2
Chapter 2
An hour has passed.
In that hour, I couldn't take down two goblins at once.
They kept splitting up and flanking me from both sides.
They play so damn dirty.
I wish I could call for a jungler.
I managed to kill one once, but that was my last attempt.
Since the hour I'd paid for was up, I decided to come back and try again later.
I'll try using a different weapon next time.
I was pretty hungry, probably because so much time had passed and I'd been moving around.
I headed into the training room's showers.
"They even have showers. This place is great."
I took a quick shower, simulating in my head how I'd handle the fight next time.
"I'll win next time. You two goblins."
I noticed on my way in that the second floor was a food court and there was a convenience store on the first.
I decided to order some spicy pork from the second floor.
I can't pass up spicy pork, even in another world.
There were plenty of options—Japanese, Western, Korean, Chinese—but spicy pork is a must.
I'll have pork cutlets next time.
"The sun's starting to set. Time to head home."
I stepped outside the building.
Meow—
What the?
Meooow—
"Why is this stray still here?"
Meow—
"Aren't you hungry?"
Meow—
Is that a yes or a no?
I went back inside, bought a crab stick at the convenience store, and came back out.
"Here, eat this."
I tore open the packaging and held the crab stick out to the cat.
Meoooow—
The cat rubbed its body against my leg.
I started feeling bad for leaving it outside for over an hour.
"Is it that good?"
Come to think of it, maybe there are people with the ability to understand cats?
Not that it seems like a particularly useful skill.
Or maybe...?
I raised my index and middle fingers of my other hand, pressed them to the space between my brows, and frowned.
Meow—
I still have no idea what it's saying, but I feel like it's looking at me with pity.
"What am I even doing?"
I sighed, and while I was fooling around, the cat had already finished the crab stick.
"Whoa, it ate that fast. Honestly, I thought it wouldn't finish it all."
Meow—
"What are you talking about? I still can't understand you."
I turned and started walking away.
The cat followed me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I couldn't help but think it was cute.
"Is this what they call being 'chosen' by a cat?"
Before I knew it, the cat and I had walked all the way home together.
I opened the door and looked inside to see a cold, empty house.
Whenever I come back from going out, there's never anyone there.
But it didn't feel that strange.
It wasn't much different before I came to this world.
If there was any difference, it was that crazy bitch occasionally breaking into my house.
That won't happen anymore.
"Ah, I have a bad personality, so it'll be hard to make friends."
The thought of having to make friends again makes the future feel a bit more bleak.
Not that I have any intention of changing my personality.
Meow—
A meow breaks my train of thought.
"What, you want me to keep you?"
Meow—
"I still have no idea what you're saying. There are plenty of people I can't get through to; imagine how it is with animals."
I stepped inside.
The cat followed me in.
"Wait a second, you can't just roam around in here."
I picked the little guy up.
"First, I need to give you a bath."
Since it lived outside, it must be crawling with all sorts of germs and bacteria.
"I should take you to the vet, too."
Meoooow
Miyaaaak
Kyahhhhh
And so, I heard the sounds of the cat becoming clean.
"Hey, I'm doing this for your own good."
Now all that's left is the vet visit.
***
A new morning arrives.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
No, an unfamiliar cat is on my head.
"Hey, get off."
The vet said it was healthy when I took it yesterday.
"This little brat, just a second..."
I guess I need to give it a name now.
I can't exactly name it 'Brat'.
"A name, huh."
A name I've been thinking about a lot lately came to mind.
"Lunasia... from now on, your name is Luna."
Meow—
Seems like it likes it.
Actually, I don't know if it does, but I feel like it does, so it does.
I can't exactly name it 'Dumbo' or 'Shitty Cat'.
If it were green, I would've called it Kel... and if it were black, Kya...
I'm raising the first main boss of this novel as a pet!
"Luna, stay home. I have to go to orientation."
Meow—
What was that? I felt like it just asked why.
Stay safe! I'm off!
But come to think of it, I haven't checked which department I'm in yet.
I pulled out my student ID.
There's a photo on my ID that I never even took.
"Spirit Department, huh."
It's not exactly a prestigious place.
Call it a gathering spot for the talentless.
If you have a talent for weapons, you go to a combat-specialized department; if you have a talent for magic, you go to the department corresponding to your magic type.
While some students come here after contracting with a spirit, most have no particular talent or special traits and weren't blessed with powerful abilities via their stigma; it's basically a place where anyone with a stigma is dumped under the pretext that they might be able to contract with a spirit.
It's not that there are no main characters in the Spirit Department.
One of them contracted with a spirit called Laevateinn; considering how insanely strong they are, it's not like the ceiling for growth is low.
In fact, as the story progresses, it's revealed that one can contract things other than spirits via the stigma, making it a place with more aspiring villains than most.
"I have no intention of becoming a villain, but if push comes to shove, I might have to contract something else."
If I'm careful and pick the right one, it might actually be useful.
Also, one of the professors in the Spirit Department is said to be a top-tier powerhouse in this world. They didn't have much screen time, but I've seen their face in the illustrations.
Their skill was mentioned frequently, but since I transmigrated right as their role was becoming significant, I wish I'd read a bit more.
The professor and the contractor of Laevateinn.
Outside of those two, very few people in the Spirit Department even have their names mentioned.
"Excuse me, could I ask for directions?"
Suddenly, someone spoke to me from behind.
It was a bright, pleasant, and melodious voice.
"Yes?"
I turned around to see who it was, and I was left completely speechless.
Why is the protagonist appearing here?
"Oh dear, have I stolen another heart? How troublesome."
"Who the hell stole a heart? You lunatic."
A woman with golden hair reflecting the sunlight and purple eyes like embedded amethysts.
The protagonist, Estella.
A superhuman who would later be called a Hero, possessing an insane growth rate that would put her among the world's strongest by the mid-story.
"Ah. Your inner thoughts leaked."
"Since when do inner thoughts actually come out of your mouth?"
"People are diverse, aren't they? Some people are just like this."
"And is it really okay to swear at someone you've just met?"
"You've been talking down to me from the start. I'll do the same."
"It's the American style. Respect the diversity."
"This is my diversity; why aren't you respecting it?"
Hearing that, she paused for a moment in thought.
"Is that so?"
"'Is that so' my foot. We're both just rude."
"But I'm pretty. It's okay for cute girls to be like this. You were speechless because I'm beautiful, weren't you?"
"That's just narcissism. Besides, you're a celebrity, so of course I'd be surprised to see you."
Since she's introduced as a genius right from the beginning.
"Estella. The genius of swordsmanship. A guaranteed talent born with a stigma. They hype you up so much in the news that it's harder to find someone who doesn't know you."
"Wow, someone who knows all that calls me a lunatic the moment we meet? Aren't you the crazy one?"
"Hmm... I won't deny it."
I guess I was ruder than intended because of the inner familiarity I felt.
She reminded me of a friend of mine.
"Then it's an honor to meet you, Master Genius."
"Your tone doesn't sound honored at all."
"Oops, you caught me."
She switched her phone to selfie mode and looked at herself.
"Strange. I'm definitely crush-worthy. Do you happen to like men?"
"Want to die?"
"Could you even do it?"
"I can't."
She's the future strongest in the world and easily the top student—probably rank one—among the freshmen. How could I possibly win?
"Pfft."
God, she's draining my energy.
"So why are you asking for directions?"
"There's somewhere I want to go."
"No, that's not what I meant—"
Seeing me sigh deeply, Estella giggled as if she found it amusing.
"Fine, where is it that you want to go?"
"The Academy."
Since the original story started around the entrance ceremony, I didn't know if they had orientations.
"I'm heading there too. Want to come along?"
"Sure. It sounds like fun."
She and I walked together, chatting about this and that—though it was mostly her draining my energy—until we reached the front of the Academy.
As soon as we arrived, Estella spoke up.
"You're a freshman too, right?"
"Yeah."
"Which department are you in?"
I pulled my student ID from my pocket and held it out to her.
"Spirit Department, huh? Oh, that's the one where you contract with spirits, right? Which one did you contract with?"
"None. I'm just one of the talentless rejects."
"Aww, cutie, self-deprecation isn't good for you."
"I don't know, it's the truth. Aside from a few, it's mostly just a bunch of misfits. A gathering of the untalented. Not that I plan on staying that way, though."
"Hmm, you seem less bothered by it than I thought."
"Well, I didn't know I'd end up here, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to drift wherever the current takes me."
"Ah~ so you're a late-bloomer case. Usually, it develops gradually over a few months or even two to three years."
"Something like that. It was definitely sudden and unexpected."
Getting pushed off a railing by a lunatic and waking up in another world with a stigma is something no one could have predicted.
"Hmm~ since we've met by chance and there's still time before orientation... want me to give you some pointers?"
An unexpected gain from an unexpected meeting.
I had no reason to refuse.
While it wasn't a legendary encounter, it was certainly a lucky break. So, naturally, I nodded.
"My my, were you planning this from the start? You answered awfully fast."
"I wasn't planning it. But I'm not an idiot who'd pass up an opportunity when it comes along."
"Fair enough. Follow me; I know where the indoor training hall is."
"Alright."
And so, Estella and I headed toward the training hall.
And I got absolutely wrecked.
"You crazy bitch, you said you'd go easy on me!"
"I did! If I hadn't, you'd be so injured you wouldn't even be able to move."
"That's not what I meant, you brat! In this context, 'helping' means teaching me the proper stance and giving me tips!"
"The way you refuse to lose a single argument... it seems you're in dire need of education. Hehehe."
"Education my ass!"
She lunged at me again. At first, she had a sword, but now she was using her bare hands.
"First of all, your grip is all wrong. If you swing it like that, you're going to wreck your wrist."
"But do you really need to beat me into the ground like this?"
I glared up at Estella while sprawled out on the floor.
"This is where you and I stand."
"I'm done talking to you."
"You're slow to realize. Stop talking and let your sword do the speaking!"
"Actually insane."
"They say there's a thin line between genius and madness."
I didn't give up and tried a few more times, but the result was the same: I got absolutely destroyed.
Forget landing a hit; my sword wouldn't even touch her unless she intentionally slapped the side of the blade down.
"So, what's the verdict?"
I asked Estella while sitting on the training hall floor.
"Hmm... well... do you want the kind version or the harsh version?"
"The kind one."
"There are many different weapons in the world. The sword is harder to use than you'd think, so don't be too discouraged. It might be best to find your own path and move forward. Lee Seo-ha, don't give up and keep searching for your way."
"How do you know my name?"
"You showed me your student ID. I didn't hit you in the head."
"I know."
I just wanted to change the subject.