I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 44: Half a Year

Episode 44: Half a Year 

▽ Episode 44: Half a Year 

By killing the Tower Apartment Snake, and also slaughtering all its subordinates, I think I was able to bring this territory under my control. 

By the way, the snake was delicious. I had some resistance to the idea, but it’s worth trying things. 

I basically got myself a territory. 

For a Rank V to claim territory in a Rank VI zone is pretty harsh. 

Because my existence is lower in class. 

That said, I’ve got the [Dragon Orb] and even the Crown of the Undead King. 

I’m confident that I’m not inferior in performance compared to the other Rank VIs. Actually, from the battle with the Tower Apartment Snake, I’ve become convinced that I’m above most Rank VIs. 

“Nyaa.” 

Letting your guard down isn’t good. 

However, treating someone weaker as a “superior” or “equal” in battle is actually dangerous. 

Whether the power gap is above or below, you have to grasp it accurately, or you might get tripped up. 

Playing around, so to speak, is a good thing in the sense of “maintaining proper distance from the enemy.” 

If you fight seriously against someone weaker, being serious might actually lead to “mistakes”. 

Thanks to the noble sacrifice of the Tower Apartment Snake, I also got to understand how the new [Fire Magic] feels in use. 

The beginner level was pure firepower magic. But once it reached intermediate level, its usability improved. 

Rather than overwhelming with high firepower, I think it’s a type of magic meant to corner the enemy and burn them to death. 

The concept is different from [Lightning Magic], which crushes with pure firepower. 

The new [Fire Magic] I acquired is seven types. 

Among them, there actually aren’t many that seem usable… but I’ll explain them.

1. 1. [Burning Chain] 

 Chains of raging flames emerge from the ground and slowly approach the target. 

 They have restraining power to hold the enemy and also burn them with fire at the same time. 

2. 2. [Hard Blast] 

 Releases a blast wave. 

 It doesn’t deal damage, but it can cause burns with the hot wind. 

3. 3. [Burning Wall] 

 Creates a wall with magical flames. 

 It defends by incinerating what comes through. But anything that doesn’t burn just passes through. 

4. 4. [Hound Flare] 

 Releases a fireball that chases enemies. 

 Power is quite low—ideal for killing fleeing weaklings. 

5. 5. [Sunrise] 

 After three minutes of chanting, consumes all MP. 

 Drops a fireball from the sky, with power proportional to the MP consumed. 

6. 6. [Fire Breath] 

 A magic that releases a weakened breath. 

 Charging takes a few seconds. It’s like a flamethrower. 

 Still far inferior to the real Breath-type skill. 

7. 7. [Fire Ground]

 Turns the surrounding area into a scorched field. 

 If a monster has fire absorption or similar traits, it would be super strong. 

That’s how it is. 

When it comes to firepower, even if hit rate is an issue, [Lightning Magic] is still better. 

If I’m going to keep using some, it’ll probably be [Burning Chain], [Hard Blast], and [Burning Wall]. 

[Hound Flare] doesn’t have enough power against equal-Ranked opponents. 

The other spells… feel like a waste of MP. 

Even though I have some leeway thanks to [Dragon Orb], I’d prefer to use MP on stronger actions. 

Let’s check my stats. 

My level seems to have gone up properly. 

Back in the Rank V zone, it wouldn’t rise at all. But just from this one battle, I reached Level 15. 

Amazing. 

Seems like it’s quite efficient. 

If I hadn’t gotten the [Dragon Orb], this might’ve been enough to hit the level cap. 

No matter how many mobs a boss slaughters, it seems you don’t get great experience. 

Well, that Tower Apartment Snake was way too much to be called a mob. 

If that thing appeared in Japan, I think it’d take a military force like a great war to deal with. 

I do think a missile would kill it, though. 

Probably. 

In the territory I stole, I, embarrassingly, went to the toilet. 

This kind of marking behavior, surprisingly, isn’t something to be underestimated in the wild. 

What’s important is making others think, “That guy’s dangerous, I’ll lose something just by fighting him, win or lose.” 

The Tower Apartment Snake may be inferior to me, but I still wouldn’t want to face it when tired. 

In other words, right after taking over a territory, I might get targeted by other Rank VIs. 

After all, deep down they must want to evolve too… 

I shouted, “NyaoooOOOONN!” while adding [Bind Voice]. 

From today, this land is mine. 

▽ 

Three days passed. 

Frankly, it’s not a bad daily life. 

The other Rank VIs only stay wary of me—they don’t attack. 

I mark my territory, patrol it (still embarrassing every time), hunt for food, and sleep. 

That repeats. 

Rank VI zones are more orderly than I expected. 

Though occasionally, I get hit by overwhelming pressure. Or they shoot ultra long-range attacks at me. 

When I used [Counter Gate] against those long-range snipes, they quieted down pretty quickly. 

If they get too persistent, I might go shoot [Thunder Cannon] at them. 

Unfortunately, I can’t use [Sunrise], which consumes all MP.

When exactly are you supposed to use a spell that makes consecutive battles impossible……? It assumes you have companions. 

Back then, the Goblin King who fired magic at me was shooting what seemed to be [Sunrise]. 

Having companions is wonderful, isn’t it? 

Everyone’s watching like a tiger waiting for its chance. 

Even in my fight with the Tower Apartment Snake, if it had dragged on strangely long, someone probably would’ve interrupted at a weakened moment. 

Someone is always waiting for a fight to start. And the moment it begins, this order descends into chaos. 

That’s why no one starts a fight. 

With a kind of Cold War-like sense of balance, this territory war probably won’t escalate. 

“Nyaa~n.” 

But that’s a problem. 

I need to hurry up and get stronger and leave this forest. 

I hate this place. 

It looks like a peaceful paradise at first glance. But I have to sleep factoring in the risk of being attacked while I sleep. 

There’s no way I can keep living like this forever. 

One day, my mental state will collapse. 

Excessive tension is bad for the mind. And with an unhealthy mental state, eventually— 

I’ll definitely fail. 

I’m alive thanks to the kindness of the mother cat and the Two-Headed Dog. 

I can’t afford to expose this life to vague risks. 

I’ll hunt when I see an opening…… thinking that way, 

Half a year passed.