Chapter 22

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 22

Chapter Title: Kitty

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Kitty

Late in the afternoon, I opened my eyes.

The sunlight was already tinged orange.

My body felt heavy as lead, but my mind was crystal clear and refreshed. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I glanced to the side.

Tikhe was leaning against the bed headboard.

She was clutching my phone, her thumbs flying across the screen so fast they blurred. Her expression was deadly serious.

"...What are you doing?"

My voice was thick with sleep.

Tikhe jumped in shock and shoved the phone under the covers.

"Eek?! Oh, uh. When did you wake up, honey?"

"Just now."

Yawning, I nodded toward the bulging spot under the blanket.

"What were you doing on my phone?"

"Uh, just turned off the alarm for you. You were sleeping so soundly."

"I didn't set an alarm."

"...".

Her eyes darted around, lost.

I silently held out my hand.

"Hand it over."

"No, really, it was nothing! Honey, checking your phone right after waking up is bad for your eyes."

"Tch."

Narrowing my eyes, she pouted and reluctantly passed it over.

I turned on the screen.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

"...What the hell is this?"

"Those idiots are talking crap! You busted your ass to clear it, and they're calling it hacks and shit, so I got pissed..."

Tikhe huffed indignantly.

"I almost cursed them with bad luck but held back. I did good, right?"

"You did great."

I chuckled and scrolled down.

It was all about me. Speculation on Blanc's identity, bug theories, even alien theories.

Total chaos.

The board was a total mess. Guesses on who Blanc was, bug theories, hack accusations, even aliens.

The ripple from 210k points is bigger than I thought.

But the funny part?

Every post badmouthing me had Tikhe jumping in to fight back—and her escalation was legendary.

In just two hours, the goddess had fully localized herself into the community.

But I couldn't just laugh it off.

Breaking news: All three major guilds had set up surveillance teams at the capital's Tower entrance.

Rumors said the government was cooperating too.

My brow furrowed. The net would only tighten as time passed.

What the hell did they want with me anyway? Why were they so desperate? I was exhausted.

Gotta lay low for a while.

My head throbbed.

Then, something soft pressed against my waist.

It was Little One. Nuzzling into my stomach.

"Oh, you're up? Good job last night."

Petting its head, it looked up at me with droopy eyes.

It weakly raised a thumb in approval.

The little guy wriggled on my belly, then started acting extra cutesy—way more than usual.

Rubbing its face on my chest, clutching my clothes, shooting me those sparkling eyes that were almost overwhelming.

"W-What's up? You want something?"

As I asked annoyedly, Tikhe scooped Little One up from the side.

"Aww, is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠our Little One bored? Come here, sis'll play with you."

Little One squirmed out of Tikhe's arms and toddled back to hug me.

"...".

As Tikhe made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a hurt face, it burrowed into my chest with a whine.

"What? If you want something, just say... oh, right, you can't talk."

Frustrated, Little One pointed its tiny hand at my bag in the corner.

Specifically, the one with the Abyssal Mana Stone.

"Oh."

Tikhe's eyes went wide.

"What's this now? It wants that?"

Little One rummaged in the bag, dragged out the pouch with the Abyssal Mana Stone, and pulled it right to me.

Super excited, it stomped in place and tugged my pant leg.

"Ah... this guy eats mana stones. Levels up when it does."

Tikhe gaped in disbelief.

"What? Seriously?"

"Yeah? Don't all summons do this? Like feeding pets?"

"You're insane? Why would summons eat mana stones! They level up from combat EXP."

"...Huh? Really?"

That's when I realized something was off.

But Little One was now screeching, yanking my pants harder.

"Okay, okay. Here, I'll give you some. Hold on."

As I untied the pouch, Tikhe grabbed my arm in panic.

"You're really gonna give it? Honey, that's an Abyssal Mana Stone! Not some regular one!"

"What's it matter? Can't use it right now anyway."

"How not?! That's super rare!"

Tikhe smacked her chest in frustration.

True, but all I heard was Little One's cries.

"Usually essential for top-grade weapons or armor.

Abyssal gear is ultra-rare— and you're giving it as a snack?"

"Yeah? But can't use it now. Can't even refine it—what good's holding it?"

"...Fair. Refining Abyssal stones needs at least a divine-level blacksmith."

"So no use for it yet. Might as well feed the kid. It levels up fine."

"Still...!"

As Tikhe tried to stop me—

Little One climbed my shoulder, grabbed my face, and smashed kisses on me.

Mwah, mwah, smoooch!

"...!"

Tiny hands cupping my cheeks in a kiss barrage. My mind went blank.

Ultimate move.

"...Let's feed it first."

"Haa..."

Tikhe sighed deeply at the sight.

"Fine, how can you say no when it's that desperate. Geez."

Tikhe was weak to Little One too.

With "permission" granted, I pulled out a glowing red Abyssal Mana Stone.

Little One knelt neatly on the bed like it was waiting.

Eyes squeezed shut, mouth wide like a baby bird.

Ahh~

I went to pop the stone in, but paused.

The stone was bigger than its tiny mouth.

Handing it over instead, Little One cradled it preciously and shoved it in.

Crunch!

"...?"

Crack, munch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠munch.

"Whoa..."

Tikhe watching from the side couldn't close her mouth.

"Chewing that hard stone like candy...?"

Crunch, gulp.

As it went down, dazzling light burst from its body.

Amazed itself, it flipped its hands and feet, mouth agape.

Light filled the room.

"Gah! What's happening?!"

I shielded my eyes and yelled. Tikhe's calm voice came from beside me.

"Oho, looks like it's evolving?"

"Evolving?"

"Yeah. Some summons change form and power up when conditions are met. Called evolution."

Evolution? That word sparked a familiar memory.

"Whoa...! That's totally like Poké...!"

Baaaam—!

Before I finished, the intense light vanished like a lie.

What would it look like? Shed the kid phase for a grown lady?

Opening my eyes expectantly.

"...Huh?"

It was the same.

Still tiny with white silver hair.

Except one thing.

White fluffy beast ears poking from the silver hair.

A long tail swishing behind its butt.

"...A cat?"

Beast ears and tail on a person?

The little one seemed fascinated by its changes.

Chasing its rogue tail by spinning in circles.

Exhausted, it plopped down, then poked the ears on its head and grinned wide.

"...".

Cuteness level x10.

Not the growth I hoped for, but what can you do.

Had to admit, it was disgustingly adorable now.

To check specifics, I pulled up its status window.

"Ooh..."

Clear gains.

Elemental Magic hit Lv.3—what skills would it unlock? Exciting.

Telekinesis could lift heavier stuff now too.

As I smiled at the status, Tikhe sneaked up behind and peeked.

"What is this thing? Race ??? what?"

"No idea. It's been like that since the start."

Tikhe looked exasperated but couldn't stop staring at Little One's twitching cat ears.

"Whatever. Cute is all that matters!"

She couldn't hold back and hugged it tight, rubbing cheeks furiously.

Little One wheezed for help, but I just grinned and ignored it.

"Wait, come to think of it..."

I eyed the wriggling tail in Tikhe's arms and muttered.

"Little One... cat... Kitty?"

"...Huh?"

Tikhe froze at my mumble.

She blinked wide, rolling the word around.

"Little One, cat, Kitty... Kitty?!"

Tikhe's face lit up.

"Genius! Rolls right off the tongue! Sense! Kitty! Our Kitty!"

Now chanting "Kitty," she rubbed even harder.

...?

The little one had no clue it was its name. Just happy we were laughing, beaming back.

Flick flick.

White cat ears perked, tail swished happily.

The perfect "Kitty."