"Your task is simple: you just need to catch or kill this cat."
A cat? Hmm?
The paper bore an image of a black cat. It was pitch black, darker than ravens and moonless nights. It had three golden eyes and three adorable tails. The cat wore a golden cloak reminiscent of ancient Egyptian styles.
I wanted to be scared of its odd, three-eyed appearance, but I couldn't. Because… you know, in a way… what's the word I'm looking for?
"Cute, isn't it?"
Yes, I had to admit—it was cute.
Look at those pearl-like golden eyes. Their shine alone was enough to make me reconsider the idea of owning a pet. It's the kind of cat I'd forgive even if it knocked over my chemistry flasks. Yes, I'd probably buy it premium white tuna, too.
Still, isn't this task too easy? I thought he'd ask for something like ruling the world or something.
"Thwack!"
"Huh? What was that?"
"Don't stare at the picture too long, or you'll drown." The chess-patterned man knocked my forehead lightly and warned me.
Damn it, what were those dangerous thoughts just now? Premium tuna? Chemistry flasks? If I owned a pet and it dared to break something valuable or touch my private collection, I'd turn it into a rug!
Just staring at the picture had this much control over me?
'This is dangerous!' I thought, suddenly feeling cautious and frightened. It seemed the task wasn't as simple as it appeared.
That devilish cat had nearly ensnared me moments ago with just its image!
Phew, this was terrifying.
"What is this? Your lost pet?"
"My pet? Not at all. This cat is called the 'Nine-Soul Cat.' As its name suggests, it has nine souls, meaning it can live nine times."
Nine souls? That's absurdly overpowered.
"I'll send your soul to another world, on the condition that you either catch or kill this cat. I'm telling you upfront—I have no control over where you'll go! I don't even know what kind of world it will be or its size. Everything will be up to you."
"In other words, I'll have no ties to you or the world you're going to."
Hmm, he doesn't know anything about it? Great! Does this mean I can slack off and not kill the little cat?
As if reading my thoughts, he laughed and said, "Don't even think about shirking! You'll have to kill the cat eventually."
"Wait a moment…" A sudden thought struck me. "Do I have to kill the cat nine times?"
"No!" He shook his head and replied, "This cat is quite unique. You don't need to worry about its other lives."
"Killing it once is enough; just make sure it's completely dead."
Good, that was reassuring.
"Now, let's move on to the next step." As he finished speaking, the chess-patterned man snapped his fingers again.
From nowhere, a white cube with blue circles on all its faces appeared. It wasn't large—just the size of a fist.
"Do you see this cube? It's supposed to be your reward for completing this dungeon here. But as a perk to help you survive longer in the other world, I've decided to give it to you."
'I'm so touched; how generous of him!' Was that what he wanted me to think?
"And? How am I supposed to use this ability?"
"Simple." The chess-patterned man laughed cruelly.
Without warning, his arm stretched out into the air, and he plunged the cube into my head directly. I had no chance to resist or even process what was happening. I only felt an immeasurable torrent of information flooding my brain at an astonishing speed.
It was a surreal sensation, like downloading an app along with its files into my mind. Perhaps that's the closest analogy.
I wanted to scream, but I didn't feel pain, just a drowning sensation in a sea of information.
After several minutes, the deluge of information ceased, and I understood my newly acquired ability and its nature.
"What do you think? A good ability, isn't it?"
The chess-patterned man asked, and despite his obscured features veiled by mist, I could sense he was smiling.
"Indeed, it's a classic cheat for the main character."
I had to admit that much.
"Do you feel any different than before?"
"No." Aside from a subtle arrogance, like I could see through everything, no, I didn't feel any different.
No, wait. I described that wrong. I didn't feel anything unusual at all.
Hmm, I wanted to try out this ability, but it didn't seem feasible in my current state.
If I opened the status interface now, I'd likely see this skill listed among my abilities, right? No need to double-check.
"Anyway, since you've integrated with your ability, we can speed things along now."
"When you arrive to the other world, the first thing you need to do is grow stronger! Until then, avoid looking for the 'Nine-Soul Cat'! Seeking the cat is akin to seeking death."
The chess-patterned man warned me sternly.
No, no, my friend. I'll take my time finding it! Maybe I won't even try.
"Why don't you catch it yourself? Didn't you say you could open portals?"
Upon reflection, why doesn't he just do it himself? Isn't it troublesome to go through all this? I mean, why come to the 'chosen one,' who happens to be me? Considering his ability to open portals… I'm suspicious.
"I can't."
Before I could ask why, he said, "There are constraints I can't overcome."
"Explaining it would take too much time, and I'm not interested. In short, I simply can't!"
"But knowing your personality, I suppose I need to give you a reason, don't I?"
I detected a hint of exasperation in his tone.
Hmm, fair enough.
"To enter this other world, I'd have to completely abandon my body and pass through with my own soul. It would be foolish to infiltrate a world with a body that doesn't belong there! Not to mention, do you even know what abandoning my body would entail? It would mean giving up all my power."
"And, of course, I'm not that desperate over an angry cat."
"Even if I did that and abandoned my body, the world's fate would reject me! From fate's perspective, I'd be a parasite that must be eradicated at all costs. But you? You're just a chosen one, a human with no abilities or power. If you see an ant, you ignore it, right? From fate's perspective, it's the same with you."
Doesn't this mean I'd provoke fate if I became powerful? I decided to ignore the insulting analogy.
I nodded in understanding. His explanation had a certain logic consistent with what he'd said earlier. "Can I take some time to think? You know, hearing all this suddenly is a bit…"
"Take your time." The chess-patterned man shrugged, showing no urgency.
Alright, let's analyze my unfortunate situation.
First, I'm not dead. I'm alive and well. According to him, I could even return and continue living normally up there. But that's something I don't want.
Knowing I'm a pawn for fate, or as he called it, the chosen one—I have no desire to live like that. I don't want to be the main character. I've suffered enough since childhood! My parents died, and my relatives coveted their wealth, so they didn't hesitate to try and pull me to their side using every dirty method possible.
And now what? If I return, I'll become the protagonist as he says, suffer even more, and become some glorified hero, blah, blah, blah. This is nonsense! I don't want to live knowing I'm an unwitting pawn for someone else, even if my luck is good.
This wounds my pride! If I could, I'd prefer to quietly continue my research in the lab, conducting various experiments with a cup of coffee.
I'm sure I won't live a life like that if I return. Judging by my experience with clichéd plot developments, as the first awakened in the world, I'll probably be relentlessly pursued for experiments. Then some villain will emerge, craving my abilities, and most likely
—it'll be the government.
I can even imagine worse scenarios than these, and knowing that, will I return? I'm not naive.
Alright, my reasons for rejecting the role of the chosen one are many and irrational.
Does it matter? I don't want it! That's reason enough for me to refuse.
The chess-patterned man's deal is suspicious, but it carries an inexplicable sense of credibility.
If it were someone else in a random novel, they'd claim to be some god and try to trick me like a three-year-old, giving me a silly system that mocks me for the next several volumes. And if I asked it any trivial question, it'd always reply, "Host is weak and unqualified."
But the chess-patterned man explained things calmly, answered my questions, and sought my opinion on the matter.
Hmm, honestly, I want to live normally. But it seems that's not an option, huh?
Fine, I've thought a lot, but it seems I'm compelled to agree. At least in that 'other world,' my destiny is something I can shape based on my actions. I'm also bored of living on Earth; finding a new research topic unrestricted by the boundaries of science is intriguing enough, isn't it?
What a stark contradiction, I was just hating the supernatural a few minutes ago!
Hmm, perhaps this is what they call maturity? Or did I misuse the term? Hahaha.
Anyway, let's remember his task.
He asked me to "find" or "kill" this devilish cat with nine lives. A cute black cat with three golden eyes, three adorable tails, and an ancient Egyptian-style cloak.
He said he wouldn't offer any help, and my only support was 'my ability.'
This makes me trust him more since it's a straightforward deal.
He'll help free me from the chains of fate and the automatic role of the 'chosen one.' In return, I'll help him kill the 'Nine-Soul Cat.'
No additional rewards, no extra conditions—a mutual agreement.
I nodded to myself and said, "I agree."
This is my decision. I may regret it later, but honestly, it's better than living as a puppet for something to save a trivial planet like Earth.
That's what I think!
"Are you certain? There's no turning back, you know. Also, your departure means the world loses its safeguard, which likely leads to its 'destruction.' Fate won't choose another chosen one for a very long time."
The Earth will be destroyed because the chosen one is gone? Bah! Not my problem.
"Yes, I'm certain." A man must take risks to achieve greatness!
Hmm, where did I hear that line before?
The world's destruction? What does that have to do with me? From the moment I leave this world, I have no ties to it; I mean, the concept of home doesn't exist in my vocabulary. So be it—if floods fill the sky after I leave, who cares?
To be honest, I feel uneasy. I'm not the type to gamble recklessly on something like "life," but let's do it just this once! Just this once!
Everything happening now is enough to make me question the common sense I've known for the past 23 years of my life.
"Very well." The chess-patterned man nodded.
"Will my ability travel with me?"
"If everything goes as it should, yes. Why do you even ask?"
Oh, so accidents are possible? I silently wished for things to go smoothly.
"Will the world's features come with me?" How cool would it be if the status interface came along?
Status interfaces are like a permanent tracker, I wouldn't have to constantly test my power or ask myself questions.
"No, that's not possible."
Hmm, unfortunate. It seems the status interface will disappear.
"Any advice for me?" I decided to take the opportunity to ask.
Who knows what kind of person this mysterious figure is? I'm even certain that if I asked about his identity, he'd give me an answer like, "You don't have the right to know," or "You're too weak to understand." Anyway, he hasn't asked about my identity, so I won't take the initiative either.
"Advice?" The chess-patterned man paused for a moment.
"Stay away from anything related to fate unless you have the power to protect yourself, at least."
"I don't understand."
"Hmph, you know fortune tellers and priests? Just avoid them. The fate of the world you're going to might discriminate against you, even if you're as insignificant as an insect. In the end, no one likes intruders."
"They can sense the anomaly within you and recognize you as a non-native of that world, and thus, they might act against you."
A fortune teller and priest? Does he mean those frauds who claim to see the future? Hmm, it seems like a magical world.
"I'll keep that in mind."
I think I'll also look for a way to conceal my otherworldly identity.
Or perhaps luck won't be on my side? I'll understand the matter more deeply after arriving in that world!
The chess-patterned man nodded, then said, "One last thing: don't forget to find the other half."
"Hmm? The other half—"
Before I could ask what he meant, my mind was suddenly filled with a smoky, mysterious light, and I lost all sense of awareness.
I could no longer feel anything.