Character image: Felicia Cook!
****
"Anyway, Felicia, you were amazing!" Eris exclaims, practically bouncing with excitement. "The way you chopped and sliced those vegetables so perfectly... it was unbelievable!"
"Yeah," Gordon agrees with a hearty laugh, his massive shoulders shaking. "Even I can't prep vegetables that fast anymore. If I'd had someone like you working here a few years ago, I'd probably have saved myself a lot of back pain."
Their praise immediately sends warmth rushing into my cheeks.
I can't help giggling as my ears twitch with embarrassment. Before I know it, a smile has already spread across my face, and my tail begins swaying happily behind me.
As that initial excitement settles, however, another thought quietly works its way into my mind.
Something doesn't add up.
Yes, I've always been confident in my knife skills. Even back on Earth, preparing ingredients had been one of the things I was best at.
But...
Not like that.
I'd never moved that quickly before.
The speed alone was unbelievable, but what surprises me even more is how everything felt. The moment I wrapped my fingers around the knife, it was almost as though the blade had become an extension of my own hand. Every movement flowed naturally into the next, every slice effortless, every chop perfectly controlled. The knife glided through the vegetables with almost no resistance, and I never once needed to think about what came next.
Even my concentration had been different.
Normally, I'd have to consciously focus on every cut to maintain that kind of consistency, especially when working at high speed.
But this time... It almost felt as though the world around me had slowed down.
Like... I was in a trance.
I honestly can't tell whether I was moving several times faster than normal or whether my perception of time itself had changed.
Either way... It didn't feel human.
Could this be another benefit of becoming a catgirl?
The thought has barely crossed my mind before Eris suddenly leans closer, lowering her voice as curiosity replaces the excitement on her face.
"Felicia... didn't you lose all your memories?"
I nod.
"Then how do you still remember knife skills like that?"
...!
The question hits me like a bolt of lightning.
Crap!
I never even considered that!
If I'm supposed to have amnesia, then someone who just watched me would naturally wonder how I could still possess years of professional experience.
My mind immediately begins scrambling for an explanation.
Think.
Come on.
Think!
"A-Ah..."
I force out an awkward laugh.
"I... I don't really know..."
My brain desperately grabs the first excuse it can find.
"M-Maybe it's instinct?"
The words tumble out faster than I can stop them.
"Yeah! Instinct! When I saw the job posting, I just... somehow knew I could do it. Like a gut feeling or something. I wasn't lying when I said I thought I could handle the work."
But the instant the words leave my mouth...
I regret every single one of them.
Seriously?
That was the best excuse I could come up with?
Even I don't believe it.
Eris doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she slowly leans closer, her brows knitting together as she studies my face.
"Hmmmm..."
My heart immediately begins pounding.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Oh no.
She's suspicious of me now. I can practically see her trying to piece everything together.
But then, without any warning, her entire expression suddenly brightens.
"Ah!"
She snaps her fingers.
"Of course!"
I blink.
"Huh?"
"It's muscle memory!" Eris says excitedly. "Even if you've forgotten your memories, your body probably still remembers! Felicia... were you a chef before you lost your memories?"
For a split second, my brain completely stops.
Then I immediately seize the lifeline she has unknowingly thrown me.
"O-Oh!"
I widen my eyes in exaggerated surprise.
"Wait... maybe you're right!"
The more Eris thinks about it, the more excited she becomes.
"Then if you keep working in the kitchen, maybe you'll remember even more!"
Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Felicia, that's amazing!"
"R-Right!"
I nod enthusiastically.
"That... actually makes a lot of sense!"
Inside, however...
I nearly collapse from relief.
Holy crap. That was way too close!
I was completely cornered, and somehow Eris managed to invent a far better explanation than I ever could.
She bought it.
Completely.
I quietly let out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding and make a mental note to be far more careful from now on.
If I keep accidentally showing knowledge that Felicia shouldn't have...
One day, someone might ask a question I won't be able to answer.
****
A few minutes later, Lilly returns carrying a small stack of documents.
"Here we are!"
She places them neatly on Gordon's desk before sliding the top sheet toward me.
"These are your employment forms. Once everything's filled out, you'll officially be part of the Gilded Horn."
I smile as I pick up the paperwork.
But then my smile slowly disappears.
There isn't just one form.
There are several.
Most of the information is simple enough.
Full name.
Age.
Place of birth.
I can probably make something up for those.
Until my eyes stop on the next line.
Identification Number.
...
I freeze.
I don't have one.
According to Gordon, every citizen receives an identification card from the Administrative Office of the Knights Order of Löwenberg.
But I'm not a citizen. I'm not even from this world. Which means I don't have an identification number.
No identification...
No legal employment.
No official travel.
No paperwork.
Nothing.
For all practical purposes... I'm just an undocumented alien.
The excitement from getting hired instantly evaporates.
Seriously...?
Everything was going so well. Why does it have to come to this?
It feels like the whole world is going against me.
My ears slowly droop, and the excitement in my chest drains away, replaced by disappointment.
I really... really want this job.
But if I don't even legally exist in this world... what am I supposed to do?
Then Eris casually pats me on the shoulder.
"Don't worry."
I look up, and she flashes me a confident grin.
"I'll help you get one."
"...Wait."
I blink.
"You can?"
"Of course!"
She gives me a playful wink.
"I've got a few... connections."
I have absolutely no idea what that means.
But somehow... I also get the feeling I probably shouldn't ask.
But if it's Eris, then I trust her.
"It'll take a few days," she continues, "but leave it to me."
Gordon nods in agreement.
"She's right."
He gives my shoulder a reassuring pat.
"This girl knows people. If she says she can handle it, then, Felicia, you have nothing to worry about."
Then Gordon continues,
"Since you can't officially start work until the paperwork is sorted out, why not spend the next few days getting familiar with Mistvale?"
"Oh!"
Eris immediately perks up.
"That's a great idea!"
She turns toward me, her tail swishing happily behind her.
"I'll take a break from dungeon diving and show you around town!"
I hesitate.
"Are... are you sure that's okay?"
"Absolutely."
She answers without the slightest hesitation.
"I've been diving into dungeons for weeks anyway. A few days off will be nice."
I smile and bow my head gratefully.
"Thank you, Eris."
Eris flashes me a toothy grin.
"Haha, don't mention it!"
Honestly, Gordon's suggestion makes perfect sense.
If I'm going to live here from now on, I should learn about the town, its customs, and the people before worrying about anything else.
"Perfect!"
Eris claps her hands together.
"It's still early."
Her eyes begin sparkling with excitement.
"So..."
She grins mischievously.
"How about I take you to Mistvale's night market?"
My ears immediately perk up.
A night market?
Now that sounds exciting!
"Yeah!"
I nod eagerly.
"Let's go!"
Eris laughs, grabs my hand, and eagerly leads me toward the front door.
After saying our goodbyes to Gordon and Lilly, the two of us step out into the cool evening air. The streets beyond are already beginning to glow beneath rows of warm lanterns, while the distant sounds of laughter and lively chatter drift toward us from somewhere deeper within the town.
Our first adventure in Mistvale had only just begun.
--------------------------------
Catgirl Fun Fact #7:
A catgirl's tail is a sneaky little telltale of her true feelings! Even if she tries to hide them, that tail gives it away. For example, it points upward when she's happy, swishes lazily or curls when she's resting or feeling flirty. But in a scary or dangerous moment? Watch it floof out and bristle with alertness!