HTLCCBFT Chapter 97

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 97

Since Cat God No. 2 had clearly shown reluctance to be touched by Lucy, Oliver naturally wouldn’t force it.

He glanced at Lucy with a hint of regret: “It seems it doesn’t like you very much.”

Lucy was still staring at this aloof large cat, mesmerized as she stroked the side of her neck where the big tail had struck her earlier, completely unaware that she’d smudged her originally wheat-toned skin to a muddy color.

Hearing Oliver’s words, she stepped back as if waking from a dream and said dejectedly: “Yes, Your Highness. Indeed, such a proud and beautiful large cat… would only be willing to get close to the most pleasing person.”

Oliver couldn’t bear to see the girl—who had just gotten dirty from chasing chickens and was now clearly rejected by the seemingly good-tempered large cat—become so downhearted. So he changed the subject and suggested with a gentle smile: “Would you like to try raising one too? If you’re willing, you can pick one from those we bought from Gregor City this time and take it with you.”

Lucy’s eyes immediately lit up, overwhelmed by the favor: “Your Highness, can I really?”

“Of course,” Oliver smiled slightly. “You don’t need to stay here anymore. Go back and take a bath first, then choose your favorite kitten. After all, I originally intended to distribute those mouser work cats to common households as much as possible.”

Watching Lucy thank him happily and skip away, Oliver then turned his gaze to the golden large cat in his arms—which, aside from the earlier unceremonious tail attack, had returned to its well-behaved and docile appearance, snuggling softly against him.

He lowered his head slightly, his delicate upturned nose gently brushing against the pale golden-furred cat ear that twitched nimbly from time to time, and said with a smile: “So I’m the only cat tree you’ve chosen?”

…… Cat….. what is a cat tree?

To his slight surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, the cat lifted its head as if understanding his words.

Its pupils, dyed dark gold by the orange glow of the sunset, quietly reflected his face.

And within those deep, dark golden pools lay profound attachment.

…… Yes……

Though unsure what that unfamiliar term meant, the naive deity hesitated for a moment before following its instinct, affectionately nuzzling the embrace that carried a faint, intoxicating rose scent that made it feel deeply comforted.

……You are my…… only…… believer……

“Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve heard you meow yet.”

Are you a small… big mute cat?

Oliver mused thoughtfully, gazing at the large cat whose demeanor was composed and inexplicably elegant, and couldn’t help but show a tender smile.

“I’m honored, dear Cat God. No. 2.”

A voice so melodious it deeply intoxicated and delighted the deity drifted into its exceptionally sensitive cat ears.

It couldn’t help but close its eyes.

In Oliver’s eyes, this large cat—pretending to be calm and reserved but actually too tsundere to let anyone else touch it—was already so shy that its ears were quivering and twitching rapidly.

Though it was quite large… it was truly adorable.

Oliver felt his heart soften with affection.

He couldn’t help but lower his head slightly, kissing the forehead between those ears covered with shorter fur. When he felt the large tail begin to sway unconsciously from side to side, he said with a delighted smile, “Then from now on, you’ll only be my cat.”

The swaying long tail paused briefly.

Then it began swaying even faster, symbolizing its owner’s inner excitement and joy.

…… Like……

After unilaterally declaring this matter, Oliver brought the large cat back to the castle.

Along the way, he actually made a detour to check on the temporary pasture where the pigs were kept, thinking he might be able to pet them.

Unfortunately, whether it was because it was too late and the pigs had all returned to the newly built simple wooden shed, or because his usually irresistible affinity didn’t work on pigs…

He could only see from a distance that the pigs were either resting on the ground, and the few that were still awake absolutely refused to come over.

He had no choice but to give up.

Oliver hadn’t been gone for long, but Fosse, who rarely left his side, had already finished his conversation with Arte earlier.

When other servants informed him that the young lord had left the castle alone with the large cat, only allowing the knights to follow from a distance, his brows immediately furrowed.

No matter how many times Lord Oliver had demonstrated his powerful divine power in front of him, in Fosse’s eyes, the other remained delicate, slender, pure, and kind.

It was true in the past.

And now… it still remained true.

The young lord in the royal capital was innocently pure and kind.

The young lord now maintained his inherent kindness even after witnessing the ugliness of evil people.

In Fosse’s heart, both were equally precious.

“Lord Oliver has gone out?” Upon hearing this, Arte immediately invited himself to follow the hurried Fosse, eagerly asking, “Has he gone hunting in the forest? Dear butler, would you permit me to accompany his lordship?”

Although he hadn’t actually met Oliver in person since coming to Laina,

he could imagine that when the delicate and beautiful duke held a longbow – regardless of whether he had the strength to draw it – the contrasting image alone would be pleasing to the eye.

“Mr. Arte.”

Fosse suddenly stopped, his cool deep green eyes carrying a heavy warning: “You seem to be getting carried away.”

“Understood.” Arte smiled and made a surrendering gesture: “But dear Mr. Fosse, your goals and mine have always been aligned from the beginning. Since that’s the case, please grant me the treatment due to an ally.”

Fosse looked at him deeply.

His thin lips with distinct lines pressed slightly together, but he didn’t voice any rebuttal.

Even though Arte was known in the royal capital as a dissolute scoundrel frequently reprimanded by Count Studio for his unorthodox ways, he had become the only one among the count’s more than ten children to obtain a baronetcy, which certainly spoke to his own capabilities.

And his resolute departure from the royal capital meant he had abandoned his father’s position of worshipping the new king, clearly choosing to stand on Duke Oliver’s side.

Whether it was the resources he could bring or the intelligence previously exchanged, in the current situation where the young lord severely lacked support, Fosse…there was no reason to kick him out.

Although he deeply resented allowing such an audacious admirer of the young lord to get so close.

Having received Fosse’s tacit approval, Arte—who had already achieved his goal of warning the other—wisely knew when to stop pushing his luck.

He had expended great effort and paid a considerable price to gain permission from this overly protective former knight captain to openly approach Oliver.

He certainly couldn’t afford to offend him now.

Arte thought cheerfully.

The biggest obstacle had been overcome. Now, all that remained was to convince his beautiful muse to let him paint that—

“God, what is that?!”

The moment he stepped out of the castle gates, the scene before him made Arte stare in stunned disbelief!

There was… there was actually a tiger, known for its ferocious temperament, clinging to his muse!

“What are you standing there for?!”

Seeing the butler—who had just been cold toward him—now frozen in place, Arte felt both furious and frantic.

He hadn’t even painted the Angel Duke’s likeness yet—how could he let some ignorant beast’s sharp claws ruin it?!

Though unskilled in combat and already breaking out in goosebumps from instinctive fear, driven by his obsessive dedication to his art, Arte immediately sprang into action.

Watching the unfamiliar nobleman—face slightly contorted, shouting incoherently, and charging wildly toward him—Oliver couldn’t help but freeze.

That must be Baron Arte. He was already awake?

And reacting like this…

After spending half a day together, Oliver hadn’t connected the “great danger” Arte perceived with the well-behaved, intelligent golden cat on him—more sensible than any house cat.

Was something wrong behind him?

Without thinking, Oliver glanced back.

The ridge behind him remained smooth and undisturbed. Aside from a few slaves stealing curious glances, nothing seemed amiss.

Just as he turned back toward the castle in confusion, about to ask Arte what was happening, the man had already rushed up to him.

Suppressing his fear, Arte reached out to tear the seemingly lazy but highly threatening “beast” off Oliver and throw it to the ground.

“Throw it—”

Before he could finish, Arte was struck by a swift black shadow.

He had no time to cry out before being forced back a step by the unimaginable force.

To onlookers, it appeared the unusually large golden cat had merely flicked its tail, sending Arte tumbling disgracefully into the mud.

He seemed to have hit his tailbone, howling in pain and completely losing his composure!

Oliver: “……”

Not only him, but even Fosse, who had witnessed this extraordinary scene up close, wore a rare look of astonishment.

When Oliver looked back at the golden cat—now leisurely retracting its tail, still wearing an innocent expression—his gaze had completely changed.

“So,” he blinked, both amused and exasperated, “you went easy on Lucy earlier with your tail.”

He didn’t doubt or dismiss the possibility that Arte had genuinely been sent flying by the tail.

No matter how refined and frail Arte might appear, he was undoubtedly a full-grown adult man.

Even if it was a surprise attack, in his view, the big cat had merely used its tail nonchalantly to repel the opponent with a single strike…

Don’t be ridiculous—how could that possibly be the kind of strength a big cat could possess?

Fosse also believed that Arte was merely putting on an exaggerated performance.

He slightly lifted the corner of his lips, taking a few moments to appreciate the other’s struggle in the mud before signaling with his eyes for the servants to help the seemingly fragile young noble up from the ground.

It was just a pity that Arte, having just bathed and changed clothes, would have to wash again.

“I saw you were busy and thought I wouldn’t go far, especially with this personal guard,” Oliver explained proactively, even though Fosse hadn’t asked. At this point, he smiled and glanced at the seemingly lazy big cat in his arms. “So I went out on my own.”

Fosse felt a slight warmth in his heart.

Upon hearing the jest about the “personal guard,” he couldn’t help but stare at the golden cat’s back for a moment before bending down helplessly. “With the great Cat God’s protection, I believe Your Highness won’t encounter any danger.”

The corpses of the bandit group hadn’t even fully dried yet and had been pitifully washed by the heavy rain. Under such a shocking and powerful deterrent, no one else would dare to invade anytime soon.

Of course, if Oliver had ventured any farther, Fosse’s mood wouldn’t have been so relaxed.

Mentioned by name, the golden cat’s ears twitched slightly.

…… I…… like the things this person says……

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