Durandal, Supreme Cat Lover

A small cat with unique markings—purple-red stripes on its forehead, inner ears, and tail tip—lounged at Durandal's feet, enjoying a luxurious petting session.

"Could this be the 'cat-type Honkai beast' the Overseer mentioned?" Durandal purred, scratching the cat's soft fur. The irresistible texture compelled her to flip the cat onto its back and tickle its belly.

Even better than I imagined! Durandal was delighted.

"A cat's a cat. What 'cat-type Honkai beast'? Don't lump me in with those weaklings!" Stan grumbled, cracking open one eye to glare at her before closing it again and stretching. "Ahh, that's the spot. Keep going."

Stan, post-enhancements, was quite intelligent and understood Durandal's words. However, he didn't grasp the nuances of human language. This might have been an educational oversight—Jackal hadn't exactly provided Stan with language lessons.

In fact, Stan had only learned the term "Honkai beast" from Jackal's self-talk during training and testing. He knew that the pink and white creatures he tore to shreds in the training arena were called "Honkai beasts."

"Oh, Honkai beasts. Those scary-looking but ultimately weak things?" Stan recalled his master's delight at his performance against the beasts, which resulted in better food. "Feels just like catching rats." He contentedly enjoyed his rewards, motivated to perform even better in the next battle.

With his newly formed, simplistic logic, Stan equated Honkai beasts with the rats he used to hunt as a stray—prey to be exchanged for rewards. Thus, "cat-type Honkai beast" felt like an insult. It was like calling him a "rat that looks like a cat."

The deeper implications of the term were beyond his comprehension, nor did he care. He was just a cat. Human complexities were irrelevant. He flicked his tail in annoyance. Is that any way to talk to… well, a cat?

"Huh? No reaction? Guess I was overthinking it."

The cat remained relaxed, showing no signs of tension, its tail swaying contentedly.

"Of course, what a silly thought!" Durandal chuckled, dismissing her suspicions. Two simple minds together inevitably led to amusing misunderstandings.

She couldn't resist grabbing the cat's twitching tail, examining the stigmata-like markings up close. "It's nice to see you again. Did you come looking for me, or is your owner nearby?" Her tone was laced with an affection even Rita hadn't experienced.

"Don't push it, human!"

A cat's tail was extremely sensitive. Stan sprang up, claws extended reflexively.

"Yow!"

Durandal was caught off guard. Who would expect a docile cat to suddenly lash out?

Even with her reflexes, she was unprepared.

"Oops…" Seeing her surprise, Stan immediately regretted his action. He retracted his claws, lessening the force that could easily knock out an adult.

Slap!

His paw landed on Durandal's hand with a light thud. He wrenched his tail free.

Stan checked his tail, then Durandal's hand. Not even a scratch.

Good. He was relieved she wasn't hurt, then glared at her, hissing, "Meow!" (Are you crazy? Don't you know you're not supposed to grab a cat's tail? I went easy on you. You could be dead!)

Growing angrier, but unable to bring himself to bite her, he nudged her wrist with his head.

Hmph, stupid human. I'm not playing with you anymore! He turned to leave, a bit annoyed by her apparent ingratitude.

Their encounter had been a coincidence.

Earlier, Jackal, learning of Yuno's return to the "incident site," had placed a modified collar on Stan, shown him Yuno's picture, and given him a new order: "Go, bring her back."

Stan had nodded, recognizing the purple-haired girl with the prickly spines. He just had to be careful.

Anything was better than facing that long-eared freak. The memory of that blade still sent shivers down his spine.

"Wait!" Jackal had stopped him, recalling the previous disaster. "Better to avoid direct confrontation." She sent coordinates to his collar. "Just lead her to the trap. It will guide you."

"Does it have to be so complicated?" Stan tilted his head, confused.

"Humans are complicated..."

He shrugged it off. He was just a cat, following orders.

As he walked, a sense of familiarity arose. This was the route he'd taken when he escaped!

He was going backwards!

His fur bristled. Was that long-eared freak waiting for him?

He continued cautiously.

Passing a familiar plaza, he remembered the golden-haired girl who had saved him.

He paused, circling the plaza, but she wasn't there. He felt both disappointed and relieved.

Disappointed because he hadn't seen her, relieved because she wasn't near the potentially dangerous trap. He didn't care about other humans, but he didn't want anything bad to happen to the girl who had saved him.

Good, she's not here. His tension eased.

Just as he left the plaza, he spotted a familiar golden-haired figure searching for something.

"..." A flash of surprise turned to annoyance.

What is she still doing here? Looking for trouble?

With unexpected anger, he ran to Durandal, meowing in greeting before tugging at her pants leg. Remembering Jackal's ruined clothes and the resulting scolding, he tugged gently, trying to convey his message: "What are you doing here? Leave! Now!" (You stupid humans, always making a cat worry!)

"Oh, it's you!" Durandal scooped him up, delighted. "I was just looking for you! What a coincidence!"

She had seen him approaching, but before she could call out, he'd started tugging at her pants. This display of affection made her heart soar. She held him up, admiring him. "You look so much better! You've recovered well!"

"What's happening?" Stan was bewildered. I told you to leave! Why are you holding me?

Seemingly sensing his displeasure, she set him down, stroking his fur. "I've been coming here, hoping to see you again. And here you are!"

Her warmth and affection melted away his annoyance. He found himself enjoying the petting, reminiscent of a time before he became a stray, when he had a loving owner.

But then…

His current owner, Jackal, would never do this.

"Stupid human, can't you understand cat language?" Stan glanced at Durandal, realizing she wasn't leaving. "Forget the mission. I'll just get scolded later."

He decided to risk it, focusing on enjoying her company.

Then, Durandal made the mistake of grabbing his tail. Instinct took over, and he slapped her hand.

"Hmph, stupid human. I'm not playing with you anymore." He turned to leave, bracing himself for Jackal's wrath.

He glanced back at Durandal, meowing a farewell. (Stupid human girl, consider that repayment for last time. Next time we meet, we're strang-…)

"Wow, you're fast! I didn't even see that coming!" Before he could finish his thought, he was back in Durandal's arms.

"Was I not supposed to grab your tail? Should I apologize?"

"...Let me go, you stupid human!" Stan struggled, his resolve to maintain distance crumbling.

"Huh? Durandal, when did you get a cat?"

Lin Wei appeared, interrupting Durandal's "cat-absorbed" bliss.

Durandal looked up. It was the young man she'd met recently, still in his backpacker attire, but now smiling, no longer nervous. Instead of the rough-hewn stick, he held an ordinary hiking staff.

Noticing her gaze, Lin Wei explained, "Don't ask. The police confiscated my stick for 'disrupting the city's appearance.' I was so annoyed, I bought this one at an outdoor store. Feels almost the same." He ad-libbed, "If you like, I can take you there. They might have something you'd like."

"No, thank you," Durandal replied, her gaze returning to him. "It's good to see you again, Mr. He Kun." Having received Otto's reply, she acknowledged his assumed identity.

Lin Wei breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good. His identity, and his staff, hadn't aroused suspicion. He had deliberately carried the conspicuous stick in their previous encounter to preemptively deflect any curiosity about his current, more discreet staff.

He looked at the cat in Durandal's arms, his eyes lingering on the collar. "I never knew you were a cat person, Durandal-Sama… Bringing one along even on missions?"