I Was Reincarnated as the Weakest Monster, but I’ll Use My ‘Return from Death’ Skill to Become the Strongest! Even as the Weakest Monster, I Want to Get Stronger, Take Human Form, and Build a Harem… But Why Do Only Yandere Non-Human Girls Keep Showing Up? - Chapter 2.1

“Ugh… mm…”

Swept away by the river and carried off somewhere unknown, I—

“…Huh?”

Slowly, I opened my eyes in a place I didn’t recognize.

“I… didn’t die.”

Looking around, I didn’t see the familiar spiderweb I had come to expect.

Instead, I was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

I was lying in a wooden bed, inside a wooden house I had never seen before.

I had no idea where I was or how I got here.

But at the very least, the worst-case scenario had been avoided.

I hadn’t been helplessly swept away and drowned in the river.

That was a relief.

“…What about them?”

Now, my main concern was the one who fought alongside me—

The spider.

Unlike me, they had been blown away but managed to land on the ground instead of falling into the river.

But what happened after that?

Were they attacked by the Nue after I was gone?

…No.

I had to believe they were safe.

They were faster than me.

And after we restrained the Nue that much, they must have had time to escape.

We’ll meet again, right?

“Heh, I didn’t think I’d survive either.”

Realistically speaking, I was the one who should have died.

I had been knocked out cold the moment I hit the river.

And yet, somehow, I lived.

I had no idea why.

“…Anyway, where am I?”

With that thought in mind, I slowly sat up in the unfamiliar bed.

“Ah? You’re awake?”

Just as I moved, the door creaked open, and someone entered the room.

A voice called out to me.

“…Who?”

I turned my gaze toward the new arrival—

A girl.

She had long, golden-blonde hair braided neatly and vivid green eyes.

She was slender, with a strikingly beautiful face.

But the most noticeable feature was—

Her pointed ears.

“…An elf?”

Pointed ears.

Given the stereotype, she had to be an elf, right?

Her skin was fair, meaning she wasn’t a dark elf.

That was a bit of a shame—personally, I preferred tan-skinned dark elves.

“Mm! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

While I was distracted by my internal debate, the elf girl scooped me up and pulled me into a tight hug.

“…?”

“Looks like your wounds are healed.”

Without hesitation, she ran her hands all over me, thoroughly checking my body.

“Uhh…”

Even if I was in a cat’s body, being touched all over by a girl felt… weird.

Not exactly embarrassing, but it tickled in an odd way.

“You were in terrible shape when we found you this morning by the river. You were soaked, covered in bl00d, and looked like you were on the verge of death! Luckily, magic helped you heal, but really—what happened to you? You need to be more careful!”

So that’s what happened.

I had definitely been at death’s door—

But thanks to her, I had survived.

“I—ah. Thank you. You saved my life. I really appreciate it.”

But…

A talking cat… how would she react?

I hesitated for a second before speaking.

“Meow, meow…”

She… didn’t react?

She didn’t even seem surprised.

Wait—

“…Huh!?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not scary~.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH!?”

“Aah!? D-Don’t scream like that! I’m not your enemy!”

All this time, I had been speaking normally, or so I thought—

But to her, I was just making cat noises.

I was completely shocked.