Meow, meow, meow meow...
As soon as Yago returned home, he was surrounded by a chorus of meowing. Looking at the scene before him, he was quite surprised.
"Annie, why are there so many cats at home?"
That's right—there were at least five or six cats in front of Yago, all snuggling up to Annie and meowing affectionately. Annie herself looked delighted as she happily petted them—one on the left, one on the right, one lying on her lap, and several more running around her.
It seemed Annie was incredibly popular with cats. In response to Yago's question, she said cheerfully:
"They're all cats from around the neighborhood—some are strays, some belong to neighbors. They usually like sticking close to me and playing."
As she spoke, Annie reached out and scratched under the chin of a snow-white cat, making it purr contentedly.
Watching the beautiful Annie and the adorable cats, Yago couldn't help but feel his heart soften. Seeing how happily Annie was petting them, his own hands started itching, and he reached out toward a gray-and-white cat that looked like a little cow.
Unfortunately, not everyone was as welcomed by cats as Annie was. Faced with Yago's hand, the little cow-patterned cat instantly bristled, its tail shooting upright and its voice turning sharp.
"RAWR!"
With lightning speed, before Yago could even react—slash!—three bloody scratches appeared on the back of his hand.
Yago was stunned. I just wanted to pet you—why'd you stab me?!
Although the wound healed in the blink of an eye thanks to the power of the Titans, Yago's anger flared up immediately.
"You stupid cat!"
The frightened little cow cat instantly dove into Annie's arms, meowing pitifully as if it had been wronged. That only made Yago even angrier. You scratched me and then ran to my Annie? Do you think Annie will let you off?!
"Serves you right for being handsy." Annie replied, stroking the little cow cat's head and rolling her eyes at him.
Yago: ".....well played."
With Annie protecting it, Yago couldn't do anything. Was his blood just spilled for nothing? Looking at the cow cat meowing comfortably in Annie's arms, Yago grew even more irritated—but there was nothing he could do.
After being petted to satisfaction, the little cow cat lifted its rear and stretched lazily. That very motion made Yago's eyes light up.
"Annie, does this cat belong to a neighbor?"
"Huh? This one? Umm… no, this one's a stray."
Yago let out a sinister chuckle. "Is that so?"
Looking at the two plump little "bells" behind the cat's rear, Yago sneered.
"Stupid cat… blood for blood—with your balls."
...
Setting aside the cat incident, as night fell, Yago lay in bed. At some unknown moment, his consciousness sank, and in a hazy state, he entered an unknown space.
...
This was a pure white space, stretching endlessly. The light surrounding him made Yago realize—this was his own consciousness space.
Several clusters of bright light orbited around his body—white (Fate), gold (Female), earthy yellow (Jaw), green (Attack), blue (War Hammer), brown (Armored).
Just as Yago was wondering why he had suddenly appeared in his consciousness space, a figure appeared before him without any warning.
Simple plain dress, a small and thin body, neatly cut bangs—wasn't this Founder Ymir?
Why would great-grandmother appear in his consciousness space? Yago froze in place for a few seconds. Founder Ymir suddenly appeared, saying nothing, just staring at him with wide eyes—locking gazes with him in silence.
Finally, Yago couldn't hold back any longer and cautiously asked:
"Uh… um, Founder Ymir… Why are you here? Is… is there something you need?"
As he spoke, Yago slowly edged backward. He still remembered—when he first met her, he had almost been smashed to death. If he didn't keep some distance, what if she treated him like a ball again?
Unfortunately, Founder Ymir said nothing, just continued staring at him with her big, watery eyes.
Yago held it in for a while, not knowing what else to say—no matter what he said, she didn't respond.
In the end, with no other choice, he asked:
"Have you eaten?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he said that, Founder Ymir reacted—turning her head to look in a certain direction.
Yago: "What's going on? Is she hungry? Or just wandering around out of boredom?"
But soon, Yago dismissed his random thoughts. Clearly, she hadn't reacted because of his question. Instead, it was because—in the direction she was looking—a figure was gradually appearing.
Yago and Founder Ymir both watched as the figure slowly took shape. But as the face became clearer, shock filled Yago's eyes more and more.
When the person fully appeared before him, Yago's thoughts froze for a second—because the face was so familiar.
"You… you are… Norman Russell!?"
Looking at the young man who looked exactly the same as the one in the photograph—yes, exactly the same—the photo Yago had found in Russell Manor, the one of young Norman Russell standing beside a young Ebson—Yago's jaw nearly dropped in shock.
As Norman Russell appeared, Founder Ymir's figure gradually faded, as if intentionally leaving the space to the two of them.
"You…" Yago looked at Norman Russell walking toward him, unable to say anything. A strange feeling rose in his heart.
Norman Russell walked up to Yago. He was tall—half a head taller than Yago. Then, under Yago's gaze, Norman Russell revealed a gentle smile and slowly raised his arm.
Then, a broad and warm hand rested on Yago's head.
"My child…"
A soft voice entered Yago's ears.
Boom!
It was like a thunderclap exploding in his mind. The familiar yet unfamiliar feeling made Yago tremble uncontrollably. Memories from his childhood surged up—on that day, when the strange worm lunged at him in his dream, it was also this voice that awakened him. (See Chapter 8 for details)
The warmth on his head made tears flow uncontrollably from Yago's eyes. His chest tightened, and the instinct from his bloodline made him softly utter this word:
"...Father"