NOVPUBThe Saint Kray Monastery, deep in the night, had already shed the frenzy of the Moon Goddess Festival. The light of the moon lanterns dimmed and faded away, melding into the vast and dusky Brilda night sky.
"You sure do weigh more than the Cat Boss."
Lanci held the big gray cat as he walked along the corridor toward the deepest part of the Main Hall—the Great Priest Hall.
"Meow meow meow!"
In Lanci's arms, Talia-cat began struggling once again.
She was furious, but she'd promised Lanci she wouldn't speak once they arrived here. All she could do was warn him like this.
Important figures from the Holy Monastery could appear at any moment here.
As per the understanding between her and Lanci, if Headmaster Violet spoke the truth in the upcoming meeting, she would remain completely still. However, should she detect any lies, she would immediately alert Lanci.
"Acting like you're being spoiled, my lovely little gray cat."
Lanci chuckled, cradling the liquid-blanket-like gray cat a little tighter. He tilted his head downward to speak.
"Meow!"
Talia grew even angrier. But hearing Lanci call her "little gray cat," for some reason, her struggles seemed to lose a bit of strength.
If he were to address her like this directly with such closeness, she would surely think he'd gone mad, spouting odd words.
Yet at this moment, with one person and one cat, it felt unexpectedly natural for them to say things they could never have uttered in the usual circumstances.
This was the only time she could hear Lanci call her that.
Lanci truly seemed to have accepted her as just a cat.
As always, he had an uncanny ability to perfectly blend into his surroundings and accept reality at a speed unmatched by ordinary people—a level of adaptability that even now Talia found extreme.
There was no choice but to adapt alongside him.
"Our timing should be neither too early nor too late."
Lanci roughly estimated the time and spoke to the cat.
Violet, the Sixth Army God of Aquamarine, had returned to the Main Hall before the festival ended. Meanwhile, Lanci had lingered with Talia on the outskirts of the Main Hall, watching for quite some time before making a winding circle. By now, it seemed to be precisely the time prearranged by Secretary Nyla.
Just as he finished this thought, he caught sight of that slender, familiar figure standing at the end of the corridor.
"Professor Landry, you're here."
Secretary Nyla had been active around the Main Hall all day. Today, she was also working overtime and needed to stay close to Headmaster Violet.
Now, she was waiting not far from Headmaster Violet's office for Lanci's arrival.
"Miss Nyla, I've truly inconvenienced you—you should've gone home long ago."
Lanci quickened his pace, walking up to her and speaking.
"It's no trouble. Every year during the Moon Goddess Festival, I almost always have to work. Chatting with you and guiding you around is practically the most relaxing task I have—it's not even really work."
Nyla responded.
Entrusted as one of Headmaster Violet's most empowered delegates, she bore responsibility for much of the monastery's logistical affairs.
Having slacked off quite a bit this afternoon, she honestly felt rather good.
Especially after seeing that Professor Landry had also worked overtime all day, her mood instantly brightened so much more.
"..."
Lanci noticed the faint yet mischievous smile that curled at Nyla's lips and hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Workers sympathizing with fellow workers.
He could now fully understand just how happy Tolyado must have been carrying the cat around earlier today.
From that point onward, Nyla's attention had been entirely drawn to the large gray cat in Lanci's hands.
"Professor Landry, you actually have a cat! I thought it was only the Little Black Cat."
Nyla reached out tentatively, intrigued by the overly adorable cat.
But noticing how this cat seemed fiercely vigilant—its attitude changing the instant her hand came near—Nyla promptly withdrew her hand.
Compared to the Little Black Cat, this gray cat appeared to only be willing to stay close to the professor.
"Meow meow!"
The gray cat lifted both paws and let out a protesting call.
Allowing Lanci to touch her was already the biggest concession she'd make. As for anyone else—even trying to touch her feline form—absolutely not.
The most terrifying possibility was Sigrid. Even her human form got hugged and sniffed by Sigrid every day, let alone imagining what would follow if she were in cat form.
"My apologies, Miss Nyla. It's rather timid and likely won't let anyone other than me touch it."
Lanci spoke apologetically.
Were it any other cat, he might've tried to let Nyla pet it.
But this cat? It was his master, an eight-hundred-year-old elder—it really couldn't be touched so casually. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Meow!"
Talia-cat lifted her head alertly and tilted it to look up at Lanci.
Although being protected like a reverently worshipped ancestor felt nice, she was certain Lanci's thoughts weren't that innocent.
"No worries. Last time you let me pet the Little Black Cat, and I was already very thankful."
Nyla responded casually.
In the campus, Professor Landry was almost always accompanied by the Fifth-order Little Black Cat, whether teaching or handling administrative tasks. It was only today that he brought the gray cat along—presumably because he'd lent the Little Black Cat to Elsa and Ursula.
Without knowing who took the lead, the professor and the secretary began walking toward the Principal's Office.
As Lanci followed Nyla along the corridors of the Saint Kray Monastery, staff members in academy uniforms and priests occasionally passed by them.
There were always silhouettes of people conducting closing account work for the Moon Goddess Festival along the hallways they traversed.
The gray cat grew much quieter in Lanci's arms.
Although held by Lanci, she still felt a bit uncomfortable. But as long as this hour was quietly endured, her temporary mission as a cat would be complete.
While Talia pondered, Lanci and Nyla had nearly reached the open, expansive area at the center of the Main Hall.
The emerald-green lawn resembled a whole swath of soft velvet carpet, while fallen golden-red leaves transformed into clusters of bright gemstones, scattered amidst the open-air, garden-like pavilion.
