I Became the Cat in the Academy.

Helplessly trapped in Sia's arms,

I was dragged into a room full of books.

'I wonder what kind of books Sia usually reads.'

Curious momentarily, I glanced sideways at the books on the shelf.

Advanced Magical Engineering Theory.

The Correlation between Functions and Magic.

How to Make People Laugh - The Belly Guitar Edition.

World's Top 10 Magical Theses.

Just like a professor would have.

Every single book looked like a headache.

...What's with that comedy book stuck in the middle?

Anyway.

Looks like I won't have to worry about insomnia picking any of those.

They all look boring.

"Now. Let's go to sleep. You must be tired, right?"

Sia stroked me once,

Then, put me on a small side table beside the bed.

"Heeyah."

And with a light gesture in the air,

All the lights and candles softly glowing in the room went out.

...That's kind of cool.

"Now, Chii! Come here!"

- Myaung.

"...What now."

While I was looking with admiration at the candles that had gone out cleanly without any dripping wax,

Sia, who had already laid down on the bed ready to sleep,

Was patting the spot next to her going pat- pat-, calling for me.

I guess she wants me to come and lie down myself?

"Come on!"

As if confirming my thoughts,

Sia waited eagerly with shining eyes for me to move.

I nodded at her while looking at her like that.

Though I'd love nothing more than to run away right now.

It's not like I can't do this much.

I should repay the kindness of sharing tuna with me, after all.

...Just this once.

Never again!

- Hop.

I got down from the side table and climbed onto Sia's bed.

Then I moved two feet... no, four feet toward where Sia was lying.

With each step, there was a soft sound like walking on snow.

Maybe because the blanket was so soft?

"Gasp...!"

Though I was just walking.

Sia, for whatever reason, frantically pulled out her phone with unsteady breathing and started taking pictures of me one after another.

She pressed the button so fast that the shutter sound couldn't keep up.

And this frenzied photo session

Continued even after I reached my spot.

- Pat.

Unable to bear the shutter sound that kept tickling my ears,

I used my front paw to gently cover the rear camera, meaning, "Stop taking pictures."

"Hnnngk...!"

Though I did it to calm her down,

Rather than calming down, Sia's breathing became even faster.

To the point where I was worried she might be hyperventilating.

- Myaung?

"Are you okay?"

"Kuh, kuhuk."

Is she really sick somewhere?

Wondering if she might be hurt somewhere, I tilted my head and brought my face closer, but Sia gently pushed my face away with one hand.

Then, she started coughing continuously.

Plus, she couldn't even make eye contact with me.

What's really going on?

Did she catch the flu?

Then shouldn't we not sleep together?

...Ah.

So that's what it was.

I thought it was strange that she suddenly wanted to let me sleep in this cozy bed.

She was trying to give me her cold!

Oh my.

That's so evil...!

"Phew... Sorry, Chii. Did I startle you? Let's go to sleep."

But knowing the truth didn't change anything.

I'm just a weak baby cat while she's a witch who wields scary magic.

There was no way I could match her.

- Myaong...

"So mean."

Finally, following Sia's touch,

I had no choice but to go under the blanket.

...Now that I knew Sia's evil plan, the blanket felt like a tiger's den.

"How is it, warm right?"

Still, she must use good blankets.

It was cozy and warm, not unlike my fur.

Not bad.

"...Wow, Chii is so soft and squishy. Almost too precious to sleep with?!"

- Myaung?

"Huh?"

This can't be.

The cozy and warm feeling wasn't from being under the blanket.

With my vision blocked, I hadn't realized where I was...!

"Hehe."

In Sia's embrace!

But by the time I noticed, it was already too late.

She had used the blanket to wrap me up tightly so I couldn't escape.

"The blanket is warm, the pillow is fluffy, and our Chii is soft. I'm getting so sleepy. First proper sleep in almost three days... I think..."

Sia must have been tired as she drifted off to dreamland mid-sentence.

No wonder she's tired.

Just from the dark circles I saw when we first met, it looked like she hadn't slept for days.

- Squish.

I gently pressed Sia's cheek who had fallen asleep.

Sleep well.

'...'

With the noisy Sia asleep,

The room was quickly enveloped in silence.

*psshhh*

*psshhh*

Only Sia's tiny breathing sounds and the soft moonlight filled the room.

- Myaung.

"Nnngh."

...And this tight restraint wasn't loosening,

I could only move one front paw.

Hey, why is a sleeping person's arm strength so strong?

I can't even change positions!

- Myaoong...

"Let go..."

Finally,

Caught in Sia's evil grasp, in an uncomfortable position,

I slowly drifted off to sleep.

......

......

And, inside the sweet dream,

I was sitting on Sia's back, elegantly drinking wine.

- Myaung.

"Water."

"Y-yes, right away!"

With just one light command,

Sia would rush around with me on her back, somehow managing to get what I wanted.

It was quite impressive how she moved while being careful not to make me uncomfortable on her back.

This is it.

This is freedom!

This is the life of a king!

I am the king...!

- Lick.

'Mmmm~'

I struck a pose befitting a superior,

Then, I took a sip of water.

Just thinking about having Sia, who was much more powerful and taller than me, under my command made even plain cold water taste sweet.

- Myaung.

"Snacks."

"Yes, understood!"

I closed my eyes and extended my front paw.

Then something with "Limited Edition" written in large letters was placed on a plate on my front paw.

- Myaung. Myaong myaung?

"Butler. What's today's snack?"

"Today's snack is a special limited edition pudding made using the newly discovered superconducting magic method by Italian artisans."

Pudding.

Pudding, huh.

Not bad.

"I'll feed you. Please say ah-"

- Myaaa.

"Watch the molars."

Sia picked up a spoon that shone brilliantly with a golden light.

It was a small spoon made to fit my size.

- Nom.

After scooping up a nice, appetizing spoonful of pudding,

Sia gently put it in my mouth.

As soon as I closed my mouth, the soft-textured pudding washed over my tongue like a wave.

Oh my.

Is this what makes it premium pudding?

The taste is completely...

Completely...

'...'

What's this?

Surely, pudding should have a sweet and rich taste.

What's with this subtle taste...

...Wait a minute.

I think I saw this in an article before.

'Cats can't taste sweetness-'

Then that means I can't eat chocolate either.

Candy, pudding, everything sweet.

'...No.'

This can't be.

Not being able to eat sweet things is impossible...!

This

Is

Hell.

......

......

- Ngh... nngh......

Sia slowly opened her eyes at the sound coming from beside her.

A strange sound in the middle of the night.

Looking around with drowsy eyes, Sia was shocked to discover its source.

- Ngh...

"Gasp, Chii?!"

The owner of the distressed sounds was none other than

Chii, who had been sleeping soundly next to Sia.

They were writhing in pain, even breaking out in cold sweat.

Though it had only been a day since they met, Sia, who was already overflowing with affection and love for Chii,

Went blank in the head as soon as she saw Chii in pain.

Well, even though she held the position of professor at the academy,

Sia was nothing more than a beginner when it came to raising cats.

Just today, hadn't she set the hair dryer to 'cold' when drying Chii?

Even though it must have been so cold, she was grateful and proud of Chii for waiting patiently without making a single complaint.

Sia wanted to take measures to stop Chii's suffering right now, but...

'What should I do?!'

...As mentioned earlier, what would a complete beginner who had never even kept a pet know?

Plus, it was dawn now.

It was the worst possible time when not only veterinary clinics but even the academy's emergency room would be closed for treatment.

'...Alright. Let's try giving that.'

The deliberation was brief.

Sia immediately ran to the magical pharmaceutical lab located in the basement of the house.

Then quickly opened the safe that had been carefully sealed with triple barrier security,

And took out what was inside.

- Tap tap tap-

In Sia's hand, as she headed toward the bed where Chii lay, was a small, plain-looking bottle.

This was what had earned Sia her current position as professor.

The crystallization of Sia's life's research.

The ultimate elixir that instantly heals all wounds and injuries when drunk,

Taking no less than 13 years to make.

The 'Tears of the World Tree.'

"Chii! Are you okay?!"

Such a precious elixir,

Sia poured into Chii's mouth without a moment's hesitation.

Very slowly, worried that Chii might choke,

To prevent them from getting cold, she detached the hood of her duck down jacket and wrapped it around Chii.

- Myaong…

Perhaps Sia's efforts had paid off.

Chii's breathing, which had been labored for so long, gradually began to stabilize.