At night, the group chatted for a while before resting early to prepare for the journey ahead.
Kiki was the first to fall asleep.
After all, she had just been through great peril and was utterly exhausted in both body and mind.
Thus, when Caius was about to find a place to lie down, he turned his head and discovered that Kiki had already curled up on his lap, fast asleep.
Seeing the little Catgirl using his lap as a pillow, Caius simply shrugged—
It didn't bother him at all.
Surely, no one would refuse an adorable little Catgirl napping on their lap, right?
So, Caius decided not to move. Leaning against the carriage, he settled in for the night. He was a rough and tough guy—he could sleep on an anvil if needed.
He took out a blanket and gently draped it over the little Catgirl.
Perhaps sensing his movement, Kiki curled up even tighter and instinctively snuggled closer to Caius.
Caius chuckled, then crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
But he didn't actually sleep. Instead, he began breathing in a special rhythm.
This was the breathing technique his old master had taught him. Back in the blacksmith workshop, it allowed him to maintain his stamina, ensuring that every hammer strike carried full force.
Years of training had made it second nature to him. He kept it running at all times, especially when resting, using it to replace sleep. It restored his stamina and energy far more efficiently than normal sleep.
Moreover, it kept him alert to his surroundings. Any unusual movement, and he would wake instantly, ready to react.
That was why he could fall asleep so quickly on the carriage earlier.
During combat, this breathing technique kept his vital energy boiling, as if he had activated a berserker state, greatly enhancing his combat power.
Because of this, Caius had long suspected that his old master wasn't just an ordinary blacksmith.
An ordinary blacksmith wouldn't have that many scars.
Unfortunately, no matter how many times Caius asked, the old man never gave a straight answer.
Even until his dying breath, Caius never learned his true identity.
But having been a mercenary in his past life, Caius could tell that those scars were definitely not from smithing—they were caused by cold steel in battle.
So, he was eighty percent certain that his old master had once been either a mercenary or a soldier.
With his booming voice and fiery temper, there was no way he had been an assassin, that's for sure.
It was a shame, really. If not for all those injuries, Caius figured the old man could have lived another thirty years.
And he always felt that something was off about his master's death.
Three years before passing, the old man had been full of life, his muscles putting many young men to shame.
Yet within those three years, he withered like a deflating balloon, becoming visibly thinner at an alarming rate.
If not for his sharp mind remaining intact, Caius would have suspected poison.
He had asked the old man about it, but the reply was always the same: he had lived long enough—over a hundred years—and his time was simply running out. His vitality was returning to nature.
Lacking any evidence to the contrary, Caius had no choice but to accept it. Still, something about it never sat right with him.
Thankfully, he wasn't truly a sixteen-year-old kid. While his master's passing saddened him, he didn't let it drag him down.
Dying of old age was the best possible end for the old man, especially for a soldier or a mercenary.
In the wastelands, mercenaries who lived long enough to die of old age were rarer than three-legged toads.
With a blink of an eye, morning had arrived.
Caius took a moment to sense his vital energy—it had strengthened slightly.
When actively practiced, this breathing technique stimulated the vital energy, akin to training. Over time, it strengthened his body.
Reaching Silver Five-star at just sixteen? This breathing technique played a huge role.
Too bad his master had only taught it to him at fourteen. If he had started earlier, he could have advanced even further by now.
But the old man's reasoning was—"The younger you are, the more you need to build a foundation. The breathing technique is an external aid, but your bones and body are your own."
And by "building a foundation," he had meant swinging a hammer and forging iron every single day.
Caius still remembered that his pacifier had been forged from a piece of Ethereal Steel by the old man himself—solid as a rock!
As the sky brightened, Caius stretched his neck, ready to get up and stretch.
But the moment he moved, he heard a soft murmur from his arms.
Looking down, he realized that at some point, the little Catgirl had climbed into his embrace. She was now curled up, hugging her tail, using his stomach as a pillow, sleeping soundly.
Perhaps disturbed by his movements, she shifted comfortably in his arms, turned over, and continued sleeping.
Unable to resist, Caius reached out and gently poked Kiki's cheek. "Time to wake up, little Catgirl."
Kiki's long eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes, her emerald pupils shining like flawless jade.
She looked a little dazed, her hair a messy fluff from sleep.
"Big guy…" Kiki murmured drowsily, half-opening her sleepy eyes as she gazed at Caius, her voice soft and delicate.
Clearly, she wasn't fully awake yet.
"Never mind, why don't you sleep a little longer?" Caius chuckled.
"Mmm…" she hummed lightly, her eyes gradually closing again. Instead of getting up, she nestled against his shoulder, using it as a pillow.
Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, her body snuggling even closer. She clung to him like a real cat, completely relaxed.
Caius: "…"
How did she end up clinging to me?
Hearing the soft, rhythmic purring beside his ear, Caius ultimately decided not to wake her up.
She really was just like a real kitten—adorable and endearing.
An hour later, the sun was fully up, and everyone had awakened. The caravan set off once more.
With the help of magic potions and a night of rest, Kiki had recovered well. Her complexion looked much better.
Back to her usual lively self, Kiki sat atop the carriage, chatting with Caius.
A bright, sweet smile adorned her face, as if she were in a particularly good mood.
And in truth, she was.
Last night had been the best sleep she had ever had.
Catfolk loved sleeping. Being active meant they got tired easily, making them prone to naps.
But last night, she had slept more peacefully and comfortably than ever before.
It was because Caius had been practicing his breathing technique, which raised his body temperature.
The wilderness was freezing at night, with temperatures dropping to single digits, necessitating campfires.
But fires could burn if too close and didn't provide enough warmth if too far. For someone with restless sleep like Kiki, it was a nightmare.
This time, though, it was different.
Caius's body radiated just the right amount of warmth, making Kiki feel incredibly cozy.
Instinctively, she had inched closer and closer until she had snuggled completely into his arms.
And with Caius's large frame, her small body fit perfectly in his embrace—so snug, so safe.
When she woke up and realized she was holding onto his neck, her face turned red instantly.
But since Caius didn't seem to mind, her carefree nature took over, and soon she was happily chatting away with him again.
The last leg of their journey went smoothly, and by evening, they arrived at their destination.
Gazing at the towering walls of Grilla City, Caius felt a surge of anticipation.
The delivery was for a Magic Academy, right? Perhaps he could take a look inside.
Maybe… he could find a way to master magic himself?