13 Mink Street

Chapter 46: Ancestor

“Surely you must be joking,” Pu’er protested. “My dear heretical god.”

“What do you think?”

“I think that not even a heretical god would force a cat to eat chili oil noodles. With garlic.”

Karon reached out and patted Pu’er on the head, who rolled her eyes.

“She’s quite good-looking,” Pu’er added. “Better than I expected.”

Why does society keep emphasizing inner beauty? Because fundamentally, it is a society that judges by appearance.

“I was better looking than her back then,” Pu’er insisted stubbornly.

“Any photos?”

“Photography didn’t exist yet, but there should be some paintings.”

“Where?”

“Let me think... The underground levels of Allen Manor should still have some.”

“Allen?”

“That’s my family name.”

“A cat demon family? No, wait; a demonkin family?”

“If I described the Immers family as a demonkin family, would that make you happy?”

“I don’t have any prejudice against demonkin,” Karon said.

“You can think of it as a larger family larger than the Immers, both with more people and a longer legacy. Out of respect, I won’t use the word ‘ants’ when comparing our two families.”

“Very considerate,” Karon said, nodding. “So, has your family gone extinct?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Families that enjoy calling others ants to highlight their own greatness usually disappear into history.”

Pu’er cursed under her breath. “I’m starting to wonder if Tiz buried one dead grandson last time he went to Berwyn and brought back the twin instead. You know, there times that you speak exactly the same as Tiz when he was young. I didn’t like the previous ‘Karon.’ Don’t like Lent, either. They felt like dishes unfit to be served.”

“Understood.”

“That’s why I can understand why Tiz likes you so much. There’s a kind of legacy in this world that’s valued more than blood, and is far closer.”

“I understand.”

“Do you really?”

“Yes.” Karon knew she meant discipleship. “But the problem is, Tiz doesn’t seem interested in inducting me. He’s more concerned with marrying me off and having me produce an heir. I understand an elder’s desire for their family to flourish, but this feels rushed.”

Pu’er tilted her head. “You only need to be comfortable. Why should you suffer? Once the child’s born, you can hand it over to Tiz. Or to Mary. Mary will complain, ‘Another child to raise?’ but she’ll still take good care of it. Tiz has always had good taste in daughters-in-law.”

“What about Aunt Winnie?”

“Winnie? She may look gentle now, but she was rebellious when she was young. She broke free from Tiz’s ‘control’ and ‘claws’ to pursue happiness. Then her marriage collapsed in divorce.”

“That’s sad.” It was hard to imagine his composed aunt who managed the household accounts had once rebelled against patriarchal authority.

Karon washed his hands and dried them.

“I think the lady downstairs is quite good,” Pu’er said.

“I don’t think anyone’s disputing that.”

“No, I mean her temperament. She makes me feel comfortable.”

“She hasn’t even entered the house and you can already sense her temperament? A cat’s intuition?”

“It’s the sharp eye of age.”

“Sure.”

Karon headed downstairs, with Pu’er accompanying him along the banister. “A woman with a good temperament is suitable for bearing children.”

Karon spread his hands. “I’ve heard it’s more about hips.”

“How shallow! That only produces healthy babies.”

“Only?”

“Yes. What’s the point of simply healthy babies? If you’re going to have children, they should have bodies that are suited for purification and faith reception. That’s a good baby.”

“You sound—”

“So it’s settled. You should take her and have her bear your children. The Immers bloodline, Tiz’s bloodline and yours, would be a pity to simply let end.”

Karon stopped and turned to stare at Pu’er. “You’ve never been married, have you?”

“I’m a cat.”

“When you were human.”

“Uh...”

“No relationships?”

“Shut up!”

“I knew it.”

“You know how many people pursued me back then? I was a legend!”

“And still no relationship. So, in your eyes, men and women should only get together to have children?”

“Isn’t that the point? What else should there be? Romance?”

“Never mind.” Karon concluded Pu’er had spent too long as a cat. Love had become no different from mating, and relationships were seen through the filter of breeding logic.

“I’m saying this for your own good,” Pu’er insisted. “That lady’s temperament really is special.”

“You mean she’s demonkin?”

“No. In fact, I can guarantee that she isn’t. But just looking at her makes me feel comfortable. People like that have high innate spirituality.” Pu’er leapt onto Karon’s shoulder and slapped his face with her paw. “She can give birth to excellent offspring of a heretical god!”

Karon pulled her off and tossed her aside. “You’re worse than those old grannies who stare at girls’ backsides.”

“I’m older than their grandmothers’ grandmothers!”

“You never had children, did you?”

“No.”

“So did your family end because you didn’t produce heirs?”

“My family didn’t rely on me alone, damn it! Worry about the Immers!”

Karon waved her off and stepped outside. The woman in the black dress had already opened the gate herself.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought no one was home.”

“I should be the one to apologize; I failed to greet you. You’re Miss Eunice, Mina’s teacher?”

“Yes. You’re her cousin?”

“Yes. Call me Karon.”

“Thank you.”

“Please come in.”

She admired the wall mural. “I like the atmosphere here.”

“You’d like the basement too,” Pu’er muttered.

“Religious elements can bring inner calm,” Karon said.

“Yes. They build something for our inner world.”

“A private house,” Karon finished.

She smiled. “Very well put. No wonder you’re a top psychology student from Roja University.”

Karon understood instantly: his aunt had lied. She might have lied about his age, too. “I’m interested in psychology, but I don’t attend university. I dropped out of high school last year due to mental difficulties. What age did they tell you I was?”

“Nineteen.”

“I’m sixteen.” Almost.

She looked startled, then laughed apologetically. “I really couldn’t tell. You seem to be very steady.”

“I’ve never liked measuring a person’s maturity by the length of their life,” Karon said. “I prefer to judge it by the depth.”

“That makes a lot of sense.”

“You’re from Veyn?”

“Yes. I grew up in Veyn, though my mother is Swillenian.”

“Then why are you teaching in Roja City?”

“When my grandmother passed away, my mother took it very hard, and she wanted to stay in her old home for a while. I’d just graduated from university, so I found a teaching position here in Roja City.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I never even met my grandmother. By the time my mother and I rushed back after receiving the news, she had already been buried.” Eunice glanced around, then raised a hand to point at the mortuary table in the receiving room. “Her coffin might have sat right there.”

Her grandmother’s funeral had likely been held at the Immers residence.

“She was a very kind woman,” Karon said, despite not remembering her at all.

“You haven’t had lunch yet, have you? May I invite you to join me?”

“Wouldn’t that be a bother?”

“Not at all.”

Karon led Eunice upstairs. Pu’er was still lying along the railing of the stairs. Eunice stepped forward and, unprompted, picked the cat up. “What a cute kitty! Her fur is so soft.”

Karon was a bit surprised. Pu’er showed no apparent resistance to lying in Eunice’s arms. As if sensing his gaze, Pu’er even kneaded Eunice’s chest with her paws while shooting Karon a meaningful look.

He felt that the cat had gone completely mad today. Thankfully, he knew she was female. Otherwise, he might have thrown her right out of the house.

“Have a seat. It’ll be ready soon.”

“Do you need any help?”

“All you need to do later is help taste it.”

“All right. Thank you for your trouble.” Eunice placed Pu’er on the dining table, and then unconsciously propped her cheek into a hand to watch Karon working in the kitchen.

Pu’er crouched beside Eunice’s face, glancing from Karon back to Eunice. See? You’ve fallen already! As long as someone is handsome enough, so what if he’s a high school dropout? So what if he’s younger? None of that matters.

Sigh. Shallow humans.

Karon carried a large bowl of sour-pickled fish to the table.

“What’s this dish? I’ve never seen it before, but it smells amazing,” Eunice asked.

“Sour-pickled fish. It’s great with rice.”

“I really want to try it right away.”

“No, this one isn’t for us.” Karon pointed at Pu’er. “It’s hers.”

Pu’er’s eyes lit up instantly.

Karon took out a triangular kerchief that he tied around Pu’er’s neck before sliding the bowl in front of her. “Careful. It’s hot.”

She looked at Karon, and then at Eunice. What are you waiting for? Bearing children for a great heretical god would be your honor!

Karon brought two bowls of noodles out from the kitchen, both with chili and seasonings piled on top.

“Do they need to be mixed?” Eunice asked curiously.

“Wait a moment.” Karon returned with a large ladle of hot oil. He first poured some over Eunice’s bowl, and then over his own.

A sizzling sound filled the air. For anyone who loved noodles, the sound was absolute music.

“I’ll help you mix it.” Karon used his chopsticks to stir Eunice’s bowl.

“What kind of utensils are these?”

“Chopsticks. I’m used to eating with them.”

“They look novel and very convenient. Also quite elegant.”

Karon had originally made some bamboo chopsticks himself, but Alfred had then commissioned ten identical pairs made of silver.

“Would you like to try?”

“Yes.”

“Here.”

Eunice picked up her pair of chopsticks. To Karon’s surprise, despite clearly being unfamiliar with the utensils, she managed to pick up some noodles and even successfully deliver them to her mouth. “It’s delicious! I love the flavor and texture. Your aunt mentioned that you enjoy cooking.”

“Yes. I believe a happy life is inseparable from good food.”

“I love trying different cuisines too. There are many foreign restaurants in Veyn, and I often go to sample them.”

Trust me. They aren’t really authentic. Karon sat down and began eating as well.

Eunice took a bite, looked at Karon for a moment, and then took another bite.

Pu’er, who was eating fish, looked up and saw this. Silently, she pushed the garlic she had peeled earlier with her paws toward Eunice. What are you staring at? Eat your garlic.

“Hm?” Eunice noticed the garlic pushed her way.

Karon picked one clove up, bit off half, chewed, and then washed it down with a large mouthful of noodles.

Whew. Garlic will forever be the best companion to noodles.

“Is it... meant to be eaten together?”

“Yes.”

Eunice copied Karon and took a bite of the garlic. The spice made her squeeze her eyes shut immediately. With no water nearby, she instinctively used noodles to suppress the bite. “It’s so spicy!”

After a while, she managed to recover. She looked at the half clove of garlic still in her hand, tucked it into the noodles, wrapping them around it, and put the whole thing into her mouth. “Mm. I think I’m starting to like this feeling.”

“So am I,” Karon said, staring at her.

Pu’er suddenly felt that the large, fragrant bowl of sour-pickled fish in front of her had lost all appeal. She stealthily retrieved another clove of garlic with her paw, took a bite—

Meow!!!

After the meal, Eunice insisted on cleaning the dishes, and Karon agreed.

After that, the two naturally sat down across from each other and chatted. For the most part, Eunice spoke while Karon listened, responding at appropriate intervals. Making someone relax, open up, and enjoy conversation was Karon’s specialty.

From the conversation, Karon was able to infer that Eunice’s family background was excellent.

She mentioned being injured while riding a horse in her family’s backyard as a child, which meant her family owned a manor with stables in York City, Veyn’s capital.

She mentioned currently living on Rhine Street with her mother, which indicated that they hadn’t bothered renting and had instead simply bought property right in Roja City’s most upscale district.

When discussing art, she cited examples involving queens and princesses and the paintings they admired. That meant she had frequent access to Veyn’s royal family, and more than mere glimpses during ceremonies.

Unlike the Swillenian royal family, which had fallen so far as to endorse clothing brands, Veyn’s monarchy still wielded enormous political influence.

Throughout the conversation, Pu’er drooped nearby, watching. How long are you two going to talk? How are you still talking? Why don’t you go up to the third-floor bedroom and play a pleasant round of cards? And—

Why not try making a baby to add some interaction to the conversation?

Sigh. This woman’s scent feels so comfortable. I really want to see your belly swell, and then have you give birth to a baby full of spirituality for me to play with.

When evening approached, Eunice glanced out the window, and was startled by the sight. “I’m so sorry! I can’t believe it’s already this late. I don’t usually talk this much. I don’t know why, but today I just couldn’t stop chatting with you.”

Pu’er lowered her eyelids. Because you’re craving him!

“I was very happy to talk with you. It was truly enjoyable.”

“I feel the same.”

Eunice looked at Karon, then took a pink wallet from her handbag. “This is a gift for Mina.”

“Thank you. I’ll pass along her thanks.”

Karon placed the pink wallet on the table, and then escorted Eunice down the stairs and accompanied her while she hailed a taxi. It wasn’t that Karon didn’t want to drive her home, even though the family had just bought a new car...

After watching Eunice leave in the taxi, Karon returned inside and went back up to the second floor.

On the dining table, Pu’er was fiddling with the pink wallet that bore a distinctive logo. Karon picked up his glass, took a sip, and asked, “What brand is it?”

Pu’er stared at him blankly. “Great-great-grandmother... great-great-grandaunt...

No...

Tiz! Damn it! You did this on purpose. You absolutely did. This was all arranged by Tiz. Damn it!

“What’s wrong with you?” Karon asked, puzzled.

“You’re not allowed to touch her, Karon. Absolutely not! I’m begging you. You mustn’t. You mustn’t!

“Oh great heretical god... You absolutely must not touch her. No! Please stay away from her. Stay away from her forever!!!”

“Did something go wrong with your brain today?” Karon asked suspiciously. “Do you want me to take you to the pet hospital?”

Pu’er pointed a paw at the special mark on the wallet and shouted, “This Miss Eunice... she-she’s a descendant of my family!!!”