Wanted: Purrfect Cat Guy 41 Fluttering Hear

'That rat will come back and bite me into pieces.' Tarou shuddered at the thought.

With slumped shoulders, he headed back to where Boss was at. The cat was still giving the general a hateful stare and he saw the man signal Barca with a look before heading off on his own. Tarou couldn't help but be amazed at how the general could understand and give orders without saying a word. The man was like a mind reader!

Unfortunately, all these qualities did not improve Tarou's impression of the man. To him, the only admirable human was Barca.

Thinking about how the human realized right away that rats were eating away horse hooves, not him, Tarou's glum mood was replaced with excitement and admiration.

"Human, you got rid of the rats!" Tarou squeaked when he was closer to the cat and his human. Barca turned to look at the mouse after hearing the squeak. Tarou detected movement from the man and shortly after, one finger descended giving him a pat on the head.

"Good job with the rats. The stablehands never figured out why the horses kept on complaining at night. Those vicious creatures have been gnawing off their hooves," the gentle voice explained.

Tarou couldn't help but dance around with glee. This human surely knows how to make a mouse's heart flutter. Tarou tapped the finger in return as if to tell him that he's glad to be of help. Tarou couldn't help but look steal a glance at Boss after the short exchange. As expected, the cat gave him a disgusted look.

'It's not my fault you chose the unappreciative human, Boss,' he thought. As if to add insult to the injury, Barca said his favorite word.

"I'll be back with food."

"Happiness! This is paradise!" Tarou squeaked while looking towards the direction where Barca disappeared. Shortly after, the cat nudged him and spat a vindictive meow.

"Daydreaming about your human? Your priorities shift so quickly!"

Tarou looked at the black cat who was in a surly mood. Without hesitating, the mouse revealed his inner thoughts.

"Barca is one of the best humans I've ever meet."

"You only think so because a gluttonous mouse like you will be over the moon with just a few grains."

"A person like him deserves a woman as gentle as Wifey." Tarou looked pleased with himself when he said those words. "As my human, I will try to help him find someone who is worthy of him," Tarou promised and he meant every word.

"You sure have a lot of time," Mina commented. "Those humans are involved in something secretive. You should not trust him so easily."

After a short pause, the cat gave him another firm warning.

"He might sacrifice you. Before you know it, you will be a dead mouse."

Tarou looked at Boss who had a serious look on its face.

'Isn't that supposed to be my dialog?' Tarou thought. Since he decided to be under the cat's wing, he knew that this particular animal was more intelligent than others. He always doubted humans, he was a mouse after all! But Boss told him it will be useful for them to a.s.sociate with the two-legged creatures. Now, Boss appears to have a change of heart.

Tarou glanced at the black cat and realized that Boss thought more like a human than an animal. He knew it was dangerous to get too close to humans even to Barca who has been nothing but kind. After all, he had firsthand experience on how it was like to be hunted by humans. Feeling the need to start a conversation, Tarou called out with a hesitant squeak.

"Boss? The rat earlier, it disappeared."

The cat didn't look surprised when he voiced his thoughts. Instead, the animal looked at him as if he was an idiot.

"The rat wasn't dead. Of course, it will escape, it's not stupid."

Tarou was not convinced but he did not dare to question the cat's logic. He was afraid that Boss is still in the mood to smash unsightly things or rodents. Seeing an approaching figure, Tarou shelved all his suspicions aside. Barca bent down to give him more food and there was also a bowl of meat for Boss.

"Human, you are the best human in this world!" Tarou couldn't help but squeak. "If you could just help us rally Nightmare to our cause, you will be better than the best!" he added, sucking up to the human who was now preparing water for him and the cat.

Tarou sensed that the human crouched down lower, closer to him as he placed the bowl of water in front of him. He found the gesture funny because it seems like Barca was paying attention to his squeaks.

Receiving water in a bowl was so unusual Tarou couldn't help but remember drinking water right from the source be it a small spring or pond or the shallow part of the river. Shortly after, Tarou felt a warm but gentle touch on top of his head.

"It will get better when you get used to this place. Although there are more plants in the forest, this place isn't too bad either."

Tarou couldn't help but marvel at the man's words before squeaking, "But I would love to visit the forest to find something important."

Tarou heard the man take a deep breath and felt another gentle pat on his head before Barca walked away.