Chapter 1 The Fireplace: Childhood, a Stepmother Holding a Young Beast in Her Arms...

The servant, Kujavina, never expected that doing a task would bring such an unexpected reward.

The luxurious carpet, soaked in blood, makes a squelching sound when you step on it.

The mission target's pale face was buried in the damp red wool.

Beside the corpse sat a small monster.

"Oh, Auntie?"

The little boy with cat ears and a cat tail scraped the blood clots off his cheek with his sharp fingernails, then smiled, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Monster? Beast? It doesn't really look like a human.

But when he spoke, he used human language.

"Have you seen my brother? I've been waiting for him for such a long, long time!"

"elder brother?"

Kujavina stepped forward and kicked over the corpse of the mission target.

On his bloated neck, there was a small but deadly bite mark.

Wow...

The executive asked the child.

"You bit him to death?"

"It's me."

The child blinked its golden vertical pupils, shook its thick, fluffy tail, and readily admitted it.

"My brother said I could bite him if someone pulled down my pants!...But actually..."

Actually, I didn't intend to kill him; I just wanted to give him a light bite as a warning... but...

He yelled at me too loudly and fiercely, and even touched me inappropriately. I got scared, my head spun, and suddenly I felt much stronger... After I came to my senses, he was no longer alive.

The child remained calm, but his furry tail suddenly fell to the floor.

what to do.

Although the half-human, half-demon child felt no guilt about killing, he vaguely understood that it seemed to be a wrong thing to do.

"...Did I do something wrong?"

The half-demon cautiously looked up, trying to seek the correct guidance from the only adult present.

There are so many mature and reliable adults in this world. If even one of them were here, the future half-demon would not have gone astray.

Unfortunately, it was Kujavina who was present.

"No! You did nothing wrong! Keep it up!" Kujavina scooped the half-demon up from the ground and pulled him into her arms, scrutinizing his expression.

Look at that adorable little face, showing no remorse or disappointment even after committing murder. It's as if she was born to be a child of the Hearth House!

"Great! That's really great!"

The executive was overjoyed. She picked up the child from the ground and lovingly kissed the gray cat ears on the child's head.

"You didn't do anything wrong? Murder?"

“That’s right! Keep killing... until you become king, a ruthless and perfect king, my lovely child.”

Holding the half-demon in her arms, the mother compared the little monster to her children in her mind.

This boy is more ruthless than Peruvieri, but it's unclear who is stronger.

"...Becoming a king? What about my brother? What is he?"

The child did not forget the original question.

"He's good for nothing."

Kujavina was preoccupied with the House of Hearth's grand plan for choosing a king, and upon hearing this, she merely patted his back perfunctorily.

"Your brother, he's dead."

Just pretend he's dead. After all, the chosen one of the House of Hearths doesn't need any so-called relatives—

"Smack!"

The executive officer suddenly felt a sharp pain on his face.

“...Ugh.”

She looked down in astonishment at the toddler in her arms; there was no trace of composure on his tender little face.

The little thing held back its tears, raised its tiny hand, and desperately stretched out its short arm.

"Don't talk nonsense! Meow meow meow meow!"

He burst into tears like an ordinary child.

*

It was amidst these cries that Clementine and Peruvé met Mainkuen.

"Pepe!"

Six-year-old Clementine stretched out her chubby little hands and hopped to touch the gentle sea breeze.

"It's the salty Barbatos!"

“Cravlie,” the black-and-white-haired girl said quietly and cautiously, “Mother doesn’t like us mentioning gods other than the Queen.”

"Okay, I won't say anymore... I really want to go to the beach!"

After giving a brief reply, Clementine's attention was diverted:

"I love the sea! I want to go out and play."

"Cravlie".

Peruvelli reminded her a second time, "My mother doesn't like us mentioning going out either."

"Huh? Why?"

The reason why they don't like to mention other gods might be due to their devout faith, but what is the reason they don't want their children to go out and play?

Peipei couldn't explain why, but instinctively warned her, "Don't mention going out to Mother..."

Clementine looked blankly at the little girl with black and white hair beside her, a friend she had recently made:

"Pepe, do you like the sea?"

"I don't know, I've never been to the beach."

"...Huh? We're so close to the sea here, aren't we?"

“Yes, Mother won’t let us go out,” little Peluvelli repeated, her eyes devoid of any envy or disappointment, simply stating a fact.

"So, you definitely won't be able to go to the beach again..."

"It's such a pity that I live in a country of water but have never been to the beach!"

Pure compassion, from the pure heart of a child.

"Although Mom doesn't want us to go out now, she'll definitely be willing in the future!"

Clementine turned around, grabbed her best friend's hand, and gave her an expectant smile:

"From now on, I won't just go alone, I'll take Peipei to the beach with me! Okay?"

...Let's go out and have fun together.

No child dislikes playing, let alone playing with friends.

So Peruvier swallowed the rest of her sentence, and her lifeless eyes lit up slightly.

"I......"

"Goo-meow meow-woo-woo!"

But before she could make any promises, a strange and pitiful cry came, getting closer and closer to them, and then stopped right next to them.

"Ah, my children."

The mother, Kujavina, arrived amidst the cries, managing a weak smile at them. "The view outside the window is beautiful, but don't forget to be careful."

"Mother! You're back... Oh?"

Clementine turned around, her greeting instantly choked back, "!A monster?"

Kujavina was carrying a child with cat ears and a cat tail in her hands!

It wasn't pulling or hugging, but lifting, and with a hint of disdain and wariness, it pulled away... but the hand was held tightly, as if it didn't want to let go at all.

"Waaaah—Giggle!"

Tears streamed down his face from his golden vertical pupils, large drops soaking his cheeks. The cat was crying uncontrollably, but his body showed no sign of yielding. He kept trying to straighten his arms, trying to scratch Kujavina's hand holding him by the scruff of his neck with his sharp nails.

Peruvelli: "It's a weeping monster."

Clementine: ......

No way, Peipei! She's a little kid! A kid the same age as us!

A child is frantically scratching his mother! Good heavens! He's torn her sleeves, pants, coat, and gloves! And that's his mother!

Clementine was terrified:

"Oh, Mother! What happened!?"

"Nothing's wrong."

However, I found that the newly picked-up rough jade was quite prickly.

The expensive gloves were in pieces, with only the fingers barely covered by the fabric, and Kujavina forced a smile.

"Mainkuhn is just a little... shy, he'll be fine soon."

Is this a sign of shyness?

The two little girls inevitably showed expressions of doubt.

"I'm sorry, Mainkuhn."

Realizing that her behavior was inconsistent with her usual gentle and loving image, Kujavina carefully stretched out her arm and let go.

"Gurgle, whoosh—"

The big, fluffy tail thudded to the ground, and the child's tears continued to fall, his sobs escaping his throat as he gasped for breath.

"Goohoo!"

Kujavina crouched down, looking very apologetic as she reached out to stroke the half-demon's back. "I didn't want to carry you either, but you've been so naughty, so restless...!"

Unyielding and uncompromising, the moment her fingers touched the boy's back, Mainkuen's tail fur bristled, his cat ears flattened, and he turned around without hesitation to bite Kujavina's hand!

"Woo woo woo!"

The finger cots were forcibly ripped from the executive officer's hands, leaving Kujavina's hands completely bare.

"ah!"

Clementine then realized that, unlike her own neat baby teeth, the child had a mouthful of sharp, pointed teeth.

"Like a little animal..."

"...What a vicious beast."

My gloves... if it weren't for the elemental power enhancing their defensive capabilities, my hands would probably have been torn to pieces along with them.

The executive officer's gentle smile completely vanished.

"While he may have the qualities to become king, isn't his personality a bit lacking—"

"Mother!"

As if by instinct, Clementine interrupted Kujavina's whispers; this was the first time a child had defended a half-demon.

"I've never seen him before. Who is he? Is he our new family member?"

"......"

"What? New family? Are we going to have new brothers and sisters?"

The sound of childish laughter rang out at just the right moment, mingling with the sound of scattered and relaxed footsteps.

It was the other children of the Hearth House who had been drawn to Mainkuen's incessant crying.

"Dear Mother! Welcome home!"

The blonde little girl ran the fastest, flying over like a sparrow, raising her hands to hug her mother's waist, her bright eyes full of affection and trust.

"A new brother? But why is he crying?"

"Never mind him! Mother, Mother, I've grown another centimeter taller!"

Wow! He has ears and a tail, how strange!

"Really! The claws look so sharp and scary—"

"Ooh-ooh—"

"ah......"

Kujavina was surrounded by children, and her smile immediately became gentle and loving.

"It's nothing. Mainkuhn is just a little unaccustomed to the new environment and needs some comfort."

That's what they said, but the servant made no further move to comfort the child.

"Alright, children, let's go play first." The mother lovingly embraced the children.

"As for Mainkun... Clementine, could you please help him calm down first?"

*

The mother left with the other children in a hurry, and Clay could vaguely see a sense of relief in her departing figure.

"Huh? Let him calm down, what about me?"

Clay's eyes widened instantly, and she pointed to herself to confirm with her best friend.

"Yes." My good friend thoughtfully translated and added, "Your mother asked you to soothe the child."

"But I'm still a child myself! I can't do it!"

Clementine looked helplessly at Mainkuhn, who was sitting on the ground sobbing, and felt a surge of panic.

She had never comforted a child before, let alone a strange child with cat ears, a cat tail, and a mouthful of sharp teeth.

...Won't he bite me? Maybe, he just bit my mother...

Clementine turned to look at Peruvier, her expression pleading for help.

"Pepe—"

"Let him cry. He'll stop when he's had enough."

Pepe replied decisively, with a composure beyond her years.

"I can't do it!" Clementine couldn't bear it, so she went over to talk to her.

"Uh...Mainecoon? Is that your name? It's actually quite a nice name~"

"Woo woo woo!"

The boy ignored her completely, crying loudly, the lynx hairs on the tips of his ears trembling.

"Don't cry, okay? Let's go play together?"

Wow, such long, clever fur... Clementine secretly reached out and tugged at it.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh!"

She cried even harder.

"Want some snacks? Matcha cake, bear cookies... Hehehe, I want some... Hey! Pay attention to me!"

Whether she was talking to herself or trying to persuade him, the kitten remained immersed in her own world, crying without stopping for a moment.

At this moment, Clementine finally understood why her mother had been so impatient.

The children in the Hearth House are all orphans, and they are all very sensible and well-behaved, especially attached to their only mother, Kujavina.

Normally, let alone being comforted by her, even if she is really so sad that she can't control her tears and cries, she will wipe away her tears and force a smile the moment she sees her mother.

Because the orphans in the Hearth House all love their mothers (mothers) the most!

So when I think about it carefully, it seems that my mother has never seriously comforted a crying child, including me, her own daughter.

"Sometimes I really wish my mother would comfort me... Peipei, do you want that?"

"No need, I won't cry."

"So cool!"

An hour passed as Clementine tried to stop crying.

"What should we do, Pepe? He just won't stop!"

Seeing the boy's face turn from white to red from crying, and then from red back to white, with his inhalation barely equal to his exhalation, and his sharp, vertical pupils beginning to dilate, Clementine became a little scared.

"He'll stop crying on his own when he's tired of it... right?"

Peruvieri hesitated; she had never seen anyone her age cry so stubbornly and for so long before.

"She'll probably cry herself to death first!"

Two hours have passed.

"Gurgle... Waaah..."

The fluffy cat's tail drooped limply to the ground, and tiny purplish-red spots of blood began to appear on his face. Clementine didn't know that his facial blood vessels had burst from crying; she just thought he was going to cry himself to death.

"Waaaaah, Peipei!"

Clementine frantically reached out and covered his mouth, no longer caring about his sharp teeth and claws.

"Think of something quick! We're going to die—"

"I'm thinking of a solution!"

The future servant also changed his calm demeanor, scratching the back of his head until the white hairs stood on end. No matter how indifferent a young child may appear, he cannot be as indifferent as a terrible adult to the suffering of those around him.

"Knock him out?" Peruvier touched her neck and began to examine it.

"Hey! You've been reading way too many novels!"

"Try pinching his nose?"

"Your face is even paler!"

"Get out of the way, I'm strong, I'll cover his mouth."

"......"

"How are you, Peipei?"

"It feels like I'm going to die."

Just before the child passed out, Peipei had a sudden inspiration.

"Stop crying!" The crooked doll was forcefully shoved into Mainkuen's hands. Pepe's eyes were fierce as she reached out and pinched one of the cat ears that had gone limp from crying, and shouted angrily into the room:

"Your brother is here!"

The stern shout, like thunder, jolted the child's confused mind. The cat's dilated pupils slowly condensed into vertical lines as it stared blankly at the plush toy in its hands.

The crying stopped.

"Brother is here...?"

Maine's voice was soft and hoarse, and her body was limp and weak, but she still managed to reach out and tug at the cloth ears on the doll's head.

"My brother's hair... is like drooping puppy ears, not upturned kitten ears..."

"My brother's hair... is blackish-gray, not gray and white, and it doesn't have tiger stripes. His eyes are blue with purple tinges, not gold..."

The cat held the toy in its hand and looked at it over, then whimpered pitifully.

"It's me, not my brother, you're lying, boohoo."

Finally... it stopped.

Although she started complaining as soon as she woke up, she stopped crying! She's responding!

"Wow! Pepe is amazing!" Clementine's worry turned to joy as she looked at her best friend with admiration.

"How did you do that!"

Pepe felt a little proud from her friend's straightforward praise. She loosened her grip on Maine's ear and subtly puffed out her chest.

"It's simple, because he kept making strange crying sounds, giggling, giggling."

She pointed to the little thing in front of her.

“But he looks more like a cat than a chicken, so there’s only one possibility—you’ve actually been calling him ‘brother,’ right?”

The boy looked very puzzled by Peruvieri's analysis.

"Was I crying? I don't remember, I'm sorry, I can't recall... I just remember feeling very sad."

His fuzzy ears were tucked behind his head uneasily, his sharp nails tucked in, and he carefully held the crooked rag doll.

It was a model that Peruvier had hastily sewn in his likeness, so it didn't resemble his non-blood-related brother at all, but he still cherished it and hugged it tightly.

"I'm sorry, I must have lost control again. I lost control twice today... And thank you, pink-haired sister! Sister with cross-eyed eyes!"

Wiping away her tears, Xiaomei slowly winked at them, a way cats express friendliness.

"Thank you for comforting me, and thank you Ragdoll cats! I will repay you—"

What happened?

From a pesky little monster that cried incessantly to an incredibly well-behaved kitten!

While Clementine was still in shock, Peruvier began further analysis:

"Out of control, why?"

"Because, because there's a strange aunt who keeps telling me that my brother is dead!"

When this topic was brought up, Mainkuhn almost cried again.

"How can you talk like that! I was so angry! I slapped her, and then... I can't remember..."

"Anyway! Thank goodness you woke me up!"

Contrary to its bizarre and eerie appearance, the child's smile was surprisingly cheerful and adorable; apart from its mouthful of sharp teeth, it was just like any other child.

"I am Mainkun! I am human! And you?"

"......"

A strange self-introduction, and...

"Hey, Pepe, he didn't hit Mom, did he?" Clementine whispered to her best friend, her face turning green.

"I can't even imagine Mother getting slapped," Pepe analyzed calmly. "It's definitely not like that."

A note from the author:

----------------------

Good morning, Mainkun!

My brother is Leosley.

The story of the House of Hearths will not be told in one go. It will end in seven chapters. The future will be left to the Traveler and Navelette to investigate using the Leyline View. If I were to write it all at once and then write another viewing chapter... well, that would be suspected of padding the word count.

In short, around chapters eight and nine, Mainkun becomes completely inhuman.