episode_0104

The second trial was about stealing treasure from Cat Country.

When the woodcutter visited Cat Country, the cat soldiers were guarding the treasure warehouse carefully.

“How can I get into that warehouse?”

As the woodcutter was pondering, a gray mouse appeared in front of him.

“I will help you, Woodcutter!”

Surprisingly, the mouse was a familiar one to the woodcutter!

“You, how did you come here?”

The woodcutter asked in surprise.

Since it was an orphan who used to visit the woodcutter’s house on the ground to find food, it was impossible for them to meet in Heaven.

“I actually live in Heaven as a mouse. I was traveling through the lower realms and was extremely hungry. Since you showed kindness to me when I was hungry, please let me repay the favor this time.”

The mouse dug a tunnel all the way to the treasure warehouse in Cat Country and stole the treasure for the woodcutter.

– Second trial of overcoming heavenly trials.

Fortunately, the second trial was just about seeing the results.

Since the condition was simply to bring back the treasure from Cat Country by any means necessary, there was no need for surveillance or supervision.

This allowed Sarri to relax and proceed without worries.

If the gods had been watching throughout the test, Sarri and Soo would not have been able to exchange kisses discreetly. They wouldn’t have been able to hold hands and move around freely either.

After walking steadily, a village under the cloud-covered mountain finally came into view.

It was a strange and peculiar village.

Could it be described as a miniature village?

I wondered if the perspective was off because the distant village seemed so unusual, but that was definitely not the case.

There were hardly any houses taller than my height… It was questionable whether people could even live there before it was called a country.

“Sarri? Is that where you went over there? It’s called ‘Country,’ but… there’s not a single person around…”

“That… is Cat Country. If you go there… if you go there, the gate plaque reads ‘Cat Country.’”

Really? Um… Are you talking about that door? It’s too small to be a gate…

Wow… Was that really Cat Country?

With a doubtful heart, as we descended to a place where it was hard to distinguish between a gate and someone else’s front door, we saw the signboard clearly stating ‘Cat Country.’

It was hard to deny after seeing that.

And, peeking inside the gate, the only creatures wandering around were cats…

‘Wait, what is that exactly? This is really strange!’

Well, it’s not particularly strange to have many cats… But why are they even dressed up in clothes and walking around!

Wow… There are even soldier cats?

Look at their serious expressions as they guard! They’re really cute, aren’t they?

This explains why the houses are small! It makes sense that it’s called Cat Country!

With so many cats, it’s not just Cat Country; it’s truly a country of cats.

Oh, it’s amazing.

Even though I thought nothing could surprise me more after seeing Sung Hak, lately, I feel like my common sense is being shattered frequently.

Oh! Wait a minute! I don’t have time to just marvel at this!

Time is getting tight, so I need to quickly make some plans and finish the job.

Although His Majesty probably gave a generous week for the trial period, due to getting lost on the way, it took us three days to get here.

It feels urgent since I wasted a day for free.

Also, I need to consider the time to return. The condition of the trial was not just to ‘steal’ the treasure of Cat Country but to steal it and ‘bring it back.’

To return leisurely within two days, I need to steal the treasure in a day at least.

“Sarri, what do you think? Should we wake up the altar and sneak in quietly?”

“Just.. Can’t I just break in and take it?”

“Oh! No, no! That’s dangerous. The cats could get hurt before finding the treasure.”

There are many awkward rules in this trial, so that is a last resort.

Rules such as never committing violent acts against the residents of Cat Country, not causing harm recklessly, etc., no matter how many safety measures for the residents of Cat Country were put in place….

Even though the residents there might be like that, telling me to worry about thieves and even soldiers not getting hurt seemed excessive, but… well, seeing those cute soldiers and residents, I can understand a hundred times over.

Not only because they are cute, but also because I could have easily wiped out that Cat Country alone, making the deities anxious.

Even if I could do that, I wouldn’t go that far due to my nature.

It seems now that the rules were meant to end the trial not too easily and to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Hmm.. Or maybe it would be okay to disguise Sari as a giant without necessarily advancing aggressively, just to scare away the cats?

Ah! No, that won’t work either.

They probably won’t run away just because of a threat.

If the soldiers looked a bit more relaxed, I wouldn’t know, but look at that! They are on high alert about the cat theme.

Their eyes are fixed, not even blinking when a butterfly flutters by; their vigilance is very high.

Soldiers with such determined looks will surely suppress their fear upon seeing Sari and rush to confront her.

And in that state, even if Sari takes one step, she will surely produce numerous casualties.

Moreover, creating chaos in an aggressive manner may lead to the treasure being destroyed, so that possibility cannot be ruled out.

Since I didn’t want those cute cats to get hurt anyway, it would be best to quietly resolve things in a way that avoids harm to each other.

‘By the way, why are our village’s old men so cautious even towards these cute-looking cats..!’

I should have seen those old men dozing off at night only once or twice.

Ugh.. Humans who aren’t even as good as cats…. It’s embarrassing to compare them, really.

If only half of those old men had let down their guard, I would have attempted the Giant Operation.

“Sari, let’s disguise ourselves as dogs first. We’ll sneak in while the altar is asleep.”

“Got it, master..!”

Bang!

Sari transforms into a dog and snuggles back into my arms, and I wake up the sleeping altar.

“Altar. Altar?”

“(Kuul…. Oh? Kim Seobang, why? Do you need help with something?)”

“Oh! Sorry for waking you up. But aren’t you sleeping too long?”

“(Hehe.. What can I say, Kim Seobang’s arms are too comfortable, what can I do? By the way, why? Do you need my help with something? Should I transform into a gambler again?)”

“Yes, please, Altar.”

“(For my friend…!)”

Bang!

Whoosh!

As the altar turns into a gambler and flies onto my head, and as my body becomes transparent in an instant, I confidently pass through the sharp surveillance of the guards and enter the gate.

Meow~

Meow Meow…!

Meow~

Wow..! Look at those cute creatures..!

Cat Country is truly the best, right?

Of course, the most common breed is the Scottish Fold.. and that one is a British Shorthair? Russian Blue… Why are there so many foreign breeds here?

The mouths remain agape at the sight of numerous cute cats.

Especially those cats who walk around wearing clothes like in some animation, talking to each other like humans…

‘Oh.. They’re so cute..!’

When cat lovers come here, they might go crazy, right? Even just for me, it feels like heaven here.

Ah! This is heaven, right? Heaven… It’s the best.

I carefully wander around the narrow path, trying not to bump into cats, and busily explore Cat Country.

“(Look over there, Mr. Kim! Cats are walking around everywhere! There are cat merchants, cat farmers, and even cat nobles! Ahaha! I love it here! There are so many cute things!)”

“Meow!”

It seems that Hyangdani also loves cute things very much, as she exclaims in admiration, and although Sari cannot be seen due to wearing a hat, it seems like he is poking his head out of the pocket and looking outside in a distracted manner.

“Yeah…. Wow.. They are all really cute. The houses are small too…. Hyunkyung would have gone crazy if she saw this. It would have been nice if Heeseon had come with us too….”

The country itself was filled with so many cute and pretty things that I wanted to come back and visit after the trial was over.

In Cloud Country, with its pastel-toned clouds and adorable colors, the houses looked so tiny and cute….

“By the way, guys, we need to find a building that might have treasures….”

“Meow! Meow meow!”

“Huh? Why, Sari?”

“(Look over there! The biggest and most magnificent house far on the left!)”

“Where? ..Oh!”

It was clear that the place where distinctly different buildings gathered from the miniature houses seen so far.

The buildings were large enough and grand enough for people to enter.

Well, they were grand compared to ordinary tiled-roof houses, but since it’s a country, that place must be like a cat palace.

“It really looks like there might be treasures there, right? By the way, how did you understand what Sari said, Hyangdan? Sari can’t speak in a way that you can understand.”

“(Hehe, I can hear too! Maybe Mr. Kim will be able to do it later? I’m really talented, right? So, we should hurry and get him a mask, right? Yeah?)”

“……No, we’re friends.”

“(Yes yes! Of course, we’re friends! …For now!)”

“Ahem..! Oh! We need to scout! Let’s quickly go there!”

Feeling cold sweat on my back for no reason, I quickly turned around and headed towards the grand building.

Focus! We are in the middle of a trial! We can’t afford to fail after coming this far!

“(Hehehe)”

Oh, that troublemaker. Look at him laughing mischievously. If I keep talking to him, I’ll end up getting tangled up in a weird way, won’t I?

Meow! Meow!

Oops! Lost in thought, I almost collided with a calico cat running around.

“Phew….”

But it seems like a somewhat familiar cat? Or not?

Well, all cats look alike anyway.

I pull myself together and walk carefully, looking around.

And thus, I arrived at the Cat Palace.

While the guard cats watched over the palace gate, the gate itself was wide open, making it very easy to enter the palace.

The largest building in the center is probably the main hall, and….

The surrounding buildings are probably government offices or residences.

What I need to find is the building serving as the warehouse, Ina Tanggo.

“Let’s see… One building, two… three…”

Wow… Even in Cat Country, they don’t ignore the fact that it’s a country, do they? How many buildings are there exactly….

…I guess I’ll have to look around all of them, even if it’s hard.

And from now on, I need to be more careful.

While the area outside the palace was noisy with cat sounds, here, despite being larger and more spacious than other places, it was quiet, probably because it was a palace.

Occasionally, cats dressed in court or military attire silently roamed around without making a sound, their discreet movements and harmony creating such a subtle presence that one could easily overlook them or accidentally bump into them, or even make a loud noise and get caught.

“Sigh!”

So I start searching through the buildings, holding my breath and moving stealthily like a cat.