When Rino returned, an unexpected but welcomed guest was waiting for him. The sun was rising, so he dismissed the loyal hound and ran to scoop his furry friend into his arms, but Noir dodged it and aimed a kick to his skull before landing gracefully on the cat tree as Rino face-planted onto the wooden floor.

"Noir!"

The lich was too happy at the cat's return to be mad at the treatment even if Mutt was growling in anger in his shadow. Cats always had special treatment, and Rino would be a simp for their existence if he could.

Then again, maybe it was just Noir who was special. This cat always knew when to appear.

Licking his paws, the black cat looked at Rino. The shadow beneath his feet had grown again, and Ace was very sure that if the lich went all out, tearing down the weakest link in their team would be no problem. Stephanie should watch out from now on.

"It's been a while," he greeted as Rino enthusiastically pulled out some new cat toys he made in his spare time from feathers and string.

Ace wasn't sure when Rino found the time between quests and managing his expanding territory to make cat toys, but his feline body twitched excitedly. It did not take long for the cat instincts of this incarnate body to run around, chasing this offending feather on a string like a fool high on catnip.

Rino chuckled when Noir chased the feather toy like an ordinary cat, yowling in frustration when it slipped its paws. Even if the lich never played with cats like this in his previous life, he often saw the princess playing with her fat cat. The only difference was how the fat cat raised in the palace walked instead of ran for the prey. Compared to that overweight fluffball, Noir was a hundred times more adorable.

Ace did not know what he did, but he was panting for air and half dying when Rino finally showed him mercy and let him 'kill' the prey. His cat instincts dwindled, and he came back to reality with a huge wave of embarrassment, attempting to drown his pride.

Sparing the cat some dignity, Rino changed the topic. "Where have you been?"

Noir cleaned his paws and eyed Rino suspiciously, keeping close to his personality. "Why does that concern you?"

Under ordinary circumstances, Rino would be glad to be the pitiful wife waiting for the busy husband to return. However, he knew that he might not have the next time because of his quest's direction. He had no idea how much time he had left and how long Noir's errand would last before he returned again.

"It doesn't," he approached the subject as calmly as he could. 

Rino did not want to give Noir the wrong impression that he was abandoning the cat and this place for good. In fact, he did not know how this wild cat would react if he knew the cat toy was not the only thing Rino prepared while it was away.

A midnight blue pet collar sat snuggly in Rino's inventory with Noir's embroidered into the cloth. Ordinarily, collars were made out of leather. However, Rino had no suitable material to make a leather collar comfortable enough for Noir in such a short time. Hence, he could only weave a collar with Noir's name embroidered into it with various enchantments to make the collar less scruffy.

"I'm relocating."

The words echoed in the dark farmhouse, and Noir froze. His tail stiffened, and Rino quickly corrected himself, explaining in lengthy detail that Noir was not abandoned.

"I just wish that you will accept this," he said and retrieved the collar he imbued with his magic as a tracking device.

Noir sniffed at the collar and frowned, pawing it curiously before batting it twice. He glared at Rino, who stiffened at the hostile look.

"What's the collar for? I'm not going to be anyone else's pet. There is already an owner I serve."

The lich felt his heart fall at the rejection, even if he guessed as much. A talking cat who knew magic must have a wonderful owner who was at least as powerful as Rino, if not more. The lich could not forcefully ask Noir to accept him as its new master. He wasn't worthy. However, he wished that Noir would consider this gift as a friend.

There had to be a reason why Noir never spoke about the master he served, so Rino never questioned it. The cat must have reasons to disappear so often, but the fact that he returned to the farmhouse from time to time meant that he must still like Rino's company. The lich had a few theories about Noir's master. If Noir's master was human, they might be too old and sickly now if they were still alive. Noir was simply going around to run errands on its master's behalf like a loyal cat. However, there was also a high possibility that the cat's master was dead, but its loyalty kept the magical cat around in this area. Whichever the reason, Rino still hoped that he could still be friends with Noir even if he had to leave.

Seeing that Rino was depressed, Ace cringed inwardly. Maybe he was too harsh on Rino. However, this was still a good chance to maintain contact with Rino without using a different incarnate body to approach the lich. After all, the magician was quite taken with the cat called Noir now.

"I cannot accept it if you collar me to be a pet. I won't respond to your summons and won't travel with you."

Rino shook his head quickly and explained how the collar worked. He would never bind the cat, and the freedom Noir has unwillingly. He might do this for his shadow minions but never to Noir, not even in death.

"It does the opposite," Rino swore. "It has my magic imbued into the collar so that you will be able to find me if you wish. I will not be returning to Spudville as often, so I thought it would be nice if you knew when I did, even if only briefly."

Hearing that Rino put a lot of thought into making this collar, Noir finally accepted but swore that he wasn't Rino's pet even as the collar was fastened on him. The lich promised that he wouldn't treat Noir like a pet, and the cat was free to roam wherever he pleased.

"Do make this farmhouse your home if you like. Erika will be using this as an office to manage this territory and the logistic arrangements. If you require anything when you drop by, please let her know."

A free house and a free servant to serve him? Ace was secretly impressed at the lengths Rino was willing to go for Noir. Thankfully, he finished his work in heaven quickly and was able to stay for the next few days during this visit.

When Rino heard that his favourite cat in the world was here to stay for a few days to make up for the last few weeks of absence, he declared that there would be a party and a feast tonight to welcome his most esteemed pal.