Bruce watched as the black mist dispersed, revealing the demon’s true form.
His expression shifted to one of disbelief; he never expected that the so-called demon would look so… ordinary.
An owl flapped its wings, landing atop the stone statue.
With sleek brownish-gray feathers and tufted ear-plumes, its eyes were large and round, devoid of any demonic air.
The owl fixed its gaze on Bruce, tilting its head to rotate a full 180 degrees, giving it a mocking look.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
“I…”
Hearing the owl speak startled Bruce again, making him realize that there was indeed something special about it.
“Who are you?” He remembered the owl’s words from earlier. “And… how do you know my name?”
“Why so tense? Put that gun away; it’s useless against me.”
The owl twisted its neck back and gazed upwards as if reminiscing.
“You may call me Kathoom. That’s my name in the DC universe. As for how I know you—well, the moment you awakened me, I knew everything about you.”
Kathoom shook its head playfully, his tone tinged with mischief.
“For instance, I also know you’re only ten, and next week, you’ll be turning eleven.
“You’ve only recently become an orphan, still haunted by the shadows of your parents’ deaths. But don’t worry… you’ll never escape those shadows.”
Mentioning his parents hit Bruce like a dagger, igniting both agitation and fury.
“Don’t talk about my parents!”
“What are you saying? I’m a demon—digging up people’s old wounds is my favorite thing.”
Kathoom fluffed the feathers under his wings with a few flaps.
“But since you’ve awakened me, I’ll offer you a deal in return. I’ll grant you one wish, anything you desire. So, go ahead—wish freely.”
Bruce didn’t hesitate to refuse. “I’d never make a deal with a demon!”
“Oh, come now. Don’t be so quick to refuse. Why don’t you at least hear what I can do for you?” Kathoom suggested, “How about bringing your parents back to life?”
The words struck Bruce’s heart like a drum.
He barely noticed the mocking tone, for his mind was consumed by that one tantalizing offer.
To have his parents back…
For a fleeting moment, Bruce wanted to say yes without a second thought.
But caution won out, and he asked, “How… how would you bring them back?”
“A simple necromantic spell.”
Kathoom said casually, “I could cast it right now, and by the next moment, they’d be crawling out of their graves.”
Bruce’s eyes widened.
Crawling out of their graves? It had been two years since they passed…
Would they still even look human?
“No! That’s not right!”
Bruce instantly rejected Kathoom’s offer.
“This won’t work either?” Kathoom pondered before proposing another offer. “Then how about this—I’ll reduce Gotham’s crime rate to zero?”
Kathoom’s proposals were precisely the kinds of things Bruce yearned for deep down.
But Bruce couldn’t help but ask, “How would you do it?”
“That’s easy.”
Kathoom offered his answer, “If every Gothamite dies, there’d be no one left to commit crimes.”
“No way!”
This time, Bruce practically screamed his refusal.
Kathoom looked disappointed. “Pity, you just passed up the chance to solve Gotham’s problems at the root.”
This wasn’t solving Gotham’s problems; it was solving Gotham!
Bruce cried out in his heart, utterly horrified by Kathoom’s twisted, malevolent solutions.
“If you’re going to refuse everything, you’re a tough one to please.”
The owl spoke with irritation. “Rarely do I get a taste of freedom again, and here you are dragging it out. Hurry up, make your wish, and be done with it.”
Suddenly, something dawned on Bruce.
He realized, with a cold jolt, that the demon he’d just released could very well bring ruin to the entire world.
His ancestor had sealed Kathoom for precisely this reason. But now, Bruce had set him free…
Only now did Bruce understand the enormity of his mistake. He couldn’t let Kathoom roam freely; he had to fix this.
Fortunately, it seemed that Kathoom, bound by some kind of pact, had to fulfill Bruce’s one wish before he could truly be free.
Ten-year-old Bruce’s mind raced with ideas.
He had to seize this opportunity to make a wish that would not only keep Kathoom’s power contained but also help him in saving Gotham.
Finally, he had it.
“I want to change Gotham—in my own way!”
Bruce declared, “And until my mission is complete, you will serve as my ally, providing any assistance I need!”
“What a clever little human.” The owl sneered. “Adding so many conditions, holding onto your right to reject me at any moment.”
Bruce gripped his father’s revolver tightly. “But that’s my wish!”
Kathoom fell silent for a moment.
The atmosphere grew tense, and Bruce could practically hear his own heartbeat.
Finally, Kathoom nodded.
“Fine. I accept. I’ll stay by your side until your mission is complete, but—”
The owl suddenly spread its wings, a fierce gust sweeping toward Bruce, forcing him to shield his eyes.
“Not as your assistant, but as your godfather!”
A godfather demon!
“This is my final concession. If you can’t agree to this, you forfeit your wish entirely!”
“I… I won’t object.”
Shielding his eyes, young Bruce made a reluctant compromise.
He cared little about the moral implications of accepting an ‘honorary godfather.’ After all, it was just Kathoom’s claim; he didn’t have to truly acknowledge it.
It was a sacrifice for Gotham’s sake.
The wind gradually died down.
Kathoom stood atop the statue, wings folded, his gaze deep and penetrating. “Our pact is sealed. From this day on, I’ll help you grow strong, until you change Gotham.”
“For now, you may go home.”
Bruce, still shaken, hadn’t expected things to be resolved so swiftly.
“What about you?”
“By the time you’re back, you’ll find that I’m everywhere.”
Bruce hesitated to leave, still filled with doubts about this so-called demon.
Kathoom replied calmly, “If I wanted to leave, you couldn’t stop me. Since we’ll be working together for years, I deserve a bit of respect. Like trust.”
These words swayed Bruce, and at last, he left.
The vast cavern gradually grew silent.
Suddenly, the tension in Kathoom’s posture released entirely.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
“That kid’s tough to fool, but thankfully, he’s only ten!”
Gone was the aura of a commanding demon king who held all the power.
In truth, Kathoom was no demon at all.
He was just an ordinary person who, by sheer chance, found himself reincarnated as an owl with the ability to travel between worlds.
Other than a few parlor tricks, he had no real powers.
Even his dimensional travel required Batman’s presence to activate.
Because his own strength was tied to Batman’s.
As Batman grew stronger, so did he!
Bruce believed he’d bound Kathoom to his side, oblivious that Kathoom had no intention of leaving in the first place.
Reflecting on his earlier performance, Kathoom found it satisfactory.
But the real challenge was only just beginning.
“Under no circumstances can Batman find out… I’m a fraud!”
—
T/N: I can dig the story so far I like mentor disciple stories!
Anyway most people are probably put off by the name, but I’m not changing it just like with Xia Luo!
I like names with a bit of character anyways!
Here’s how you pronounce his name! Kay-Thum or if you want the fun way Cat-Tomb!
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