BLACK CAT CHAPTER 75: LAUNCH

　I came up with magic words.

“I don’t care if you have to carry me around all the time, but soon your arms will get big like an ogre’s.” (Nyango)

“Muu…” (Shure)

　I whispered on the way to the guild tavern and after a slight wrinkle between her eyebrows, Shure set me down from her arms.

　I was right in thinking that even though she is an adventurer, Shure is also a woman, and she would be concerned about her looks.

　At tonight’s launch, Serge’s tongue is going to become loose as he drinks, and I’m going to stand out more than ever.

　In such a situation, being held up by Shure and Ms. Leila would definitely cause a backlash from the other adventurers.

　I feel really lucky to belong to Chariot, which is a well-known party in Ibouro, but I would also like to interact with adventurers of my own age.

　If I belong to Chariot, it seems unlikely that I will be fighting together with other parties unless there is a dangerous monster like the Bronze Wolf, and it would be strange to be personally partnered with other adventurers to take requests.

　If that were to be the case, I would have no choice but to interact others at the guild’s tavern, and it would be uncool to be held in a princess carry every time.

　Ms. Leila as well as Shure are quite good looking and stylish, so the blowback against me would be too strong to be able to easily interact with others.

　In anime and novels, I saw in my previous life, there were many female adventurers resulting in a world full of romance and comedy, but looking at the adventurers’ guild in Ibouro, it seems that there are extremely few of them in this world.

　Magic to strengthen the body requires training, and those who can use strong magic to defeat monsters are limited.

　As a result, most of the adventurers are men of large build.

　Inevitably, female guild employees, women who work in bars like Leila, and female adventurers like Shure are seen as valuable partner candidates.

　Since I, as a catkin, have a monopoly on these women, it is only natural that I would be the one to receive the lion’s share of the blowback.

　In fact, if I were in the opposite situation, I’m sure I would have cursed them with my gaze.

　Since I had returned to the base to have a light meal, work up a sweat and take a break, the guild’s bar was crowded with customers ahead of me.

　It seems that they had heard the rumors about the purchase price of Black Orc, and Laius and his friends were approached by people from all around.

“I heard you made a lot of money, Mr. Laius.” (Adventurer)

“Well, we got lucky this time.” (Laius)

“Serge, you made a lot of money, didn’t you? Buy me a drink!” (Adventurer)

“Sure, as long as you want to hear me brag about it.” (Serge)

　Not only men of the same age, but also younger men and veterans, would approach in a friendly manner, and this kind of conversation between men is one of the most enjoyable parts of being an adventurer.

　Tonight, I will be part of the conversation, and I am sure we will enjoy many tales of adventure.

“Welcome back, Nyango.” (Leila)

“Fumya! M-Ms. Leila.” (Nyango)

　I hadn’t meant to let my guard down, but Ms. Leila had picked me up again.

　But don’t worry, I have magic words.

“Ms. Leila, your arms are going to get so thick and muscular like an ogre if you keep carrying me.” (Nyango)

“I’m using Body Enhancement Magic, and Nyango is light, so I’ll be fine.” (Leila)

“B-Body Enhancement Magic, who are you, Ms. Leila?” (Nyango)

“Oh? Nyango, you smell good today…” (Leila)

　Ms. Leila, who brilliantly ignored my question, turned a sharp glance at Shure after smelling me.

　Shure, who received the gaze, puffed out her chest with a triumphant smile.

“Fufu, I washed every inch…” (Shure)

“Heh, then tonight I’ll have Nyango wash every inch of me…” (Leila)

　The hairs on my back stand on end as Ms. Leila whispers in my ear.

“Of course not, I’ll take him back home properly…” (Shure)

“Hmm… But you promised me you’d be my cuddle pillow sometimes, didn’t you, Nyango?” (Leila)

“Meow! Well, that was a figure of speech…” (Nyango)

“Did you really?” (Leila)

“Yes…” (Nyango)

　Ms. Leila has a smile like a blooming rose, but her eyes aren’t smiling at all. There is no way to deny it once she took out a note between her Mt. Fujis.

　I mean, seriously, is that area a dimensional space?

“Nyango, you cheater…” (Shure)

“No, I am not a cheater…” (Nyango)

　Before I knew it, I could hear the sound of peoples’ teeth grinding and I only saw a quiet tavern.

　Many are mumbling and muttering what can only be thought of as vindictive curses.

　Heck, even an old man is crying.

　*Sigh*… This is not the time to mingle.

　Ms. Leila, holding me in her arms, walks with light steps to an empty table in the back.

　We settled down at a seat in the middle of a long table.

“Nyango is the star tonight, right?” (Leila)

“Eh, what makes you think that?” (Nyango)

“I heard that the Black Orc Bode and his men killed were in bad shape. If that happens, the next assessment will be stricter, and the purchase price will usually go down. But you received a price higher than them… Well, if that’s the case, then it’s natural to think that Chariot’s changes had an effect, right?” (Leila)

　I had thought that Leila was popular among adventurers because of her good looks, but it seems that she is also well versed in the guild’s buying process.

　Truly, she’s not just any tavern waitress.

“That’s right, just as Leila said, the main character tonight is Nyango. From the search for the Black Orc to its capture, Nyango and Silent were a duo. Nyango did most of the work after the Black Orc was killed.” (Serge)

“Nyango is super, super, super talented…” (Shure)

　Most of the adventurers present were more incredulous than surprised when they heard Serge and Shure’s words as we sat down at the table.

　This did not change as the conversation progressed.

　Me walking far above Gad’s head to find the orc… And being able to finish it off with just the first blow… And how I hung the orc up by myself and handled the bloodletting…

　All of these stories would be unbelievable to someone who does not know the potential of void magic.

　It seems that people know that I put a stop to Bronze Wolf, but they don’t believe that I, a catkin, accomplished it, including this case.

　Some of the veteran adventurers think it’s a Serge is making a hoax but are glared by Shure.

　Well, more than that, people become more frustrated at me, but…

“Here, Nyango-ahh…” (Leila)

“Ah… Yummeow! What is this, yummeow!” (Nyango)

“This is Polarikke Rui-be.” (Leila)

　Polarikke Rui-be is a salmon-like fish that is half-frozen with thin slices of orange flesh. [T/N: Rui-be or ruibe is a dish of the Ainu people of northern Japan, consisting of seafood that is frozen outdoors, sliced like sashimi, and served with soy sauce and water peppers. From Wiki Sensei.]

“Yummeow! It’s crunchy, and then it’s full of umami, yummeow!” (Nyango)

“Nyango, have mine too…” (Shure)

“Ah… Yummeow! This bird is also yummeow!” (Nyango)

“Fufu, this is a Shibayama quail, the fat under the skin is very delicious…” (Shure)

“Yummeow! The skin is crispy, the fat makes it juicy, and the more you bite into it, the richer the flavor of the meat, yummeow!” (Nyango)

　I was supposed to be the star of the launch party, but I’m in the state of a baby bird being fed alternately by Ms. Leila and Shure.

　The old man who was crying earlier, you won’t get anything even if you say ahhh with me.

“Well, since it’s in this state, I guess people are right to be skeptical, but we’ve already got nominated requests coming in for Nyango.” (Laius)

　When Laius mentioned the request, as expected, the other adventurers began to groan.

　I mean, this kind of situation is…

“Hey, Laius. You shouldn’t have heard that conversation.” (Nyango)

“Ah, when Serge went to go to the sale. He heard there were three nominated requests, Nyango.” (Laius)

“Yes, but it’s all requests for rat extermination.” (Nyango)

　When I revealed the details of the request, the bewildered adventurers showed a visibly relieved expression.

“Oh, even rat extermination can become an excellent request. Besides, I wonder how many of you received a nominated request?” (Leila)

　At Leila’s comment, the adventurers in the group looked at each other.

“Is it rare to receive a nominated request?” (Nyango)

“Yes, it is. If you don’t accomplish a request, the next request won’t ever come. If you do it normally, it’s not enough to risk a nominated request to you. So, if you get a nominated request, it means that the result of the request was exemplary.” (Leila)

“But in my case, I have only completed one request, and my last employer, Mr. Arum, must have advertised me…” (Nyango)

　As we were talking, I suddenly had a question in my head.

　I’m not sure if it’s really possible to get that many requests just because Mr. Arum advertised me.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Nyango. Here, ahh…” (Leila)

“Ah… Yummeow, Polarikke, yummeow!” (Nyango)

　Someone who could advertise more powerfully than Mr. Arum is holding me and smiling, but even if she did, I don’t think she would confide in me if I asked her.

　Well, I’ll assume that she did, so I’ll serve as a cuddle pillow tonight.

　I mean, seriously, I guess I have to wash every inch of Ms. Leila tonight.

　I wonder if every inch of her is just as magnificent.

T/N: Nyango you pervert. Nyahaha! You’re playing with a predator. Good thing you have years of experience acting as a hunter.