Tale 04 — The Mangy Cat’s Bowl

"Good evening, legends and looters! Tell me, have you ever met one of those high-level 'Appraisers'? You know the type—they walk into a shop, squint their eyes, and think they can see the gold hidden beneath the dust. They believe they’re the smartest person in the realm because they have a Skill that tells them the price of everything, but the value of nothing. Let me tell you about Sir Reginald the Sharp, a man who thought he was about to rob an old peasant blind."

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Sir Reginald was an adventurer who specialized in 'Relic Hunting.' He possessed a Level 10 'God’s Eye' Appraisal skill. He could tell a cursed blade from a kitchen knife at a hundred paces.

One day, while traveling through a tiny, nameless village, he stopped at a dilapidated tea-shack. Lying on the dirt floor was a cat. Not a majestic familiar or a magical beast—just a mangy, one-eared stray with matted fur and a permanent scowl.

But Reginald wasn't looking at the cat. He was looking at the dirty, chipped bowl the cat was drinking milk from.

His 'God’s Eye' pulsed with a blinding light.

[Item: Calyx of the Star-God. Grade: SS-Rank Artifact. Value: 50,000 Platinum Coins.]

Reginald’s heart nearly hammered its way out of his ribs. This old fool was using a legendary relic, a cup that could buy an entire kingdom, as a bowl for a half-dead stray!

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He had to be careful. He had to be 'The Silver-Tongued.'

"My good man," Reginald said, putting on his most charming smile. "That is a... fascinating cat you have there. I have a strange hobby, you see—I absolutely adore ugly, miserable-looking cats. They have so much 'character.' I’ll give you ten gold pieces for him."

Ten gold pieces! A fortune for a peasant. The old man’s eyes widened. "Ten gold? For this old bag of bones? Aye, milord! Take him! He's yours!"

Reginald handed over the gold, his hands shaking with greed. He picked up the scruffy cat. Now, for the final move.

"Since I'm taking the little fellow on a journey, he’ll need to eat. Why don't you throw in that old, dirty bowl? It’s chipped and worthless anyway. It’ll save me buying a new one at the next town."

Reginald held his breath. This was it. The 50,000 platinum prize.

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The old man looked at the bowl, then back at Reginald, and gave a slow, toothless grin.

"I’m afraid I can’t do that, milord," the peasant said calmly.

Reginald blinked, his face turning red. "Why not? It’s a piece of junk!"

"Oh, no," the old man chuckled, wiping the rim with a greasy rag. "This here is the 'Calyx of the Star-God.' An SS-Rank Artifact. It's worth about 50,000 platinum coins."

Reginald’s jaw hit the floor. "You... you know the value, and you're using it as a cat bowl!?"

The old man stroked his chin and winked.

"Well, you see, milord... whenever I use this bowl to feed a stray, some kind soul like yourself always comes along and offers me ten gold pieces for the cat. It's much better at catching 'customers' than mice!"

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[ Commentary ]

This story is a fantasy adaptation of the classic Rakugo tale, "Neko no Chawan" (The Cat's Tea Bowl). It is a beloved story that mocks the greed of "experts" who think they are smarter than the simple folk they try to exploit.

■ The "Appraisal Skill" vs. Real Wisdom

In modern Isekai (portal fantasy) stories, the protagonist often gains an "Appraisal" or "Analysis" skill that reveals the true value of items. This story pokes fun at that trope. Sir Reginald believes his "God’s Eye" makes him invincible, but he forgets that a skill can tell you the *price* of an item, but it can't warn you about a *person’s* cunning. The old man didn't need a magical eye; he just needed to understand human greed.

■ The Original Merchant and the Tea Bowl

In the traditional Rakugo version, the protagonist is an antiques dealer traveling through a mountain pass. He spots a stray cat drinking from a "Korai Chawan" (a highly valuable ancient Korean tea bowl). Just like in our story, he tries to buy the cat for a small sum, hoping the owner will "throw in" the bowl for free.

■ The Bait and the Hook

The brilliance of this tale lies in the reversal of the scam. The merchant (or adventurer) thinks he is the predator, but the old man has set a perfect trap. The valuable bowl is the "bait." By using a kingdom-buying relic as a common pet dish, the old man attracts every greedy "expert" who passes by.

■ The Punchline: "Catching" Customers

In the original Japanese, the punchline is a play on the cat’s role. Cats are supposed to catch mice. However, the old man reveals that the bowl is much better at "catching" greedy merchants. He’s already sold the "cat" many times over! It serves as a hilarious reminder that the most dangerous person isn't the one with the highest level, but the one who knows exactly how to play his cards.