Ever since this ring wrapped around my finger, my body has felt different. For some reason, I tire so easily now. And worse, whenever the sound of insects echoes around me—the buzz that once felt trivial now stabs my ears like countless needles dancing endlessly inside my head. At times, it feels like my skull could shatter at any moment.
Thankfully, Pirika had already taught me how to restrain the torrent of power this thing carries. Without that, I would have collapsed a long time ago.
Today is Sunday. As usual, I chose to laze around in my room. A book lay open in my hands, its pages keeping me company in silence. Not Solomon Gate's, of course—I haven't even had the chance to buy it yet.
I actually planned to go out with Megumi yesterday, but that plan fell apart the moment Takumi suddenly wanted to tag along. And sure enough… Megumi didn't seem too thrilled about his presence.
For now, I'm still absorbed in a thick book about different kinds of insects. Tiny letters lined up neatly across the pages, as if they were trying to crawl straight into my mind, accompanied by illustrations of transparent wings and spindly legs that looked almost too real.
"By the way, Midori… don't you ever get bored just staying at home? It's your day off from school, after all," Pirika's voice broke the silence.
I glanced over at her. She was sitting comfortably on the floor right below my bed, having just finished a bowl of milk.
"Mm, I usually just stay home. I prefer reading," I answered quietly, my fingers still holding the book open so the pages wouldn't close.
Pirika grinned, folding one arm as if to flex her muscles. "Reading's good and all, but sometimes you need to seek out something refreshing. Train those bones and muscles of yours!"
I lowered the book from my face and stared at her for a moment. Not because of what she said—but because of how she acted. She didn't even have any muscles to show off.
"I don't really have anywhere I want to go. Besides… Mom's coming home from the hospital today," I said while turning my body, my eyes falling back onto the open book in front of me.
"Oh, really? That's a relief," Pirika replied, her eyes gleaming with genuine ease. "What time?"
"Dad said this evening…" I answered softly, flipping to the next page. The paper brushed lightly against my fingertips, as if counting down the seconds until Mom's return.
Without warning, Pirika leapt onto the bed.
"Ughh!"
Her feet landed squarely on my stomach, making me jolt upright in a mix of shock and ticklish discomfort.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you!?" I protested with an annoyed tone, my face twisting into a grimace while I tried not to laugh at the tickling sensation.
"Oh, sorry. I thought you were a body pillow," she replied flatly, her expression completely unchanged.
Her face looked deadpan. Was she actually serious about that?
Pirika hopped down from the bed, her steps light like a cat's. She walked toward the balcony, and with a single bound, she was already perched on the wooden railing that lined the edge of the window.
There, she sat casually as if the spot had been made just for her. Her tail swayed left and right in rhythm with the breeze, while her ears twitched faintly—like antennas searching for signals from another world.
I frowned at her, my brows furrowing. Just what was she trying to do up there?
"Pirika, what are you doing? That's dangerous, you know. You'll fall!" I shouted, half worried.
"Heh." She chuckled under her breath, still not turning around. "And who exactly do you think you're talking to?"
"Hey, don't act all high and mighty like that." I protested, one hand planted on my hip while the other kept a firm grip on my book so it wouldn't slip away.
"If you fall, don't blame me—"
Thud!
Before I could even finish my sentence, Pirika toppled off the balcony railing in the least graceful way imaginable. Her tail flailed wildly, her ears went stiff, and her face froze in disbelief at her own misfortune.
"See? What did I tell you."
I quickly jumped off the bed, the book in my hand slipping onto the floor with a dull thap. Rushing to the balcony, I pressed both palms against the wooden railing and leaned forward to peek down.
There she was, already standing with one hand scratching her head. She stuck out her tongue with a silly face. "Who fell? Uweee~"
I let out a long sigh, my brow furrowing. "So you're not just good at drama—you're good at acting too, huh…" My tone was annoyed, but I honestly felt like throwing a pillow at her face.
"I'm going out for a walk, see yaaa~!" Pirika cheered, her tail swaying side to side like a triumphant flag.
Before I could stop her, she was already trotting away, hopping like a rabbit, and—whoosh!—disappeared into the grass beyond the fence.
"Hey, Pirika! Wait! Where are you even going!?" I shouted in a panic, nearly losing my balance on the railing as I stretched out my hand after her.
That Pirika… it was obvious she was deliberately teasing me just to drag me out of the house.
I sighed again, but without realizing it, the corner of my lips lifted into a faint smile.
"Fine… if that's how you want it."
Reluctant yet strangely excited, I stood up from the balcony, ready to chase after her mischievous steps.
***
"You've got to be kidding me. Spending the whole day stuck with that bookworm kid? I'd go insane, I swea—
Yo! Finally, I get to explain who I really am to you all."
First of all, listen carefully… the name "Pirika" isn't actually my real name. It's just something that little bookworm kid slapped on me.
Not that I hate it, though. Quite the opposite—I actually think it sounds rather nice. And you know how cats are, right? If you give us some ugly, grating name, don't expect us to turn our heads.
But if it's a name that rings sweet, pleasant, and just clicks with our ears… one shout is all it takes, and we'll whip our heads around in an instant.
Oh, I bet you're curious about that ring, aren't you?
Heh, don't get your hopes up—I've got no answers for you. I don't even know myself. By the time I became aware, I was already in this world… in this form.
Still, there's one faint memory lodged deep inside my mind. A single name—the original owner of the ring.
King Solomon.
That's the only thing I can clearly recall.
…Oh, right. There's something else. I remember… well, somewhere. But… where was it? It was dark. Pitch-black, as if I were floating in a void. And the only thing I heard was a voice. A voice that commanded me
"Guide and protect the bearer of the ring."
After that… nothing. Darkness swallowed everything.
Next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital—and that's where I met the little brat named Midori. Well… let's just say our first meeting was a little chaotic.
The kid practically jumped out of his skin, face turning pale, and screamed his lungs out… all because a cat suddenly spoke to him.
Hahaha! Honestly, that reaction was priceless.
And what about you?
Would you be terrified too? Or would you bolt away, tail between your legs, leaving me behind?
Heeheehee… just imagining it already cracks me up.
Of course they'd be scared, right? I mean, they're only human.
Anyway, about that ring—as I mentioned earlier… its power allows the wearer to understand the language of every living creature in this world.
Cool, huh?
…Ahem, but that's not all. There's another ability that's even trickier—the ring also lets its bearer communicate with spirits.
Ugh, yesterday afternoon was a real mess. Midori nearly caught sight of something he really shouldn't have. If he had realized that the "guest" loitering in the kitchen was actually a wandering spirit… I can't even imagine what his reaction would've been. And if I'd failed to cover it up… no doubt I'd have been in serious trouble.
Hm? You're asking what happened to that spirit?
Hehehe, easy. I ate it.
…Eh? You don't believe me? Well, what can I say?
Alright, fine. The truth is, I just scared it so badly it bolted on its own. After all, it was a spirit too!
That's the true skill of a cat. We can drive out things like that… without even laying a paw on them.
Hehehe~
But don't worry, the ring's abilities adjust themselves to the growth of its user. So for now, Midori won't be seeing terrifying things like that again.
Haaah… the journey's still a long one.
Even though he's a bookworm, Midori's a smart kid. I'm sure one day he'll be able to handle it all.
Huh… guess I got too caught up chatting with you guys. Before I knew it, I'd wandered right into the middle of a crowd. The overlapping footsteps of humans piled one on top of another, their noise ringing in my ears.
I turned my head left, then right—people bustled past without sparing me a glance.
"Damn it! Where even am I!?"
"MIDORIIII!!!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs in the middle of all the commotion, my voice sharp and shrill, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.
***
I walked along the narrow street near my house. One, two neighbor's homes passed me by, but still—no sign of that stupid thick-browed cat.
"Pirika… Pirika… where are you?" I muttered, my tone an irritating mix of annoyance and worry. Seriously… why do I feel like some owner who's lost their own cat?
"Ara, Midori-chan, ohayō~," greeted an Oba-san from her front yard. She was trimming her hedge with a large pair of shears, leaves scattering around her feet.
"Ohayō gozaimasu," I replied, bowing politely even though I was still grumbling on the inside.
"My, what a rare sight—seeing young Midori out of the house. How's your mother? Has she recovered?" Oba-san asked, pausing her trimming.
I froze, caught between feeling slightly offended and just plain embarrassed. Her words stung lightly, leaving me quiet for a moment.
"Yes… Mom will be discharged from the hospital this evening," I gave my reply in a hushed tone, bowing my head slightly.
"Oh, thank goodness." A warm smile spread across her face.
"Well then, I'll be on my way. See you later, Oba-san."
I hurried off. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her still staring blankly at my retreating back, as if wondering what on earth I was rushing around for.
But it couldn't be helped—I had to find Pirika.
Street after street I searched, my eyes darting left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse of that silly, swaying tail. But nothing.
"Haaah…" I wiped the sweat beginning to bead on my forehead. That stupid thick-browed cat, always causing trouble.
"Isn't there some other clue I can follow?" I thought.
Suddenly, my ears were filled with strange sounds. Not human voices, but the chatter of animals around me. They came one after another, overlapping like a noisy festival market.
The first voice I caught was from a leaf caterpillar.
"Nom-nom-nom… the more I eat, the prettier I'll become~," it said with full confidence. I noticed it perched on a leaf.
So even caterpillars had big dreams, huh…
"Eh, maybe I should just ask it?" I muttered to myself.
But just as I was about to step closer, I froze. A sound came from directly beneath my foot.
Krk… krk… krk…
I gulped and slowly lifted my foot. From their point of view, my leg must've looked like some colossal object moving in slow motion, ready to crush anything underneath.
"Don't tell me… did I just step on something?!"
Squinting, I bent down carefully, half afraid and half guilty.
I cracked one eye open as thin as paper. After a few cautious blinks, I finally dared to peek.
"Eh… an ant?" I whispered in relief, seeing its antennae still twitching.
"Thank goodness you're still alive," I said, bringing my hands together and bowing apologetically.
"Um, sorry about that, Mr. Ant. Are you alright?"
The ant froze for a moment, its antennae twitching as if searching for a signal.
"I… I think I just heard someone's voice?"
I immediately waved both hands and answered excitedly, "Hello, hello! I'm right here!"
The ant practically jumped out of its skin, all its legs stiffening upright as if it could suddenly levitate from sheer shock.
"Wh-why can I hear a human's voice?! Is this… the end of the world?!"
Its tiny mandibles clattered together in rapid panic, its small body trembling as though a magnitude-9 earthquake was shaking it.
"Easy there, Mr. Ant. I'm harmless—and trust me, this isn't doomsday." I said with a gentle smile.
"Th-then… why can I hear you?!"
Its eyes—or whatever those little black dots on its head were—stared at me with deep suspicion.
I crouched down in front of it. From the ant's point of view, I probably looked like some towering monster ready to swallow the world whole.
"Hmmm…" I pressed a finger to my chin, pretending to be serious.
"If I had to explain… you could say I'm… the successor of King Solomon."
Silence.
"W-what… did you say? King Solomon?!"
The ant froze again, its antennae twitching nervously. "Do you think I'd believe that? No human could possibly find his sacred treasure!"
My eyes widened. Sacred treasure? So this ant actually knew something.
"Why do you say that, Mr. Ant? Do you know something about King Solomon?" I asked carefully.
"Of course."
Its tiny voice rang with surprising firmness, a far cry from its earlier panic.
"His name is renowned in every corner of the earth… even down to the smallest burrows where our kind dwell. To us ants, he is a king worthy of reverence. A ruler who could speak with every creature."
"A true king…"
So this little ant actually knew so much. That meant the history of King Solomon wasn't just legend—it was truly recorded… even among the ants. My curiosity burned brighter, urging me to hear more.
"Hey, Mr. Ant," I bowed politely. "Would you tell me more about King Solomon?"
The ant stopped moving its antennae, then let out a tiny sigh—if such a thing could be called that.
"I cannot. Your kind… exists only to bring destruction." It then busied itself cleaning its antennae with saliva from its mouth.
"Eh?!" My jaw dropped. "But look—we're communicating right now. Not all of us are made for destruction."
The ant snorted, its mandibles clicking with a sharp krek-krek.
"Hmph. Every human I've ever known only knows how to ruin. To trample without looking, to take without asking, to discard without caring."
I scratched my head.
"…Well, yeah, that's… not entirely wrong. But I'm different. I don't want to be the kind of human you despise."
"It changes nothing. We do not trust humans. Farewell, human."
SWUUSH—
In an instant, the ant darted away, vanishing into the grass.
"Uwahh… so fast!" I staggered in surprise, nearly losing my balance.
I stood up, brushing the dirt off my knees, then lifted my gaze to the sky. Blue, clear, and blinding. The sun was nearly overhead, my shadow shrinking to a tiny speck at my feet.
With a long sigh, I muttered,
"Pirika… where on earth are you?"
***
"Seriously… where am I, anyway? I've lost the way home again."
Yo, kid. We meet again. I'm totally lost right now, wandering around trying to find my way back. Don't tell me that little bookworm is still buried in her novel on the bed, lazing around without a care in the world. Ugh, I can picture it all too clearly.
All I wanted was to drag her outside for a walk… and yet, look how that turned out.
"Grrrrowl~"
Crap… now even my stomach's protesting. Damn it, is there really not a single human out here who cares about a poor starving soul like me?
"Sniff-sniff"
My nose twitched. A heavenly aroma of food wafted through the air.
Without a second thought, I hopped down from the wooden bench in the city park and darted between the footsteps of passing humans. Guided only by my nose, I chased that delicious scent, my stomach crying out with every whiff.
From a distance, my ears picked up a voice—one that was all too familiar. Narrowing my eyes, I peered through the gaps in the crowd. And sure enough, that person was…
"Megumi-chaaaan!!"
Tears welled up instantly in my eyes.
"Woff! Woff!"
A fluffy white spitz nearby barked loudly, as if to alert its owner of my presence.
Megumi, who was standing in front of a taiyaki stand, turned around. Her eyes widened slightly when she spotted the divine cat before her.
"Pirika-chan? How are you here? And… where's Midori?" Her voice carried genuine surprise.
"Meooow~"
I let out my sweetest meow, then—dramatically—I lowered my head.
"That's right, Megumi-chan… Midori… she abandoned meee… Hueeeek!!"
I collapsed dramatically onto the ground, wailing as if the entire world had crumbled.
"Pirika-chan, are you okay? Have you eaten yet?"
Oh, Megumi… if only you were my master. I gazed up at her with pleading eyes, channeling every ounce of pitiful aura I could muster.
My growling stomach joined in the act, letting out a pathetic rumble.
"Meooow~"
Megumi gave me a gentle smile. Her warm hand stroked the top of my head.
"Yosh, yosh. Wait here, okay? I'll buy you something to eat."
She stood up and ordered an extra taiyaki from the food stall by the park.
I lifted my head, meowing happily.
"Ah, Megumi-chan! If possible, make it the sausage one, please~"
But suddenly, my fur stood on end. Something felt… off.
I glanced to the side—and sure enough, Megumi's white poodle was glaring at me with sharp, suspicious eyes.
"What are you staring at? Huh, mutt…"
"Woff! Woff!"
I let out a small snort, curling my lips into a smirk.
"Too bad, I don't speak dog. So why don't you just sit there quietly, hehe~" I flicked my tail like a whip, taunting it with playful arrogance.
***
"Huuuh…" I exhaled a long sigh. My body felt a little tired. To be honest, I was never the type to go out wandering like this.
"Guess I'll grab a drink," I muttered.
Across the street, my eyes spotted a jidōhanbaiki—a vending machine standing calmly under the blazing sun. I reached into my small wallet, pulled out two hundred yen in coins, and slipped them into the slot.
Click. Whirr…
My finger pressed the button, and a moment later, a bottled drink rolled down into the tray below.
Clunk.
I picked it up. A chilled bottle of lemon-lime ramune greeted my hand, its coldness instantly refreshing against my palm.
"Perfect. Just what I need on a hot day like this," I murmured, taking the first sip. The fizzy carbonation stung my tongue, mixing with the sweet-and-sour freshness of lemon-lime. My thirst vanished in an instant.
"Fuaah… I'm alive again."
I let out a satisfied sigh. The crisp sensation washed away the dryness in my throat, leaving me in bliss.
But that tranquility shattered the moment my ears picked up the voices of two men nearby. Their tones carried irritation.
"Damn it, where are we supposed to find that mother and kid? Obviously we can't just walk into a police station and ask."
"Exactly. Do that, and we'll be the ones getting questioned."
Their footsteps drew closer. My body stiffened, my heartbeat racing.
"Haah, I'm thirsty. Let's grab a drink."
"Good idea. Perfect timing—there's a jidōhanbaiki right here."
Panic surged through me. They were coming this way. I wanted to walk off before it was too late, but suddenly—
"Hey, Ojou-chan over there. Can you wait a moment?"
I froze in place. The world tilted for an instant, and my legs almost gave out beneath me. What? Why… why were they calling out to me?
Were they going to ask for money? Or… something worse?
"Pirika… this is exactly why I hate going outside. The outside world is terrifying…"
Their footsteps grew nearer. I couldn't move. This was my first time being approached by strangers, and fear locked my body in place.
Tap.
Someone patted my right shoulder.
"Hey, Ojou-chan, are you okay? You've been standing there silently for a while. Are you feeling unwell?"
No… I couldn't handle it. My vision spun, the world blurred. Tears welled up and poured down uncontrollably—like a river bursting through a broken dam.
"Ah—oi, she's crying! This is bad…" one of them blurted out, panic in his voice.
"S-sorry, Ojou-chan. We're not bad guys, really… uh… how should I put this…"
"Yeah, yeah. We just came here to buy a drink, I swear. So please don't cry, okay? There, there…"
I could only nod faintly through my sobs. My breathing hitched, and the sound of my crying came out broken, like every word was caught in my throat.
One of them slowly lifted his hand away from my shoulder, then walked with his friend toward the vending machine.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather strength to leave, but my ears still caught their conversation.
"Begging money off a little kid… that'd be shameful."
"Yeah, seriously. Forget it—let's just buy one bottle and split it."
Those words pierced my heart. Strangely, the fear that had gripped me moments ago melted away… replaced by a sudden urge to help.
Without thinking too much, I reached into my small wallet and pulled out a five-hundred yen coin. My hands trembled, but I held it out with genuine sincerity.
"Here…" I whispered, offering the coin to them.
Both men turned their heads at the same time. Their faces shifted—surprise and disbelief mixing together.
"Eh, wait, Ojou-chan. We didn't say anything about that…"
"It's just… you looked like you really needed it," I murmured quietly.
Those words were like arrows loosed by accident, striking straight into their hearts. In an instant, both of their bodies stiffened, frozen like ice statues just carved from frost. I never meant to belittle them—truly, my only intention was to help.
"S-sorry, Ojou-chan… we've troubled you instead," one of them muttered with an awkward smile, trying to swallow down his shame.
But then, the atmosphere shifted.
His gaze suddenly dropped to something on the ring finger of my right hand. Sunlight reflected sharply off the two one-hundred yen coins resting in my open palm. The brightness in his expression dimmed, his eyes sharpening, locked onto a single point.
His hand began to rise slowly, every movement drawn out… as if time itself was holding its breath.
I tensed up, my heartbeat pounding wildly as my eyes stayed fixed on the look in his.
Tap.
The coin finally slipped from my hand into his grasp.
I quickly pulled my hand back, almost as if to hide it from their gaze.
"Thank you, Ojou-chan."
I only replied with a small nod.
Just as I was about to turn away, one of them called out again. This time, his voice sounded different—no trace of awkwardness or shame remained.
"Hey, Ojou-chan. Can I ask you something?"
I turned my head slightly, then nodded.
"Mm, sure."
At that moment, a strange feeling crept into my chest. Their presence before me… it felt less like coincidence, and more like something fated.
"That ring… where did you get it?"
Straight to the point huh. No hesitation.
In an instant, I came to a conclusion.
Perhaps… these men were connected to the ring. Subordinates of some mysterious organization that once owned it. Because of that thought, I tried to keep myself as calm as possible before them.
I raised my right hand slightly, letting the silver gleam catch the light, while feigning an innocent look.
"Oh, this ring? What about it?"
One of them let out a flat laugh—forced, unnatural.
"Ah—ahaha… no, nothing really. It just looked cool, so I was curious. If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy it?"
His tone was heavy with hesitation. Too easy to read, the hidden intent behind his words.
But I already had an answer prepared.
With a faint smile, I replied steadily,
"It's a gift from my father… he brought it back as a souvenir when he went on a trip to Bali."
Now then… what will you do next?
"Uwahh… Bali, huh," the other muttered in awe.
"I guess there's no way we could ever afford something like that…"
As my eyes lingered on the two of them, a familiar sound suddenly rang out from the distance. A voice that my ears instantly recognized.
"Oiii, Midori-chaan!"
That was Megumi's voice.
I turned reflexively, waving my right hand in her direction. For some reason, relief washed over me in that very moment—as if her shout had swept away the weight pressing on my chest.
My eyes narrowed slightly. At Megumi's left side, something small was trotting alongside her.
A tiny, gray creature.
Wait—that's… Pirika, isn't it?
"What are you doing here, Midori-chan?" Megumi asked, stopping right in front of me.
I lowered my head in silence for a moment. No one knew that deep down, I was actually struggling to suppress my anger—because of Pirika.
"I… was looking for this cat." I lifted my face, pointing toward Pirika. My smile felt forced, but I held it anyway.
Megumi tilted her head slightly to the right, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Then… who are those two behind you? They look really shady. Don't tell me they're stalkers?" she whispered, her voice sharp with doubt.
"Oh, no. They just… borrowed some money to buy drinks."
"Ehh—borrowing money from an elementary schooler? Are you serious? Don't tell me you're actually being threatened. Shouldn't we just call the police instead?"
Megumi's sharp gaze remained fixed on them.
The two men behind me froze instantly, their faces paling at Megumi's words.
"Th-th-then, we'll be going now! Thanks so much for the drinks!"
In the blink of an eye, they bolted away in a panic, running so fast they looked like car wheels spinning wildly down a highway.
"Woff-woff!"
"Hello, pretty one," greeted Megumi's white spitz dog with a cheerful bark.
I crouched down without thinking, reaching out to stroke its fluffy cheeks. Its fur felt warm and soft against my hand.
"Wow, you're so beautiful. So white… so clean," I praised politely—though for a brief second, I cast a sharp glance toward Pirika.
Pirika quickly turned away, her face flushing red as she scratched her own neck—like someone whose secret had just been found out.
"Eh… strange," the spitz muttered, wagging its tail. "Why can I understand what you're saying, onee-chan?"
"Woff-wofff!"
"She says her name is Yuki. Looks like she likes you, Midori-chan." Megumi smiled gently as she patted the white spitz's head.
"Yuki, huh? Such a pretty name… it suits her perfectly." I returned her smile softly, my eyes lingering on Yuki's snowy fur that glistened like fresh-fallen snow.
Yuki wagged her tail even faster, as if she fully understood that the compliment was meant for her.
"Well then, I'll head home now, Midori-chan."
"Eh, are you sure you'll be fine going alone?" I asked.
"It's fine, my mom is waiting over there."
The headlights of Megumi's mother's car blinked faintly.
"See you tomorrow, Midori-chan. Pirika-chan." Megumi waved as she jogged toward the car before driving off.
The moment she left, the atmosphere instantly shifted.
"Now then… what should we do, hmm, Pirika-chan?" My eyes slowly changed—the pupils disappearing, leaving behind a blank, white glow that reflected nothing but fury.
"W-wait… I can explain… aaaaah!"
My shadow stretched out, twisting and lengthening, as though it were about to swallow Pirika whole—leaving her no chance to act so freely before me ever again.
To be continued…