A gentle tinkle of wind chimes drifted from the inn's front door.
"Meow, meow, meow, so cold, so cold."
As the inn's ancient wooden door slowly swung open, a rush of icy air flooded inside, yet no one appeared to have pushed it.
Only by lowering one's gaze could one spot a little black cat stepping through.
Floating right behind it were several paper bags filled with bundled groceries. Those bags drifted in midair as though held by invisible hands, maintaining almost perfect synchrony with the kitten.
A light dusting of sparkling white snow coated its back. With a gentle shake, the cat sent the unthawed flakes scattering to the floor.
Stepping on all four paws into the inn's entrance, it saw only a handful of guests in the spacious lounge, all clustered near the edge of the fireplace to drive away the chill.
Though a few guests noticed such a magic-wielding fairy cat, none thought it odd; having a familiar at one's side was entirely commonplace in the Protos Empire.
The weather here was still the kind that chilled bone-deep. Even locals accustomed to the northern freeze sought out the warm embrace of fire.
Spring had technically arrived in the Protos Empire.
Yet hardly any warmth could be felt.
Who could say if spring had truly arrived at all?
If war genuinely broke out in the north in the near future, these snowy plains would never know peace.
Such murmurs of conversation occasionally floated through the lounge's wide sofa area on the ground floor, catching Boss Cat's twitching ears.
The faint glow radiating from the hearth lent its coat a softer sheen as its ears flicked back and forth.
Passing by the reception desk, the young clerk sitting with her chin propped in her hands caught sight of the adorable little kitten out running errands. She could not help but sigh wistfully, "I'd love to have a familiar like that too."
"Meow,"
Boss Cat gave a quiet huff.
It was neither a familiar nor a pet.
In theory, if it got its paws on Lanqi's [Polymorph: Human], it could take human form, making shopping in this empire vastly more convenient. But according to the laws of the Protos Empire, any transformation or disguise magic that altered one's race was strictly forbidden. It had no desire to break the law and end up as a cat on death row!
Trotting up the inn's ancient staircase, the little black cat darted with nimble grace, agile and swift with every spring in its step. Meanwhile, the grocery bags orbited it like planets, shifting forward or drifting back, flawlessly avoiding any collision with the stairs or the walls.
First floor, second floor... finally, Boss Cat reached the third floor.
It came to a halt, and in that instant, the grocery bags settled smoothly to the floor.
Manipulating the key with telekinetic magic, it swiftly unlocked the door, revealing a space steeped in warmth.
The natural wood interior gave the entire room an earthy, soft coziness. Natural light slanted in through the windows, gleaming off the rustic floors and walls as if illuminating a snug little haven.
Venturing farther inside, at the center of the innermost bedroom sat a large bed. Beneath a pure white down quilt, Sigrid's breathing was slow and even. Her long hair spilled across the pillow, and just as when it had left, she remained sound asleep.
On the other side of the room, seated by a high wooden table against the wall, a young man was focused in quiet concentration on the book in his hands.
Boss Cat exchanged a glance with Lanqi to signal its return, then slipped deftly from the bedroom. Its tail swayed gently like a dancer drifting in the breeze as it made its way to the small dining nook on the other side.
This was a relatively private space, partitioned by a wooden frame and curtains and capable of being sealed with a soundproofing barrier. The moment the grocery bundles were opened, a faint, mouthwatering aroma of food drifted out.
At the center stood a marble counter lined with various portable cooking utensils Boss Cat had brought along. Without missing a beat, it set to work on its culinary performance with practiced ease.
***
An hour later.
Inside the bedroom.
"Side-meow, time to get up and eat, meow. Lunch is ready."
Something gently patted Sigrid's blanket, drawing a faint groan from her before she opened her eyes with evident reluctance.
Yet as the savory aroma reached her nose, she gradually mustered the strength to break free from the Great Sealing Art, instinctively wriggling out from under the thick quilt.
There sat the little black cat, having thoughtfully carried today's lunch straight into the bedroom.
The main dish was chicken braised with white wine, cream, onions, and mushrooms. The sauce was thick and rich with the fragrance of wine, served alongside mashed potatoes whipped with butter, cream, and milk.
Alongside it was a pan-seared steak paired with a red wine reduction, truffle sauce, or pepper sauce.
Finally, there was a salad based on crisp, fresh lettuce, topped with crunchy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and dressing.
The ingredients readily available in this snowy city-state were limited, so Boss Cat could only whip up a few simple dishes.
Even so, it seemed thoroughly to Sigrid's liking.
Catering a meal for a Cardinal of the Resurrection Church was practically a crowning achievement in a chef's career—though Boss Cat dearly hoped no one back in the Southern Continent would ever discover it had cooked for the Bishop of Domination!
Sitting by the edge of the bed, Sigrid seemed to feel an extra chill and looked tempted to retreat back under the covers.
In her hesitation, the look she cast toward Boss Cat resembled someone spotting a warm body pillow.
"Meow..."
Boss Cat hesitated for a second, then took a tentative step before hopping onto Sigrid's hands.
If it let Side fall back asleep now, the lunch would go cold.
Sigrid gathered the little black cat into a tight hug.
"...Side, did you just smile, meow?"
Boss Cat tilted its head up with some difficulty from inside Sigrid's embrace, eyeing the corners of her lips in utter bewilderment.
"No,"
Sigrid denied it with a stern, solemn face.
"...Really?"
Boss Cat couldn't shake the feeling that this female Lanqi wasn't entirely trustworthy.
Still, the current Side wasn't nearly as terrifying as she once had been. Boss Cat no longer feared being swatted to death with a single strike, nor did it worry she might accidentally crush it in her grip, so it let itself be held without fuss.
Whenever it remembered that the wounds on her body were the cost of risking her life in battle across the Northern Border Province, its heart softened despite its lingering wariness and fear.
Before Side turned back into Sigrid, it would simply treat her as a human who needed looking after, and take good care of her.
So it reasoned to itself.
As Sigrid began to enjoy her meal with leisurely contentment, Lanqi glanced up at the clock hanging on the side wall.
"We need to leave this city-state in an hour. We'll have to cross the mountains and make it back onto the snowfields before nightfall,"
Lanqi stated in his usual calm tone.
"Mm. You should put that book down and get some rest too."
Sigrid remembered groggily waking partway through her sleep to find Lanqi reading.
Even though he looked poised and graceful while immersed in a book, and having him watch over the room brought her peace of mind, he likely hadn't closed his eyes in a very long time.
She would take the reins later on the road so Lanqi could rest properly.
"Understood."
Lanqi set down the book in his hands—titled *Snowfield Maps Even a Three-Year-Old Could Understand*—and nodded.
"..."
Noticing that Lanqi had been reading that very book the entire time, Sigrid froze with her spoon suspended in midair, her eyelids drooping flatly.
She decided that his earlier profoundly intellectual reading posture was suddenly infuriating all over again!
Chapter 341