"Please don't walk too fast, Sir Nekoboro!"
In the midst of sudden downpour, a cat, walking atop his hind legs, trodded lightly as if enjoying the wet sensation on his body. The tattered robe and hood covering his body didn't seem to be effective, but he didn't mind.
Following behind him was a girl in similar attire, although she wore a weird, foreign robe underneath. It was a clothing of the far east nation, a Kimono. The hood of her robe covered her head such that only her face was shown. Unlike the cat, she looked really disturbed by the rain.
"I am walking really slow actually. I'm still using my hind legs, meow."
"I am not a cat, Sir."
"Cat, human, what's the difference? All you really need is fighting spirit, meow~"
"My fighting spirit is doused by this falling rain..."
The cat sighed with disappointed face. "This Kyouka is no fun. I want a funnier Kyouka, meow..."
"Please don't speak as if you're going to throw me away."
Just when she was about to give up walking, the rain stopped so abruptly. The Sun took over once more, shining its light. Kyouka felt warmth enveloping her body once again.
"Ah...it stopped."
"Let's keep going for a bit then, meow."
Having no more reason to object, Kyouka continued to follow the cat. The road they were taking was cleared neatly to be used by carriages. With fewer commoners being able to afford horses, the road were used less and less. It became a comfortable route to take for those traveling with foot, like the two. At night, however, the wide road made it more susceptible to bandit raids.
Not too long after the rain stopped, they could see an intersection far ahead. It was a good thing, actually. They could reaffirm their location by looking at signpost. At this rate, finding a shelter for the night should be a priority.
Just when they got closer to it, though, Nekoboro remarked out of nowhere.
"Ah, a Giant, meow~"
"What? A giant?"
"A giant. Do you not know what a giant is, Kyouka?"
"I know, but why would we find a giant in this ro...ro...ro..."
She couldn't believe her own eyes.
On the other road intersecting with them was a big guy. Kyouka didn't know if that could be considered a giant, but clearly a human shouldn't be that big.
More importantly, there was a horse walking beside him. Atop the steed was a girl with red-colored hair. Could she be...?
"Kidnapped by the giant, meow!"
"Did you just read my mind?!?"
"What, you had the same idea, meow? Don't go stealing people's idea, meow!"
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"We can make jokes later, first we have to rescue the girl, meow."
"Ah, right, eh, but..."
Looking at how they walked together so peacefully, Kyouka began to have doubts that the "giant" is a bad person. Not for Nekoboro, since he already rushed forth toward the group.
"Let's go, Kyouka! Meow~"
"Eh, eeeh? Waiiiit!!"
Scratch that thought. If Nekoboro had decided to do it, Kyouka knew that she couldn't stop him.
"Giant! Release the girl at once! Meow~" Suddenly jumping to the front of the "giant" and the red-haired girl, the cat pulled out his weapon from within the robe. On his left hand (front leg?) was a...giant...tuna fish.