Arknightcraft Modpack

“Whoa, a cat-eared girl!”

The words slipped out of Steven’s mouth the moment he saw the girl, a reaction not entirely polite.

He couldn’t help it. Back in that fishing village, after noticing the villagers had birdlike features to some extent, he began wondering if this world might also have cat-eared girls—the epitome of moe characters.

Back in Minecraft, he had once installed a monster-moe mod that turned his ocelots into cute girls. But alas, the change was only skin-deep. They didn’t talk, nor could they communicate in any meaningful way. They remained just cats in human form.

Eventually, realizing the mod made him hesitate even when dealing with greedy villagers, Steven turned it off. It was all just an illusion.

But now, standing before him was a real, living, breathing cat-eared girl! Her feline vertical pupils and the twitch of her ears—provoked by his rather rude comment—were undeniable proof.

In that instant, Steven forgot all about the Abyssal Hunters, the Church of the Deep, and everything else. Only one thought remained in his head:

One day, I must pet this catgirl’s head.

Not for any nefarious reason, but as a wish—a sacred vow born from his otaku heart. As a self-proclaimed “Moe Enthusiast,” how could he resist the chance to pet a catgirl?

She was the first real catgirl he’d ever encountered, and Steven was determined to make her the prime target of his affections—even if her gaze was cold, bordering on hostile.

“Please refrain from calling me by such odd and disrespectful nicknames,” the green-haired, cat-eared girl said, her voice flat. “It will only lower my opinion of you.”

Turning her gaze away from the headless black-robed figure, she looked at Steven. His expression—filled with fascination and a hint of mischief—made her uneasy.

Despite her vast knowledge, she couldn’t quite pin down his identity. There were no distinct traits or characteristics to place him, though he bore an unsettling resemblance to someone she preferred not to think about.

Still, the name “cat-eared girl” was not something she could tolerate.

“Ah, sorry about that,” Steven said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “I got a little too excited. My bad.”

But as he regained his composure, his enthusiasm waned. Not because of the girl’s frosty demeanor, but because of a glaring fact: she lacked a tail.

Beneath her peculiar off-shoulder white coat, there was no sign of the signature feature that would solidify her status as a catgirl—a swaying, ribbon-tied tail.

A catgirl without a tail? That’s absurd! Steven couldn’t accept such a travesty. It was like beef noodles without beef or sticky rice chicken without chicken—completely unreasonable!

As he calmed down further, Steven noticed something else odd. Despite her youthful appearance, the girl lacked the liveliness or charm one might expect of a young maiden. Instead, she exuded an air of weariness and detachment, as if she had weathered countless hardships over the years.

It was a vibe Steven thought only he—someone tormented by centuries in Minecraft—could have. But this girl? She seemed even more world-weary than him!

Realizing his stare was anything but friendly, the girl furrowed her brows but chose to focus on the situation at hand instead of interrogating him further.

“If it’s alright, could you hand that person over to me? He’s of no value to you anymore. In exchange, I’ll share the information you’re seeking.”

Pointing at the black-robed figure, her tone wasn’t one of negotiation but rather an assertion that Steven would comply.

Unfortunately, Steven had a defiant streak.

“But I already promised him that if he provided me with intel, I’d let him go,” Steven said, feigning a troubled expression and tapping his temple lightly.

Moving to block her path, Steven stood protectively in front of the black-robed figure.

“Don’t worry, I’m a man of my word. If I make a promise, I keep it,” he said, flashing the black-robed figure a reassuring smile and even giving him a thumbs-up.

Just as the black-robed figure was beginning to feel a sliver of gratitude, Steven’s next move shattered any illusions of safety.

Out of nowhere, Steven produced a black trident-like spear and tossed it to Gladiia, who stood beside him.

“I told you earlier—once he’s done talking, you can have at him. That promise, I remember too.”

Though his tone was as casual as ever, to the black-robed figure, his words were ice-cold.

In the next moment, Gladiia—unable to suppress her rage any longer—lunged forward like a furious beast. Gripping the spear tightly, she swung it with raw emotion, slicing the black-robed figure in half in one swift motion.

What followed was a frenzy. Gladiia, overcome by her anger, used the spear to tear his body to shreds, rendering him unrecognizable.

Steven stood by, watching with a smile, entirely unconcerned.

“It’s better for me to let her vent,” he thought. “The kid’s been holding it in for so long. Better to let it out now than let it fester into something worse.”

As for whether the black-robed figure had withheld other crucial information? Steven didn’t care. He hadn’t seemed particularly cooperative, and now, someone else with knowledge of the situation had arrived. Perfect timing.

Once Gladiia had finished venting her fury, Steven turned to the green-haired cat-eared girl with a grin.

“About that deal you mentioned earlier,” he said, pointing to the pile of mangled flesh on the floor. “Still on the table? I don’t mind taking a little loss and not asking too many questions.”