Fusiming’s vow existed only in his heart—a unilateral contract of self-restraint.

So Nainai had no idea the man before her had just nearly sold himself to her, pound by pound.

Of course, if she knew? Given her temper, she’d surely recoil in shock and anger: *"What the hell? A stalker’s a stalker—stop dressing it up like some noble sacrifice!"*

"W-what’s wrong? Why so serious all of a sudden?"

The weight of his large hands on her shoulders felt oppressive, making her deeply uncomfortable.

And Fusiming’s face was now far too close to hers.

That horrifying wound nearly made the Little Succubus vomit on the spot.

*If I’ve sinned, let the courts judge me—not force me to star in some bloody B-grade horror flick!* That was Nainai’s thought.

"Hey… you should really get that wound treated. It’s not—"

*"Mrrrooow—!"*

A weak, venomous hiss cut her off, thick with hostility.

*Such an aggressive cat?!*

Nainai flinched, instinctively wanting to turn and see which feline sounded ready to fight.

But Fusiming’s grip pinned her shoulders—she couldn’t move.

The black cat struggled upright, blood streaming from all three eyes like a creature on death’s door. It swayed, forcing itself into a threatening stance. With every ounce of strength, it pried open its side eyes, locking onto Fusiming’s hands on Nainai’s shoulders. It bared bloody fangs, throat rasping with fury. Its pupils, drowned in crimson, were clouded orange-yellow—yet its gaze burned with undimmed ferocity and regal Pride.

As if it weren’t a dying stray, but still the lion king commanding the savanna.

Its meaning was crystal clear:

*—You bastard! Take your hands off her!*

This three-eyed, two-tailed cat possessed human-level intelligence. Its thorn-sharp glare needed no translation—and Fusiming, its target, understood perfectly.

Even with severe brain damage, standing alone drained its last reserves. Its Crimson Sacred Eye was unusable from backlash; Corruption Essence nearly depleted from battle. Stripped of Special Abilities, it was just a strangely marked stray.

Yet it rose for Nainai anyway, unafraid of Fusiming’s intact combat power.

How demanding. It wouldn’t even allow his hands on her shoulders when he’d done nothing.

Besides, Nainai wasn’t its beloved master.

Fusiming knew—even if she resembled the cat’s former owner, they were utterly different people. Subtle gaps in appearance, bearing, aura… A fiercely loyal cat like this would never confuse them. To graft memories of its master onto a stranger? That would be sacrilege.

Beneath its fiery glare lay a king’s icy rationality, never extinguished.

Its actions were mirror-clear.

So… it would still "save" a stranger who merely looked like its master?

A bitter smile tugged at Fusiming’s lips.

This cat had more backbone than he did.

At least it would bet its life without hesitation for a fading belief.

That alone made it worthy of most humans’ reverence.

Fusiming respected it—truly.

No species hierarchy. No human arrogance.

It stood equal to any man.

He silently withdrew his hands.

The moment Fusiming released Nainai, the fierce black cat stilled. It collapsed back down, muscles slackening in exhaustion—but its half-lidded, bloodshot eyes never left him, tracking his every twitch.

The feline subjects huddled close, mewling soft concern.

...

The crushing weight vanished from Nainai’s shoulders. Relief washed over her like floating to heaven.

"Hey! Are you even listening? Get that face wound fixed!" She smoothed her rumpled collar, frowning. "Seriously."

"Oh…" Fusiming blinked, as if waking. His fingers probed the gash roughly—peeling ragged skin, jabbing exposed muscle fibers. Blood oozed thickly at his touch, draining Nainai’s sanity points. He acted like the bloody crater wasn’t on his own face.

"Idiot! Stop messing around! Don’t you care about scarring? Does it not hurt? You moron." Nainai’s teeth ached watching him. Was this empathy?

"It hurts. But not enough to stop me." He traced the wound’s edges, poked the hole piercing his cheek, then stated flatly: "Not a big deal."

*Not a big deal?!*

*This is a HUGE deal!*

*Oh, so you’re pulling the ‘mere mortal wound, hardly worth mentioning’ act too?*

Nainai’s blood ran cold.

And his fingers were filthy—caked in dust and grime.

He was poking an open wound with bacteria-ridden hands!

A facial infection could kill him!

"Ugh… please, stop being reckless! This is serious—"

"You’ll die if it gets infected. For sure."

She pleaded. He’d fed her twice, after all. She disliked him, but she wasn’t heartless enough to watch him die. She was a conscientious Succubus.

"No need to worry. Trust me…" His voice stayed calm, gravelly and low. "I never bluff."

*Third time’s the charm?* Nainai’s patience snapped. "Fine! Good advice can’t save a determined fool! If you wanna die, go ahead!"

She’d done her part. If he insisted on suicide, why stop him?

The wound wasn’t on *her* face!

*Die for all I care. Get lost.*

*Peace at last.*

Her pretty face flushed with anger as she spun away, refusing to look at the idiot.

*Let him light an oil lamp in a pit toilet—when the methane explodes, it’s his funeral.*

Fuming, she sought distraction—and spotted the source of that growling meow.

The cats formed a radiating circle around the black one. Nainai’s eyes locked onto the strange feline at its center instantly. Its aura, posture, and appearance screamed leader.

"Whoa… that cat’s so weird-looking. And scary…" she muttered.

Truth was, she adored cats—especially chubby ones. Soft, fluffy, warm.

Imagining a sunny afternoon: breeze in her hair, snacks and drinks nearby, a purring cat cuddled in her lap, grumbling protests as she pet it… pure bliss. One of life’s greatest joys.

If only her subsidy barely covered her own needs… or if she weren’t so lazy.

Joke was, she showered and brushed her teeth once a month. How could she care for a delicate pet?

She’d probably kill a cockroach.

*Wait—if she didn’t eat normal food, lived in free Federal housing with basic utilities covered… where did her money go?*

Xu Yingsnow had asked the same.

Nainai’s reply?

"Hmph! Takeout’s my snack budget! I need drinks! Games! Monthly subscriptions! Adult toys!"

"Essential expenses! Fixed costs!"

"What’s wrong with enjoying flavors? I have taste buds too! Don’t *you* snack while gaming?"

"And I’m a Succubus! I *need* lewdness! No lewdness = death!"

...

Something like that.

(It nearly gave Xu Yingsnow a heart attack.)