Chapter 63

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 63

Chapter Title: 【Meow Meow】

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"I... I can't hold on anymore."

"Hunter Shin Ji-ui, snap out of it!"

In the end, my legs gave out. The moment I collapsed onto the dirt floor, I felt the weight of the monster climbing on top of me, and at the same time, a shiver ran through my entire body as its fur bristled against me. It strode up from my legs with dignified steps, soon pressing firmly against my chest, staring at me intently with its huge eyes.

'Ah, I'm seriously going to die.'

The monster gaped its mouth wide open while facing me directly.

Meo~ow!

Seriously... it's so cute I'm going to die.

Twelve hours earlier.

"Everyone, got your passports?"

At my question, everyone pulled out their passports from their bags with solemn expressions. Even the usually chatty Hunter Kim Hyun-wook was dead serious right now, and Hunter Kwak Min-ho's typically languid eyes sparkled with an intensity I'd never seen before.

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠probably amusing to see a bunch of grown hunters huddled together in the middle of the airport—passersby glanced at us curiously, and a few even whispered, "Isn't that Shin Ji-ui over there?" as they recognized me.

'But that's not what's important right now.'

Today's raid dungeon for the 'Miracle' Clan was none other than the C-Rank Cat Dungeon on Aoshima Island, Japan's famous cat island. From the regular monsters to the mid-boss and even the final boss—they were all cats.

A lot of hunters thought of it as a tourist spot, but in reality, it was more like a dungeon for growing summons.

'Guess that's what happens when your companions get too obsessed with cats and spark explosive jealousy in your summons.'

"Thanks to Hunter Shin Ji-ui, we got the entry tickets! How did you know that exact time slot would be open?"

"Haha, heard it from somewhere."

This was another piece of info I'd picked up thanks to my regression. I just shrugged it off vaguely, and Hunter Kim Hyun-wook didn't pry further, simply giving me a thumbs-up.

Hoping the skill opens smoothly this time too.

Back to the present.

Meow~

Nyaang. Mrrp.

Meow!

Feels like I've heard every cat sound in my life.

I stroked the tuxedo cat kneading biscuits on my chest and rolled my eyes to scan the surroundings. Hunter Kwak Min-ho was shaking cat toys like he was possessed, while Hunter Kim Hyun-wook was busy feeding treats to the cats.

'No matter how many times I come to this dungeon, my heart can't take it.'

"Kids these days really love cats, huh."

"Hahaha! You got that right!"

Hunter Kim Min-sook watched us with interest, arms crossed, while Hunter Song Yoon nodded in agreement, playing with a kitten in one hand.

'To not even flinch at these adorable creatures—is that what adult composure looks like?'

"Alright, let's summon our summons and start the real raid."

Hunter Kim Min-sook called everyone to attention and was the first to summon Doo-shim.

Myaa~

I finally snapped out of my cuteness-induced daze and sat up. The tuxedo cat on me hopped off with a bunch of annoyed meows but immediately started grooming itself nonchalantly.

'Time to summon Nokdu.'

"Phew... Nokdu?"

Thump.

"Huh? Wha?"

The moment I called Nokdu's name, a lime-green light slammed into the cat at ferocious speed.

Myaa!

The cat tumbled backward, letting out an adorable screech before vanishing in a puff of paw-print smoke.

"N-Nokdu?!"

Kyaang?

Nokdu shook off the light and finally looked at me, eyes gleaming.

Myaaong!

Woof! Woof!

Bam-bam-boom!

And it didn't stop there. Nokdu body-slammed and paw-swatted every cat circling me, scattering paw-print smoke everywhere. I was too stunned by the sudden chaos to speak, just staring at Nokdu's majestic back as it stood proudly in front of me.

'This is what happens when you mess with my sister!!'

Nokdu bellowed fiercely, its spine rippling slowly with each heavy breath.

Awoo~ Kyaang!

Then, it whipped its head toward me and wagged its tail happily.

'Is this the same guy?'

The earlier ferocity gone, Nokdu rolled on the ground belly-up toward me. I scratched its suddenly super-affectionate self vigorously, and it purred low in satisfaction.

'Everyone else dealing with the same thing?'

I straightened up and turned toward Hunters Kwak Min-ho and Kim Hyun-wook.

Pssshhh~

'Ah, that smoke...'

Black smoke seeped from Rose, who was only the size of a hand, and the cats that inhaled it tore into each other's throats before crumbling to dust.

'Don't pull that crap on my bro. Fuck, if you don't wanna die...'

Rose glared with glowing red eyes, wrinkling its face and growling grotesquely to vent its feelings.

"Same situation over there."

"Yeah..."

As Hunter Kim Min-sook smiled and watched, a yellow cheese cat rubbed its head against his leg.

Whoooosh~

"Aigoo, Doo-shim."

Doo-shim, who had been flying around haughtily, got impatient and gaped its mouth to unleash a blade of wind at the cat monster.

"Ack, Ho-yang!"

Kuwaaang!

This time, Hunter Kim Hyun-wook's Ho-yang went blind with jealousy. It pounced at the cats, and those that couldn't dodge its hefty body vanished in puffs of smoke.

Ho-yang shot Hunter Kim Hyun-wook a cheeky grin like nothing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠happened.

'No mercy even to fellow felines.'

"Th-then, shall we move on?"

"Yeeeah..."

Hunter Kwak Min-ho pouted reluctantly as he turned away. Rose in his arms was still fuming, puffing from its mouth in a huff.

Awoong?

"What's up, Nokdu?"

Awoo~!

As we headed toward the gate, Nokdu suddenly let out a long howl and halted abruptly.

Rumble.

The ground shook, and the clear sky darkened in an instant.

'Oh right, there was a mid-boss.'

We all stood ready with our summons and watched.

The overcast sky boomed like it was about to collapse.

Kaboom!

A flash lit up as lightning struck from the heavens. A bright yellow orb pulsed with light, kicking up a sandstorm upon hitting the ground.

'What kind of cat was it again...'

As I slowly recalled, the sand cleared, revealing the creature.

Myaa.

"Waaah!!"

A kitten?! Not just any cat—a baby kitten?!

It was no bigger than my hand, a terrifyingly cute little thing with fluffy yellow fur like rice cakes. Hearing Hunter Kim Hyun-wook's scream, its tail poofed up, and it shot straight into the sky.

"Ah! It's running!"

"Doo-shim, go!"

The kitten zipped into the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bushes at light speed, with Doo-shim hot on its tail.

"Argh! I didn't get a photo!"

"It's fine, I got it!"

"Hunter Kwak Min-ho... you have to share later, okay?"

Hunter Kwak Min-ho nodded solemnly, and Hunter Kim Hyun-wook bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

'But really, where'd it go?'

Doo-shim scanned from the air, while Nokdu and Ho-yang rummaged the bushes, but no trace of the kitten.

"Hunter Shin Ji-ui!"

"Yes?"

Hunters Kwak Min-ho and Kim Hyun-wook stared wide-eyed at my feet.

"Wh-what is it?"

Following their gazes downward, I saw a yellow rice-cake-like blob on my shoe.

Meow.

"Gasp...!"

A~woo!

Kaboom!

The moment I inhaled, a white beam engulfed the kitten, and the cute furball vanished.

'Wait, that attack?'

Stunned, I turned to the source—a snarling, fang-baring Nokdu glaring threateningly.

'...Wasn't this 'Flashlight'?'

In the previous timeline, this was the attack skill Nokdu unlocked after maturing. The name was different from what I remembered, but anyway—an attack skill had finally opened.

Just like before, 'Wolf's Companion' had progressed.

At this rate, Nokdu reaching adulthood might happen before I recover all my memories.

"Ooh! A new skill unlocked?"

"Ah, yeah! Didn't expect it so suddenly."

"Wahaha! Nokdu's quite the jealous type, huh, Hunter Shin Ji-ui!"

Hunter Song Yoon laughed heartily while scratching the chin of Duk-bae on his shoulder.

Kiiing, kyak!

Nokdu nudged my leg with its thicker front paws, acting all spoiled for cuddles.

"Up you go."

I lifted Nokdu into my arms and checked its status window again to confirm the skill.

[S-Rank Attack Skill 'Sister is Mine!']

[Creates light with howls to attack enemies. Can target anyone except companion.]

'But the name... it's kinda weird?'

Ego muttered in disbelief too.

'Who cares about the name—as long as it's an attack skill, that's what matters.'

'True enough.'

I closed the status window and looked down at Nokdu. It lolled its tongue, enjoying my pets, purring deeply from its chest.

"Alright, raid cleared!"

"Huh? Already?"

What do you mean cleared? Wasn't that kitten we just caught the mid-boss?

Hunter Kim Min-sook strolled over leisurely, feeding monster meat to Doo-shim.

"Doo-shim found the gate while we were looking for the mid-boss, so we took care of it right away."

"Aw, I wanted to see what it looked like..."

"Haha, it was a massive black cat."

"Ugh, jealous~ I wanna see one too."

The moment I showed disappointment, Nokdu lunged at my face and started licking my lips.

'What are you even saying!'

'Sheesh, got it. Calm down, you fuzzball.'

I pried Nokdu off my face and set it down. The jealous furball scratched its neck with its hind paw, acting all chill.

Nokdu's movement skill 'Aerial Leap', attack skill 'Sister is Mine!'. All that's left is the defense skill.

I don't remember the name exactly, but it was a shield emitter, I think?

Bzzz~

Then my work phone in my inventory buzzed.

Probably dispatch duty call.

I pulled out the phone and logged into HunterNet. Sure enough, the notification was blinking.

"...Huh?"

Not dispatch—it was a HunterNet messenger alert. And the sender was...

Hunter Choi Min.