Chapter 311
The next morning.
Simon woke up a few hours earlier than usual and was walking through the campus.
After meeting with Professor Farahan, who taught Defense Against Holiness, to talk about the Divine Beast, he planned to head to his morning class.
'How surprised will the professor be when he sees Akallion?'
A sense of anticipation rose within him.
Simon opened his chest and took a deep breath. The dawn air was clear and refreshing.
But then—
Caw! Caw!
The unusually loud cries of crows echoed along the deserted dawn walkway.
Meow!
Meow!
Next came the sound of cats crying.
'What's going on?'
Following the sound, Simon came upon crows and kittens fighting over a sausage that had fallen to the ground.
'Kami's cats?'
Looking closer, he realized they were the kittens Kamibarez was raising. They were so small they looked like they could be blown away by a flap of wings, yet they were bravely joining forces to stand against the crows.
In the end, the crows seemed to decide they couldn't win, spread their wings, and fled.
Meow!
The kittens let out a victorious roar.
Just as they were about to go claim their valuable trophy—the sausage—
—!
They spotted Simon.
Ignoring the food, the little white and black bundles dashed toward him, meowing, rubbing against his shoes, and begging to be held.
"Why, why are you guys here?"
If he remembered correctly, the names Kamibarez had given them were Whitey and Blackie.
Kneeling down, Simon played with the kittens for a moment before lifting them up with both hands and holding them against his chest. The kittens quietly entrusted themselves to him, finding a comfortable position.
"Let's get you back to the girls' dorm."
This was a school full of necromancers, where undead roamed the streets freely. It was far too dangerous for kittens to wander around.
Since his path was in the same direction, he figured he could drop them off. Smiling at the kittens' cuteness, Simon walked along.
"Whitey!"
A familiar voice called out.
Kamibarez, still in her pajamas, was anxiously looking for the kittens, stomping her feet.
"Kami!"
"Ah, Simon~!"
Spotting Simon, Kamibarez broke into a bright smile and trotted over.
Flapping her wings lightly, she stopped and saw the kittens in Simon's arms.
"Whitey! Blackie! Where were you?!"
Simon handed the kittens over to her.
"They were fighting with crows. They're not hurt."
"That's such a relief!"
Kamibarez skillfully picked up the kittens, who purred happily.
"They've gotten so clever lately, it worries me. They keep finding gaps to sneak out."
Listening to her, Simon looked closely at the kittens.
"But they've barely grown."
Usually, kittens grew rapidly day by day, but they didn't seem much bigger than when he'd first seen them months ago.
"Did you check if they're monsters?"
"Yes! I had someone check, but…"
She shook her head.
"Even researchers who know monsters inside and out said they'd never seen monster kittens like these before…"
"Hmm."
Simon reached out to feel their foreheads. Thinking he was playing, the kittens happily batted at his finger with their front paws.
"Hold still, just a second."
When he gently touched their foreheads, he felt sharp little horns. No matter how he looked at it, they weren't ordinary cats.
"That's why I've been so troubled lately."
Kamibarez lowered her head.
"Even the warehouse keeper is finding it too much and says they'll have to be sent away."
"Right, whether they're monsters or not, you were only supposed to keep them for two months."
"Yes, I'd love to raise them in my dorm room, but the school rules don't allow it… So I've been looking for someone to take them in! This weekend I'm planning to visit Professor Hongpeng!"
Simon smiled.
"Then let's go together and ask."
"Really? Thank you, Simon!"
It was time for the kittens to go eat. Sensing that they were about to part ways, the kittens wriggled, trying to get back into Simon's arms.
Meow! Meow!
"Hey, don't bother him. Simon's busy."
Kamibarez hugged them tightly to her chest.
"They really seem to like you, Simon."
"Yeah."
Simon scratched his temple. It hurt a little to see them looking at him with such yearning eyes, but there was no helping it.
"Then I'll see you in class later."
Kamibarez replied with a warm smile.
"Yes, Simon! See you in class!"
Meow! Meow!
Parting ways with Kamibarez and the kittens, Simon headed to Farahan's laboratory.
Since he was running a little late, he summoned Darkness and ran, quickly arriving at his destination. After straightening his clothes, he knocked on the door with the back of his hand.
Knock knock.
"Professor, it's Simon."
"Come in."
Simon carefully opened the door and entered the laboratory.
There stood an old man in white robes, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window. The long curtains fluttered in the breeze, and in his clasped hands was a folded fan.
"How did the dispatch evaluation go?"
Wise jade-colored eyes turned toward Simon.
"Yes, Professor!"
Simon replied with a smile.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Anything is fine."
Farahan snapped his fingers, and the windows shut with a click click, the curtains fell, the room dimmed, and holy magic circles lit up across the walls.
It was a barrier-type white magic that blocked outside intrusion and eavesdropping.
"Have a seat."
"Yes."
Simon sat comfortably.
The first time Farahan had called him here after discovering his holiness, he'd been nervous, but now it felt like a place where he could relax.
"Professor, you seem in a good mood."
"Oh, you noticed?"
Farahan let out a hearty laugh and stroked his long beard.
"I've bought a house outside Keyzen's campus. Built it small on a gentle hill."
"Ah, congratulations!"
Farahan set an antique-looking porcelain cup on the table.
"Once, I was invited to Professor Hongpeng's cabin. From this old man's eyes, it seemed so enviable that I asked Keyzen to let me have an outside residence. Of course, the main office refused flatly for security reasons."
"Ah…"
Pour.
Steam rose as hot tea filled the cup. The fragrant scent spread through the room.
"But during this last dispatch evaluation, it seems the students spoke well of me."
Farahan lifted his teacup and continued.
"They said my classes helped them when they fought against the priests."
"That's right! I was also greatly helped when fighting with the Efnelle students this time!"
"That's an honor, then. Thanks to the students speaking well of me, the Keyzen headquarters has granted permission for an outdoor residence."
As expected of Keyzen, a place where ability reigns supreme.
It was only natural that the more both students and professors proved their abilities, the more benefits they would receive.
And seeing Farahan gain recognition from both the students and the higher-ups made Simon feel happy as well.
"I believe that someday, more people will recognize your sincerity, Professor."
Farahan burst into hearty laughter.
"Thank you. I don't know what good this old man has done to enjoy such luxuries in his twilight years, and to have such a fine disciple as well."
Simon lowered his head in embarrassment. A boyish smile, rather than that of an old man, formed on Farahan's lips.
"Would you like to come see the house? I haven't shown it to anyone yet."
"Sure!"
Just as the two were getting up, Farahan's gaze sharpened.
"Something's been detected in the barrier."
"Yes?"
Farahan flicked his folding fan, and the curtains drew back, the windows flung open, and the holy barrier vanished.
Farahan and Simon stepped outside the building.
"Ah!"
Meooow!
Outside the window, the kittens were meowing and struggling inside the holy net.
Simon exclaimed in surprise.
"Whitey! Blackie!"
"Are they ones you know?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. Looks like they followed me here."
He had definitely seen Kamibarez take them away earlier, so how had they escaped again?
Simon started toward the kittens to rescue them.
"Wa, wait a moment!"
A cry of astonishment burst from Farahan's mouth. His eyes were fixed on the kittens, who were licking at the holy net.
"T-this, this is a Divine Beast!"
Simon's eyes also widened.
"A Divine Beast?!"
* * *
Simon stepped into Farahan's new home.
A small, cozy house perched on a tree-lined hill looked like a watercolor painting.
Simon let out a murmur of admiration.
"You built this house in such a short time?"
"Rather than building it, think of it as having moved it here with magic."
And in the yard's grassy lawn, the kittens were playing, tangled up with Akallion, who looked like a little teddy bear.
The feisty kittens, who could even fight crows on equal terms, swung their front paws to attack, and Akallion eventually collapsed in defeat. Just watching them was enough to bring a smile to anyone's face.
"It's truly amazing. A priest's Divine Beast has come to follow you."
On the way here, Simon had explained Akallion to him. Simon scratched his head.
"I do feel a bit… sorry for that priest."
"You have nothing to feel sorry for. The choice of a divine beast is something no one can interfere with. Even if you had abandoned Akallion there, he would not have returned to that Efnelle student."
Farahan said that a Divine Beast choosing its own master was a rare occurrence. That was why Divine Beastology taught methods to guide and raise a Divine Beast even without being chosen as its master.
Whimper! Whiiimper!
The teddy bear-like Akallion, unable to withstand the kittens' assault, hid behind Simon's legs.
The kittens followed closely, as if to say, Play with us more!
"Enough, enough. You have to get along."
Simon picked Akallion up into his arms. The kittens meowed and tried to climb up his legs.
"They truly are rare little ones."
Farahan stroked the kittens' heads as he spoke. The kittens bit his fingers in protest.
"I've seen Divine Beasts born rarely even in the Dark Alliance. But to think one would be born on Roke Island."
"But are they really Divine Beasts? I can't feel any holiness at all. They even got along well with Kami, a necromancer."
"Divine Beasts can be classified into two types."
The complete form, born radiating holiness from birth and existing as a finished being.
And the transforming form, which on the surface appears to be just an animal or monster, but changes form when infused with holiness.
The baby dragon Ran of Lete was a complete form, while Simon's Akallion was a model example of the transforming form.
"In the Dark Alliance, complete form Divine Beasts are practically extinct. Any being radiating holiness from birth would have been killed on sight by necromancers or natural undead."
"R-right."
"In the Alliance's territory, transforming form Divine Beasts have a much better chance of survival. The fact that these kittens have no aversion to Darkness and cannot produce holiness unless they transform is likely an evolutionary adaptation."
Simon gazed seriously at the kittens.
"T-then, if I were to infuse these kittens with holiness…"
"Yes. They would awaken as true Divine Beasts and become self-aware."
Simon swallowed hard. He wondered how these tiny kittens would change.
Then Farahan stroked his beard and spoke.
"You said that girl Kamibarez is looking for someone to take them in?"
"Yes."
"These Divine Beasts would not survive long if released into the wild. You should become their master. Since a student can't keep cats in the dorm, I will look after them for you."
Simon's eyes lit up.
"You'd really do that for me?"
"Ha ha! Of course."
It was perfect. Leaving Divine Beasts in the care of the Defense Against Holiness professor was the safest arrangement possible.
"Then, would you like to infuse them with holiness and transform them into their true Divine Beast forms?"
"Yes, I'll do it."
Simon nodded, then slowly crouched down. First, he placed his hand on the head of Whitey, who was stuck to his leg.
'Why… why am I the one getting nervous?'
Through his palm, he felt the prick of a small horn.
Yet the normally restless Whitey was, for some reason, sitting perfectly still like a statue.
She simply looked up at Simon with round eyes, as if expecting something.
"Here I go."
Taking a deep breath, Simon began to channel holiness into the kitten.