Chapter 41 - From Now On, As A Cat

____________________The jet black quadruped beast――

Was in fact Tama who evolved to his “Behemoth 2nd Form”.

To save his beloved master…….. Tama decided to take the original form of a Behemoth.

―― My time is almost up, I’m gonna end this right away!!

RUMBLEEEEEEEE――!!

Tama roars for the second time.

But, it’s not just a roar this time.

That roar is accompanied with blazing hellfire.

He activated one of his 《Elemental Howl》, 《Flame Howling》.

『GUGAAA――AAA!?　SUCH A POWER!　AT THIS RATE……….!! 』

Due to the effect of his evolution, Tama’s 《Elemental Howl》 also evolved to the next level.

In the blink of an eye, the Earth Dragon is being roasted alive.

At this rate, I’m going to die!

The Earth Dragon retreats to escape from the scorching hellfire.

But, the next moment――

“――THIS IS THE END…….!”

Such voice reverberates from the other side of the hellfire.

BOUU――UUU!!

Tama leapes through the firewall to arrive in front of the Earth Dragon.

And then, his tail became a gigantic《Sword》 of Flame, 《Flame Edge》.

『This is iiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! 』

Thus he swings down his gigantic Flame Sword. The Earth Dragon who sensed that he can’t dodge that is brandishing his claw, aiming for simultaneous defeat.

SLAASH――――!!!!

Tail and sword. The two attacks intersect.

The Earth Dragon attack leaves a gaping wound from Tama’s face all the way down to his chest. But, Tama shifted his body to the side and managed to escape a fatal wound by a paper-thin margin.

And then, Tama’s 《Flame Edge》 smashed the Earth Dragons head from above.

The battle has ended.

The victor of this battle between S-rank monsters is Tama.

(I’m not done yet. I have to deliver this guy’s eye to my master ASAP)

Yes, winning against the Earth Dragon doesn’t end this. No matter what it takes, he must deliver the Earth Dragon’s eye before Aria’s life force runs out.

Even though it has been dead from it’s wound, when he tried to jump toward it to store the Earth Dragon’s corpse with his 《Storage》 skill――

――GUH, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?

Suddenly, Tama felt that the mana inside his body was getting out of control. Moreover, his body won’t move at all.

The next moment――

KAH!!

Tama’s body is wrapped in a brilliant light. Thereupon, the size of the light became smaller.

And then, when the light settles down…….

「N………… Nyaa(My body become small again)? 」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yes, Tama’s original fo-………. Tama returned to his kitten form.

(Why?　Is there actually a time limit for the evolution?　Or else……… No, now I must prioritize master first!)

He doesn’t understand why his body returned to it’s infant form. But, Tama can take advantage of that.

After collecting the corpse of the Earth Dragon, he leaped toward Renault city with his tattered body.

An evolution being cancelled isn’t something that is normally possible.

Which means that most likely a miracle happened due to Tama’s wish to be with Aria――

◆

「U~h………. Tama~…………. Tamaaa~…….」

A certain inn of Renault city.

Aria who was lying on the bed was having a nightmare due to the Poison Dragon’s poison.

She kept calling Tama’s name.

On her side, Vulcan is clasping her hand with an extremely worried look on her face.

「F^CK!　SO THERE REALLY IS NO ANTIDOTE HUH! 」

Cedric is spitting abusive words with a vexed face.

Or should they say that it was as expected after they returned to the city of Renault and found that none of the pharmacist or doctors have the antidote.

Because none of them have the main ingredients for the antidote of that poison, the eye of an Earth Dragon.

That was perfectly natural seeing that they’re in a rural city.

Even though they were betting on the sliver of hope that they will find the antidote on Beryl’s corpse or in his home, that also ended without them finding anything.

「If only we we’re more prepared………! 」

「Aria-san………」

Standing behind Vulcan, Marietta and Kenny speak in vexed tones.

Despite belonging to a knight order, they felt responsibility for causing this situation.

Dany and Howard just look at Aria in silence.

But at that time――,

「Nya~a…….. Nya~a…….! 」

Such a cry can be heard from the window.

「TAMA-CHAN!　JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THAT I COULDN’T FIND YO-………. WHAT THE HELL, WHY ARE YOU COVERED IN WOUNDS! 」

Cedric hastily opened the door to let Tama in. But, Tama dodges his hand and descends below instead.

「Nyaa~(Invoke 《Storage》 Skill)……..! 」」

「This is………….. EARTH DRAGON!!!! 」

「WHAT!? 」

The other knights and Vulcan shove their heads out of the windows after hearing Cedric’s words.

The corpse of the Earth Dragon with it’s head smashed appeared in front of the inn from Tama’s 《Storage》 skill.

「Wounded Tama,,,,,,,,, The corpse of an Earth Dragon………. Don’t tell me…….」

「THAT’S JUST A TRIVIAL MATTER!　TAKE IT’S EYEBALL NOW, BOIL IT AND GIVE IT TO MISS ARIA!! 」

「CALL THE DOCTOR AND PHARMACIST!! 」

Howard rebukes Dany who is still standing dumbfoundedly.

Thus, Vulcan left the inn in hurry to call the doctors and pharmacist.

(That’s good. Now, master will be saved………)

Tama was fed a potion to heal his wounds by Marietta and co who were left behind.

Knowing that Aria’s life isn’t in danger anymore, Tama relaxed slipping into unconsciousness.

◆

「Fufufu, good morning. Tama…….」

「Nya~~」

On top of the bed in labyrinth city, Tama opens his eyes in Aria’s embrace.

A few days have passed since then.

They managed to save Aria’s life thanks to the eye of the Earth Dragon.

With their success in demon race subjugation, they’re now waiting for their remunition.

But then, there’s one problem left. Aria’s life is saved for sure, but the power of the poison is too terrifying, it shaved off a large amount of her stamina and weakened her muscles.

Aside from that, Aria was also under extensive medical treatment these last few days.

「Nevertheless, the corpse of that Earth Dragon, could it be that Tama was……….? 」

「Nya~~? 」

And then, another strange thing. It’s as she says, she’s wondering whether Tama, the one who brought the corpse of the Earth Dragon, was the one who killed it?.

When she thought about it, according to Cedric and co, Tama was already injured when he came back, and she heard that the corpse of the Earth Dragon appeared out of nowhere, so her question is natural.

Over and over again, Aria asks such questions to Tama, but……… Tama always tilts his head as if to say 「What are you talking about?」. .

「Nya~~」

「Geez, Tama, why are you so adorable………..」

And then, Tama rubs his head on Aria’s cheek as if to dodge her question.

In the end, Tama is the only one who knows the truth.

But that’s just a trivial matter.

Because she loves Tama, and Tama vowed to protect her――