Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 31: Morning market

"Hehe, so you like it?"

"Nn!"

I nod eagerly, grinning from ear to ear. How could I not be excited? I finally have a sword of my own—a messer sword! And the best part? I get to carry it openly for the world to see!

How cool is that?!

It's literally a dream come true, the best gift ever! I can't wait for Eris to teach me some sword skills so I can be like a badass anime protagonist!

As we stroll through the bustling streets of Mistvale, I start noticing something—everyone seems to be armed to the teeth. Some carry small swords and axes, others lug around massive weapons almost as big as their own bodies!

Sure, oversized weapons are common in anime and games, but seeing them in person? It hits different!

I can't help but wonder...

How heavy are those things?

How do they even swing them?

And honestly... are they even practical?

I glance at Eris, realizing something.

"Eris, what weapon do you use?" I ask, curious since she doesn't seem to be carrying anything.

Well, maybe she's hiding them somewhere in her clothes—who knows?

Eris hums, tilting her head in thought. "Hmmm, pretty much everything..."

"...Everything?"

"Yeah. Swords, axes, hammers, knives, bows, crossbows... I don't think there's anything I haven't tried."

"Whoa! So you're, like, a total weapon master?" My eyes sparkle with admiration.

Eris grins. "Yep, you could say that."

"And what about scythes?"

"Scythes?"

"Yeah! Big scythes! Woosh woosh!" I swing my arms dramatically, mimicking a reaper's motion. The image of Eris wielding a massive scythe, reaping the souls of her enemies like a grim catgirl reaper, flashes through my mind.

Oh my!

That would be so cool!

And if possible, I want to try wielding a scythe too!

However...

"Pfft." Eris suddenly bursts into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Sure, if your enemies are grass!"

"Wait!!! There are grass monsters?!" I gasp, completely serious.

Eris nearly doubles over. "Of course not, silly!!!"

AAAAAAA!!!

I feel so stupid again! My ears droop as heat rises to my cheeks, which only makes Eris laugh harder.

Before I can recover, a massive bear Furren strides past us, dragging an absolutely gigantic greatsword behind him. The blade scrapes against the cobblestone, sending an awful grinding sound through the air. I wince and cover my ears with my tiny hands.

That thing is enormous!

It's easily bigger than both of us combined!

A shiver runs down my spine just looking at it.

"A-alright! And what about that thing?" I point at the oversized monstrosity of a sword. "Have you ever tried wielding one of those?"

Eris shrugs, completely unfazed. "Oh, of course! Actually, behemoth swords are one of my favorites."

"Heeeeeh? Really?" I narrow my eyes at her, skeptical.

I mean, sure, Eris is strong—her muscles are no joke—but compared to that hulking bear Furren, she's just a slim and petite catgirl.

I can't exactly picture her lifting, let alone wielding something that massive.

Either she's messing with me... or she's way stronger than I thought.

"What? You don't believe me?" Eris tilts her head, arching a playful eyebrow at my skeptical expression.

I giggle, shaking my head. "Nah. I mean, you're strong, but that thing looks insane!" I gesture toward the massive greatsword still scraping against the cobblestone behind the bear Furren.

Eris smirks. That kind of smirk—the one that practically screams I'm about to prove you wrong. She crosses her arms, leaning in slightly. "Alright, I'll show you one day. You'll see."

I grin. "Yeah! I'm looking forward to it!"

If she's serious, and she can actually wield a weapon like that...

Oh my gosh.

That would be so cool!

———————————————

Moments later, we find ourselves standing in the heart of Mistvale's bustling street food market.

WOAAAAAH!!!

There's food everywhere!

My eyes go wide as I take in the chaotic, mouthwatering scene before me. Stalls stretch endlessly down the street, each one sizzling, roasting, or frying something that smells absolutely divine. My nose is immediately assaulted by the most glorious mix of scents—grilled meats, rich spices, sweet pastries, and something crispy and savory that I can't even begin to describe.

It's like I've died and gone to fantasy food heaven.

Everywhere I look, something delicious calls my name. Vendors flip skewers of smoky, charred meat over open flames, their rich, tangy BBQ glaze dripping onto the sizzling grill below. A nearby stall boasts crispy Filoan wings, slathered in a sweet and spicy honey glaze that has me weak in the knees. And the pastries—oh my goodness—the fluffy moondust cakes are bigger than my head, dusted with powdered sugar that glitters like tiny stars. There are buttery flower-shaped rolls, their soft petals oozing with melted herb butter, and pies so golden and flaky that they practically glow.

Just when I think I've seen it all, my gaze lands on the more... exotic offerings.

A bubbling pot of bright pink snails simmers in some mysterious sauce that looks like molten lava—so, probably extremely spicy. And then...

Oh gods.

Deep-fried Tarantulian spiders.

Each one is as big as my palm, battered and skewered, looking like something straight out of a horror movie. My stomach flips just thinking about it.

Definitely not touching that.

But aside from the terrifying arachnid cuisine, everything else looks AMAZING. The portions are huge, the smells intoxicating, and my stomach feels like it's about to riot from sheer excitement.

BRRRRRRRRR!!!

It is rioting!!!

"Aaaaaaaa~!!" I wail, clutching my head in dramatic agony. "Eris, help meee!!!"

"Eh?" Eris turns to me, one eyebrow raised. "What's wrong now?"

"There's too much food! I don't know what to try first!" I exclaim, my eyes darting wildly between the dozens of tempting stalls.

My stomach growls so loudly I swear people down the street can hear it.

"Hahaha! Is that so?" Eris laughs, clearly amused. "Alright! Follow me—I'll take you to one of my favorites!"

Her grin is so wide, so full of excitement, that I don't even hesitate.

"Yesssss! Let's gooo!!!" I squeal, practically bouncing after her.

And just like that, Eris grabs my hand and pulls me through the chaotic maze of food stalls and hungry people. We pass so many vendors selling so many amazing-looking dishes, my stomach protesting with every step. But Eris seems to have a very specific place in mind.

After what feels like an eternity of navigating through the crowd, we finally stop in front of a small, unassuming stall sandwiched between two much flashier setups.

Above it, a simple wooden sign reads:

Schleimfisch.

...Huh?

Unlike the other stalls, which have colorful banners, bright lanterns, and vendors shouting about their food, this one is humble. No decorations, no gimmicks.

But...

The line in front of it is huge!

At least thirty people are waiting, tailing down the street!

And the best part?

Nearly every single person in line is a cat Furren!

"Yeah! We cat Furrens go crazy for this stuff." Eris grins, beaming with pride. "This is our signature dish! Felicia, you have to try it!"

She turns to me with so much excitement in her eyes, I can't even think about saying no.

"Quick, get in line before it gets any longer!"

Before I can even process what's happening, Eris pulls me into the line, practically vibrating with excitement.

She's bouncing on her feet like a kitten about to get a treat, her tail flicking impatiently.

"Ooooh, I can't wait! It's been forever since I last had Schleimfisch!" She wipes away the bit of drool forming at the corner of her mouth.

Seeing her react like this, I can't help but feel my own excitement skyrocket.

If this is a dish that drives catgirls wild...

HECK YEAH.

I NEED TO TRY THIS.

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However...

Something isn't right.

...

What is that weird smell?