Episode 210
Episode 68. The Crimson Jade Cat, Shuri
Murakan and Quikantel already knew the name of the beast.
“I thought it was taking a while, but I never expected them to bring something like this. That’s the Crimson Jade Cat of Helluram, isn’t it? I can’t even remember the last time I saw one. Looks like it’s grown bigger since I last saw it—must’ve been abandoned.”
“…So that’s why neither Quikantel nor I guessed it was a Helluram beast. It’s not a monster, but a spirit creature. Helluram’s cat, Shuri. It was a famous spirit about two thousand years ago.”
The Crimson Jade Cat, Shuri.
Until now, Jin had thought Shuri was a monster, but in truth, it was a spirit creature gifted to Helluram by the Demon Beast King Orgal.
“It was given as a kind of mount. Helluram couldn’t ride horses, after all. Flying around on a staff had its limits.”
True to that, Shuri didn’t seem to mind carrying someone on its back. When Jin left the King’s Domain and returned to his comrades, he rode Shuri.
There was no special meaning to Jin climbing onto Shuri’s back. Now that Shuri was his beast—well, spirit creature, as he now knew—he just wanted to try riding it once.
Besides, anyone seeing a large animal would naturally want to climb on or hug it, and Jin was no exception.
[Miyah.]
“But why is it called the Crimson Jade Cat?”
Jin tilted his head, looking at Shuri. Its fur was all black with white spots, and its eyes were amber. There was nothing about it that seemed to fit the name “Crimson Jade.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen its crimson jade yet? That’s how it recognizes you as its new master.”
“I haven’t. I just learned the name.”
“Then you’re not its master yet.”
“Really?”
Shuri glanced around cautiously, then opened its mouth and spat something out.
A red gem, about half the size of an egg—the crimson jade. Even fresh from its mouth, it sparkled without a single drop of saliva.
“Oh.”
“You have to infuse your mana into that gem to become the Crimson Jade Cat’s master. Not just anyone can do it—only those Shuri permits.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
[Miya… ang.]
Jin glared sharply, and Shuri looked away, then subtly pointed at the crimson jade on the ground with its paw.
Jin chuckled softly and picked up the gem.
As he infused his mana, the crimson jade glowed, and Shuri’s eyes turned a deep red. The mana connected them, and for a moment, it seemed as if the gem and Shuri were resonating.
Then something incredible happened.
“Huh?”
Shuri’s massive form shimmered with a red aura and was drawn into the crimson jade. As if it had never been there, not a single hair remained where Shuri had stood.
“Now, lick the crimson jade. Like a cat.”
“…Do I really have to?”
Quikantel nodded beside him, looking impatient—as if to say, “What are you waiting for?” Jin reluctantly brought his tongue to the gem.
“That seals the contract. Now that you own the crimson jade, you can summon Shuri anytime. You won’t need a huge mana surge like when summoning Tess.”
“That’s very convenient.”
Summoning Shuri was simple: just infuse a tiny amount of mana, and Shuri would spring from the crimson jade.
Wooosh!
Watching Shuri materialize, Jin couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
“But… somehow, it feels like this one’s smaller?”
It was still large, but not the massive, imposing size that could rival Murakan in his true form.
More like the size of a carriage. Jin ran his hands over Shuri’s noticeably smaller body and looked at Murakan, silently asking for an explanation.
“The Crimson Jade Cat’s size changes depending on its master. Those without a master can be as big as a house, but contracted ones usually shrink. It’s a survival adaptation to live better with their owners.”
“Oh! Congratulations, my lord! I don’t know much, but you’ve got yourself an incredible creature, haven’t you? And another cat, following the Butterfly Runkandel—that’s quite notable…”
“Who called it Butterfly Runkandel? Hey, you little pest, you better manage your subordinates properly.”
“Sorry, Murakan. Master, can I try riding it too? …Ah, never mind!”
[Kyaa!]
As Kashmir approached, Shuri unsheathed its claws.
“But Murakan, how do you know so much about this?”
“I once contracted with a Crimson Jade Cat myself, about two thousand years ago. It lived a full life and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Even then, they weren’t common creatures. You had to have ties to the demon race to meet one.”
Murakan’s favorite transformation—the black cat—was modeled after the Crimson Jade Cat he had back then.
Since the demon race’s decline, Crimson Jade Cats have become nearly extinct.
There are almost no records left in human society, but Shuri, Helluram’s cat, was described in some detail in the archives collected by the major powers.
Shiron was able to identify Shuri’s true nature because he and the former Black Knights had stolen ancient documents from Ziphl.
“Originally, it seems Shuri was reserved for Luna.”
“That makes sense. It means your father was starting to recognize you as his heir.”
“There was a King’s Domain related to Shuri. When I drank it, I heard stories passed down from my father to the fairy descendants… I realized how much he cared for Luna. I never imagined my father had that side.”
It was true. Shiron brewing the King’s Domain for his child… Even after experiencing it firsthand, Jin still found it hard to believe.
“But in the end, Shuri contracted with you, not your sister.”
“Once my sister, whom my father cherished so much, gave up the throne, he lost interest entirely. Even the King’s Domain brewed for her at least twenty years ago became mine. I could fall out of favor anytime too.”
“Don’t worry so much. How many among your siblings could really compete with you?”
“Well, we’ll see when I get back.”
When Jin explained the curse placed on Shuri, Murakan and Quikantel’s expressions darkened.
“Hah, that witch really did cast a nasty curse. It’s literally an immortality curse. Only humans who’ve made contracts with the Moon God and the witch Helluram can use it.”
“The curse’s catalyst requires at least a million humans. I think one of the great disasters Helluram caused was a means to curse Shuri.”
“Ha! That woman’s crazy beyond belief. No matter how much she loved her cat, using a million humans as a catalyst to grant immortality? I’ve had a rough life, but I never imagined such a wicked woman.”
Quikantel shook his head gravely.
“An immortality curse is never cast on someone you love. Think about how terrible it is to live forever in a body that can’t die, no matter what happens.”
“Helluram wouldn’t be ignorant of that. If it were her, she probably cast the curse just for fun.”
“Besides, the curse still being active means Helluram is alive. If she truly cared for Shuri, would she have cursed it with immortality and abandoned it in the Black Sea? Even canceling the contract.”
“Wow… If what you two say is true, the fact that witch is still alive is downright chilling. Look at my arm—goosebumps all over.”
[Kiiing…]
Suddenly, Shuri lowered its gaze and let out a mournful cry. Murakan and Quikantel cleared their throats awkwardly.
“Well… the kid’s a million times better than the witch. So don’t be too sad. Hey, if you keep crying like that, what am I supposed to do? Sorry, so just stop it…”
“Well done. Quikantel, you went too far this time. Those are painful truths.”
[Kiiing, king…]
“Ugh, damn it. I shouldn’t have said that. Kid, call Tess. That guy’s been a pro at calming spirit creatures since way back.”
Flare!
As soon as Tess was summoned, he fluttered his wings happily at the sight of Shuri.
“I greet the master of the Flame Realm!”
Quikantel bowed respectfully, but Tess only alternated his gaze between Murakan and Shuri.
“Oh, yes, yes. Long time no see. Where did you get such a pretty one? That little guy… yes, yes. I didn’t make it cry, really! It wasn’t me, it was Quikantel!”
Then, without warning, Tess pecked at Murakan’s crown repeatedly. Quikantel silently knelt, which probably saved Murakan from Tess’s assault.
[Miya!]
Anyway, Murakan’s claim that Tess was good at soothing spirit creatures was true. Even though it was their first meeting, Shuri nestled into Tess’s wings and purred contentedly.
They seemed to communicate. Just as Murakan and Quikantel understood Tess’s intentions, Shuri did the same.
After comforting Shuri for a while, Tess returned to the Flame Realm. Before leaving, he made sure to scold Murakan and remind him to take good care of Shuri.
“Tess said that if Shuri is brought directly to the Flame Realm later, the curse will be lifted.”
Quikantel wiped the cold sweat from his brow as he spoke. Tess was still the most terrifying figure in her world.
“That guy sure knows how to make empty promises. Honestly, by the time the kid can actually go there on their own, it wouldn’t be hard at all to track down Helluram and deal with him directly.”
[Myaa-.]
Fortunately, Shuri had a personality that quickly shook off gloom. That was how she had endured over a thousand years of solitude in the Black Sea Forest. But to Jin, that resilience only made her seem more pitiable.
“Anyway, let’s head back. I want to introduce you to the new family.”
Thanks to riding Shuri, the group was able to leave the Black Sea several times faster than on foot. This made their limited food supplies a non-issue.
Of course, once they reached inhabited areas, they sent Shuri into the Red Jade and traveled normally.
“Master, I hope I’m not overstepping, but… I don’t think Lord Gaju disliked Miss Luna’s gentle nature as much as people say.”
Gilly said this as soon as she heard the story about Shuri.
“Why do you think that?”
“They say this child is cursed with immortality. So when Miss Luna was supposed to receive the map, she probably couldn’t have killed Shuri. How else could she have forced her to submit? Maybe Lord Gaju believed Luna could take good care of Shuri.”
Recalling Siron’s kind smile when Jin had drunk the Gawangju, it didn’t seem like a far-fetched idea.
“True, even after Luna gave up her position as head, she still received special treatment in many ways. That could be it.”
Jin and Gilly spent some time discussing the matter. Without knowing Siron’s true intentions, they couldn’t reach a conclusion, but it was an intriguing topic.
“Oh, and Master, I have something to report.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“There’s been unusual activity on the compass recently. One contractor has been traveling back and forth between the Hupester Federation and an uninhabited island in the North Sea. It turns out that island is owned by the family of the Luncandel Guardian Knight.”
“The Luncandel Guardian Knight’s family owns an island?”
“The Guardian Knight was Joshua’s man. So it’s very likely that island is effectively Joshua’s property.”