Bear School Astartes

”Good news, meow!”

In the lower levels of the Valley of Miasma, a tricolor cat eagerly rushed on all fours to its companions, meowing excitedly to share the good news.

This was right at the boundary line between the bottom layers and lower levels of the Valley of Miasma.

At the base of the Valley of Miasma, there’s blue-green clear liquid pooled in the pits.

While it looks transparent, it’s actually a high-concentration acidic solution formed by rainwater reacting under special conditions.

Its strong acidity can break down the tough bones and flesh of monsters to invisibility in a short span.

Due to the rapid decomposition of flesh and bones, the flesh-eating microorganisms known as ”miasma” don’t have a good breeding ground, thereby making the air quality better compared to the lower levels, even comparable to the upper levels.

And now, the Thief Adventurer Group’s three cats were resting on a rocky ledge adjacent to the acidic pool.

The tricolor cat’s meowing successfully lifted the mood of the other two cats.

”Good news? Cotton, quickly tell us, meow!”

The other two cats with white fur and black faces were sitting neatly, triangulated, and meowing in conversation.

”My dad got us the passage access renewed, meow! The same rule as before, just give one-fifth of the adventurer loot to the tribe.”

”Ah! That’s great, meow!”

The three young cats jumped and cheered together.

The tricolor cat named ’Cotton’ was one of the kittens born to a local Detel from the Valley of Miasma and an investigative Elu cat.

When it grew up, it left the tribe and joined the Cat Adventurer Group to satisfy its strong desire for adventure.

In the Valley of Miasma, the Detel Tribe discovered or dug up many secret passages over time, which they use to evade large monsters.

The Thief Adventurer Group frequents the Valley of Miasma because of Cotton’s connection, granting them the same passage access as the local Detel by sharing their loot.

This greatly increased their adventure safety.

But they were outsiders in the end, and Cotton had left the tribe.

So every once in a while, Cotton had to return and confirm the passage access with the tribe.

The Detel Tribe in the Valley of Miasma is called the ’Valley Raider Race.’

The name alone suggests they’re not to be trifled with. The harsh living environment of the Valley of Miasma made these Detel very combative.

The Thief Adventurer Group didn’t want to ruin relations with the Plunder Race, so they strictly adhered to the agreement.

”Still on time, meow.”

The white-furred, black-faced Elu cat lifted its hand with a bitter expression.

The fluffy little paw limply dangled from the wrist.

”If we were any later, it wouldn’t be just a broken wrist, meow.”

The tricolor cat intently moved in to examine its companion’s wrist, looking serious and focused.

But once the check was done, it relaxed and waved its paw.

”It’s almost healed, meow. Once we’re at the tribe, we’ll fill your canteen with recovery medicine. Two drinks and it’ll be fine. Just a minor injury.”

This happened while tracking a large monster in the lower levels of the Valley of Miasma—a Paralyzing Thief Dragon—and escaping after it was discovered, getting swatted by its tail-tip.

The three young cats were flung away, with one being unfortunate enough to break its wrist on protruding rocky ground.

”Oh, this adventure feels extra unlucky, meow.”

The cat with the broken wrist scratched its belly with its other paw.

”Usually, our trips to the Valley of Miasma are leisurely, catching giant beetles, killing a few giant bees, then collecting scales behind the Paralyzing Thief Dragon... This time we didn’t get any large monster materials, meow.”

”Don’t be hasty; the worst thing about adventures and hunting is haste, meow.”

The tricolor cat encouraged while helping fix its companion’s broken wrist.

”Once we’re at the tribe, I’ll ask dad to help take care of you.”

”Well, thank you in advance, Cotton, meow.”

The three young cats encouraged and supported each other, guided by Cotton towards the Plunder Race’s secret passage entrance.

In the dim, damp, menacing Valley of Miasma, the young cats moved cautiously, scanning around.

Once at a rock and fossil pile forming a rock wall, Cotton breathed a sigh of relief.

This was the nearest entrance to the secret passage.

Once inside, even the fiercest large monsters in the Valley of Miasma couldn’t harm them.

But as they moved closer to the evasion, their fur suddenly stood on end.

”What’s that... Oh no, meow!”

The uninjured white-furred, black-faced Elu cat exclaimed.

At the entrance to the Plunder Race’s secret passage, a Paralyzing Thief Dragon was walking like a Godfather of the Underworld with its minions.

The ecological position of the Paralyzing Thief Dragon is similar to the Fierce Jackal Dragon in ancient tree forests, both large monsters leading groups of smaller ones.

However, the Paralyzing Thief Dragon evolved gills on its neck to adapt to the miasma in the Valley of Miasma.

It also has poison fangs that can release paralyzing venom.

Cotton was the first to settle down, being a native of the harsh Valley Raider Race.

The tough environment had strengthened it into a resilient form.

”Miel, take Cotton inside first, meow.”

The small face of the tricolor cat showed determination and bravery.

The cat named Miel, who was unhurt, looked at Cotton in panic, unsure of what to do.

”Wha...what are you planning? We can take the long way around, can’t we?!”

”The long way is too far. The nearest alternative entrance is in the miasma, and with Cotton’s wrist like this, entering the miasma would be disastrous! The next furthest entrance would take two days to reach, meow!”

Cotton explained its thoughts in one breath.

”I’ll distract these Thief Dragon groups; it’s okay, meow. They’re slower than me; once you two go in, I’ll circle around and catch up. After all, I escaped from a large monster’s grip last time, didn’t I?”

Miel looked at the determined Cotton, then at Cotton holding its wrist, bowing its head in shame.

When miasma enters through the respiratory tract, one can endure a bit, and there are no after-effects.

But if it rushes in through a wound... With an Elu cat’s physique, it might really cause lasting damage.

”I understand, be careful, meow!”

Without saying more, a small camouflage operation began immediately.

Cotton wielded the Valley Raider Race’s distinctive weapon, a pair of crescent-shaped blades called plunder knives.

Its agile and experienced body danced among the Paralyzing Poison Dragons, deftly avoiding significant harm.

When the Paralyzing Thief Dragon notices a noteworthy prey, it often attacks, disregarding its minion’s welfare.

But Cotton’s size and meat didn’t count as ’noteworthy,’ so the Paralyzing Thief Dragon wasn’t inclined to engage heedlessly, risking its minions.

It stayed on the periphery, watching as Cotton toyed with the Paralyzing Poison Dragons, leaving them baffled.