Chapter 1
I am a cat. My name is Fur-cule Purr-ot. I chose it myself.
In my previous life, I was what they call a “Corporate Slave Girl” back in Japan—just another overworked office lady.
I worked, and worked, and worked... yet my salary never went up, AI started stealing my job, prices kept skyrocketing, summers were blistering, winters were freezing, and I had no idea if I’d ever see a cent of my pension. It was a cold, cruel world.
“Oh! Watch out, kitty!”
I saw a tiny kitten—looking just like a white mochi ball—shivering in the middle of the road. I dashed out to save it, and then—TRUCK-KUN!—I was sent straight to another world.
When I woke up, for some reason, I had become a sleek black cat.
“Give me the Chururu treats!” I demanded.
“Solve the problems of those in this other world,” the God replied, “and I shall grant you one Chururu for every case.”
And so, here I am. As Fur-cule Purr-ot, I find my “grey paw-pads” twitching with every mystery I scent.
The God has a habit of making me “encounter” these locals. All I do is purr and act cute, and they just start spilling all their secrets to me.
“Oh? A door in a place like this? I wonder what’s inside... It’s like a secret garden.”
See? Right on cue. A young noble lady has wandered into the garden where I was enjoying my afternoon nap.
Girls in this world are as stunning as movie stars. Fantasy-colored hair and eyes? Total goals. And that lovely dress? Major style points.
This girl has orange hair and emerald-green eyes. Absolutely adorable!
“Miss Kitty, may I pet you?”
“Meow-purrr. (Go ahead. But keep it slow. Oh, yeah, right there... You’ve got a magic touch, girl.)”
“Miss Kitty, can I talk to you? My fiancé... he always prioritizes his ‘sickly’ childhood friend over me.”
“Mew. (Ugh, that classic trope. Major red flag, honey. Honestly, he’s not worth your time.)”
“Every time we have a date, she suddenly ‘falls ill.’ And every single time, he ditches me to go to her side.”
“Meow-purrr-hiss! (Typical! Tell me about it. She’s definitely doing that on purpose to mess with you.)”
“I want to ask him who matters more, her or me... but I just can’t bring myself to do it.”
“Mew-un. (Smart move. Never give a man an ultimatum; it’s a rookie mistake that always backfires.)”
“What should I do? If he stands me up at the upcoming ball, I’ll… I’ll be the laughingstock of the whole social circle.”
“Meow, meow, meow! (Just dump his sorry ass! There are plenty of better fish in the sea, trust me.)”
“But I love him so much. Seeing him give that tender smile to another girl… it just rips my heart out.”
“Hiss! (Ugh, my heart breaks for you. That guy is absolute trash.)”
“Miss Kitty, what do you think I should do?”
“Meow, meow, meow, Chururu! (Alright, I’ve got a plan! Leave it to me. I can practically taste that Chururu reward already.)”
I hopped off Little Miss Orange lap and trotted toward the garden door. When I looked back, she was just standing there like a deer in headlights.
“Meow-buff! (Don’t just stand there daydreaming! Come on, chop-chop! Follow me!)”
I gave her a sharp cry to snap her out of it. She finally got the message and came scurrying after me.
With the bit of divine power I got from God, I can go anywhere in a heartbeat. In the blink of an eye, Little Miss Orange and I were perched on a tree branch overlooking the garden of a somewhat dilapidated mansion. She was panicking big time, but as I gently licked her hand, she began to calm down.
In the room clearly visible from our branch, dry coughing echoed incessantly. There they were—a man and a woman.
Oho. I see, I see. She’s the slender, fragile type that triggers a man’s protective instinct. A textbook “damsel in distress” manipulator. Men are so weak against those “I need your help” vibes. Doesn’t matter which world you’re in—it’s always the same.
The man rubbing her back had such kind, gentle eyes. He looked like the type who could never say no. I see, I see... so this is the guy you’re in love with? Well, to each their own. If this is the guy Little Miss Orange wants, I suppose I have to support her.
Little Miss Orange gripped my tail tight. Highly unpleasant, but I’ll endure it for now.
“I’m so sorry... always causing you trouble,” the girl whimpered.
“Don’t worry about it. We’re childhood friends, aren’t we?”
“But... won’t she be angry with you?”
The man looked away guiltily. For a split second, a look of smug triumph flashed in the girl’s eyes.
Yep, I knew it. She’s definitely hunting him. Alright then, time for my first move.
“Meow! (Heal!)”
The girl suddenly glowed with a brilliant light. I could see the toxins being purged from her body.
“W-What was that light?!”
“I don’t know... but suddenly I feel so much better. Is it a miracle?”
“Someone! Someone, call a doctor!”
As the room fell into a total uproar, Little Miss Orange and I watched silently from the shadows.
Now, for the main event: the royal ball. I’ve tucked myself inside Little Miss Orange’s voluminous dress. I have to hop and skip a bit to make sure she doesn’t accidentally step on me.
She whispered in a voice only I could hear.
“I’m glad he actually showed up, but...”
“Mnn-mew. (Yeah, tell me about it. What a shocker.)”
“Oh, I’m so sorry for intruding,” the Other Girl simpered. “Since it’s my first ball after finally getting healthy, I was just too nervous to come alone.”
“Don’t push yourself,” the fiancé replied softly. “You’re still recovering, after all.”
The man and the Manipulative Girl were flirting right in front of us. Little Miss Orange’s face grew darker by the second.
“Mng-nyah! (Grr... this makes my fur crawl!)”
That “fragile beauty” was soaking up all the attention in the room. Ugh. This wasn’t exactly how I planned this to go.
The Prince began his opening toast. He was a quite dashing, sparkling young man. Not bad, not bad at all.
“Welcome, everyone, to the ball celebrating the arrival of spring! Our kingdom enjoys this peace only because the Hero of old defeated the Freezing Demon King.”
At the Prince’s signal, attendants rolled out a cart. Upon it sat a massive rock with an ancient sword thrust deep into its center.
Oh ho. It looks just like King Arthur’s Excalibur.
The Prince pulled at the sword with all his might, but it didn’t budge an inch. He gave the crowd a charming, breezy smile.
“Legends say that when the Demon King resurfaces, the Holy Sword will call for a new Hero. Only the chosen one can draw it from the stone.”
“Meow, meow, meow, Chururu! (I’ve got it! Leave it to me. I can practically taste that Chururu reward already!)”
I made the Holy Sword erupt in a brilliant flash of light. A beam of radiance shot out from the blade, pointing directly... at the Manipulative Girl.
The ballroom erupted in a frantic buzz, and the crowd scrambled back, leaving the three of them standing alone in the spotlight.
“Could it be? My lady, would you care to try pulling this Holy Sword?”
Ordered by the Prince himself, the Manipulative Girl turned pale. No one in the kingdom could refuse a direct request from royalty. Trembling like a leaf, she approached the rock and gingerly took hold of the hilt.
With a brilliant flash of light, the sword slid out as smooth as butter. The girl collapsed right there on the spot, her legs giving out from under her.
“A Hero! This lady is the Chosen Hero! Everyone, kneel!”
The entire ballroom fell to their knees. Little Miss Orange and her fiancé crumpled to the floor along with the rest.
“Lady Hero, will you set forth on a journey for the sake of our kingdom?”
The Prince’s tone was polite, but his words carried the weight of an unbendable command.
The Manipulative Girl cast a desperate, pleading look at the fiancé. “H-Hey... you’ll come with me, won’t you?”
The fiancé snapped his head up, his eyes meeting hers in pure panic.
“I... no, I couldn’t possibly! An escort for the Hero? That’s far too great a burden for someone like me! I... I can’t!”
Beside him, Little Miss Orange’s hand tightened into a firm fist.
“Oh, but you must go,” she said, her voice clear and cutting. “After all, you’ve always been by her side whenever she was ‘struggling,’ haven’t you? This is exactly when she needs your support most. You are childhood friends, aren’t you?”
“W-What?! No, wait—”
“Go on. Off you go.”
Little Miss Orange stood up, hauled the fiancé to his feet, and literally shoved him toward the new “Hero.”
“I wish you both a very happy life together. As for us... let’s just consider our engagement officially null and void, shall we?”
With a radiant, sun-drenched smile, she turned her back on them and walked away without a single glance behind her.
Oho! She finally cut the cord! Well done, Little Miss Orange! Bravo!
“Meow-purrr-nya. (You did good, kid.)”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve finally opened my eyes. A pathetic man like him? That woman is more than welcome to have him.”
“Mew! (That’s my girl!)”
The “Hero” formerly known as the Manipulative Girl and her new partner set off on their journey to defeat the Demon King, cheered on by every citizen in the royal capital. Little Miss Orange watched them go with a bright, carefree smile, even as the two of them looked absolutely miserable.
Does a Demon King even exist? Honestly, even I don’t know. I guess they can spend the rest of their lives wandering around looking for one.
As my reward, God granted me a Chururu. This one had a rich, exquisite flavor—kind of like high-end sushi.
“Meow-meow-meow! (Simply divine!)”
As I savored my treat, I kept a watchful eye on the two young royals nearby.
“I was captivated by your strength,” the Prince said softly. “The way you bravely sent your own fiancé off on such a perilous journey.”
“Oh, please. It was nothing,” she replied. “It was only the right thing to do.”
“I suspect you have lived your life sacrificing yourself for others like that for a long time.”
“Perhaps... you are right.”
“I wish to hear your selfish desires for once. Is it boorish of me to ask?”
“Not at all. My only ‘selfish’ wish is to spend just a little more time with you, Your Highness. That is all.”
“That hardly counts as selfish, does it? But very well. Then, shall we visit the hills tomorrow? The sacred site where the Holy Sword once rested. We can offer some flowers there together.”
“I would love that.”
Ugh, so sweet it’s giving me cavities! But that’s okay. Little Miss Orange is a good girl; she’s a perfect match for this sparkling Prince.
“Meow-ow-nya. (Live happily ever after, you two.)”
As if she had heard my voice, Little Miss Orange turned around.
I gave her one last, slow flick of my tail.
