Chapter 58: The Uninvited Guest

Melvin was smiling brightly.

Oh no, I had been so focused on Xavier that I completely forgot the Pope was still here.

This is driving me crazy. Why did he stay this long?

My face flushed with heat, and I fanned myself with my hand to cool down.

“You haven’t left yet?”

Xavier leaned back slightly and muttered in a low voice. His tone was laced with coldness.

“I stayed because I had something to say. But to think I’d witness such an unexpected situation. Oh, Goddess Maha, I serve only you.”

Melvin clasped his hands together and made the sign of the cross.

“Melvin.”

Xavier gritted his teeth. His expression clearly said, 

“Have you no sense?”

“Don’t be so angry. It’s important, so listen.”

“What is it?”

With a deep sigh, Xavier rose from my side and perched on the edge of the bed. Yet, as if unconsciously, his long fingers fidgeted before intertwining with mine.

“Xavier, Your Grace, she’s still recovering. Can’t you wait a few hours?”

At Melvin’s bombshell remark, I gasped and quickly hid behind Xavier, whose ears turned red as he glanced back at me. He stammered out an apology, trying to explain that he didn’t mean for it to seem that way.

“Sorry, Yuria.”

“It’s… it’s fine.”

I tried to brush it off casually.

Even if I didn’t have the energy to do so, I could at least pretend!

Melvin, still smiling sweetly, looked at me and spoke.

“Your Grace, the holy power I supplied to Xavier will only last for about a few dozen minutes. It’s enough for simple healing and detoxification, but that’s about it.”

“Is… is that so?”

What does that mean?

My mind froze momentarily as I tried to decipher his words. Xavier, too, rubbed his chin thoughtfully before meeting my eyes.

And then, simultaneously—

Our eyes widened in realization.

“Xavier, don’t tell me…”

“……”

“The effects of the holy power are about to wear off, aren’t they?”

The mischievous glint in the Pope’s eyes as he looked between the two of us was anything but ordinary.

Suddenly, black wisps of smoke began to rise from Xavier’s body.

His form began to shrink, and in an instant, a faint teal shimmer disappeared downward before my eyes.

“Xavier?!”

Amidst the discarded shirt and pants that now lay like a shed cocoon, a sleek silver-gray cat with a pair of adorable, wide eyes looked up at me.

“Meow?”

“Oh my.”

The towering, handsome man had transformed into a Russian Blue cat.

Xavier, now a cute little feline, blinked his elegant teal eyes in visible distress.

“Myaaah!”

But… he’s so cute.

I felt bad for Xavier, but seeing him like this after so long was undeniably adorable.

The transformed Xavier—now Kiki—seemed utterly shocked, leaping around before hissing furiously at Melvin.

“Hissss!”

“Now, now. Don’t do that.”

Using his powerful hind legs, Xavier launched himself at Melvin in a massive jump, as if he wouldn’t be satisfied until he smacked the Pope with his fluffy paw.

“Your Grace will recover soon, so just stay as a cat until then.”

“Meowww!”

Melvin caught Xavier mid-air with both hands and lifted him effortlessly. Despite Xavier’s rapid punches with his soft paws, the Pope remained unfazed.

“That doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Meowwww!”

And so, a chaotic chase ensued inside the tent.

“All better now, my friend.”

“Hisssss!”

I watched the scene unfold in a daze before bursting into laughter. I laughed so hard that I lost all my strength and collapsed back onto the bed.

Kiki, who had been chasing Melvin, suddenly stopped and dashed over to me. With a light leap, he landed on the bed and padded softly toward me. He raised his fluffy paw and gently placed it on my forehead.

“Meow.”

Kiki’s teal eyes reflected my face.

Was he asking if I was okay?

“I’m fine.”

“Meow, meow.”

He then began kneading the bed with his little paws.

What am I supposed to do with this level of cuteness?

My heart might just stop.

“Meow.”

His rough tongue licked my cheek. Then, with his cool, smooth nose, he gave me a little kiss on the lips before rubbing his soft forehead against mine affectionately.

“This little one has been waiting all day for Your Grace to wake up.”

“Really?”

His teal irises glistened as he looked up at me.

“I’m fine. I’ll be better in no time.”

“Meow.”

He was worried about me.

I couldn’t understand cat language, but I could feel his concern.

“Well then, I’ll leave you two to enjoy your time together. Oh, and just so you know, kissing him won’t turn him back into a human right now.”

“Meow!”

“Your Holiness!”

Despite our protests, Melvin simply shrugged and exited the tent.

Even after that, Xavier didn’t leave my tent.

A couple of hours later, I had recovered enough strength to walk around. I could feel my holy power slowly replenishing from the bottom up.

‘It’s like a car running out of gas.’

But why was Xavier still here?

“I’ll call Rexton to take over. You should get some rest.”

“Meow.”

The triangular fluff of his head shook in refusal.

“I need to change my clothes.”

“……”

Quick as a flash, the Russian Blue cat darted under the blanket, leaving only his rear end sticking out. His tail wagged playfully, and his little bottom wiggled.

Oh, dear God. I think I’m going to get a nosebleed.

I turned away, pretending not to see.

“I may be recovering, but you need to rest too, Xavier.”

“Meow.”

Is he saying he’s worried?

The small, delicate meow from under the blanket made me chuckle softly.

“And Xavier, since it’ll take some time for you to turn back into a human, I think we should call you Kiki for now.”

“……Meow.”

His meow sounded defeated.

“I know you don’t like it, but bear with it for a little while, okay?”

“…Meow.”

His voice grew quieter.

‘Gosh, he’s so cute I might die.’

Worried that I might hurt his feelings, I swallowed my laughter.

I changed out of my sweat-soaked clothes into fresh, comfortable pajamas. The faint scent of freshly laundered fabric wafted through the air.

‘This must be Maya’s handiwork.’

I hope Maya is doing okay. I’ll check on her once I’ve regained a bit more energy.

“All done.”

When I turned back to where Xavier—or rather, Kiki—was, I noticed something odd. The little cat wasn’t on the bed anymore.

‘Huh?’

“Hissss!”

“Where are you?”

I followed the hissing sound to a corner of the tent, where I found Kiki with his back arched and fur bristling.

Opposite him stood a familiar creature on its hind legs.

Kiki was hissing at the newcomer, his teal pupils narrowed and ears flattened sideways.

“Hisssss!”

“Kking!”

The creature, holding a stick of celery it had somehow acquired, was trying to fend off Kiki.

‘Wait, isn’t that…?’

“The raccoon from the cave?”

“Kking, kking!”

The raccoon waved the celery excitedly as if greeting me.

“I thought you ran away. How did you find your way here?”

Overjoyed, I approached the raccoon, who leapt toward me on all fours, trying to climb into my arms.

“Meowww!”

Kiki’s fluffy paw smacked the raccoon square in the face.

“Kking!”

The raccoon stumbled backward and flopped onto its back, its short limbs flailing in the air. After a moment of struggling, it flipped over and stood on all fours, facing Kiki.

“Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow!”

But Kiki was relentless, delivering a flurry of soft paw punches. The raccoon stood on its hind legs and tried to block Kiki’s attacks with its tiny black paws.

“Kiki!”

Xavier, now in cat form, was unusually hostile toward the unfamiliar animal. Left with no choice, I scooped him up into my arms.

“What’s wrong? It’s just a raccoon.”

“Meow!”

Kiki looked up at me and let out a plaintive meow, his whiskers drooping.

“……”

“You don’t like the raccoon?”

Kiki nodded.

Judging by the half-lidded glare he gave, he was clearly displeased with the situation.

“Still, don’t scare it. Be nice, okay?”

I had no idea a cat could have such a variety of expressions.

Kiki gave me a sideways glare, then tapped my arm with his jellybean paw, signaling for me to put him down. Gently, I placed him back on the ground.

“Raccoon, you need to apologize too.”

The raccoon, shaking its silvery fur, obediently nodded.

“Aww, good boy. Did you follow me all the way here?”

I held out my hand, palm up, and the raccoon placed its little black paw on my fingers.

Was that a yes?

“Oh, you’re wearing a collar?”

I had assumed it was a wild raccoon, but it was wearing a collar.

I must not have noticed it in the dark cave.

[Name: Lulu. If you see this rascal, please press the pendant on its collar, and I’ll come to retrieve it.]

“So your name is Lulu?”

I patted the raccoon on the head.

“I’ll help you find your owner.”

Kiki, who had been watching intently, swiped at the collar with his paw as if to snatch it away.

“Hey, don’t do that.”

I gently moved Lulu to the side. Kiki continued to glare at the raccoon, his tail flicking against the ground. He came over to me and repeatedly rubbed his forehead against my dangling hand.

“…Kiki.”

His teal eyes flicked toward me before shifting back to the raccoon. Slowly, he padded over to it and then looked back at me.

What’s he doing? Is he asking me to step aside?

Alright, if the animals need to communicate, I’ll give them space.

I stepped back and sat on a chair, deciding to observe their interaction.

‘I thought he was just going to chase it away, but this is surprising.’

Resting my chin on my hands, I waited. To my delight, the two creatures began communicating using their paws.

“Kkiiing, kking!”

“Meow, meow!”

“Kking!”

“Meow.”

‘What are they talking about?’

I couldn’t understand their conversation, but their animated gestures were so adorable.

‘Xavier seems to be getting along with the raccoon. Has becoming a cat made him more easygoing?’

Look at that. Their tiny limbs are moving so energetically.

‘They must be happy to see each other.’

A smile spread across my face. But my eyelids began to feel heavy.

‘Melvin did say I’d feel sleepy while my holy power was replenishing…’

I started nodding off.

I tried to keep my eyes open to watch the two cute creatures, but my eyelids betrayed me.

“Meow, meow, meow, meow!”

“Kkiiing, kking!”

With the harmonious cries of the two animals in the background, I drifted off into the embrace of sleep.