LOADING...
The loading ended, and I was dropped onto a blank white screen with four menu options at the top:
Killer Shop, Skill Shop, Level Statistics, and User Class.
Since I was already on the first tab—Killer Shop—I scrolled down a bit.
!ERROR!
I clicked again, but the same error popped up. So I backed out and selected Level Statistics instead.
Level One
HP: 100
MP: 20
Fatigue: 0
Strength: 25
Agility: 1
Perception: 5
Vitality: ???
Intelligence: 15
Heh. Fifteen? Well, thank you ve—
A black screen flickered in, interrupting me, followed by a line of text:
"That is quite low. The average is 30."
Oh.
Well, fuck you, whoever you are.
The message began deleting itself, letter by letter, until the screen returned to the usual blue interface with my stats.
Available MP Points: 5
I decided to hold onto them for now.
MP... Military Points?
No, no—of course not.
Game, game, right... Mana Points.
So there's magic in this world too, huh?
Vitality was still just question marks.
Honestly? I'd say I'm a solid zero in that department.
I tried clicking on MP, which kicked me over to the Skill Shop, now apparently unlocked.
Level One Abilities:
The usual stuff—Fireball, Distant Sight, Speed Boost (10 seconds)...
Is that even magic?
I guess it counts as a skill—maybe wind magic?
And then… a box?
!Every ability costs 2 Skill Points!
I laughed.
You hand me a Pandora's Box, and expect me not to open it?
I clicked on the box.
The screen turned red.
!Pandora's Box: Are you sure you want to purchase this ability? – Yes / No
Yes.
Wait, its actual name is Pandora's Box? I was just joking…
Suddenly, the bright blue sky outside turned cloudy, dark.
The air shimmered, glitching with red and blue sparks that popped out of nowhere. A sudden gust swirled into a small tornado, right in front of me.
From the center of the wind, something began forming. I took a cautious step back.
Nooo, I don't want a basic fireball. Let's open Pandora's freakin' box... In my defense, there was no name—I was joking about it being Pandora's Box!
Finally, the object fully materialized: a small black cube.
It opened.
A burst of brilliant light shot out—and from inside leapt a small black cat, with ruby-red eyes and a tiny top hat.
"Meoo~w."
"...
...
AWWWWEEEEE, all that dramatic build up... for a cute furball?"
I immediately knelt and petted its head. It purred, rubbing itself against my hand.
"Aww, you're actually pretty sweet. I thought you'd try to bite me."
Wait...
I just spent two mana points…
for a cat?
Ah well. At least it's adorable.
"Mya~ Don't worry, hooman. I'm not useless!"
I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
"Myaa~ Here!"
"Eh? Who's talking?"
"MYAAA~!"
"Augh—!"
The cat bit my finger. I looked down.
"Don't worry, I'm giving you attention. Just let me see who's talking..."
"IT'S ME, MYA!"
"Eh?"
"Myaa, you finally realized!"
"Eh?"
"Surprised?"
"Eh??"
"Hooman?"
The cat burst out laughing.
"MYAhaha! Hooman, you should see your face! THAT'S RIGHT, MYAAA—IT'S ME!"
"…Hooman?"
Yeah.
If I thought I was sane before, I'm definitely losing it now.
Twice isekai'd, brought back, and now apparently bonded with a talking top-hat-wearing cat.
I fainted from pure shock.
"Hoo—HOOMAN?! MYA?! MYAA?? HOOOMAN?! WHO'S GONNA FEED ME—I MEAN—WE DIDN'T EVEN INTRODUCE OURSELVES YET! HOOMAN! DON'T DIE ON ME!"