Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri, Gender bender)

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
The pounding of my heartbeat roars in my ears, relentless, suffocating.
And then… I start… giggling.
Not a nervous chuckle, not a fragile laugh to stave off the fear—no, full-blown, breathless giggles erupt from me, uncontrollable and maddening! My chest trembles, my hands shake, and it feels like my entire body is vibrating with an unfamiliar, electric sensation!
It's like some foreign drug is coursing through my veins, a dizzying, euphoric high that I can't suppress. My breaths hitch as the corners of my mouth twist upward, a manic grin splitting my face.
Why am I smiling?
Honestly…
WHY AM I SMILING!!???
WHAT THE HELL?
The sight before me should have made me retch!
The lifeless bodies are scattered across the ground like broken dolls, entrails snake across the dirt in obscene patterns. Brains, bone shards, and blood splatter the earth in grotesque detail. On top of that, the air is thick with the stench of iron—the metallic tang of blood clings to my senses, oppressive and suffocating.
It's making me shiver.
But it's not the kind of shiver that comes from fear.
No, this sensation is… different.
It's more like tickling.
Tickling my brain!!!
Fuck!
I'm scared!
Terrified, even.
But not of the slaughter.
No.
I'm scared of… myself!
"W-what the hell is wrong with me?" I whisper, my legs move a step back, my voice trembling, barely audible. My arms wrap tightly around my torso as if trying to restrain the trembling.
No… this isn't normal.
And yes, I'm trying
Trying to not feel this way, physically trying!
But.. it's not possible!
Is this a side effect of the Nightmare Orchid? Some kind of lingering magic warping my emotions?
I don't understand it. None of it makes sense!
I should be horrified. My knees should be buckling, my stomach twisting in knots, bile rising in my throat!
But instead…
I feel none of those things.
No disgust. No nausea.
In fact, I feel… elated! exhilarated!
Joy!
Pure joy!
I'm enjoying this.
No..
I'M LOVING THIS!
And yet, I don't understand it.
I CAN'T!
Everything about this reaction goes against the very core of who I thought I was.
I should feel horrified. I should be nauseous. I should want to run away screaming. But I don't.
Back on Earth, in my past life, gore was something I couldn't handle. Not even in the slightest.
Sure, I was a hardcore gamer who loved action-packed games and movies, but the moment I was faced with real-life blood and violence? I crumbled.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I was on my way to school when that happened.
A car accident.
A little girl's lifeless body sprawled beneath a bus. Pieces of her skull and brain scattered across the cement.

And even though it was only one or two second of looking.
I threw up immediately.
For days afterward, I couldn't sleep without nightmares.
I couldn't even look at red meat, let alone touch it.
The sight of blood was enough to send me spiraling into traumatic flashbacks. It was that moment that made me abandon any thoughts of med school. The sight of real blood, real flesh—it wasn't something I could ever face again.
But now…
I'm standing here.
Not just standing—I'm fine.
More than fine.
I'm… thriving.
The blood-soaked scene feels exhilarating, like an adrenaline rush I can't escape.
I laugh bitterly under my breath, the sound hollow and foreign.
"What the hell is wrong with me?"
It's not just wrong. It's insane!
I clutch at my chest, trying to steady my breath. It's as if I've become an entirely different person.
No. Not just different, and not just a person.
But…
A monster.
Is this even me?
Or…
I freeze.
Wait… Is this because of the reincarnation?
Is this twisted reaction tied to this catgirl body?
Are these emotions—this dark, perverse joy—hers?
If that's the case…
Then who—no, what—was she before?
However, I don't have time to unravel the knot of questions tightening in my mind, because Eris suddenly moves.
She turns her head towards me, her piercing, cold eyes locking onto me.
For a moment, her expression shifts—her sharp, murderous gaze softening into something I can't quite read.
Concern? Confusion?
She flicks her hand, and the black sword she wielded so mercilessly dissolves into wisps of smoke, disappearing as if it never existed.
And then, she moves toward me.
Fast.
Too fast.
My pulse skyrockets.
Oh no.
Did she notice?
Did she hear me giggle just now?
Shit.
Panic consumes me, gripping my chest like a vice. My body moves on instinct, taking a step back as if I can physically distance myself from the truth clawing at my insides.
This isn't good.
No.
This is worse than bad.
If Eris figures out what kind of person—what kind of monster—I've become…
She'll hate me.
No.
Worse.
She'll be disgusted!!!
Aaaaaa…
What should I do? What excuse can I possibly come up with now?
My thoughts spiral into chaos, frantic and desperate.
But then—
"Eh?"
I'm jolted out of my panic.
Before I even realize what's happening, I'm enveloped in warmth—a tight, secure embrace that anchors me back to reality.
Eris.
Her arms are wrapped around me, holding me close, steadying the storm in my chest. Her presence feels like a balm, soothing my frantic thoughts, and for a moment, I forget everything else.
Then, her voice breaks through, trembling and full of regret.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have let you see that. I lost control—I was so angry, I didn't think about how it would affect you. You must be terrified!"
Her words tumble out in a rush, each one laced with guilt.
Ah.
So that's what she thinks.
Eris assumes I'm traumatized. She believes my reaction is one of fear and revulsion.
Relief floods through me like a wave, washing away the tension in my chest.
Phew! Saved!!!
"N-no, no! I-I'm okay! I'm not scared!" I stammer, hoping to reassure her.
But Eris quickly pulls back, her hands gripping my shoulders as she examines me.
"Oh no! Your tail is all puffed up, and your ears are shaking too!" Her voice rises, filled with panic. "What have I done? Oh, what have I done? Quick, let's get out of here!"
Before I can respond, she's already pushing me forward, her urgency palpable.
I know that my ears and tails are like that not because of fear. And I want to say something to ease her worry somehow, but the sheer conviction in her tone leaves me speechless.
Eris is utterly convinced that she's scared me senseless, and, well…
That works in my favor, doesn't it?
No complaints here.
"A-alright!" I nod, letting her lead the way.
And thus, Eris hurriedly wipes the blood off her face with a cloth, frantically and almost clumsily. There's still so much blood on her clothes, though. Without a second thought, I pull off my cloak and hand it to her.
"Y-you can take mine!" I suggest.
She hesitates for a brief moment before taking it, draping it over herself to cover the worst of the mess.
"Thanks.." Eris murmurs, smiling at me softly.
And with that, we rush back toward the Gilded Horns.
—————————
Moments later…
The walk is brisk, neither of us saying much as the adrenaline slowly ebbs away.
But as the chaos of the moment fades, my thoughts return.
Eris.
I still can't believe it.
She just… murdered—no, slaughtered—more than ten people in front of me. And not just anyone—two of them were D-rank adventurers, people who would have been considered strong by most standards.
But to her?
They were nothing.
She tore through them like they were mere rats, like they didn't even matter.
And she told me she was E-rank. She even showed me her ID.
How?
Unless…
She lied?
"Eris," I begin hesitantly, breaking the silence. "Y-you're not E-rank, are you?"
The question stops us both in our tracks.
Eris turns to me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, she says nothing, as if weighing her words carefully. Then she exhales.
"No," she admits, shaking her head, her voice low. "I'm not. But…" She pauses, her gaze flicking around. "Let's talk when we're home, okay? I'll explain everything. But not here—not now."
She gestures subtly with her head.
Ah, I see!
We're still in public. People are nearby. Whatever secrets she's hiding, she doesn't want to reveal them here!
And honestly?
That's fine by me!
I nod, letting the matter drop for now. It's actually better this way. I need time too, time to think about what just happened and to figure out exactly what I want to ask when the moment comes.