Noir is an intelligent black cat with amber eyes who lives in a warm, watercolor-like world. His favorite spot is the top of an old bookshelf in his owner's study, which serves as his private 'castle.' One afternoon, Noir's owner discovers a mysterious golden bookmark—a magical item that causes the story within a book to slightly overflow into reality. When a sudden wind carries the bookmark out the window, Noir embarks on his first adventure outside the house. Following clues through the town,
Noir the Cat and the Vanished Bookmark - "Episode 22: Nino (Epilogue)"
Epilogue: "The Holy Beast Nino Invades the Knights' Headquarters"
I am a cat. My name is Nino. I am the companion of the great witch Luna, possessing a sleek black coat and amber eyes that shine like the full moon.
Today, Luna has been diligently brewing suspicious herbs since morning and hasn't paid me any attention. Bored, I suddenly remembered something. Last week, that "large human who smells of iron" (Gayle) who broke into our house was exceptionally skilled at stroking under my chin.
Very well. I shall go to him and allow him to pet my chin.
I slipped out through the back door, passed through the forest, and made my way toward the large stone building where humans gather—the witch-hunting brigade's garrison.
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"Hey, look at that...!" "Shh, quiet! Don't raise your voice!"
As I passed through the garrison's gate, the humans in iron clothing instantly stirred and stood at rigid attention. Hmph, a fitting show of respect. I held my tail high and walked proudly down the corridor. The humans hurriedly cleared my path, creating a passage as if welcoming royalty.
The door to the large room at the far end stood slightly ajar. I poked my head through the gap and peeped inside. There I found that large man Gayle and a serious-looking human male—the vice-commander Keith—who had left a bag of gold coins in place of cat treats last week.
"Commander, this is the report on this month's witch-search status. Regarding the maintenance expenses for the 'Black Holy Beast' from last week, it proved impossible to allocate the nation's entire budget as expected, so I took the liberty of withdrawing the funds from your personal pocket money."
"Mm... I see. It cannot be helped. For the sake of Nino-sama's health, I would gladly offer my entire salary."
Hmm. Indeed, this large man has good sense. As a greeting, I entered the room and let out a short "meow."
"What?!"
Both humans jumped simultaneously. Gayle's iron mask rattled with trembling as he looked upon my amber eyes and immediately collapsed to his knees.
"N-Nino-sama...?! Why are you here?! Could it be that my passion has transcended time and space to summon you...?!"
Gayle rushed toward me with tremendous force, his arms spread wide. Being embraced by that massive frame would dishevel my fur. I gracefully dodged aside, slipped past Gayle, and approached Keith's feet as he stood at his desk organizing documents.
"Meow (You're the one who brought the meals last week. I shall permit you to stroke me)."
Keith's body went rigid. The feather pen in his hand fell, and he looked down at me with an expression of disbelief.
"C-Commander... The holy beast is rubbing its sacred body against my feet..."
"What?! Keith, you scoundrel! Even I have only been granted this intimate contact a few times, so how did you win it on your first try?! This is execution! A court martial!"
"Commander, please calm yourself! I didn't ask for this!"
While Keith frantically placated Gayle, he crouched before me, cold sweat dripping from his brow. His eyes wavered between complete confusion, fear, and just a hint of "temptation."
"Nino-sama... I am merely a vice-commander, a simple clerk. I would never commit such irreverence as to 'breathe in' your presence like the commander. However... that is..."
Keith carefully removed his gloves. With practiced efficiency, he put away the documents, and then his slender, dexterous fingertips began scratching precisely behind my ears with an incredibly perfect pressure.
"M-meow...! (There, right there...!)"
Unbelievable. This man is far more skilled at petting than the large one. I found myself narrowing my eyes and purring deeply, resting my head in Keith's palm.
"Ooooh...!" An exclamation unlike anything I'd heard before escaped Keith's lips. "This is the purring of a holy beast... My heart, which had grown so hardened, feels as though it's being cleansed in an instant. The brain cells worn down from creating budget reports deep into the night are completely recovering..."
"KEEEEIIIITHHH!" Behind him, Gayle's roar of jealous rage echoed. "Trade places with me! Right now! I'll be vice-commander! You be commander!"
"Don't be ridiculous! Look—the commander's commotion is distressing Nino-sama!"
With a sharp rebuke to Gayle, Keith opened a drawer with practiced hands and produced "dried catnip leaves."
"Nino-sama, please accept this as a token of our closeness. It's the finest grade from my family's estate."
"M-meow~ (Keith, you are the finest human ever)."
I became completely enamored with Keith and leaped onto his lap. He gasped briefly—"ugh"—but his expression had reached the height of bliss. While keeping me on his lap, he smoothly resumed his paperwork (falsified reports concealing Luna's home). His work efficiency had tripled from the buff of my purring.
"Damn it... Keith, how efficient he is. Nino-sama, please share that warmth with me too...!"
Gayle crawled across the floor toward us. I looked down at him coldly from Keith's lap with my amber eyes and hissed, "Shhh (You're too loud, so you stay put)." Gayle recoiled in shock and sat in the corner of the room with his arms around his knees.
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Evening. When I returned home to the forest, Luna came flying over with an alarmed expression.
"Nino! Where have you been?! I was worried sick!"
Luna scooped me up and sniffed me, immediately frowning.
"Wait a minute... You smell like that witch-hunting brigade again? And this time, it's not the commander's scent—it's another man's laundry detergent. Did you... cheat on me?"
Cheating? How unfair. I merely added one capable subordinate to my employ. I slipped from Luna's arms and rolled a premium tuna pâté tin—a parting gift from Keith—across the floor. "Open this at once," I meowed.
Luna sighed deeply and opened the can.
"Only you in the entire world would turn the witch-hunting brigade into your personal servants..."
As I savored the exquisite dinner, my amber eyes glowed with satisfaction, already planning my next visit to that excellent vice-commander Keith next week.
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