The Heavenly Demon's Cat-Ear Maid Penalty Game (3)
To soothe the frustration weighing on my heart, I had eradicated every last blood cult faction lingering near the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Yet no matter how thoroughly I purged them, the humiliating ordeal awaiting me refused to vanish. The burden Enri had dropped into my hands—Let's Become a Heart-Pounding Cat-Ear Maid!—still sat there, untouched and inevitable.
“For now, I suppose this is the end.”
After erasing the final traces of the last blood cult’s energy near the Divine Cult, I settled onto the rubble and slipped my pipe between my lips. Despite the considerable time that had passed since spinning that wheel, the chat window was still buzzing with speculation about the game I would soon be forced to play.
Was that old man’s nonsense truly so fascinating? As a person from another era, I found the thought processes of modern people nearly impossible to comprehend. At this rate, they would chatter about nothing else for days on end. It was fortunate the fire I had lit earlier had died out, but the longer I delayed, the more it felt like an entirely new wave of mockery would surge forth.
Sigh. Yes. The stronger the foe, the more one must step forward to confront it directly. What could possibly change by turning away?
Let me see… it is around eleven at night now.
“Hey, kids. How long does it take to finish that damned maid game?”
Thirty minutes? That was all?
Even so, I found it hard to believe a commercially released game could be finished so quickly. Still, the chat was united in its insistence, and since I knew virtually nothing about the title, I began to accept it as fact.
“Enri.”
Yes!
The reply came the instant I spoke her name. I had suspected she might be watching, but the speed still left me dumbfounded. A chuckle escaped me, carrying a puff of smoke with it.
“What is your opinion on what the viewers are saying?”
The game is short, but not thirty minutes. If you actually try, it’ll probably take around an hour.
“And if one lacks shame?”
...Then you keep going until you succeed?
It seemed one had to continue until success was achieved. Given my lack of familiarity with such mechanics, any number of mistakes would likely stretch the ordeal to a generous two hours.
While gazing at the collapsed ruins, I weighed my options before finally reaching a decision and rising to my feet.
“Then let us finish this quickly.”
It was not excessively late; the audience should be able to watch until the end. And even if they could not, I had MyTube… Wait.
Would playing this game result in a video being uploaded to MyTube? That would mean my shameful history would be permanently preserved. Perhaps I should instruct the editors to discard this footage.
Yet even as the thought crossed my mind, I realized the viewers would spread it regardless. In the modern world, once something escaped into the wild, erasing it was nearly impossible. If countless people were destined to witness it anyway, it would be better for me to upload it myself.
The moment I left the world of Hwaryong Muin, a message window floated before my eyes.
Enri has gifted you a game!
The title she sent was the very one she had recommended. Was this goodwill, or was she deliberately trying to torment me? I was grateful for the payment, yet pushing someone onto the execution platform and then offering consolation money hardly felt like a kind gesture.
While waiting for the game to install, I chewed on the end of my pipe. I could not calm down at all. The virtual pipe lacked both strong aroma and satisfying flavor, which only added to my irritation. I did not expect the intensity of what I had smoked in the old Murim world, but something at least comparable to reality would have been nice—especially in a moment when my mind refused to settle.
Why did time always race forward when I wished it would slow?
Let's Become a Heart-Pounding Cat-Ear Maid! has been installed.
Haa. The world truly is detestable.
I had never once regretted beginning my broadcasts, yet today that feeling surfaced for the first time.
“I appreciate the support money, but the atmosphere at this execution ground feels far too cheerful.”
An execution should be observed with solemn gravity. Not with this noisy teasing at my expense.
The situation had reached a point where nothing short of rewinding time to before the point distribution could save me. With a resigned heart, I launched the game.
A black screen faded, followed by the usual game studio logo. Then a voice far too bright for anyone’s mental health rang out.
“Welcome nyan! You’re the new hire, nyan?!”
The moment the game began, the door before me swung open and the girl I had seen on MyTube bounced out to greet me.
“Nice to meet you nyan! This is Nekoneko Café! A place that delivers dreams and hope to everyone nyan! And I am the owner, Miho nyan!”
“It feels like dreams and hope will vanish the moment I set foot here. Nyan?!”
What is this? Why is my mouth moving on its own? Is this the game’s forced control? The game is manipulating my speech?!
“You have the concept of a noble, ancient cat nyan? It’s so unique and cool nyan!”
“It is not a concept…”
“I already know everything nyan! Now, come inside nyan! Before we open for business, I’ll teach you the basics nyan!”
Dragged along by the relentless girl, I stepped inside. The café interior was surprisingly normal. If one overlooked the excessively bright and cheerful atmosphere, it resembled an ordinary café. The only jarring detail was that every single employee had a pair of cat ears atop their heads. It was impossible not to feel how far removed this place was from reality.
“First, look at the mirror nyan!”
Following her instruction, I turned to the mirror. My reflection was identical to my usual appearance—save for one glaring addition. Sleek black cat ears sat atop my head, and behind me a tail swayed freely, completely beyond my control. The instant I registered them, an entirely new set of sensations flooded my awareness.
The unfamiliar feelings coming from body parts that had never existed before were impossible to enjoy. A warrior like myself maintains perfect control over every sense at all times. The sudden appearance of foreign appendages was nothing short of irritating. I needed to calibrate them immediately.
“Are you okay nyan?”
“Shut your mouth and wait.”
“Understood nyan!”
After silencing the useless chatter coming from the side, I focused on adjusting the new senses. Hmm. I roughly understood how they functioned. The ears seemed useful only for heightened hearing, but the tail was different. This could be utilized quite effectively—like having a short whip attached to my body.
Shall I test it?
The moment the thought formed, I lashed the tail like a whip and struck the floor. The surface shattered, sending fragments flying.
“Eeeek?!”
Hmm. Perhaps that was excessive. Business would begin here soon.
“My apologies.”
“No, it’s perfectly fine nya! Please don’t worry nya! I’ll clean it up, so just keep adjusting in front of the mirror nya!”
The girl’s attitude had become excessively polite. Tilting my head at the sudden change, I returned my gaze to the mirror as instructed. A window promptly appeared beside it.
I had seen this kind of interface before. It allowed one to alter their appearance at will. My current look was acceptable, but… what was this about clothing?
When I touched the arrow, the outfit on my reflection changed—from the black martial robes I normally wore to the maid uniform the girl who had guided me was wearing. Even when viewed on a screen it had seemed excessive, but seeing it on my own body through the mirror made it far worse. Just what were modern people thinking, wearing such garments?
Did I truly have to walk around in this for the entire duration of the game? The urge to finish as quickly as possible surged within me.
“Appreciating the sight is fine, but do not begin worshipping it. And refrain from performing any bizarre rituals toward the frame.”
It was acceptable to admire my appearance, but the moment they started treating it like an object of veneration, it would become troublesome. I let the flood of fawning comments wash over me with one ear.
With that, I suppose I was finished here. The moment I looked away from the mirror, the surrounding windows vanished.
“Are you done nyan?”
“Indeed.”
“Follow me nyan. Today… wait, I still don’t know your name nyan! Please introduce yourself nyan!”
“My name is Hwaryeong.”
“Hwaryeong! What a cool name nyan! I’ll be counting on you nyan!”
I walked past the black cat-eared girl who had fetched a broom and dustpan to clean up the mess I had made and was led by the owner to the counter.
“What Hwaryeong will be doing today is waiter duty nyan! Take customers’ orders, deliver their food, and fulfill any requests they make nyan!”
The explanation itself was ordinary. These were simply the duties expected of any café employee. If this was all, the game would not prove particularly difficult. The menu was not extensive, so there was little chance of confusion.
“But now comes the most important part nyan! I’ll teach you the special service for the masters who visit our café, so listen carefully nyan!”
“Masters?”
“That’s right nyan! The customer is king! They are the masters of us maids nyan! Hwaryeong must address every customer as Master nyan!”
Huh. Master, is it? That would mean the customers become my superiors. In other words, they would become people I must serve.
“U-um, you look reluctant but this can’t be helped nyan! It’s the core identity of this café nyan! I’m begging you, please do it nyaaaa!”
“Understood. Calm yourself.”