Picked Up a Beast One Day
W. Yeontan's Rice
Unauthorized reproduction prohibited
01
Somewhere, the low cry of a beast could be heard.
It cried so sorrowfully.
Walking along the dirt road, her dress became a mess, but she didn’t care.
Hastening toward the sound, she found a cat with a large wound on its leg, licking the blood that flowed from it.
The sight was pitiful.
This all happened while she was wandering through the thick forest behind her house.
Sensing danger, the cat, noticing her presence, bristled and sharpened its claws, clearly on guard.
"Grrrr..."
"Come here. I'll treat you so it won't hurt."
Lowering herself as much as possible to appear non-threatening, she reached out carefully with a gentle smile.
Perhaps thanks to her kind demeanor, the cat's raised fur slowly smoothed down.
"Good, good. Come here, little one."
Dry leaves, entangled among themselves, scattered all over the dusty ground.
Unbothered, she sat down with a soft thud and gently gathered the cat into her arms.
The dress — a one-of-a-kind, custom-made piece, crafted just for her — was now being sacrificed for an injured little cat.
She tore the sleeve of the luxurious white silk without hesitation and wrapped it around the cat’s wounded leg.
"Let's go to my room. It'll only take a moment."
The cat, seemingly fond of her, snuggled into her arms without resistance.
"Purr..."
"Ahaha, you like being petted, huh?"
It was her way of comforting it, to ease its fear.
As she stroked its head a few times, the cat nuzzled against her.
Still holding the cat, she made her way down from the forest.
'Wait, but what do I look like right now...?'
The reflection in the glass by her front door showed a sight far from the refined young noble lady she was supposed to be.
A dress smeared with dirt, hair a mess, even dry leaves tucked behind her ears.
If Lucia saw her like this, she’d be absolutely horrified. Chuckling softly—
"Lucia, I'm ho—"
"My lady!!! Where have you been?! Look at you! If the Madam finds out about this, she'll be furious—!!"
Lucia was always like this.
If only she could see it as a poor noble lady’s small rebellion against the suffocating social life.
Lucia, unlike the other maids, was special to her — more like a friend, having grown up together.
Their bond was deep.
"By the way, my lady, what is that cat?"
"Oh right, Lucia. Please treat its wounds. Its leg looks badly hurt."
"Wow, I've never seen such a pitch-black cat before!"
"I wrapped the wound for now. Give it some medicine and some food too."
"My lady... did you tear your sleeve?"
"...Tell the others to prepare a bath for me."
"My lady—!!!!"
Before the nagging could start, she slipped into her room.
Lucia's nagging could last half a day once it began. Enough to make anyone exhausted.
"My lady, your bath is ready—"
Several maids came to undress her, covering her with a soft, spotless cloth.
Guiding her to the bathtub, they gently washed her body with soaked towels.
Creak—
The door opened, and startled maids rushed to it.
Of course, it was the injured black cat from earlier.
"Everyone, leave. Bring the cat to me."
"My lady, staying too long in the bath isn’t good for your health—"
"I'll get out when I need to. Come here, little one. Good boy—"
Waving softly from the tub, she called to the cat.
It limped toward her.
Unable to just watch, she lifted it into her arms.
"It'll get better soon. Just hang in there, little one."
"Purr..."
"Why won’t you look at me properly?"
Its fur tickled against her bare skin, making her giggle.
She tried to meet its gaze, but it kept avoiding eye contact.
Sighing, she gave the cat a small peck on its forehead.
Poof—
The feeling in her hands disappeared.
Gone was the soft fur — replaced by human skin.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
There was now a grown man’s body in her arms.
"...Why do you keep trying to make eye contact with me... like that, in that state?"
What had been a black cat was now a broad-shouldered man holding her.
"W-Who are you?! Why are you in my bath—?!"
"I tried to hold back, but my body couldn’t resist once you... stimulated me. I turned into a human form without meaning to."
"A human form... you're saying you were that cat?!"
"Yes, my lady. When my body heats up, I involuntarily transform."
Too close.
His voice was silky soft, almost whispering in her ear.
Still clinging to the sheer cloth, barely covering her important parts, she turned her gaze downward.
There, around his ankle, was the same bandage Lucia had wrapped.
He wasn’t lying.
"Judging by the wound, you're telling the truth. Then... what exactly are you?"
"I am the divine beast who protects the Empire of Bruzua. Half-human, half-beast."
"I thought the guardian spirit of this land was just a myth."
"But, my lady..."
"What?"
"...this bath is a little too small."
"....!"
At those words, she shoved his broad chest and scrambled out of the tub, hurriedly wrapping herself in a silk gown, pulling it tightly closed.
"Why are you staring at me so intently, my lady?"
She was briefly speechless, mesmerized by his physique.
Water dripping from his well-toned body — he looked breathtaking.
She turned red without realizing it.
"P-Put some clothes on!"
"I have no clothes to wear... Shall we share yours?"
"W-What nonsense...!"
He approached, wrapping one hand around her waist, trying to slip the gown off her shoulder with the other.
Her bare shoulder was exposed; she slapped his hand away in a panic.
He laughed, amused.
"You’re the one who called me into the bath. You’re the one who held me close and kissed me."
"T-That was... because I didn’t know who you were!"
"It felt good. How about doing it again, my lady?"
"This man must be crazy!"
Still holding her by the waist, he slowly leaned his face closer.
Just as she flinched back—
Knock knock
"My lady, are you alright? We heard a noise!"
It was the maids knocking from outside the door.