01x02 - Hahaneko to Shoujo

[bunniefuu]

[THE CAT AND THE DRAGON]

Mom!
- Mom!

I hope you all stay healthy forever.

My dear children,

you are all my pride and joy.

Mom!
- Mom!

[THE MOTHER CAT AND THE GIRL]

Well...

Congratulations.

Teacher.

It seems you've summoned a Cat-Sith.

Why don't you explain
the situation to her first?

All right. Everyone else,
continue summoning your familiars.

Well...
- Yes.

Please follow me.

This girl is so timid.

She's even more timid
than that child with wings.

Ms. Cat-Sith.

This is a magic school.

Right now, we're learning
how to summon familiars.

This magic circle

summons the familiar
that's most compatible with its caster.

But summoning a familiar
is extremely difficult.

I heard some people try for several days.

Why did I summon one right away?

Am I dreaming?

Maybe this is all an illusion.

Wait.

I've never seen a child
with so little self-confidence.

How old is she?

She probably can't even hunt on her own.

She looks like she still needs
a mother's protection.

My other children
were about to leave the nest anyway.

It must be fate that she summoned me.

I'll just have to raise her myself.

Do you have a name?

Yes, I'm Anne Rossa.

I see, Anne Rossa.

I'll take good care of you.

You just focus on your studies.

Anne Rossa?

The cat spoke.

What a handful this child is.

Come on. Wake up, Anne Rossa.

Ms. Cat-Sith.

Are your classes over for the day?

Yes.

Then let's head to the training ground.

Okay.

Ice Shard Stab!

I did it.

It's so cold and crunchy. How delicious.

Is this some kind of snack?

No, that's...

I was trying

to sh**t it like an ice needle!

Do you mean an attack spell
that shoots ice cones?

I'll show you how it's done.
Watch closely.

This is the electric shock magic
we use when we hunt.

It doesn't cause any serious damage,

but it temporarily immobilizes the prey.

Here, you try it too.

What?

No, I can't do it.

Lightning magic and all that.

That's such advanced magic.

It's not as difficult as you think.

It's quite simple.

I'll show you again. Watch carefully.

Well, could you show me one more time?

Sure thing.

See?

Wait. Is that it?

For humans, it's probably better
to use it with an incantation.

Try casting it
while saying "Lightning Bolt."

Lightning Bolt!

Wake up.
Time to head to the training ground.

Lightning Bolt!

I must make her body
- Lightning Bolt!

remember how to cast the magic
- Lightning Bolt!

and keep draining her mana.
- Lightning Bolt!

Mana capacity grows with frequent use.
- Lightning Bolt!

If you drain it and let it recover,

it will increase even further.

You're doing well.

Thank you.

Shall we try Ice Cone Attack this time?

That's still a long way from an ice cone.

Try again.

Mana is just like stamina.

Mana is just like stamina.

Gosh, you're eating
your breakfast properly now?

Yes.

Good girl.

Teacher, are familiars
allowed in the classroom?

I've given her special permission.

In exchange,

she's helping me research
how magical beasts raise their young.

Your cat is so amazing.

Yes, she is.

After the students head off
for afternoon training,

it's time for my daily meal.

While there aren't many common rats here,

there are Gem Rats instead.

They're smarter and faster
than normal rats.

Their main feature
is the gem on their forehead.

According to the teacher,

it contains powerful magic.

It's delicious.

I could eat this every day
and never get tired of it.

Lightning Bolt!

Gosh, why did you collapse
even faster than this morning?

Because...

I used a lot of magic
during the afternoon classes.

Fair enough.

I've thought of a new spell.
Watch closely.

Wait.

I'm too exhausted to concentrate.

Gosh, is it time for dinner already?

Let's continue tomorrow then.

Do Cat-Sith mothers usually care
for their young for two years?

Yes.

However,
among the magical beasts you mentioned,

we seem to leave the nest
relatively early, don't we?

What makes you think so?

Because I've raised magical beasts
other than Cat-Siths before.

What?

Even when it was time
for them to leave the nest,

most of them have yet to reach adulthood.

Do you know what kind of beasts they were?

I'm not sure.

Some had wings. There were many kinds.

Which forest did you live in before?

Humans call it the Novice Forest.

There certainly are many species there.

To us,

it's like a small dungeon.

Well, thank you for sharing.
This has been very informative.

Don't mention it. I'd like to learn more
about dungeons as well.

Well then, see you tomorrow.

Now, it's time
for that annoying part again.

Hot Spring Surge.

How can she cast such a difficult spell
to create water at the perfect temperature

without even using a wand?

She's a remarkable child.

Does that feel good?

Listen.

Cat-Siths don't take baths every day.

No way.

Aren't you going
to attend classes with us?

Then you have to stay clean just like us.

Look. Your tail is all dirty.

Let me wash it for you.

Are you getting back at me
for being strict with you this morning?

No. I just want to repay your kindness.

There is a study period before bedtime.

I study human script with Anne Rossa.

This makes it much easier for me
to absorb human knowledge.

I never thought the day would come

when I'd learn and grow with a human.

Life here is actually quite fun.

Is something wrong?

The magic circle connected
to the Netherworld.

Monsters are coming out.

These are all low-level monsters.

Everyone, use your best attack spells.

We can't let them leave the school
grounds!

Lightning Bolt!

Everyone, keep it up.

It's almost over.

Could this demon be...

Greater Demon.

My goodness!

I didn't expect to run into you here.

It has been a long time.

Mom?

What?
- What?

Why are you here?

You're asking me why...

I heard you were suddenly
summoned somewhere,

so I went to the forest to check.

That's when I ran into that guy.

That little brother with wings
is a dragon, right?

What on earth is going on?

Just like you.
They all grew up under my care.

Are those kids doing okay?

They're quite healthy,

but they seem to be in shock.

You should hurry back.

It's fine.
They're about to leave the nest.

It's better to leave them be
at a time like this.

Well...

Teacher, this is the one.

The baby beast I mentioned before.

Mom, I told you I'm a demon,
not a magical beast.

Isn't it the same thing?

By the way,

since we're connected to the Netherworld,

why don't we turn
this training ground into a dungeon?

What?
- What?

Mom.

I only came here to close this gate.

No need.
Let the students train here instead.

I can't. That's too dangerous.

It'll be fine as long as you manage
the magical beasts that come out.

Besides, you're free anyway, right?

Come and help me out.

Help you?

Mom, what on earth are you doing here?

I'm raising a child here right now.

Her name is Anne Rossa.

Nice to meet you.

Mom!

Your mana has increased so much
you've become a different species.

You're right.

I must have eaten too many Gem Rats.

Well, it doesn't really affect anything,
so I'll just leave it be.

I suppose so.

At best, all it does
is extend your lifespan.

Gosh, that's wonderful.

That way, I can look after this child
until she's fully grown, right?

And so, this magic school gained
a permanent, real-life dungeon.

It eventually became a prestigious school
that produced many great mages.

You're asking what happened
to Anne Rossa after that?

Well, that's another story.

Let me tell you some big news.

It's about
the new teacher arriving tomorrow.

I heard it's Froststorm Witch.

No way.

Froststorm Witch?

I heard that with her ice spear
and thunder whip,

she's completely invincible.

Look. That's her.

How can you tell?

Look at her feet.

When it comes to
the Froststorm Witch's familiar...

See?

Everyone knows it's a cat with two tails.

It has been a long time
since I've been back here.

You're...

Gosh. Teacher, it has been a while.

I heard you're the principal now?

Indeed. Welcome back.

I'm home.

Is this still the entrance to the dungeon?

Yes, it is.

Thank you for taking care of my son.

That boy has a difficult personality.

It hasn't been easy
to get along with him, has it?

Wait, Mom.

What are you doing here?

It has been so long since we last met.

Is that the first thing
you have to say to me?

Lord Greater Demon?

This is his cat form.

I was actually planning to go find you.

That's too dangerous.

My room is in
the deepest part of the labyrinth.

You'd run into all kinds
of monsters on the way.

What?

You're making me
sound like I'm old and frail.

There's no way I'd lose
to those ordinary beasts.

Well, they aren't exactly ordinary beasts.

Besides,

I was just greeting the principal.

It's rude of you to jump in and interrupt.

I'm so sorry.
This child is always like this.

Seriously.

Mom, come over here.

So that's the situation.

I'm going to live here again.

I get it.

But please don't do that again.

Do what?

I mean,

treating me like a little kid
in front of humans.

I have a reputation and pride to uphold.

Gosh. Is that so?

I'll keep that in mind.

She definitely didn't take me seriously.

Everyone, let me introduce
your new teacher.

Well...

Goodness. I'm sorry, everyone.

This child isn't used to these situations,

so she's a bit nervous.

But she's very thorough and clear
when she teaches magic.

If you still can't get it,

come talk to me, her mother cat.

I'll give you some Spartan training.

There now. Have you calmed down?

Go on and greet everyone.

Nice to meet you.

My name is Anne Rossa.

I hope we all get along well.

I failed again today.

I'm the only one in practical magic
still stuck on the 17th floor.

Why is this happening?

Your incantation was perfect.

That's right.

Both your incantation
and your use of magic were textbook.

Teacher.

You just don't have enough mana.

Teacher, isn't that
the most fatal problem?

That's not what I mean.

Actually, mana can grow.

Just like stamina.

My mana used to be much weaker than yours.

Really?

Yes.

That's why I'd go to the practice field
every morning before breakfast

and practice until I was exhausted.

Teacher?

Why are you here?

I thought

you might start practicing this morning.

I'll practice with you.

Thank you.

I can't believe you're practicing
with a bottom-tier student like me.

You're not bottom-tier.

That's right.

When this girl was a student,

she could only make tiny ice cones.

She was able to become a court mage

partly because she worked very hard

and partly thanks to my Spartan education.

Spartan education?

She's really strict.

Okay, let's try one more time.

But...

Mana is just like stamina.
- Mana is just like stamina.

Good morning, teacher.

Good morning.

So?

Doesn't breakfast taste better
after morning training?

Yes. I ate so much this morning.

Is that so?

Secret training with the teacher?
That's so unfair.

I want to do it too.

I only asked for help
because I couldn't keep up with everyone.

All right. Let's all practice together.

Okay.
- Okay.

Congratulations.

You've successfully
conquered this dungeon.

Well done.

We did it!

We defeated the master of the dungeon!

Hey?

But Greater Demon,

why are you a stone statue?

I heard we'd get to see your cat form.

Who told you that?

Was it Mom?

How cute.
- He's adorable.

It's a black cat.

My dignity is completely gone.

The practical magic students
are doing very well this year.

It's all thanks to your guidance.

Thank you, sir.

Actually, regarding future lessons,

I have a proposal.

Having students take on
actual guild requests?

Yes. It'd be a form of field internship.

We can ask professional adventurers
and soldiers for assistance,

so students can learn
how to fight alongside others.

But if we do that,
it won't just be about our school anymore.

The whole country
will be involved in this project.

I'll handle the negotiations
with the royal court.

Everyone, remember to stay safe!

We're heading out!

If a situation exceeds their capabilities,
they will send a distress signal.

I'll need your help then.

Okay.
- Okay.

Gosh.

The person in charge ran off
to save them herself.

Every team has returned safely.

Teams that have completed their requests,

go report to the guild first.

I didn't catch anything at all.

I even got a harsh scolding
from the adventurers.

This field internship was a great success.

Tangible results aren't what matters.

I hope you'll use today's experience
to help you in the future.

After all, this was
your first real combat experience.

Coming back alive
is the most important thing.

And the fact that no one was hurt
is truly impressive.

You'll all become wonderful mages.

That's wonderful.

Well,

this year, our school has again
trained many excellent mages.

I'm deeply proud to send them off
to their respective stages.

You've all done great.
- I hope that you all

You've truly grown into mages.
- take what you've learned here

Yes, they really have.
- and shine brightly

They've all grown up.
- on your chosen path.

You too.
- Shine brightly.

Congratulations. You are all mages now.

Aside from the real-life dungeon,

this magic school, which incorporates
practical training into its curriculum,

has become
one of the top schools in the field.

Since then, it has produced
countless excellent mages,

and each of them has gone on
to have new encounters.

But that's a story for another time.

[THE KITTENS AND MR. WING]

[GRAY TUXEDO SMILES WRYLY. THE TOWN
RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER THE FIREWORKS.]

[THE FESTIVAL WINDS DOWN,
BUT THE STREETS STAY LIVELY.]

[SOME STAY TO ENJOY THE FESTIVAL.
THOSE WHO WORKED CAN FINALLY RELAX.]

[MR. WING COMPLAINS.
GRAY TUXEDO REMINDS HIM IT'S TIME TO GO.]

[MR. WINGS CALMS DOWN, PERKS UP HIS EARS,
AND PURRS. TO BE CONTINUED.]