The Strange Cat from Fuuto

The two-meter-tall figure in front of him exerted a great sense of pressure with every move he made. He could only stand facing the other person because of the strong mental fortitude he had developed over many years of professional experience!

Miku chuckled softly, noticing that Kizaki's calves were trembling: "If you're already about to give up, don't force yourself!"

"Give me the item; it belongs to the Sage!"

Miku, who was extending his arm toward Kizaki, spoke casually and cleverly shifted the blame to a certain cunning old fox!

"Impossible! This was entrusted to me by Mr. Katayama. I will not give it to you!"

"Unless I die!"

Kizaki, clutching the suitcase tightly, was adamant. This thing was obtained at the cost of his partner and collaborator Katayama's life; it was the key to their mastery of magic, and he couldn't just give it up so easily!

"Well, there's nothing we can do about that!"

Miku, scratching his head, vanished in a flash. Kizaki's eyes bulged, his mouth slightly open, and some drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"I'll take my things with me!"

Miku easily tore the handcuffs apart and left the scene with the box, while all the Devouring Monsters rushed into the woods by the roadside.

"Pfft!"

Kizaki strained to open his eyes and reached out with difficulty to retrieve the item, but he was overcome by the pain in his lower abdomen and internal organs and fainted.

"We've got the stuff!"

After opening the box, Miku glanced at the cyan magic gem inside, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

After dealing with all the Devouring Monsters, the tall, god-like figure disappeared into the forest!

Chapter 10: Everyone move aside, I'm about to start conning people!

Torii-zaka, inside a hospital.

"Waaah..."

Kizaki, lying on the hospital bed, let out a groan, and his fingers, which were sticking out from under the covers, twitched slightly.

"Give it back to me!"

Kizaki's sudden shout startled his subordinates in the ward.

"Officer Kizaki!"

The subordinate, who had come to the bedside, asked with concern, "Are you feeling any discomfort in your body right now?"

"I'm fine with it, but what about the box?!"

"I'm sorry, when we arrived, we only found you lying on the ground. Apart from your smashed car, we didn't find anything else!"

"hateful!"

Kizaki slammed his fist on the bed and lay back down, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty as he began to recall everything that had happened.

"Give me the item; it belongs to the Sage!"

The figure, as if a demon god, spoke softly in his mind, and he straightened up abruptly, his eyes flashing.

"Go and investigate some things right now!"

"What is it, please tell me?"

"As for the name 'Sage,' get everyone involved to investigate it, whether it's folk tales or written records, find it all!"

"Yes!"

After watching his subordinates leave, Kizaki raised the hospital bed and leaned it against the bed.

"If what that guy said is true, then the magic gem that Mr. Katayama found half a year ago must be related to the Sage, or even..."

"The kidnapping incident was committed by them!"

........

Torii-zaka, a house that has been abandoned.

The iron gate was covered in rust, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the windows were nailed shut with wooden strips. From a distance, the house looked like a haunted house!

Recently, the eerie wailing sounds coming from inside the house late at night have made the surrounding residents keep their distance!

Inside the room, Miku was sprawled on a sofa covered with a dust cloth, with wizard rings scattered around him. As for the turquoise magic gem he had just acquired, he had tossed it to Iggy to sharpen his teeth.

The dog, lying on the floor, was holding a blue magic gem in its two front paws and chewing on it incessantly. Every time it bit down, a sickeningly loud crunching sound could be heard.

"We've got the item, but what should we do with it?"

Miku, lying on her side on the sofa, twitched her tail intermittently. Magic gems can only be made into rings by ring makers like Shigeru Wajima, who can cut, polish, and select the essence from them.

However, Miku, who has now acquired it, is unable to craft the ring using the mage's methods.

After all, Wajima Shigeru was tricked by the White Demon and stopped making rings for people who didn't know the details. Even Haruto only decided to start making rings again after Wajima Shigeru had a deep understanding of the situation!

"Then we'll have to find another ring maker!"

"Then who should we contact?!"

Miku, wagging his tail, stared at the chandelier on the ceiling. He had no connections to rely on right now. As for the sorcerer, he would probably be chased for debts as soon as he showed his face. And the White Demon was taking a hands-off approach to him!

However, judging from that old guy's thoughts, he probably also intends to use himself as a human sacrifice for the future re-hosting of the Witch's Feast!

"We need to think of a solution. It's not a good idea to keep using this thing for Iggy to grind his teeth!"

The more Miku thought about it, the more conflicted she became. She started to think of people she could use one by one!

After much thought, the only option seems to be to follow the path of the mage.

"Damn it, do we really have to return the ring to the mage?"

With a frantic howl, Miku got up from the sofa. "Forget it, let's just take it one step at a time. If it really doesn't work, we'll think of something else!"

"Let's go, Iggy! Let's go for a walk!"

"Gah?"

At the Shadow Hall, the mage was lying on the sofa, enjoying the comforting feeling that came with a full stomach, his eyes half-closed.

"Haruto, aren't you going to search for the Phantom today?"

"Let me rest a little longer, I'm a bit too full today!"

Alex handed a cup of tea to the mage, and seeing the man's expression, he couldn't help but complain, "Who told you to eat so many donuts in one go!"

"There's no way around it, I usually just take a bite and then something happens, so I never get to eat properly. This time I have the chance, so of course I'm going to eat my fill!"

The mage, lounging lazily on the sofa, took the teacup handed to him by Alex, felt the warmth of the teacup in his palm, and let out a long, contented sigh.

"If only there were no Phantom!"

"Ding!"

As the shop door opened, Rinko, carrying a bag, walked in and heard Haruto's sigh. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "If it's really as you say, do you think we can still get together like this?"

"that's true!"

Haruto, who straightened up from the sofa, nodded in agreement.

"Mr. Haruto!"

Nara Shunpei, who had just entered, rushed up to the monk and presented him with the bag in his hand as if it were a treasure.

"Donuts today!"

"Thanks, Shunpei, but I'm already full!"

"Hey~~"

Nara Shunpei, drawing out his words, slumped down on the sofa beside him, looking somewhat dejected. Seeing this, the wizard smiled and took the bag from his hand, saying, "But you can still have one more!"

The mage, who had just taken a bite of a donut, suddenly froze, because the shop door opened again and a figure walked in.

The robes, with their black and white patterns resembling fur, and the white faceplate branded with black fang patterns, were adorned with a tail that swayed slowly behind the other person. What stunned him even more was the long chain hanging from the other person's left waist.

Isn't that my chain?!

"Hey Wizard, it's nice to see you again!"

"You robber, how dare you show your face in front of us!"

Alex was furious when she saw Miku. She would often recall Miku's banditry and ugly face that day, especially his unreasonable and sophistry, which made her grit her teeth in anger.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't get so angry!"

Miku raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm, while the mage, with his arms crossed, looked at Miku seriously and said, "I wonder what brings you here this time!"

"It's very important, it concerns the Phantom!"

The serious tone coming from Miku made the mage temporarily put aside the matter of "borrowing" the ring last time.

Nothing is more important than the Phantom!

"Um, I'll go prepare some tea!"

Wajima Shigeru, who had just come out, immediately went into the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks. Miku, who was sitting opposite the Master, secretly took a look at the layout of the Menkage-do.

As an antique shop, Mianyingtang's layout tends to give people a warm, homey feeling. Various antiques are displayed throughout the shop as decorations, while the sofas and chairs in the center provide a place for people to chat.

Further inside are the stairs leading to the second floor, as well as the small counter room where Alex usually stays, the kitchen, and Wajima Shigeru's studio.

"What exactly did you find out!?"

As soon as he sat down, the mage couldn't wait to start questioning Miku. Miku pulled his tail out from behind him and put it aside before slowly saying, "Before I say anything more, please be prepared, because this matter is of great importance!"

"What on earth is so serious!?"

Rinko Daimon couldn't help but speak up, while Alex looked at Miku with a scrutinizing gaze and said, "Putting everything else aside, why are you staying in your transformed state here?"

"Well..."

Miku scratched his chin and chuckled, "Of course I have my reasons. It's not the right time yet. When the time comes, you'll all know who I am!"

Miku's mysterious way of speaking made Alex's opinion of him drop even further, but Miku didn't care; that's just how this girl is!

"Alright, Alex, let's not talk about this anymore. I want him to tell me about the Phantom!"