Chapter 71: Become Hakijuan, Tatsumaki!
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Kihara had deliberately chosen a bright, cloudless day to visit the place where Minami Yume's sister had passed away—to pay respects together.
But the moment he opened the door and saw Tatsumaki standing outside with a dark expression, he instantly realized.
Today was definitely not a good day.
"Yume… I suddenly feel like it's dangerous outside today. How about we go another time?"
Because of his height, Yume couldn't see the small figure blocked behind him. She blinked in confusion, then nodded obediently.
"Sure. As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter when we go."
"Good. Then could you make some black tea? Milk and sugar. We'll have a guest."
"Okay."
Kihara stepped outside and quietly shut the door behind him before turning to face Tatsumaki, eyes sharp.
"Great S-Class hero… what brings you to my doorstep this early?"
Tatsumaki's face darkened further.
"Did you deliberately give me false information? I searched everywhere and couldn't find a single trace of that black-armored rider!"
Kihara shrugged lazily.
"And that's my fault? Ever thought the problem might be you?"
He leaned in slightly, his tone sharp and relentless.
"You slapped a bounty on him without hesitation. He's being hunted by an S-Class hero—of course he's going to hide."
"You're flying around like a maniac looking for him—shouldn't he avoid you?"
"Hm? What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
He even tilted his head, mockingly:
"Looking at my eyes, Why? Baby, why?"
Every word hit its mark. Tatsumaki found herself unable to refute him.
But her pride wouldn't allow her to be crushed like this by a mere B-Class hero.
"Enough!"
A surge of terrifying psychic power erupted from her small body, distorting the air.
Kihara's eyes narrowed.
If she attacks here, the house is gone… and Yume too.
He didn't hesitate.
A strange, sacred resonance echoed through the air.
[Target Selected: Scarlet Devil Mansion – Patchouli Knowledge]
[Offering: Rare books from another world]
[Ability Acquired: Transformation Magic]
A faint clap rang out.
Behind Kihara, the illusion of a torii gate shimmered into existence, and beneath it stood the vague silhouette of a shrine maiden.
Tatsumaki's attention was instantly drawn to the phenomenon.
She never noticed the magic circle forming beneath her feet.
"Alright, Hakijuan… time to turn into a cat."
"What—?!"
A purple magic array flared.
Her body shrank rapidly and in the blink of an eye, she became a small calico cat with emerald eyes.
"Meow?! (What did you do to me?!)"
Her psychic powers were gone.
Completely gone.
Kihara grinned and grabbed the back of her neck, lifting her up like a helpless kitten.
"Hm. You're way cuter like this."
"Meow!! (In your dreams!)"
"Don't worry. It'll wear off in a week."
He smiled casually.
"Until then, you'll just have to behave and be my pet."
"Meow! (Not happening!)"
"That's not really your choice."
He casually tapped both her and the front door with magic.
"There. Now you can't leave the house."
"Meow…! (What did you do—this feels awful…!)"
"Oh. Right. We're still outside."
He chuckled awkwardly and carried her inside.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the suffocating sensation vanished.
Tatsumaki froze.
So that wasn't her imagination…
"As long as you stay inside, you'll be fine," Kihara said lightly. "You're a real cat now. I suggest you get used to it."
"…Meow. (Fine… I'll endure it.)"
After a moment of silent struggle, she gave in—for now.
Better a cat… than something worse.
The moment Kihara released her.
She exploded.
"Meow!! (Die, you bastard!)"
A sharp paw strike aimed straight for his eyes.
He blocked it effortlessly.
"Predictable."
Grabbing her hind legs, he lifted her upside down.
Tatsumaki instinctively tried to cover her belly with her front paws, flailing furiously.
"Meow!! (Stop staring at me like that or I'll claw your eyes out!)"
"Oh? I'm not just looking."
He smirked.
"I'm touching too."
His hand rubbed her belly.
"MEOW!!! (I'LL KILL YOU!!!)"
She spun wildly in midair like a furious top.
At that exact moment—
Yume stepped out of the kitchen, holding a tray of tea.
She tilted her head cutely.
"Kihara… what's that cat?"
"Oh, this?" he replied smoothly. "Tatsumaki found her and said she couldn't take care of her, so she asked me to keep her for a few days."
"I see… Even S-Class heroes like animals, huh? But why are you holding it upside down?"
"She tried to scratch me. Just teaching her a lesson."
"Oh."
The moment her paws touched the ground.
WHOOSH!
Tatsumaki darted under the sofa and vanished.
Yume sighed softly.
"Too bad… I wanted to play with her. She's really pretty, especially her eyes."
"Meow! (You've got good taste, girl!)"
And just like that—
Kihara's household gained a new member:
A proud, temperamental cat he nicknamed.
"Hakijuan."
Yume quickly noticed something strange.
This wasn't an ordinary cat.
It ate human food.
It used the toilet.
It even liked to stand at high places, looking down on everything like a queen.
But its favorite activity?
Attacking Kihara.
Every five minutes.
Without fail.
Ambushes. Sneak attacks. Sudden claw strikes.
None of them ever worked.
Once, she even got stuck on a door handle and accidentally interrupted something she really shouldn't have seen.
Which led to Kihara dragging her into the bathroom and giving her a "thorough wash."
Yume still remembered the miserable, furious yowling that echoed from inside.
After that, the war between man and cat escalated.
Until one day—
Yume casually muttered:
"I wonder why Kihara got put on a bounty by Tatsumaki…"
From that moment on—
The atmosphere between the two…
changed in a very strange way.
....
Thank you for reading.