BLACK CAT CHAPTER 71: THE SLUMS

　After returning to the base and finishing dinner, a fierce negotiation with Shure awaited me.

　While I was at school, Shure had stocked up on soap.

“Just quietly take a bath with me…” (Shure)

“I refuse. I want to soak in a quiet place by myself.” (Nyango)

“I have some nice smelling soap. They make bubbles…” (Shure)

“Ugh… well, even so, I’m going in alone.” (Nyango)

“Don’t you want to fall asleep surrounded by a good fragrance?” (Shure)

“I’ll sleep on my own futon today, so that’s fine. I’ve already made it fluffy and soft.” (Nyango)

“Muu, I won’t let you do that…” (Shure)

　Using three-dimensional maneuver using [Step], I escaped from Shure’s demonic hands, which approached me, her hands wiggling, trying to appeal that she can use force.

“If you’re going to do that! Do it outside!” (Serge)

“An opening!” (Shure)

“Funya! Meow…” (Nyango)

　When Serge yelled at me and I was surprised, Shure captured me and dragged me into the bathtub.

　I think I understand a little bit about how cats hate to take a bath for this one moment.

　Well, it smelled nice and fresh and different from Ms. Leila’s place, and I enjoyed the wonderful view and Mount Fuji pillows, but I’ll definitely go in alone tomorrow.

　I told her I’d get my pajamas and went up to the attic and sealed the stairs and windows with [Shield].

“Nyango, you tricked me. …Be an adult and let me enjoy your fluffy fur.” (Shure)

“I don’t like it. Please endure it with your own tail.” (Nyango)

“I can’t stand it. Come out quietly, Nyango is completely surrounded…” (Shure)

“Well, I’m going to ignore it. Goodnight.” (Nyango)

“Muu, be prepared for tomorrow’s meeting…” (Shure)

　The new futon I bought today is fluffy and dry and clean from dust mites just in case, and the new sheets are perfect to the touch.

　I’d like to crawl under the covers and stay comfortable… Until morning, but after listening carefully for any signs of life downstairs, I quietly slip out of the covers.

　What I’m wearing now is not a nightgown, but a black shirt and black short pants I bought on the way home from the academy.

　They are not very expensive, and I am thankful that the fabric is not shiny.

　It also hides my shiny fur, which I brush every morning and night.

　If I crouch in the dark with my eyes closed, I am so dark all over that even those with enhanced eyesight would miss my presence.

　I use my void attribute detection magic to search outside the closed window, and after confirming that no one is there, I quietly open the window and step out onto the roof, trying not to make a sound.

　I also used [Step] to prevent the roof from creaking and making noise.

　I looked up at the night sky, which was covered with thin clouds, and the thin, chipped moon was vaguely visible.

　I crouched down on the roof and listened carefully to see what was going on around me.

　It was not yet late, so I could hear the bustle of people in the distance, but the Chariot members seemed to be in their respective rooms, and I could not hear them talking.

　Gently, I got up and started to move along the roof using [Step].

　The direction I am heading is toward the slums.

　Serge had told me to stay away, but I couldn’t help but be curious.

　I heard that if anyone in decent clothes set foot in the area, they would be in danger of being stripped of their clothes and even losing their lives, but if that was the case, it would be better if they did not know I was there.

　I asked Professor Mendez, Professor Lembolt, and even the man at the store where I bought my clothes about the slums, and they all told me that I should stay away from them.

　I can’t imagine that my big brother, a catkin who grew up in the countryside, would be able to live a decent life in such a dangerous place.

　I’m prepared for the danger, but at least I want to see what kind of town it is with my own eyes.

　As I passed through the warehouse district and approached the slums, the town’s appearance changed drastically.

　There are not many streetlights in the warehouse district, but they are lit, and I can manage to walk around without any light at hand.

　However, the area considered the slums was dark, as if the darkness had settled there, and the air was stale with a bad smell of rotten food.

　Looking out from the roof of a warehouse on the border of the town in the direction of the slums, one sees a labyrinth of shanties.

　The center of the slums seems to be a depression that is lower than the surrounding area.

　Fact or gossip, there are rumors that the slum lords are burrowing deep underground, digging deeper into the center of the already low pit.

　Moving along the border of the city, I found a dimly lit but well-lit area.

　The smell of cheap perfume and cigarettes lingered in my nose. Apparently, this is where prostitutes gather.

　Leaning against the wall, puffing on cigarettes, women of all races were seducing men on the street.

　If Ms. Leila is a rose that blooms at night, this place is like a colony of carnivorous plants.

　I crouch on the roof of the warehouse, casting my detection magic around the area, and watch the street, but all I see are women selling their bodies, men with ulterior motives, and the occasional strong-looking tigerkin or wolfkin man patrolling the area.

　I’m not likely to get much useful information just looking from this side of the street, but the street is brighter than I thought it would be, and anyone with good eyesight would be able to catch me, even if I were dressed in black.

　I was thinking of taking the long way around and sneaking in from a darker area, but I could see lights a little further away, so I moved toward them.

　The light was on, but it was much dimmer than where I had just been, and the faces standing in the street were different.

　The women in the previous place were sheepkin, goatkin, oxkin, and other so-called human-looking races, while the women and male prostitutes here were rabbitkin, catkin, and other animal-looking races.

　Apparently, the women in the light places were more expensive, while the women in the dark places were selling their bodies for a pittance.

　A rabbitkin woman was carried by a fat pigkin man and disappeared into the darkness of the slums.

　I know it is not a problem that I can do anything about now, but a black rage like the darkness of the slums begins to swirl in my chest.

　I suddenly had an idea to create a sound-collecting microphone in the darkness of the slums with void magic, but I soon regretted it.

　What I heard was the laughter of a vulgar man and the screams of a woman, who was apparently paying her a pittance to fondle her as much as he wanted.

　I turned off the sound-collecting microphone and quietly breathed to control my anger.

　I was about to come back out, as there seemed to be no point in continuing to observe when a man walking down the street drew my attention.

　He was a flirtatious-looking horsekin, the kind of guy who might be hanging around the street.

　I had a memory of seeing him somewhere, but I couldn’t recall it right away.

“Hmm… oh, that time…” (Nyango)

　The first time I met Laius, he was the guy who grabbed and threw me inside the guild.

　He attacked me after I left the guild, and I remembered beating him up.

　The horsekin walks over while looking at the street prostitutes with a nasty smile.

　He passed by the warehouse where I was and was walking further toward the darkness, when he suddenly stopped and approached the wall.

“Oh……” (Nyango)

　I almost let out a yelp and hastily covered my mouth with the palm of my hand.

　The horseman approached the thieving catkin who had stolen the bread from the market.

　When I checked his face with my enhanced eyesight, I saw that it was definitely my second brother, although he was dirty and gaunt.

　Quickly, I built a microphone above their heads and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“How much is it, pussycat?” (Horsekin)

“T-three silver coins…” (Fawkes)

“Huh? Three silver coins for a dirty little kitten like you, who do you think you are?” (Horserkin)

　The horseman raised his voice, and the older brother’s body trembled and his ears fell down.

　I could see his furry tail curling.

“Two silver coins are fine…” (Fawkes)

“What? One silver coin and five copper coins. If you don’t like it, I’ll leave.” (Horsekin)

“Okay, over here…” (Fawkes)

　My brother invites the horseman into the labyrinth of shanties.

　I was about to run out and grab my brother and drag him back to the base, but a wolfkin appeared in the street to replace the two of them.

　He had a large scar on his left cheek and waved his arm as he looked around the street and then immediately turned his attention to me.

　The shield I had made just in case made a high-pitched clattering sound.

　It was as if something had been thrown at me, but I couldn’t see it at all despite my enhanced vision.

　I quickly backed away and fled as fast as I could in the direction of the warehouse district, but there was a nasty sweat running down my back.

　I have no idea who he is, but I am sure he is a strong man, Mr. Zeol’s class.

　With a guy like that hanging around, I still don’t think I can bypass him.

　It makes my gut churn to think about what will happen to my brother after that, but it will be difficult to even find his whereabouts when I return.

　Once out of the warehouse district and back in town, I returned to our base after making sure I wasn’t being followed.

　When I reached the roof using the steps, I felt exhausted.

　At any rate, it was worth it just to be able to confirm that the catkin thief was my second brother and that he lived in the slums.

　I gently opened the skylight and entered the attic, and was about to crawl under the covers when I was lifted up.

“Fumya!” (Nyango)

“On a night out Nyango, but I caught you…” (Shure)

“No, there’s a reason…” (Nyango)

“No questions.” (Shure)

“Mya, let go, I want to be alone…” (Nyango)

　In the end, I was taken to Shure’s bed and used as a pillow for the night.