When the assistant turned to lead the way, Alice caught him casting a surprised, curious glance at her and the black cat in her arms.
Alice glanced at Klein. When she saw that he had no intention of explaining, she ignored the look. It had nothing to do with her, after all.
The man dressed as an assistant led Alice upstairs. After a moment's hesitation, he took her into a small reception room.
Alice obediently sat down on an armchair, settled the black cat Klein was controlling through Sennior on her lap, and began stroking its fur.
The black cat sprawled across her lap under her touch, exposing its soft belly. Alice reached down to rub it without ceremony and said hopefully:
"I hope your Mythical Creature Form is pettable too..."
"Why not hope yours is pettable?" Klein couldn't help asking.
Alice kept stroking the cat as she answered:
"Because I already know what my Mythical Creature Form is—the Snake of Mercury has no fur, not even scales!"
"...Wait, you really were planning to pet your own fur?" Klein was stunned.
"I even touched the Goddess's..." Alice's voice cut off abruptly as she looked toward the door.
Klein fell silent with her. Before long, the man dressed as an assistant opened the door, and an older man with graying temples and a lean face entered and sat in another armchair.
The assistant came in as well. Alice watched him take tea leaves and a tea set from beneath the coffee table, brew the tea, and pour a cup each for her, the stranger, and himself before sitting down.
After a brief thought, Alice placed Klein on the last empty armchair and pushed a cup of tea toward him. Then she asked the assistant:
"Do you have ice cream?"
The assistant