I Am the Weakest Cat, but If I Keep Evolving, Can I Become the Strongest? - Episode 6: Graduation from Mill Cat

Episode 6: Graduation from Mill Cat 

▽ Episode 6: Graduation from Mill Cat

According to the announcement, something called [Skill Evolution] is now possible. 

Look into it in detail. 

Seems there are three choices.

1. [Strong Fang] 

 Able to bite with more strength.

2. [Poison Fang]

 Grants poison to the creature it bites.

3. [Paralysis Fang] 

 Grants paralysis to the creature it bites.

To be honest, I’m ruling out option 1. 

Even if a cat becomes a power fighter, I think there’s a limit. 

If that’s the case, underhanded tactics like poison or paralysis are more appealing.

“…Let’s go with poison.”

Both were attractive. 

But, I came to a certain possibility. 

That is the existence of the [Scratch] skill I haven’t obtained or tried yet. 

I think it probably exists. 

I just haven’t scratched an enemy yet… I feel like if I scratch, I’ll obtain it.

If I level that skill up, I might also get paralysis. 

If that happens, I could paralyze enemies by scratching, and then inject poison at the end with my fangs.

I don’t use scratching. 

The reason is simple—it’s meaningless. 

While I’m giving just grazes, I give the enemy a chance to counterattack.

This isn’t a game. 

It’s a world where one mistake gets you killed. 

I don’t have time to use weak skills on stronger enemies just to level up.

Even so, I had to start using it. 

Because I learned about skill evolution. 

Let’s give it a try.

▽

Two days. 

That’s the time it took me to reach the level cap of Mill Cat (Pure). 

Basically, I used a “wait” strategy. 

I’d stay hidden until prey fell into a trap. 

Then ambush them right after. 

Use [Poison Fang] to poison them, then use [Quick Escape] to flee like crazy. 

That’s how I earned kill counts even with low firepower.

And then, about evolution… something amazing happened. 

Here’s the evolution list:

1. Mill Cat (Red) 

2. Mill Cat (Green) 

3. Mill Cat (Blue) 

4. Mill Cat (White) 

5. Mill Cat (Yellow) 

6. Chief of the Mill

…I’ve already once gone through Mill Cat (Black). 

But, however. 

Looking at this list of evolutions… it seems I can choose colors (attributes) again. 

By purposely regressing, I can now choose an evolution I didn’t pick before. 

That must be the true value of Mill Cat (Pure).

……..…I won’t be able to get [Black Magic] again, but I’ll be able to use other attribute magics.

“…Nyan.”

After deep thought, I chose Mill Cat (Red). 

In order to survive in the forest, fire is a big deal. 

With this, I won’t need to fear parasites and I’ll be able to get meat and water. 

I might even be able to produce offensive power.

……

………………

Three months have passed since then. 

I stayed hidden in a corner of the forest, slowly leveling up. 

As a result, I managed to collect all colors. 

Once I reached the level cap, I returned to Mill Cat (Pure), then chose the next color. 

Even though I couldn’t go back to (Black), somehow I could return to (Pure)—I don’t really understand the logic.

Well, maybe the special feature of (Pure) is that you can return. 

As expected of an evolution that focuses on “possibility”.

But it took more time than I expected. 

Maybe evolving repeatedly increases the experience needed to level up. 

Or maybe hunting the same monsters doesn’t give as much experience anymore. 

I feel like both are affecting it.

Still, thanks to that, I gained a lot of inherited skills.

Name: [Unset]  Gender: [Male] 

Species: [Mill Cat (White)]  Level: [5 (5)] 

Unique Skill: [Choice Link] 

Species Skill:  [White Magic・Beginner], [Magic Power Increase・Slight]

Inherited Skill: [Charm], [Instinct Detection], [Quick Escape], [Invite Fortune],

[Survival Growth・Slight], [Fire Magic・Beginner], [Water Magic・Beginner], 

[Wind Magic・Beginner], [Earth Magic・Beginner]

Abilities: [Poison Fang III], [Trap Creation IV], [Paralysis Claw I]

This is what I’ve become. 

I think I can now handle all elemental magic except for [Black Magic]. 

Well, maybe there are even more types of magic out there.

Also, even though I have more tools in my hand, they’re all beginner level—so they’re not strong. 

Sometimes I think, “I spent three months for magic like this…?” 

Because my magical talent isn’t anything special. For example, with [White Magic], the only spell I could learn was “close a wound.”

Since I went through [Black] first, maybe the compatibility was bad. 

Now that I think about it, [Water Magic], which I learned after [Fire Magic], had fewer spells obtained. 

That was also true for [Wind] and [Earth]. 

Even after evolution, something like a genetic factor probably remains. 

Now then, about the important new evolution options. 

I want to stop Goblin hunting soon. 

I feel like they’re edible, but I don’t want to eat them. So I’m troubled. 

It’s just that there are so many of them, so I end up choosing them as targets. 

There are four options:

1. Chief of the Mill

A Mill Cat with the qualification to rule over Mill Cats. 

Specialized in leading and calling other Mill Cats. 

Treated as a Rank II-class monster.

2. Lesser Sky Cat 

A cat skilled in manipulating space. 

Treated as a Rank II-class monster.

3. Lesser Magic Cat 

A cat skilled in manipulating magic. 

Treated as a Rank II-class monster.

4. Lesser Poison Cat 

A cat that handles poison, such as venom and paralysis poison. 

Not only its claws and fangs, but even its saliva and fur carry poison. 

Its danger level is treated as a Rank III-class monster.

All of them are an interesting lineup. 

Especially number 1 seems to be specialized in leading groups. 

Even weak Mill Cats, if they form a group, might be able to fight. 

Also, you won’t feel lonely. 

But right now, I have no companions. Not chosen. 

Next, about Lesser Sky Cat. 

According to [Instinct Detection], this Sky Cat will no longer be considered a Mill Cat. 

Because of that, I won’t be able to return to a Mill Cat evolution path. 

Still, I don’t think the Mill Cat is such a strong species… 

Well, maybe if I became the Chief, I could use intermediate or advanced magic…….. 

Anyway, I would become a different species. 

But the fact that it can manipulate space clearly makes it a strong character. So it’s attractive.

About the Magic Cat. 

This also counts as a different species from the Mill Cat. 

A cat that manipulates all kinds of magic—sounds interesting if you put it that way. 

I myself have already acquired five types of magic. So if I could make use of them, it’d be a powerful evolution path. 

After all, just to get those five, I devoted three months out of a lifespan said to be only four years.

And then the last one: Lesser Poison Cat. 

This must be an evolution option that was rated highly because I heavily used [Poison Fang] and [Paralysis Claw] during level grinding. 

This one also cannot return to a Mill Cat. 

Also, it’s the only one among the options that becomes a Rank III-class monster.

…….…Actually, where does this Rank even come from? 

Lately, I’ve started to instinctively fear [Instinct Detection]-san. It keeps developing more and more. 

It’s scary.

……

I chose.

Name: [Unset]  Gender: [Male] 

Species: [Lesser Sky Cat]  Level: [1 (10)] 

Unique Skill: [Choice Link] 

Species Skill:  [Spatial Magic・Beginner], [Magic Power Increase・Small] [Flight・Slight]

Inherited Skill: [Charm], [Instinct Detection], [Quick Escape], [Invite Fortune],

[Survival Growth・Slight], [Fire Magic・Beginner], [Water Magic・Beginner], 

[Wind Magic・Beginner], [Earth Magic・Beginner], [White Magic・Beginner]

Abilities: [Poison Fang III], [Trap Creation IV], [Paralysis Claw III]

I evolved. 

What I chose was Lesser Sky Cat, which allows you to learn [Spatial Magic]. 

Since I took the trouble to learn five kinds of magic, I thought I’d like to learn other kinds too. 

Also, it just seemed useful when escaping. 

I arbitrarily believe that Mill Cats are a species good at “detection” and “escape”. 

If you like games, I wonder which evolution path you would have picked. 

I’m sure it differs from person to person. 

I wonder if my choice was the right one. 

“Nyan~” 

Too late to worry now, huh. 

Pull myself together. 

As I tried to test the magic… I noticed a strange feeling on my back that newly appeared. 

There’s something there. 

I twisted my neck hard and looked at my back……….. there were wings. 

Tiny wings.

I evolved into Lesser Sky Cat… it has “sky” in the name. But could it possibly mean I can fly? 

Come to think of it, in the species skill, there was also [Flight・Slight]. 

I tried hard to move the wings with a “heave!” 

………There’s no sign of floating.

“Nyan.” 

What is this? 

Still, it can’t be helped. 

They’re something that gets in the way, but it’s not like they’re fatal either.

More importantly—magic. 

Apparently, [Spatial Magic・Beginner] has seven spells. 

Seems like I had a fair amount of talent, and I’m able to use five of those spells.

1. [Search] 

 Accurately grasp the information within a certain range.

2. [Map] 

 Lets you grasp the surrounding map depending on how much MP is spent.

3. [Focus] 

 You can set the aim for magic and long-distance attacks. 

 In short, it’s the nullification of friendly fire. 

4. [Short Warp] 

 Can teleport one step’s distance. 

5. [Another Point] 

 Magic that would normally come from the hand can be fired from a set location. 

Those are the five. 

Very plain. Still, it’s beginner level, so it can’t be helped. 

“Nya.” 

The convenient one might be [Search]. 

I lost sight in one eye due to a Goblin. Because of that, I sometimes missed the aim of magic. 

But if I use [Search], I should be able to aim accurately. 

“Nyaaaa.” 

However, the magic I should use first didn’t seem to be [Search], but rather [Map]. This land, whose full scope is still unknown. 

More information is always better. 

Also, [Map]’s effective range changes depending on MP consumption. 

…It should be used while I still have strength. 

“Nyaa ([Map]).” 

In an instant. 

A map of the surroundings was printed into my mind. 

Just like a satellite image. I understood the area about ten kilometers around me. 

If it were a human, assuming paved roads, it would be a distance that could be covered in a day. Even though I’m a kitten, as a Sky Cat with better physical specs than a human, I might be able to cover it in half a day. 

Still, monsters roam the area. 

If you consider hiding or fighting, it’s not a distance you can travel easily. 

At the very least, I was able to get information farther than the area I had been active in so far. 

And it became clear that this was a forest. 

Apparently, it’s a giant forest. And going ten kilometers still doesn’t reach the end. 

Also, I understood upon activation— 

The monsters in this area are still very weak. 

A breeding ground. 

Or perhaps a cultivation site. That’s the true nature of this place. 

A place to raise feed for stronger monsters. 

Weak creatures like Goblins, and beasts, are raised here. 

The enemies around gradually get stronger. 

As I looked at the map, [Instinct Detection] told me: “This direction’s bad,” so I understood. 

No wonder Mill Cats are able to live here. 

Even Goblins, once they grow up in the “cultivation site,” will gather at the Goblin settlement just ahead. 

There, led by higher Goblin species, they somehow survive. 

Anyway, I’ll sleep for today. 

Because I used the spatial magic [Map] I lost most of my MP. 

Just in case, I saved enough to fight one battle… but I don’t want to fight now. 

I fall asleep on the branch of a tree. 

Lately, I’ve realized something— 

If I fold my legs under my stomach and sleep, I feel better. 

Come to think of it, I’ve seen cats sleep like that on the internet. 

What was it called again? 

Kōbako-suwari, I think… I’m kinda becoming more cat-like, huh. 

Thinking about something that dumb, my consciousness sank into the darkness.