"Hahaha, that's why it's a wet cat. A soaked cat looks completely different from usual." "Now that you mention it, yeah. Cats getting shampooed look like different creatures." "Right? Imagine being alone deep in the mountains and seeing a cat drenched from rain or dew. Its fur would be plastered flat, which could easily look like glossy scales. Plus, the preconception that 'there's no way a cat would be out here' would distort your perception." "Hmm, well, when you put it that way..." "Most sightings are just brief glimpses anyway. If someone had five or ten minutes to observe it properly, they wouldn't make that mistake." "True. With that much time, you could tell if it's a snake or cat." "Exactly. A wet cat jumping in tall grass with its legs hidden could look like a bouncing tsuchinoko. One running downhill might resemble one rolling away. And again, the 'no cats here' bias would warp perception. Just a theory, though." "Fufu... 'The ghost revealed as withered susuki.'"

     

"O-oh, that's an interesting phrase, Nina-san." "When little kids helped at shops, older guys would often say funny stuff to 'em. Probably heard it then." I see. Growing up interacting with adults other than her parents must be why Nina-san seems mature for her age. "Hey, you weren't just thinking about my age, were ya...?" "Eh, ah, no! You, Rua, and Serai-san are the same age, right? I was just impressed by how knowledgeable you are!" "Really? If you say so." Ugh, Nina-san's scarily sharp today... But that phrase uses "withered tail flowers," not susuki or willows.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com