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Chapter 24 - Trap
🕑 Added 2025-04-02 14:14:16 +0000 UTC"Outlaw, do not speak such wild lies here! Señor Iago is a model of virtue and kindness in this city. Why would he bring danger to the very place where his own family lives?! For the last time, drop your sword and surrender!" The guard demanded angrily.
Puss coldly narrowed his eyes at everyone around him.
"I killed the frog and saved this city. I have never done what you accuse me of—my conscience is clean. If you attack me, you attack an innocent man, and I will fight back. I never lie, so if you value your lives, you better think carefully about who you choose to believe." Puss spoke in a low, icy tone.
Then, stepping forward with firm strides, he didn't care if guards stood in his way. His steps did not falter for even a second.
Feeling the dark and violent aura emanating from the cat, the guards instinctively took a step back in fear.
And so, an astonishing scene unfolded—Puss walked forward steadily as the trembling guards parted to let him pass.
Soon, Puss was about to leave the city unhindered when a figure stepped in his path.
It was an old man, his white hair unkempt, a knife clutched in his hand.
Puss's eyes burned with hatred at the sight of him.
"Iago! You old bastard! What grudge do you have against me to set me up like this?!" He demanded, his fists clenched in fury.
But the old man only looked at him with sadness and a bitter smile.
"Señor Puss, I did not lie... If you had not come, my family truly would have died, and the city would have been destroyed. I... I am sorry for deceiving you," The old man said, his voice filled with sorrow and regret.
Puss didn't fall for it.
"Spare me your tricks, viejo bastardo. Tell me—what are you planning?!" Puss drew his sword and pointed it at him in rage.
But the old man merely shook his head with a pained expression.
"They told me they would awaken the Devourer, and if I did not bring you here and also lie to the guards, they would kill me, my entire family, and the Devourer would still destroy the city. They left me with no choice but to seek out a hero to save this place—you... And in the end, for my own selfishness, I betrayed you to save my family from them."
The old man confessed everything honestly, and tears began to fall down his face as he continued speaking.
"I saw what you did in that region. Everyone adores you! And when I asked for help, you didn't even hesitate... You are a good boy, and I—I am sorry for what I have done..." Tears streamed down as he spoke, his voice thick with grief and remorse.
Puss was stunned—the old man did not seem to be lying, and his rage softened.
"You must not give up! Just help me expose the truth, and I will protect your family! Tell me—who are they?!" Puss pleaded, both eager to help the old man and desperate to clear his own name.
He didn't care about being seen as an outlaw, but to be branded as someone who awakened a monster just to make himself a hero—that accusation would haunt him for life. Every time he defeated a beast or saved people, others would wonder if he was the cause of the disaster in the first place.
But the old man shook his head in sorrow.
"I do not know who they are. And right now, they are surrounding my family's home. I am sorry, boy... They gave me one last mission before they would set them free..." The old man's voice grew heavier with despair.
Puss's eyes widened in realization—just as he saw the old man raise the knife in his hand and charge at him with a desperate scream.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The old man's wail echoed through the city.
Seeing him try to kill him, Puss lifted his sword with a cold expression.
'Sending an old man to kill me—qué insulto!' Puss thought, irritated.
But just as the old man entered the reach of his blade, he suddenly drove the knife violently into his own chest.
Puss's eyes widened in shock, watching as blood splattered onto his fur.
Lifting his gaze, he stared in disbelief at the old man who had just stabbed himself.
Bang!
The old man's body collapsed to the ground.
"I'm sorry, boy..." These were his last words before his eyes lost all focus.
"What the he—"
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A terrified scream rang out suddenly, cutting off Puss's stunned words.
Turning around, he saw more and more people gathering, pointing at him with fury and hatred.
"He killed Señor Iago because Iago exposed the gato's evil schemes!"
The words echoed through the crowd, making Puss's heart pound.
"Mierda..." He could only curse bitterly.
At that moment, the guards arrived, their faces twisting in shock at the scene before them.
"Damn it! We never should have doubted Señor Iago's words or let him go!"
They shouted and began rushing toward Puss.
"Wait! Stop! It wasn't me! The old man took his own life!" Puss defended himself, dodging swords and disarming the guards while shouting his explanations.
But the guards did not seem willing to listen or believe his "lies."
"The old man said he was threatened! That there are people surrounding his family's house—he was forced to do this! Take me to his home, we must save his family!" Puss pleaded.
"Do not listen to him! He probably wants to eliminate the rest of Señor Iago's family as revenge for ruining his plans!" one guard shouted, believing he had uncovered the "truth," warning the others.
"Maldita sea!!" Puss gritted his teeth and continued fighting defensively.
More and more guards surrounded him, and though Puss could easily defeat them, he did not wish to take the lives of men who had been deceived.
With no other choice, he was forced to retreat.
Disarming several guards and creating an opening in their defenses, he quickly dashed through the gap.
With his sword back at his hip, he ran on all fours at full speed as the guards chased after him.
Weaving through the crowd and dodging his pursuers, he swiftly made his way back to the pile of rubble left by the frog's attack on the city walls.
Leaping onto a large piece of stone, he coiled his legs and launched himself upward with great force.
The guards came to a halt at the edge of the collapsed wall, unable to follow.
With a mighty leap, Puss was back outside the city.
Still in midair, he brought two fingers to his lips and whistled.
Whistle!!!
"Neighhh!!"
A loud neigh echoed through the night, and soon, a powerful black horse came galloping toward him.
Puss calculated his descent, preparing to land perfectly on Tornado's saddle.
But just as he was about to land—
Tornado suddenly swerved to the side, letting Puss crash straight into the ground, rolling several times across the grass.
"Ptui! Ptui!" Puss spat out bits of grass, lifting his head and glaring at Tornado, who stood there watching him with amusement.
"Damn you, you vengeful horse! I only stepped on your head out of necessity! And I even promised you ten apples as an apology!" Puss grumbled, exasperated.
"Snort!" The horse snorted, tossing his head up and down, clearly entertained.
Shaking his head, Puss got up, adjusted his hat, and jumped into the saddle.
"Let's go—the guards will be here any moment." Puss said, snapping the reins.
"Snort!" Tornado snorted again, then broke into a trot before dashing into the forest, disappearing into the night.
