Chapter 22: Exactly This Kind of Fluffy

Solo… party?!

Teacher Liu Ge never could have imagined that the first application she received was a Solo Party application from Bai Yan.

Hmm.

Witch Miss nodded solemnly.

Have you thought it through? The various risks of a Solo Party, plus the scoring issues. And I heard a squad also extended an invitation to you?

For a moment, Teacher Liu Ge had so many words of caution she wanted to say to Bai Yan standing before her.

This child has finally become a bit cheerful, even if only toward her cat.

Why does her mind suddenly go dull when it comes to the test?

"There's still the test, teacher; you don't need to worry too much.

I made this decision only after thorough preparation."

When dealing with this homeroom teacher who has always taken great care of her, Witch Miss remained very courteous, even when she had to think for half a day before speaking.

"I know you're worried about my safety, and besides that, about my grades.

Refusing the squad's invitation isn't me throwing a tantrum.

Teacher, do you really think she is sincerely inviting me?

If I form a party alone, I only need to be responsible for myself; I won't affect anyone.

And correspondingly, the glory my squad earns will belong solely to me."

I must say, whenever this happens, Witch Miss can't help but feel the system has trained her well.

Now she's a strong one who can blurt out even those shameful words, so how could she fear this cricket's communication!

o(￣ヘ￣o＃)!

"Disasters always come one after another; that's the natural order of the world.

It's impossible that someone will always come to save me.

I've already made thorough preparations; if I die, it just shows I'm only that kind of person.

Teacher,

I also want to astonish everyone and prove myself.

I've been working toward this all along.

I think this test is my chance."

Teacher Liu Ge was surprised by Witch Miss's enthusiastic chatter, and equally surprised by the blazing fighting spirit burning within her.

She nodded and patted Witch Miss's shoulder,

"Alright.

You said it, so I believe it.

Come on, kid."

Then Liu Ge glanced at the Xiaohei cat perched on Bai Yan's shoulder,

"Is he okay? Does he help you a lot?"

"He's great! And I always feel he's protecting me! Thanks to him, I finally see hope for struggle!"

"Good. Then that's fine."

Regarding whether this cat is truly just a Zero Rank breed, Liu Ge didn't investigate further.

At the time she was only shocked by the cat's peculiarity, but after returning home Liu Ge thought carefully: what ordinary mutated cat could, after Summon Familiar, replace a Magic Circle with an equal Symbiotic Contract?

What ordinary mutated cat could withstand her infusion of magical power?

What ordinary cat could instantly replicate the magic she spent years mastering?

Those coiled, seemingly harmless Thunder Snakes are actually the result of her merging the magic 【Thunder Dragon】 and 【Chain Lightning】!

That black cat is definitely not simple!

Mimicry? Or a higher-level existence!

But she halted all her speculation and didn't pursue Bai Yan's secret further.

She even wrote firmly on the report: a conventional mutated breed, yet possessing intelligence and survival instincts above average.

This counts as her using her small privilege to give this child, whose path is rugged, some help within her power.

A child without deep background, with outstanding talent but a late awakening, would still become a coveted seed for major forces.

But if this child carries too many secrets and treasures…

Hopefully this beheading and exposing of horns will help her find a reliable backing.

Of course, if Cat knew her worries and suspicions, it would definitely yawn, wave a paw and say,

"It's fine~"

His reincarnation as a cat was orchestrated by that god who is so meticulous it drives cats crazy.

In the system notice 'You have been reincarnated as a cat', it will definitely not let him mutate into another species!

┓(´∀`)┏

Anyway, being a cat isn't bad at all, and it doesn't stop him from hand‑crafting a few spiral balls.

It also cloaks him with a layer of mystery.

Who could have thought that this ordinary little cat is Witch Miss's most powerful guardian?

Hmph!

Although the Demon King's guardian of the hero is a bit odd.

But,

May the Holy Fire Meow Meow Sect endure forever!

……

After saying goodbye to Teacher Liu Ge, Witch Miss did not, as usual, wait for the butler to pick her up or hail a car to go home early.

She strolled along the street and walked all the way to the bustling commercial street near the school.

It is now mid‑April, close to Easter.

Although this is not a traditional festival of the Eastern Alliance, merchants, adhering to the idea that a holiday without promotions is wasted, decorated their shops without exception.

Rabbits, Easter eggs and other dazzling candy‑colored elements filled the street steeped in historic atmosphere.

"Hey, Cat! What flavor of chocolate do you like?"

Relying on the fact that her cat is a magical cat, Witch Miss asked a lavish question that ordinary pet owners could never pose.

"Snap!"

Milk chocolate!

As a steadfast devotee of silky milk chocolate original flavor, Cat gave a swift swipe and presented the flavor it coveted to Witch Miss.

"I also like this flavor! But the pistachio‑filled one here is also delicious! Cat, do you want it?"

?

Is that even a question?

Without any hesitation, and with another "Snap!", Cat had already acted first.

While preparing to pay, Witch Miss suddenly saw a flyer placed in front of the cash register.

"Hey! Is this year's limited edition the liqueur‑filled dark chocolate? It looks like a flavor Grandpa Lin would like. Cat, what do you think?"

What does Cat think?

Cat thinks that the two‑faced old man might actually be the type who likes strawberry‑filled chocolate.

Suddenly a bit curious~

So, Cat leapt off Witch Miss's shoulder, rushed into the kids' area, grabbed a strawberry chocolate shaped like a rabbit, and handed it to Witch Miss.

"Hmm? Cat, are you serious?"

Witch Miss, who does not understand whether Old Sword Saint Xue Ding'e's girlish heart exists, simply took it as Cat liking rabbits.

Thus…

"Cat! Look, that little rabbit dress is so cute! Do you want to wear it!"

Cat:?

What are you saying?

A rabbit dress is cute, what does that have to do with my magical cat?

(ꐦ0д0) Cat, no!

"Hehe, I think you'd look really cute wearing it!"

Hey!

Are you completely ignoring my opinion!

You were the one who first asked me "whether to"??

What kind of hierarchical questioning is this!

Despite Cat's desperate struggling, he eventually got the white‑trimmed rabbit dress slipped onto him.

"Wow! This bow is also so cute! Cat, want to try it!"

"Cat! This little hat is also so cute!"

"Hello, do these pearls have large beads? I want to buy a strand for my Cat."

"……"

(›´ω`‹)

Forget it.

This is still the first time Cat has seen Witch Miss converse with a stranger so fluidly and enthusiastically.

Although it is to torment him.

He…

For his good daughter, he endured!

(つД｀)･ﾟ･

I am a man, not a delicate beauty~

Alas~~~~

Ah, the scene got tangled.

While Cat was performing, Witch Miss had already paid, carrying three large shopping tote bags, and turned in front of a Western restaurant.

"Hey Cat, this restaurant is one I visited once when I was a child.

They serve Western dishes like pizza; I love eating them.

Although I can't recall the taste now, I only remember the fresh and happy feeling of the first bite.

Sigh, why are these things criticized as junk food!

Who decides the categories! Damn!!

Crying!!!

Indeed!

Listening to Witch Miss's rant, Cat also felt a bit of his fists harden.

He recalled the days when he happily ate takeout while being pointed at.

Crying!!

Damn it! Food—shouldn't it be enough just to bring people happiness!

Balanced nutrition and all that—just leave it to vitamin tablets, damn!

One person, one Cat, facing a Western restaurant, both wore the same "Damn" expression.

Ahem, but today is a day worth celebrating!

So… even if it really is junk food, let's both eat our fill, Cat!!

Meow!

Eat till we're full!

We pushed the door open and entered; the server greeted us warmly and politely,

"Hello, may I ask if you have a reservation?"

"No."

"Then how many are dining?"

"Two. Me and my Cat."

"A window seat, does that work for you?"

"No problem."

Led to the assigned table by the server, Witch Miss took off her hat and set it aside, readjusted the little bow with a golden bell on Cat's tail, then began rapidly chanting to the server,

"One ten‑inch Hawaiian pizza, with a mashed‑potato crust, add cheese."

"One seafood noodle, add three taels of chili sauce."

"One snack platter, extra fries, with ketchup."

"One salmon and mashed‑potato salad, without the dressing, but add oil‑vinegar sauce."

"For drinks, two strawberry Yakult with ice."

Cat stood on the table like that, watching Witch Miss chant without pausing, and finished ordering the whole list of dishes.

At Witch Miss's behavior, Cat was momentarily stunned.

"……"

How much do you actually love eating, damn!

And! You're really something! Looks like we don't have to worry about your spell‑chanting speed in the future, huh!

"Cat, I can't finish it alone, I need to power up!"

"Actually I'm also planning to order some egg tarts and desserts."

Egg tarts! Desserts!

ლ(´ڡ`ლ)

And this good thing?

Put it on Cat!

Eat!

The dishes arrived at a moderate pace; while Witch Miss was unwrapping each package, swinging a fork left and right and tasting for Cat, the server brought most of the food to the table.

Because the restaurant, well‑versed after Magic Power Revival, noticed Witch Miss was planning to dine with her Cat, it skillfully gave Cat a set of baby‑size tableware and an apron.

Meow~~

I won't be polite, I'll eat first, huh!

The dishes tasted excellent; the snacks were fried crisp and tasty, and the meat's aroma was spot‑on.

The pizza needs no further comment—though it's also a fruit‑plus‑meat combo, its flavor is extra rich and sweet.

As for the noodles, the tomato's sourness blends with the seafood pasta, unexpectedly appetizing and rice‑friendly.

It's that spiciness…

Meow!

(｣╹□╹)｣

Spicy, spicy, spicy!

Even a magical cat's tongue can't tolerate the heat!

Dun dun dun dun dun.

After three bites of noodles, Cat turned and gulped several big mouthfuls of ice‑cold Yakult.

"Ha~ I'm alive."

Hearing the 'finally a sigh of relief' from across the table, Cat looked up.

The Witch Miss sitting opposite had already drunk half of her Yakult!

Turns out you also can't handle spice!

→_→!

"Hehe, don't stare at me like that~

But don't you think the noodles taste better, more essential, after adding a bit of chili sauce?"

"……"

That's true.

Cat gave a reluctant nod of agreement.

"But it's really spicy, Cat."

You tell the cat this, but the cat can't help it! The cat feels the heat too!

"But eating that corner with mashed‑potato and cheese does help relieve the spice.

And it conveniently saves the dipping sauce, so we can eat that corner instead."

Saying so, Witch Miss tore open half a pizza and shoved it into Cat's mouth.

A Mu.

The fragrant, sweet, soft mash of potatoes and cheese, together with the crust's crisp, chewy texture, perfectly balanced the happy yet painful spiciness in Cat's mouth.

Now, Cat's mouth contains only happiness!

=∪=

"Look, doesn't it seem especially sweet."

"Meow~~"

"This shop has kept this classic flavor for years—Mmm~ delicious~"

"Meow~"

The Cat feels the same.

This shop, good!

And besides, this food looks perfect for a celebration feast.

So let's celebrate today, Witch Miss's first time speaking for herself, her first step toward change!

Cheers!

Thinking that, Cat curled the cup with its tail and slammed it toward Witch Miss.

"Cat, cheers!"

【】~(￣▽￣)~*

"Hope everything goes smoothly in the future! Then we can party every day and go shopping to buy you little clothes!"

"……"

No, partying every day gets tiring.

Little clothes and such are even more unnecessary.

He is a fruit‑sleep enthusiast.

But if she could be happy like this every day, it's not without negotiation.

Sigh~

While Cat and Witch Miss were focused on their meal, they didn't notice that their interaction had been captured by a classmate at the next table and posted on the school's social platform.

"Wow! Which senior sister from our school is this! So beautiful! The Cat beside her is also so cute!"

The accompanying photo shows Witch Miss's gentle smile as she feeds Cat pizza, and the scene of the two clinking cups.

The delicious dinner filled Witch Miss and Cat's stomachs, and their enjoyment became an enviable sight to others.

￥￥￥￥￥￥

Full of wine and food, after returning home…

Naturally, it was the daily rigorous training.

On the way home, Witch Miss had already devised her genius simulation training plan.

"Cat! Strictly speaking, you're a monster, right?"

"Meow?"

"I'm human, right?"

"Meow?"

"If we spar, we can grind experience!!"

"!!!"

"Did you just think of that!!"

If it weren't for that sudden arch‑enemy mission, just from the Witch's daily 'beatings', Cat thinks his level could easily jump ten or twenty levels, or at least five or six.

But Witch Miss didn't notice Cat's sarcasm; she only saw the shock on Cat's face as surprise and worry.

"Cat, don't be afraid!"

"Afraid?!"

"I'd love to use a pretext to kill you!"

Recalling Witch Miss's recent malicious deeds, Cat has already figured out how to deftly use his master‑level positioning and ceiling‑level magic to teach this rookie stinky Witch a lesson!

Back home, Witch Miss immediately ran to give the old butler the gift she bought and told him her training plan.

"Combat training?"

"Yes!"

"Um…"

The old butler glanced at the eager, fists‑clenching Cat, stroked his chin, and curled his mouth,

"Good plan, but if you follow my instructions for the battle details, the results will be better."

Cat:?

Seeing the old butler's expression, Cat instantly got a foreboding feeling.

Yet Witch Miss, who increasingly respects her own old butler, didn't sense the danger like Cat did; instead she stared curiously at the old butler, waiting for him to continue.

"Your summoned beast's magic is abundant; you can have it simulate a monster's form to help you adapt to dungeon conditions."

"After all, you can gain experience fighting humans by training with me.

This black… black cat, as a monster, isn't representative. Fighting it won't yield useful experience."

"I see…"

Witch Miss nodded thoughtfully,

"Then how can we make it simulate a monster?"

"It's fine, he's very smart. Show him a few pictures of monsters and describe your needs, and he'll probably understand."

"......"

"Thank you! Righteous Sword Saint!"

"While Witch Miss jogged back to the study to flip through the books, the Sword Saint turned and gave Cat a victorious smile."

"Little brat."

"You think I can't see your little scheming?"

"If you have the skill, speak up! Open your mouth and talk! What can you do?"

"Cat, receiving this provocative stare, angrily hammered the ground with its tail."

"(•́へ•́╬)!"

"Damn old man! Using the fact that I can't find a chance to speak up for justice, huh!"

"I curse you to have water get stuck in your teeth today!"

"When Witch Miss came back with the photos, she saw Cat perched on the old butler's face like a clingy bug, and the butler made no real effort to struggle, merely gripping Cat's nape and muttering incomprehensible words."

"\"You... you all??? \""

"\"We must get along peacefully!!!!!! \""

"￥￥￥￥￥￥"

"Cat with a patch on its head and the old butler with a patch on his head are now on the lawn of their courtyard, waiting for Witch Miss to change into convenient athletic clothes and come down."

"\"Alright, Cat, you understand, right? \""

"\"Meow. \""

"\"Then, training begins! \""

"The moment Witch Miss finished speaking, Cat gathered magical energy."

"In the blink of an eye, as the golden magical light sphere dispersed, a yellow electric mouse appeared before Witch Miss."

"Go, Pikachu!"

"Cat shouted in its heart."

"\"Pika Pika~\""

"As if matching Cat's shout, the mimicked Pikachu let out a few professional cries."

"So... so cute!"

"(*╹▽╹*)"

"Sure enough, the monster simulated by the cute Cat is also adorable!"

"But..."

"This really is a harsh training."

"To think we have to hunt down such a cute monster."

"While Witch Miss emitted a little floral aura toward the electric mouse, Cat was already ready to attack."

"\"Meow! \""

"Pikachu flashed electric light to approach the wicked woman, then used its momentum to unleash Steel Tail!"

"\"Huh??? \""

"Seeing the electric mouse suddenly rush toward her at high speed, Witch Miss was momentarily flustered."

"Driven by instinct, she instantly transformed her wand into a sword, stepped back with her right foot, and struck the charging electric mouse hard."

"Bang."

"That was the sound of the magical mimicry sphere crashing into the opposite side of the garden."

"Cat: Σ(⊙▽⊙\"Huh???"

"Witch Miss: Σ(⊙▽⊙\"Huh???"

"What are you!"

"You smashed it!"

"And, Witch Miss, don't you remember this is a magic training??"

"\"Ah... I... \""

"Looking at the pit in the garden ground and the electric mouse with only its rear exposed, Witch Miss swallowed a mouthful of water, feeling uneasy."

"I'm a magician; being frightened, swinging my wand at someone should be reasonable, right?"

"Witch Miss, who learned bad habits from novels, still didn't muster the courage to say that boldly, only muttering silently in her mind."

"\"The first training doesn't count; the second round begins! \""

"The old butler stepped out at this moment, attempting to reorganize the battle discipline."

"But..."

"\"Eh???? I leveled up??? \""

"【Defeating the mimicked monster 'Pikachu' in battle, you gained 50 experience points】"

"【You have advanced to Lv2】"

"【For detailed attribute increases, please check your personal interface】"

"\"... \""

"\"Ahem, it's fine, continue the battle. \""

"\"Alright, Grandpa Lin. \""

"\"Meow. \""

"\"Alright, alright, start over, start over. \""

Speaking, Witch Miss also readjusted her stance.

This training was mainly aimed at the teaching group's test.

After all, there she must, as a magician, defeat the battle dummy!

Meow!

Pikachu! Stand up! Use Thunder Punch on Witch Miss!

As a trainer, he is serious!

woooo!

To wash away the recent disgrace, Cat has already ignited.

Likewise, everything is to complete the bounty mission and converse with Cat; amid constant beating, Witch Miss gradually figured out the so‑called positioning.

Only…

From time to time, a frustrated Witch Miss would unleash a cruel sword technique on Pikachu, or slip into the shadows to wait for a sneak attack.

It can only be said that when it comes to being unplayable, Witch Miss still tops the list.

During the training intermission, Witch Miss wildly kneaded the electric mouse simulated by Cat.

Ah~ this is the fluffy kind I want.

Cat's mimicry is extremely detailed; as a Pokémon fanatic, he even replicated the short, fuzzy hair on Pikachu.

However, his precision did not earn praise; instead it fulfilled Witch Miss's pursuit of fluffiness.

She can be seen stroking Pikachu's fur with one hand while, with a look of enjoyment, rubbing her face against Pikachu's cheek.

Uwa!

The crackle‑crackle feeling of being zapped by static made Witch Miss somewhat addicted.

Cat observed all of Witch Miss's actions.

He doesn't know why, even though he was freed by the electric mouse, he feels a bit displeased.

U...

In extreme irritation, Cat flicked its tail, causing the electric mouse to vanish from Witch Miss's arms.

Hey!! Cat!! Let me absorb for a while longer!

Cat: ╭(╯^╰)╮

Facing Witch Miss's accusation, Cat raised its tail high, turned its head and gave her a cold, aloof butt.

For the first time, Cat refused to satisfy Witch Miss's request.

Ten minutes later, in the next battle training, what appeared before Witch Miss was…

the Earth God—Groudon

Under Witch Miss's shocked and terrified gaze, Cat ruthlessly issued the battle command,

Meow!

Groudon! Fly!