I don’t think I’ve seen such passionate eyes even from the temple devotees.

‘Let’s just go.’

‘Why? This is the biggest store.’

‘It’s overwhelming.’

While Richard and I were having this conversation, the shop clerk said something that completely sealed my decision.

[Are these items for that baby kitty? It’s the cutest baby cat in the world.]

Since we had bought kitten milk as soon as we entered the store and fed it to him, the cat was contentedly suckling on the bottle.

Whether I was entranced by that sight or by the clerk’s enthusiasm, I found myself spontaneously exclaiming:

[Yes! Isn’t our cat adorable?!]

‘I’ve lost my mind. I’ve done everything a Holy Maiden shouldn’t do today. Overspending, overreacting, and unnecessary chatter.’

For those serving the deity in the temple, ‘moderation’ is the fundamental virtue. Not just avoiding excessive spending, but also restraint in behavior and emotions.

‘I should offer prayers of repentance in the prayer room.’

Just as I thought this, a notification window appeared before my eyes.

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ says it doesn’t matter.]

If you keep indulging me like this, I’ll develop bad habits!

Anyway, thanks to Richard, I purchased everything the cat needed. Cat litter, a cat house, kitten milk, and a nursing bottle. Even cat food and toys, though they weren’t needed yet.

The most extravagant purchases, in my opinion, were the scratching post and the cat hammock.

‘Really? We’re supposed to let it scratch freely on this? Shouldn’t cats also learn restraint if they’re going to live in the temple?’

As I was agonizing over my apparent shopping spree, Richard, who had carried all the packages to my room, smiled and gently pushed my forehead with his index finger.

“Overthinking again, aren’t you?”

“Ugh.”

Richard, this frightening person. He knows me too well.

As I rubbed my forehead and pouted, Richard chuckled and patted my head.

“I bet even the deity won’t say anything to you today. They’re probably just glad you’re finally enjoying yourself.”

“…”

Richard’s accurate statement almost made me wonder if he could hear the deity’s voice too.

‘The deity never speaks about their relationship with other believers.’

The deity had told me that explaining their relationship with other believers would be cheating. This meant they wouldn’t tell me whether Richard could hear their voice or not.

“Thanks for coming with me today, Richard.”

“Not at all. Call upon your knight anytime, Holy Maiden.”

After this greeting, Richard winked and added:

“Don’t forget our promise.”

“I won’t.”

The promise not to use holy power to recover from hunger. After I nodded, Richard casually waved and left.

I found myself absentmindedly touching the hair Richard had ruffled, then suddenly turned around with a start.

‘Surely this cat isn’t watching Richard and me like some romance novel again?’

The cat was sitting dignifiedly in the newly purchased cat house. Those golden eyes met mine and blinked innocently twice.

[‘Kyle’ wonders why you’re looking at him with that expression.]

“…”

It’s because of you! You!

‘Having a one-way channel is quite awkward.’

I wonder if the cat knows that I can hear all its inner thoughts. It’s silly to think this about a cat, but it also felt unfair. The cat doesn’t know my thoughts, yet I’m unilaterally hearing its.

‘Well, it’s just a cat after all.’

At least I was relieved I didn’t have to transfer milk mouth-to-mouth. I shook the nursing bottle I’d bought and said to the cat:

“Here, kitty. Want some milk?”

[‘Kyle’ complains about milk again.]

What else would it be but milk? You’re just a baby cat, what else would you eat?

“Cats grow very quickly, so you’ll be able to eat softened cat food soon. Hang in there.”

Though I meant it as encouragement, it didn’t seem to comfort the cat. Its round golden eyes glared at me.

[‘Kyle’ says it’s all your fault.]

[He says he really hates you.]

“…”

After doing my best as a caretaker, all I get is hatred! How unfair!

“Fine, just drink it already.”

I put the nursing bottle in the cat’s mouth.

Despite the grumbling, once the bottle was offered, those moving lips were honest. I smiled wryly.

‘Thanks to Richard, I’ve become familiar with this so quickly. I should sincerely thank him next time.’

If Richard hadn’t helped, the baby cat might have died due to my ignorance about animal care.

‘I never imagined holy power wouldn’t work on animals.’

I was shaking my head at the memory of that frightening moment when something struck me.

‘I’ve never actually tried using holy power on animals before… but if my memory serves me right, it should work on them too?’

There are only a few races in this world that holy power doesn’t affect. The so-called races “hated by the deity,” which were interpreted as such and enslaved.

Beast-folk, fairy-folk, and other minority races.

And before my eyes was a black cat.

I frowned and asked, “Kitty, are you… a beast-folk?”

I held my breath for a moment, waiting for a notification to appear.

‘If I were the kitty, I wouldn’t be able to hide my thoughts.’

Especially since it doesn’t know its thoughts are being heard.

‘If it’s really a beast-folk, there should be some reaction.’

I silently looked down at the kitty. But no notification appeared.

‘…Maybe I’m being too sensitive.’

Thinking about it, I haven’t tried using holy power on all types of animals, so it’s difficult to generalize. I shrugged.

“There, there. Drink up quickly.”

The nursing bottle was already half empty. I gently tickled the kitty’s belly with my pinky finger. Its stomach was rounding out with each gulp of milk.

‘How fascinating. When I was a baby, did my belly become plump like this too with every meal?’

What was my childhood like? I pondered briefly, but nothing particular came to mind. From the moment my holy power manifested, I was treated solely as the Holy Maiden. In this temple, only Richard, my childhood friend, treated me like a peer.

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ answers that you were more lovable than any baby in this world.]

“Favoritism is bad.”

I talked back to the deity who occasionally sent me all sorts of compliments. Just as I smiled wryly, I noticed the nursing bottle making slurping sounds. The cat’s golden eyes were growing heavy.

“Little one, are you sleepy?”

I guess a full belly brings drowsiness. Looking at the cat’s large blinking eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.

At that moment, a gentle voice sounded from behind the door.

“Holy Maiden, it’s time for the grand ceremony.”

“Just a moment!”

Has it gotten so late already? I hurriedly placed the cat in its house.

Then, stroking its head, I said, “Sleep well, kitty. Don’t cry while I’m gone, okay?”

“Meow.”

The tiny voice was barely audible, seemingly about to fade away. It was completely overcome with sleep.

I looked at the cat one last time before hurriedly turning away.

‘Oh right, I also need to lead the prayer during this grand ceremony.’

I’d forgotten all these important duties because I was so preoccupied with the cat.

‘I need to purify the holy water first. And coordinate with His Holiness the Pope.’

All the tasks I needed to complete buzzed busily in my head. So I didn’t see what was happening behind me.

The sparkling golden eyes, chubby cheeks, and tiny wiggling fingers.

* * *

Kailas was indeed a beast-folk. Specifically, a black panther beast-folk with tremendous strength and explosive speed.

But when Cioranne asked if he was a beast-folk, the reason no notification appeared wasn’t because he truly had no thoughts about it.

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ temporarily blocks ‘Kyle’s’ channel.]

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ boasts, “Ahem, you should be grateful to me.”]

Contrary to Cioranne’s belief, the deity was also conversing with Kailas.

While eagerly sucking on the nursing bottle, Kailas was inwardly spewing harsh curses.

‘Grateful my as$. If you really want to show off, why don’t you break this curse?’

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ grabs him by the scruff of the neck.]

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ jumps up and down in rage.]

The reason notifications bothering Cioranne daily had decreased was because the deity was busy talking with Kailas too.

After Cioranne left for the grand ceremony, Kailas, alone in the room, stretched his body.

He was a beast-folk. This meant he could take both animal and human form.

‘Normally, one so young couldn’t transform into human form.’

But his mind was that of an adult, wasn’t it?

Kailas closed his eyes. He imagined his body growing. Then the fur disappeared from his body, revealing plump, fair arms.

With chubby cheeks like white bread and large, bead-like eyes, a baby with fluffy black hair remained in that spot, somehow giving off a mischievous impression.