7 Keep a cat...?




 I woke up with a strange sensation around my neck. No, I was completely asleep.
 I opened my eyes to see if she was okay, and I saw her with one hand around my neck.

Well, I didn't think it could happen.

 I said in a calm voice, trying to keep my voice calm.
 The hand around my neck was relaxed. If I'd really put some effort into it, I would have ended my second life easily asleep at the start of the day.

Anyway, are you okay?

 I called out to the girl who was staring at me with a tiger-like face.
 She scowled for a moment, probably not expecting his words, but quickly returned to her expression and said, "It still hurts a lot, but, well, it's going to heal.

"It still hurts a lot, but it's going to be okay.

"Well, that's good to hear.

 I was really relieved and smiled and said, "I'm really relieved. I'm honestly glad that you saved me because I was trying to save you.
 Then the girl, this time with a scowl on her face.

"Oh, oh ......

 And then look away. Now would be a good time to grab this hand and dislodge it, but I probably wouldn't want to offend her by doing so.
 She pauses and says with a slight flare of anger in her voice.

"You've seen ......?

 Her hand is a little tighter. I reply, trying to be even calmer than I was the first time.

"I needed it for the procedure. I swear, I didn't touch anything but the procedure.

"Really?

"Oh.

 She stared into my eyes for a moment, but then sighed lightly and pulled her hand away from my neck.

"I'll trust you for now.

I'd appreciate it if you would.

And I didn't smell like a person when I lied.

Do you understand that?

Only when you're in a big frame of mind, unlike the canine beasties. You must be freaking out right now.

"Oh, oh, ......

 I was so nervous about the procedure that I was touching myself, and then my lie was exposed at the right moment and I was dead. I feel like I'm walking a tightrope for the second day. .......
 I go through the bedroom and give you a change of clothes.

Put this on for now.

"What are my clothes?

"It was all bloody and sticky and I had to take it off to get it done, so I cut it off.

"...... I see.

I'm sorry if that was important to you.

"No, it's not. It's just a rag.

 After all this time, I turned my back while I wore it.

"You own this house by the way, don't you?

 The girl who was dressed asked me a question, I turned to her and answered, "Yes.

Yes,

"What are you doing here?

The Kurosmith.

"Kurosmith?

"Yeah. . ...... though I'm a newcomer, having just taken up residence here yesterday.

 I wasn't sure how long I'd be living here, but I'll be honest with you here. She probably knows the area. It would be a poor idea to speak poorly.

I don't know if there's a house like this in the woods: ......

 Shit, she knows where we are.

"Hmm? It was there when I came in yesterday, right?

 This in itself is almost a fact. Except that this house suddenly sprang up out of nowhere.

Well, I don't come to this side of the Kuro Forest very often, so I must have missed it.

 "The Kuro Forest". "Installed knowledge" was applicable.
 I applaud only in my mind, but move your mind too much and this thing will notice you. By comparing the knowledge with the terrain, we can get a rough idea of where we are.

We're in the east.

"Yeah. I don't come around much, because I'm roosting in the north and west.

 Good, right.

Every once in a while you run into the big black bear ...... and you're right. Maybe the reason he didn't finish me off is because he knew you were coming.

I see.

 Some of them are that bad. Maybe she wasn't the weak one. Even though she's a tiger beastman, wandering around this forest by herself means that she knows how to defend herself, at least that's not a problem for her.
 But I'm not fully recovered now, and I'm not sure I should be thrown out here. So I cut to the chase.

"I need to talk to you about something.

What

"It's going to take a while for the injuries to heal, right?



"Yeah, maybe. We're a lot tougher than humans, but with an injury like this, we won't be able to hunt or explore for a couple of weeks.

So, why don't you come live here?

What?

It's not like there's anything going on. I've just moved here and I need some help with the forge. You've got an injury to heal, and even after you're healed, you'll need to rehab ...... for a while, right?

Yeah.

And I think your life will be more stable if you stay here. At least you'll have shelter from the wind and rain and you won't have to worry about cooking.

"I see. ......

 She pauses to think. I don't want to say that I simply want to watch her all the time because she looks like a tiger, because I'm sure she'll get very angry if I do.

"Okay. I'll stay here until my injuries are healed and I can move normally. Then we'll figure out what to do after that, okay?

Yeah, no problem.

Well, I'll see you then!

Yeah!

 Thus, my wish to have a cat was probably fulfilled in an unexpected way, by living with a tiger-beast girl.