Just as Itefeil was feeling pleased, one of the team members searching carefully on the other side suddenly cried out, then hurriedly called the other two over.
“What is it? What is it? Did you find a clue?”
The investigator on the other side hurried over. If they kept searching this way and still found nothing, the workload would drive the two of them crazy.
“Look. These two must be the ones.”
The team member pointed at two headless bodies lying in the grass. There were signs of a fight all around them.
“Damn, these bodies are in awful shape…”
The investigator wasn’t a medical examiner and had no authority to disturb the bodies at the scene. But even just looking at them was enough to inspire dread: both had lost their heads, and each had at least eight or nine deep sword wounds that went down to the bone. One of them was even missing a hand.
“Was this the little girl’s handiwork? She sure didn’t hold back…”
Another team member shot them a withering look.
“Are you an idiot? They were being hunted all the way here. If someone was trying to kill you, would you go easy on them?”
“N-no, I was joking! I’m so well-liked around town. Why would anyone hunt me down?”
While the two of them traded barbs, Itefeil walked over with the cat in her arms.
“Well, aren’t you two taking it easy?”
““N-no, we aren’t!””
She waved a hand, telling them to relax.
“I’m not blaming you. You’ve found an important clue in this case, which is great. I’ll make sure you two get credit when I report back. For now, head to the crime scene and wake up the medical examiner.”
Itefeil pointed to the team member on the right and gave them a clear order.
“Yes, sir!”
They turned and headed back to the Divine Road. After planting a signal marker by the roadside, they immediately mounted up and rode toward the crime scene.
“You!”
“Yes, sir!”
The team member she’d singled out immediately stood at attention, chest out.
“Get back to the police station at once. Tell the communications officer to report the details of the situation here to Woodpecker, and urge them to hurry over.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Go on.”
The team member was just about to leave when they remembered something important.
“Sir, what are you going to do in the meantime?”
Itefeil glanced at them.
“I’ll sit here and make sure the monsters don’t drag off the evidence.”
“…………”
There weren’t any damn monsters anywhere near the Divine Road!
They could tell their superior clearly just wanted to hang around here and slack off, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Obviously. She was their superior, so giving them orders was only natural. And she’d already done her part of the job. No matter how much she slacked off, it wasn’t a low-ranking grunt’s place to complain.
So, once Itefeil had watched the team member leave, she let out a sigh of relief and plopped down beside the two bodies.
Literally guarding the bodies.
Since autumn had only just begun, the weather was cool and the bodies weren’t decomposing too quickly. But the heavy stench of blood was a bit much for her cat nose.
“Mrow-choo!”
The cat in Itefeil’s arms couldn’t help sneezing, then shook its head.
She gently stroked the cat’s fur, completely ignoring the two bodies beside her and the metallic smell filling the air.
“What should I call you, little one?”
“Meow?”
(Please give me a name that sounds a little more mature and badass, thanks.)
“How about Little White?”
“Meow??”
“Well, look at you. Your fur’s all white…”
“Meow, meow, meow!”
The cat struggled desperately in Itefeil’s arms.
“You don’t seem too keen on that…”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow!”
(That name is way too casual! It’s like you just picked it up off the street!)
“Honestly, you’re a stray I picked up off the street, and you’re still this picky.”
“Meow?”
Itefeil lifted the cat up, and they happened to catch sight of the half-moon in the sky.
“Hmm, the moon looks nice tonight.”
Itefeil nodded as if she’d made an important observation.
“And since you’re a girl, why don’t I call you…”
“La Luna. La Luna? All right, it’s settled. Your name is La Luna!”
“Meow…?”
(What does that mean again…? I think I heard it in class once…)
Seeing the cat’s confused expression, Itefeil shrugged. It wasn’t like she could call her Alice… That was way too common.
“Still, La Luna, how come you’re a girl but look so majestic?”
Itefeil pinched La Luna’s tiger-striped cheeks.
“Meow!”
(Damn it, how was I supposed to know I’d be reincarnated as a cat—and a female one at that!!!!)
La Luna flew into a fit of frustration.
And right in the middle of her meltdown, a name suddenly popped into her mind.
La Luna—the Goddess of Moonlight.
“MEOW!!!”
(How the hell do I look anything like a moon goddess!!!)
