ALL NOVEL chapter 67 - Divine Cat Mii-chan, Annoyed by the Ravenous Horde
67: Divine Cat Mii-chan, Annoyed by the Ravenous Horde
How did it come to this…?
I’m currently in the guild’s tavern kitchen, deep in the midst of cooking.
Mii-chan is perched on the counter, charming the lady hunters with her cute antics. Meanwhile, Perro, lured by the promise of free food, is dashing around serving dishes with the tavern’s waitresses.
The tavern has gotten so crowded that some hunters are now drinking outside. And it’s all Jin-san’s fault. Yes, it’s his fault. He probably meant to express gratitude to the hunters who helped out with today’s situation, but…
“Tonight, there are no rules! Let’s drink like there’s no tomorrow!”
“Oooh!”
Even hunters who weren’t involved in today’s events joined in this chaotic party at Jin-san’s rallying call. Hunters returning from their quests kept streaming in, and with the alcohol running low, we had to keep bringing in more from the liquor store. Although I’m holding onto the money we earned from today’s mission, it’s disappearing like water down the drain.
The tavern kitchen couldn’t keep up with the food demand, so the hunters started ordering from nearby eateries and taverns. The bills for those orders are piling up on me. Will we have enough? I’m getting anxious…
In stark contrast to the lively hunters, the guild staff are working in a somber, almost funeral-like atmosphere. Not a word is being spoken. It’s a sight I’ve never seen before.
Yan-kun, after thanking the hunters who assisted us today, returned home. With his sick mother and little sister at home, he couldn’t join the party. Instead, I made sure he left with plenty of food. He seemed really happy.
“So tired… and so hungry…”
“Hang in there, Perro. Who was it that said hunger is the best seasoning?”
“Perro did! Perro will keep going, nya!”
Perro is so easy to motivate, it’s a real help. I’ll save some fried chicken for you later.
“Hey, Nero, aren’t you going to drink?”
“I’m not drinking. And do you even realize whose fault it is that we’re in this situation?”
“Yeah, well, it just slipped out of my mouth, you know? My bad…”
“I’m also worried about the funds. A third of the money we got is already gone.”
“Haha… Seriously? Well, we haven’t sold the spoils yet, so we’ll manage. And if it comes to it, I’ll just collect from these guys!”
The tired-looking guild master, Zest, came over to the counter and took a seat.
“I wouldn’t mind having a drink myself.”
“Well, if a senior like you asks, I can’t exactly say no, can I?”
I handed the guild master a mug of ale, chilled to the bone using my water skill.
“This is good. Is this thanks to your skill?”
I nodded.
“We’ve decided to send Celtius back to the main branch. He’s been ordered to re-educate under those monsters over there.”
So, the people at the headquarters are considered monsters, huh? Maybe it would be better to hunt them down. Oh, and about that merchant Ebbo—afterwards, he apparently had a little chat with the hunters and spilled everything. He borrowed money from a shady lender, couldn’t pay it back, and then the loan shark suggested this whole scheme to him. Naturally, he was handed over to the guards. I hope he never sees the outside of a cell again!
“Nero, what do you plan to do now?”
“Well, since I took on the role of the envoy, I’ll see it through to the end. After that, I’ll need to talk with Guild Master Serion of the Qualto Hunter Guild, as they were the ones who hired me. I’ve also agreed to be the mapper for the wandering labyrinth that appeared in Quinto.”
“Wait, Nero, do you have map skills?”
“Yes.”
“You really are talented, Nero.”
“Some would call that being a jack of all trades, master of none.”
“…”
Hey, I was joking! Come on, laugh a little! That silence—you guys really think that, don’t you?
“Mii…”
Even Mii-chan…
“Well, being versatile isn’t a bad thing. As for this whole situation, I plan to keep your involvement under wraps, Nero. I don’t want any unwanted attention on you. The problem is that we can’t deceive the eyes of the headquarters. At the very least, they’re going to investigate you, and there’s a chance they might try to intervene.”
“Thank you. I’d prefer to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible… but I guess there’s no avoiding the headquarters’ attention.”
Honestly, it’s a hassle. I don’t think anything will get exposed, but with Mii-chan involved, you never know.
“Mii~”
Mii-chan doesn’t seem too concerned, though. As long as we don’t live too extravagantly, a quiet life in the countryside sounds appealing. But having grown up in Japan, where everything was so convenient, I’m not sure if I could handle it.
If it comes to that, maybe we could escape to Perro’s homeland. They wouldn’t mistreat Mii-chan there. As a last resort, I might have to ask the gods for help. They might have some good ideas. After all, it’s all for Mii-chan!
The wild party eventually continued until the eleventh bell, when the guild closed. The hunters then disappeared into the night for a second round of festivities, leaving behind mountains of dirty dishes and a stack of bills… Almost all the money we had is gone. I gave the remaining funds to the guild master and asked him to pass them to Jin.
Later, the tavern master, the waitress, Perro, and I managed to finish the washing up before midnight. In return, we received plenty of food and ingredients.
When I returned to the inn, Sumire was furious. I had forgotten… The innkeeper had fed her, but she was still angry. Despite being exhausted, Perro and I took good care of her to make up for it.
Finally, back in the room, Perro and I had dinner—or more like a late-night snack. Mii-chan had already eaten at the tavern and was now sitting beside me, licking some sweet bean paste.
“Delicious, nya!”
A mountain of fried chicken vanished into Perro’s bottomless pit of a stomach. With fried chicken in his right hand and a pilaf rice ball in his left, it seemed like the ultimate combination, but it was no match for Perro’s insatiable appetite. Food appeared and disappeared repeatedly, and even Mii-chan, watching, seemed to get a little queasy. The ravenous Perro was truly terrifying.
When it was time for bed, there was a bit of a struggle. Perro wanted to sleep on the bed, but I refused.
Right now, Perro’s stomach is bigger than a pregnant woman’s. If he rolls around, he might crush Mii-chan, so I told him that, and he reluctantly transformed into a cat and squeezed into the carrier bag. Watching him struggle to fit his belly inside was a bit amusing.
Mii-chan seemed a little lonely. Even though it was only for a short time, Luca was with us until yesterday. I gave Mii-chan a tight hug and said goodnight.
“Mii~”