A quick glance at the fields told them that the kittens weren’t there. They decided to head deeper into the forest. But before that,

“Are you sure we have enough time?” William asked, directing the question toward Lily. Lily stopped and took out a pocket watch. She opened her mouth when she stopped, looking toward Feodora. William stopped and turned his head. Feodora had stopped and closed her eyes for some reason.

“Feo, what are you doing?”

Feodora opened her eyes before answering, “Yes. We still have a lot of time.”

“Wait wait wait, how do you even know?” Lily asked, perplexed. William expected the answer to stray not far from magic, but based on the way Lily seemed surprised, whatever technique she used must be uncommon.

“I can know how long it has been after a specific event using magic-”

“Wait, what!? That’s impressive!” Lily exclaimed.

“Is it uncommon here?” Feodora tilted her head.

“I don’t even know that kind of magic exists!”

Is Feodora’s magic like my truck? Essential things that carried over from our previous lives?

Much like William’s truck, which was a foreign thing in this world, Feodora’s magic may be something foreign to this world, adjusted to fit the laws of the world. It would explain how she could use various magic spells that seemed unnatural to a normal person.

They made their way to the land bordering the forest. Feodora then proposed a quick, basic magic training session before they entered the forest. The forest was supposedly safe from any monsters, but she advised against going in unprepared.

“Well, if we still have time then I don’t mind. So, what should I do?”

“First, you need to feel the world around you. Please close your eyes.”

William and Lily did as told. His vision went dark.

“People utilize their eyes as one of the primary ways of seeing the world around them. In order to use magic, however, you need to sense the world with all your senses and not just your eyes. What do you feel?”

“I… I feel a number of things.”

“Me too.”

“Please list them. Anything that can be received by your senses counts.”

“Your voice-

“Isn’t that one a bit too obvious?”

“I can hear your yapping as well, Lily.”

“No, please do not say that. When using magic, you need to be linked to your surroundings. A detail, no matter how obvious or insignificant, must be noted.”

“See?”

“Oh, come on.”

“Anyway... I heard your voice. I can feel the wind, along with the rustle of the trees. I can feel the sturdy ground below me… the wind smells fresh… umm…”

“I can hear William’s voice, your voice Feo… and…”

“So you’re copying me?”

“As if we’re not right next to each other. Weird… This isn’t how I was taught to use magic.”

“Oh, is it different?”

“Yeah, but we should continue.”

“Can you feel anything else, then?”

“Umm…”

There were several things he felt, things that he couldn’t describe. Their presence was so small that if he didn’t concentrate, he wouldn’t feel them. They were in there somewhere, but he couldn’t tell what they were. He tried to reach out for them, concentrating his brain to go look for them.

Then he felt it. Something wet. He couldn’t really describe the details, but it was wet.

Is it water? Mud? What is this?

It was something that he felt, but not through his senses. All five of his senses were detached from whatever that thing was. It was as if he had a sixth sense that connected him and that thing.

“So, do you feel anything else?”

“There is something… that feels wet.”

“...”

He expected some words from Lily, but she didn’t say anything, leaving him alone. He searched, but couldn’t find any other word to describe it.

“Focus on that sensation.”

William did as ordered. He continued reaching out, trying to grasp that wet sensation.

“Something… I feel something different.” Lily said. William didn’t open his eyes, concentrating on that distant sensation.

“I don’t feel any wetness to it… Instead, it’s… dry? Like small particles.”

Something told him he was getting closer, closer to whatever this sensation was, yet it was something entirely different compared to the thing Lily was reaching out for. Not a voice, not something that could be received by one of his five senses. Something unexplainable. He just knew. He grasped the empty air. Something got caught on his hand, something wet. He jolted in shock, feeling something on his palm.

“... Open your eyes.”

William slowly did as told. He felt his real palm wet. He had clenched it at some point, not remembering when. He opened his hand, finding a little puddle of water in there. Real water.

He then turned to Lily. Lily opened her eyes, and for whatever reason, in her hands was a small pack of dirt.

“... How? It’s entirely different from the magic I knew…”

“You are not ready to wield magic just yet, but I think this training should heighten your sensitivity to the world around you. I am sure it will prove to be useful.”

“Heightened sensitivity, huh?”

“Still…” Lily looked speechless. William didn’t actually know how magic worked in this world, as he never saw them before. The most fantasy ‘thing’ he saw were the dragons, and he remembered arrows reaching the skies, aiming for the dragons, but no magic attacks. Still, could Feodora’s magic be something entirely different?

“Correct. Now, let us search for those kittens.”

As the three entered the forest, they stopped. Feodora stood underneath a large tree. She closed her eyes, sensing the world that surrounded her.

“This way,” she walked further into the forest, William following behind her. He stepped on a branch, crushing it under him. The sound it created, the feeling as it cracked into two, stimulated his senses. Those inputs felt a bit stronger now.

Is it because of that training?

This will definitely be useful.

He hoped he could cut them out, though. If he couldn’t, he would struggle to sleep at night.

From a distance, some soft and faint meows could be heard.

“We are close.”

They stepped carefully, not wanting to scare the kittens away. The three kittens soon became visible from behind the foliage.

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“Meow?”

“Meow… meow…”

“Meow meow meow meow.”

The last one didn’t come from the kittens, but instead, from Feodora. She kneeled next to the three kittens. The kittens looked up toward her, and the next second, rushed as fast as they could straight for her, as if their lives depended on it. They attached themselves, refusing to let go, like children to their mothers.

“Umm… Feodora.”

“Feo?”

“Meow meow meow meow…” she smiled. It was the first time he saw her grin that wide.

“Meow…” the kitten surrounded her, eager to be patted. William watched this scene unfold from behind, not knowing what to say.

She just said that she wasn’t great with them, but this didn’t look like it at all. There was no way someone scared of something could be this close to them. If anything, she looked much happier here compared to how she normally looked.

“This is bad… meowww…”

“Bad?”

Was there something she picked up that he didn’t?

But she doesn’t look worried-

“I cannot stop myself. They are too adorable.” She patted one on its stomach. It let out a cute little meow as it enjoyed Feodora’s hand running through its fur.

Oh. That kind of bad.

… Wait, that is kind of bad.

She looked like a little child being given a toy, all her attention on those three kittens. As he watched this scene, he couldn’t tell himself to pull her away either. She looked so happy, deserving this little bliss.

He took a step back and sat down on the ground. Lily looked toward him.

“William? Ah, watch out, you’re going to fall.” Feodora caught a kitten that somehow managed to climb to her shoulder.

“Yes?”

“I cannot let them go. Help me.”

William looked to Lily, and as if their ‘heightened senses’ connected them, they looked back toward Feodora and answered at the same time. “No.”

“Wait, why?”

“Aren’t you the one that said we still had a lot of time?”

“Yes, but I should- meow… who is the cute kitty, yes you are- As I was saying, I do not think we should be wasting time like this, but I found myself unable to resist the kittens’ charm.”

“Then I’ll help when we’re close to the deadline,” William answered, trying to hide the little smirk on his face. Lily nodded in approval.

Besides, it took normal people an hour before they could get here anyway

“Are you sure?”

“Don’t worry about us.” Lily shrugged, sitting down next to William.

“... Is it truly alright for such a selfish request?”

“Yes, it is.”

“... Thank you.”

* ••

The encounter with the formidable beast, the conquerors of humans, the most powerful beings in the universe, the great kittens, ended without a loss of lives.

William fell asleep while waiting, leaving Feodora to play with the little kittens to the absolute fullest. Lily, meanwhile, played along with her. By the time he woke up, the sun had started to set, dark clouds floating above them. With a heavy heart, he tore Feodora from the kittens, carrying two of the kittens in his arms, one on Lily, as they returned to the village.

The kittens wriggled in his arms, trying to reach out for Feodora who walked behind him. He held them down, preventing them from escaping while making sure they weren’t hurt.

“How are kittens so attached to you?” William asked.

“I do not know. This had been an issue in my previous world. I received punishment multiple times because of this.”

He didn’t know how to react, so he reacted with a little nod. Just the idea of what she faced in her previous life was enough to send shivers down his spine, made him realize just how lucky he was to be born in a peaceful region of Earth. Droplets of water started falling above them, so he quickened his pace. They stood not far from the village by the time the first drops fell, thus they managed to arrive at the lady’s house without getting drenched.

“Here you go,” He let the three kittens down onto the floor while Feodora stood a safe distance away from them. The three kittens, at first, tried to run back to Feodora before Lily blocked them. Unable to proceed, they turned around and ran up to the lady and started rubbing their fur on the lady’s leg.

“Welcome home.” The lady patted their heads.

A mission well done-

He didn’t know if it was a result of his heightened senses, but he felt something, or rather someone, staring at him. It wasn’t from the lady, for sure, nor was it from Lily. Lily was staring straight at the cute little kittens. That left one other person in the room.

He turned around, finding Feodora standing right next to him, looking up to his eyes. He wasn’t sure what they meant, but she did look adorable, just like a cat.

“Will-” She was about to say something, but William’s hand moved faster than her words. His hand landed on her head, softly caressing her hair.

“Nya-”

“Ah, wait, sorry! I’m so sorry!” he quickly lifted his hand. She was so adorable, so cute, that he accidentally patted her.

“It… it is alright… you can do that more…” Her cheeks reddened. She averted her eyes, inching closer to him. He was unable to deny her little request.

“You did well.” He smiled, lightly patting her head.

“Nyaa~~” she closed her eyes, enjoying the bliss.

Cute

That single thought occupied his mind. He still had a long way to go before he could truly call himself her partner, especially since he didn’t do anything in the quest today.

Apart from separating Feodora and the kittens.

But for now, he felt satisfied being able to reward Feodora for her hard work.

“Oh, get a room, you two.” Lily stared at them, her arms folded like a scolding mother. William quickly let go, Feodora continued looking away. The lady let out a little chuckle.

“Would you like to join us for dinner?” Just as the lady said that, thunder roared in the skies above them. The rain intensified.

“We would be glad to. Oh, sorry for asking, but can you confirm the quest completion?” William asked.

“Sure, I would be happy to.”

William took out the quest sheet and handed it over to the lady. The lady took the kittens into her room, before coming back out. She looked through her drawer, taking out a thin pen-like device and using it to circle the stamp. A third color, black, was added to it. A final color appeared in the center of the stamp. Gold, signaling that the quest was completed.

Must be a magic pen. William thought. He wanted to ask about it, but he could probably ask Lily later.

“That should do it.” The lady handed the quest sheet over to William.

“Thank you very much.”

“Now, how about you join me for a meal?” The lady ushered them toward her kitchen.

* ••

“Come on, eat up. You youngsters needed a lot of energy, after all.”

“Woahhh…” the three gasped at the table in front of them. Above it was the usual rice and yellow tea. At the center was some kind of soup that smelled great. It was a rather simple dinner, at least by William’s standards, but the sheer smell made his mouth water. It might be because of his heightened senses, but it could also mean the soup was that good.

“Thank you for the meal.” Using the metal ladle, William brought a serving of the soup to his bowl. He handed the ladle to Lily who did the same. Lily then gave it to Feodora. Feodora looked doubtful.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. You helped rescue my kittens. This is the least I could do.”

“... Thank you very much.” Feodora took the ladle and scooped up some soup.

“It’s delicious! Really delicious!” William exclaimed as the soup touched his tongue.

“I’m glad you think so.” The lady smiled.

The golden broth tasted salty with a hint of umami. Several slices of tender chicken meat and vegetables were added to the mix. The soup maintained its balance and brought out the best of all the things thrown into it.

“That is called Rotoyan Soup. it’s a dish from around here that uses cheap ingredients, but is cooked in a way that makes it taste like something expensive.”

“I see.”

Even though the white rice wasn’t part of the original soup, nor did it have a particularly strong taste on its own, yet the soup managed to enhance the taste of the rice as well, making it one of the best-tasting rice he ever ate.

After the meal, the three helped the lady in cleaning her kitchen. They then sat at the dining table, having a light conversation as they waited for the rain to subside. As the sun set in the west, and the skies darkened, the time to part ways finally came.

“Are you sure you want to go back? It’s quite dark outside.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am, my magic carriage has lights.”

“Is that so? Quite the interesting carriage. Some folks got close to it when you were out, but they couldn’t touch it thanks to your barrier.” The lady let out a light laugh.

“Haha, yeah.” William scratched his head, not wanting the conversation to continue any further. He would rather not think about a way to explain this magic vehicle to her. He wasn’t even sure how it worked, as it had been changed up by the Goddess.

“Anyway, we should get going. Thank you very much for the meal.” Lily bowed her head, the other two did the same.

“Thank you.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you for finding my precious kittens. Feel free to come back if you ever want to eat the soup.”

“Noted. Thanks a lot.”

The three waved at the lady and got back in their truck. Feodora disabled the shield while William turned the engines on. The truck’s engine let out a very low rumble, barely audible to his ears. Far, far quieter compared to the sound it made back on Earth. He then turned the headlights on. Feodora climbed aboard and the three settled into their seats. William carefully navigated the truck, bringing it back to the road. The village had very little night lighting, making navigating tough. There wasn’t anyone else on the road, but that didn’t make driving any less harder.

“Should I help guide the truck?” Feodora asked.

“I think I can manage.”

It was the first time he struggled in the night. Back on Earth, when night came, streetlights and nearby buildings lit up the roads, making driving around easy. None of those lights were here, forcing him to rely on his truck’s headlights. The trucks’ size added an extra layer of difficulty, but he was intent on getting through this. If he couldn’t, he had no right to call himself a professional truck driver.

After a few intense minutes, they finally broke free and made their way back to Pakihana.