[[Analyzing Soul . . . Please Wait.]]
Everything was black, I couldn't see anything, nor feel anything. Am I dead? The last thing I remember was the sound of gunshots and... wait, gunshots!
I faintly remember being at school and talking to Itsuki before this guy walked into the classroom holding a gun.
"Oh my god, was I shot? Did he kill everyone? That's horrible, why would he do something like that? I get that everyone was jerks, but no one deserves to die."
[[Processing Information. . . Please Wait.]]
"Huh?" I heard a voice that came from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Who's there?"
[[Analysis Complete. Keiko, 18 years old, former NEET with an unhealthy social life, shy, scared, and lacks motivation. Best fitting description: Cat.]]
"Hey! Who the hell are you, and how do you know so much about me? What's going on?"
What the heck! Someone was making fun of me, but I couldn't see them; was this the afterlife or something? Everything's pitch black, but for some reason, it feels like I can move my arms and legs.
[[Chosen Resurrection: Beast. Subspecies: Cat.]]
"Resurrection? Cat? Wait wait wait! So I am dead! Hold on just a second, who gave you the right to resurrect me as a cat! I didn't ask for this!"
[[Developing Skills from Personality and Intrinsic Traits.]]
"What!? Can't you hear me!? Cut that out!"
[[Skill Development Complete.]]
[[Intrinsic Skills:
– Purr-suasion (LV: 1)
– Night Vision (LV: 1)
– Silent Steps (LV: 1)
– Keen Senses (LV: 1)]]
"Huuuh?! What the heck is with these names? Purr-suasion? That's not even a real word!"
[[Special and Epic Skills Generating from Personality. . .]]
[[Special Skills:
– Ninefold Rebirth (LV: 1)
– Lucky Dodge (LV: 1)
– Bad Omen (LV: 1)]]
[[Epic Skills:
– Phantom Claw (LV: 1)]]
"Hey! Stop ignoring me! I didn't sign up for this! Send me back! I still had... a life?!"
Now that I think about it, I didn't really have much going on back home, but still. A strange sensation washed over me — like I was being stretched and crushed at the same time.
"Ughhh... I think I'm gonna hurl!"
In front of me was a blinding bright light as it sucked me in.
"Woaaah, hey, hey! Uwaaaagh!"
Without my consent, I was pulled through the bright hole, until everything was black.
"G-gaaah?!"
I couldn't see, but I could hear everything around me. Oh, right—if I were really a baby cat, it would take 2 weeks for me to open my eyes. A kitten's nervous system and retina are still developing at birth—so their eyelids are fused to protect them from the outside world.
[You can't be serious!]
[[Otherworlder Title achieved. Proceeding to speed up the adaptation process to the environment.]]
[Ehhh?? There's that voice again! Wait, adapt to the environment?]
[[Adaptation complete. Adjusting retinas to light.]]
"Whoa! Woooaaaahh!"
All of a sudden, everything around me became huge. The blades of grass in front of me looked like jungle reeds, and the air smelled like damp earth and some distant flowers.
When I lifted my hands—oh wait, paws—my heart plummeted.
"...Oh my god! This really isn't a dream." I raised a paw to my face. It was tiny and fuzzy.
Behind me, a tail swished of its own accord.
[Y-You've gotta be kidding me. I'm an actual cat. Not even a cool tiger or panther, just... a house cat?!]
Seemingly out of nowhere, a floating text blinked into existence in the air before me.
It was my status hub; you know, the thing that almost every Isekai protagonist gets. But what the hell do I do with it?! I was a freaking cat, not some hero!
[That's it?! No tutorial or anything?] I sat there in the grass, tail puffed up, trying to process the absurdity of it all, but the sound of other kittens caught my attention from behind me.
I turned my fuzzy head and nearly fell over from shock.
Behind me was a small nest. It was shallow and under the roots of a giant tree surrounded by a swamp. Curled up inside were at least four tiny furballs with their eyes still closed and their ears twitching as they made little mew noises.
"...Are those... kittens?!"
I lifted a paw and pointed at them before realizing how ridiculous I looked doing this as a cat.
[Does that mean I'm their sister?! Am I part of their litter?!]
Before I could panic any further, a large shadow loomed over me.
A short-haired tabby cat suddenly crawled into the nest. She had green eyes locked on me with the sharp, assessing stare of a general sizing up a new recruit.
I just sat there and froze.
"Uh... h-hi...?" I spoke but my voice came out as a tiny mew instead of actual words.
The giant cat gave a slow, rumbling purr, and without another sound, nudged me toward the nest with her nose.
I stumbled forward, still stunned by all of this.
[Okay... I'm assuming that's the mom? I guess I was born not too long ago and suddenly just gained consciousness if she was out and about.]
The kittens in the nest sniffed at me curiously as one of them even batted at my ear with a paw that was smaller than a grape.
A familiar feeling fluttered in my chest, though I didn't want to admit it.
[...That was kinda cute, but c'mon! I had so many other options, why in the world did this happen to me?]
I lowered my head into a sigh before walking to the far side of the nest, sitting there.
[A cat out of all things... this sucks.]
I wanted to cry like a baby—considering I was one—but I was too busy staring at my status hub in front of me.
[No point in crying about it... what's done is done, I might as well learn more about what the hell is going on with this status hub of mine.]
Staring at the display in front of me with weary eyes, I could see three important things.
My HP (Health Points), MP (Magic Points), and SP (Stamina Points).
[[Name: Unnamed
HP: 20
MP: 25
SP: 40]]
It was just like a video game, but I can't be surprised; I've read too many Isekai manga to know where this was going. The only problem was that I was an animal.
[My stamina has the highest points?]
That was a surprise—maybe it had something to do with me being a cat—only downside was that I had less health.
[I'm only seeing my stats right now, let's change that.]
I didn't even have to move a paw to alternate through my status hub, it simply followed my will. If I wanted to see my HP, it would bring up my HP—and the same could be said for everything else.
[Let's see everything at once!]
Following my will, my status hub expanded, showing me everything at once; my race, skills, stats, and name.
"Oh wow!"
[[Name: Unnamed
Titles: Otherworlder
Race: Beast—Black Cat
LVL: 1/10
Strength: 5
Speed: 20
Intelligence: 10
HP (Health): 20
MP (Magic): 25
SP (Stamina): 40
Intrinsic Skills: Purr-suasion (LV: 1), Night Vision (LV: 1), Silent Steps (LV: 1), Keen Senses (LV: 1)
Special Skills: Ninefold Rebirth (LV: 1), Lucky Dodge (LV: 1), Bad Omen (LV: 1)
Epic Skills: Phantom Claw (LV: 1)
Resistances: Disease (LV: 1), Curse (LV: 1), Luck (LV: 1)]]
"Whoa..." I whispered under my breath, well, I thought I whispered, but what actually came out was a confused little mew.
I couldn't help but stare at the floating window. This wasn't just a game menu; this was my actual life sheet now.
[So... that's my whole deal, huh? Unnamed. Guess I'll be that way for a while.]
I muttered, twitching my ears in mild annoyance before I tilted my head at the stats again.
[Strength 5... okay, so I'm basically noodle-armed. Speed, 20... well, at least I can run fast. Intelligence, 10... not terrible, I guess. But HP twenty? Seriously? A pigeon could probably sneeze on me and I'd keel over, yo!]
My tail lashed at the ground in frustration.
[Ugh... I can't believe this. Only if I were a panther, or a lynx, maybe even a cool magical beast, but I'm just... a freaking fluffball, bruh!]
One of the other kittens on the nest crawled over to me and gave a tiny squeaky mewl before its tiny paws kneaded at my fur.
"Ah—hey! Personal space!" I tried to scoot back, but the kitten just wriggled closer and curled up against my side.
[...Okay, I guess you can... stay there.]
I sighed. I hate to admit it, but the little fuzzballs were ridiculously cute. Turning my gaze back to the status window, I continued learning more about this system in front of me.
[All right. Skills! Let's see what we're working with here.]
I thought about the first one, and the description floated up.
Purr-suasion (Lv. 1): Your purring has a calming, mildly hypnotic effect on nearby creatures. Chance to lower hostility and induce calmness in allies.
[Wait, what?! I can literally purr people into liking me? That's... so dumb, but maybe useful...]
Next was Night Vision.
Night Vision (Lv. 1): Your eyes adapt to see in low-light conditions.
[Okay, that one's actually decent. Cats and night vision. Checks out.]
Silent Steps (Lv. 1): Greatly reduces the sound of your movement.
[Nice, stealth mode! Maybe I won't die immediately.]
Keen Senses (Lv. 1): Heightened hearing, smell, and touch.
[Yup. Cat stuff. Not bad.]
I flicked an ear and looked at the passives, excited to read their description..
Ninefold Rebirth (Lv. 1): Upon death, you may be reborn up to eight more times. Each time you die, you resurrect much more powerful than before.
[...Okay. That one is... both reassuring and terrifying.]
Lucky Dodge (Lv. 1): Subtle chance to avoid minor dangers.
[Hmm... guess I won't be getting caught up in bad situations as much.]
Bad Omen (Lv. 1): Presence sometimes unnerves weaker creatures or invites misfortune to enemies.
I tilted my head.
[...So I'm basically a walking superstition? That's... kinda metal!]
Finally, I looked at the epic skill.
Phantom Claw (Lv. 1): Your claws can sever intangible things like souls, and cut through any material object.
[Whoa... okay, that's actually awesome! I get one cool thing at least.]
A low purr suddenly came from behind me as I turned my head just in time to see the big tabby, or in other words, the mom, stretching herself out in the nest.
Her eyes blinked slowly at me as she swayed her tail, telling me to settle down.
I gulped and lowered my ears.
[Oh right, I'm just a baby here.]
I curled up reluctantly at the far edge of the nest, still eyeing my status window as it faded from view. One by one, the other kittens huddled closer in their sleep, until I was boxed in by warm little bodies.
"Ugh... you're all way too cute, gosh darn it..." I muttered, though my voice came out as a low mewl.
Soon, my eyelids grew heavy. I hadn't realized how exhausted I was until now.
[I'm so sleepy for some reason... could it be because I'm a baby?] I sighed internally. [Fine... I might as well take a nap.] I let myself sink into the warmth of my brothers and sisters.
As my eyes closed, a strange thought settled in; If this is my second chance... then what about my classmates? Did they get resurrected just like me? If so... I need to find them as soon as possible.
I couldn't be the only one who came into this world unannounced.