The Crescent Moon in the Starry Forest is just a Giant Kitten~ - Chapter 13

Priestess of Prosperity (3)

“It’s heavy…”

“Your Highness! Sir Kyle!”

When Emilio and Kyle, who seemed to have warmed up, opened their eyes, Lise exclaimed with joy and peered at their faces.

“I’m glad! Are you both okay?”

“Lise… Are you okay too――”

Prince Emilio seemed relieved as he spoke, then noticed me on top of him and was astonished.

“W-what is this…!?”

“A huge cat!?”

Knight Kyle seemed about to draw his sword instinctively, but he could only mumble under my body. Keep calm.

Emilio and Kyle were both as young as Lise and although they looked weary now, Emilio had a gentle demeanor, while Kyle seemed brighter.

Anyway, if both of them were awake, there was no need to warm them up anymore, so I stood up with my thick four legs.

Then, the knight also stood up unsteadily, readying his sword to protect Emilio and Lise.

But I don’t have time to deal with you. The back I had placed them on, as well as the belly that warmed them, were dirty and disheveled. I need to groom myself quickly.

Sitting on the ground, I stretched my neck and tongue, combing my belly fur. A cat’s tongue is rough and also serves as a comb.

(Since my tongue can’t reach my back, I have to give up.)

I wonder if Harold has a comb or something? Will he brush my wide back for me? I ponder while licking my belly.

While I was grooming, Lise explained about me to Emilio and Kyle.

“Sir Kyle, please put away your sword. This animal is friendly. It may be big, but it’s just a kitten. Moreover, it’s amicable and has brought you and His Highness here to warm you up.”

“Warming…? …I see.”

Kyle pondered for a few seconds and then understood. He seemed to realize that the giant cat on top of him was there to warm their bodies.

Kyle put away his sword, but he still looked at me skeptically. Well, if you meet a giant kitten in the forest, you’d make that face.

“Indeed, apart from its abnormal size, it looks like an innocent kitten. It’s still engrossed in grooming.”

The prince also weakly raised his upper body and said.

“You helped us. Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Emilio and Kyle thanked me, but more importantly, don’t you have a comb? I want someone to brush my back.

However, my thoughts didn’t reach them, and Kyle suddenly turned to the prince.

“Your Highness, are you injured? Are you not feeling cold?”

“I’m not injured. And I’m not cold anymore.”

Emilio said so and loosened the collar of his costume.

The knight also took off his jacket and asked Lise the same question.

“Are you alright, Lise-san?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

“Lise-san called this big kitten here, right?”

“Called… well, we happened to meet. It became friendly after I petted it a bit… Since I used to have a cat in my original world, I’m used to handling cats.”

Lise smiled softly, and so did Emilio, following her lead.

“Even if you’re used to handling cats, even a knight would be intimidated if they encountered a cat this big.”

“That’s true.”

Kyle agreed and continued.

“But what was that sudden cold earlier?”

“I don’t know, but even if we try to investigate, it’s probably futile. This forest is different from ordinary forests, so I wouldn’t be surprised if only that place had a winter climate.”

“That’s true, but this big kitten chased something away just now.”

While stroking my shoulder as I sat, Lise said.

“I thought something was happening when it suddenly started running, and I saw a white deer-like creature in the distance… Maybe that creature was the cause of the cold?”

“If that’s the case, we owe our lives to this cat, indeed.”

Emilio said gently, smiling at me, then continued.

“It has a white crescent moon pattern on its chest. Shall we call it ‘Crescent’?”

“That’s a good idea! It’s a beautiful name.”

Lise agreed with Emilio’s suggestion. No matter who names me, my name will be Crescent.

Then Emilio looked around the forest again.

“Now that the danger of freezing to death has passed, we’re still lost. We have no idea how to get back.”

“Did we enter deep into the forest?”

Kyle also looked serious. He hadn’t given up on surviving and leaving this forest, but his expression seemed to indicate that he understood how difficult it would be.

(But it’s okay because I’m here.)

Once I stretched and stood up, I decided to guide the three of them to the exit of the forest. After all, I didn’t want Rise to die.

The eastern edge facing Toldoii is the closest from here—although even with human legs, it would take about six hours to go straight there, but it should be fine.

Come on, follow me! With my tail raised as if saying that, I started walking briskly. Helping people unexpectedly feels good.

But when I looked back after walking for a while, the three weren’t following me. They just stood in their original spots, staring blankly in my direction.

(Hey, come on! Isn’t it embarrassing to walk alone? You have to follow me properly!)

While meowing complaints, I went back to where the three of them were.

“You’re talking a lot.”

“I don’t understand what she’s saying, though.”

“It sounds like she’s complaining.”

Kyle, Emilio, and Riese said one after another.

Can’t you be more attentive? If I’m not here, none of you will be saved!

While meowing “meow meow” again, I walked back to them, complaining. 

“Maybe she’s telling us to follow her.”

“I feel that way too.”

Yeah, that’s right. I nodded to Riese and Emilio’s conversation.

Since the three started walking behind me, I stopped meowing and led them quietly. I’m kind and wonderful for being considerate to match the pace of human legs.

Then Kyle, with a worried look, said from behind, “But what will following you accomplish? Wherever a kitten guides us, won’t it just lead us to a sunny meadow or something?”

“That might be true. But since we don’t know the way either, I don’t think there’s much difference between walking on our own and following this kitten. Plus, being near this kitten might mean less danger of being attacked by forest creatures. Even though it’s a kitten, it’s bigger than a bear.”

“That’s true.”

Emilio and Kyle talked like that as they walked behind me.

“I’m sorry, it’s because of me that this happened…”

Rise said, walking with her head down, looking apologetic.

Emilio replied, “I don’t think it’s your fault. It was my decision to follow you into the forest, and we got lost because we were swallowed by that black mist. And we almost froze to death because of the white deer. None of it is your fault.”

“But if I hadn’t come to the forest in the first place… If I had understood that this forest was dangerous…”

As they continued walking behind me, Emilio walked alongside Riese and asked, trying to be gentle.

“Rise, you came here to look for stars, right? I was too scared to ask, but why do you want stars?”

With a somewhat nervous or stiff voice, Rise replied with an expression of uncertainty.

“If I collect a lot of stars, I can go back to Japan…”

“Ah, I see…”

Emilio sighed with a lonely expression.

“When I heard you went alone to the Starfall Forest, I thought my heart would stop. I was afraid that something might happen to you. So I hurried here.”

“But, Your Highness… Didn’t you get engaged to Shizuku? I thought it was wonderful that you cared about someone like me, not Shizuku, the prosperous shrine maiden. But when I heard you were recently engaged, I was shocked and wanted to return to Japan. I thought you would still choose Shizuku…”

“Wait a minute. Engaged?”

Emilio exclaimed loudly. It seemed like he was surprised by the unexpected news.

“I’m not engaged to Shizuku. While the approach has been ongoing, I had no intention of reciprocating those feelings.”

“But Shizuku said…”

Rise murmured but then realized something.

“Was that a lie?”

“It was. I’m not engaged.”

With that, Riese fell silent, apparently at a loss for words in response to Shizuku’s lies.

Emilio continued.

“I need Rise. If Rise is okay with it… I want you to stay by my side from now on. Besides, Rise must have made good friends with the servants at the castle, right? They were worried when they found out that Riese had left the castle and gone to the forest.”

“Yes…”

Rise nodded, shedding tears.

“I knew everyone would be worried, so I came to get the stars without telling anyone. Even though many people treated me kindly, I acted on Shizuku’s words alone and ended up causing trouble for you and Kyle.”

“I said it’s fine, didn’t I? I also acted on my own will.”

Emilio gently wiped Riese’s tears with his finger, and Riese responded with a slightly brighter expression, returning a smile. Watching them, I suddenly felt itchy and scratched my neck with my hind leg. Something felt restless, and I strangely felt embarrassed.

On the other hand, Kyle came up beside me and raised his index finger in front of his mouth, saying, “Shh!” What? Why can’t I meow? Why?

“Rise…”

But apparently, Kyle wanted to convey that as long as Emilio was here, everything would be fine. Emilio gently placed his hand on Riese’s back and started talking.

“I don’t think Riese is worthless. Nor do I think she’s just an extra. At first, I just thought you were a pitiable person from another world, but I’ve come to think you’re a wonderful person, kind and a little insensitive, but the kind of person I want to protect.”

“Your Highness…”

Riese looked up in surprise.

Oh? What’s this? The atmosphere seems to have sweetened a bit. Even though I stuck out my tongue, I didn’t feel any sweetness, but… what’s going on?

“Even when I heard that Riese went alone to the Starfall Forest, I thought my heart would stop. I was afraid that something might happen to Riese. So I hurried here.”

“But Your Highness… Didn’t you get engaged to Shizuku? I thought it was wonderful that you cared about someone like me, not Shizuku, the prosperous shrine maiden. But when I heard that you were recently engaged, I was shocked and wanted to go back to Japan. I thought you would still choose Shizuku…”

“Hang on a second. Engaged?”

Emilio exclaimed, sounding surprised by the sudden news.

“I’m not engaged to Shizuku. While the approach has been ongoing, I had no intention of reciprocating those feelings.”

“But Shizuku said…”

Rise murmured but then realized something.

“Was that a lie?”

“It was. I’m not engaged.”

With that, Riese fell silent, apparently at a loss for words in response to Shizuku’s lies.

Emilio continued.

“I need Rise. If Rise is okay with it… I want you to stay by my side from now on. Besides, Riese must have made good friends with the servants at the castle, right? They were worried when they found out that Rise had left the castle and gone to the forest.”

“Yes…”

Rise nodded, shedding tears.

“I knew everyone would be worried, so I came to get the stars without telling anyone. Even though many people treated me kindly, I acted on Shizuku’s words alone and ended up causing trouble for you and Kyle.”

“I said it’s fine, didn’t I? I also acted on my own will.”

Emilio gently wiped Riese’s tears with his finger, and Riese responded with a slightly brighter expression, returning a smile. Watching them, I suddenly felt itchy and scratched my neck with my hind leg. Something felt restless, and I strangely felt embarrassed.

On the other hand, Kyle came up beside me and raised his index finger in front of his mouth, saying, “Shh!” What? Why can’t I meow? Why?

“Rise…”

But apparently, Kyle wanted to convey that as long as Emilio was here, everything would be fine. Emilio gently placed his hand on Riese’s back and started talking.

“I don’t think Rise is worthless. Nor do I think she’s just an extra. At first, I just thought you were a pitiable person from another world, but I’ve come to think you’re a wonderful person, kind and a little insensitive, but the kind of person I want to protect.”

“Your Highness…”

Rise looked up in surprise.

Oh? What’s this? The atmosphere seems to have sweetened a bit. Even though I stuck out my tongue, I didn’t feel any sweetness, but… what’s going on?