As the door slowly creaks open, my heartbeat slams violently against my ribs.
Every muscle in my body tenses.
I brace myself for the worst.
But then—
It isn't a man standing in the doorway.
It's a catgirl.
And for a brief moment, my mind goes completely blank.
She's beautiful.
No—beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it.
Long black hair flows past her shoulders like silk, catching faint traces of moonlight from the window. Her skin is warm and tan, contrasting sharply against a pair of striking blue eyes that seem almost luminous in the dim room. Those eyes are sharp and focused, carrying the calm confidence of someone used to dangerous situations. Atop her head, a pair of sleek feline ears flick occasionally as she surveys the room.
But it isn't just her appearance that leaves me stunned.
It's the presence she carries.
Strength practically radiates from her.
She wears a rugged sleeveless black shirt paired with fitted dark pants that look built for travel and combat. Belts wrap around her waist and thighs, carrying small glass vials, knives, pouches, and tools I can't immediately identify. The outfit is practical and worn from use, but despite that, it's impossible not to notice how toned she is.
Lean muscle shifts beneath her skin with every movement.
Meanwhile, her arms are strong and defined, and beneath her shirt I can spot the faint outline of abs.
She looks like the kind of woman who could walk into a tavern full of drunk idiots and knock every single one of them unconscious without breaking a sweat.
For several seconds, I genuinely forget how to breathe.
Holy shit…
My brain short-circuits instantly.
I am simping unbelievably hard right now.
If she were a limited-time gacha character, I would absolutely ruin my financial future trying to pull for her.
There's no way someone this gorgeous could be evil, right?
…Right?
My grip on the chair weakens slightly.
Then reality slaps me across the face.
Wait.
No.
This isn't a game.
This is real life.
And I am absolutely not lowering my guard just because I'm weak against attractive catgirls!
I tighten my grip on the chair again and raise it defensively like a makeshift weapon.
"S-Stay back!" I bark, though my voice wavers slightly. "Who are you?!"
I might look like a fragile catgirl now, but I still remember my karate training from Earth.
Back then, I was a green belt.
Which… admittedly isn't super impressive, but still!
I can probably fight!
…Maybe.
The catgirl's ears twitch immediately, and she raises both hands in surrender before bowing slightly at the waist.
"Ah—please relax!" she says quickly. "I'm not here to hurt you. My name's Eris. I'm an E-rank adventurer. I found you unconscious in the dungeon and brought you here."
Dungeon.
Adventurer.
Unconscious.
The words echo through my head one after another.
So that explains why I woke up here.
But that doesn't mean I can trust her.
For all I know, she could be lying.
She might really be an adventurer trying to help me… or she could just as easily be a thief, a criminal, or something even worse. My imagination immediately spirals into terrible possibilities. What if she plans to sell me off somewhere? What if this whole "kind adventurer" act is fake?
I stare at her carefully, searching for any crack in her expression.
Any sign of deception.
But all I see is patience.
Calm, steady patience.
Even so, I don't lower the chair. My body remains tense, muscles coiled and ready to react at the slightest suspicious movement.
Meanwhile, my thoughts race frantically.
What am I even supposed to ask her?
How do I prove whether she's telling the truth or not?
As if sensing my suspicion, Eris slowly reaches into one of her pockets.
I tense instantly.
But instead of a weapon, she pulls out a small card, then holds it up carefully so I can see it.
The surface catches the dim light and shimmers faintly.
I frown.
From this distance, there's no way I should be able to read something that small.
But then my vision suddenly sharpens.
The details snap into focus with startling clarity. Strange symbols etched onto the card shift and rearrange themselves before my eyes until, somehow, they become completely understandable.
My breath catches in my throat.
****
Name: Eris Wildfang
Date of Birth: April 10, 1302
Race: Cat Furren
Hometown: Sablethorn - Zehrak Desert
Adventurer Rank: E
Criminal Record: None
****
A seal is stamped at the bottom of the card, marked with the image of a stylized lion's head.
I blink slowly as I process the information.
Meanwhile, Eris remains perfectly still, her arm extended toward me without the slightest hint of aggression. She isn't trying to pressure me or force me to trust her. Instead, she simply waits patiently, giving me room to decide for myself.
And for the first time since she entered the room, my heartbeat finally begins to calm down.
"See?" Eris says gently. "I'm officially registered with the Adventurer's Guild. I'm not some criminal or anything. Please believe me. I won't hurt you."
She lowers the card slightly, though she still keeps it visible.
I hesitate, my eyes lingering on the strange shimmering letters.
Even with this, there's no way for me to know whether the card is real or fake. I know absolutely nothing about this world, let alone what official documents are supposed to look like. For all I know, someone could scribble nonsense onto a piece of paper and call it legitimate.
But then I stop and think about it more carefully.
If Eris truly wanted to harm me, she could have done so easily while I was unconscious. She could have tied me up, locked me in a cage, or stripped me of any chance to escape.
Instead, I woke up completely free.
There were no chains.
No restraints.
She even left the room key on the table where I could find it myself.
That single act reassures me far more than the card ever could.
Slowly, I lower the chair.
…I think I can trust her.
At least for now.
"Okay," I say cautiously. "But where exactly am I? What is this place?"
"Ah, this is The Gilded Horn," Eris explains. "It's a small inn in Mistvale."
"And where did you find me again?"
"In the Silverwolf Dungeon, around ten kilometers south of Mistvale."
I close my eyes and search my memory desperately, hoping those names might trigger something familiar.
Mistvale.
Silverwolf Dungeon.
Zehrak Desert.
But nothing comes.
Not even the faintest spark of recognition.
My mind remains completely blank.
Still… Eris doesn't seem to be lying. If anything, she might be the best chance I have at surviving in this world.
Maybe she can help me understand this place.
Its people.
Its culture.
How any of this works.
Taking a slow breath, I finally set the chair aside.
"All right," I say quietly. "I trust you. And… thank you, Eris. For saving me. And for keeping me safe."
Her ears twitch slightly at my words, and some of the tension leaves her shoulders. A small smile spreads across her face, soft and visibly relieved.
"Well," she says with a quiet chuckle, "I just happened to find you while scouting the dungeon. You were lying there unconscious without any visible injuries, but something felt strange about the situation. I couldn't just leave you there."
She scratches the back of her cheek sheepishly.
"Honestly, I'm sorry for leaving you alone after bringing you here. I didn't think you'd wake up so soon."
"No, it's okay," I reply, managing a faint smile.
Eris nods, her expression softening even further.
But then her head tilts, curiosity flickering across her bright blue eyes.
"Now that things have calmed down," she says, "can I ask you something?"
"…Sure."
"What's your name? And where are you from? You still haven't told me anything about yourself."
The moment those words leave her mouth, my entire body stiffens.
Ah.
Right.
About that.
Panic immediately floods my brain.
Because what the hell am I supposed to tell her?
I can't exactly say, "Oh, I got hit by a truck and reincarnated into another world as a catgirl!"
That sounds completely insane.
There's no way I can tell her the truth.
…Right?
------------------
Character art: Eris Wildfang in adventurer's outfit.