Archive of Our Own ^beta

Naofumi wasn’t exactly a human. He was half-human. More specifically he was born from a union between his Bakeneko father and his human mother.

He had a lot of growing pains as a human and yokai spirit. Having to deal with both life and spiritual pains constantly conflicting within him made him quiet and reserved. After all, who exactly can he talk to about that kind of stuff?

Once upon a time, Naofumi would go to his father. The father that hid his true nature from his human wife and urged his son to do the same. The father that did his best to cram what little he could in a small child’s head for their own protection. They had to hide to prevent other yokai from stomping around Naofumi’s vulnerable state as a child. His half-blood status was apparently like catnip to other yokai and would kill and eat him in a heartbeat.

His father died a few years into his life. His mother cried when his father initially went missing, and his disappearance turned into a cold case. Everyone was convinced that a dedicated man and father like him was upended by the local Yakuza that was terrorizing the area as of late.

Naofumi found his father’s shifted body torn to pieces a few blocks away in scattering, black fur and blood. His chest ripped open, and his heart was missing. Naofumi was only able to bury the body by a nearby creek with wildflowers growing in the middle of the night.

He didn’t say anything and mourned silently. He kept his Bakeneko nature a sworn secret along with what little his father desperately written down. Fear ruled his life for the next few years.

Life moved on though. That memory was stored away as a repressive nightmare that manifested more often than he likes to admit. Naofumi did his best to live his life like a normal human. The only times he would shift was when it became too unbearable to stay human and within the confines of his own safe spaces lined with talisman tags. And sometimes there would be moments where his self-control would completely slip and would accidentally curse a human that would anger him too much.

It’s that anger that turned his fear into something more bearable. He would rather be angry than fear for his life all the time.

When he shifts he started as a small cat that had the same coloured fur and eyes as his human form. His fur even took on the same wild spikes while still looking put together like most cats are. And as he grows older, his cat body grows with him but he’s learned to shift his cat form to different sizes to stay inconspicuous.

The only thing he can’t shift was his tail size or alter his human form. No matter how small he shifts as a cat, his tail would stay fully grown. And no matter how much he tried, his magic would reject any attempt to change even the length of his hair as a human.

He suspects it has to do with the fact that his human body wasn’t spiritual like his cat form. But then, why can he turn into a cat if that’s true?

The other thing that he had to learn on his own was his magic. Or more specifically his curses. His accidental cursing would only last for a day, but that was enough for people to start talking and avoiding him completely. There was one incident he had as a preteen that he silenced another kid with a single wish. He remembers being so fed up that he told the other boy he wished he’d shut up.

The boy came to school with a nasty sore throat spitting up bile and phlegm that even made it painful for him to eat or drink anything. The rumors ran rampant and Naofumi then learned to smile and laugh off the incident while keeping everyone at a distance.

His anger smooth into a simmering pot that doesn’t explode as often. But it burned all the same. At that point, he was fed up with the world that kept pushing his buttons. He doesn’t want to curse people or accidentally start fires, but he keeps finding himself being pushed around.

So, he became reclusive taking in the otaku lifestyle to hide away.

That led to his mother and new stepfather to give up on him.

But Naofumi thrived without the extra expectations, and his own mother cutting him off meant he didn’t have to worry about getting her accidentally killed. The moment he was a legal adult, he knew he wouldn’t be welcomed anymore so he shifted into his cat form and felt free for the first time.

He still came back to human life and attended college for the creature comforts they created. But he loves his life now. He even found some joy in socializing with humans, more because he stopped caring and found enjoyment in purposely cursing misfortune on those he thinks deserve it.

Even his broken family life slowly started to piece itself together, rather forcefully. His little brother broke down under their parents’ expectations and Naofumi was tasked to make it better.

He didn’t hesitate to curse his parents and bonded with his brother at their suffering, games, and anime.

Life was good until he opened that damned book.

-Line Break-

Naofumi hated this world. He knew something was wrong when he was first summoned and had the stupid hunk of metal pretty much soldered onto his arm. He knew he would eventually set fire to this place with the mounting disrespect he’s face from the nobles, guards, and the King himself.

He hasn’t felt the loss of control over his emotions since his preteen days. The overwhelming feeling of his anger powering his curse spread like an invisible, ominous fire that everyone felt.

It was the first hint that his magic was inherently different from the magic that’s used in this world. He didn’t set fire to the place but he would later learn that this world couldn’t identify his magic at all. His curses and spells were felt like the wind but just as invisible. The world’s game system would have notified everyone affected that they’ve been cursed. Instead, it’ll take the world a while to properly calibrate to what his magic is.

Until then, the consequences will be devastating for Melromarc.

Rape? Ha. As long as he was alive, Melromarc’s First Princess will find herself fall to ruin. Chasing men without care with her lowered inhibitions and self-awareness. The whole world will know what a whore she really is.

The king? As long as he sits on that throne, he’ll become the reason why this country will fall. He’ll be usurped by the very people he loves dearly, and he’ll feel the pain every step of the way.

The heroes? They will fail. If Naofumi can’t live peacefully, then this world that kidnapped him won’t either. If they want to play games, then let them play the game without care.

The only thing he wishes he could do something about was the damnable shield on his person. He was hoping that the moment he shifts, the shield would slip off him, but the damn thing just magically transfers onto his tail like a shield shaped ornament and alters its shape with him.

He’ll take his victories wherever he can though. This was just the start after all.

His first stop was the nice smelling medicinal shop owner that he manages to charm with the fancy medicinal grass. He was experimenting with his shield to get his mind off the recent events. The ability to turn his shield into something that had his favourite colour helped with his mood tremendously. It also helps disguise the very obvious symbol of the Shield Hero.

“You’re here again?” The old man hummed in a pleased tone seeing the herbs in Naofumi’s mouth. “With a good-looking batch too.”

Naofumi jumped onto the counter to set down his current trade item. “Of course.”

It was nice to see someone so unbothered by a talking cat. If he could, he’d cast a blessing if he could for how casually and fairly this old man treats him. And pay him.

“It’s a shame this country doesn’t see beastman and demi-humans as equals.” The old man sighed. “If this is the quality you can get so consistently, I can only dream how much I can get my hands on with more of you around.”

 “Sounds like a pain.” Naofumi’s tail swished. “Is medicine that valuable?”

“More valuable than most people take for granted.” The old man eyed Naofumi. “If you had opposable thumbs, I’d offer to teach you.”

“I do.” Naofumi got on his hind legs and picked up the stalk of herbs he brought in. “It’s just easier to walk around as a normal cat.” He wiggled his paw like they were full length fingers. “And I’ll gladly take that offer.”

It must’ve been a strange sight to see a normal sized house cat with an abnormally long tail do human-like gestures. The slight gaping look made Naofumi internally smug.

“Alright.” The old man regained his composure. “But you’re still paying me in whatever herbal materials you find.”

“Of course.”

-Line Break-

It’s gone around that something was deeply wrong with the royalty in Melromarc.

After the news that the Shield Hero sexually assaulted his party member, it was becoming apparent to the whole country that that might have been a farce. Because soon after the trial, there were rampant talks of how that said party member was apparently a very loose woman.

That red-haired beauty was seen in the arms of different men almost every other day if she wasn’t with the Spear Hero. Nobles and commoners alike would hear her equally loose lips displaying her arrogance and confidence as if knowing no one will do anything about it.

Men were coming out of the woodworks that she’s been leaving them drained and dried. Maids gossip about how the old consort king was pampering that young woman. Nobles fanned the flames despite knowing better. The absolute shamelessness was so audacious that it was unbelievable.

And it’s not a secret that the king hates the Shield Hero due to how the demi-humans worship him.

It was blatantly obvious that the poor hero was set up. The people in the castle were silenced with the threat of death on that particular stance in order to save face. What could the Shield Hero have done when he was young and naïve of their world against someone like that?

And where had the Shield Hero gone? Obviously disposed of or locked up somewhere since he was nowhere to be found. Especially since he was never seen during the Wave that nearly destroyed Lute village.

The only prominent talks about the Wave outside the other three heroes were a demi-human and a cat beast-man that saved the people of Lute. A beast-man with varying tail ornaments that people would catch lurking in Castle Town sometimes.

“Naofumi-sama, please reign in your thoughts.”

Naofumi’s tail swished. “No.”

“Can you at least stop muttering to yourself about who you’re going to curse next.” Raphtalia begged. “Even Erhard says it’s weird.”

Naofumi turned his little feline head looking at the little girl he purchased from the slave trader. He wandered into the circus tent hoping to find something interesting. He found something interesting.

Beloukas reeked of greed and was intrigued by a talking cat. The man was delighted at the thought of a beast-man owning a demi-human.

Whatever that meant.

But now his once sickly servant was now a somewhat strong servant. It was slow going with leveling as a cat than a human, but he can now maneuver his long tail to easily defend attacks and let his servant finish off enemies. And to his utter delight, he also was able to conjure his innate fire that’s bigger than a spark or the size of his palm as he leveled up.

Not so delighted when he realized that his fire kept its curse attribute ruining his ability to absorb material into his shield properly.

But now he knows that even with his half-blood status, he’s now hopeful that he’s inherited all the abilities of a true Bakeneko. That he doesn’t have to wait a hundred years to see if his power will grow even further than before.

“Why?” Naofumi tilted his head. “This world destroyed your village, killed your parents, and left you in ruins as a slave. Don’t you hate this world as well?”

Raphtalia looked at him with watery eyes and ducked her head. “I do, but I don’t want to think about it all the time. I just want to forget that I do. And- and…”

His tail swished again. “And?”

“I just wish things were back how they used to be.” She sniffled making Naofumi’s ears pin back. “I want my parents. Rifana. And my big sis. Aren’t you tire of being angry all the time?”

Was he tired of being angry? His servant brought up a good point. The constant, obsessive, tracking he was doing was becoming concerning now that he thought about it.

His wrath burned. It burned so hot that he could still feel his curse days and days away from the castle he despises. But he’s also read enough webcomics and light novels to realize how dangerous his obsessiveness was.

He only knows from what he knows about the nature of Bakeneko through the internet outside of what he remembers what his father told and hastily written down. Lots of it he can’t really apply to himself, the information didn’t add up to much but that was also like condemning an entire country for an act a single criminal did. But now the murderous nature of Bakeneko seems to have some weight to it. Or maybe there was something in this world that amplified his emotions the same way it amplified his fire.

Though he feels absolutely justified for his curses in this world. It was the first time he’d felt so angry and wrathful. It was the first time he cast a curse with so much emotion that it’s still active. He can take some solace in that knowing none of them will live well for a while.

“You’re right.” Naofumi got up on all four legs and stretched. “Being angry at them for this long has become a waste of time. We got better things to do. Like making money!”

“N-Naofumi-sama?”

For the first time in weeks, he shifted back into a human. All his bones popped and cracked from the disuse of being a bipedal human. His muscles took a refreshing stretch but still flexible in movement. He was still in the armor he first bought from that blacksmith but that’s fine.

The emotional burden on his heart feels like it’s lifted somewhat, and he was going to make use of his newfound emotional freedom.

“Naofumi-sama?!”

“Come on, Raphtalia.” He sported a rather malicious smirk. “We have places to be and people to curse!”

“W-wait! You’re a demi-human?!”

Naofumi paused and he could feel his tail twitch violently in his pants. He looked over to Raphtalia and see her pointing something above his head and-

What do you know? Staying as a cat for too long has some consequences and he can alter his human form somewhat.

-Line Break-

Someone eventually found out about the curses placed on the king, First Princess, and the heroes. But the nature of the curse was so different than what curses were like in this world that it faded before they were even sure it was a curse in the first place.

By that time Naofumi’s curse faded, Melromarc fell into despair. A plague spread, a rebellion sparked, and an invasion of the unlikeliest happened. The same places that the three remaining heroes visited; all fell into anguish. Discontent spread about the three heroes and too many already died to keep quiet about it. Naofumi’s little group heard about all those things the towns prior before reaching the disaster afflicted places.

He’s never regretted cursing someone so fucking much as he does now.

“I can’t believe I had to fix their fucking messes.” Naofumi growled. “Why did I even bothered to help these people?”

“Money.” Raphtalia said blankly with the reins in her hands. “You did it for money.”

“Money!” Filo echoed happily.

Naofumi decided to kickstart his new merchant career by visiting the medicinal shop owner for new recipes. And somehow, he found himself at the slave traders again with a shiny new gatcha egg.

The egg hatches into Filo, things happened, they all leveled up, and he doesn’t understand what’s happening anymore. His very existence was supposed to bring misfortune to others! Not him!

The ridiculous titles that he earned on the road from the ‘Saviour of the Heavenly Fowl’ to the ‘Beckoning Cat’ was terrible! It was bad enough that people were overlooking his opportunistic sales during a time of crisis as a good thing, it was another when people were mistaking him as a Maneki-neko!

He’s never met one. He’s not sure if they actually exist. But he refuses to be a sellout using his own image like a floozy.

The only good thing that stood out was meeting Hickwaal. Despite the initial dubious intentions, Naofumi came out on top by the time they had to separate ways. Naofumi learned the basics of magic and the art of accessory making from the man in a form of gratitude. Along with free access to the mines that the man owns.

The meticulous and delicate nature of making medicine and crafting jewelry was a joy he never knew he would have. It was similar to planning out petty revenge in his original world.

So, it’s not a complete downturn of events.

“Papa! Papa!” Filo called out. “There’s some strange people on the road waving to us.”

Naofumi’s ears twitched in interest and immediately leapt onto Filo’s back and peaked above her head. There was a red-headed male with a giant scythe who he immediately dislikes and a lady with light-blue hair that smelled like magic and the gems he has scattered on the cart floor.

His tail swished feeling the weight of his shield. He wonders if he has enough attack power to give the red head a concussion. Or at least a bruise.

“Hey!” The red-head shouted and waved them down. “Mind helping us out?”

“L’Arc!” The light-blue haired lady smacked him. “Be more polite when asking from strangers!”

“Come on, Therese! You’re just as hungry as me!”

He really should just ignore them. He really doesn’t like the red-head because that colour reminds him too much of that bitch.

He swishes his tail again and leaves Raphtalia in charge of what to do with these strangers. She’s proven to be emotionally sound, sometimes.

-Line Break-

So apparently instead of the demi-human woman being in charge of the cart they managed to catch a ride on, it was the little house cat that was laying leisurely on the floor.

That turns into a giant house cat.

And it was literally a giant cat. When it stands on its hind legs, it probably would be almost as tall as L’arc. It’s not something fierce like the Byakko that screamed apex predator but a giant domesticated cat with the blackest fur and the most vivid green eyes L’Arc has ever seen. It was haughty and very grumpy like any cat, pet or otherwise, and still upholds the very universal, and now multiversal, rule of being an asshole.

The giant cat was batting one of the uncut gems that were scattered around inside the cart like a ball of yarn between its paws. While staring Therese down silently knowing he was pissing her off.

L’Arc knew this cat would be a riot to hang out with but Therese is his friend first.

“Naofumi-sama.” Raphtalia sighed from where she was driving the cart. “Please don’t be rude.”

“I’m not doing anything.” The giant cat huffed and batted the gem again. “I’m just minding my own business.”

Apparently, the giant cat can talk as well.

“Papa! Papa!” Filo chirped. “The sun’s started setting! Let’s stop and eat dinner!”

Apparently the puffed up filolial can talk as well. And the daughter of the cat.

“Alright.” The giant cat got up with a stretch. “We’ll set up camp for the day.”

Filo cheered and the moment the puffed up filolial got the cart settled, she immediately went to go hunt like she usually did. The routine that L’Arc and Therese learned the past few days was an easy and mind-boggling one. Despite both of their oddness, Naofumi was the one that threw both L’Arc and Therese off the most.

Especially when that ornament on Naofumi’s tail nagged at L’Arc. That ridiculously long tail that was a little longer than the body it was attached to. The ornament always gets switched out on a whim with the book ornament being the favourite one that the cat loves to adorn.

But the thing that gets him the most is when Naofumi does start his own little routine to cook for the entire camp. Starting with getting on his hind legs and starting to move like a regular human with opposable thumbs and all.

If he wasn’t friends with Ethnobalt, L’Arc would be gaping even more. Was this the alternate version of the Library Rabbit? Was Naofumi a Library Cat? The cat does like to read adding a point to that theory.

That question ran rampant through his head too many times, but he kept quiet about it.

He only did so because he didn’t want to piss off a cat that made the most delicious food he’s ever had in his entire life.

“So, Whiskers,” L’Arc started off, “It’s only been a couple of days since traveling with you, but I think we’ve been acquaintance long enough for me to ask about this country?”

Naofumi snorted. “You mean your friend isn’t here to stop you from being rude?”

“Come on.” L’Arc whined. “You’ve been testing her patience to see how long it’ll take for her to blow up on you. You’ve been watching us like we’ve been watching you.”

The giant cat’s lips pulled back into something like a sneer before spatting a ghostly white and black fire to ignite the campfire. The moment the sparks settled onto the firewood, it turned into something that looked like normal fire.

Therese said that the fire was cursed no matter what it looked like. That Naofumi, in all intense and purposes, had the curse affinity. Something never heard of since curses were always a byproduct of something else. His curses had no real emotion to fill the rage and need for vengeance. Something that just was.

It terrified Therese. She said that Naofumi could easily hurt someone like Glass with no problem.

“Fine, go ahead with your questions.” The cat grunted moving a pot of water onto the campfire. “But I probably won’t be able to answer most of them.”

“So, what’s up with the heroes of this country?” L’Arc instantly jumps on the opportunity. “Like, why are they in one country and not fighting the Waves outside of it? Or why all the drama?”

The campfire roared and sparked, turning ghostly before settling back to normal. There was an ominous swish of the giant cat’s tail that never boded well for anyone nearby.

“Let’s just say that the royalty of this country fucked up.” Naofumi bared his teeth into something that looked like a grin. “And the heroes themselves are just playing as heroes instead of being heroes.”

L’Arc hummed, eyeing warily at the fire for another lightshow. “And as the Beckoning Cat, I can tell you hold a lot of resentment being part of the cleanup crew for their messes.”

“Don’t call me that!” L’Arc jumped at the sudden hiss and bared his large canines. “Ugh! It’s bad enough people are calling me a Maneki-neko, I don’t need it coming from someone who acts like a bullheaded dog.”

“Whoa! Chill!” L’Arc puts his hands up in surrender as the fire sparked again. “Sorry! Moving on!” He quickly changed the subject. “What about that Saviour of the Heavenly Fowl? There’s supposed to be another guy in this camp, right? People always say that there’s supposed to be a guy in green that saves people with his medicine.”

It wasn’t a hard guess to figure out who these people were. But the mystery was the unknown forth person that’s supposed to be with this little group. Mostly because he wants another guy friend to talk to that isn’t an asshole cat.

With another swish of his tail, Naofumi narrowed his eyes as his pupils became slits. L’Arc unconsciously swallows a ball of saliva as the campfire dances in its white and black colours.

Then the tense air faded away.

“You’re not just a dog but a wolf on a hunt, aren’t you?” Naofumi gave a vicious smile. “I left Raphtalia to decide what to do with you two because I’m too biased against humans. Especially ones with red hair. But I’m thinking that that might’ve been a mistake.”

L’Arc’s entire being tenses up again feeling the primal fear trying to overtake him. The giant cat’s eyes, green and now toxic with malice, glowed with his cursed fire. As a king, there was something screaming at him that’s telling him to stay on Naofumi’s good side.

As an adventurer, there was a calm but hysterical voice telling him he metaphorically barged into another monster’s den.

“Do anything to hurt my little group and I’ll curse you. My curse will follow your footsteps, haunt your shadows, and bring nothing but misery to your life.” Naofumi’s ears and tail suddenly exploded into the same ghostly fire crowning his head and tail like decorations. “My curse will ensure that not just you but everyone around you becomes miserable. Friends, family, and even strangers that stand near you will fall into despair.

“Do you understand?”

L’Arc vigorously nodded his head in agreement. The fear that clogged his throat didn’t make sense. He was a higher level than the giant cat in front of him and his little party but something in him tells him that Naofumi will make good on his word.

The threat against the people around being hurt just by being near him was a thought he couldn’t stand. The only reason why he even believes Naofumi is capable of something like that was because he was certain Therese would see the display of ethereal power and run for the hills.

“Good boy.”

He should take Therese and just run for the hills.

But he doesn’t because an excited Filo bursts out of the trees with a panicked Therese and a confused Raphtalia. The soft look the giant cat gives Filo reminds L’Arc that he’d do the exact same thing for his own people.

L’Arc gives Therese two thumbs up and a wide grin despite how shaky both were.

-Line Break-

Following the threat Naofumi gave L’Arc, the giant cat decides that he now has free access to bully the Sycthe user. Which is weird because he’s now seen the giant cat fight and Naofumi has nearly zero attack power but can tank attacks that would put L’Arc into the ground when they have time to level. It was a weirder sight to see if he does it in his little house cat size form.

And it wasn’t so much bullying as to simply demand L’Arc’s attention and treat him as an errand boy.

Therese was distraught at the attention L’Arc was getting but he reassured her that he knew what he was doing. Kind of. It was one of those decisions he knows is stupid but was completely fine with the consequences.

Like the demand for attention? Naofumi now bunks beside L’Arc and L’Arc was all for having a furry friend to lean against. Not so thrilled when Naofumi would sleep on top of him as a giant cat but L’Arc thinks it was an act of dominance. And a sign that Naofumi still sees him as a very viable threat so sleeping on top of L’Arc was a way to keep him in check.

Running L’Arc as an errand boy? Well… it’s not like L’Arc was useful for anything else outside of fighting. He becomes a glorified pack filolial when Naofumi wants to go pick herbs for his concoctions.

What he was not ready for was to wake up one morning to a whole unknown person than the giant cat.

The person on top of him was a man. Black hair spiked wildly in all directions, face pale not from a sickness but from the lack of sun, and his clothes were simple with green accents with a green cape hugging his shoulders. L’Arc can tell the man had a lithe but sinewy build.

The thing that stood out though was the twitching cat ears and the tail ornament should be on Naofumi’s tail was now on this man’s arm. Like a shield.

There was a halt in L’Arc’s thought process not wanting to continue that line of thought right now. Instead, he ran a hand through the man’s hair in between the twitching ears and felt a deep rumbling purr emit soothing all worries away.

Naofumi really was like Ethnobalt. Only cuter. Damn he was fucking cute.

L’Arc’s hand brushed a sensitive part of Naofumi’s ears and L’Arc physically felt the body shiver as Naofumi snapped up with a surprised ‘mrrp?’ that L’Arc wished he could record the sound of. And at the corner of his eye, a tail swished to the side as awareness came to Naofumi fast.

Damn, he has a tail too.

“L’Arc?” Naofumi’s exact voice came out sleepy as he blinked awake. “What? What’s wrong? You look like a stupid dog that doesn’t know what to do.”

“You…” L’Arc eyes raked all over Naofumi’s body. “You’re a demi-human?”

“Hmm?” Naofumi looked down on himself and then patted his head and felt his own ears. “Ah. I still need to practice that. Damn ears.”

And in an instant, the ears and tail were gone. Much to L’Arc’s disappointment but the main features of the cute guy were still there for him to ogle at.

“So, an entirely different race?” L’Arc though back to Enthnobalt. “Of the giant cat variety?”

Naofumi blinked awake with surprise. “Huh, you’re smarter than you look. I am, but half human. Not a demi-human or beast-man like some people think.”

“Because you’re not from this world?”

Piercing green eye locked on to his. Those pupils dilatated and slitted and stared him down unblinkingly. The green, green eyes seemed to glow taking L’Arc’s breath away. The air charged with something, but nothing threatening.

Naofumi gave a sharp-toothed grin that came out more boyish with a human face than roughish as a giant cat. “Aren’t you too smart for your own good.” He leaned back down on top of L’Arc’s chest. “What are you going to do about it?”

L’Arc wanted to do a lot of things. But none of those things were on the table.

For now.

“Nothing apparently.”

“Good boy.”

-Line Break-

His tail was really a point of pride at this point with how well he can block attacks now. Naofumi likes to think that his tail was stronger than a snow leopard’s with how easily he can tank attacks with a swing or swish of a tail.

And while his physical attack power was still non-existent, his magical attack power was decent enough to do some serious damage. But it’s something that he can’t actively do or else his curse magic will ruin his ability to absorb the monster pieces into his shield. It was absolute bullshit.

Like now. Fighting the Wave.

His greed will be his downfall.

The Soul Eater makes him want to cast his own curses. Its presence made his fur bristle, like being confronted with a challenger over a territory dispute. Something like when he first conversed with L’Arc face to face.

The only difference was that this monster was powerful and didn’t want to submit.

Naofumi made it submit. The Wrath shield that he had since the zombie dragon wasn’t ideal, but it did its job well enough.

He hated using that shield. It was one thing when he lost control of his anger when he first cast his curse onto the king, princess, and the heroes. It was another thing when someone eles’s will was imposed on him. His own curse magic absolutely refuses to work with it like oil on water. The first time he let that dragon overwhelm him, Naofumi was caught by surprise.

The next few times, the intense battle of wills was something he’d never thought he’d go through. The only reason why he hasn’t lost his sanity to that dragon was because of his how his curse magic was so different compared to this world.

He’s been dealing in curses since he was a child. He knows the importance of keeping his temper in check. He knows there’s more to wrath and vengeance when casting curses. Wrath and vengeance were just the easiest forms to use to fill a curse.

Though, to be fair, casting a curse to cause depression was just plain mean and evil. He doesn’t want to think about casting a curse full of love.

“How is it that a cat is able to do what you heroes can’t?”

“Glass!”

Naofumi had his ears pinned back never taking his eyes off the woman that wore a traditional Japanese style kimono. Her entire being was that of a yokai’s. Her spiritual energy, her magic, was higher than Naofumi’s and her body was entirely made of it. Just like his cat form.

That woman, Glass, knows what he is as well.

His hackles were raised, and he knew he was out matched. Especially if L’Arc and Therese were friends with that woman.

“Oh shit.” L’Arc felt the prickling ominous air that alluded to Naofumi’s charging curse magic. “Look, Whiskers, we can explain.”

“L’Arc, what are you doing?” Glass looked irritated at being pushed back behind the Sycthe User. “What’s going on?”

Naofumi took the chance to shift. From all fours to slowly getting up to his hind legs that easily gave way to his human form. The noises of shock and surprise were ignored as he trained his eyes onto L’Arc. The red-head tensed getting ready for things to get ugly.

The poor mutt. He doesn’t know that Naofumi doesn’t need to get in close to cast his curse.

“The Shield Hero?” Glass glanced at both L’Arc and Therese looking bewildered and angry. “You both have been traveling with the Shield Hero?”

“That’s right.” Naofumi spat as his ghostly fire ignited making someone nearby yelp. “’Feel free to consider you an enemy,’ huh?”

“God damn it, Glass.” L’Arc cursed. “We can explain, honest.”

Therese looks terrified at the fires forming and looking at her must’ve tipped something was off before giving Naofumi another look. He could see the slow rise in her hair as Glass paid attention to his presence. The was an unknown pressure that came with his own brand of magic that made humans wary.

Usually, in his own world, he’s never been angry enough to make humans afraid of him. Not intentionally. Never gathered enough magic to show off or even know how much he was capable of.

Now he wants to know if he can put them on their knees.

“If I remember correctly, I believe I told you that if you hurt one of mine, I’ll be retaliating in kind.” Naofumi let his magic fester and his fires grow bigger. “What could a mutt like you say to convince me otherwise?”

 “She didn’t target your little party!” L’Arc desperately yelled out. “She hit the other three heroes! Not a single hair was touched on your kids!”

“Kids?!”

Naofumi took a glance at a battle-tense Filo and an enraged Raphtalia before looking at the other Cardinal Heroes. The girls were still only ruffled from the fight with the Soul Eater but the heroes were beaten down and had various gashes from Glass’s fan attack. The three heroes had different levels of offense on their faces.

Nothing of consequence.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you are after the heroes.”

‘After me’ was left unsaid.

There was no response and Naofumi bared his teeth with flashing canines. L’Arc whimpered like a kicked dog as flames were sent hurtling. His curse sent farther.

This time his curse was fueled by hurt and betrayal. It was stupid because he knew L’Arc and Therese were always going to be temporary. Despite being biased against them initially because of the mutt’s red hair, Naofumi liked them.

Having the two adults around was nice. Filo wasn’t even a year old and Raphtalia was literally half his age. It not that they weren’t good company but rather they lacked the life experience for Naofumi to relate to. The ease of conversation regardless of how boisterous L’Arc was or how terrified Therese was of him was nice.

He liked putting L’Arc in his place and he did enjoy the unconscious terror Therese had of him. It was the same feeling he knows other cats get when pushing a glass off a ledge while staring into the eyes of the owner of that glass.

He misses them.

-Line Break-

L’Arc misses Naofumi. For all the rumors surrounding the Shield Hero, L’Arc knows that Naofumi as a very fair person. A very eye for a bloody eye type of person.

Treat him with respect, respect is given back and then some.

Scorn him? He’ll scorch the earth beneath your feet.

As grumpy as the shapeshifting cat was, Naofumi was probably the best model of what a decent human being should be. Despite his greed being one of his major flaws, he never let it become something he weaponized like most other merchants. L’Arc saw the results of Naofumi’s work before he met him and seeing the cat in his element made L’Arc’s resolve crumble.

Regardless of the curse element that he holds, Naofumi is never a malicious person. But he’s also not a saint like the title that was bestowed on him. Naofumi will always demand payment for his services but the person paying will always find themselves getting more what they paid for. Especially when it comes to dealings for his medicines.

L’Arc would love to have Naofumi in his own world. The cat was a treasure that any country would love to get their hands on.

So hearing Melromarc declare Naofumi as the Shield Demon, L’Arc knew right then and there that foul play actively happening. And the first thought he had after hearing that was that he had to somehow drag the Shield Hero into his world where at least he would be treated with the respect that he deserves.

Glass and Therese were reluctant but L’Arc managed to convince them. If only to get Naofumi to lift this terrible curse inflicted on them.

“Mutt.”

“Whiskers…”

The curse that Naofumi inflicts was nothing like L’Arc has ever seen or heard before. It was like the old fairy tale curses where misfortune wreaked havoc upon countries due to offending the wrong person.

It was one thing after another since Naofumi let his cursed fire loose on them. While the fire did little physical damage, it was obvious that the damage was never supposed to be physical when Glass instantly fell unconscious. Even with the potion that restores her spiritual force, she carried herself as if she was perpetually low on mana.

“You two know each other?”

“Unfortunately.”

He doesn’t know how it happened, all he knows was that the little rural town they managed to hunker down in after having a very rough few weeks. And then a dragon appeared and attacked it.

And then Naofumi and Filo appeared and led it away before the dragon could cause more damage.

And then! A giant filolial appeared! As they caught up to the action!

And now that same giant filolial, which transformed into a small human with wings like Filo, told Naofumi to make nice with the other heroes or die.

“Can we please talk now?” L’Arc begged and took a cautious glance at the giant filolial queen in human form. “In private?”

“Why?” Naofumi narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he crossed his arms.

“I have answers?” L’Arc took another glance at the others this time. “Don’t you want to know what’s going on with us?”

Naofumi was definitely agitated by the giant filolial queen’s words. His pupils slitted at the sight of his latest passive aggressor and L’Arc could physically see him thinking that he would rather put up with L’Arc than be with her.

Small mercies.

With a quick shift of magic, Naofumi was now in his big house cat form. The smooth and sudden transition left everyone that didn’t know of Naofumi’s ability gasping in shock. The squawks that all the normal filolials nearly matched Glass’s which was objectively hilarious.

He’d laugh if he wasn’t so exhausted.

“We’ll walk and talk.” Naofumi’s tail swayed in a way that made his shield look heavier. “You better cough up those answers, mutt.”

The bite of the bitter cold in Naofumi’s voice made L’Arc shiver. There was also a heavy weight settling in his stomach at how distant and detached he was being.

“Don’t be like that, Whiskers!” L’Arc whined. “I promise I’ll tell you everything I know! You can trust me that much, can’t you? I swear we weren’t trying to do anything when we first met! And even after we found out about you being the Shield Hero, we still wanted to keep being friends!”

Naofumi’s ears pinned back at his desperate plea. “I’ll reserve judgement after I hear what you have to say. But first…”

The familiar feeling of Naofumi’s cursed magic pulsed from his paws and outward through the ground. The air around them shimmered like a mirage encasing them like a barrier.

L’Arc has seen Naofumi perform his own brand of foreign magic when they first started traveling together. When asked about it, Naofumi always brushed off those questions with a vague ‘don’t worry about it’ or something similar.

Therese said that it was a protective curse barrier. Nothing physical like his shield or any magical construct but something like the sealing tags used in prisons. It was also part of why Therese was willing to go along with L’Arc’s plans now.

It was done with a flick of his hands or a graceful step of his paws. No chant or magic circle needed. No hours of hunching over a piece of paper to employ a sealing tag. Does this country not understand who they were messing with?

“Now, talk.”

“Do you want to ditch this world and come to mine?”

“…what?”

Sometimes, he wishes that he could just turn on the king side of his brain and not put his foot in his mouth. Maybe Therese does has a point in being mindful of his actions.

“Hold on, give me a second. I’m better than this.”

Naofumi had an unimpressed but stupefied look directed at L’Arc. Which, fair, but it meant that he had a chance!

“Please come live with me!”

“…”

“I’m a fucking idiot…”

“That’s something be both can agree on. You stupid mutt.”

Well… he’s still tolerating L’Arc. And it’s not like Naofumi’s opinion of his can get any lower than this. If anything, it can only go up after the absolute embarrassment that L’Arc made himself out to be.

It wasn’t all that hard to convince Naofumi to come live in his world.