Chapter 52: Man And Cat
*Chirp* *Chirp*
The morning came surprisingly earlier than Reiji realized.
*Yawn*
Reiji let out a yawn as he stretched his arms.
"Why does the night feel shorter when you have nothing to do?"
Reiji thought to himself.
Ding!
[Daily Quest Completed!]
[Congratulations Host! You have gained +20 Xcoins, +10 Strength, +10 Stamina.]
[Hidden Reward – Full Recovery]
Reiji stared blankly at the system screen, feeling a little better.
Though the night was short, waking up to rewards made it worth it.
Ding!
_____
[Daily Quest: Training For Dominion]
[PUSH-UPS] – [0/100] {Incomplete}
[SQUATS] – [0/100] {Incomplete}
[SIT-UPS] – [0/100] {Incomplete}
[RUNNING] – [0/20KM] {Incomplete}
[Bonus Objective: Wear Mana Suppression Weights for 8 Hours.]
[Reward: +200 Xcoins, +2 Aesthetic, +10 Stamina.]
[Failure: Soul Torture Chamber (SS++)]
_____
Reiji stared at the system interface for a long time.
It seemed the system’s grudge was finally fading.
Reiji was delighted seeing the number of hours he had to wear those damn Mana Suppression Weights.
Only eight hours.
Not a full day.
Ding!
[Daily Rebranding Has Been Launched, Host! Rejoice, for every day the Mana Suppression Weights will become heavier, building your overall strength and improving your control over mana!]
Reiji’s expression darkened.
He had thought too soon.
This damn system was evil.
Ding!
[Mana Suppression Weights are being upgraded...]
"What did I do to deserve this?"
Reiji felt like crying.
He had woken up trying to look forward to a good day, but the system had other plans.
"Why can’t you be like the systems in novels and manga and bless me with skills and check-in rewards every day?"
Ding!
[Tsk. Tsk.]
[Host really thinks strength should fall from the sky.]
[If rewards are handed out for free, Host will become spoiled.]
[Pain builds character.]
[Hard work builds strength.]
[Host currently lacks both.]
Reiji was speechless.
Completely at a loss for words.
’Is this system lecturing me or something?’
Ding!
[Every reward should feel earned.]
[Otherwise, Host will become lazy.]
This time, hearing the mechanical voice in his ear, it suddenly felt less mechanical and something more human.
Reiji felt a strange feeling stir in his heart.
’What the hell?’
"Just get on with upgrading the damn weights."
Reiji said with disgust written across his face.
The atmosphere immediately changed, and the room turned a little cold. A chill crawled up Reiji’s spine.
Ding!
[Host has clearly adapted to the beginner Mana Suppression Weights and is now moved to intermediate.]
CLANK!
CLANK!
[Enjoy, Host!]
Reiji’s eyes widened as he stumbled to the ground.
"Meow!!!"
Vel screamed at the top of his lungs as Reiji fell on his tail.
Reiji quickly rolled off his tail.
Reiji struggled, barely managing to stand up with the support of the bed.
Meanwhile, Vel was curled up like a ball, clutching his tail tightly.
Reiji groaned as he forced himself downstairs. His legs felt like jelly under the new weight of the intermediate Mana Suppression Weights. Halfway down, he collapsed onto the floor, drenched in sweat.
"You evil bastard! Are you really trying to kill your only host?!" Reiji shouted, insulting the system with pure venom.
Ding!
[...]
The system didn’t reply at all.
Reiji clicked his tongue and dragged himself up again.
"Fine... I’ll complete your stupid daily quest."
He started the exercises with gritted teeth. Push-ups, squats, sit-ups – every rep was hell, but he pushed through. After finishing and resting for an hour, he climbed onto the treadmill for the 20KM run.
By the time he finished, his whole body was screaming.
But then...
Reiji noticed the mana inside his body circulating much better. The once narrow and clogged paths now felt wide open, flowing freely like a clear stream.
"Huh... these weights aren’t that bad after all," he thought, wiping sweat from his face.
Ding!
[(눈‸눈)]
Reiji didn’t bother looking at the system and went upstairs. He took a long bath to wash away the exhaustion, then prepared a simple meal for Vel and himself.
After Reiji was done eating, he looked at the chubby yellow cat sitting across from him.
"Alright Vel, if you’re going to stay in cat form, you need to act like one. Watch."
Reiji pulled out his phone and played a cat video where a cat demonstrated soft purring and gentle rubbing motions.
"Purr when you’re happy. Meow softly for attention. No human talking. Got it?" Reiji asked.
Vel tilted his head, golden eyes blinking cutely.
"Understood, my Lord... Meow."
Reiji nodded, feeling a bit hopeful.
But later during the day, while Reiji was resting on the couch, Vel jumped up beside him.
At first, he stayed perfectly still.
His body was stiff, like he was desperately trying to remember every single instruction Reiji had given him.
Reiji glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
For a moment, it actually looked like the training had worked.
Vel slowly lowered himself onto the couch.
Carefully, deliberately.
Then he curled his body into a round ball.
"..."
Reiji narrowed his eyes.
Vel remained silent. He didn’t speak, he didn’t move – just pure stillness.
It actually looked pretty convincing for once.
Reiji turned his attention back to the TV.
*Maybe the training is finally paying off...*
A few seconds passed.
Then Vel’s tail twitched.
His entire body shifted slightly, like he was uncomfortable holding the position.
Still, he didn’t speak. He endured it.
Reiji stayed quiet.
The room felt calm.
Only the faint sound of the television filled the air.
Vel slowly inched closer.
Not too aggressive.
Just... gradually.
Like a real cat seeking warmth.
His head eventually leaned gently against Reiji’s arm.
Reiji didn’t react right away. He only sighed lightly.
Vel froze instantly. He thought he had messed up.
But Reiji didn’t push him away.
So Vel stayed there.
A strange silence followed.
Not awkward, just quiet.
Maybe it had been a long time since Reiji had felt the warmth of someone; he didn’t push Vel away anyway – who would push away a cute chubby cat?
Vel’s breathing slowly calmed down as he settled properly this time.
His body finally relaxed.
For once, he wasn’t acting like some weird goblin servant.
Just a cat.
Reiji closed his eyes for a moment.
The Mana Suppression Weights still pressed heavily on his body. But strangely, he was starting to get used to them.
The constant pressure no longer felt like pure torture. It gradually felt stable, like his body was being forced to adapt whether he liked it or not.
Reiji exhaled slowly.
Outside the window, the afternoon light shifted a bit.
Time passed without any chaos.
Vel eventually shifted again, this time curling into a proper sleeping position beside him.
His earlier tension was completely gone. His breathing became steady.
Reiji glanced down at him.
"...You’re actually quiet for once."
Vel didn’t respond. He was already fast asleep.
Reiji stared at him for a moment longer before looking away.
A faint thought crossed his mind.
*At least he’s learning something.*
Ding!
[Daily Quest Completed!]
[Congratulations Host! You have gained +200 Xcoins, +2 Aesthetic, +10 Stamina.]
Reiji didn’t react right away. He just stared at the screen for a bit.
"...Finally."
He leaned back deeper into the couch.
For once, even the weights didn’t feel as suffocating. Not because they had gotten lighter, but because he had stopped fighting them completely.
The room stayed quiet.
Vel slept peacefully.
The television kept playing in the background.
And for a brief moment, the house actually felt almost normal.
