Small footsteps tapped softly against the wooden floor as a tiny paw clutched a peanut with impressive determination.
Hunter, the hamster, glared at the world around him with a pitiful look in its beady eyes.
Once a mighty Nemean lion spirit of mythical grade, his current, minuscule form was nothing short of an insult.
Seon summoned him as a result of her investment in the strength stat.
However, during that fight, Hunter had been left entirely overlooked. And no one even cared despite his efforts trying to help.
(Well he was useless in that fight. How would you expect a hamster to fight anyway?)
'Blasphemy!' he seethes silently.
He knew his worth well. In his former existence, he had guarded the Gate of Spirits itself, revered and feared by many, even getting his own small cult for his existence.
But after one too many naps on the job, a blinding fall through what seemed like endless darkness had landed him here—in a world where he could be ignored so easily.
The last words he had heard before his demotion echoed sharply in his mind.
[ Foolish! You have disappointed our creator! ]
It is the well-known system, the omnipotent voice that acts as God's left brain.
Hunter fully knows that he can't afford to go against its words, thus he remained his lips sealed.
[ As your punishment, you must look after 'His' left eye ]
His eye? Hunter hadn't fully grasped the meaning, but he understood the meaning well enough.
Failing at this task meant consequences even he, a former guardian, dared not contemplate.
Sniffing indignantly, he trotted along, determined to find this so-called 'God's left eye'.
The sooner he fulfilled his punishment, the sooner he could reclaim some semblance of his pride.
And so, peanut in paw, Hunter had one goal in mind:
Prove himself worthy again—even if it meant enduring the shame of being a mere hamster under Seon's indifferent gaze.
However, on his way to search for his supposed-to-be new owner, Hunter came across a certain delicacy smell.
Something much more delicious than a peanut?
Looking over, he came across a certain wooden box. It's covered by a talisman or whatever- it's not effective as the essence still leaks out from the box.
Opening it slowly... his eyes shone as he gazed at something.
[ VIII THE STRENGTH ARCANA ]
"HEAVEN-"
****
^ And that's how the story of Hunter ends by eating a corrupted card like some potato chip.
He left not a single piece behind.
Indeed... it was his fault in the first place... but.
"Huh? What's up with this shit"
His body helplessly dangled in midair as Seon held him by the scruff, swinging him side to side like an indecisive yo-yo.
He felt a sudden nostalgia, remembering the reverence he'd once known as a gatekeeper spirit.
'Seriously... this is embarrassing'
"S-squeak"
No matter how much Hunter wishes to express his thoughts, the only thing that comes out of his small mouth, is the small noise of squeak.
"This... the card disappeared?! Don't tell me you sealed a rat instead!" Seon's screamed, with visible veins on her forehead.
"N-no that's impossible!" Yunnie tried to explain. "An arcana card should still leave a sign of existence if it disappeared or was stolen, however, the sign of existence ended in that hamster"
"So that means..."
"HE ATE IT?!" Seon's voice gets louder.
"What kind of animal would eat a card? It's like a paper! Worst, it's a corrupted paper! Eating it will get you killed immedia-"
But alas before Yunnie could finish his explanation, the hamster let out a loud burp.
"..."
Silence filled the room as the two glanced on the chubby-looking Hamster.
"Well then, Madam Prophet, I shall take my leave…" Yunnie muttered, edging toward the door, visibly uncomfortable.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get out already," Seon replied, barely glancing at him.
Hunter's eyes widened seeing Yunnie about to leave.
'No! Priest-dono! Don't leave me here with her!'
He thought, straining his little body as if Yunnie might somehow sense his plea.
Their gazes met for a brief moment—a fleeting glance in which Yunnie's expression softened into one of... pity.
'H-humans are so despicable!!'
Hunter silently fumed, his tiny heart swelling with an indignation he hadn't felt in centuries.
And from that day forward, a tiny seed of hamster-sized resentment took root, one squeak at a time.
****
Still holding onto the hamster's scruff, Seon's eyes flicked to the interface before her.
_____________________
[System:
Subject: Seon Vel'Seol
Title: God's Left Eye, Savior
Uniqueness: Pre- Guess (normal)
Contract: Hunter (Utopia Level 5 strength)]
_____________________
Seon's brows slightly raised upon seeing something she had forgotten.
'Utopia level 5 strength?... oh right, I did invest in that a while ago.'
'But what does it do?'
As her mind started to try to comprehend, what's the sense of the contract; A small squeak rang in her ears. It was coming from a small animal she was taking hostage-... no... holding into.
"Squeak..."
Seon frowned, glancing at that small being whose black eyes seemed to weep in tears.
"Don't tell me..." Quickly, she lifted the hamster to eye level. The poor creature trembled, its tiny body shivering in her grasp.
"Nod if you say yes. I'll cook you if you say no." Seon growled. "Are you the strength?"
The hamster nodded its head.
"So the reason you ate the card; is because it has the same arcana as yours?"
The hamster frantically nodded its tiny head.
"Can you fight?"
The hamster shook its head vigorously.
"THEN YOU ARE DAMN USELESS!" Without a second thought, Seon hurled the hamster out of her window.
"SQUEAK!!" came its terrified squeal as it disappeared into the night.
******
Morning comes,
The sound of birds and roosters broke through Seon's deep sleep, gently pulling her back to consciousness.
Her neck aching slightly probably due to the unfamiliar pillow. Yet she still savored the peaceful morning, the soft noises of the village can be heard beyond outside.
She rose from the bed, slipping out of her white pajamas and into the black dress that her slave—err Yunnie, diligently washed for her and neatly pressed folds.
'Come think of it- that guy is really good at maid jobs'
Seon checked her scars under her clothes. Realizing it's almost blended with her skin, Seon decided to discard the bandages. After completing the preparation, she left the cabin.
Opening the door outside, what greeted her is an array of petals falling, and music of folklore echoed in bright delight.
'Oh Right... I forgot... it's festival day' Seon thought as she steps in.
"Sister!" a familiar voice called. Flour'e stood waiting for her, jumping over her with excitement. "Sister! I'm glad you still attended the festival!"
'Well yeah, I have nothing else to do in my room'- Seon wanted to reply, but realized its better to keep her mouth shut for a while.
Nearby villagers noticed Seon's arrival, and their faces brightened as they turned to her with wide smiles.
"Hello, Miss Prophet!" one mother greeted her, placing a freshly woven flower crown atop her head.
"Miss Prophet, come dance!" called a group of children, their small hands tugging at her sleeves, urging her to follow them.
Before she could object, they pulled her to the village center, where musicians played lively tunes on the banduria and flute.
Children laughed and danced around her in gleeful circles.
Seon stood there, surrounded by the vibrant joy of the villagers, their carefree energy brushed against her.
It was then suddenly, the system popped up on her sight.
[ Are you having fun? ]