Ancestors

"You're not joking, are you, my dear Lord Evil God?"

"What do you think?"

"I think even an Evil God wouldn't make a cat eat hot-oil noodles, with garlic on the side."

Kallen reached out and stroked Puer's head. Puer rolled her eyes at him.

"She's pretty. Much prettier than I expected."

Why did society always stress inner beauty? Because, at its core, it was a society that judged people by their looks.

"I was even prettier than her back then," Puer insisted stubbornly.

"Have any photos?"

"Cameras hadn't been invented yet, but there should be murals of me."

"Where?"

"Let me think. There should still be some in the underground chambers of Allen Castle."

"Allen?"

"That was my family name."

"A family of cat demons? Oh, no, a family of Otherworldly Demons?"

"Would you be happy if I described the Immerlis Family as a family of Otherworldly Demons?"

"I don't have any prejudice against Otherworldly Demons," Kallen said.

"You can think of it as a family bigger than the Immerlis Family, with more members and a much longer history.

"Out of respect for you, I didn't use the word 'ants' when comparing the Immerlis Family to mine."

"Very good." Kallen nodded. "And now? Has the line died out?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Because families that like to compare others to ants to emphasize their own greatness have generally vanished into the river of history."

"Damn it, I'm starting to wonder whether Dis buried one dead grandson on his last trip to Bellwin, then brought home another twin grandson who'd been living away from the family.

"You know,

"Sometimes, the way you talk to me is exactly like Dis when he was young.

"The previous 'Kallen,' on the other hand, I didn't like.

"I don't like Lunt, either.

"They always struck me as unfit to be brought to the banquet table."

"All right."

"So, sometimes I can understand why Dis likes you so much. You know, there's actually a kind of inheritance in this world that's valued even more than bloodlines, and forms an even closer bond."

"I understand."

"Do you really?"

"Yes."

Kallen knew Puer meant the passing of a master's mantle to a successor.

"But the problem now is that Dis doesn't seem to have any intention of having me join the faith. He's acting more like he's arranging for me to get married and have children.

"I can understand an old man's hopes of seeing his family grow, but I still think this is a little too fast."

Puer tilted her head and asked in confusion:

"All you have to do is enjoy yourself. What hardship would you have to suffer?

"Even after the child is born, you can leave it with Dis, or with Mary.

"Mary will definitely shout, 'Heavens, another child to raise!'

"But trust me, she'll still take care of it with all her heart.

"Dis has always had a good eye for daughters-in-law."

"What about my aunt?"

"Winnie? Don't be fooled by how quiet she is now. She was terribly rebellious when she was young. She successfully escaped Dis's 'restraints' and 'clutches' and ran toward the happiness she wanted.

"Then her marriage fell apart, and she got divorced."

"What a sad story."

It was hard to imagine that his aunt, who managed the household accounts and was always so composed in word and deed, had once bravely defied an old-fashioned patriarch to pursue happiness.

Kallen washed his hands and dried them with a towel.

Puer continued walking beside him. "I think that young lady downstairs is quite nice."

"I don't think anyone's questioning that."

"No, no, no, I mean her bearing. Her bearing makes me feel very comfortable."

"She hasn't even come inside yet, and you can already sense her bearing? Some special feline intuition?"

"This is an elder's discerning eye, understand?"

"All right, all right." Kallen started downstairs.

Puer followed him down along the banister.

"A young lady with that sort of bearing is well suited to bearing children."

Hearing this, Kallen spread his hands and said:

"I've heard that women with big hips are better suited to that."

"That's shallow! That only produces healthy babies!"

"Only?"

"Yes. What's so interesting about a baby that's merely healthy? If you're going to have a baby, it should have a constitution better suited to receiving Purification and more easily drawing in the power of faith. Now that's a good baby."

"That way of thinking..."

"So, there's no problem. I think you can win her over and have her bear your children!

"The Immoreles bloodline, Dis's bloodline, and you-it would be such a shame not to pass all that on."

Kallen stopped, looked at Puer, and asked:

"You never married, did you?"

"I'm a cat now. How could I get married?"

"I mean, when you were still human, you never married either, did you?"

"Uh..."

"You never dated anyone, either, did you? Never fell for someone of the opposite sex?"

"Uh... shut up!"

"I knew it."

"Do you know how many people wanted to court me back then? I was a legend, the dream lover of countless brilliant young men."

"But you still never dated anyone."

"I..."

"So, in your eyes, a man and a woman get together just to have children?"

"Shouldn't they? What else would it be for, romance?"

"Fine. There's no reasoning with you."

Kallen felt that perhaps Puer had been a cat for so long that, in her mind, "love" had become synonymous with "mating."

Besides, breeding cats and dogs required choosing suitable breeds, and she had unconsciously begun projecting that onto people.

"I'm doing this for your own good. Trust me, Kallen, there's genuinely something different about that young lady's bearing."

"Are you saying she's an Otherworldly Demon?"

"She's not an Otherworldly Demon, I can guarantee that. But just looking at her makes me feel comfortable. She's so pleasing to the eye. Someone like that must be born with very high spiritual sensitivity."

Puer jumped straight onto Kallen's shoulder and patted his face with her soft paw.

"She can bear you outstanding Evil God offspring!!!"

Kallen reached up, pulled the inexplicably excited black cat off himself, and tossed her aside.

"You're even more of an old granny than those old grannies who only ever stare at girls' hips."

Landing on a stair, Puer shouted:

"In terms of age, I'm much older than her great-great-grandmother."

"You've never had children yourself, have you?" Kallen asked.

"No."

"So your family line died out because you never produced outstanding offspring?"

"My family didn't need me to produce offspring, damn it! There are plenty of people in my family. You should be worrying about Immoreles!"

Kallen waved a hand, no longer willing to bother with the cat.

He left the living room and entered the yard. By then, the young lady in the long black dress had opened the gate herself and come inside. When she saw Kallen, she said apologetically:

"I'm very sorry. I thought no one was home, so I opened the gate to come in and have a look."

"I'm the one who should apologize for not coming out to greet you sooner. You're Miss Eunice, Mina's teacher?"

"Yes, I'm Mina's math teacher. Are you Mina's brother?"

"Yes. You can call me Kallen."

"All right, Kallen."

"Please come in."

"Thank you."

"Mina never told me her math teacher was so beautiful."

"Mina never told me she had such a handsome brother, either."

"Please have a seat."

"All right, thank you."

"Coffee or black tea?"

"Could I have ice water?"

"Of course. Just a moment."

Kallen went upstairs to get ice from the kitchen refrigerator. On the stairs, Puer, still sprawled on the banister, looked at him and spoke again:

"Ice water. Two glasses of ice water. Mm-hmm."

Puer knew that Kallen didn't usually like tea or coffee. He only liked ice water.

Kallen ignored the cat, went up to pour two glasses of ice water, and came back down.

Miss Eunice was standing in front of a mural on the wall, admiring it. When she heard Kallen's footsteps coming downstairs, she turned and smiled.

"I like the atmosphere of the decor here."

Hearing this from the stairs, Puer muttered under her breath, "You should like the basement, too."

Kallen handed Eunice a glass of ice water and said, "Religious elements have a calming effect on the heart."

"Yes, exactly. I think that must be the most appealing thing about religion. It can give our inner selves..."

"A house in our spiritual world, too. A house that belongs to us alone."

"What an apt description. Just what I'd expect from a top psychology student at Rojia University."

Huh?

A top psychology student at Rojia University?

Kallen understood at once.

When recommending him as a prospective match, his aunt had fabricated his educational background.

Most likely, she'd lied about his age, too.

Granted, there's nothing wrong with calling me a top psychology student, and I'm not that young on the inside, either, but...

"There may have been a misunderstanding. I'm interested in psychology, but I never went to university. I dropped out of high school last year because of some psychological difficulties.

"Also, how old did they tell you I was?"

"Nineteen."

"I'm sixteen."

Kallen left out the words "not yet," since he felt he'd already been honest enough.

"I really couldn't tell at all. You strike me as very composed, as though you were older than me. Oh, no, I'm sorry, I don't mean that you look old. Actually, now I can see that you're still very young."

"I've never liked measuring someone's age by the length of their life. I prefer to use its depth as a measure of their true age."

"Yes, that makes a lot of sense."

"Are you from Vien?"

"Yes, I'm from Vien. I grew up there, but my mother is from Ruilan."

"Why are you teaching in Rojia City?"

"My grandmother passed away, and my mother was very upset, so she wanted to spend some time in my grandmother's old home. I'd just graduated from university, so I found a teaching job in Rojia City."

"I'm sorry."

"No, there's no need. I never met my grandmother, not even when she passed away. After we received the news, my mother and I rushed back, but she had already been buried." Eunice looked around and pointed toward the mortuary table in the living room. "My grandmother's coffin must have rested there, too."

Her grandmother's funeral must have been held at the Immerlis Family's home.

Kallen said, "She was a very kindly old woman."

Though he didn't actually remember her.

"You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Could I have the honor of inviting you to join us?"

"Wouldn't that be a bother?"

"No, not at all."

Kallen led Eunice up to the second floor.

Puer was still sprawled on the banister.

Eunice stepped forward and picked Puer up of her own accord.

"What a cute kitty. Her fur is so smooth."

Kallen was a little surprised. Puer didn't seem at all opposed to lying in Eunice's arms.

Puer seemed to notice Kallen's gaze.

She even kneaded Eunice's chest with her little paws.

Then she shot Kallen another meaningful look.

Kallen thought this cat had gone crazy today.

Good thing he knew she was female, or he might have thrown her straight out.

"Have a seat. It'll be ready soon."

"Do you need any help?"

"All I need is for you to help taste it in a moment."

"All right. Thank you for the trouble."

Eunice set Puer on the dining table, then unconsciously propped her cheek on one hand as she watched Kallen in the kitchen.

Puer lay beside Eunice's face too, looking first at Kallen, then at Eunice.

She thought:

See? You've fallen for him. As long as he's handsome enough, who cares if he dropped out of high school? Who cares if he's younger than you? None of that matters.

Ah,

you shallow humans.

Kallen brought out a large bowl of Suancai Fish and set it on the dining table.

"What dish is this? I've never seen it before. Mm, it smells wonderful," Eunice asked.

"Suancai Fish. It whets the appetite and goes well with rice."

"I can't wait to try it."

"No, this isn't for us. It's for her." Kallen pointed at Puer on the table.

Puer's eyes lit up at those words.

Kallen took out a Bandana and tied it around Puer's neck, then pushed the bowl of Suancai Fish in front of her and warned:

"Careful, it's hot."

Puer looked at Kallen, then at Eunice, and thought:

What are you waiting for? Bearing Lord Evil God's children would be your honor!

Kallen brought two bowls of noodles out of the kitchen, with chili and the other seasonings piled on top.

"Do we need to mix them?" Eunice asked curiously.

"No, just a moment."

Kallen fetched a large ladle of hot oil from the kitchen, pouring it over Eunice's noodles first, then his own.

Sssss...

For anyone who loved noodles, that sound was truly heavenly.

"Let me mix yours for you."

Kallen mixed Eunice's noodles with chopsticks.

"What kind of cutlery is that?"

"These are chopsticks. I'm used to eating with them."

"They look very novel and convenient. And they're quite elegant."

Kallen had originally whittled his own bamboo chopsticks, but Alfred had later made him ten pairs of silver ones in the same style.

"Would you like to try?"

"Yes."

"Here."

Eunice picked up the chopsticks. To Kallen's surprise, although she was clearly a little clumsy with them, she successfully brought the noodles to her mouth.

"They're delicious. I love the flavor and texture. Your aunt told me you enjoy cooking."

"Yes. I think good food is an essential part of a happy life."

"I love trying food from different places too. There are lots of restaurants serving foreign cuisines in Vien. I really enjoy trying them."

"Believe me, those restaurants definitely don't make it authentically."

Kallen sat down too and began eating his noodles.

Eunice took a bite, watched Kallen for a while, then took another bite.

Puer, who was eating her fish, looked up and saw this.

She silently pushed the garlic she had peeled with her paws earlier toward Eunice.

What are you staring at? Eat your garlic!

"Hm?"

Eunice noticed the garlic the cat had pushed in front of her.

Kallen picked up a clove and bit half of it off, then followed it with a big mouthful of noodles as he chewed.

Ah.

Garlic would always be the perfect partner for noodles.

"Are you supposed to eat them together?"

"Yes."

Eunice copied Kallen and took a bite. The sharp heat instantly made her squeeze her eyes shut. With no water nearby, she instinctively tried to quell it with noodles.

"It's so spicy."

It took Eunice a while to recover. Looking at the half-clove still in her hand, she placed it in her noodles, then wrapped them around it and brought the whole bite to her mouth.

"Mm, I think I'm starting to like this sensation."

"Me too."

Kallen looked at Eunice as he spoke.

Beside them, Puer suddenly felt that the huge, fragrant bowl of Suancai Fish in front of her had lost all its appeal.

She stealthily retrieved a clove of garlic with her paw and took a bite.

"Meow!!!"

After they finished the noodles, Eunice insisted on clearing away the dishes, and Kallen agreed.

After that,

the two naturally settled into a conversation, seated across from each other.

Eunice did most of the talking, while Kallen listened and offered responses. After all, getting someone to lower their guard, open up, and enjoy a conversation was his specialty.

From their conversation, Kallen gathered that Eunice's family must be very well-off.

She said she had been injured riding a horse in her backyard as a child. That meant her family owned an estate with riding grounds in York City, the capital of Vien.

She said she was staying on Rhine Street to keep her mother company. Apparently, they hadn't even bothered renting, but had simply bought a house on Rhine Street in Rojia City's Noble District.

When they discussed art, she gave several examples, such as the princess consort's and the queen's clothing and the paintings they admired. This meant she often saw Vienne's queen and princess consort-not merely glimpses from a distance at ceremonies.

Unlike the Ruilan Royal Family, which had been reduced to endorsing clothing brands, Vienne's royal family still wielded tremendous political influence.

Throughout their conversation,

Puer watched from the side with her head drooping.

How much longer are you going to talk?

How do you still have things to talk about?

Why don't you go play a nice game of poker in the third-floor bedroom?

And,

why not try making a baby to give yourselves something more interactive to talk about?

Ah,

this young lady's scent makes me feel so comfortable. How I'd love to see your belly swell, then have you give birth to a spiritually gifted baby for me to play with.

As evening drew near,

Eunice glanced out the window and said in surprise:

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea it was this late. Please forgive me. I'm not usually this talkative. I don't know why, but talking to you today, I just couldn't stop."

Puer lowered her eyelids. Because you want him!

"I've really enjoyed talking with you too. It's been a pleasure."

"Yes, I feel the same way."

Eunice looked at Kallen, then took a pink wallet out of her handbag.

"This is a gift for Mina."

"All right, thank you. Let me thank you on Mina's behalf."

Kallen placed the pink wallet on the dining table, then accompanied Eunice downstairs and helped her hail a taxi by the roadside.

Well, it wasn't that Kallen didn't want to drive her home, even though the family had just bought a new car...

After watching Eunice get into the taxi and leave,

Kallen turned back into the house and went up to the second floor.

On the dining table, Puer was fiddling with the pink wallet and its distinctive logo.

Kallen picked up the water on the table, took a sip, and asked:

"What brand is it?"

Puer raised her head in a daze and looked at Kallen.

"Great-grandmother's great-grandmother, great-grandmother's great-grandmother...

"No,

"Dis,

"damn it,

"Dis did this on purpose. He definitely did. Dis arranged all of this. Damn it!"

"What's wrong with you?"

"You mustn't touch her, Kallen. Absolutely not!

"I'm begging you. You mustn't, you mustn't!

"Great Lord Evil God,

"you mustn't touch her. You can't!

"Please stay away from her. Stay away from her forever!!!"

"Is something wrong with your head today?" Kallen asked in confusion. "Should I take you to the vet?"

Puer pointed her paw at the distinctive emblem on the pink wallet in front of her.

She shouted:

"This Miss Eunice, she... she's a descendant of my family!!!"