Chapter: 243
In a forest, there was a cat strolling around.
As usual, enjoying the sunlight pouring down, the cat leisurely walked along when it noticed something blocking its path.
It wasn’t even that big, so it could just jump over it or sidestep a little to pass by.
However, being naturally curious, the cat couldn’t just ignore the thing lying on the ground and cautiously approached it.
Maybe it wasn’t feeling cautious because it was lying completely still.
To take a closer look at what caught its attention, the cat hopped up on it and began to poke it with its paws and sniff it while observing.
Then it happened.
The cat noticed that the seemingly tightly shut eyes of the thing were now open, staring directly at it.
Shaaaaak?!
Startled by the large eyes looking at it, the cat sprang up like a spring and dashed away.
And as the cat fled, the eyes that were quietly watching the scene closed and opened, reflecting something for the first time in this world.
Like the curious gaze of the cat that had been observing it.
The being in the form of a girl began to observe the world with curious eyes.
*
To someone, the unknown may be frightening, but to those with curiosity, it was simply fascinating and interesting.
Therefore, for the girl, everything in this world filled with unknowns was an intriguing place filled with wonders.
Naturally, she began to feel a desire to know more about the unknowns.
However, the girl, not knowing how to satisfy that desire, could only stare blankly at the world for the time being.
While quietly observing her surroundings, the girl discovered a pair of eyes looking at her from afar.
Meow…
The little cat that had run away earlier couldn’t resist its curiosity and returned.
But perhaps because it was startled earlier, the cat did not close the distance any further and merely watched the girl from afar.
The girl also felt a sense of curiosity.
Perhaps that’s why.
Unknowingly, the girl tried to imitate the actions of the distant cat.
She stood on all fours and tried meowing.
Of course, such actions alone did not satisfy her curiosity.
What should I do?
While pondering this, the girl suddenly felt an impulse as she gazed at the cat watching her from a distance.
Perhaps if she could become like that, she could satisfy her curiosity.
And the moment the girl wished for it,
She had somehow transformed into a cat.
To be exact, it was as if she had draped the exact shape of the distant cat over her body.
However, simply mimicking the appearance was obviously not enough to satisfy her curiosity.
Hyaaak…!!
Moreover, the cat watching from afar began to hiss, displaying animosity.
The girl instinctively realized something about the cat’s behavior.
That completely imitating the same appearance could actually stir up hostility.
Upon realizing this, the girl transformed into a slightly different form, yet overall resembled the cat.
Then, the hostile cat tilted its head and cautiously approached, circling around the girl to sniff.
Seeing this, the girl became incredibly eager to understand why this little creature was behaving this way.
And as she wished for that,
She suddenly became able to understand the cat in front of her.
She learned about the life it had lived, its way of thinking, and why it was behaving like that.
And the girl realized.
Knowing such things was akin to beginning to like someone.
Having come to know the cat, the girl naturally developed a fondness for the cat in front of her, cautiously nudging her nose towards it.
Since if it were a cat showing affection, it would behave like this.
Though the cat seemed taken aback by this and hesitated for a moment…
…Meow.
Eventually, the girl became friends with the cat.
*
Starting with the cat, the girl began to wander around, learning much.
At times, she became a bird soaring through the sky.
At times, she became a fish swimming in the water.
And at times, she became a wild beast roaming the land again.
And sometimes, when trouble would arise, she would puff herself up to frighten others.
In this way, filled with unknowns, the girl continued to learn more and more about the wondrous and fascinating world.
Of course, as the unknowns decreased, she didn’t feel any regret at all.
On the contrary, as she learned more, she began to love this world even more than before.
One day, while she was satisfying her curiosity,
The girl saw them.
“Emily… Are you sure it’s okay to be this far out? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
“Hehe, but if I don’t roam around like this when my body’s okay, I won’t get to do this at all!”
Seeing their curious exchange filled with strange sounds, the girl felt her curiosity bubbling up.
Creatures walking on two feet were rare, and she realized she had once looked similar to them.
I want to know about them.
The impulse surged in the girl as she began to observe their actions from a distance.
She had learned from past experiences that there are creatures who are extremely averse to having their territory invaded.
Of course, they didn’t seem all that exclusive.
Though they didn’t seem to share blood ties, they were walking around together.
“Ugh… Hi, I’m so tired…”
“I knew this would happen… I’ll carry you back, so hop on!”
“Hehe, I’m sorry, Teacher…”
Since they appeared to be a male and female pair, there was a possibility they were partners, but somehow it seemed different. What could their relationship possibly be?
With such thoughts, the girl followed them for a while, watching carefully.
And she learned they lived in a large nest made of wood.
Most hunting and external activities were handled by the older male, while the younger female lived in the nest without coming out, being cared for.
In fact, that was about all she could understand from watching from a distance, so she decided to approach them.
To understand more clearly, she needed to get closer.
And so, the girl transformed back into her original form as a bipedal beast.
On the outside, she appeared different from the young female in the nest, yet a similar vibe.
Since she figured that looking somewhat like the young female being cared for might help her approach, the girl made her way to their nest.
“Hey…? Teacher! Come here for a second!”
“What’s up, Emily… Who’s this? You don’t know? Hey, you, what about your parents… No, just come in.”
Successfully entering their nest, the girl was able to make contact with them.
And as always, she read.
Through her ability, with their memories and subconsciousness, she learned.
About the two.
About the creature known as a human.
And in that moment, the girl exclaimed.
“Ah…! Teacher, they’re crying…”
“…Did they perhaps get separated from their parents?”
For the first time in her life, she shed tears.
She couldn’t control her emotions.
Because humans possessed richer emotions than any other creature.
And because humans lived with more complex relationships than any other creature.
Understanding that was a shocking experience that felt like it would change her entire life up until now.
With tears flowing, the girl stared at the two before her, named Emily and Peter.
The girl came to know their lives.
She understood their relationship.
She grasped their thoughts and emotions.
Thus, she didn’t just know; she deeply understood them.
If coming to know something is akin to beginning to like it, then what is understanding?
The girl pondered.
If she were to express this overflowing emotion in her heart with human words,
It would surely be love…
It was a feeling she had never experienced while merely transforming into other things to satisfy her curiosity.
And she genuinely thought.
Ah, I want to become a being like them, complex yet
Beautiful.
And so lovely.
That was the moment the girl came to love humans.
And simultaneously began to feel jealousy towards them.
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