Chapter 109 - The Warning

In front of the port, Puss, Fiona, and Aurora were saying their farewells to their families.

Harold stood to the side, uncomfortable and reluctant, while Lillian gave advice and admonitions to the two girls.

As for Puss… well, he was covered in tiny crying fairies.

"Don't go, Daddy Cat!" one of the little ones cried, her big eyes full of tears as she clung tightly to him, unwilling to let go.

Some of the older children also looked reluctant, but they were able to understand and accept it better than the younger ones.

"Don't cry, hijos míos. I have adventures to live, but I'll come back often to see you and tell you everything. So you must promise me to be strong and help your mother so she doesn't get too stressed," he said kindly, gently rubbing their tiny heads.

After offering them some more comfort, Puss turned his gaze to Vivianne, who fluttered her wings in the air, watching him with tears in her eyes as she lovingly took in the sight of her children clinging to the man she had fallen in love with.

Smiling and wiping her tears, she flew closer.

"Alright, children, time to let Mommy say goodbye too," she said softly, yet firmly.

The children hesitated for a moment, but with their heads lowered and tears rolling pitifully down their cheeks, they slowly stepped back from him.

Puss couldn't help but feel sorry for them, his heart aching to stay.

Seeing his reluctant and sad expression, Vivianne smiled gently, knowing she had chosen the right person.

She flew closer and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, which looked enormous compared to her small body.

"Don't worry about them. Children adapt quickly to change, and soon they'll be running around carefree again," she consoled him softly, then shamelessly wiped her tears on his fur.

Puss chuckled at her words and actions.

Then, glancing at the pile of little fairies now clinging and crying around a helpless, snorting Tornado, he couldn't help but smile and comment:

"Well, that's true. But I think I'm even more reluctant to leave behind a beautiful fairy I've fallen in love with," he said gently, turning his attention back to her, still clinging to him.

Vivianne laughed and patted his neck.

"That's simple—just don't leave and stay with her," she joked, though deep down she truly wished he could, even knowing he couldn't.

Puss lifted his paw and gently stroked the fairy's back as she rested on his neck.

"I'd love that. But you know I have to help Fiona and Aurora, and I also need to return to my hometown. There are problems I left behind that I have to resolve," he explained gently.

"I know…" she murmured with a pout, nodding her head against his neck.

Giving him one last tight squeeze and taking in his scent one more time, she pulled away, fluttering back as she looked at him with a small smile.

"Just don't forget that someone who loves you is waiting here," she reminded him.

He leaned in and kissed her golden head.

"I won't forget. Mi hermosa señorita," he said seriously and lovingly.

After saying his goodbyes to her and the children, he walked over to his other two women, who were with the king and queen.

As he approached, he overheard the queen's instructions to the girls—and his mouth twitched at what he heard.

"...You must wear protection when you're with him. I've heard he's very fierce when doing that kind of thing, and if you're not careful, things might happen that you're not prepared to handle. But never forget to lubricate and clean it well before use, because if it's too stiff, it'll be uncomfortable when it's inside…"

Puss rubbed his forehead helplessly. The queen was talking about a pair of women's armor she was giving the girls, while instructing them on how to use it.

And when she mentioned "that kind of thing," she clearly meant combat.

'My dear mother-in-law, could you please explain without using such suggestive wording?!'

Despite his helplessness, he said nothing and simply let the queen finish her advice while the girls listened attentively.

At last, the queen concluded,

"...And don't make babies at sea—it's very dangerous. Wait until you're back in the kingdom."

"MOTHER!/Y-Y-Your Majesty!" Fiona and Aurora cried out, their faces red with embarrassment.

The queen laughed softly behind her hand and turned to her husband, who hadn't said much but was rolling his eyes at her after hearing those last words.

Just imagining himself surrounded by kittens with big, bright eyes happily calling out "Grandpa!" was enough to irritate him…

Ahem… well, reluctant as he was, deep down, he had to admit that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if that scene ever happened.

Unaware of his father-in-law's thoughts, the cat in question walked over just as the queen finished her words.

"Fiona, Aurora, it's time to leave," Puss told the girls softly. They nodded to him, and his gaze then turned to the king and queen, who were watching him seriously. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to them. I swear on my nine lives," he vowed without a hint of doubt.

Harold opened his mouth to argue, irritated, but in the end, he closed it.

His expression turned complex, and then he could only plead in a low voice.

"Puss… please, bring them back safely."

The orange cat met his eyes firmly, without looking away.

"I will," he declared with conviction to his father-in-law, who, for the first time, called him by his name.

Lillian stepped beside her husband and took his hand, turning her gaze to Puss with a gentle smile.

"Go. We trust you to protect our girls," she said softly.

"Hum…" Puss nodded, turned to the girls, and they smiled at him. "Are you ready?" he asked, smiling back.

"Yes!" they both replied.

Aurora bent down and easily picked Puss up, placing him on her shoulder. Her red draconic wings fluttered lightly in excitement for the journey about to begin.

She liked the castle, but she also wanted to see the world and breathe new air.

Fiona, standing beside her and holding a pink rolling suitcase, was also smiling brightly, looking just as eager.

Thus, under the worried yet loving gazes of family and friends, Puss and the girls set sail.

The ship slowly drifted away from the port, and their journey toward a horizon of adventures was about to begin.

As the ship departed, a few minutes passed, and when it was almost disappearing on the horizon, a loud shout echoed across the harbor.

"PUSS! WAIT!"

Hearing the shout, everyone at the port instinctively turned in that direction—and there they saw a short old man in colorful clothes, running toward them while waving a piece of paper in his hand.

But with the ship already having departed, he seemed to be too late.

'Damn it, I overslept! I should've told him when he visited me yesterday instead of waiting until today just to make it mysterious,' Googles—the old man running—scolded himself helplessly, almost crying over his own stupidity.

Reaching the edge of the pier, he saw the ship already far away, and with one last glimmer of hope, he shouted as loud as he could:

"PUSS!! SOMEONE IS PLOTTING AGAINST YOU!!"

His loud voice echoed across the waters, reaching Puss's ears, which twitched beneath his hat.

Looking toward the port with his sharp green eyes, he spotted the tiny, colorful figure waiting for his next words.

"... BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU RETURN TO SPAIN!!"