Chapter 1

After being transported to a world of beastfolk, I ended up in the care of an enormous cat.

He offered his great fluffy tail as a pillow.

"Human, let's sleep."

Without a trace of suspicion, I hugged his tail and drifted off.

Until midnight.

Something wet and slippery brushed me, as though a tongue were about to wrap around me and swallow me whole. I screamed and scrambled backward.

The big cat reeled me in with his tail.

"Human, your body is beautiful."

My heart sank.

"You're... not planning to eat me, are you?"

An accident had brought me to the beastfolk world.

Here, beastfolk were enormous creatures.

We humans were tiny by comparison.

So humans were bought and sold as pets.

I'd been shut in a cage, too, waiting for a wealthy patron to choose me.

Unfortunately, beastfolk beauty standards were the opposite of Earth's.

People humans considered ugly were beautiful to them.

And I, a beauty...

Had the lowest price tag.

I was so furious I couldn't eat for three days and nights.

By the time someone chose me, I was practically at death's door.

My hearing still worked, though.

From a distance, I heard their conversation.

"Dear customer, all pet sales are final. No returns or exchanges! Are you sure you want this yellow-skinned human? One hundred fifty-eight centimeters, forty-five kilograms."

"Yes. Her."

"Dear customer, she hasn't eaten for a long time. She's very weak. She might not live much longer!"

"Mm... Then give me some human food, too. I'll coax her into eating at home."

"Certainly. Ten thousand and eighty-six beastfolk coins altogether. Enjoy your purchase!"

...

After that short exchange, a great white cat lifted me from the cage and affectionately rubbed my head.

I was annoyed.

"Don't pat people's heads. It stops them growing!"

He looked bewildered.

"Human, the assistant said you're twenty-one. Aren't you done growing?"

I rolled my eyes and copied his way of speaking.

"Cat, don't think you understand humans."

His lips curved.

"Cat?"

Now I was even more exasperated.

"Would you rather I called you master?"

He shook his head with a rueful smile.

"I wouldn't dare. This cat will take you home."

And that was that.

The big cat brought me home.

Along with five expensive packets of human food.

I was ravenous.

So I made the first concession.

"Cat, do you think I'm pretty?"

For a full minute, he said nothing.

Angrier, I muttered, "You really did only buy me because I was cheap."

He rubbed my head again.

"Human, I won't have you talking about yourself like that."

Then he opened a pink packet.

Out tumbled a great many strawberry cakes.

"Human, sweets improve your mood."

Still proud, I turned away.

"Cat, until you answer my question, I won't—"

Cake filled my mouth before I finished.

He sighed.

"Human, in our world, that question could be taken as a confession."

I bit into the cake and chewed.

"I don't know your rules. But let me be clear: I like humans. Not cats."

He nodded.

"That's all right. It's enough that I like you."

The unexpected confession made my hand shake.

My cake fell to the floor.

He hurriedly handed me another.

"Human, you're expensive to keep."

Still eating, I said, "Exactly. Why not send me back to Earth?"

He stood abruptly.

His large shadow covered me.

"It's fine. Cats are very good at making money. I can afford you."

Only then did I realize he was nearly twice my size.

I abandoned the idea of escaping.

I'd play it by ear.

Nights in the beastfolk world were long.

Pitch-black.

By eight, the big cat was sleepy.

He offered me his tail.

"Human, let's sleep."

At first, I resisted.

But looking around the room, I saw no substitute.

Reluctantly, I accepted.

Unguarded, I hugged his tail and fell asleep.

Until midnight.

Something wet and slippery touched me, as though a tongue were licking me.

I screamed.

His tail pulled me back.

"Human, don't be afraid. I'm only learning how to kiss you."

I wasn't so easily fooled.

"Liar! I saw your teeth!"

Flustered, he drew back and sniffed his own tail.

"I'm not lying... Sorry. I frightened you."

He looked so hurt that I softened.

Then I spotted a book beneath his tail.

A Guide to Caring for Humans.

Curious, I picked it up.

...

Chapter Twenty: How to Meet a Human's Sexual Needs.

I was about to read on when he snatched it back.

"Human... I haven't finished studying Chapter Twenty..."

I tilted my head.

"Then which chapter taught you to lick me?"

He opened Chapter Seven: Building Trust.

I sighed.

"What kind of nonsense is this? Stop reading it."

He looked dejected.

"Then how am I supposed to understand you?"

I stroked his tail casually.

"You don't need to. Just feed me on time."

I'd be leaving anyway.

He looked confused, but nodded.

I began talking without thinking.

"Your licking got saliva all over me. I feel dirty now."

His eyes lit up.

"Human, I'll bathe you."

He started taking off my clothes.

I shouted, "No! Humans can't go around without clothes!"

He didn't understand and kept going.

"Be good... You have to undress to bathe..."

He stripped me bare.

I told myself he was only a cat and tried to stay calm.

Then his ears turned red.

And somewhere else...

I hurriedly covered myself.

He swallowed.

"Human, your body is beautiful."

My heart sank.

"You're... not going to eat me, are you?"