The next day, their carriage rolled into the Black and White District.
The morning streets were already noisy—nobles in elegant robes passed by mercenaries in rough armor, and vendors shouted about rare spices and illegal artifacts as if it were normal.
Norax stepped off the carriage and stretched lightly.
A cat café in a fantasy world—purely because he wrote it into the novel.>
My readers went crazy for it. Honestly, they loved this place more than some characters.
Elise dragged her feet behind him with an annoyed face.
"How long do we need to walk, you ugly man?"
Clestia walked in a springy mood beside them.
"Master, Snaya will be happy to see you. I'm excited too."
He glanced at Elise.
"We're almost there. Stop complaining."
Clestia hummed happily.
"Elise, trust me. Once we arrive, you'll forget everything."
"Hmph. What's so special about that café? There are many cafés here."
Elise pouted and followed unwillingly.
Norax ignored her and kept walking.
Soon, he opened a wooden door—ding-ling-ling—and a clear bell echoed.
A soft voice greeted them.
"Nya~ Welcome, dear guests. How many people?"
A maid with cat ears and a swaying tail smiled brightly. Elise's eyes shot wide open.
"W-Wha… What's that?! A tail?!"
Her gaze travelled upward until she noticed the cat ears.
"T-There are more of them?!"
Norax nodded.
"This café is run by beastfolk. I saved them in the past. Don't worry they are members of Blue Crescent "
The inside was warm and lively—cats, puppies, small birds, and even foxes wandered freely.
Customers ate food while playing with fluffy animals, some nobles sat with guards exchanging information, and others visited for relaxation.
Clestia and Elise stuck close behind Nox, eyes roaming everywhere.
Then a young man approached.
Blue hair, wolf ears, and a sharp, expressionless face—yet his tail wagged like mad.
He wore a butler uniform and bowed deeply.
"It has been a while, Leader. Please allow us to take care of you—and our companions."
Norax smiled slightly.
"Ark, how are you?"
Ark's face remained stoic, but his tail thumped harder.
"I am well also The café is running smoothly."
Before Ark could continue, Clestia suddenly rushed toward the stairs.
"Ark! I'm going upstairs! I'm going! I'm going!"
She disappeared before anyone could stop her.
Norax sighed.
"She's excited to see her."
Ark nodded.
"Yes… she always is."
Norax looked at Elise.
"Let's go to the Fourth floor."
Elise leaned close to him and whispered loudly,
"Who is that butler guy? He looks so handsome and gentlemanly… unlike you."
Norax felt a sharp sting in his heart.
They reached the fourth floor. Nox pushed open the door.
Inside were piles of plush toys scattered on the floor.
Cats lounged on cushions, rabbits hopped across the room, and birds chirped softly from perches.
Elise gasped.
"W-Wow… so many toys and animals…"
Clestia tiptoed toward the bed where a small girl slept curled up with a pillow.
Golden hair. Cat ears. Barely eight years old.
Sanya Duskgale—the Beast Maiden.
Clestia whispered excitedly,
"Elise, shhh. She's sleeping."
Ark stepped forward.
"She used her magic shortly before you arrived. She will wake up soon. Leader, shall I prepare the VVIP room until then?"
Norax nodded, glancing fondly at the sleeping girl.
"Yes. Let her rest. She deserves it."
He pulled out a letter and handed it to Ark.
"This is from Madam Kyra. A new task. Not urgent, so don't worry. Too much"
Ark accepted it with a bow.
Clestia and Elise were already hovering near Sanya like fangirls.
Elise whispered,
"She's… so cute. Is she real?"
Norax watched them with a faint smile.
She—and Ark—were the ones he saved long ago and granted the surname Duskgale.
Ark—strong swordsman, superior beastman physicality.
Sanya—genius magic user.
Both loyal. Both family.
After the commotion settled, Nox guided them to the VVIP room on the third floor, a space reserved only for nobles who genuinely paid for access.
For the first time in this new life, he felt a strange sense of relief.
He settled onto the couch with a slice of cake in hand. Ark took a seat across from him, while Clestia and Elise disappeared into another room, squealing and chasing kittens and puppies.
Ark's expression remained calm, but his words were firm.
"Leader… regarding the person named Zen you asked about—searching him will take another week. He has so many false identities, it's difficult to trace him."
Norax nodded, unconcerned.
"It's alright i expect that. By the way, there are some medical herbs and monster byproducts I need you to purchase. Here's the list."
He handed Ark the parchment he had prepared during the carriage ride from Madam Kyra's district.
Ark scanned it quickly.
"None of these are particularly difficult… except for one flower. There's only one place I know where it can be obtained."
Norax smirked knowingly.
"Ah… you mean the Black Auction House?"
Ark nodded.
"I will arrange passes for it and send someone to purchase it."
"Good. You are Very helpful like celstia. Rest well. Sometimes you already manage the café and noble requests admirably.I may have to go in your place, i think"
Ark inclined his head.
"If you say so, Leader."
Norax thought about the café for a moment. Even in the capital, only three organizations can reliably gather intelligence. One of them is this Neko Café.
The district's neutral stance meant no one dared attack them for political maneuvering. Their methods of gathering information were… unique and top secret.
Sanya could speak with animals and exchange information through them.
Her magic was ideal for intelligence work—but she wasn't built for combat. Ark, the maids, and butlers were her personal guard and formed the Blue Crescent's intelligence unit in this district.
Clestia's voice pulled Nox from his thoughts.
"Master, can we go meet Sanya now?"
Meanwhile, Elise crouched near a small puppy, hesitant to pat it. Ark knelt beside her.
"Lady, you need to be gentler. Slowly, like this."
Elise's face turned crimson.
"Why are you working for that… ugly man?" she muttered.
Ark said nothing and guided her hand to properly pet the puppy.
Elise's eyes sparkled as she looked down at the soft, fluffy creature.
"So cute… so fluffy… thank you!"
Norax blinked, completely stunned.
At that moment, the door knob turned, and Sanya, half-asleep, rubbed her eyes.
"Ark… brother…" she mumbled.
Clestia immediately stepped forward, grabbing the little girl.
"My cutie pie! Big sister's here to see you!"
Sanya slowly smiled through sleepiness, her small hands reaching out.
"Big sister…" she whispered, rubbing her cheeks against Clestia.
Clestia froze for a moment but quickly kissed her on the cheek.
"So cute… so precious. I'll protect you. Don't worry," she cooed, moving around the room in a gentle circle.
Norax held up his hands.
"Okay… stop. You're making her dizzy."
Sanya looked up at him with sleepy, sparkling eyes and stretched her tiny arms toward him.
"Big brother… I missed you," she said, tail wagging and ears twitching.
Elise and Clestia stood back, their mouths slightly open. The sight hit them both emotionally.
Elise's face turned solemn." Now I understand why Clestia said she's too cute for normal people to handle."
Clestia whispered softly,
"Sanya is our greatest member."
Even Ark's eyes sparkle at her"… as expected from the leader. Even Sanya's cuteness… doesn't melt his heart completely."he say
Norax blinked, expressionless.
"Oi… I know she's cute, but you're all overreacting."
Sanya tugged at his shirt.
"Big brother… cake!"
Norax sighed.
"Fine. Let's eat cake."
With that, the three of them settled down in the room, the little girl happily devouring sweets while Nox, Clestia, and Ark watched over her.
After Sanya settled with her cake, Norax leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms. He glanced at Clestia, who was carefully watching both Sanya and Elise, making sure they didn't get too rowdy.
Elise, still pouting from earlier, poked at a puppy, muttering,
"I still don't like that ugly man… but okay, he can stay with Snaya."
Norax raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a small smirk.
"Ugly man, huh? Funny… coming from someone who literally clings to me and yells at me all the time.i really worried what madam Kyra teach her "
Clestia giggled softly.
"Ignore her, master. She's still getting used to your… unique charm."
Norax let out a dry chuckle, thinking about how chaotic his little "family" had become. His eyes flicked to Ark, who was quietly taking notes and checking the list of herbs and ingredients for the medicine.
The young butler's efficiency always made Norax relax a little.