From Eris, I learn that this world is inhabited by two broad races.
Roughly seventy percent of the population consists of ordinary humans, people just like those back on Earth. They have no animal features whatsoever and, aside from the obvious cultural differences, they look exactly like the humans I grew up seeing.
The remaining thirty percent, however, are known as the Furren.
They're humanoids who possess animal traits, and they come in an astonishing variety. Some have fluffy ears and tails like catfolk or wolffolk. Others resemble boars or lizards, while a few even have feathers, scales, or fins like mermaids. Their appearances may differ wildly, but regardless of whether they're covered in fur, feathers, or shimmering scales, they're all collectively known as Furren.
In most cities nowadays, humans and Furren live alongside each other happily. Seeing a catgirl chatting with a merchant, or a lizardfolk sharing a drink with a human adventurer, is simply an ordinary part of life here.
*****
"NyaaaaAaaaaa~~~! I'm soooo full!"
I let out an involuntary meowl as I lean back in my chair and pat my now perfectly round belly. My tail flops lazily across the side of my chair as a wave of pure satisfaction washes over me.
The amount of Filoan chicken I just devoured is absolutely ridiculous. I'm pretty sure I just ate nearly ten percent of my own body weight.
Oh my god...
I honestly don't know if I can even stand up anymore.
Across the table, Eris looks just as satisfied. She lounges comfortably in her chair with her eyes closed, a content smile spread across her face while her fluffy ears twitch every now and then. It's unbelievably adorable.
She ate three drumsticks, just like me.
But she also crunched through some of the bones.
I watched it happen, and it was terrifying... but amazing at the same time.
I even tried to eat bones myself, but... nope! My teeth weren't having it. I gave up almost immediately after the first bite.
"ALRIGHT!"
Eris suddenly springs upright, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Felicia! Are you ready for pie?"
"...Eh?"
My brain takes a full second to process what she just said.
"...Pie? What pie?"
I stare at her in complete disbelief.
"Wait! You're still not full?"
"Full?" Eris tilts her head, looking genuinely confused by the question. "Haha! What do you mean? There's always room for pie and a milkshake! They're reaaaaally good!"
...
WHAT?
I'm so confused right now I don't even know what else to say.
Eris is messing with me, right?
Because if I eat pie now, I'm gonna burst!
But before I can question her further, the kitchen bell rings once again.
Ding!
A moment later, the kitchen door swings open, and Lilly cheerfully walks out, balancing two large plates on her hands, and each one holds an enormous slice of berry pie alongside a tall glass of thick, creamy milkshake.
I watch in growing horror as she places them in front of us.
I...
I don't think my stomach has enough space left for another bite!
Unfortunately...
My eyes completely disagree.
The pie looks incredible. Its crust is perfectly golden and flaky, while the filling overflows with dark, juicy berries whose syrup glistens temptingly beneath the warm tavern lights. Wisps of steam still rise from the freshly baked filling, carrying a sweet aroma that instantly assaults my senses.
The milkshake looks even worse for my self-control.
It's thick, creamy, topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream, and cold enough that tiny droplets of condensation slowly slide down the side of the glass.
...
They're practically begging me to eat them.
My stomach desperately cries for mercy.
My sweet tooth, however, immediately declares war.
"Enjoy your dessert!" Lilly chirps happily.
"Thanks, Lilly!" Eris replies before grabbing her milkshake without a moment's hesitation.
"MMMMMMHHHHHMMMM!!"
She lets out an ecstatic purr after one enormous sip.
"IT'S SO GOOOOOD!"
Her tail shoots straight into the air, her ears perk up, and within seconds a little white milk mustache forms above her lip.
But even then, she still somehow manages to look unbearably smug.
Damn it.
Watching her enjoy it makes me want one even more.
"...Alright."
Just one sip.
Surely one tiny sip can't hurt.
Right?
So I lift the glass to my lips...
And take one sip.
...
Well.
That was a mistake.
"MMMMhhhhmmmmm!"
It's so freaking good!
Rich, silky smooth, perfectly chilled, and sweet without being overwhelming. The creamy texture melts across my tongue with a refreshing coolness that makes me instinctively take another sip before I even realize what I'm doing.
Then I try the pie.
"Oh god... uggggghhhh!!!!"
An embarrassing moan escapes my lips almost immediately.
The buttery crust shatters beneath my teeth before giving way to warm berry filling that practically melts across my tongue, balancing sweetness and tartness so perfectly that I immediately forget every promise I'd made to myself only moments earlier.
The berries burst one after another, filling my mouth with sweet, fragrant juice.
It's heavenly.
And so...
For the second time today...
I surrender completely to the sin of gluttony.
My stomach is on the verge of exploding. My conscience is screaming.
Yet somehow... I still finish every last bite, even wiping the remaining berry sauce from the plate with my finger before licking it clean.
****
After finishing the amazing dessert, we sit back in our chairs and simply enjoy the pleasant silence.
Eris hums a soft, cheerful tune under her breath while lazily swaying her tail from side to side. Every now and then, her fluffy ears twitch happily, making her look less like an adventurer and more like an oversized house cat after an exceptionally satisfying meal. She even lets out the occasional contented purr, completely unconcerned with how relaxed she looks.
Meanwhile, I just stare blankly at the ceiling, feeling every pulse in my poor, overstuffed belly. I don't think I've ever been this full in my entire life.
As the bliss of the meal slowly fades away, another feeling quietly takes its place.
Guilt.
Those extra slices of pie...
Those milkshakes...
Yeah.
That was definitely a mistake.
I'm so bloated right now that I honestly feel like I'm about to burst. Unfortunately, regretting it now doesn't accomplish anything. The food is already in my stomach, and there isn't exactly an undo button for overeating.
I guess I'll just have to exercise a little more self-control next time. Maybe I should stop letting delicious food completely override my better judgment.
...
Actually...
Who am I kidding? Nyahaha...
That's absolutely never happening!
And so, time passes surprisingly quickly as we continue resting. Around us, customers gradually come and go, while waitresses weave between the tables carrying steaming plates and overflowing mugs. Before I realize it, nearly twenty minutes have gone by. Eris stretches her arms high above her head with a satisfied yawn before standing up with renewed energy.
"Alright! Let's go settle the bill."
I carefully push myself to my feet.
The moment I stand, my poor stomach reminds me exactly how much I just ate. It's so round and painful, like I'm at 9th month pregnant, and about to give birth to baby pie and milkshake any second now.
I take one step.
"Ughhh..."
...Yep.
Walking is now a challenge. My legs are shaking like crazy.
But I still push myself to move.
I follow closely behind as Eris makes her way toward the front counter, where Lilly is already waiting with her usual bright smile.
"Thanks, Lilly!" Eris says cheerfully. "The food was awesome, as always!"
"I'm glad you liked it!" Lilly replies happily.
"So, how much do we owe?"
"That'll be one hundred and twenty-three crowns altogether."
"Alright!"
Eris reaches into the small pouch hanging from her belt, counts out the coins with practiced ease, and hands them over.
Standing quietly beside her, I watch the transaction with interest.
So the currency here is called crowns...
What a fancy name.
Still, hearing the number doesn't tell me much. I have absolutely no idea whether one hundred and twenty-three crowns is expensive or cheap since I still don't have any sense of this world's economy.
A thought suddenly crosses my mind.
"Eris, may I ask how much it costs to rent a room here?"
"Oh?" She thinks for a moment. "About fifty crowns a day for one person."
I blink.
That... isn't particularly helpful.
I still don't know whether that's considered expensive.
Then the numbers begin connecting inside my head.
Fifty crowns a day means...
Fifteen hundred crowns every month for lodging.
Then there's food.
If one meal costs roughly fifty crowns...
Three meals a day...
That comes out to around four thousand five hundred crowns every month.
...
Oh.
Ohhhh.
I slowly turn toward Eris, my eyes widening in horror.
"Wait... doesn't that mean I'm costing you around six thousand crowns every single month?!"
"Hey!"
Eris immediately cuts me off before I can spiral any further.
"We're friends, remember? Friends help each other."
She smiles as though it's the most natural thing in the world.
"You don't need to worry about money. I'll take care of you until your memories come back."
"No!"
I shake my head so hard my ears practically flap.
"I can't let you do that! What if my memories never come back? Besides, because we're friends, I can't just keep taking advantage of your kindness."
The more I think about it, the worse I feel.
There's no way I can simply become a freeloader while Eris works to support both of us. That wouldn't be fair to her, and it certainly isn't the kind of person I want to be.
I may be a catgirl now, but I absolutely refuse to live off someone else's generosity forever.
Taking a deep breath, I turn toward Lilly.
"Lilly, your inn is hiring more kitchen staff, right? Can I apply for the position?"
I'd noticed the recruitment notice hanging on the wall earlier while waiting for our food. The Gilded Horn was looking for someone to help prepare ingredients by chopping vegetables and butchering meat—in other words, a prep cook.
The pay wasn't bad either. Fifty crowns an hour, eight hours a day, six days a week, starting early each morning.
Lilly blinks in surprise.
"Y-Yeah," she says. "But... I can't decide that myself since I'm only a waitress. Give me a few minutes. I'll go ask my boss."
"Thank you so much, Lilly!"
I bow gratefully.
The sheep-girl gives me a quick nod before hurrying into the kitchen, disappearing through the swinging wooden door.
****
Now...
All I can do is wait.
The longer I stand there, the faster my heart seems to beat.
I'm nervous.
Really nervous.
Without realizing it, I begin fidgeting with the hem of my shirt while my tail sways restlessly behind me.
Eris leans casually against the counter and studies me for a moment.
"Felicia... are you sure about this?"
"Yeah."
I force a confident smile.
"One hundred percent."
Back on Earth, I worked as a prep cook for a while after graduating from university. At the time, I desperately needed money, and finding a job related to my degree had been nearly impossible, so I ended up working in a restaurant kitchen instead.
It wasn't glamorous work, but I learned how to prepare ingredients efficiently, work quickly under pressure, and keep up with the pace of a busy kitchen. The hours were long, my feet always hurt by the end of the day, and the pay wasn't great, but it taught me skills I never expected to use again.
If I can get this job, I'll finally be able to support myself instead of relying entirely on Eris.
Only a minute later, Lilly returns.
The moment I see her, I instinctively straighten my back.
"So..." I ask, unable to hide my anticipation. "Am I accepted?"
Lilly smiles apologetically.
"My dad—ah, sorry, my boss, the owner of this place—would like to talk with you first. Are you free right now?"
"Oh! Absolutely!"
"Great!" She gestures toward the back of the inn. "Then follow me."
Just as I take a step forward, Eris raises her hand.
"Lilly, is it alright if I come too?"
"Hmmm..."
Lilly tilts her head thoughtfully before looking toward me.
"I don't think that'll be a problem. But what about you, Felicia? Are you okay with Eris coming along?"
"Of course!"
I nod almost immediately.
To be honest, I'm relieved.
My nerves are already stretched thin, and I have absolutely no idea what this interview is going to be like. Having Eris beside me makes the whole situation feel a lot less intimidating.
With that, Lilly leads the way toward the kitchen, while Eris and I follow close behind.
-----------------------------------
Catgirls fun fact #6:
Even though cats cannot taste sweetness, catgirls can! In fact, they love sweet and fatty foods!