Chapter 205: Dragon God Envoy

"What kind of cat-people are these?"

Rod complained to Naolin through the 【Far-Speech Chain】 while being led forward along a forest path trodden out by the cat fairies.

"I-isn't it?"

Far away in the Open-Air Labyrinth, Naolin was still dazed, not having caught on yet.

"Naolin doesn't really get the classifications on the mainland. They're cats, but they walk like humans, so sh-shouldn't they be cat-people?"

"If you want to put it that way, there's no real problem. But to be precise, they're a sentient race called cat fairies, and cat-people are the kind of—never mind."

Rod felt utterly done with it.

What he had assumed would be a den of carnal delights had now turned into a cat-fan paradise.

He sighed silently to himself.

He decided that once he picked up the delivery, he would immediately return to the forest.

Cats and the like are naturally cute and endearing, but the fact that nothing can be done with them is just disappointing.

"Waaah, did Naolin get it wrong? Sorry, Master! Naolin will kill them all later. Waaah."

"That's not necessary."

Naolin's bloodlust was surprisingly heavy.

It had been the same during the cutting-propagation labyrinth ritual last time—always ready to slaughter everyone.

He soothed Naolin.

Rod looked at the cat fairy leading the way, one that looked like a British Shorthair he had seen back on Earth.

Grey back, white belly, round and plump, wearing silver armor with exquisite patterns, walking with its belly puffed out like a great general—rather cute, actually.

If a cat slave were to come here, they probably wouldn't want to leave.

But as it happened, neither Rod nor Tally could really be counted as cat lovers.

It seemed Tally actually liked them quite a bit.

She held Rod's hand, her eyes burning as she gazed at every cat fairy that passed by.

"So you like cats? I really hadn't thought—"

"Master, which one are we doing later? The white one? Or the grey one?"

"."

Rod inexplicably felt a slight ache in his skull.

He had forgotten the omnivorous nature of succubi—as a race with a vast menu, as long as something is still alive, they won't even let something like the Yigo, those giant bugs, slip by.

He couldn't be bothered to deal with her.

Rod called out to the British Shorthair cat fairy ahead: "Pudding, where are we headed?"

Yes, you read that right—this dashing great general was named Pudding, oddly fitting the style of names humans give their pets.

Pudding cupped a fist toward him—well, pressed her two white-gloved paws together.

"Reporting to Lord Rod, meow. The treasure is currently being kept safe by King Jumpy. Our journey first takes us to the palace to report, and then we shall hold a grand banquet for three days and three nights to welcome the two Dragon God Envoys."

Dragon God Envoys?

Oh right, the so-called Dragon God referred to Naolin.

Although he didn't know how Naolin communicated with the other labyrinth consciousnesses, it was obvious she was among the top tier.

The labyrinth Rod was currently in was supposedly already within her jurisdiction.

Even the benefits of the 【Open-Air Labyrinth Pass】 could be realized here.

The timid, constantly-apologizing dragon-soul girl was not someone to be trifled with—she was only like this in front of her own master.

The crowd of cats and the two of them passed through the winding forest path; once they emerged from the trees, the view opened up again.

They were on a hillside, and from afar they could see a grand and imposing city.

Except that for humans, the dimensions were a bit petite, weren't they?

No—Rod also felt it was grand and massive.

"Hm?"

Rod suddenly froze.

Wait, was General Pudding really this tall earlier?

Impossible!

He hurriedly examined his body and compared it to the surrounding trees.

His clothes hadn't grown longer or larger, and the 【Sword of Devoted Flesh】 hadn't gotten any longer either.

But compared to the trees, he clearly felt he was taller than before.

【Affected by the rules of the 'Unnamed Labyrinth,' you have begun to shrink. Do you wish to use the 'Open-Air Labyrinth Pass' to grant an exemption?】

"So it really is the labyrinth's rules."

Pudding noticed Rod had stopped walking and turned her head in confusion.

Seeing him surprisedly examining his own body, she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly explained:

"Apologies, Lord Rod! I forgot to explain to you. This labyrinth is called 'Cat Fairy Paradise.' All foreign races besides cat fairies who enter will shrink to a certain degree! Very sorry!"

Pudding dropped to her knees in panic, and the other cat fairies, seeing this, also knelt one after another to beg forgiveness.

Tally beside him was stunned for a moment, only then realizing her body had unknowingly shrunk.

And along with her clothes and equipment as well.

She found it slightly amusing, cast a shapeshifting spell, and returned to normal proportions.

This wasn't exempting the debuff, but forcibly using magic to enlarge her body.

However, under the labyrinth's rules, she was still considerably smaller than a normal human.

But anyway, it was bigger than the current Rod. At this moment he had become round and plump like a cat sprite, and his proportions were increasingly similar to theirs — only his height was a bit taller.

"It's fine, no big deal."

Rod waved his hand at the cat sprites.

He was about to waive this effect when the 'giant' Tally beside him swept him into a hug.

The gaze she turned on her master was scorching, possessive.

"Master all tiny, so cute~~"

Tally: ()

"…Let go, I'm changing back."

"Nooo, please~ Master, pleeease~ let me try the tiny one~"

Rod looked Tally up and down, taking in today's character design. In the past it was always him in the big body; facing the medium-and-small body types, even the biggest beastkin Amy had slimmed down quite a bit now.

Let's try it.

He pushed Tally away, and did not waive the effect.

Tally understood he was agreeing to her, and immediately beamed with delight.

He helped those cat sprites to their feet, reassured them, and only after quite a while did the group set off again.

Perhaps because his body had shrunk.

Even the pace and time of travel had slowed considerably.

They walked for nearly an hour before reaching the foot of the city walls.

Although Rod could have used 【Tree Strider】 to rush over quickly, he had to give them face — this was, after all, their territory.

After General Pudding's greeting.

The city gate was lowered smoothly, and the group walked into the city.

The cat sprites' city was no different from a human one — streets, shops, patrolling guards, towering buildings.

But perhaps because of differing aesthetics, their weapons, armor, and architectural style all leaned toward 'rounded'.

Like the tall tower ahead — its peak wasn't conical, but spherical.

Or their spear-type weapons — the tips weren't sharp, but were like disc-shaped spades.

It actually looked rather comical.

Along the way, the cat sprite residents were very curious about him and Tally, pointing and whispering from the roadside.

Rod could faintly hear reverent titles like 'Dragon God's Emissary'.

But at the same time he also heard the assessment that 'the Dragon God's Emissary has no fur'.

Presumably Naolin's control over this had been going on for some time now.

Following the central avenue straight ahead, the group finally entered the royal palace.

Under the guards' guidance, Rod and Tally walked the red carpet and smoothly arrived before that Bouncy King.

He was a black-and-white cow-patterned cat sprite.

The moment he saw Rod, he showed not a shred of a king's dignity, and hurriedly rushed over in a fluster.

"Dragon God's Emissary! Bad news, bad news! The treasure the Dragon God entrusted was stolen!"

"…"

Could you not do this routine?

(End of chapter)