episode_0011

011

Cat of Death

All my cells feel tense.

I know beings that initiate conversations like this.

And my last encounter with such a being wasn’t very pleasant.

[Lick. Lick.]

‘Why is it not speaking? Based on its reaction, is it those others the crazy guy talked about?’

I cautiously spoke to it.

“Who are you?”

The other party replies to my question.

[Ah? I am the Messenger of Death!]

“Messenger? Is your alias Messenger of Death?”

[No. I’m a cat.]

What… Confusion is coming.

“Uh… then, Cat of Death? What is the matter?”

[Mmm… Wait a moment, I’ve almost finished eating. I’ll tell you the proposal soon. Lick. Lick.]

I wondered what that sound was, but it seems it was in the middle of eating something.

But aside from that, I have no intention of accepting the proposal. From the last ‘proposal’ I received, I went to the brink of death and came back.

“That… I won’t do it.”

At my words, the cat snaps.

[Y, you rascal! I came to make a good proposal!]

It’s rather me who should snap.

I killed the Vampire Giant so hard, and what it gave me was [Tool Set], wasn’t it?

It’s not worth the trouble at all.

“What are you trying to do again? I won’t! The reward is trash too! I won’t! Go away!”

When I refused strongly, it fell silent.

I’m anxious.

The thought that it might make a scene because I refused the proposal suddenly flashed through my mind.

However, what was outputted and returned was completely unexpected content.

[Ah, no good! The boss said if I fail this time too, he won’t give me snacks for 10 years!]

‘Huh?’

I retraced what the cat was saying once again.

So, the guy came on the orders of someone called the boss. And if the ‘proposal’ to me fails, it won’t receive snacks for 10 years.

What’s more, this guy has failed multiple times until now?

I feel like I can tell why it has repeatedly failed until now without even seeing it.

‘Is it just stupid?’

Suddenly, my tension completely eased.

I think that if it’s a ‘proposal’ made by a guy like this, it might be safe.

“Ahem… Well, in that case, maybe I should hear it out for now? Snacks are important, after all. I can’t judge rashly.”

[That’s right. That’s right. As expected, you’re someone who knows a thing or two!]

But the proposal it said it would tell me was nowhere to be found, and only silence continued to flow.

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and threw out a question.

“Are you there?”

A rushed answer came back.

[Big trouble! I accidentally only brought the Stage 6 Proposal Manual. I’m really in big trouble.]

How did a guy like this end up becoming the Messenger of Death?

I was so dumbfounded that I just stood there.

Bangnae, who had been watching that sight, peeked around and approached.

Then, suddenly, she puffed out her chest and shouted at the cat.

“That turned out unfortunatelyy. Then yourr snack will be taken awayy forr 100 yearrs!”

‘Huh? Why did you come here and fan the flames in a burning house? And it’s 10 years, not 100 years.’

But the effect was tremendous.

[Eh? No way! Then I will die! 100 years! That’s too harsh. Save me!]

It seems the situation is getting more complicated because of her.

I pushed Bangnae’s back.

“Go over there and play with the dogs. Don’t disturb.”

“Bangnae is bored.”

“Alright. Go over there and play. I’m working right now.”

“Ung. Okayy.”

After barely managing to get Bangnae away and returning, the cat was repeating licking and gulping.

It said it was almost finished eating, but it seems it still hasn’t finished.

‘Ah, whatever.’

I decided to just push hard.

Anyway, since the choice for the proposal is mine, it’s advantageous for me to at least hear the proposal out, even if by force.

“Listen, Cat! As a result of in-depth deliberation. We judged that confiscating 10 years’ worth of snacks is too harsh. Therefore, let’s reconstruct the Stage 3 proposal right here. I will help you.”

[Go, good thing! You’re a good Summoner! But I just looked, the Stage 3 manual was crumpled up in the corner of my bag! It’s a good thing!]

‘This cat?’

When I talk to this guy, I feel like the back of my head is throbbing furiously.

Suddenly, I empathize with the one called the boss.

How much must they have suffered to say they would take away 10 years’ worth of snacks?

“Okay… That’s good. Read the proposal.”

[Huh? The contents of the proposal are a secret to the Summoner. If I tell you, I’ll be in big trouble. Ah, I can say this. For each Difficulty +1 in Stage 3, rewards equivalent to 3 tokens are given.]

“What can I get if I collect tokens?”

[Nyaha. What are you talking about? Items via tokens are immediately given randomly within a range. Are you stupid? Weak Summoners cannot survive high difficulty levels if they don’t receive sponsorship in advance. Nyahaha. Stupid, stupid. But since you’re kind, I’ll especially forgive you.]

A different kind of stress than the crazy guy is rising to the top of my head.

‘Anyway… it means advance payment. Then what was the crazy guy? I don’t know. Let’s not think about it.’

“Can I expect a good reward? Honestly, the tool set I received after getting the last proposal was really nothing special.”

[Nyaha? That’s a strange thing to say. The tool set is the reward you get for catching the wild dogs in Stage 2, isn’t it? Putting that aside, have you experienced receiving a proposal before? According to the records, it says you haven’t. Are you… stupid and a liar?]

Suddenly, I hear a sound of laughing, Nyahaha.

[I see! You’re jealous because other Summoners received proposals! So you had delusions that you also received a proposal! Nyahaha, how pathetic, nya. But don’t worry. Isn’t it precisely because you met me? Of course, I came here because I got lost, but thanks to that, your luck has become very good!]

I lost the will to retort.

Now it’s just hard. I wish it would just go away quickly.

“…Then let’s do that.”

[Will you accept the sponsorship of the Cat of Death?]

“Yes…”

[Good! I’ll take special care to look after you! You are very lucky, Summoner!]

A system message is outputted.

[The difficulty of the remaining waves in Stage 3 increases to maximum. Difficulty +12 is applied.]

[Theme: ‘Blooming Death’]

I was standing blankly, then my eyes widened.

“Wai, wait a minute. Wasn’t the difficulty increase rate supposed to be discussed with me? What is 12?”

But there is no reply.

It seems the cat just said what it needed to say and left.

‘Did I mess up?’

At that moment, items rained down from the air.

[Lowest Grade Zombie Enhancement Potion] x 10

[Deep Well Boots]

[Fugitive’s Cloak]

[Entangling Gloves]

[Corn Chestguard]

[Leap] x 5

Consumables, equipment, skills, they poured down without distinction.

What was called a ‘proposal’ was truly worthy of being called a ‘sponsorship’.

I cheered “Hurrah!” three times for the great Cat of Death.

And at the same time, I thought.

‘If this is sponsorship… what the heck was that crazy guy really?’

With eyes full of questions, I looked at the message still floating in the corner.

[System Error Compensation Settlement in Progress]

***

The Cat of Death, having filled its quota in one go, unwrapped a new snack and took a bite.

“Nyahaha, good thing. Good thing.”

Having gotten lost with 5 hours left on the quota deadline, she had accidentally drifted into Stage 3.

Realizing she had entered Stage 3, she despaired.

Among the Summoners who entered this term, those still remaining in Stage 3 are the latecomers among latecomers.

And usually, slow and weak guys like this don’t accept a ‘proposal’ even if you give them one.

“My 10 years’ worth of snacks…!”

The cat peeked at several Summoners in Stage 3, feeling like it was grasping at straws.

But as expected, most had half-given up and had simply set up home in Stage 3.

‘Did I mess up big time…?’

Since there were occasionally guys proceeding with the rounds, it tried talking to them, but was rejected by all of them.

So the cat just gave up.

With the thought of eating the remaining snacks sparingly, it licked them bit by bit while touring Stage 3.

“Delicious! Delicious! Lick.”

The taste of a snack it wouldn’t be able to taste for 10 years now.

It had to eat as slowly as possible.

In the midst of that, it accidentally discovered a Summoner who cleared 3-1.

And even won very easily.

It’s a skill level where you can’t understand at all why they are still remaining in Stage 3.

‘That guy?’

Somehow, it feels like he might accept the proposal.

But it gave up.

To meet the quota, it had to raise the difficulty by as many as 10 based on Stage 3.

Even if that guy accepted, there’s no way he would accept 10.

But somehow, as if he noticed, the guy spoke to it.

[Who are you?]

The cat thought.

He’s a strange guy!

And the boss likes strange guys.

But while talking, the guy accepted the proposal even though the difficulty hadn’t been set.

Stupid! As expected, I knew he would be stupid.

So I pushed the difficulty all the way to maximum!

I filled the quota all at once!

‘Nyahaha, hurrah, hurrah.’

The cat thought.

‘Since he’s a kind idiot. If he dies, I should revive him and take him to the boss. And let’s try suggesting giving him work!’

I filled the quota, and even if he happens to die, I can take care of him separately.

The cat’s workplace is quite a large company, so the Summoner won’t feel wronged either.

A perfect plan has been realized.

Nyahaha Nyahaha

The cat no longer needs to eat its snacks sparingly.

She took out a new ‘snack’ from her bag.

And taking a bite out of the corpse of a ‘Summoner who failed a wave’, she laughed joyfully.

“Delicious! Crunch!”