Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 35: Guildmaster

"Isn't it obvious? Because we're doing this illegally," Eris says.

And she says it so nonchalantly, like this is just another casual Tuesday for her.

"It's true that I know the Guildmaster," she continues, stretching lazily, "but I don't know anyone else. Well, except for Karven. So we have to be careful. All the rooms and floors of the Adventurer's Guild are monitored by magical surveillance devices. Meeting the Guildmaster here, in secret, is a lot safer than doing it in his office or some random public spot."

"I-I see…" I stammer, feeling an uncomfortable chill creep up my spine.

"Well," Eris shrugs, "there's always the option of getting your ID through the black market. But that's even riskier. We could end up in an even bigger mess than we're already in."

"W-what if we're caught?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Eris grins, then suddenly—

KKKGH!

She makes a slicing motion across her throat, mimicking a beheading.

Oh shit.

"I-Is it really that serious?" I squeak.

"Yeah," Eris replies, her grin fading into something much more serious. Her sharp blue eyes darken, and her voice lowers. "Forging official documents is a capital offense here. If we get caught, you could literally lose your head for it. And not just you—me, the Guildmaster, Karven—everyone involved would be at risk."

Oh shit!

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A chill rattles through me, cold and merciless. My stomach drops, and suddenly, this whole plan feels much, much more dangerous than I had realized. Back on Earth, identity fraud was serious, sure. But usually, it meant a few years in prison or a hefty fine.

Here?

It means death.

I stare at Eris, hoping, praying she's just messing with me, that this is another one of her dumb jokes.

And then—

"Haha, just kidding!" she bursts out laughing, slapping me on the back like she didn't just give me a mini heart attack. "Not a death sentence, just a few thousand crowns fine! The Guildmaster will take care of it. Just leave it to him!"

Oh…

Ohhhhhh.

So it was just a joke.

I squint at her.

DAMN IT!

"AAARGHHH!!" I wail, flailing my tiny fists against her arm. "Eris! Don't scare me like that!"

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" She clutches her belly, laughing so hard she nearly falls off the couch. "Your face just now! It was so serious! I swear, I thought you were gonna faint! Ahhh, that was adorable! I can't breathe—!"

"Hmph!" I cross my arms and turn away with a pout.

Still, now that I know we won't be executed on the spot, my nerves settle just a little. The tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosens, and I let out a deep breath.

"But still," Eris says, finally calming down, "getting your ID is really important."

"Yeah…" I nod, the weight of the situation still pressing on me.

Without it, I wouldn't be able to work, to earn money, to live freely. Technically, I wouldn't even have basic rights. Without an identity, I'd be treated as a criminal—or worse, a slave.

A shiver runs through me.

"Anyway," I say, turning back to Eris. "How can you be so sure he'll help us? Did you bribe him or something?"

Eris scoffs, leaning back against the couch and folding her arms behind her head. "Bribe him? Nah. Even if I wanted to bribe him, he wouldn't take it."

I open my mouth to ask why, but before I can, the door creaks open.

And just like that, my question dies in my throat.

A tall, imposing lizard Furren steps into the room, his mere presence thick with authority. His sharp golden eyes sweep over us, calculating, piercing, as if he can see straight through my soul.

The air in the room shifts.

Heavy.

Powerful.

So this… is the Guildmaster!

He bears a striking resemblance to Karven—the same white, spiky hair and dark green scales marking parts of his face. But where Karven exudes professionalism and calm, this man is on an entirely different level.

He's dressed in regal attire—a deep red suit adorned with intricate silver embroidery, with the unmistakable crest of the Mistvale Adventurer's Guild emblazoned on his chest. Every stitch, every detail radiates prestige. Large, leathery wings extend from his back, folded neatly, yet their sheer presence adds to his imposing aura.

But it's his eyes that freeze me in place.

Golden. Slitted. Piercing.

The kind of gaze that demands submission without a single word.

The moment those eyes lock onto mine, my entire body goes rigid. My breath catches, my heart stutters, and for a brief second, I feel small. Just how can someone command so much authority in a single glance?

I've never felt anything like this before. It's as if his mere presence weighs down the air itself. If he asked me a question right now, I'm certain I'd confess everything—even things I haven't done.

This isn't just confidence.

This is the weight of undeniable power.

Terrifying. Absolute. Authority.!

—————

However, a few moments later…

"Mmmmnnhh!!! This is so good!" I practically melt into my seat, happily munching on cookies, savoring every delicious, buttery bite.

Who would've thought? The terrifying, imposing Guildmaster who had me frozen with fear just moments ago… is actually super nice! Like, grandfather-level nice.

Turns out, his name is Karlogen Vonderask—pretty cool, right? But since Eris calls him Karl, I do too. And, as I quickly discover, he's actually Karven's father! That explains the resemblance.

But the surprises don't stop there.

Apparently, Karl was an old friend of Eris's father. In fact, Eris's dad once saved his life back in the day, when Karl was still an active dungeon explorer. That experience bonded them, forging a friendship where they would always have each other's backs. It's no wonder Eris came to Mistvale—between Chef Gordon and Guildmaster Karlogen, she has some seriously solid connections here!

Karl chuckles, his deep, rumbling voice warm and full of amusement. "If you like, Karven can prepare some extra cookies for you to take home as a nighttime snack."

My ears perk up instantly.

"YES, PLEASE!!!" I exclaim, practically vibrating with happiness. "Thank you so much, Guildmaster Karl!"

And just like that, he's officially my new favorite person.

Karl smiles, but then his expression turns slightly more serious as he shifts his attention to Eris. "So, Eris," he says, folding his hands together. "How can I help you today? Since you requested to meet in secret, I take it this is a sensitive matter?"

"Well… kind of," Eris replies. "It's about Felicia."

She pauses, then begins explaining everything—who I am, why I have no ID, and the situation we're in.

I stop munching on my cookie, suddenly feeling a little nervous again.

This is it. The moment of truth.

—————————-

Moments later…

"So, as you can see, Felicia lost all of her memories. The only thing she remembers is her name…" Eris explains, her tone lighter than the weight of the topic.

"Ah… I see." Karlogen nods slowly, his golden eyes softening with understanding. "That must be very difficult."

I lower my gaze, unsure how to respond. Even though I know the truth—that this catgirl's past is a complete mystery even to me—it still feels strange to hear it spoken aloud.

"So, Karl," Eris continues, leaning forward slightly, "would you be able to help us this time? Felicia needs an ID so she can work."

"Of course, that won't be a problem," Karlogen replies kindly. "And regarding her previous identity, I'll also look into it."

"Oh, that would be wonderful! Are you planning to search the magic signature archive?" Eris asks.

"Yup," Karlogen nods. "We'll start that process once she's registered with the Guild. But of course, only if Miss Felicia here is comfortable with it."

I blink, caught off guard by his consideration. "Well… I don't mind," I reply after a moment. Truthfully, I'm just as curious as anyone about who this body belonged to before I woke up in it. "But, um… what exactly is a magic signature?"

"Oh, think of it like a fingerprint, but magic!" Eris chimes in, her tail flicking as she prepares to explain.

A magic signature, as Eris describes, is a unique magical imprint inherent to every living being. Unlike fingerprints, which are distinct but completely individual, magic signatures are somewhat hereditary. They carry traces of one's lineage, making them useful for tracking down familial ties or confirming identities. It's similar to how genetic testing works on Earth—except, instead of DNA, they analyze the residual magical essence a person naturally emits.

I listen intently, fascinated. This world truly operates on an entirely different set of rules.

"But… what if I don't have any magic?" I ask hesitantly, a small worry gnawing at me.

"Huh?" Eris gives me an incredulous look before bursting into laughter. "Felicia, everything has a magic signature—even the smallest blade of grass!"

"Ooooooh!" My ears perk up as realization dawns. "Then… does that mean I can use magic too?!"

The thought sends a jolt of excitement through me. The idea of wielding magic has been a fantasy of mine for ages!

Eris grins. "Of course! But that depends on your mana core!"

Mana core?

A whole new wave of curiosity washes over me. I can already tell—I need to learn more about this.