Chapter 30

After waking up from a nap, I found something in my mouth.

"Monyu monyu?"

It was a peculiar taste that became addictive.

"Monyu?"

Wondering what it was, I checked and found a black cat.

It seemed I had been holding the cat in my left hand, with its tail in my mouth.

"Sorry?"

『…………』

The black cat didn’t meow.

"Does it have two tails? Is it hurt?"

『…………』

I was worried it might have a torn tail, but it didn’t seem to be the case.

"It has wings... cool. Maybe it’s a new species of cat."

『…………』

"Let’s show it to Mom."

If Mom, who is knowledgeable about living creatures, might know about a cat with two tails and wings.

Still, it’s a very calm black cat.

"Kyu kyu"

Carrot, whom I was holding in my right hand, was looking at me.

"Carrot, did you sleep well?"

"Kyu kyu!"

"How are D’Au and Korko?"

"Bau!" "Kokko!"

I greeted Carrot, D’Au, and Korko while holding the black cat.

Then, I took a closer look at the black cat again.

"This black cat... hmm? Could it be a spirit?"

『...nya~』

It’s too late to meow like a cat now.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an animal. It was a spirit.

I didn’t realize it because I could hold it without covering my hands with magic.

I don’t know why I could hold it.

"...A spirit with a solid form..."

『Fnya~』

"Can you speak?"

『Nya~』

It seems determined to keep mimicking a cat.

A newly born, young spirit is blurry and lacks a clear outline.

As it grows, its outline becomes clearer, and with that, its sense of self becomes more defined, allowing it to speak.

The fact that it can take on a solid cat form means it’s a powerful spirit that has grown considerably.

It should be able to speak, but it doesn’t.

"...Can’t I talk to spirits like Luria did in my previous life?"

『Nya~』

This life is different. There’s a good chance I can’t talk to spirits in this life.

However, I feel like I might be able to talk to this black cat spirit.

"Ah... Do you not talk to me because you don’t like Luria?"

『Nya!?』

"Because... Luria couldn’t protect everyone?"

In my last moments of my previous life, I burned everything around me to save them.

That was all I could do.

But I don’t know if the spirits managed to escape because of it.

If I had more power in my previous life, I could have destroyed the metal tube that was imprisoning the spirits.

No, if I had even more power, the spirits might not have been captured in the first place.

It’s understandable if the spirits hate me.

I received so much help, yet I couldn’t help them when they needed it the most.

"...I’m sorry."

I feel sad and guilty, almost to the point of tears.

‘No, that’s not it! I don’t hate you!’

The black cat spoke in a flustered manner.

"...Can the cat talk?"

『...I can talk.』

Then, the black cat spirit started to speak slowly.

‘At that time, Lady Liza... helped everyone.’

"Did the metal tube burn properly?"

That was my regret.

I did everything I could.

But I died before I could see the result.

‘It didn’t burn, but it melted properly.’

The black cat spirit looked me in the eye.

‘I was in that tube too. Thank you. Thank you so much, Lady Luria.’

If I managed to save the spirits, that’s good.

Liza’s life was full of hardship and pain, with hardly any good moments, but it wasn’t in vain.

"Did everyone get saved?"

‘Yes, all the spirits were saved. Thank you.’

"...That’s good. ...Really good."

I hugged the black cat spirit tightly.

The black cat spirit, which shouldn’t have a physical form, felt warm.

D’Au started to lick me.

“...Is Roa doing well?”

‘Lord Roa... passed away shortly after that.’

"......I see..."

Passed away. That means he died.

Tears fell naturally.

The kind spirit king Roa was gone.

I would never see him again.

‘Please don’t cry, Lady Luria. We spirits... even if we die, we can be reborn someday.’

"Can I see Roa again?"

‘I don’t know. But it’s not impossible.’

"Okay. Thank you."

If there’s a chance to see him again, that’s enough.

No, I’m very sad.

But if it’s not impossible, I can hope and strive for it.

"I want to see him someday."

‘Yes, I hope you can see him too.’

"Can you tell if Roa has been reborn?"

‘I can’t tell. Sorry.’

"No, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize."

I hugged the black cat spirit tightly.

"Thank you for being alive."

‘Yes... yes... Thank you, Lady Luria.’

As I hugged it, I felt I should give the black cat spirit a name.

Roa told me that I shouldn’t name a spirit until it’s fully grown.

This is because a young spirit can be bound by its name.

And if it becomes too powerful, it might lose control of its power, or conversely, be hindered in its growth by being bound by its name.

I didn’t understand the meaning of being bound or losing control of power.

"Can I give you a name?"

‘Is it okay? I’m happy, but...’

"Yes! Then, your name will be... Kuro.”

‘Name... my name... Kuro?’

"Yes, is it okay? Do you want a different name?"

‘I’m happy. My name is Kuro!’

Kuro purred happily.

"Thank you, for being alive."

‘Yes... yes... Thank you, Lady Luria.’