SWNOVELXO Chapter 408
And so began Charles’s pursuit, but the cat, unaware of being followed, toddled off on its adventure.
As spring approached and the days grew warmer, the cat spent all day lounging and photosynthesizing, leaving its stamina fully charged.
Feeling in top condition, the cat busily moved its four legs, woven from roots, and scurried around.
To the cat, not even a year old and brimming with curiosity, the world was a place of endless unknowns and adventures.
The cold, soft touch of soil at the tips of its roots, the sound of wind brushing through leaves, the mingling scents of countless animals and plants in the forest—the cat absorbed all these sensations as it walked through the woods.
“Meow~.”
Why don’t the trees in the forest move their roots and walk? Wouldn’t they get bored staying in one place?
Is the squirrel watching me from the tree its home? If so, will squirrels live inside me when I grow up?
Ah. What’s that oddly shaped rock in the distance? Maybe something special will happen if I go there. It must be special because it looks so unique.
The cat observed trees decades older than itself, played staring games with startled squirrels and birds, and dashed toward ordinary rocks with hopeful eyes, only to be disappointed. It enjoyed a brave and thrilling adventure.
Of course, “brave and thrilling” was by the cat’s standards.
The cat’s actions were exactly what you’d expect from a curious, newly born kitten.
To Charles, who was tailing the cat, it was all a meaningless waste of time.
“I don’t understand. The actions of Subject: Cat show no purpose or productivity. After spending half a day photosynthesizing to store energy, wasting it so meaninglessly not only squanders the energy but also the time spent charging it.”
Charles had been created with a specific purpose and existed solely to fulfill that purpose.
Every action Charles took was either in service of that purpose or preparation for it.
Thus, the cat’s actions, which held no value in Charles’s eyes, were incomprehensible.
“Subject: Cat is clearly a monster lacking the intellectual capacity for rational judgment. I cannot understand why Master favors such an irrational creature over a superior golem like myself.”
From afar, Charles watched the cat, lowering its evaluation of the feline and burning with jealousy.
After some time, Charles’s sensors picked up the sound of rushing water.
“Sound analysis in progress… A fast-flowing stream is estimated to be nearby. However, this information is deemed irrelevant to the current mission.”
Hearing the water, Charles deduced there was a stream nearby, but since its mission was to observe the cat, it didn’t matter.
“Meow!”
But suddenly, it did.
The cat, having also heard the water, hopped toward the sound.
“Meow! Meow!”
Upon discovering the stream, the cat’s eyes sparkled, and without hesitation, it leaped toward the water.
In an instant, Charles’s circuits whirred into action.
“Danger! The stream’s depth is estimated to be over 3 meters! The probability of Subject: Cat possessing swimming abilities is extremely low. If this continues, Subject: Cat will undoubtedly fall into the water! While the cat’s safety is irrelevant to this golem, Master’s emotions would be greatly affected by its demise!”
Splash!
As the cat’s body soared through the air, Charles dove into the stream.
Gurgle.
A massive splash erupted, and Charles, a golem clad in alloy armor, sank instantly to the stream’s bottom.
While wearing armor in water would be suicidal for a human, Charles, being a golem, didn’t need to breathe.
“Where is it? Locating Subject: Cat!”
Charles immediately began searching the stream’s bottom but found no trace of the cat.
“Could it have already been swept downstream?!”
Just then.
“Meow~. Meow~.”
The cheerful sound of the cat’s voice.
Charles turned its gaze to the water’s surface.
There, the cat floated, happily splashing around.
Only then did Charles recall an overlooked fact.
“…Ah. Wood floats on water. I acted hastily without sufficient analysis in the emergency.”
Realizing its mistake, Charles quietly walked along the stream’s bottom, emerging far from the cat, which was too engrossed in splashing to notice.
Charles shook off the water and silently observed the cat from behind.
After a while, the cat, satisfied, swam to the shore and resumed its adventure.
It observed the seemingly identical trees, mimicked small animals, and excitedly meowed at any slightly unusual rock or tree.
To the cat, it was a thrilling grand adventure. To Charles, it was an incomprehensible and tedious waste of time.
While observing the cat, Charles noticed a peculiar landform in the distance.
It was a cliff over 10 meters tall.
Likely formed by an ancient earthquake, the cliff faced another cliff, with only an old, large log serving as a bridge between them.
“Judging by the log’s condition, it appears to be a natural formation, not man-made. Based on sharp sensory analysis and logical reasoning, it seems highly dangerous for actual use. However, this information is deemed irrelevant to the current mission.”
Though the log appeared precarious, Charles’s mission was to observe the cat, so it didn’t matter.
“Meow!”
But suddenly, it did.
“Meow!”
Upon spotting the log bridge, the cat’s eyes sparkled again, and it hopped toward it, attempting to cross.
“Subject: Cat is not normal! Why would it attempt to cross such a dangerous terrain? As a logical and rational golem, I cannot comprehend Subject: Cat’s irrational actions!”
Charles’s circuits nearly short-circuited as it watched the cat.
But this time, Charles didn’t need to recklessly rush to save the cat like before.
While the half-rotten log looked too fragile for a human, the cat, being the size of a small fawn, might safely cross.
Indeed, as the cat stepped onto the log, it held firm.
“Good. If the log breaks and Subject: Cat falls…”
Charles, despite lacking lungs, let out a gesture of relief.
“Meow~. Meow~. Me…!?”
Just then.
Halfway across, the cat slipped on moss growing on the log.
“I knew it! Subject: Cat’s careless actions warrant another downgrade in evaluation!”
Charles leaped off the cliff to catch the falling cat, adjusting its posture mid-air to secure a stable catch.
But the cat never fell into Charles’s arms.
“?”
Looking up, Charles saw the cat unravel its root-like legs, gripping the log like ivy, and sighing in relief.
Meanwhile, Charles plummeted to the base of the cliff.
“Ah…”
It stared blankly as the cat calmly finished crossing the log.
Thud!
“Meow?”
The sound of metal hitting the ground echoed, and dust rose from the cliff’s base. The cat glanced around, unable to locate the source, and continued its journey.
“Meow~♪ Meow~♪”
The cat’s thrilling and grand adventure was far from over.