and solemn expression. In this pseudo-medieval land, how many times had I nearly died already? Nine Lives—this was the best possible news. Ah, it must be because I've been living a good life that such fortune is finding its way to me…

-But.

…Almost finding its way. At the word "but", I narrowed my eyes and looked at Kali. He met my gaze with a stern expression and said,

-The problem is that your identity is unclear.

"…My identity?"

-Indeed. In this world, there isn't a single cat who knows you. Not one.

Well, of course not. I'm from Earth, Asia, South Korea.

-So I asked the cats from other worlds about you, and here… 'Camellia' vouched for your identity.

Thank you, Camellia. I gave a thumbs-up to Camellia who was licking his paw with absolute concentration.

-However, a fundamental issue remains.

"What issue?"

-Why is a soul from another world wandering in this one?

"Well, that's…"

-If you are someone who could bring 'chaos'…

"Chaos?"

-Then I can't let you take the [Cat Lord] position.

Are you giving it and then taking it back? It's embarrassing to say it myself, but if anything, I'm on the side of saving the world. I was about to explain when—

-Rumble…

An ominous rumble echoed in the distance. It sounded like the sky itself was collapsing. Kali's fur stood on end as he turned to look in the direction of the sound. Far beyond, past what looked like the Milky Way, there was a tremendous roar and lightning that seemed to split the sky.

-…Has it already come this far?

Camellia also stared seriously beyond the Milky Way and his tail was bristling. What was it now? What on earth was happening? What were these cats up to?!

– Let's get out of the way for now.

– Meow.

"…Me too?"

– Unless you want to become a target for that lightning right here.

"As if I would want that."

Before I could even finish my reply, Kali and Camellia dashed off in the opposite direction at lightning speed. I glanced at the approaching storm, then hurriedly ran after the two cats. The deafening rumble that shook the earth kept closing in on me as if it were about to slam into the back of my head.

– Hurry up, hurry up and run!

– Meeeeow!

Kali and Camellia urgently called out to me in front of a giant, bright yellow portal that looked like a cat's eye. Damn it, having four legs really is an advantage for running. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I leaped into the swirling portal. Right behind me, Kali and Camellia also jumped in, and with a sharp sound, the portal closed just in time.

"Haa, huff…"

– Meow.

Camellia patted my shoulder as I struggled to catch my breath.

What on earth just happened?!