The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

ft hand on the two tiger heads, Rollo entered my room with a “Nn, nyaaa.”

Her whiskers and muzzle were slightly covered with milk.
She came up to me, and turned her face in my direction from below as if asking 『What are you doing nya?』.

“Maybe the number of your friends will increase, Rollo.
I’m going to employ these big tigers.”

“Nya? Nya, nyaanyaaaa.”

Rollo made a long row of meows, seemingly delighted.
She bumped her small head against my shin, and acted like a spoiled child while going back and forth.
Then she extended a tentacle from her neck, and pressed the flat end against my neck.
『Friends?』『Play?』『Fun』『Love』『Let’s play』『Play』
Starting with the middle, Rollo’s head became full with playing.
While laughing, I placed one knee on the floor, and gently stroked her head while matching my line of sight with hers.
Is it an effect of the new finger? I don’t really know, but Rollo seems to feel nice.
She withdrew the tentacle, and tilted her head in order to nestle it into my palm while closing her eyes.
That wooing gesture was irresistible and cute.
It was also accompanied by a purring.
After making sure to pull Rollo’s cute ears at the end, I stopped caressing her.
She looked at me wondering whether it ended, adorably appealing for more, but seeing me stand up, she apparently grasped that the stroking time had come to an end, and turned her crimson eyes in the direction of the two tiger decorations.
And then she started unleashing right cat hooks, err, paw touches towards the tiger ornaments.

“Haha, Rollo, you’re looking forward to it, aren’t you? But, step back a bit for now.”

“Nn, nya.”

Acting reasonably, Rollo drew back her paw, and moved behind my feet.
For some reason she curled her tail around my leg, but I didn’t caution her about it.

“Okay.”

After placing my palms on the tiger heads, I directly sent my mana into them.
As I did, I shared a strange sensation how my mana flowed into the ornaments, and in that very moment, my mana was sucked into the ornaments with a feeling similar to my body being drawn by a typhoon’s wind.
At the same time, I experienced how something heavy weighed down inside my stomach…
Let alone sage arts, this was a sensation of mana being absorbed in quantities going beyond the creation of the which I had experienced the other day.
The ornaments were engulfed by a faint, white mana as they sucked out my mana.
Once that white mana permeated inside the porcelain…stripes traveled across the porcelain like knitting wool that floated up on a water’s surface, and in the next instant, fur – real yellow, white, and black hair – came into existence while moving in waves.
It took the shape of two big tigers with audible beastly breathing.
For a moment the eyes of the tigers, combining black and red colors, gleamed.
Their torsos and limbs stirred as if having gained life, they moved.
Ooohh, they sure got some impact…
A big tiger with yellow, black, and white fur, and a big tiger with black and white fur.
Both of them turned their heads upwards.

“Gyaagoooon”

“Nyagooooon”

They howled like wolves.
The intent might be a first cry after their birth?
Once they stopped howling, the tigers surveyed their left and right.
The way they did it appeared as if they were grasping for the rules around here with their five senses.
Right afterwards, they moved up close to me, and sat down with their front and hind paws put together in front of my eyes, fixedly staring at me in postures similar to dolls.

“…You guys are Alray and Hueremy?”

“Nyaa.”

“Nyaao.”

Oh, how adorable.
They answered in cat tongue.

“Nn, nyao, nyaoo.” Surprised, Rollo gave her greetings as well.

She then changed her form into that of a panther with a poof.
Her eyes were somewhat larger than when she transformed into her usual hunter form, and she had a size similar to the tigers, as if to counterbalance the tigers’ big sizes.

The tigers greeted Rollodeen back with “Nyaa,” and, “Nyan.”

Next, the two tigers bowed their heads.
And then, they approached the imposing Rollodeen with slow movements that might as well be called timid…
Is it an animal turf war? A wild and dangerous atmosphere as if we were in a primeval forest?
That’s what I thought, but I was wrong.
The two big tigers flopped down on the ground, making sure to show their belly to the handsome black panther.
Withdrawing the sharp claws at the ends of their front paws, they raised those paws into a hurrah pose, showing off their big pads.
This is the universal, commonly-shared, certain death pose owned by all races of the cat family.
In short, they started to act like spoiled kitties.
Haha, funny.
I guess they are emphasizing their submission.
Or rather, them appealing to Rollodeen instead of me…guys, I’ve been the one giving you the mana, you know?
Rollodeen sniffed the butts of Alray and Hueremy.
Given that they revealed all their important places, including their anuses, it was obvious that both of them were female.
It’s Magic Tiger Create, so I don’t think that there’s any meaning in a distinction by gender, but…I wonder, can they create boobs like Rollo or something?

“Nn, nya.”

Having finished her sniffing routine, Rollodeen gently addressed the tigers.
She had an expression similar to that of a mother.
Did she check their health by smelling them?
Her expression overflowing with maternity reminded me of the time when she offered her boobs to Balmint.
Still, which of those two tigers is actually Alray?

“Say, Alray, are you the yellow-black one?”

In response to my question, the big tiger with the yellow-black fur sat up abruptly, “Nyaaa――”

After meowing as if saying 『Correct nya』, she moved around on the spot with her limbs moving fluently as typical for a tiger, and then adopted the same doll-like posture as before while rolling up her tail.
The muscles hidden beneath her two-colored fur made her nature as a wild carnivore obvious.
The black color within her yellow eyeballs had impact.
The black fur bordering those eyes, and the fur, which combined yellow and white, covering that black fur added to her tigerish face.
Well, she’s a tiger, so it’s kind of logical, but her nose is imposingly big as well.
Same can be said about her nostrils and white whiskers.
There were many black dots at the base of her whiskers.
I wanna poke those dots.
Her fangs are like those of a sabre-toothed tiger.
So this is Alray…she’s a pretty cool, big tiger.
You might as well say a tiger among tigers.
Her size truly exceeds that of a Bengal tiger.
Alray gazed at me as if she was going to say something.
Is it because she’s basically originating from a porcelain ornament?

“…I see.
That means, you’re Hueremy, right?”

“Nyao.”

The other big tiger is pretty neat as well…
Hueremy had placed her hind paws together on the floor in the same way as Alray.
Her forepaws were placed in front of her chest.
The layered milky white color of her chest was nice.
The hue with its black colors added into those layers was altering subtlety, but because of her having only two colors, it was a simple zebra pattern.
That layered fur closely resembled a griffon.
However, its bushiness made it look like a bow tie.
The feather-like white and black fur on her face bordered her sharp, light purple eyes.
Both Alray and Hueremy possessed profound chests, and a lower body half with refined muscularity.
Those features made me feel the elegance characteristic to tigers from them.

“…Both of you, I think you’re aware of it, but I’m Shuuya Kagari, the one who provided the mana to you.
The black panther next to me is Rollodeen.
Nice to meet you.”

“Nyaaa――”

“Nyangoo――”

Both tigers replied cheerfully, and leaped on me.

“Uh-oh!”

I was pushed down to the floor, obviously being hugged.
Both licked my face with their tongue, using an amazing vigor that seemed to cause wet, smacking sounds.
Although they might be called Magic Tiger Create, their saliva…smelled just like that of animals.
Or rather, Rollodeen also joined the fray in licking me, apparently believing that we were playing around.

After getting thoroughly licked all over by all three cats, I cautioned them, “Yeah, I got it, I got it.
Get off me, okay?”

“Nyaaa.”

“Nyangon.”

The tigers separated from me whereas Rollodeen continued to lick me.

“Rollo, you too.”

“N, nyaa.”

I got her to back off as well.
Then I stood up, and faced the two tigers once more.
Their appearance looks as if they are excited or overjoyed, but…it’s strangely cute.
Their eyes are sparkling.

“So, Alray, Hueremy, what kind of abilities do you possess?”

The instant I asked this, the big tigers transformed into cats.

“Nya.”

“Nyan.”

“N, nyaaa.”

Rollodeen – in her black panther form – was delighted over this.
After returning to her cat form, she ran over next to the two cats.

“So you can turn into cats as well.
Wonderful.”

The yellow-black colored cat was Alray.
The one with black-white colors was Hueremy.
There wasn’t much of a change in their eyes’ colors between their tiger and cat forms.
It doesn’t look like they possess tentacles either, but…

“…They’re going to be your sisters from now on, okay Rollo?”

“N, nyao.”

Rollo-san pulled off a triumphant look as if saying, 『You can bet on it nya』.

“Nyaaa.”

“Nyangon.”

Alray and Hueremy imitated Rollo, also looking triumphantly.

“…Team Rollo, you can do anything else?”

In response, Alray and Hueremy transformed into small cat ornaments.
Their appearance was similar to the original porcelain decoration.
Since the size was different from their big tiger forms, it also seemed possible to use them as strap-like accessories.
They were nicely-looking kitties.

“…I guess that means you can also return to the original big tiger ornaments?”

“N, nyaa, nyan.”

Rollo was unleashing cat punches at the two who had turned into ornaments.

“Rollo, you’re not allowed to break them.
Well, I believe they’re sturdy.
Can you freely change your shape?”

“…”

The ornaments didn’t answer.
I wonder whether it won’t work unless I touch them?
Just when I extended my hand, stripes ran through the cat porcelain, starting to produce hair.
In the blink of an eye they turned into living cats.

“Nyaaa.”

“Nyangon.”

“Yo, welcome back.”

After the two cats exchanged greetings with Rollo by touching noses, they started to bump their heads against my knees.
Okay, I’m going to check out the tigers’ transformations later on.
We headed over to the living room to introduce the two to everyone.
Then we moved over to the courtyard while they were tampered with by Isabell, Krychiwa, and Anna.
There I explained to everyone, who was having their mock battle, about the new tigers & cats.

“Magnificent! For Magic Tiger Create to also be cats, how wonderful! I wonder whether they will like my water in the same way as Rollo-sama.”

“Given that they are cute kitties, I’m pretty sure that they’ll love your clear water, spirit-sama.”

Helme and Viine said while going down on their knees, matching their line of sight with with the kitties Alray and Hueremy.

“Rollo-chan’s new friends, huh? How adorable～”

“They really remind me of Ryuryu…what superb fur…” Kaldo was thrilled as well.

But, Ryuryu? Is that a cat he bought in the past?

“Whaaaa～ It’s kitties! Unlike Rollo-sama, they won’t attack me, will they?”

“This one has fur colors making me feel an affinity with her.” Mamani muttered while looking at Alray’s fur.

Come to think of it, she’s a tiger beastman.
Her appearance resembles that of Alray as a big tiger.

“Is this your new magic tool, Magic Tiger Create, milord? Mysterious, to me they just look like cats.”

“Nyaaa.”

“Nyangon.”

Alray and Hueremy were showered with bustling attention.
Now then, I’m going to observe whom of the female camp – Viine, Yui, Helme, Souther, Mamani, and Fuu – those cute kitties will like and choose first.
But then, Alray and Hueremy moved over beneath Bia, the lamia with her slithering tongue.
Bia, huh? That’s unexpected.

“Are you interested in mine tongue?”

“Nya, nyaa.”

“Nyago, nyago.”

It looks like they want to toy around with her tongue.

“Bia, it might be better for you to not let them get close to your tongue, I think.
Otherwise, they will throw cat punches at it.”

“Unghh, affirmative.”

“Okay, Alray, Hueremy, come over here.” After calling the cats over and caressing their heads, “Show them your tiger forms.”

“Nya, nyaa.”

“Nyago――”

I had them transform into big tigers.
Everyone was surprised by the sudden occurrence, and Mamani even got her weapon ready.
At that moment, Alray pounced on Mamani, seemingly perceiving her as a kindred spirit because of the same fur colors.

“Hyaaa.” Mamani raised a weird scream with her body freezing in her stance of holding Ashram at the ready.

She got pushed down on the ground, and had her face licked by Alray.
Both of them are female, but somehow…it’s a weird scene, no, I guess it’s because of Alray’s big size.

“Okay, Alray, Hueremy, come here.”

“Nyaan.”

“Nyago.”

Both Alray and Hueremy assembled and waited for further instructions in front of me.

“Alright.
For the time being you will work as gatekeepers of this mansion.”

“Gyagooon.”

“Nyagooon.”

Both tigers gave me energetic replies as if howling.
Afterwards I had them return into the ornament state, and set those ornaments up at the sides of the gate.
Kind of like guardian lions or deities protecting temples.
However, since I allowed them to act freely, Alray and Hueremy returned into their tiger forms.
Both of them bumped their heads against my body, and then walked over to the stables where Popobumu, Balmint and Rollodeen were napping.
Popobumu woke up and blew his trumpet shell, greeting the big tigers.
Balmint was slightly surprised, and hid behind Popobumu…Bal, what’s the idea with a dragon hiding behind a magic beast?
It made me somewhat worried about Balmint’s future, but well, I’m sure he will get along with them as new members of the animal team.
Even the servants, who had been cleaning the stables, were frightened by the tigers, and didn’t really want to get close to them.

Just when I considered helping out a bit…the small Mimi skilfully explained, “They are Master’s new pets.
It’s alright.”

She threw out her chest and walked over to Alray.
Even though her hands trembled…she gently stroked the throat of the huge tiger.
…Quite the gutsy one, isn’t she? Alray started to hum deeply.
Mimi continued by stroking Hueremy’s throat as well.

“Nyaan, nyan.”

“Nyaon, nyan.”

I think Alray and Hueremy wanted to tell Mimi that it felt pleasant.
They flopped down on the spot, showing off their bellies, and acted like spoiled kitties.
I don’t know whether it was because they were encouraged by Mimi or because they were deeply moved by those cute antics of Alray and Hueremy, but the other servants also had drawn close.
It looks like them serving as gatekeepers is asking too much.
They might act like spoiled kitties even when burglars show up.
Alray and Hueremy were caressed by several hands.
Before long, they left the servants, who had been stroking them in excitement…and started to frolic around.
It was the playing around of tigers, betraying their previous, carefree atmosphere.
While growling, they embraced and bit at each other, and also unleashed cat punches.
Watching their behavior that had a tinge of a wild animal vs.
wild animal match, the servants’ faces turned pale.
However, I became relieved instead.
If they are like that, it means that it’ll be okay to leave guarding the gate to them.
Now then, the animal time is over.
I think I will continuously train various weapons and spearmanship with my new arm until evening.