Chapter 10

I am strong. Rather, more accurately, I once was strong. I was born in the darkness. At that time, my body wasn’t massive like it is now, but it was still tenacious and rugged. Even as a newborn, I already possessed a certain level of intelligence. I didn’t learn it from anyone, but I know this dark place is called a labyrinth and that I am a monster. As a newborn, I was attacked by many different monsters: little green slimes, poison-fanged snakes, magic-wielding minotaurs, and small wyverns. But they are all fools. They don’t know my strength. Smaller monsters fall to a single blow from my claws. Midsize monsters are pierced in their weak spots by my tenacious fangs. Everything was more enjoyable when I was an infant. New monsters attacked me every single day. With each foe I defeated, my body quivered with glee. That’s right—even as a newborn, I took a great deal of pleasure in battle. Before long, I began prowling around the labyrinth in search of greater foes. The giant iron beast I found had some real bite to it. It was unfazed by my claws and didn’t fall to my fangs. But that was all. Even the giant couldn’t damage me. From my perspective, it was nothing more than a massive doll with high defense. Once I realized as much, it went down in just a few blows. Speaking of challenging foes, human beings are quite the interesting breed. They call themselves adventurers… They are a race more intelligent than monsters and even on par—no, far beyond myself. They’re weak when alone, but they use shields, swords, magic, and traps as they try to toy with me. However, they’re just as foolish. If they possess intelligence, they should simply run away. Instead, they see me and yell in excited voices, “It’s a dragon! If we take it down, we’ll be rich!” and “Our rank and reputation will be unmatched!” before letting loose a number of cunning tricks and attacking me. I don’t know what “rich” and “rank” mean, but I do know the meaning of the word “reputation.” I couldn’t hold back a scornful chuckle, thinking of them attacking me with fire in their eyes, not knowing of my strength. Yet, in the end, I didn’t care about their reasons—I was simply eager for the chance to fight. The humans’ swords were incapable of damaging my skin. Their magic was also useless against me—too crude to even have the slightest effect. “Mid-level magic doesn’t work?!” “My sword technique is worthless?!” The humans—the adventurers—all cried out in shock as their eyes bulged from their sockets. It seemed these sacks of flesh sorely misjudged their own abilities. They attacked me with every trick in their book, but in the end, my claws and fangs were their demise. It was the most interesting hunt I’d had in ages. But nothing more. I’ve fought a number of human beings since then, but not a single one was able to land a scratch on me. Until that day. Before long, I found myself dwelling in the deep reaches of the labyrinth, wallowing in idleness. I realized that no one could match me, and battle had become nothing but troublesome. Then one day. Thud— I felt something fluffy fall on my head. I have extremely sharpened senses—I soon discerned that a small monster had landed on my head. The tiny monster was looking back and forth, puzzled. It didn’t seem to understand the situation into which it had gotten itself. “Just how long do you plan to linger on top of me, vulnerable weakling?” My voice was soft yet rife with anger. A lower-level monster perching atop my head—the head of a fearsome, strong being—was completely unforgivable. The tiny monster fell from its place on my head just as I spoke. It was an orange tabby cat. Or rather, a monster covered in orange tabby fur. It looked young—likely still a newborn? Even so, it landed on the ground with perfect balance. However, it looked terrified. It must have finally realized its predicament. Nonetheless, my anger did not subside, despite the tiny monster’s appearance. “You have disturbed my slumber…an offense punishable by death—!!” I swiped my massive front legs down toward the frightened creature. “Meown!” As it cried out, the tiny monster—let’s call it the “weakling”—attempted to avoid my attack. Yet, my body is not only gigantic, it’s quick. The weakling’s evasion was not fast enough. It cried out again. This time, its body turned to a dull gray. In the next moment— I heard a shrill, piercing sound. This noise, combined with the resistance I felt, indicated the weakling had activated a skill that hardened its body. It was unable to completely block my attack, though—my claws dug deeply into the weakling’s flesh. “Grrrawww…you’ve taken a blow from my claws and survived. I must compliment you…but this is the end.” I paid my respects to the weakling, because even as a cub, it had taken my attack and survived. But that was the end. I opened my maw and brought my face close to the weakling. It looked quite delicious—I thought I’d devour it. However, that was when I made a huge mistake. “Gwahhhahaaaahahhhh?!” I let out a shriek. A sensation unlike any I’d ever felt before was assaulting one of my eyes. In that moment, I realized I was feeling pain for the first time. Looking out with my still unharmed eye, I perceived a flow of mana and understood. The source of my pain was a clear, bladelike element extending from the weakling’s tail. Drip…drop… Blood was falling from my eye and dripping on the ground. I had been injured by this pitiful creature… Realizing sent my rage soaring to its apex. I devoted myself to killing it, no matter what! The second I did— Whoosh—! A pair of wings sprouted from the weakling’s back, and the intruder flew up toward a massive opening in the ceiling. You dare escape me?! Even tormented by severe pain, I brought my claws down toward the weakling. Yet—my blow whiffed through thin air. Without one of my eyes, my aim was off. “Youuuuuuuuu—gwaaaaaaarrrhhhh!!” My bloodcurdling invective was earth-shaking. I do not have wings. For that reason, I was unable to chase after my assailant. In that moment, I made a promise—if I ever came face-to-face with it again, I would end the weakling’s life. The opportunity came quicker than I expected. Whoosh—! After some time had passed, the weakling came to visit me again, accompanied by the sound of its wings. “Just what do you think you’re doing, feeble one? Even though you successfully escaped me once, you now dance back—and for what?” “Meow!” The weakling gave a short cry before unleashing a hot breath of flame in my direction. “Bwa-ha-ha-ha!! What fun!! I will take you on again, yes. And as far as what you did to my eye—I will make you wish you were never born!” I quivered with great joy as I laughed in the fool’s face. If I can get revenge on the weakling for robbing me of my eye, then I don’t care why it returned. Our battle raged, and I truly wondered if it would continue forever without end. My body became increasingly riddled with small wounds, and conversely, the weakling—no, we’ll now call it “small fry”—was completely unscathed. The small fry had many different skills and, through superior defensive maneuvers, managed to avoid my attacks or completely derail them. It seemed that from our first battle, it’d completely seen through my set of moves. This was no average small fry. I could no longer call it a weakling. What a sheer delight it was—the most furious, raging battle I’d ever experienced! I realized something. I must have been born for this fight. Before long, though, there was a shift in our confrontation. “Huff…phew…” The small fry’s breathing became ragged. No matter what skills or defensive maneuvers it had, its weakness was being a cub. It was out of stamina. “Just give up. You cannot defeat me. Give in to death,” I told it. I planned to obliterate the small fry without hesitation. It would be a form of respect for this puny creature who had managed to survive this long in battle with me. But what is the meaning of this? The small fry showed no sign of giving up. If anything, its expression conveyed sheer conviction. It was in the next moment that it happened. Flash—!! The small fry’s body erupted in a flash of light. When the brilliance receded, a massive lacquer-black feline beast was revealed. “Wrrroooarrrhhh!!!” The beast roared, and my body shook from the deafening noise. What nonsense! There is no way I am afraid, I thought. Then the beast spoke. “My name is Tama—!! I am the knight of the adventurer Aria and an S-ranked monster, behemoth! In order to save my master’s life, I will be taking yours!!” Its voice had changed along with its appearance. Yet, hearing its name, I sensed something. The lacquer-black beast in front of me was the same small fry I’d been fighting the entire time. The rest was a one-way street. The small fry…no—the “Fearsome Cat”—expelled a hellfire from its maw that easily scorched my skin. I felt my life in danger and, for the first time ever, attempted to escape. But— “Bwohhh—!!” Rushing through the flames, the Fearsome Cat leaped and landed directly in front of me as I attempted to withdraw. A massive blade of flame was extending from the tip of its tail, and it was already heading straight for me. I can’t get away! That much I knew. By this point, we were about to clash. I brought my front claws across in a sideswipe. However, as it brought down its flaming tail, the Fearsome Cat twisted its body to the side in a maneuver to prevent any fatal damage. As for me… Slash—!! With the accompanying sound, I felt my face being sliced open from the side. This is defeat…absolute, certain defeat… Before I actually felt any pain, my heart grew heavy with this fact. And I thought…if I was ever to be “reborn,” I would want to mate with a being of this Fearsome Cat’s caliber and produce offspring… With that, my consciousness plunged into darkness. It’s morning. In a room of an inn tucked away in Labyrinthos, a beast—a small orange tabby—awakens on the bed to the sound of birds chirping. Its adorable golden eyes are still narrowed, sleepy. Its name is Tama. It’s a rare creature—an elemental cat—which is a feline species… At least, that’s what its master thinks. In reality, the beast is a calamity-level S-ranked monster, a behemoth—albeit still a cub. In addition, this is its reincarnated form, and it still has all its memories from its previous life. The behemoth is a male. In his previous life, he was an honorable knight, and he’d protected humans from demons and monsters on innumerable occasions through his masterful swordsmanship. Now, however, Tama’s entire body is enveloped in a warm, squishy embrace. “You’re awake, Tama! Hee-hee, you’re so cute today, as always.” Just as Tama feels swathed by this comforting snugness, he hears a voice ring out above him. It belongs to Aria—his master and the source of the doting hug. She has porcelain-white skin and platinum-blond hair down to her waist. Her eyes are cool…but their ice-blue tone also imparts a sense of affection. As an elf girl, Aria’s beauty is unrivaled. Not to mention, her breasts are so ripe and heavy that you wouldn’t believe it. Their bounty is only comparable to “melon class.” “Meowwwr!” Tama mews lovingly as Aria smiles at him and rubs his face on her breasts, fawning on her. In his previous life, Tama was a full-grown knight, and he still has his memories from back then. Now, though, he’s a cub. His young body tugs at the heartstrings, and Aria can’t help but dote on him. “Ohhh… Tama, you are such a little lover boy…!” When Tama nuzzles her, Aria’s voice turns sweet and coquettish, and her eyes light up. Aria loves Tama. She loves him in the sense that one can feel love for a small animal…but there is another aspect to her feelings, too. She is in love with him. Aria is, by nature—Rather, she has somewhat unconventional proclivities. Basically, Aria sees the cub Tama, a different species, as both her pet and a member of the opposite sex. Yikes… I did it again. I can’t help but rub up on her. Realizing that Aria’s breathing has become rough and excited, Tama quickly comes back to his senses and quickly moves away from her. Tama knows that if he’s overly affectionate with Aria, her switch—known as her erotic switch—will get flipped, and she’ll start speeding down a certain path. “Ohhh… But you should love on me even more…” Aria sounds downright dejected. She puts her index finger in her mouth, looking like she wants something, and rubs her thighs together, now fully exposed between her pure-white negligee. The scene is utterly captivating, and Tama’s behemoth is threatening to go full behemoth. If she sees that, though, it will be over. There is no denying that Aria will eventually take Tama’s chastity. For now, Tama controls himself according to his knight’s honor and manages to hold back. After she finishes twitching, Aria sighs lightly and speaks to Tama. “Mmmm…phew… Okay, I guess I can hold off, too. Should we get ready to go out?” “Meow—!!” Aria begins shuddering ever so slightly, then lets out a small breath before addressing Tama. That trembling she did just now… Was that…? Tama wonders, but he pretends like he didn’t see anything and answers Aria excitedly. Today, Tama and Aria are planning to go on a picnic in a nearby forest. It’s the last day of their rest and relaxation. Tomorrow, Aria intends to resume her occupation as an adventurer. Just one month ago, Aria was infected by poison in her battle with a demon and was on the verge of death. Thanks to Tama, she acquired the source of the only antidote—an earth dragon’s eye—and managed to survive. Regardless, the poison ravaged her body and greatly damaged her endurance and strength. She was simply unable to fight in that state. That’s why, for the past month, she pledged to devote herself to eating well and regaining her strength. “Okay—first, I’ll change!” Aria begins taking off her snowy negligee, exposing her bare skin. Hmm. My master is as gorgeous as ever. Aria’s thin arms and legs—and perfectly tight waist—are porcelain white. Her twin peaks, only describable as melon-size, are constrained by a black bra, and her soft posterior is ensconced in a black thong. Though Aria is every bit a wholesome elf girl, the design of her underwear is provocative. The stark gap between her personality and this appearance is absolutely bewitching, but before Tama can become fully licentious, he is absolutely dumbstruck by her pure beauty. Ooh… Tama can’t keep his eyes off my body… It makes me throb when he does that… Aria is getting all hot and bothered yet again by Tama’s gaze…but Tama doesn’t realize it. “Okay, now it’s time for you to change, too, Tama!” Aria has outfitted herself in a stark white blouse and a black skirt, both with slight frills—you might call this her “virgin killer” outfit. She turns to Tama and smiles, holding a piece of clothing in her hand. A few minutes later… “Ooooh!! Soooo cute!” “Meow…” This garb is a disgrace. Aria sounds beyond elated, while Tama is clearly not having it. Tama is now dressed in an article of feline wear—a light-blue fabric with stark white frills. It’s a gothic dress for cats. On the inside, Tama is a proud knight, and here he’s being made to sport a cat dress… For Tama, this is a disgrace. It’s too bad. Tama is absolutely adorable, and paired with his cuteness, the dress couldn’t suit him any better. What’s more, Aria paid a hefty price having this piece custom-made at a garment shop in Labyrinthos. When she saw the finished product, her expression was one of true happiness. Seeing this, there was no way that Tama could refuse putting it on for her. Boing—! Tama leaps onto Aria’s breasts, and she holds him tight, beaming from ear to ear as she leaves the inn. “Look, I found some blackberries!” Shortly after arriving at their forest destination, Aria discovers a patch of ripe blackberries. “What great timing. Let’s take some and eat them for dessert after our picnic!” “Meown—!!” Hearing the word picnic, Tama regains some pep in his step, having been dejected from being made to wear his female cat dress. Aria collects some blackberries and finds a convenient place to sit down before opening the basket she’s brought along. It contains sandwiches the innkeeper made. “Okay, Tama, open wide!” “Meow—” Aria pushes one of the sandwiches toward Tama. He opens his tiny mouth and chomps down on it. Oh! This is delicious, absolutely delectable. Tama’s golden eyes grow wide. The sandwiches contain fresh lettuce, smoked chicken, and a special sauce. The taste of the sweet lettuce, umami-rich chicken, and slightly spicy sauce has Tama quite ravenous. “Hee-hee, that’s a good boy. ” Aria smiles lovingly at him and grabs another sandwich in her other hand to take a bite. As Aria eats, Tama realizes she has sauce on her mouth. Hmm? Master, you have sauce on the side of your mouth. Tsk… Boing—! Tama leaps effortlessly and lands silently on Aria’s shoulder. “What’s going on, Tama?” After he suddenly leaps onto her, Aria looks at Tama quizzically. Tama then leans toward her lips…and licks her with his tiny tongue. In the past month, while Aria has been quite weak, Tama’s become a bit overprotective of her. When she washes her face, he’ll bring her a towel, tending to Aria and her needs whenever possible. Just now, he again took care to groom Aria’s face. Aria, realizing that Tama jumped on her to lick the spot on her mouth clean, laughs quietly and says, “That tickles… Thank you. You are so sweet, Tama. I can’t thank you enough for saving my life twice—well, at the very least, once…” When she encountered a goblin mage in the labyrinth, Tama saved her from mortal danger. She was also thanking him for defeating an earth dragon to collect its eye, the only known antidote for the demon poison that ravaged her body. Aria said “at the very least, once…” because she doesn’t have proof that Tama actually did the latter. No, it is I who cannot thank you enough. If you hadn’t saved me when I was injured in the labyrinth, my life would be very different. Tama is immensely grateful for Aria, because when he had just reincarnated, the earth dragon had dealt him an almost fatal blow, and Aria had saved him. This is why Tama has pledged his allegiance to Aria and devoted himself as her knight. “Meown—!!” “Ooh, Tama, that’s so ticklish.” Tama is rubbing his head against Aria’s cheek in an expression of thanks. She complains that it’s ticklish, but she looks delighted as she strokes Tama lovingly. The bond between cat and elf girl has deepened even further today. Midnight, on the day of the picnic: “Meown, meown, meown— ” Tama is in high spirits as he takes a solo stroll through Labyrinthos. When Aria sleeps, she leaves the window in her room open a crack and lets Tama come and go as he pleases. From time to time, Tama slips into the darkness and enjoys a midnight walk. He’s in high spirits due to the satisfying picnic they had that afternoon. Mm, the city is definitely looking great tonight. As he trots along, Tama thinks about how exceptionally beautiful Labyrinthos is. At night, the streetlights powered by magic that line the city roads give off an orange glow, lighting up the cobblestone streets, the stone homes, and the water running in the canals. The entire city seems so welcoming. Even though it’s midnight, a number of couples are seated along the canals shoulder to shoulder, taking in the resplendent cityscape. The streetlights in Labyrinthos were installed by the lords of the city, the Marquis Estate, to ensure public order. “Oh? Is that you, Tama?” “Wow, rare to see you at this time of night. Out for a stroll?” As Tama walks toward the north end of the city, two men in armor and helmets appear. One has close-cropped hair and is wearing light armor, while the other is a lizard man wearing heavy gear. These are Danny, second in command of the knights’ guard, and the knight Howard. Tama gives a hearty meow in greeting, as if to say Good evening! to the pair of men. “Nothing wrong with a stroll, but don’t stay out too long, okay? If you don’t remain close to Aria, she’ll get sad in a heartbeat.” “That’s right. A knight must never cause his master to lament.” Danny stoops low to pet Tama as the officer offers this warning. Howard agrees with the sentiment, taking some portable provisions in the form of jerky from his chest pocket and tearing them into strips before giving a bit to Tama. Of course. Danny, Howard, I would never, ever cause my master sorrow! Tama stuffs his cheeks with the jerky from Howard and nods repeatedly in response. “Heh-heh, from the look of it, there’s no problem here.” “Yes. He’s a genuinely intelligent cat.” Apparently satisfied with Tama’s response, the two men turn in the direction from which Tama came and disappear into the distance. Tama hears them saying, “Ahhh, finally time to change shifts,” and realizes that the pair are on night patrol. Hmmmm. I got a midnight snack, so maybe I should be on my way, too. I want to get back before my master awakens. Tama audibly swallows the jerky and sprints off to one location in particular. The labyrinth—it’s been quite some time. Tama stands in the darkness. Rocky crags spread in every direction from this bone-chilling place… This is the labyrinth, a den of monsters. Tama didn’t leave home just for a midnight stroll. He’s come this far with a specific objective in mind. Just what is it? Checking his current status will be the quickest way to understand. Name: Tama Type: : Behemoth (cub) Innate Skills: Elemental Howl, Skill Absorb, Elemental Tail Blade, Divine Lion Protection Absorbed Skills: Storage, Poison Fang, Flight, Fireball, Icicle Lance, Iron Body, Summon Tentacle, Endless Mucus Blast, Crossbreed, Dragon Fang, Dragon Claw First, evolution possible has disappeared from the bottom of Tama’s status. For some unknown reason, since defeating the earth dragon a month earlier, the words have vanished. Hmm. Evolution isn’t appearing on my status today, either… No worries, I have other plans anyway. There’s nothing more reassuring than being able to use Evolution when the going gets rough. Yet, there’s no helping the fact it’s not here. Tama is disappointed, but he changes his perspective and focuses his attention elsewhere. A new innate skill, Divine Lion Protection, and the absorbed skills Dragon Fang and Dragon Claw. I wonder what those are… Tama ponders as he stares at the skill names. He noticed Divine Lion Protection a few days after defeating the earth dragon. Dragon Fang and Dragon Claw are skills he gained after sneaking out to take a bite of the earth dragon’s corpse during the few days Aria spent recovering in Renald. Okay, let’s start by trying out these absorbed skills… Oh, and there’s a perfect test subject. Tama has come to the labyrinth to see the effects of his newly acquired skills. Starting tomorrow, he’ll resume adventuring with Aria, so this is his best opportunity to experiment. Moments earlier, a grotesque figure appeared in front of Tama screeching, “Gugi—!!” It has green skin and is no taller than a child, with short horns protruding from its head like a miniature demon—this is a goblin, an E-ranked monster. Seeing Tama, the goblin raises its shoddy dagger above its head and screeches harshly, drool streaming from its mouth as it rushes toward him. Okay, let’s start by trying out Dragon Fang. Against a goblin, even if the skill misfires, I’ll have time to recover. His mind made up, Tama unleashes the skill against the goblin charging him. “Meown!” Dragon Fang! Tama mews adorably as he leaps forward. Judging from its name, he’s predicted the skill’s effect to an extent and encroaches on the goblin with his tiny mouth open wide. However, the moment he goes in to bite the goblin’s abdomen—something happens. Psssh—!! There’s a sharp hiss. Looking down, Tama sees a torrent of blood gushing from multiple wounds on the goblin’s body. At the same time, the sensation of having bitten down hard on something rushes through Tama’s jaw. Given the state of the goblin in front of him and the way his jaw feels, Tama realizes what has happened. Dragon Fang…what a terrifying skill! I can’t believe it simulates the actual phenomenon of biting into flesh… Tama is astonished. Using the power of mana, the Dragon Fang skill creates a massive, gaping jaw in midair, linked to the movement of his own mouth, allowing him to go in for a powerful bite attack. This is certainly a skill worthy of being obtained by taking a bite from an S-ranked monster. It’s not quite as powerful as Elemental Howl or Elemental Tail Blade, but unlike those, it doesn’t require charging up or direct manipulation, making it quite convenient. I will use it accordingly. An experienced knight, Tama understands the characteristics of Dragon Fang immediately, deciding exactly when and how he will employ it. Okay, next up is Dragon Claw… Or it should be, but I think I should test the skill’s effect on a midsize monster or larger. I’ll delve a bit deeper into the labyrinth. The little behemoth had originally intended to enter the labyrinth only to test his skills, but seeing that they are much more powerful than he imagined, the knight within him is exhilarated. Compelled by an impetus to take on an even greater foe, Tama ventures farther into the monsters’ den. “Bu-hiiiiiiiiii—!” On the third level of the labyrinth, a monster with a pig face—an orc—appears, accompanied by its moronic squeal. Upon seeing Tama, it launches into its boorish, loud advance. Okay, time to test out my next skill. Keeping his eye on the approaching orc, Tama prepares to test his second newly acquired skill. He’s already vanquished two orcs using Dragon Fang, both of which went down in a single blow. The skill gleaned from the S-rank monster is very strong. Now that he understands its power and usability, Tama is ready to test the effects of his next skill. “Meow—!” Eat this—Dragon Claw! With a miniature roar, he rips down on the encroaching orc with his right front paw. “Bu-gyaaaaa—!” The orc’s bloodcurdling scream echoes through the labyrinth. Seeing Dragon Fang’s effects, Tama had already assumed how Dragon Claw would work to an extent. And he was right. Before his front paw actually connects with the orc’s body, four thick claw marks rip into the creature, and a massive amount of blood erupts from them. The sensation of having hit something hard lingers in Tama’s paw. The effects of Dragon Claw are similar to Dragon Fang—a gigantic claw is manifested in the air through the power of mana. Linked to the movement of his own arm, it allows him to unleash an attack. Mm—this skill is supremely useful as well. With this, I can now employ a powerfully balanced five-tiered attack pattern: bite, scratch, howl, tail blade, and magic. Tama nods emphatically before the orc, which has collapsed in a heap from intense pain and blood loss. The little behemoth licks his front paw and grooms his face. Okay, time to test out my last new skill, Divine Lion Protection. Tama has used Dragon Claw to dispatch a number of orcs and ropers with a single blow to each and has now arrived at the fifth level of the labyrinth. He surveys the area to make sure there aren’t any monsters around before activating his innate skill Divine Lion Protection. Unlike Dragon Fang and Dragon Claw, he has no idea what Divine Lion Protection will entail from its name alone. Realizing that using the skill when pitted against an actual enemy in the fifth level could be dangerous, Tama has decided to activate his skill now, even though it may not connect with anything. Here we go! Divine Lion Protection!! Tama incants the spell in his mind. And then… Flash—!! His body is enveloped in a bright golden light, and a hot sensation erupts from deep within his core. Tama then realizes that a number of statuses are being bestowed on his body simultaneously. The innate skill Divine Lion Protection grants a plethora of superior benefits, among them: increased stamina, increased defense, poison resistance, flame resistance, ice resistance, and shock resistance. Tama also understands that these effects apply not only to him but to those around him as well. What a magnificent skill. Activating it before battle will allow me to protect my master in the face of enemies who use poison, like the nefarious Beryl. It is certainly a divine form of protection, just like the name says! As Aria’s pet (knight), having a number of ways to keep her as safe as possible is always welcome. In reality, the skill Divine Lion Protection appeared after Tama failed to protect Aria. He’d prayed for a means to defend her, and the skill became manifest alongside his evolution. “Mwooohhh—” As Tama sits astonished by the power of Divine Lion Protection, a monster appears from the rocky shadows, grunting. It’s a demi-human bovine beast—a minotaur. It’s holding a giant ax in one hand and glaring at Tama with blood surging in its eyes. It definitely wants to eat this feline morsel whole. Maybe I should use Dragon Claw… No, I should see just how powerful the effects of Divine Lion Protection really are. As the minotaur approaches him, Tama makes up his mind and wiggles his kitty butt back and forth, ready to strike at any moment… Thwomp! He then kicks off the ground and flies forward with lightning speed—he’s like a bullet as he races toward the minotaur’s abdomen and bashes into it headfirst. “Mwooohhh—?!” The minotaur cries out in agony and doubles over, clutching its stomach. No surprise, given Tama’s velocity. On the other hand, how did Tama fare from the blow? It…doesn’t hurt? He’s standing next to the minotaur, slightly bewildered. He expected to take the same amount of damage as the minotaur, having blasted full tilt into its rock-hard stomach. To his surprise, however, Tama feels no pain whatsoever. Initially puzzled by this, he soon recalls the effects of the divine protection bestowed upon him, and his bewilderment ceases. That’s right! Divine Lion Protection also has the effect of greatly enhancing defenses. But I didn’t think it would be this much… This is a truly reassuring skill. Tama is blown away by the powerful effects of Divine Lion Protection, although currently they’re benefiting only him. If he uses it in tandem with the defensive skill Iron Body, he’ll undoubtedly become covered in rigid, strong defensive armor… His thoughts are filled with the possibilities. No, no—this is no good. I’m still in the middle of battle. I need to finish this beast off. Tama returns his attention to the minotaur, crying out in pain, and brings up one of his front paws, mewing loudly. He’s activated his absorbed skill Dragon Claw. A massive gash erupts from the minotaur’s head to its abdomen, and fresh blood spews. The minotaur falls silently to the ground. Now that I’ve tested out all my new skills, it’s about time I return to my master’s side. Tomorrow, Aria will resume her activities as adventurer. If possible, Tama wants to return to her before morning. Just as he was thinking as much— “I’ve finally found you, Fearsome Cat!” Tama hears the words ring in his ears. “Meown?!” Who’s there? Tama whips around and assumes battle position. Looking in the direction of the voice, he finds…a beautiful girl, all alone. Her sharp eyes are golden in color and her long, disheveled hair is flaxen. She’s wearing only a single tattered tunic for clothing. The thin fabric barely covers her large breasts and proportionate, thick thighs. Why the hell is she down here in the labyrinth, looking like that? And did she just call me “Fearsome Cat”? This… I’ve felt this feeling…somewhere before… Tama is absolutely bewildered at the girl’s sudden appearance. At the same time, he’s experiencing powerful déjà vu. Paying him no regard, the girl in the tattered tunic says, “Well, well, Fearsome Cat, I see you’ve turned back into your younger form. No matter. More importantly…” At this, the girl suddenly rushes toward Tama, screaming, “Come, Fearsome Cat! You must copulate with meeeeeeeeeee!!” “Meowwwwwwn!!” Oh god, she’s a deviant, just like master! Tama has no idea who this girl is, but he does know she’s totally insane! Having reached this conclusion, when the girl approaches him, he decides to make a break for it. “Meown—!” Phew, looks like I managed to shake her off my tail. The second layer of the labyrinth—Tama hides behind a rock outcropping and sighs quietly. His face is worn with intense exhaustion. As it should be—his cat-and-mouse theater with the girl in the tattered tunic went on for close to an hour. The entire time, she complained, “Why do you run from me, Fearsome Cat?” and “Please! I need your seed!”—a litany of incomprehensible nonsense as she chased after him. To make matters worse, she was inexplicably fast. Even as a cub, Tama is quite quick, but she continually caught up with him easily. Realizing that she was definitely close to catching him, Tama switched his escape plan from an all-out dash to a back-and-forth scramble employing feints behind the rock outcroppings. He then traveled a highly dangerous route that directly connects the fifth and second levels of the labyrinth and somehow managed to escape her. “Where are youuuuuu, Fearsome Cat—?! Copulate with meeeeeee—!!” Her voice reverberates from the depths of the mazelike tunnels. Oh shit—if I stay here, she’ll find me for sure! I have to get out of here! Without a chance to properly catch his breath, Tama jogs for the exit. Somehow, he escapes without the girl spotting him again. “Meown—!” Uggghhh, that was terrifying, master… Tama has made his way back to Aria’s room. After the horrific experience of being chased by a mysterious girl demanding his chastity, he dives right into the middle of Aria’s bed without thinking twice. Although he was a full-grown knight in his previous life, now Tama is just a behemoth cub. He’s controlled by the emotions of his young body and soon begins fawning against and cuddling his master, Aria, without a second’s hesitation. That comes with the territory of reincarnation. Squeeze— A warm, soft sensation accompanied by a sweet fragrance envelops Tama as he dives into the bed. “Hee-hee… Tama, you’re so soft and cuddly—it feels amazing.” Aria’s voice. She’s still sleepy as she softly embraces the kitten now ensconced in the covers. Phew… Being between my master’s breasts is so soothing… Although he was tense from his recent terror, now wrapped in Aria’s soft warmth and smelling her unique maternal, sweet scent, Tama naturally loosens up. But really, who was that girl? She was screaming that she wants my seed…and there was something vaguely familiar about her… Even in between Aria’s breasts, the little behemoth can’t help but think of the gorgeous mystery girl. Regardless, Tama is very tired. Before he can solve the mystery, he falls fast asleep in the warmth of Aria’s breasts. “Meown—!! Aria, Tama, good morning—!!” It’s early morning, and in front of Labyrinthos’s guild, a girl sees Aria with Tama tucked between her breasts, and she waves at them. Her bare skin is amber, and she’s wearing overalls and an apron. Thanks to her outfit, her cleavage and side boob are in open view, and her cat ears are twitching back and forth atop her head of dark golden hair. She carries a massive battle hammer, nearly as tall as she is, on her back. Her name is Vulcan, and she’s a girl from the tiger-eared clan, the blacksmith in this city, and a member of Aria’s adventurer party. “Good morning, Vulcan!” “Meowwwr!” Aria and Tama turn toward her and return her greeting enthusiastically. Vulcan replies with, “Awww, Tama is as cute as always! ” before taking him from Aria and tucking him securely in between her amber-colored breasts peeking out from her overalls. Hers aren’t as big as Aria’s, but they’re still very ripe and juicy. They’re smooth and bouncy, with the perfect amount of give. Ensconced against the warmth of Vulcan’s bare skin, Tama’s eyes narrow in pleasure. “Hee-hee, Tama looks so blissful… And with his new equipment, he’s cute as can be. ” Seeing Tama being held by Vulcan, Aria looks absolutely spellbound. “Tama’s new equipment is supercute, but, Aria, you look amazing in yours, too!” Vulcan assures Aria, who’s still writhing in infatuation staring at Tama. Just as Vulcan said, Aria and Tama both have brand-new equipment. First, Aria’s new ensemble is what’s commonly known as “bikini armor.” It’s the same kind that Keni and Marietta wore when they accompanied her on the previous quest to slay the demon, but Aria’s has been crafted to look even more suggestive. Paired with her overwhelming melons, her current attire will absolutely turn heads. At the same time, the elf is the picture of sheer beauty—not only lust. Her suit is made from the material orichalcum, a rare metal, combined with steel in an alloy. Orichalcum is more resilient than steel and less weighty, with a light-blue hue. Its price also puts steel to shame, and even combined with steel in an alloy, there’s no way an adventurer of Aria’s rank could afford it. However, the young woman recently came into a large sum of money. She received some compensation for defeating the demon Beryl in her last quest…but the largest sum she earned came by way of the trolls that Tama defeated recently. Troll skin, meat, and bones can be sold for an incredibly high price. The knights who’d accompanied her on the quest had passed the money on to her, insisting that because Tama defeated them, she should take it as his master. Using these funds, Aria had asked Vulcan, her partner, to create brand-new equipment for Tama and herself. The orichalcum-alloy bikini armor is a translucent shade of silver-blue, matching her porcelain-white skin and platinum-blond hair perfectly, amplifying her beauty even further. Her appearance resembles a Valkyrie from the world of mythology. Above all, Aria’s bikini armor doesn’t hinder the effects of her innate skill, Acceleration. That said, her equipment now includes gauntlets and leggings, which her previous outfit did not, allowing for improved defenses as well—truly an incredible piece of craftsmanship. The bikini armor full set includes shoulder flaps, gauntlets, and high leggings, all created from the orichalcum alloy. Previously, Aria wore gloves and high boots to prevent her movement from being impeded, but thanks to how light orichalcum is, she was able to increase the number of defensive armaments she has equipped. Brand-new defensive equipment isn’t Aria’s only new gear. She has new weapons, too. “This color… There’s no way this is also made from orichalcum, is it?” “Sure is, meow. And it’s not your average orichalcum alloy! It’s mixed with tamahagane! Depending on your skill, you could probably cut through steel like butter!” Vulcan brings out a certain knife and recommends it to Aria as they converse. The knife’s blade is the same silver-blue, but it’s an even stronger hue than Aria’s defensive armament. Just like Vulcan said, this knife has the pure-iron sand-based metal tamahagane mixed in. Tamahagane is said to be the best material for honing the sharpest-possible blade edges. In fact, if an experienced swordsman wields a weapon created with this metal, it is very possible to cleave through steel with ease. What’s more, this particular knife is a tamahagane-and-orichalcum alloy. It has the honed edge of tamahagane but is lighter than steel—it will not chip or nick under normal circumstances, Vulcan explains. Next is Tama’s equipment. Until recently, he had been wearing a helmet and leather armor, but now that’s changed to a silver-blue helm and matching body armor. He looked cute in his former adventurer defensive armament, but this getup, which has him almost looking like he’s cosplaying as a knight, is adorable, too. For Aria, who calls her companion her knight, his current appearance is nearly more than she can bear. Tama is also very fond of his current equipment. As is evident from its color, his new gear is made from an orichalcum alloy, just like Aria’s bikini armor. Since orichalcum is much lighter compared to other metals, Tama actually feels less weighted down than before. With this orichalcum defensive armament, his defensive capacity has increased manifold.