If I had to pin down the reason I ended up trapped here, it was the money my father had borrowed. With his reputation for borrowing and never repaying, no one else would even consider lending to him — yet this man had handed over a massive sum without batting an eye.
Could he actually be a pushover despite how he looks…?
He’d given a large amount of money to my father, who had nothing to his name — and even when it was glaringly obvious that he had no means to repay it, he’d accepted me as collateral and handed over even more on top of that. Perhaps because his collateral was a cat that looked pitiful — he was busy buying supplies to take care of me properly.
The reason he was being so good to me was simple.
I was cute!
I wasn’t fond of my cute appearance despite being a predator, but this face had gotten me out of many a tight spot. People had a particular soft spot for small, cute cats like me. A small, cute cat wandering around looking scraggly inspired even more sympathy.
Of course, there were people who didn’t care either way, or who even tried to bother me — but not this man. He hadn’t tormented me, hadn’t raised his voice at me. He’d even hit the subordinate who’d (sort of) bothered me.
Above all else — he was rich. Wealthy! Called Executive Director, handing out vast sums of money to my father without a second thought. Nice house. Delicious food. When I thought about it carefully — when would I ever get to enjoy a life this luxurious again? Wouldn’t staying with this man for the long haul actually be better for me?
The downside was not being able to return to my human form, but… his wealth was more than enough to outweigh every last one of those disadvantages.
“Reow, mrk, euwng.”
Listen. If you’re alright with it, I’ll let you be my owner for the time being. I probably lost my part-time job because of you. I don’t have any money either, so you’d better take responsibility for me.
In truth, there had been a few times I’d ended up being taken in by decent households or living with people who loved cats. Of course, those stays were always brief — once I’d eaten my fill, I’d think of my father alone at home and go back. Still, I always felt a little reluctant to leave.
There had been times, shuffling along the tops of walls all dirty and scruffy, when I’d glimpsed through large veranda windows — well-kept cats living inside, and I’d been a little envious. They weren’t cuter than me, or smarter — and yet everyone would smile at whatever those cats did.
A comfortable life. A household full of warmth and laughter. But that was never my reality. And since I couldn’t bring myself to leave my family, I’d looked away and pretended not to notice. I couldn’t afford to get used to that comfort and forget where I stood.
The reason I’d always been so eager to escape quickly before was my mother worrying about me, and the risk of my identity being found out and being sold off. But now, there was nothing waiting for me at home. And this time, I was fully intending to cut ties with my father for good.
My identity could be discovered — but as long as I kept my head, it would be fine. Back then I was a child. Now I was an adult. In that sense, living in a wealthy home wasn’t entirely bad.
You’re a Feline Suin. You can understand at least a little of what I’m saying, can’t you? Take responsibility for me! Don’t sell me off to anyone else. I want to stay here. The men who played with me earlier don’t seem bad either. Sure, they followed me around everywhere, but they never hit me or kicked me just for lurking nearby.
I hooked my claws into my owner’s sleeve and gently shook his arm back and forth. All he’d hear was “reow, mrow, mrao” — but I kept talking, hoping my meaning would somehow reach him.
If this man had a weakness for cute things, I was perfectly willing to swallow my pride and be cute on purpose. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it — I just hadn’t wanted to.
Besides, I’d been told I was cute without even trying. My tail curling upward on its own, my ears twitching involuntarily, my eyes going wide and round when I startled — none of it was within my control, and there was no way to stop it.
…So this wasn’t calculation. It was simply unavoidable instinct.
The man, who had been watching quietly the whole time, gently opened his mouth.
“Little one.”
“Reow.”
Why are you calling me?
Still not a name I loved — but it was coming from the mouth of an owner who gave me delicious food and a warm place to sleep, so I let it go with a generous heart.
My owner must have noticed my bright, shining eyes, because the corners of his lips curved upward.
“Ha!”
A small laugh escaped him. To anyone else it might have looked unsettling — his face was naturally severe — but I knew by now that he wasn’t a threat to me.
Proof of that: the voice that came from his open mouth was nothing but gentle.
“Is there something you want? Why do you keep calling out to me? Hm?”
“Maang, nya, nyaang.”
I’m saying live with me! Take responsibility for me to the end!
“Hmm, it’s frustrating not being able to understand. But I’ll give the little one whatever he wants.”
“Aung, nyaa, euwng.”
Wow! Really? You really mean it?
It wasn’t quite what I’d wanted to hear — but it was close enough.
Little one.
A name that could only come from someone who truly cared for me. The fact that he was a Suin gave me a small pause, but as long as my identity stayed hidden, it would be fine. At first I’d worried about being found out as a Suin myself — but given that he still had no idea after all this time, I could put that worry to rest.
Living as a human was so exhausting. If living in my true form was far more comfortable and peaceful, then I was perfectly capable of doing that indefinitely. No one would find anything strange about a cat behaving simply.
I bumped my head against his arm and his chest, then let my tail curl briefly around his arm before releasing it. You’re my owner now. From here on, you need to make sure I live well and comfortably in this place. Every day — steak like just now, and delicious treats too. Understood?
If the man’s attitude ever changed — if I ever caught any sign of him trying to sell me — I’d leave then. That was all.
For now… I’m tired. I’m going to enjoy this life.
***
“Aang, myang, nyamyang.”
Hmm, hm-hmm, what shall I do today.
I hummed to myself and set off with a spring in my step. Now that I’d come to think of this place as home, I felt completely at ease.
No more forcing myself through sleep to get up before dawn and drag myself to a construction site. No more catching a few hours of sleep before heading back out to a part-time shift at a barbecue restaurant or a bar.
These days, my daily routine was waking up from a nap, running and playing as hard as I liked, and going back to sleep the moment drowsiness hit again.
In the early days after I’d arrived at this house, the man would station several subordinates whenever he had to be away to keep watch over me. But once I’d started to show signs of settling in, he’d reduced the number of watchmen.
Down to exactly one.
Well, in any case — I was very fond of the life I was living now. There were moments when my body itched with the urge to transform back into a human, but the moment I stretched out on a plush cushion, the thought that this place was paradise would wash over me and all those restless thoughts would vanish completely.
That said, just in case — in case the owner ever did try to sell me off — I had been periodically scouting the house. People’s hearts were always prone to change.
So, as if playing a hunting game, I’d been dashing around the place, giving the men a hard time, learning the layout of the house and getting a read on the owner’s daily routine.
Whenever the owner returned, a large black car could always be seen coming up the road. Sometimes several cars came together, and sometimes only the car carrying the owner. But in the end, only one car — the one the owner had arrived in — would be left in the yard, and all the others would depart. The only ones who always remained at this mansion were the two men who followed him. No one else was allowed inside.
What I’d managed to learn about him so far: he was the leader of a Tiger Suin clan, and an important figure at his company.
I vaguely recalled there being a well-known company led by Tiger Suin somewhere…. Could he be connected to that? It’s too far removed from my world for any of it to have stuck in my head.
“Are you bored, Your Highness the Cat?”
When I kept staring blankly at the outside of the veranda, Changgyu, who was beside me, spoke up. The human men were no longer visible. He was the only one keeping watch over me now.
He had, at some point, become my personal servant in my mind.
It couldn’t be helped. He acted exactly the part.
Changgyu had been taking care of me in the owner’s place. When I yowled for food, he brought food and tasty treats. When I looked bored, he’d talk to me — sometimes rambling about the owner in a trivial sort of way, or holding out toys.
I knew he was a Tiger Suin — but as long as the owner doted on me, his rank was below mine.
I swished my tail broadly to tell him to stop bothering me.
In any case — to escape from this vast forest, I needed to sneak a ride in a car. That part itself wouldn’t be difficult, but what came after was the problem. As long as nothing went wrong, I intended to stay here — but it was better to have some funds set aside just in case. I’d need living expenses when I eventually went home.
It had worked out somewhat, as things happened….
I thought of the shiny objects I’d stashed away and let out a sly little smile. I’d left them somewhere only I could access. I’d stumbled upon a small gap under the staircase by chance and claimed it as my personal treasure vault. Inside were a few gold ornaments to play with. All of them had been given to me by the owner.
