The Cat and the Dragon (猫と竜)

The Return of the Mother Cat

The Return of the Mother Cat

What do we have here?

How satisfying!

Oh, on a stroll?

I am, Mr. Gardener.

One must take a walk at least once a day.

Not to mention this is also very good exercise!

That's good to hear.

But how did foxtails come to be here?

I thought the school garden only had medicinal plants.

We received the seeds from a place called the Forest for Beginners.

Oh? The Forest for Beginners, you say?!

Yes. Generally, foxtails prefer open areas like fields,

but there's a group of cats who created a square in the forest just to grow them.

Oh my! Rather peculiar cats, aren't they?

They made it for the enjoyment of other cats, perhaps?

Exactly.

He was quite a likable person—I mean, cat.

After some negotiating, he agreed to give me some seeds, and I grew them.

These are the results.

They say, to each their own,

but who knew there were cats who grew foxtails?

But my goodness, it was tough...

Lord Cat Dragon lives in that forest, after all.

Ah, the Cat Dragon. I've heard the rumors.

It's the dragon who protects the forest cats.

Yes, so contacting any forest cat requires the utmost care.

I mean, Lord Cat Dragon is also known as the Imperial Dragon—ruler of all dragons.

They say he once destroyed a whole army with single breath.

And he did it all to protect the forest cats.

How incredible.

Could that really be my little one?

The more I hear, the less likely it feels it is.

Wow, so the foxtails came from your hometown.

That's right.

I'm not the type to reminisce about the past, but it did take me back.

Speaking of which, you haven't gone back to that forest even once, Mama-nyan.

Not once since I summoned you.

Professor.

We're going home during the break.

Take care.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again in the new semester.

Bye!

I know. Why don't you go back to your forest, too?

What?

School is out for a while, after all.

So why not take a nice, long vacation?

Excuse me! I know you're in there!

Can you hear me?

It's your mommy!

Open up!

Open the doo—

Mommy! I heard you already!

Why would you bang on the door like that?! You scared me!

How many times must I tell you to use the bell!

Oh! It must have slipped my mind.

You know how I am with new things!

It's fine this time, since no one saw...

But I have a reputation to uphold, you know!

Always with your reputation.

Sure, dear. I'll be more careful.

The Forest for Beginners?

Yes. I thought I might finally go back for a bit.

With your teleportation magic, I could be there in a flash.

No, that's not possible.

Why not?

Weren't you making portals all over the world?

Yes, but I can't place one in that forest.

The dragon's barrier covers the entire thing.

The dragon's barrier?

You know... my winged little brother.

He probably never thought I'd want to go back to put a portal there.

Say, is that dragon really my winged little one?

I mean, a dragon from that forest could only be him, right?

You think so?

The more rumors I hear, the more I think it can't possibly be my little one.

Well, he's not so little anymore...

That's not what I mean.

Anyhow, to get to the forest,

you'll have to go to the human city nearby and then walk.

It'll take a while.

Oh, that's fine.

It's a city with a big castle, right?

If you teleport me there, you can come back here right away.

What?!

I thought I'd come with you...

Don't you have work to do, though?

Excuse me!

See? There are already students at the dungeon entrance.

Professor Demon!

Do you have time right now?

We'd like to train in the dungeon.

Huh?

Didn't they just finish their exams?

That's some diligence.

Come now, you had better hurry.

Give me ten minutes!

Wait, are you eating right now?

Maybe he's using the restroom?

Maybe he has a visitor?

Maybe it's his girlfriend?

No, that's not—

Just zoom me to the city, and then zoom back here!

All right, already!

I can't keep going like this. I need a vacation.

Thanks.

If anything happens, just let me know.

Yes, yes.

You can use telepathy, can't you? So talk to me!

Yes, yes, sure.

That forest has a lot of bears.

You're not young anymore, so don't be a hero, okay?

Honestly! You are such a worrywart. I'll be fine, so just go back, already!

Aren't your students waiting?

Please just be really careful.

Now then, which way to the forest?

Oh, please! Applause, for me?

Well, your sprint was truly a marvel. Your magic is excellent.

My name is Haibuchi.

I live in this town.

Oh my, thank you kindly.

I can't tell you my real name,

since it seems it causes issues, as I am a familiar,

so call me by my nickname: Mama-nyan!

Ms. Mama-nyan...

Though I am more grandma than mama at this point!

Oh, no, you don't look it at all.

Oh, right. I did have something to ask about.

I heard that there are foxtails nearby that are cultivated by cats.

Indeed, there are.

They're in Moshamosha Square.

Does this mean this is your first time here?

No, actually, I'm originally from this Forest for Beginners.

But I was summoned as a familiar by a human quite some time ago.

Back then, there was no Moshamosha Square.

Wow! I just noticed you have two tails!

I see now. Then, the forest might look quite different from what you remember.

If you'd like, allow me to be your guide.

That would be wonderful! It wouldn't be a bother?

Not at all, I'd love to.

The thing is, I tend to be meddlesome.

If I don't help, it will weigh on me and I simply won't be able to sleep tonight!

My goodness! I meddle all the time! I completely understand!

In that case, maybe I will take you up on that offer.

Although she teaches at the school now, she's been there since she was a student,

and so many magical beasts get summoned.

I see.

And once, it just so happened that one of my children I raised showed up!

He's a magical beast called a Greater Demon,

and then he made a dungeon on school property, which surprised everyone.

What an incredible son you have.

And then, you know what? He keeps saying,

the dragon in the forest is one of my children, too!

That's the winged Uncle!

Winged Uncle?

How many times have I said, never go see the wolves by yourself!

Enough, you two! No fighting between siblings!

You need to practice magic more!

Phew.

Hello.

Huh?

I see you're as strict as ever, Uncle.

Naturally.

Should something ever happen to me,

they must have the skills to survive on their own.

What would happen to you?

I mean, you're stronger and wiser than anyone.

My mother cat was summoned by a human as a familiar out of nowhere.

What?

It was so sudden that my siblings and I were devastated.

But we promised each other that we would remember everything our mother taught us

and we lived on.

What did your mother teach you?

Quite a few things,