Chapter 23 – The Catfolk

Read on​ K​at​Read​ingCa​fe

The village on the floating island was incredibly vast.

To get from the southern area, where I lived, to the northern area, where the dungeon entrance was located, it took at least ten minutes of walking. Even considering my short strides, the village was undeniably large.

It felt like a waste of space for a population of around 300. Perhaps because of this, most people lived close to each other.

The most populated area was the northern region, near the dungeon.

Whenever I hurried toward the dungeon with my hood pulled low, the streets were bustling with people chatting.

It was a place where I could feel that everyone except me was gathered.

Next, naturally, was the central area where the cathedral was located.

This area was also home to the U.P. building, the largest organization in the village, but it was quieter than the northern area.

It was a place for people who didn’t like too much noise but still wanted to live among others.

And the remaining areas, excluding these two, didn’t need much explanation.

Since most people were concentrated in the northern and central areas, the other regions were not just quiet but downright desolate.

For me, it was nice to walk around without running into people.

Plus, the biggest advantage was being free from the noise caused by people constantly going to and from the dungeon, day and night.

Of course, this advantage was based on my limited experience and was largely speculative.

Anyway, the reason I’m suddenly explaining the village layout is simple.

“A clothing store…?”

“Yep! You only have two sets of clothes, right? One is the white dress I gifted you, and the other is the basic outfit you were given when you were first summoned to the floating island. So, we’re going to a clothing store.”

“But if I need clothes, I can just buy them from the shop… And more importantly, is there even a clothing store in this village?”

In a place where you can buy almost anything from the shop window, the idea of a clothing store was surprising, to say the least.

But Yuika nodded nonchalantly and said,

“It’s not just a clothing store. There’s also a café and a bar.”

“Uh… I can understand the café, but don’t the shop windows sell alcohol and clothes? I don’t get why someone would open a store for that.”

“But the clothes sold in the shop window are all monochrome and limited in variety. On the other hand, the clothes at the store are more like what we wore in the real world.”

“Even so…”

I wasn’t particularly interested. After all, how could a shut-in like me relate to discussions about clothes?

To me, clothes were just something to cover my body when I went to the convenience store. But Yuika seemed to think differently, and despite my reluctance, she grabbed my hand and said,

“Besides, it’s such a waste for a cute girl like you to always be bundled up. Cute people need cute clothes…!”

“Ugh…”

As an otaku, I completely agreed with Yuika’s statement, but I didn’t like being the subject of it.

Seeing my horrified expression, Yuika smirked and said,

“Hoho~ It’s no use making that face. You already promised to go on a date with me, remember?”

“T-That’s…”

“So, let’s go?”

Her eyes sparkled as she asked, and I had no choice but to nod.

“Okay… Let’s go…”

“Oh, and no robes today.”

“Huh? No robes…? Huh?!”

“Well, it’s supposed to be a date, and it’d look weird if you’re walking around with your hood pulled low. So, no robes today.”

“That’s…!”

By the way, the clothing store was in the northern area. Naturally, since it was the most populated area.

But she’s telling me to go to a crowded place without my robe, which covers my face and body?

That’s… assault. Not physical, but mental assault…!

Even if it was Yuika, I couldn’t accept that. I quickly clung to her and pleaded.

“W-Wait…! Can’t you make an exception for the robe…?! I don’t mind going to the clothing store, but please, not that…!”

“…Is it really that desperate?”

My desperate plea made Yuika’s expression turn sour, but I was 100% serious.

Being exposed to people’s gazes without any resistance? I felt like a salted slug, shrinking and disappearing from the world.

Of course, I wasn’t actually a slug, so that wouldn’t happen, but I’d definitely die mentally.

I looked at her with pleading eyes, and Yuika seemed to think that forcing me out like this wouldn’t be good. She raised her hands and said,

“Alright, alright. You can wear the robe.”

“R-Really?! You’re not going to change your mind later, are you?!”

“Of course not. By the way, this makes me feel like I’m the bad guy here. Is that just me…?”

Yuika muttered something, but I didn’t catch it as I rushed to grab my robe.

I quickly put on the robe hanging on the clothes rack, pulled the hood low, and called out to Yuika.

“I’m ready! Let’s go!”

“Really, I don’t get why you’re so determined to cover up such a cute face.

Yuika grumbled but soon smiled and held out her hand to me.

I stared at her hand, then looked up at her with a puzzled expression.

“Yuika?”

“I told you, it’s a date. Holding hands is basic for a date, right?”

“I-Is it…?”

At the age of 20, I’d never even had a girlfriend, let alone been on a date.

Of course, I remembered scenes from anime where the protagonist and heroine held hands during dates.

I guess reality isn’t that different from anime. Thinking that, I carefully placed my hand on Yuika’s outstretched one.

Yuika gently clasped my hand, smiled, and said,

“Shall we go?”

“Okay.”

I replied in a tense voice.

I’d given her my hand without much thought, but feeling the warmth of her hand made me nervous.

Even though I look like this, I’m still an adult man inside, right? Holding hands with someone of the opposite sex around my age made me feel inexplicably shy and flustered.

It’s not like I’m feeling romantic or anything, it’s just pure embarrassment… No, it’s hard to describe exactly what I’m feeling.

I tried to hide my flushed face under my hood, and Yuika tilted her head and asked,

“We haven’t even reached the northern area yet. Why are you already covering up?”

“Ah, no. It’s, um, for a different reason…”

“A different reason?”

“…I’ll explain later.”

I had no intention of explaining, but I desperately blurted it out to avoid suspicion.

Fortunately, Yuika, being considerate, nodded with a slightly puzzled expression.

–

People started appearing one by one as we left the central area, and by the time we reached the northern area, it was packed.

It felt like the entire population of the floating island had gathered there.

“Eek…”

Instead of the inexplicable, innocent feelings I had earlier, I now felt a threat to my life. I clung tightly to Yuika, who let out an awkward laugh and said,

“Don’t be too scared. People probably won’t pay much attention to you.”

“I-I know that much…!”

Even though I was acting like this, I was still somewhat self-aware.

I knew from various stories that people were surprisingly indifferent to others.

But knowing something intellectually and being able to act calmly are two different things.

Just like someone with acrophobia instinctively fears heights even if they know they won’t fall, I was afraid because of the large crowd.

And that kind of fear isn’t something that can be fixed overnight.

As I fidgeted and clung to Yuika’s waist, she patted my head with her free hand and said,

“If you’re really scared of people, do you want to hide behind me and follow?”

“H-Hide behind you?”

“Instead of looking at people, just follow while looking at my back. Wouldn’t that make you less scared?”

“Well…”

It was essentially the same as what I always did—walking with my hood pulled low, staring at the ground.

Except this time, instead of the ground, I’d be following someone’s back.

I nodded cautiously, and Yuika let go of my hand and moved me behind her.

Then, she took my hand again and turned to smile at me.

“Now you can’t see anyone, right?”

“Yeah…”

Indeed, all I could see was her back. If I turned my head, I might see people, but I kept my hood pulled low and stared straight ahead.

Yuika started moving slowly, and as I followed her, the fear I’d felt earlier strangely disappeared.

I quietly spoke as I followed Yuika’s back.

“…Thank you, Yuika.”

“Huh? For what?”

“Just… for caring about me, even though it must be bothersome.”

“Don’t say that. I’ve never once thought you were bothersome or that I was just being nice.”

“But…”

I tried to respond, but Yuika’s gentle squeeze on my hand made me shut my mouth.

“If anything, I should be thanking you. You knew you’d be scared, but you still followed my selfish request.”

Yuika turned her head to look at me as she said this.

“And, this outing is purely because I wanted to. No matter how nosy I am, I wouldn’t waste time on someone I didn’t like. I’m doing this because I like you.”

“R-Really…”

“So don’t say things like I’m just being nice or that I’m bothered. That’s absolutely not the case. Got it?”

“…Okay.”

At Yuika’s sincere words, I hesitated before finally responding.

If only someone like Yuika had been in my past.

Would I have turned out differently?

“We’re here.”

Yuika stopped walking, and I peeked out from beside her to see a large sign with the store’s name.

“MEOW… Meow? The store name is interesting…”

“Yep. The store owner is a catfolk.”

“Catfolk… Like a cat person?”

“But not your average cat.”

What does she mean by not an average cat?

I followed Yuika inside with a puzzled expression.

And soon, I understood what she meant.

“Ah, ah…”

“Haaam… Customers?”

The figure curled up on the counter stretched, revealing well-defined muscles.

The owner was about as tall as Ulrika. Their slightly tanned skin and fierce eyes gave off a rugged impression, and their short, cropped hair added to their strong aura.

At the same time, I noticed the round ears and tail covered in dense spots and muttered to myself.

Leopards are part of the cat family, after all…

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
I said I would post the chapter at midnight but I was late, sorry…

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Rules of the wild, hunt, kill and eat the girlfailure!