NOVEL NEXT chapter 3 - Mii-chan Eats a Can of Cat Food
3: Mii-chan Eats a Can of Cat Food
The sound of a bell wakes me up. Hmm, I must have fallen asleep at some point. Mii-chan is still sleeping beside me. I think I heard the bell ring five times, so it must be 5 PM.
The time system here is the same as Earth: one day has 24 hours. There are no weeks, but a month is roughly 30 days, varying by country. There’s something like astronomy here, managed by the country, and citizens are informed about the new year’s details annually.
Time is indicated by bells, with 12 hours in a cycle repeated twice a day. One bell rings for one o’clock, two bells for two o’clock, and so on. After 12 bells, the next cycle starts back at one bell. In conversation, “one bell’s worth” means one hour.
Dinner time starts after the fifth bell, so it’s still a bit early, but I can eat and then go to the bath. I gently shake the sleeping Mii-chan to wake her up. She looks at me with sleepy eyes.
“Mii-chan, let’s go for dinner.”
“Mii?”
Hmm? She doesn’t seem hungry. Maybe I’ll eat by myself and get something for her from the landlady later.
For some reason, Mii-chan starts to nibble on me gently. What’s wrong?
“What’s the matter?”
“Mii, mii.”
She taps the bag with her tiny, adorable paw. Cute… I mean, what’s in the bag? I open it, and she sticks her head in, rummaging around. Is she playing? Suddenly, she pulls out the how-to book with her mouth. What does she want with it?
Mii-chan deftly opens the guidebook and taps the last page. Does she want me to read it? It’s the page with the hurried scribble from the god. I haven’t read this part thoroughly yet.
As I read, I realize it’s about Mii-chan. The god clearly adored her. At the end, there’s a postscript about Mii-chan’s food. Mii-chan only eats high-end cat food, which doesn’t exist in this world. So, what to do?
“I apologize for the inconvenience, but I’ve changed your skill to allow you to produce high-end cat food anytime. Please take care of Mii-chan ♡ Tehepero♪”
“…”
Seriously? Changing my skills without telling me… God, why?
I’ve been using the appraisal skill. What about the others? How do I check them? After some thought, I decide to appraise myself. When I do, a transparent panel appears with details. It says I’m very weak, and lists my skills: Appraisal, Map, Luck Increase… and Cat Supplies!?
Cat Supplies? My combat-related skills, Body Enhancement and Archery, are gone… In this dangerous world, what am I supposed to do now? And I’m labeled as very weak…
At the end of the god’s note, it says that I can regain the changed skills if I try hard enough. I need those skills right now! How am I supposed to try hard?
“Mii…”
“It’s okay, Mii-chan. It’s not your fault. I just need to work harder, right?”
“Mii.”
“Ugh…”
Mii-chan climbs up my body and starts licking my face as I fight back tears. No, I won’t cry! I can do this. I’m capable, I just need to prove it. I’ll survive for my sake and for Mii-chan’s sake!
First things first, let’s get some food. Worrying won’t solve anything right now. I need to fill my stomach and then think about my next steps.
When I go down to the inn’s dining area, which also serves as a bar, the innkeeper calls out to me.
“Ready for a meal?”
“Yes, please.”
“What about for the little one?”
“Could I get a plate and some water, please?”
“Sure thing.”
Now, how do I get this high-end cat food? The god didn’t leave any instructions. High-end cat food… nothing. Cat food… nothing. Mii-chan’s meal… nothing. Cat supplies… something!
A transparent panel appears with options for cat food and mineral water. I touch the cat food option, and a can of cat food appears in front of me. Suddenly, I feel a bit weak and tired. It seems producing these items isn’t free—overdoing it could be dangerous. I need to be careful.
Soon, the innkeeper brings my meal along with two small plates and a wooden cup filled with water.
“Here you go!”
“By the way, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Nero, and this little one is Mii-chan.”
“Nice to meet you, Nero. And you too, Mii-chan,” she says with a smile.
I open the can of cat food and place it on one of the small plates. Mii-chan eagerly starts eating.
“Enjoy your meal, Mii-chan,” I say, feeling a bit more hopeful.
I then turn my attention to my own meal, grateful for the moment of peace.
「Ahahaha! That’s right, I forgot to mention. I’m Anna. Feel free to call me whatever you like,” she said with a cheerful laugh before heading back.
Her name was Anna, which was what I saw when I appraised myself earlier as Nero. It seemed fine to stick with Nero since I was more accustomed to being called that. “Nero” might sound odd in this world, where straightforward names seemed more common.
The dishes Anna brought included some stir-fry, a stew of sorts, and black bread—vague descriptions, but I suppose that’s what appraisal is like here?
With two plates for Mii-chan, I put a can of cat food on one. When I tried to pour water into the other, Mii-chan shook her head vigorously, clearly reluctant.
“You don’t want water?”
“Mii…”
Huh? Water… mineral water? Was that what she meant? Using the cat supplies skill, I summoned mineral water. Suddenly, I felt dizzy…
“Mii~”
It seems I got it right. Pouring the mineral water into the plate, this time Mii-chan didn’t resist.
“Bon appétit,” I said.
“Mii~”
Mii-chan seemed to reply with her own version of “bon appétit.” It made me genuinely happy.
While the cat food summoned wasn’t high-end, Mii-chan seemed satisfied as she happily chowed down. At least now I don’t have to worry about her food.
The next issue is about the taste in this world. The dishes looked delicious, indeed. Trying them out, the stir-fry had a spicy seasoning that increased my appetite, while the stew contained chunks of meat so tender they could be cut with a spoon. It was tasty enough that I even went for seconds, though the overall flavor was somewhat mild. Perhaps the chef here is quite skilled.
It seems like Mii-chan is satisfied too after finishing her meal. She’s now licking her paws and washing her face. I wonder where all that canned food went inside her tiny body? It’s a mystery.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Are you finished already? You need to eat well to become stronger,” the innkeeper remarked.
Becoming strong just by eating feels like something only a food fighter can achieve, doesn’t it, innkeeper?
Now that my stomach is full, I’d like to go to the bath. I asked where the communal bath was, and it turns out it’s nearby, so let’s head there right away.
Since I can’t bring Mii-chan along, I’ll leave her in the room. I moved everything from my bag to the chest, took soap, a change of clothes, a towel, and since I didn’t know the fee, I took just one large silver coin.
“Mii-chan, I’m going to the bath, so please stay here.”
“Mii~”
She yawned and curled up on the bed.
Locking the room, I handed the key to the innkeeper and headed to the communal bath. It was a large stone building. The fee was 500 Let, which seems reasonable. But I need to find a way to earn money if I want to bathe here every day.
When I tried to pay with a large silver coin, it seemed to be frowned upon a bit. Maybe it’s because it’s like paying with a large bill. Well, I didn’t know the fee, so it can’t be helped.
I received two numbered tickets along with a basket to put my clothes and belongings in. I handed the tickets and the basket to the counter. It must be a theft prevention measure.
When I arrived at the bathhouse, it felt just like a traditional Japanese public bath. As I stood at the entrance, a stranger approached me.
“Hey buddy, first time at the communal bath?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s my first time. I’m quite overwhelmed by how large and spacious the bath is,” I replied.
“Hahaha, I get it, first-timers often feel that way. Today, it’s my treat for you, buddy! Sit down right here,” he said.
Following his instructions, I sat down in front of him. Suddenly, he poured water over my head with a splash, followed by a foamy liquid, and then vigorously washed my head. After that, he made me lie down and scrubbed my entire body energetically. It was a bit embarrassing but incredibly refreshing.
“How was that? It’s the best, right? Next time, make sure to pay up,” he chuckled.
“Yes, it was amazing. By the way, how much is it?” I asked.
“It’s 100 Leto.”
“That’s cheap!”
“Hahaha, yeah, it is. This is our service for our valued customers. Count on you next time!”
“Absolutely, I’ll be sure to come back. Thank you very much,” I replied gratefully.
“Alright then, enjoy your bath,” he said warmly.
This guy was like the bathhouse attendant you’d find in Japan. It was truly a wonderful experience. Afterward, I relaxed in the bath and thoroughly enjoyed the hot water.
I’ll definitely consider coming back to this communal bathhouse.