Chapter 48: Seems Even Stranger

Its eyes blinked open and shut again, and Cat smelled the fragrant scent drifting in from outside the room door.

It was the scent of meat cooked to perfection, the kind that makes Cat completely lose control of its saliva.

Cat stuck its head out of the nest and glanced at the time.

Hmm…

11:45 a. m.

That nap was really long.

No wonder it's a cat.

Cat blamed all its sleepiness on its own species.

Can't help it, it's a cat; being sleepy is perfectly normal, and it has nothing to do with its inherently lazy, cozy nature.

The rustling sounds of Cat moving about woke Witch Miss, who was also about to finish her nap.

"Cat… don't move, let me… let me nap another ten minutes."

As she said so, Witch Miss's hand, drawn from the quilt, precisely struck Cat's head as it was looking around.

Snap.

Cat's head was pressed heavily onto the quilt.

Look, this force majeure is back again?

Within the range allowed by the witch's claws, Cat adjusted its posture, lazily sprawling on the soft quilt.

Having nothing better to do, and adopting a "check homework" mindset, Cat examined Witch Miss's attribute panel.

【Personal Information】

【Name: Bai Yan】

【Age: 18】

【Race: Human】

【Lineage: Shadow Witch】

【Class: Hero (about to awaken)】

【Sub‑class: Mage】

【Class Level: lv1】

【Attribute Panel】

【Level: lv9】

【EXP: 2500/3200】

【HP: 2000】

【MP: 3000】

【Constitution: 38】

【Strength: 320】

【Agility: 420】

【Intelligence: 140】

【Innate Skills】:

【Shadow Witch's Blessing】 lv2

Current Energy: 200; Energy Regen: 0.8/s

【Shadow】 lv3

All shadows within a 50‑meter radius are usable.

Items can be stored in shadows; current storage space: 10 m³

…

Meow????

It remembered that before it left, the witch's attribute sheet didn't look like this?

What's up with this experience?

Why did it jump from lv8 to lv10 instantly, even though the experience bar is still this long?

She doesn't even have a Hero buff?

And… they've only been missing for two days??

If the world's questions could materialize, Cat's head would already be covered in question marks.

Grinding god, terrifying as ever.

If this time it didn't get the accidental 'fear' bonus, it might even have its level suppressed by Witch Miss.

Who can I reason this to?

The shocked Cat hurriedly used the Growth Guard System to flip through Witch Miss's Growth Log.

Afterwards, it gradually understood everything.

So that's it: not only did it challenge Beta Beast #3, it even slayed Beta Beast #2.

Level‑skipping challenge, no wonder…

No wonder the hammer!

The Beta Beast #3 it gave is already pretty max‑capped, okay!

Beta Beast #2, however, is at least equivalent to a normal lv18 awakener.

Over 10 levels, solo kill?

Although after slaying Beta Beast #2, Witch Miss's HP was only 47.

But for Witch Miss, who currently has almost no combat buffs, this is definitely a feat!

Casting magic like flying a kite, using a non‑consuming melee skill to steal weak‑point damage, and reserving energy points to use 'Shadow' for defensive positioning and pulling.

Although I didn't see Witch Miss's heroic combat in person, from the skill release frequency and damage list, Cat can roughly picture that extreme over‑level solo kill scenario.

No wonder she's his daughter—so cool!

If this were a normal boss fight, the surrounding minions could also refresh Witch Miss's passive energy‑point regeneration for 'Shadow', and with a clear mind, soloing Beta Beast #2 plus one or two groups of monsters would be absolutely fine.

This is still a conservative assessment based on Witch Miss's battle conditions when she challenged the Beta Beast at lv8.

My son Bai Yan, has the bearing of an emperor!

Because of the constant monster challenges, Witch Miss's innate skills have all received corresponding upgrades, and Shadow, like Cat, has also unlocked 'Area'.

The initial Shadow could only control shadows it touched, essentially just shuttling in place, which was somewhat useless in combat.

But now… it's different!

From a thousand miles away, seizing the enemy general's head, becoming a marshal will no longer be a dream.

A plump, high‑damage, fast‑running polygonal warrior is already taking shape!

And by carefully comparing Witch Miss's post‑growth attribute panel, Cat discovered something very interesting.

The Hero, from the initial 'Unawakened' state, jumped two levels to become 'Soon to Awaken'.

Referencing Witch Miss's recent wildly over‑level challenges' 'Achievements', Cat thinks this should match part of the Hero's traits.

That is, under an unreasonable power gap, using a method that can be called miraculous to reverse that imbalance, and return triumphantly with victory and glory.

Having already gained over‑level challenge experience and its benefits, Cat knows that the 'unreasonable power gap' set by the meticulous deity merely represents level.

"Then… my Demon King's level increase probably isn't because of this, right?"

It can't be… that I ate the Frost General's corpse, right?

Cat, while pondering Witch Miss's changes, let thoughts wander in associative divergence.

But there wasn't much time left for the little kitten to think, as the ten‑minute period had elapsed, and Witch Miss opened her eyes.

"Little kitten, good morning."

Witch Miss rolled over and got up, greeting the little kitten with a slightly hoarse voice.

"..."

"Good morning what? This isn't your first time waking up."

"Or have you completely lost memory of your own atrocities ten minutes ago?"

Of course, although Cat's wild words inside are extremely reckless, his behavior is unusually sensible.

He got up, stretched lazily, then padded up to Witch Miss's side, rubbed against her arm, and, using the pole, climbed up, spreading his paws to hug Witch Miss.

Although Cat's short arms couldn't fully embrace Witch Miss, sometimes just holding the front counts as a success.

He thought, what kind of divine little cat would, for its master… ahem, what kind of divine little cat would tenderly knead its daughter the moment she wakes up.

No, that seems even stranger.

Forget it, Cat doesn't need to mind these tiny details.

Having declared that it had admired enough scenery, Cat, ready to go conquer its palate, jumped off the bed, meowed a few times on the floor, and walked to the doorway.

"Alright, alright… got it, Xiaohei."

Seeing the little kitten looking as if it could stick the words 'hungry, want to eat' on its face, Witch Miss gave a helpless smile.

What the little kitten is thinking is really so easy to understand.

So cute!

After freshening up, let's pick it up and give it a good kiss.

Thinking that way, when Witch Miss rolled out of bed, she felt as if she carried her own charge BGM.

…

During the meal, the little kitten gulped down an entire cup of lemonade in one bite.

Can't help it; if he didn't do this, for at least two minutes everything he ate would have to taste like mint green tea.

And today's main course turned out to be steak! Steak!

Nothing can defile the perfectly flawless medium‑rare in Cat's heart, not even Witch Miss!

Although the new recipes concocted by the Pikachus tasted good, Cat still thinks that home‑cooked meals taste the best.

It's a flavor that may not be the most delicious, but is certainly the most nostalgic wherever you go.

Although Cat has never eaten dishes personally prepared by Witch Miss, food made by the veteran chef and butler who have worked in the mansion for at least fifteen years also carries the taste of home.

After all, that's Witch Miss's favorite flavor.

At this point, Cat couldn't help but feel a bit excited, wondering what Witch Miss would actually cook if she were in a dungeon.

…

Wait, what am I looking forward to!

Quickly add a hundred million points of Montuo Stone Powder to the must‑bring list, right?!

Science, lagging behind magic and submerged by theology in just a thirty‑year span of history, should play a crucial role at a time like this, right?

Witch Miss's cuisine—thorny rose—emits a deadly‑scented blossom.

Cat hummed a strange little tune, and after eating and drinking his fill, strutted away.

Today's daytime slacking made Witch Miss extremely busy this afternoon.

As a self‑proclaimed 'liver emperor' and a perfectionist, when she saw the daily quest had a consecutive xx‑day streak, the part of her that wanted to take a break instantly changed its mind.

No one can stop her from completing today's daily tasks; no one, even if Cat kneels, acts cute, or even offers a kiss… *snort*… maybe that works!

The old butler, who had already received Cat's secret contact, after watching Witch Miss change into workout clothes for a 'morning drill' in the courtyard, arrived at the familiar rendezvous point—his bedroom.

"Speak, what matters today?"

The Old Sword Saint, who fully understands that Cat never fails to visit the Three Treasures Hall and loves equal‑trade traits, when he pulls a sour face to ask Cat, actually still carries a hint of expectation in his heart.

Today, what will this black thing bring out again?

Even though less than three days have passed, the sudden change in his body and the recovery that feels like he hit a divine pill still make him very uneasy.

Every morning upon waking he does a self‑identification, always a blind box full of anticipation and the thrill of a brand‑new version.

Really is……

This Cat, truly a devil's minion, uses this temptation to test him.

Oh no, should be truly the devil himself.

His despicable tactics are simply the kind of horror the Old Sword Saint has only ever seen in his lifetime.

He simply cannot refuse to get close to such a dangerous and unknown creature!

Clearly he is upright, and would never deal with such an obscure being shrouded in darkness!

"Um… I just wanted to chat first."

"Then I have a request, and will also give him some local specialties."

Saying that, Cat jumps onto the Old Sword Saint's tea table.

"Speak."

The Old Sword Saint raises a light brow, a bit surprised, yet does not, as before, immediately toss the Cat—who may or may not have wiped its paws—off his table.

Going roundabout to start?

It seems this time the request and reward should be generous.

The Old Sword Saint thinks, perhaps his unbending nature is adapting too quickly.

The Demon King?! He is!? So terrifying!!

┌(。Д。)┐

Unlike his outward calm, the Old Sword Saint's heart is already tumultuous.

"When you went to purchase a Beast, what was your mindset?"

"What do you mean?"

"You actually dared to buy her a No. 2 Beta Beast!"

Seemingly to stress the seriousness, Cat's tail even tapped the table in perfect sync.

"Ah…"

So this is the Beast.

Yet this black ball out in the world actually knows the household affairs like the back of its hand.

And moreover, he hasn't sensed a single hint!

When activating the Insight skill, it possesses such overwhelming concealment ability…

Is it mastery of technique, or is the gap between them so vast that even his sense of aura cannot detect a trace…

The Old Sword Saint can't help but think, if this heart‑black, skin‑black monster, perhaps both are true.

"The Miss's stance against the No. 3 Beast… is indeed rather desperate.

I think if we can make her hit a wall, fail, instill a basic fear of the Beast… or perhaps cause some retreating intent, so her combat style isn't so extreme and desperate, that would be good."

"…"

Seeing even this usually stoic steward, his strange complexion and measured words, Cat somewhat understands his mindset then, and the inner turbulence he felt while watching Witch Miss actually push to the limit to resolve this Beast.

Indeed, if he were beside watching Witch Miss's HP bar drop by hundreds or tens, he might even cause a stress response in his frail body.

And the Old Sword Saint would be the same.

It is worry, also joy… but more so the numbness and bewilderment from the overwhelming impact.

He understands, he understands too well.

Simply by swapping perspectives, Cat fully grasps the Old Sword Saint's complex feelings when he raised the matter.

And at that moment, only hearing the Old Sword Saint's somewhat conflicted continuation,

"I actually was also preparing to block.

but… thinking that if Miss can pass the No. 2 Beast challenge and achieve self‑uplift before level 10, that would also be good."

"Her experience bar is a bit long… that is to say."

When the Old Sword Saint organized his words, Cat replied.

"Yes, it's just a pity that if possible, I would hope she can, before reaching level 10, embark on greater adventures and challenges."

"The school's dungeon?"

"That's far beneath her.

Can only say, somewhat regrettable.

But as a 'uplift', the Miss's solo feat of hunting so many No. 3 Beta Beasts and one No. 2 Beta Beast will certainly give her a cocoon‑like breakthrough."

"I think so too; before the imminent upgrade, give her a final attribute boost. Gaining one point today is profit."

In Witch Miss's cultivation… training and education, Cat and the Old Sword Saint share the same view.

Tomorrow, entering the school's dungeon to hunt, Witch Miss will inevitably reach level 10.

If they keep holding down the level, what Witch Miss gains cannot offset the time‑cost delay, so this night is the final sprint.

After all, Cat cannot drag Witch Miss to pick up a terrifying human head.

The content that popped up during the upgrade appraisal, he has carefully read many times.

【Your all efforts and achievements will be converted into experience, attribute points, skills, etc.】

Effort and achievement.

Picking up a human head doesn't count as effort, nor achievement, and might even grant Witch Miss a weakening 'gain without labor' debuff.

Cat is certain that Witch Miss would never be allowed to do such a risky, no‑mistake‑allowed undertaking.

So, in order to maximize tomorrow's upgrade metamorphosis profit, Cat hopes Sword Saint will step up and let Witch Miss do a last‑minute cramming, and, coincidentally, Sword Saint also thinks that way.

The talk concluded for a moment, and the room suddenly fell silent.

Sword Saint, watching Cat smacking his lips as if about to speak, couldn't help but lift his eyebrows in slight amusement and took the initiative to ask,

"The idle talk is over.

Speak, you're still hanging around here— is there something else?"