It seems I took too long wandering around, catching food outside of my territory...
No one is present to greet me.
The thing is... I would like you to go to the royal castle.
The royal castle?
Well, it seems... the situation is...
a human king has welcomed a baby.
Ah, a male who will become the next king.
The city cats have indeed asked me to visit when the king has his baby.
You only need to check on the baby, that's all. Sorry to trouble you.
Understood. I shall set out right away.
Just checking on the baby is enough, okay?
That should be enough to save face with the city cats.
Really, just a quick check is enough—
Uncle, I understand, truly.
Good grief. He does not condone associating with humans,
yet he cannot bring himself to say so.
Uncle is too soft on his family.
Hm?
Hold on.
City cats have a human sleep schedule, so they are surely all asleep at the moment.
Drat.
The royal castle must be... the building there that stands out.
Such impressive walls.
The humans who made these walls must be quite diligent.
The friend of the king... What was her name, again?
She ought to know where I may find the child of the king.
With a plan of action, I must now find a place to sleep.
That spot should have an excellent view.
It is very soft.
It has a human face.
The Black Cat and the Prince
But with hands so small... This must be a human child.
They are just like our kittens.
Are you Mr. Cat from the forest protected by the Imperial Dragon?
I am indeed one of the cats who live in the forest.
I was on a stroll, and I happened upon this child.
As I was soothing him, this happened.
No wonder he didn't cry.
It seems the prince has taken a fancy to you.
This is the prince?
Oh, boy.
I believe I was to meet the parents beforehand...
Will you inform them I must meet them afterwards instead?
Certainly.
I heard there was a great hero who defeated the giant bear alone!
So you're the hero!
Well, you sure have the face of one!
The king of humans.
He is as big as a bear... and perhaps as loud as one.
So, Mr. Black Cat,
what do you make of my son?
Does he meet your standards?
What I make of him?
I know nothing of substance about the young prince.
Thus, I cannot answer sufficiently.
It's the complete opposite of how we met, dear.
How interesting!
I happened to tease her when she was asleep.
I think I was five back then!
Mr. Black Cat, please take your time with your assessment.
I'm not one of those half-wit parents who will guarantee that you'll like his kid!
Since you are a hero, after all!
He is a newborn who cannot even move on his own.
How am I to discern what type of person he is?
Assessing him shall take some time...
Your Highness, it's dangerous!
I did it!
Where's Kurobane? The training ground again?
Yes.
I had them take supplies to the countries fighting the army of the Demon King.
I see. That is why the soldiers I sparred with last month are nowhere to be found.
The army of the Demon King... I sure wish I could've fought, too.
A king is a great leader. You must not have the freedom to do as you please.
That's correct, Mr. Black Cat.
If only I were younger!
I'd say I was visiting the forest, and then I could just
become an adventurer, join the volunteer army, and fight!
Did you not once play in the forest and get chased by a bear?
Yes, that was quite the ordeal.
That's how I know for sure how great you are.
I mean, you beat it as a cat... That's simply incredible.
The black cat by your side is our hero, you know.
No other cat can defeat a forest bear by himself.
I would not say that.
As a kitten, my siblings and I defeated a bear as well.
It would not surprise me if they did it again.
Oh! Kurobane! You were one of those kittens?!
You all are the legendary kittens!
How are the others doing right now?
I've not seen them in quite some time, though I believe some came to this city.
Mr. Black Cat's siblings? I'd love to meet them!
Kurobane!
That tree was much too easy to climb. Give me something more difficult to do!
Oh, very well.
King, if you will excuse me.
Right.
Are you not going to hold onto my tail?
I'm not a baby anymore!
I see.
What's going on?
Did someone famous come?
It's the people who defeated the Demon King's army.
We sent them supplies, so they came to thank us.
Which country are they from?
Hard to say.
They're adventurers who fought on the frontline in many different countries.
Heroes! We're the ones who should be thanking you.
Brilliant work!
Your names will be remembered for generations.
My brother actually became an adventurer.
Forget about bears; he took down the Demon King with his human friends...
Your Highness!
Prince!
He's disappeared again. Goodness.
You may entrust him to me.
Mr. Black Cat!
I should have known, Kurobane. You caught me already?
Will you not please teach me magic, already?
I shall not.
You must turn eight to receive magic training from the royal sorcerers
or such, mustn't you?
Listen, Kurobane!
Today, I saw adventurers for the first time!
R-Right.
I was so surprised!
The adventurers gave off the same air as my father!
Yes, indeed.
Adventure, Kurobane!
Adventure is what makes you tougher and stronger!
Thus, I must go on an adventure!
To become a great king!
R-Right.
To become a king?
No, well, that's not quite right.
Oh, I know.
Kurobane! I wish to be like you!
I wish to become a man worthy of standing beside you!
Forest cats come to the city,
find the right human to befriend, and teach them magic...
That is why I must go on an adventure!
And I shall need magic for that, shan't I?
Yes, that is what I'll need!
How did I meet such a peculiar prince?
And someday, I wish to stand beside you with my head held high!
My dear prince, if you wish to go on an adventure, magic will not be sufficient.
Right!
Magic, claws, and fangs...
A human must be able to handle weapons.
I see! Then I shall learn how to use weapons as well!
You must also alter your speech.
Adventurers often use language that is rough and wild.
Is that so? In that case...
Leaving that comfortable forest, coming to a human city,
and next, I shall be going on an adventure, I suppose?
Pardon the interruption!
Can someone perhaps direct me to the guild?
How in the world did you get that bear?
Oh, I just happened to find it in the forest.
This guy is totally sketchy...
Of course they are suspicious. The prince is ignorant of the world.
And I do not know much about human society, either.
I mean, it wasn't us who defeated it.
So anyways, what's the going rate for bears?
To think that such a naïve pair left the castle alone...
And I'd like to register with the guild, please.
As an adventurer!
But the prince had planned this for quite some time.
He's so handsome.
Who is he?
The prince of this country, His Highness Stanlight.
He's only twelve.
What?! He's twelve?!
So the rumor that the royal family has a cat friend was true.
If this is enough to tire you, you must add more jogging to your training.
It's a whole other kinda tired, y'know?
I'm talkin' about them ladies.
Every last one of 'em is obsessed with romance.
I don't mind them thinkin' I'm good-lookin' and all,
but I am only a child— I mean, I'm still a brat.
"I'm still a rowdy punk" is more like it.
Hm, duly noted. I shall be more careful.
Why do noble ladies love to fuss over handsome men and such?
For them, it is a type of hunting.
Dressing up for them is akin to us sharpening our claws and fangs.
Gossiping is similarly akin to surveillance of your prey.
It also serves to keep their rivals in check.
Dance parties would be their hunting grounds.
I see, I see!
I must learn from their attitude.
I mean, I gotta learn from 'em!
Hunting, hm? It has been quite some time since I have done that.
Come on, Kurobane! You'll get your chance before you know it!
Have you completed preparations?
Of course I have!
Adventure! Adventure!
Twenty barrels of wine, confirmed.
Very well, you may enter.
Man, the security is tight today.
Well, it's the king's birthday party.
Tons of people are coming from other countries, too.
Cheers to the king!
God bless the king!
The prince is magnificent.
I must say I envy you.
Well, he's finally settled down these days.
Look at that little dear's face, hearing his son praised.
But today's other star is the prince.
He did so well, entertaining the guests in the king's place.
Almost time to prepare for the last event.
Fireworks? Are you doing it, too?
I practiced firework magic. Make sure you come see!
Well then, I shall go to the vantage point atop the castle walls...
Oh my, someone's impatient.
Father.
My apologies, but I seem to be a bit tired.
May I rest in my room until it is time for the fireworks?
Sure! You've worked very hard today since morning.
The guests were all impressed with you.
I'm so proud of you.
I'll send someone when the fireworks start, so get some rest.
Thank you, Father.
Magic fireworks!
How beautiful!
You can't see them anywhere else.
Y-Your Majesty!
Yes? Where's the prince?
That's just it... He's gone!
Let the adventure begin!
His wall just said... "Let the adventure begin!"
What?!
He got me good!
He's been carrying on about becoming an adventurer since he was little!
I was even thinking he'd finally settled down a bit, too.
Good grief.
May the journey of that little adventurer be blessed.
He'll be just fine, dear.
After all, he has a hero by his side.
We're on an adventure, Kurobane!
Finally! For real!
A real adventure!
Not if your voice alerts our pursuers!
And thus, we are heading to the neighboring country,
beyond the Forest for Beginners...
We call it "neighboring," but it is quite far.
So no one will know—I mean, no one's gonna know who I am.
Word may nevertheless spread quickly.
Yeah. I don't plan to stay long. For now, I'll disguise myself as a country bumpkin.
Maybe I can catch a wolf or something to get some money at the guild.
Right, I'll also need an alias to register with the guild...
Stan. Stan sounds good!
My name is Stan from now on!
It is nearly dawn. You ought to get some sleep.
Sure!
What exactly are you doing?
It's less dangerous to sleep in the trees.
Be that as it may, we could at least find a more comfortable spot...
Oh, boy, my whole body aches now.
I must have gotten too accustomed to living in the lap of luxury. How pathetic.
Oh?
Prince?
Oh, you're awake, Kurobane.
What exactly are you doing?
I buried my clothes. I said I would pretend to be a country bumpkin.
Even a country bumpkin is clothed...
My dear Kurobane, wearing such expensive clothes will give me away.
Still...
More importantly, I'm hungry.
I wonder if there's any food.
Oh, there's a rabbit!
There!
What's the matter, Kurobane? Are you not hungry?
W-Well, I...
Won't that upset your stomach?
I've mastered magic to strengthen my body!
Oh, shoot.
I meant to keep the skin as large as possible...
Now I can't even make underwear out of this!
Prince, do you not plan to bathe?
You don't bathe, do you, Kurobane?
That is correct... But you have bathed every day since your birth, have you not?
In other countries, people don't bathe every single day.
It's just in our country.
I-I did not know that...
I already have a lot of scars and wounds on my body from training.
If I can get the dirt and stains going, too,
I can instead be a country-bumpkin-turned-adventurer!
I'm still hoping to find a wolf or something soon, though.
Wolves move in packs.
It would not be safe at your skill level.
A bear!
I can hear it.
Let us keep our distance.
Why?! We'll take it down!
What are you talking about?
You've taught me magic and how to fight since I was a child.
Why wouldn't I fight here and now?!
Hold on! This is too much to take on.
It may be the Forest for Beginners, but bears are on a different level!
You're not ready—
Adventure!
If I'm about to die, please lend me a hand, Master!
Goodness! You ought to first learn to listen to your master!
Yay!
Look at this, Master!
Now I'm an adventurer!
The clothes I obtained.
The equipment I obtained.
The weapon I obtained. This is the adventure I'm talking about!
It is good that the bear sold.
However...
Listen well, my silly student,
in hunting, you must prepare tools appropriate to your skill level.
Your fur and tail are sufficient, but what of your claws and fangs?
You mean my weapons.
Hmm.. They are indeed rather weak.
The weapons that are appropriate for me would be...
ones imbued with magic.
That one in the cellar back home was so easy to use.
All right, Master! Let's find some claws and fangs that suit me,
while I upgrade my fur and tail, too!
A sword worthy of a hero!
To do that, we must go on an adventure first! An adventure!
And to do that, we must settle down and go to sleep....
Thank you for everything! I appreciate your help!
He sure was sketchy.
Super sketchy.
He had a Cait Sith with him.
That boy must be able to use magic, too.
He was dragging that bear one-handed.
Maybe that boy and the cat took down that bear!
No beginner could do that, though.
Guys! Check this out!
This is the search notice that just came in.
This was the tale of how the adventure of a boy and a cat began.
He soon made a name for himself as an adventurer,
but it would be some time before he came to be called the Hero King.
The White Cat and the Girl
Leaping from roof to roof, he dove into the hedge of a house.
After releasing his invisibility spell, he hopped onto the top of the wall.
His destination was the town square he had visited that morning.
The plan was to meet up with the other cats visiting the city, and head back to the forest together.
Some humans did spot the winged Uncle, but they did not make a fuss.
They calmly saw him off.
Some nearly squealed in joy seeing him, but they covered their mouths and managed to stay quiet.
After walking a bit, the town square came into view.
Several cats were already there, lively meowing to each other.
Only cats were clustered by the fountain, but there were many humans nearby.
The humans were carrying candles and magic lamps, and quietly watching over the cats.
To be continued