Chapter 44

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Mayor and Accumulation

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After the day's commotion ended, I returned to my sanctuary, my haven, my penthouse.

The only things welcoming me back from the battlefield known as City Hall were silence and stillness, along with a king-size mattress.

Mmm. The feel of Egyptian cotton 1200-thread-count sheets.

This moment, where the day's fatigue melts away, is truly the greatest luxury a humble citizen like me can enjoy.

Of course, I'm no longer just a humble citizen—I'm Lee Garam, mayor of Neo Incheon.

But so what? Whether the penthouse owner is a mayor or a regular guy, the comfort of this bed doesn't change.

Roll roll.

I rolled over once and picked up my smartphone.

Alright, time to check today's report card.

I opened the SNS app.

The timeline was filled with talk about me today, as always.

Fur angels? Giving those cotton-candy puffballs that shed everywhere such a bizarre nickname.

The rose-tinted glasses humans wear are truly terrifying.

They're even shamelessly suggesting trading their own country's S-Rank Hero for cats across the sea.

The important thing is that my plan has once again—very successfully, perfectly—failed.

Even the heroes have joined this festival.

Verification videos are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠popping up of them relieving stress from battles with villains or monsters by petting cats.

Polaris. Hanasia. A fresh V-Log uploaded to her official channel.

In the thumbnail, she was buried under dozens of cats of all shapes and sizes.

The cats had occupied her lap and shoulders, even her head, purring in chorus while kneading her chest with their paws. She looked just like a shrine maiden offered up to the cat goddess.

Surrounded by cats of every variety, Hanasia beamed with uncontainable joy.

"Everyone, this place is the best! Look at these kids! Aren't they all so adorable? Our mayor does such a great job, doesn't he? I'm so happy to be a Neo Incheon citizen!"

No.

No, it's not.

Hanasia, don't do this.

Aren't you the embodiment of justice who rose from the hardships of D-Rank?

You're supposed to monitor and judge corrupt mayors, so why are you praising me!

You should smite this tax-wasting madman with your starlight!

Next target. Sugar Girl.

Her SNS had one photo posted.

A shot of her going to Catopia's cafe to teach dessert recipes, only to be swarmed by dozens of cats licking her all over.

Her expression wasn't terrified, nor delighted—it was pure resignation, a state of enlightenment.

Haa. Another success. A perfect success again.

I've made everyone happy once more. For me, who craves failure, success is a curse.

I tossed my smartphone to the other side of the bed and stretched both arms toward the ceiling.

Aah, what cruel twist of fate is this? Why can't I ever fail?

"Another success...!"

Why is this damn world so generous to me?

This absurd system where everything I do ends in success.

"Why! Why does my failure always turn into success!"

It's hopeless. Truly.

What kind of curse is this? Have I been hated by the god of failure?

...I put on a show of despair.

Heh.

Hehehe.

A sly, wicked smile crept onto my lips.

Hahat. Kuhahaha!

The old me would have spammed "Huh? Why?" in genuine panic.

But not this time.

This project isn't success disguised as failure—it's success disguised as success.

No, it's the foundation for an even greater failure disguised as success.

Everything is part of my grand plan.

Yes. The Nekonomics Project.

Phase 1: Eliminate negative public opinion by crushing the Cat Mom Alliance.

Phase 2: Maximize positive public opinion by building Catopia.

Up to here, it's just standard political theater anyone could think of.

But my plan doesn't end there. The real core starts now.

Nekonomics Phase 3.

'Sowing the seeds of division and hatred.'

This is the true heart of Nekonomics Project Phase 3.

I picked up my smartphone again. Logged into Hero Gallery. The chaotic cauldron bubbling with anonymous madness.

As expected. Just as I predicted.

Behold. This beautiful discord.

Cat lovers, or those without strong opinions, will welcome this policy. With the headache-inducing cat moms gone, it's all praise.

But the world isn't made only of cat enthusiasts.

There are cat haters, dog lovers over cats, and even weirdos calling gene-modded pigeons "city friends."

They're steadily, diligently building up their hatred toward me.

'No discrimination.'

'Don't waste taxes.'

'Why cats of all things?'

Of course, for now, the overwhelming praise for Catopia keeps these complaints submerged.

Approval ratings might even rise.

But.

How fleeting is human praise. How quickly it fades, how easily forgotten.

Those calling me the 'god of cats' today might curse me as a tax thief tomorrow—who's to say?

Hatred is different.

It doesn't fade easily. It doesn't get forgotten.

It settles like sediment in the heart, accumulating steadily like mileage points.

Politics is said to be the art of not making enemies.

I'm shattering that taboo head-on.

I'm cultivating enemies with my own hands, collecting hatred.

Right now, it's just faint sparks.

But when these small grievances pile up into a bonfire, and I make one decisive mistake... what happens?

Chain reaction. An uncontrollable blaze that burns everything I have.

Kukuku. What a grand, meticulous plan. I admired my own genius.

Then.

Nyaong-

Nero, curled up at the foot of the bed, was staring right at me.

Those deep eyes seemed to say, "You pathetic human."

Just my imagination. What does a cat know?

"Nero. Bedtime now. Turn off the lights."

Of course, it was a joke.

Nyaah.

But Nero let out a low meow, and...

Click-

Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness.

Huh?

Wait.

How'd it turn off?

The switch in my place is pretty high up. No way a cat could jump that high.

...Eh, I'm tired. No deep thoughts. Sleepiness hit.

As expected of genius cat Nero. Nothing she can't do. Truly the cat I chose.

I slipped under the covers with a satisfied smile.

The next day.

Today too, I, Neo Incheon Mayor Lee Garam, am fulfilling my sacred duty.

Salary Lupin.

Sunk deep into the sofa in my office, I fiddled with my smartphone screen.

Urgent issues? Mountains of documents to sign? I can put off those trivialities until my capable subordinate—no, my watcher—Seria glares and threatens me.

I have a different main job.

Using the mayor's authority to bankrupt the city's finances, incite citizens' rage, and get gloriously impeached.

Information gathering for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that grand goal—internet surfing—is the mayor's most vital duty.

And now, my fingers were performing a very important task.

@King_NERO.

The official Nyanstagram account for my cat, Emperor Nero, which I personally created and run.

The original purpose was to use Nero's cuteness as a shield to build the image of a "stupid mayor obsessed with cats and wasting taxes."

But.

Huh?

I rubbed my eyes. Checked again. Counted the numbers one by one.

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... hundred thousand.

One million.

Followers. It's over 1,000,000.

"What!"

A yelp escaped me involuntarily.

"She has more followers than me!"

My official account barely scrapes 500k. And one cat breaks a million?

What kind of nonsense is this?

Scrolling down revealed an even more absurd sight. Nero's photos and videos had transcended mere cat pics, becoming a cultural phenomenon, a meme sweeping the internet.

Companies even proposed it as an emoji for badmouthing bosses.

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that wasn't all.

The media unanimously praised me.

Politicians often use pets, but no one's successfully revamped an entire city's image like this.

I slowly raised my head.

Glared at the culprit perched haughtily on the finest cashmere cushion on my desk.

"You."

Nero paused mid-lick and looked at me.

"You're boosting my approval ratings!"

My plan was to anger the citizens, not explode with support like this.

If cat lovers keep multiplying, my "sowing division and hatred" op could shake at the roots.

"Can't help your master, but blocking my path instead! You ungrateful cat!"

Reprimand glare!!!

But Nero didn't flinch at my furious shout.

Myaa?

She yawned instead and resumed licking her paw.

Perfect ignore. Perfect indifference. Attitude of "What'd I do?"

That arrogance! That haughtiness!

Who'd she learn it from? Seria maybe??

Well, what sin does Nero have? Just born too cute and smart.

She's now the emperor of Catopia.

At first wary of the new place, now she struts like it's her master bedroom, bossing all cats as the alpha.

In staff report videos, Nero monopolized the giant cat wheel, patrolled checking if others ate their kibble properly.

Best spots always hers, tastiest treats served first.

Cat dictator. Tiny tyrant.

But.

Watching Nero's videos, my brow furrowed slightly.

Something's off.

Hm?

Definitely the same cat.

But Nero from a week ago and now looked... different somehow.

Bigger frame...?

No, not just fat. The whole skeleton seems stretched.

Especially those front and back legs. Unnaturally long when extended.

Cats are liquids, but this crosses into physical growth territory.

"Imagination? Well, thriving at Catopia with good food, bound to gain some weight. Needs exercise."