Leave it to Necoco!

Hmm, Nyop. Nyo. Nyuh-uh. This one won't do either...

Oh, hey Necoco. What are you up to?

Nyaldo! Take a look at these for me.

What are those? Ema? There's something written on them.

This one says, "I wish someone would cut my backyard." ...Sorry what are these for again?

They're for people to write their wishes on!

Pretty small scale for a wish, huh? You'd think if you were gonna make a wish you'd shoot for something big.

Eek. No! How would I even make them come true? If someone, for example, asked for a million git, where would I even come up with that kind of money?!

Wait. YOU grant the wishes? Like, yourself?

Nya? How else would they get granted? People come, they write their wishes, we do what the wish says, and then they pay the shrine.

Sounds more like a request to me?

Oh Nyaldo, you sweet summer child. It's your chance to get YOUR wish granted by me, Necoco! The one protected by THE Cat Deity. And since I don't get paid, it's basically 100% profit!

Well, I mean if you're okay with that, who am I to say anything.

On top of that, if I do a good job Nyanji will give me head pats!

Nyanji?

Yeah, uncle Nyanjiro! I call him Nyanji for short. He basically raised me from kitten to cat. So he's kinda like my dad, but not my real one?

I see.

Nyanji... That's Nyanjiro, right? He's the guy that raised you, if I remember correctly?

Nyup! I was left at the shrine when I was just a little kitten, and Nyanji raised me all by himself!

This whole wish granting stuff was all his idea, too! Though, he's usually not around cause he's always out on official shrine business. But if I grant a whole lot of wishes, he gives me tons of head pats when he comes home!

Well then, it sounds like we've got a yard to mow!

Nyo.

What?!

It's too boring. If I'm gonna grant a wish I want it to have some pizzazz!

Hey, these are people's wishes we're talking about here! These people need these things done, if you don't do them, then that's a problem, right?

Nyah. I just have Otonya or the other miko do 'em for me.

Wait, what other miko?

Necoco! Stop pushing all your work off on to us!

And who are you?

I'm Nabeshima. I work corporate affairs for the shrine.

I'm Fukurobe, I'm kinda like Otoha and Necoco's kid sister.

I had no idea there were other miko working at the shrine.

We don't really like dealing with people face-to-face...

You two again?

Long time no see. We're here from corporate affairs. I'm Nabeshima, and this is Fukurobe.

We appreciate all you've done for Necoco and Otoha.

Anyways, Necoco. Remember what Nyanji always says? She who does not work, neither shall she eat.

I didn't say I wouldn't work, I said I'm waiting for something that makes my whiskers tingle.

Isn't that why you also spent the whole day yesterday sunbathing?

Time to cut the grass, Necoco.

Nyooooooo way! I want something cool! Something fun! Something as amazing as me!

And what would that be?

Well, it would be... Kinda like... Something along the lines of...

There would be this thing, and it would be really big, and then it'd come at me all like rarrrr! And then I'd go all snikt, snikt, snikt and take care of it super quick! Something like that.

Soo...you have no idea, then.

Necoco, do you want Nyanji to get mad at you again?

Nyo...

She who does not work, neither shall she eat, remember? You don't want Nyanji to...

Nyooooo! Don't remind me!

What happened?

He made it... He made it so...

He made it so I could only eat these tiny sardines...

That's it?

It's a big deal to ME! I'll never forget that day... Me, laying on my tear-soaked pillow nibbling on a sardine, as hungry as I've ever been.

Aaah! Never again!

Okay Nyaldo, there's only one way out of this. We gotta find something big.

Ooor we can just do the boring ones?

Ooor we can find something big! Now help me look through these ema!

Myeh... Garden upkeep, cat fell down a well...nyone of these are any good...

Wait, what about this one!

Let me see. "I wish someone would get rid of the monsters that have begun to appear near my house." "They're really, really, really tough."

It's perfect right?! What's got more flare than fighting big bad monsters?

I mean, you're not wrong. And I don't think it's a good idea to let the other miko handle this.

It even says it's "really, really, really tough"! Finally! The job I've been waiting for!

If you say so.

Annnd I DO say so! Now let's get goin' Nyaldo!

...I dunno where to go.

Yeah, you probably shoulda asked before running off.

Looks like the person that wrote this is in Nagsham.

Okay, then I guess we start there and ask around.

Meow it's time to show everyone what Necoco is made of!

What am I gonna do? I can't even go on a walk with those things out and about.

Ahhh-ha! Cat Shrine Monster Extermination division at your service!

Wait, you're a miko?

Not just any miko, I'm the one and only Necoco!

I...didn't think they'd actually send anyone!

Huh. They really DO grant the wishes written on the ema! How about that.

Nyeh heh heh. We are the hands of god, after all! You write a little wish, and then poof, a super cool and very good at granting wishes miko is at your door!

Gaze upon greatness, and be awed! Nyeh heh heh!

Crazy to think just moments ago she was crying about only being able to eat sardines...

SHHHH! You're making me look bad!

So, you'll help me with my monster problem?

Yeah, I think we should be able to help. Can you tell us a little more about the problem?

Sure. A little bit ago, some pretty dangerous monsters started patrolling the Vermilion Road. No idea where they came from, but because of them it's impossible to walk that road safely.

Hmmm... Maybe it's bears coming down from Kunlun Mountains looking for food?

Doesn't seem like it. There's something...different about them. Never seen anything like it.

I have heard that cleansing them with divine power does the trick.

So someone's tried it then?

I mean, it's just a rumor. But the way they look... It's cursed in a way that just makes you wanna exorcise them.

Well if it's divine power you need then you came to the right place! Cause you're lookin' at the real deal! A live, in the flesh, hand of god!

More like a hand of Nyanjiro, but let's not split hairs.

Yeah, but if Nyanji is a hand of god, and I'm doing work for Nyanji, ipso facto, I am also the hand of god!

And I also have special powers, so nyah!

Special powers?! You must be...

Must be what?

Blessed by the Cat Deity, of course. You shoulda said that earlier! This should be no problem! When you're ready, come on down to the Vermilion Road.

Nyahaha! Necoco finally gets to show her stuff!

Okay, so what's up with these special powers?

Hm? They're special powers.

Here, say hello to my little friends!

I'm lost.

The blessing I got from the Cat Deity? These are the manifestations of that blessing! I practiced a whole lot to get them to appear this big!

Okay, I get that, but what's the special part?

Well, it's all the power I've got as a blessed specter!

I just cock this thing back, take a swing and FOOM! I cut through anything like a knife through butter.

I...find that hard to believe. Are they really that special?

SUPER special, actually.

I'M special...actually.

Sorry, what?

Anyway, if I just try my hardest, then handling these monsters should be as easy as pine!

I think you mean as easy as pie?

Nyaldo? Maybe you should save that energy for walking your butt over to the Vermilion Road. Strike while the fire's hot, you know! Meow let's gogoGOOOOOO!

...Fire is always hot. Metaphors aren't her strong suit, I guess.

Gotta hand it to her though, she's really putting her all into this.

You two got here just in time, there's some monsters just up ahead.

Just look at em...

Definitely don't look like the kind of monsters you usually see around here. But they look pretty weak?

Are you serious?

Myeah... When you said they were "really, really, really strong" I was expecting something...bigger?

I don't even need special powers for these guys.

......

Okay Nyaldo, let's get to it!

Yeah, lets go!

Nya hah hah! That was so easy!

They were a little stronger than I thought, but not by much.

Kinda sad I didn't get to whip out my special powers though...

Better than I expected...

What was that?

You did so much better than I expected! Just how much power are you hiding in there?

Nyeh heh! Like, a hundred thousand times more powerful than what you just saw!

Man, I'd sure like to see what that looks like!

Sorry, no can do! A kitty's gotta have her secrets! It's not as cool if everyone knows what you can do!

Aw, that's too bad.

What...is happening? What's that noise?

Necoco! Behind you!

Hey! I thought I killed you!

If you haven't had enough then I'm just gonna have to give you a little something EXTRA!

Hm?!

Nyeh heh hehhh. Time to show you my real power!

CAT SLAP!

...I gotta say I was not expecting something so literal.

I really let 'em have it, right? And I made it all possible with a little mix of specter magic and Cat Deity blessing.

It just looked like you slapped it really hard, but I mean if you got to use your special power then, sure.

This wish was a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be! Didn't expect it to come back from the dead, though...

I'm really impressed! And that thing you just did was your special power?

More or less!

I see, I see. That was all you got. That slap is kinda like your special move? Hmmm...

Well when you put it that way, it doesn't sound all that special!

That was my cat slap, but that's nothing compared to the other moves I got!

Really? There's more?

Of course there's more! You honestly think the great Necoco's best move is a slap? C'mon!

Okay, well in that case, I've got a wish that only you can grant.

You do?!

Yeah, it's something that needs someone especially strong. The guys you just beat, there's a rumor that their boss is up in the Wicked Meadow.

They have a boss?!

And if you don't take the boss out, these guys are just gonna keep coming and coming.

You want us to take out their boss?

Why didn't you mention this before? I think I'm gonna need more info before we...

Nya hah! Well I guess, if only the great Necoco can handle it, then the great Necoco's gotta handle it!

Necoco, wait.

Yeah! A special quest for someone with special power! A wish only the great Necoco can grant!

Special quest for the great Necoco! Special job for the great Necoco! Nya hah hah! Leave it to me! Whether it's a boss monster or a moss monster they're nothing but mice for the great Necoco!

Necoco! WAIT!

A cat on a mission, indeed. All you gotta say is it's a job only she can do and vroom, off she goes...

Hm? Where'd that guy go?

Must have gone ahead, too. I guess I'll head over to the Wicked Meadow.

There you are! You gotta stop running off like that.

Yeah, sorry about that, but would you get a look at THAT?!

What IS that thing?

That's the boss. Looks like it's alone, too. Which means if you're gonna take it out, now's the time.

Definitely has a boss-like quality to it, I'll give you that.

I gotta good feeling about this one! Definitely a monster only the great Necoco can beat!

Yeah, without your special powers, there's just no way!

Heard that, Nyaldo? Necoco IS special, after all! Gotta say, I feel kind of invincible right now!

Listen, Necoco. I appreciate the energy, but don't underestimate the enemy, okay?

It'll be fine! Cause you're gonna help!

I am?!

Er, well it's coming this way so we can talk about that later, eh? You ready, Necoco?

You bet! Leave it to the great Necoco!

All right, it's weak! Nyaldo, go ahead and finish it off!

On it!

Er...

What's wrong?

I can't... My legs are stuck on something.

What? Meow?! Just when we're about to win?

......

And now it's getting stronger?! What in the world?!

Necoco!

D-Don't worry, I can handle this! It's my wish to grant, anyway! I am special! And... And I'll prove it to you all!

You've finally gotten serious eh? Show me all the power that's hiding within you!

Huh?

Here we go! Behold! The true power of the great Necoco!

Finally!

Nnnnnnnnnn....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!

WOAH.

Time to show you what a real specter can do! Get ready for my ultimate attack!

What ultimate attack?

Here we go! Take this! SNIP, SNAP, PADDYWHACK SUPER-DUPER CAT SLAP!

Huff... Puff... How'd ya like that, jack!

...Another slap?

Yeah but, like, wayyy more powerful! What do ya think? Pretty cool, right?

I will refrain on commenting on how cool it was, but I cannot deny that it was extremely powerful.

Nyaha! Wasn't it though? I can be really strong, once I put my mind to it. Now don't you feel lucky? Not only did I defeat the monster, you got to see my secret form!

So that...was your true power?

M? Yeah! I turned into a big ol' specter and whacked that monster into next Tuesday!

...I expected more.

You what?

I bought into the hype a little too much it seems. That'll be all. Thank you for your help.

Well yeah, I granted your wish so of course that's all! ...That's what you mean, right?

I don't think that's what he means.

There's something weird about this guy. I am pretty sure he has some ulterior motive!

Heh.

The monsters coming back to life, my legs getting stuck, all that was you, wasn't it?

You managed to figure all that out, but still have no idea why I did it? Let me ask you this, what do you know about that specter there?

Enough.

You're not...

C'mon, Necoco, tell us why you didn't summon the power that is your birth rite?!

I...don't know... I don't know anything!

You LIE! Your parents had already lost their ability to summon it, they MUST have given it to you!

What?

You...know my parents?

I'm the one asking questions here.

If you refuse to show your real power, then you give me no choice but to use all of mine.

Wait, this guy's a specter?

I'm going to have your power even if I have to drag it out of you. Hand it over and there won't be any trouble.

I'm not...

I'm not hiding any power. And I can't give you what I don't have!

What?

I can't summon anything. My parents never gave me any kind of power. Whatever it is, they must have given it to someone else. Who, I have no idea.

......

Now that you mention it, I don't sense the power within you... I see. I was following a bad lead, it seems.

Forget what I said. I have no reason to fight you. I have bigger fish to fry.

Hey, wait!

A complete waste of time...

......

Hey, Necoco, don't worry about that guy...

It's fine.

But...

NYAAAAAA! That specter just left without paying!

I mean, at least you got the job done, right?

No! I even whipped out my super special slap! That costs money!

I mean, you can't expect him to pay now, so...

I. Don't. Care! I tried soooooooo hard!

I mean, I saw it. I can tell Nyanji all about it and you'll get those head pats.

Yeah but you don't even know when he's coming home!

Sigh... Well the wishes got granted, so I guess I have to go report this back to the shrine.

I'm counting on you to be my hype man, Nyaldo!

Sure. Let's get back to the Cat Shrine.

NYAHAHA! THE GREAT NECOCO RETURNS!

Welcome back. How'd the monster hunting go?

It was one for the ages! You shoulda seen it. I cut the monsters into bits, chewed em up, and spit 'em out!

You...ate the monsters?

...Y-Yeah! I did! Yum yum monster chum!

Okay, wait. I think we're taking this a little too far.

But, the wisher ran off without paying... I can't believe I did all that for free!

You didn't do it for free. Thanks to you the people need not fear those monsters any longer.

You think so?

I mean, that does kinda sound like I did something good...

Yes, I do. You did a good job, Necoco.

Good job, Necoco!

Nyaaaaas! More! More compliments! I know! Gimme more wishes to do. I'll wrap 'em up in no time flat!

Digging the motivation, Necoco. I'll tag along.

Yeah? Er, well...

You must be tired, right Nyaldo? Get some rest, I'll do the rest of these on my own.

Yeah, but...

Dooon't worry about it!

Now, which of these wishes should I grant? How about that lawn mowing job?

Yeah, that's what I'll do! I'm off to cut some grass! Don't go looking for me!

Heh, why would we even go looking for her, it's just mowing the lawn?

Hmmm... More importantly, why the change of heart?

......

Sigh...

There you are.

Meow! Nyaldo!

Look, I cut the grass all myself! By hand!

There was probably some parts I wasn't supposed to cut, but let's not sweat the details! Nyahaha!

Hey, Necoco...

What's up, Nyaldo? Something wrong?

Yeah, but not with me.

...Nya?

Are you okay, Necoco? You've been acting strange.

What do you mean? I am acting exactly how I always do!

I mean yeah you "look" fine, but it feels like you're not so fine on the inside, you know? Like you're trying real hard to make it look like nothing's wrong.

......

If you wanna talk about something, even just a little bit, you know you can talk to me.

Well...

It started right after that specter said all those things. What was he talking about? What power is it he's looking for? Something about summoning?

It's...

Nyope. Nyyyyyyyyope. I dun wanna talk about it.

It's not that big a deal, anyway!

You sure?

Stop looking so glum! I am totally fine!

If you say so...

Now help me out here!

Take that big pile of grass and move it over there!

I, uh, okay sure.

I'm a busy kitty! No time to wrap it up and tie it with a bow. Just do what I say!

Yes, boss...

It's weird... I don't normally let things like this affect me... Besides, this was all settled forever ago.

I'm the way I am because It's always just been me.

I'm am and always have been just another stray.