Chapter 301: Sky Mountains (7)

Song Ha-Eun stared blankly with her mouth agape. “What the hell?”

A talking cat? Of course, they had encountered plenty of bizarre creatures, enough that a talking cat wouldn’t be the strangest thing. However, an ordinary-looking house cat speaking felt eerie in a way that went beyond appearances. This talking cat also appeared in the Sky Mountains, one of the three forbidden zones of the Demonic District.

“

Hmm?

Can you not hear me,

meow

?”

“No, we can hear you just fine,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied calmly and observed the black cat.

He hesitated briefly on whether to use formal speech. Considering that they didn’t know if this was an enemy or an ally yet, speaking casually felt too risky.

“And who are you?” he asked.

“I’m Felis,

meow.

”

“Felis, as in...”

“You’ve heard of the Celestial of Felis?

Meow

?”

Kwon Oh-Jin stared at the black cat in disbelief.

A Celestial?

Had she manifested like Vega? Still, she didn’t radiate the overwhelming power or presence expected from a Celestial.

“It’s your turn to answer my question now,

meow

.” The black cat approached Kwon Oh-Jin at a leisurely pace. “Who are you,

meow

?”

“My name is Kwon Oh-Jin.”

“Are you human,

meow

?”

“Yes.”

“

Hmm.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a human in the Demonic District,

meow

.”

Felis circled Kwon Oh-Jin with glittering, curious eyes. Although Isabella and Song Ha-Eun also stood right there, she solely focused on him.

“You smell nice,

meow

.”

She jumped lightly onto his thigh and began kneading his stomach like cats often did, pressing her nose near the left side of his chest.

“And what brings you here?” he asked.

“My Star Spirit rules over these mountains,

meow

. Isn’t it natural that I’d be here,

meow

?”

She wasn’t wrong. If her Star Spirit dwelled in this region, her presence would make sense. More importantly, why had she approached him specifically?

Kwon Oh-Jin reframed his question. “What I want to know is why you came to me?”

“

Ahh

, so that’s what you meant,

meow

.” Felis nodded and gently pressed his chest again. “I saw the commotion at the entrance earlier,

meow

.”

She probably meant the fight against the spider demonic beasts.

“I wasn’t going to bother, but I came to check it out a very nice smell,

meow

.”

A nice smell, huh. Is it the Black Heaven?

The Heavenly Demon had given strength to the exiled false star Celestials, transforming them into Black Stars. If that power was related to the Black Heaven, then it made sense that Felis would be drawn to him.

Come to think of it, Isabella reacted the same way when we first met...

Back then, she also kept tailing him and saying that he smelled good. The only difference now was that it was a Celestial this time. On top of that, Felis was none other than the master of the one they were most cautious of when deciding to cross the Sky Mountains, Behemoth.

“

Sniff sniff.

Yep, you smell so good,

meow

,” Felis lazily said and continued sniffing him. “But what’s a human doing in the Sky Mountains,

meow

?”

“I’m trying to reach the Dragonian Kingdom.”

“

Hmm?

You mean the dragonkin kingdom,

meow

?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know why you’d want to go there... but you probably won’t have a good time,

meow

.”

“What do you mean?”

He hoped she could provide some insight into the Dragonian Kingdom.

“I’m too lazy to explain,

meow

.”

True to the free-spirited nature of a cat, she entirely brushed off the question.

“Anyway, all that sniffing made me hungry,

meow

. Get me something to eat.”

She is a cat.

Her sudden demand for food as if it were the most natural thing in the world was so bold that it stirred a flicker of irritation, but he couldn’t scold a Celestial.

Thinking hard about what a cat would like, Kwon Oh-Jin pulled out a can of tuna from his backpack.

“Then, would you like to try this?”

“What’s this,

meow

?” Felis widened her eyes and sniffed at the can, clearly unfamiliar with it.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“It doesn’t smell like anything. Are you sure this is food,

meow

?”

“You open it like this.”

Kwon Oh-Jin popped the lid and handed it to her.

Felis perked her ears, and her tail bristled in excitement. “

Ooh

, it smells delicious,

meow

!”

As if afraid someone would take it away, she darted in and began devouring the tuna with loud crunches and satisfied munching.

While Felis ate the tuna can, Kwon Oh-Jin and the others exchanged glances.

Isabella eyed him as if to ask, “What do you want to do?”

The situation was unexpected, but he did have a plan. He opened another can of tuna and offered it to Felis, who greedily finished the first one.

“Lady Felis, are you familiar with the geography of the Sky Mountains?”

“

Hmm?

Of course I am,

meow

,” Felis replied while chewing on tuna.

She quickly finished the first can and immediately began devouring the second one he had opened. Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes as he watched her tear into the can like she would chew up the aluminum itself.

If I play my cards right, maybe I can use her as a guide.

Not only did she know the terrain well, but they wouldn’t need to worry about being attacked by Behemoth with Felis around.

The problem is how to win over this capricious cat.

It didn’t seem all that difficult.

“You, I like you,

meow

! Be my servant!” Felis suddenly declared, her eyes sparkling as she hopped onto Kwon Oh-Jin’s thigh.

Kwon Oh-Jin responded with the warm smile he used to wear during his days as a scammer and gently patted Felis. “You’ve got some oil on your mouth.”

“

Hmm?

Really,

meow

?”

“Yes. Just a moment.”

He took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her mouth. Felis purred, curling up comfortably on his thigh.

“I’m full, and you smell nice. I’m happy,

meow

.”

“Have you always been alone here, Lady Felis?”

“I was with Behiring,

meow

.”

Behiring is probably Behemoth.

“Though, to be honest, I’ve only recently started living in the Sky Mountains,

meow

.”

“Only recently?”

“In the past, I couldn’t manifest even in this form,

meow

.”

Before the restrictions of the Law weakened, only beings like Vega could manifest physically.

Does that mean the other Black Star Celestials can now manifest like Felis?

That would be quite a troubling situation. The Black Star Celestials most likely followed the Heavenly Demon who gave them power.

At least, they probably can’t unleash their full power in this form.

Still, he couldn’t be careless. Unlike Celestials, the restrictions didn’t bind Star Spirits as heavily.

“

Pwaaah!

That was a good rest,

meow

!”

After about thirty minutes of lounging on his thigh, Felis suddenly jumped down and looked refreshed.

“You said you’re going to the Dragonian Kingdom,

meow

?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“Then I’ll guide you there,

meow

.” She offered to guide them without even being asked.

He almost couldn’t believe it.

“

Hmm?

Don’t look at me like that,

meow

. I’m not lying.”

“I wasn’t doubting you, Lady Felis.”

In truth, he was. It wasn’t easy to trust a Celestial he had just met, who suddenly offered to lead them.

“I swear on the name of the Celestial of Felis that I will guide you out of these mountains,

meow

.”

Felis looked around at Song Ha-Eun, Isabella, Riarc, and even Poppy while making her vow.

Kwon Oh-Jin knew full well what it meant for a Celestial to swear on their star’s name. The lingering suspicion in his heart faded.

“Thank you.”

“

Hehe

, I can do this much for my servant,

meow

.” Felis wagged her tail happily and started walking ahead.

Kwon Oh-Jin and his group quietly followed behind.

“Kid,” Riarc whispered as he approached Kwon Oh-Jin’s side. “Memorize the path we have to return through. I’ll check if there’s an ambush ahead.”

“Got it.”

Even with Felis swearing on the name of the star, they couldn’t trust her completely. Kwon Oh-Jin nodded and marked the path in ways only he could recognize.

Perhaps his worries were unfounded as Felis led them over the lowest peak in the mountains and guided them toward the Dragonian Kingdom.

“See that path past the fog,

meow

?”

“Ah, yes. I see it.”

Even though it was the lowest peak, they could see a path that wasn’t covered in fog once they reached higher ground.

“Just follow that and you’ll reach the dragonkin kingdom,

meow

.”

“Thank you...”

Kwon Oh-Jin hadn’t expected her to guide them so obediently. He almost felt guilty for doubting her so much.

“I can only enjoy my peace if you all get moving,

meow

.”

Was her time with Behemoth really that pleasant? He still wanted to ask her many things about the Dragonian Kingdom, the Heavenly Demon, and more. However, Felis’s mood could change at any moment.

For now, let’s just get out of the mountains safely.

Thanks to Felis, they got through the Sky Mountains much faster than expected. It would be better to gather the necessary information once they reached the Dragonian Kingdom.

“Go on now,

meow

.”

“Well then, we’ll be off.”

Just as Kwon Oh-Jin turned around with a bow, Felis dug her claws into his pants and held him back.

“

Hmm?

”

“Where do you think you’re going,

meow

?”

What did she mean? She was the one who guided them here, so why would she ask that?

“Didn’t I say I was heading to the Dragonian Kingdom...?”

“But you’re my servant now,

meow

. Send the others on their way and come play with me now!”

Right, things had gone too smoothly.

“Didn’t you swear on your star’s name earlier?”

“I did,

meow

! I swore to guide the ones who came with my servant out of the mountains!”

Felis glanced over at Song Ha-Eun, Isabella, Riarc, and Poppy as if they were nothing more than annoying obstacles.

Kwon Oh-Jin couldn’t help but hollowly laugh. “

Ha...

”

So that’s it... She offered to guide us just so she could get me away from the others as soon as possible.

Now it made sense why the unruly cat had been so cooperative until now.

“You’re going to receive the Stigma of Felis and become my servant now,

meow

!” Felis exclaimed excitedly.

Before Kwon Oh-Jin could even object, Vega soared out from his pocket and sharply glared at Felis. “That won’t do.”

Vega landed gracefully on Kwon Oh-Jin’s shoulder.

“This child has already inherited the Stigma of Lyra. He belongs to me.”

Felis’s expression twisted into a snarl.

“Lyra...?” The black cat bared her sharp fangs at Vega.

Pure jealousy burned in her wide, unblinking eyes.

“Why is the Celestial of the North Star here,

meow

?”