Chapter 29

Starting a new chapter... It seems like it will be the case.

It will be a short introduction.

The Beast Continent... It is a land where a race of beings, known as Beastfolk, who are a combination of humans and animals, live.

The Beastfolk possess the ferocity and instincts of beasts.

They have higher physical abilities than humans or demons, but in exchange, they have less magical power.

However, the inability or difficulty in using the convenient magic is a significant disadvantage.

To compensate for this disadvantage, the Beastfolk are equipped with special skills suited to their species.

For example, the Catfolk can enhance their flexibility, leg strength, and claws, while the Dogfolk can gain enhanced senses of smell, leg strength, and special vocal cords through their skills.

They have used these abilities to compete with other races.

Now, no race underestimates them just because they cannot use magic.

A new Beastfolk has just arrived on this continent of the Beastfolk.

She hides her body in a black robe and wears a hood, so only her mouth is visible.

Judging from her mouth, she is probably female.

Her small build gives the impression that she is young.

The moment she started walking through the port town of the Beastfolk, <Leoport>, she took off her hood.

She has white cat ears that stand up straight, and her hair is also white.

Her face is still young, like a middle school student in Japan, and she appears to be about the same age as Ruri, with whom she had been traveling for a while.

A voice from a fish vendor calls out to her.

"Hey! Isn't that the White Cat! Take some of the fresh fish we just caught!"

"I'll take it."

A fresh, still wriggling fish is thrown to the girl in the black robe called White Cat.

"Hey! Isn't that the White Cat! Take some of our vegetables!"

"I'll take it."

This time, a vegetable vendor throws several types of vegetables at her.

She catches them all in her hands.

"Hey! Isn't that the White Cat! Take some of our meat!"

"I... won't take it."

"You shouldn't be picky!"

"I... understand."

A new load of meat is placed on top of the pile of goods she is already carrying.

White Cat makes a face but manages to keep walking.

As she walks through the town, people greet her.

This is because White Cat is currently the strongest in the town.

The instinct of the Beastfolk is to like those who are stronger than themselves.

Therefore, the townspeople respect and like her.

However, their treatment of her seems somewhat childish, probably due to her appearance.

White Cat, carrying a large amount of goods, heads towards a small hut at the edge of town.

"I'm home."

She skillfully opens the door of the hut with her feet and carefully enters without dropping the goods.

The inside is barely large enough for two people to live, with no extra furniture.

This is the home of the popular White Cat in the town.

"Mineko, I'm back."

White Cat calls out to a girl lying on the bed in the small room.

"Welcome back, Onee-chan."

The girl with long black hair, called Mineko, who was lying on the bed, sits up in response to the voice.

She looks older than White Cat.

Her long black hair is messy in places, which adds a charming innocence, and her well-defined face gives an adult-like impression.

The black cat ears on her head are adorable.

However, it's hard to tell from their appearance that White Cat is the older sister.

"You don't have to get up."

"I feel good today, so it's okay."

Although Mineko's expression was bright, she looked weak.

This is because she is currently suffering from an illness.

It is a disease that gradually weakens the body, and the source is unknown.

The town's doctor is at a loss, and there has been no hope of curing Mineko's illness for several years.

"First, you need to take your medicine today. I got a new supply since we ran out yesterday."

"I'm sorry... Onee-chan."

"It's okay to be dependent on me since you're my little sister. I will definitely find a way to cure you. Until then... try to hang in there."

"...Okay."

Mineko smiles.

White Cat, who is usually somewhat aloof, has a slightly sad smile on her face.

She takes a bottle of black pills from the pocket of her robe.

She opens it and drops one pill onto her hand.

It is about the size of a tablet in Japan.

"Take it."

"Okay..."

With water created by a simple water magic spell, the black pill falls into Mineko's mouth.

"I will definitely make you healthy again. I will find a proper cure, not just a medicine that only delays the symptoms."

"Onee-chan... don't overdo it, okay?"

"I won't. I am... strong."

White Cat looks at Mineko with a determined gaze.

At that moment, White Cat's ears twitch in response to something.

"...I have a job to do. I'll be gone for a while, so Mineko, go to sleep."

"Okay, Onee-chan."

She gently strokes Mineko's hair and leaves the house.

White Cat, who starts walking through the port town again, stares straight at the sea.

To save her beloved younger sister, she will face a man today...

◇ ◇ ◇

"I can see it... the Beast Continent."

"Hmm... Oh!"

Lying on the head of Leviathan, who is sailing the sea, I feel a sense of nostalgia at the sight of the approaching continent and can't help but let out a silly voice.

"Wow, it's been a while."

"I'm not good with the smell of beasts..."

"Endure it, endure it... You have cat ears and dog ears, you know?"

"So what...?"

This guy doesn't seem to understand the charm of beast ears.

If you had them, you'd be cuter by 20%.

"Anyway, when we arrive at the Beast Continent, we'll go straight to the Beast King, right?"

"Yeah, I'll end this troublesome war as soon as possible and make this world more livable.

...Then, I'll find Arize and the others."

"...Right."

We confirmed that the people of Arize's village were teleported somewhere by the area summoning spell.

After searching the village desperately, we couldn't find a single person.

We searched a bit around the village, but they weren't there.

We know they were taken.

The question is where.

"...I hope they're on the Beast Continent..."

I mutter softly and clench my fist.

"---We've arrived."

I step onto an uninhabited beach away from the port town.

Leviathan has already changed into a human form to avoid drawing attention.

"It's been about five days since we left the village! I want to sleep in a bed again, I've been camping out recently."

"Sounds good, I love a fluffy bed."

"Let's stay somewhere fancy then!"

Leviathan follows me as I start walking with high spirits.

The air of the Beast Continent is different from that of the Human Continent or the Demon Continent.

It has a slightly beastly smell, but once you get used to it, it's not unpleasant and even feels calming.

As I start to breathe in the air of this place I haven't been to in a while, we stop after just three steps.

"Meow?"

"Huh?"

"Meow," "Meow," "Meow," "Meow," "Meow," "Meow," "Meow,"

In front of us, a row of cats, big and small, of all kinds, are looking at us.

Why are we being welcomed by cats as soon as we arrive...---

Next time, White Cat.