The cat is an otherworldly being.
It was a creature created from the fragments of ancient animals called spirit beast, combined with the power of the Demon King, who rules a world called the Demon Realm.
When the power of the Demon King was bestowed upon it, the primordial memories awoke.
The memories of mythical beasts that had existed since the beginning surged within it.
Those memories formed its being, making it a great entity that knew everything.
However, even such a being had a flaw.
It was loneliness.
The memories stemmed from an unimaginably long time ago.
But those memories were seen and heard through the eyes and ears of others, not its own.
Therefore, it had nothing it could remember for itself.
It knew everything in the world but did not know itself. Hence, it was lonely.
To fill this loneliness, the only companion it had was a member of the most selfish race, the Demons.
However, the demons did not know its true identity. The only one aware of it being a ‘great entity’ was Shekina, a human living among the demons.
But Shekina showed no interest in it.
She created it and then ignored it.
The cat felt hurt and angry, thus ignoring Shekina’s request to become her familiar.
It seemed like she was trying to use it.
Claiming she couldn’t take care of it properly felt like an excuse.
But then,
– “Be careful!”
– “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Shekina threw herself to save it.
Was it really an excuse?
Was it a lie?
The cat became confused.
“Cat, snap out of it. This is no time to be spacing out.”
At that moment, Shekina nudged the cat and spoke.
“You go over there and call Yurian. I’ll deal with these guys.”
There wasn’t just one monster. Five, six… eight of them.
They were large for creatures seen in the human world, likely of medium size among monsters.
No one knew where they suddenly came from or why they were attacking. But one thing was clear.
The cat had to be protected.
This time, she could finally protect the one she liked, so how could she run away?
Shekina spread her hands wide.
“Let’s do this. I’ve been wanting to try summoning magic outside.”
Though she lacked confidence, she had to do it. To protect the cat and to stand tall.
“Hurry, go! Quickly!”
So, Shekina activated her summoning magic and shouted.
At that moment,
– Step aside, young one.
The cat leapt onto Shekina’s head.
– Kweeeekhhh!
And stretched its front paw towards the charging monsters.
– I am not doing this for you. I can’t forgive those who dare harm me, the great one.
“Huh? What are you talking about… Wow.”
Slice!
The monsters were cut in half.
The magic emitted from the cat’s claws sliced through their bodies.
The cat twitched its ears and wiped its face with its front paw.
– I did not gain the Demon King’s power for nothing.
“……..”
Shekina watched the quickly slaughtered monsters with her mouth agape.
Monsters of that size and caliber couldn’t be easily defeated.
Just one monster would require a whole squad of human soldiers to deal with.
But with a mere gesture, eight monsters were killed.
Shekina gave a thumbs-up to the cat.
“You’re awesome, really.”
– Hmph. Have you finally realized how great I am?
The cat jumped off Shekina’s head and landed in the snow, raising its tail.
Then it tapped Shekina’s foot.
– So, hurry up and decide.
“Huh? Decide what?”
– …..You’re such a clueless fool.
The cat smacked Shekina’s foot hard and then walked ahead, leaving a single word behind.
– It means you should give me a name.
Shekina’s eyes widened.
Being asked to give a name meant the cat was willing to become her familiar.
Although she didn’t know why the cat had a change of heart, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Sera!”
Shekina shouted the name she had thought of for a long time.
“I’ll name you Sera! It sounds like my name!”
The cat stopped walking and glanced back at Shekina.
“Hmph… It’s just so-so.”
Despite saying that, its tail was standing straight up.
She wanted to laugh but held it back. She had to respect the cat’s dignity, or rather, Sera’s dignity.
“Alright. You’re Sera from now on. Sera, who will stay by my side.”
– It’s not forever. If I don’t like you, I can leave anytime.
“Got it. Sera, you’re the best.”
– Hmph.
Sera responded curtly, but it was just an attitude.
Why was she so sure?
Well,
Side Quest <Earn Your Master’s Approval!> Success!
Wow, you really know how to get things done. You succeeded in the quest to summon me. That’s why I came out.
The cat, an otherworldly being, has become part of this world under the name ‘Sera’. Congratulations!
The cheeky system message appeared.
‘Shut up and just tell me where the monster corpses are. That’s why I called you.’
Ring!
[SYSTEM]
Did you entrust it to me? There really hasn’t been any change.
[SYSTEM]
1. Servant Binding (Acquired)
2. Information about ‘Another System’ (In progress)
Shekina furrowed her brows at the system message.
She had asked for information about the monster corpses, but it was busy calculating rewards.
Just as Shekina was about to lose her temper, it happened.
Rumble!
A strange sound came from the snow-covered ground where the monster corpses lay.
The sound was coming from the collapsing ground.
The snow, stained with the monsters’ blood, began to melt, and as soon as the blood touched the ground, the terrain started to collapse.
“What… what is that?”
In the middle of the completely collapsed ground, there was what Shekina had been desperately searching for.
***
The monster’s corpse.
Shekina had never seen it with her own eyes.
It didn’t even appear in the game she played.
It was just something she had heard about like an old legend.
So, she didn’t know what the monster’s corpse looked like or, in other words, what kind of monster it was.
Despite that, she was certain that there was a monster’s corpse in this underground space.
– It feels like I might throw up. I’ll stay here.
This was because Sera had said so.
When she asked if Sera sensed any dark energy, Sera said no. But shouldn’t monsters naturally emit dark energy? Was it blurred over hundreds of years?
Shekina was stunned.
But she had to confirm it. If she checked it out, she might get information about black magic as Sebastian had mentioned.
So, Shekina entered the underground space.
And then she saw it.
A corpse encased in transparent ice.
“What is… this?”
Shekina covered her mouth as soon as she saw the corpse.
She had no other choice.
Shekina knew ‘that.’
In her fifth life, the one who drove her to hell.
The one who dreamed of overthrowing the world by sacrificing her.
The one who, obsessed with a bizarre ritual, tried to plunge everything into chaos.
“The Dark Mage…”
It was that guy.
Ring!
[SYSTEM]
Information about ‘Another System’ is coming soon!
[SYSTEM]
Another name for it is ‘Lucifer Agato.’
Oh…
“This is insane, isn’t it?”
