Damned System

Chapter 94. Compounding Interest (4)

“It’s K.”

Since I had understood the characteristics of the Beastfolk, I thought of trying to understand their actions, even if they bordered on rudeness.

However, that was not a reason for me to abandon the familiar ways of humans.

I had just expressed the expectation that if their ways were to be respected, I as a human expected respect for my ways as well.

“Oh, right.”

Whether Horfe completely understood my point or not was uncertain.

Horfe took hold of my hand and shook it vigorously.

“I’m Horfe.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Horfe was a king of a race.

The structure of their power dynamics was unknown, but being the head of a group was never a light position.

‘I can’t let the Beastfolk’s king treat me merely as a catnip supplier.’

It wasn’t difficult to give them what they wanted.

But if I gave in too easily, they would see me as someone they could always take from without asking.

At the very least, they had to offer a minimum of courtesy when trying to obtain something from me.

That way, mutual respect could be established.

“I’m pleased to meet you too. I heard you have something called catnip? I came to get some.”

Having received at least minimal respect, I decided to respond to this impatient, my-way-or-the-highway tiger’s approach.

“I do have it, but…”

I replied calmly and pulled out the last surviving catnip product from the inventory.

Horfe, who promptly brought his face close, sniffed it like a curious cat.

“What’s this? It doesn’t smell,” he said.

Rather than explaining, I opened the plastic lid and pressed the contents with his fingers.

Chh-chh-!

“Hooaahh.”

I had not expected to see such a scene again.

Not only Horfe but even Breche, who had drawn close without me noticing, both relished the catnip spray.

Everyone’s eyes turned to watch these two gigantic tiger Beastfolk as they rolled and reveled in the catnip on the training ground floor.

Finally, as the grown-ups were absorbed in the catnip, Berta, who had been watching quietly, ran over to me with a doll in her arms.

“This doesn’t smell; do it again,” she said, holding out her doll.

Judging by the state of the doll, it seemed extremely worn out.

‘Could it be that she’s been carrying it for days?’

I, heaving a slight sigh, took the doll from Berta.

“While you’re here, take another!”

I suggested.

“No!”

“It’s the same scent.”

“Then good.”

The child, who was about to snatch her doll back with bared teeth, changed her face and lifted her tail high.

‘Simple or honest, perhaps.’

Looking at it closely, it seemed to be both.

I shook my head lightly and pulled another fish-shaped doll from the inventory.

“This one needs a wash.”

For the child, I offered a new doll and skin, while the adults received the catnip spray.

As I was tending to cats of various sizes, a familiar voice called out.

“K!”

Chandler said, appearing confused as he glanced between me and the tiger Beastfolk.

I could read a more blatant inquiry in Chandler’s expression, asking what I had done to make these my-way-or-the-highway tiger Beastfolk become tame house cats.

I shrugged and replied.

“I worked some magic.”

Chh-chh.

“Hyaaah.”

Chh-chh.

“Hyaaang!”

The responses were so favorable that it was unexpectedly entertaining.

The strange addiction made me want to keep spraying.

‘I understand why people keep cats now.’

Although I had no intention of keeping one.

I was already responsible for so many individuals, and adopting a pet would be purely for self-satisfaction, knowing I couldn’t care for it properly.

I tucked the spray of catnip back into the pocket and reached out to lift Berta, who had sat on the ground.

“Hehe.”

Whether I lifted her or not, Berta was busy burying her face in the new doll and grinning.

Thanks to her focus on the doll, I managed to lift the child off the ground without resistance.

I dusted off the dirt and dry grass from her clothes and held her securely in one arm.

Then I turned back to Chandler.

“Is this the guest you mentioned earlier?”

“… Yes.”

“I see.”

“Pardon?”

Chandler’s confused retort made me feel some explanation was necessary.

“He came to get something from me it seems.”

I waggled the spray container that had just been put in the pocket and continued.

“Once they’re back to their senses, I’ll give it to them, so don’t worry.”

I figured once the effects of the catnip wore off, I could hand the spray container to them and send them on their way.

‘It seems like a species that personally advocates addressing their business directly; if they get their catnip they’ll probably leave as well.’

So I informed Chandler that there was no need to stand by.

“Ah.”

Upon my brief explanation, Chandler nodded as if he finally understood.

He continued to glance down at the tiger Beastfolk with a complicated expression before slightly bowing.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

After Chandler left, I waited around with the two intoxicated tiger Beastfolk, scanning the area.

I sought Allens, who had been pestering me earlier, only to find that Allens had disappeared from the training grounds.

‘Did he escape so soon…’

There was still enough ink from the kitchen to use, albeit regretfully.

Of course, it didn’t matter much. Allens was usually predictable in his whereabouts within the mansion.

Knights were required to regularly patrol for security and be within the mansion for immediate response to emergencies.

This essentially meant Allens was within my control.

‘I can go to his quarters later.’

I stood by and waited for the tiger Beastfolk to snap out of it, all the while practicing teleportation magic with three swaying striped tails beside I.

The two adult tigers finally began to regain their senses.

“It’s a sealed item, so it’ll be convenient for you to use.”

Horfe, who had composed himself, readily took the spray bottle and nodded.

“I’ll pay for this later.”

“Huh?”

“Humans are sensitive about such things, aren’t they? Giving and receiving?”

It sounded like he was critiquing humans for being calculative, but there was no sarcasm in his tone or demeanor.

The reason for the comment was simple enough.

‘He’s just straightforward.’

Even Berta clearly communicated what she wanted.

Horfe was the same.

‘Humans he has encountered likely behaved particularly transactionally or sensitively.’

Yet, there seemed to be no subjective judgment or personal favor or disfavor about it.

They only voiced what they saw.

There was no reason to react defensively to words with no particular malice.

“In my case, besides liking transactions, I simply dislike owing debts.”

After all, I had been moving actively to repay such a debt until just recently.

Horfe leaned back and burst into hearty laughter at my response.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

He even patted I on the shoulder heartily.

“Urgh.”

The huge hand was so heavy that I, who had been standing fine, staggered to one side.

Once I barely managed to regain balance, Horfe’s hand withdrew.

Of course, it wasn’t by his own will. Berta, who bit down on Horfe’s hand fiercely, caused the retreat.

“Don’t touch him!”

“Huh?”

“He’s mine! I found him, I brought him!”

Horfe grabbed Berta by the scruff and lifted her lightly.

“See how brave and strong-minded you are?”

“Let go! Let go! I said go away!”

“I can’t do that. Do you know why I came here as soon as I left the plains? I’m going to take you with me all day, so be prepared.”

“Nooo!”

Horfe laughed loudly and began walking away, holding Berta up.

I softly laughed at the sight of their backs.

‘Truly consistent.’

Unbound by convention both when arriving and leaving.

‘In some ways, it seems liberating.’

It was so different from the way life had been lived thus far, but it didn’t make I feel bad or uncomfortable.

Due to several encounters, I was beginning to grasp their way.

I watched the receding figures of the father and daughter for a brief moment.

“Always noisy, that one.”

There was a clicking sound, and I turned to see a large figure squatting beside me.

“It’s Berta. That small one, she’s just like someone I know—does whatever she wants.”

They weren’t one to talk; they were in no position to criticize.

I kept looking in disbelief, and Breche turned his head inward, asking.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I trust you aren’t asking because you don’t know.”

“What?”

Breche wouldn’t understand even if I did explain, so I shook my head and changed the topic instead.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“Why would I?”

Well, just because they came together didn’t mean they had to leave together.

While one may have come for catnip, the other may have come seeking I.

“Came along since I was visiting anyway. Told you before, didn’t I?”

As expected, Breche confirmed while sitting with his butt on the floor.

That Horfe and Breche had different visit purposes.

‘He came for catnip while Breche came to see me.’

Berta must have followed the two Beastfolk along seeing them go.

“What about you?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you going out? All the Outsiders seem to be heading to the corrupted area.”

“Aah.”

I casually checked the symbol above.

Although still conspicuous, I was no longer uniquely ranked.

A few of the front-runners had completed the initiation mission while I had been studying magic.

‘Even Ethan already has more than 20,000 mana.’

So, I had gone hunting just yesterday and today. Delaying it further made it feel like falling behind.

“I’ve just been there?”

“Really? When are you going next? Let’s go together.”

“What?”

“It’s better for you to kill a lot of monsters, right? I’ll catch them for you.”

So, he was offering to assist in hunting in exchange for catnip?

First Horfe, and now Breche.

It was becoming clear how the Beastfolk viewed humans.

‘Or perhaps.’

Breche might have realized after hearing Horfe mention trade.

Before hearing about trade, Breche might not have thought much of it until then but felt the need to offer something after Horfe’s remark?

‘Well, the reason doesn’t really matter.’

Though Breche’s accompaniment wasn’t in the plan, there was no reason to refuse.

“That’d be great. Let’s go tomorrow.”

I gladly nodded in agreement.

“What time?”

Typically, training with the knights was scheduled for the mornings.

Considering that schedule, the hunting with Breche would be…

“How about meeting at the city gates at 1:30?”

“I’ll be hanging around for a few days. Horfe went to see my mother, so I won’t be going home for a while.”

“Then we’ll leave together.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Breche waved a hand lazily and headed towards the mansion.

I looked in the opposite direction, pulling out the snack given by the kitchen’s little kid.

“I should go too.”

I turned towards the direction of the knights’ quarters.

Since Horfe had left, I needed to find Allens who was likely hiding from me somewhere.

It became a hobby of sorts that had become quite familiar over the past few days.

* * *

The following day, after completing the morning training, I joined Ahel for lunch while also conducting magic lessons.

To mask any magical residue before heading out, it was productive.

Even until then, I was not particularly alarmed that Breche hadn’t shown up.

‘Some prioritize sleep over hunger.’

Although I was more inclined towards appetite.

Given that this differed from my inclination, it didn’t seem like a big issue, thinking Breche would likely come down eventually.

However, when the time came for departure and Breche was still absent, concern arose, prompting me to have a servant inquire about Breche’s status…

Damn System