I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 51: To Live

Episode 51: To Live 

▽ Episode 51: To Live 

The parasitic spores fall down softly from the sky. 

I can’t allow myself to take that. 

Therefore, I simultaneously deploy claws granted with [Gladius Tonitrui] by [Wonder Strike]. I slash through the air. 

Ten thunder claws burn the spores along with the atmosphere. 

“…Nya, ah” 

*Thud*, I collapsed to the ground. 

The battle was too intense. Physically, mentally, and in terms of magic power, I am nearing my limits. 

The forest is no longer a forest, but a flattened, crushed plain. 

So these are the battle scars of a Rank VII boss versus a Rank VI boss. 

The wars that humans wage look like child’s play in comparison. It’s hard to believe I caused such a tragedy myself. 

If I just close my eyes now, I feel like I could fall asleep. 

But I still have work left to do. I stand up using my last bit of strength. Then, my [Search] finds wriggling objects. 

They are the meat fragments of the Absorption Demon. 

Still alive. Barely. 

The meat fragments are trying hard to reassemble. 

However, the action that should be natural and possible seems to no longer be so for them. 

I have an idea why. 

It’s my final species skill. 

Its name is [Fragment of Calamity]. The ability can be described as “forcing the opponent to roll a die.” 

My Unique Skill [Choice Link] is the opposite, preventing dice rolls. In contrast, [Fragment of Calamity] does the exact opposite. 

In other words: 

It forces hostile creatures to make success/failure checks for skills. 

A dice-rolling skill. 

Now, the Absorption Demon has failed to activate its skill for merging and regenerating. 

It wasn’t a miracle or coincidence. 

My ability has been passively activated throughout the battle. That thing has succeeded in the [Fragment of Calamity] check many times. 

In terms of attempts, it must have exceeded several hundred. 

Apparently, according to [Instinct Detection], it involves rolling a 100-sided die. And only when a 1 is rolled does the skill fail. 

One out of a hundred chances doesn’t come often, really. 

However, if the battle drags on, it will certainly force an “unintended failure” at some point. That failure will be irrecoverable. 

Normally, “skill failure” isn’t possible in this world. That’s why everyone facing this species skill for the first time gets killed. 

In a world where skills are everything, it’s a terrifying skill truly deserving of the name “Calamity”. 

Ah. 

Also, I have a plain skill called [Invite Fortune]. It raises my luck. And when combined with this… the calamity arrives at the worst possible moment for the enemy. 

That moment was now. 

“Nyao.” 

“…………” 

A monster that excels at observing the situation shouldn’t have this kind of card in its hand. 

A species good at waiting for mistakes… forcing mistakes is far too unfair. 

One of the meat pieces is crawling, trying to escape. Of course, I’m not going to kindly let it go. So I shoot [Hound Flare] as my final attack. 

With this, I won’t miss the target. 

Just like that, my nemesis scattered its life into the forest. 

▽ 

A few days have passed since then. 

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to evolve. Although my level went up quite a bit. Well, it’s a species that is strong even at level 1. 

Maybe wishing for evolution is asking too much. 

I spent those few days in [Dimension Room]. 

It’s one of the spatial magic spells obtained from [Spatial Magic・Advanced]. It creates a room in another dimension, sized based on max MP, where you can evacuate. 

It’s very useful. 

Effective as emergency shelter, too. 

Even if you leave items inside, the space remains—it doesn’t disappear. It can also serve as a massive [Inventory]. 

Of course, you can rest in it as well. 

The fact that it only uses MP at activation adds to its charm. 

With this, I finally got my long-desired “safe house”. 

Thanks to that, I was able to rest properly. 

And then… I no longer have any business in this forest. 

The other Rank VI creatures don’t even try to stop me anymore. They must be afraid. Afraid of me, who toyed with and defeated that Rank VII monster alone. 

Of course, there are still Rank VII enemies in this forest. 

But most of them likely aren’t bosses. In terms of standing, I am above them. 

I leave the forest. 

It was surprisingly easy, almost anticlimactic. 

I was indebted to this forest for quite a long time. I was nearly killed many times, suffered pain, and endured much. 

…But now, I feel strangely lonely. 

The memories of this forest run deep. 

It’s not just the friendly monsters. I have many memories of the enemies too. 

It wasn’t that one side was bad. 

It was because we were wild. 

Live or die. To become stronger, to survive, we fought with our lives on the line. 

All of us—enemies and allies alike—lived the wild with pride. 

That must be why. 

Why I can truly feel that *it wasn’t bad*. 

When I got out of the forest, I saw a wall. A structure probably built with great effort by humans. 

For now, maybe I’ll pretend to be a normal kitty and go visit. 

Right now, I don’t have wings. 

I do look a little too monstrously cute. But I’ll let [Charm] do its best there. 

I’ve already registered the [Home Gate]. 

If it gets dangerous, I’ll come back. 

For now, I’ll just go like usual. 

It’s hard to live if you’re always afraid. My goal is to keep this life, given to me by Mother Cat, going as long as I can. 

“Nyaa.” 

The time I spent in this forest was precious to me. 

Even if I added up all the time from my previous life, it wouldn’t compare to this experience. 

Surely, this is what it means to live. 

I am still—alive.