Chapter 4: The Rewards of Effort

"Meow~"

Having run so far, the Cat missed the item right in front of it and forgot to practice speaking with the two big cats.

The Cat glanced at its belly, barely feeling hungry anymore.

Reminder to Host: Self-generated Energy is insufficient. Please acquire Portal Energy by completing Missions and Achievements.

Reminder to Host: Please claim the physical reward for your new Achievement.

Reminder to Host: You have one unused gacha pull.

Having only recently learned the language, Emi paused for a moment to process the messages, focusing solely on the second one.

She opened the Achievement System and saw two completed Achievements. Below them, the panel was entirely blank, with no hints about other possible Achievements.

With a thought, the reward for "Never Empty-Handed" automatically appeared before her: a thin booklet about the size of her head.

Basic Fishing Manual: Type: Skill Book. Contains fundamental fishing knowledge and explanations of various bait types and their uses.

Learning Difficulty: Low

Note: This is a Skill Book, not a disposable item. The Host must read it to learn the skill. If you don't understand it after one reading, read it again. If you still don't understand it after two readings, read it a third time. Learning speed depends on the Host's aptitude.

Difference from ordinary books: Even knowledge typically inaccessible to ordinary people (such as chakra refinement) can be comprehended through diligent study.

System: "No knowledge can be mastered in a single reading. Please repeatedly savor its essence."

"Meow."

Cat didn't bother reading the lengthy text, but she heeded the System's words.

She was instructed to savor the flavor of the book.

Emi bit into the Basic Fishing Manual, tore off a corner, chewed it thoroughly, and swallowed.

Disgusting.

A portion of the knowledge flowed into Cat's mind like spilled liquid.

"Meow..."

Awful.

Grumbling, Emi gnawed through the entire book.

"..."

The System paused briefly, seemingly processing Cat's actions.

Then, it delivered its pre-recorded message: "Congratulations, Host, on comprehending the fundamentals of fishing. This is the rightful reward for your diligent study."

At least her stomach was full.

In a cheerful mood, Cat began humming a tune she'd loved even before her transmigration.

"Meow(3) Meow(3) Meow(4) Meow(5)..."

"..."

Less than ten meters away, Dot Han, a contestant feeding his horse, startled so badly that he nearly jabbed a carrot into his beloved mare's nostril.

Am I hearing things? Is that... the Ode to Joy melody?

Dot Han shone his flashlight toward the sound, finally glimpsing Emi's true form. His lingering suspicion that someone might be imitating a cat vanished instantly.

Though it looked like a cat, its markings strikingly resembled those of a giant panda. Could this bizarre creature be a cat demon?

"Meow?"

Emi noticed the man and sauntered over to him with her characteristic lopsided gait.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry? I don't have any extra food to share," Dot Han said, eyeing the cat warily. The unsettling patterns on its fur made him reluctant to provoke it.

Despite the unnerving fur pattern, the cat was undeniably cute. Its plump yet not bulky body and round head gave it a charming appearance, avoiding any hint of greasiness. However, the panda-like markings, long tail, and large blue eyes created a slightly jarring image for anyone who had actually seen a panda.

Dot Han was still scrutinizing the creature, wondering if it might be a panda cub or a close relative, when the cat opened its three-lobed mouth and spoke in a clear, childlike voice: "Goo mawning."

He froze, as if a phantom blue brain had materialized beside him, accompanied by bizarre background music.

Alert: The correct pronunciation for that greeting is "Good morning."

Emi understood now why the man had frozen. "Good... morning," she repeated stiffly, enunciating each syllable.

She was practicing her speech.

Dot Han's hand twitched again, causing the carrot to jab into Aima's nostril.

"I-it spoke?!"

"Meow?" Emi tilted her head in confusion. Was her greeting incorrect?

The System replied: "Based on the host's current situation, the most appropriate greeting protocol has been formulated:

Human etiquette for first encounters places great emphasis on first impressions. Proper decorum requires neat and formal attire, and an upright posture. Given the host's current feline form, conventional greetings are inappropriate. The specific phrasing should be..."

Upright posture?

Emi glanced down at her front paws.

Talking to big cats is such a hassle.

With considerable effort, Emi balanced on her hind legs, straightening her body.

System: "Young one."

Emi mimicked: "Young one."

System: "Do I strike you as human or divine?"

Emi stumbled over the words in her childish voice: "Do I strike you as human or divine?"

"..."

Dot Han, the Mongolian racer, jolted upright and leaped onto his horse. Regardless of his average performance in the race, his mounting speed far surpassed 99% of the other competitors.

"Giddy-up! Giddy-up! Faster! Faster! Move, move, move!"

The whip cracked mercilessly against the horse's flank, nearly drawing blood. The animal almost spontaneously invented the 22nd-century slang "Holy shit!" right then and there.

This was terrifying! How could he encounter an Enlightened Cat Immortal seeking recognition, even in the United States? Wasn't that supposed to be a China thing?

Humiliated, Emi flopped back onto the ground.

"Meow." Rude.

Shaking her head, Emi ambled forward, searching for a good napping spot.

Congratulations, Host! Achievement unlocked: [Meow Enlightenment]. Reward: 5% Portal Energy.

"Meow?"

Congratulations, Host! Achievement unlocked: [Immortal's Recognition]. Reward: 5% Portal Energy.

"Meow meow?"

This Portal Energy wasn't so hard to get after all.

Emi stared intently at the System again, glancing at the Mission Panel.

With a thought, the comically plump Fat Catfish that suppressed the malevolence of the Hydro Tide materialized before her.

Right, this fatso hadn't disappeared. Instead, it had formed a faint, indescribable connection with Emi.

"Meow meow meow meow." Find the other remains. All of them.

The demon's smile seemed to deepen slightly. "This counts as our second transaction, madam. This time, my condition is the 'delicious meals' you will enjoy over the next three days."

Its words were deliberately concise, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

The Cat didn't understand the consequences of going hungry for three days, because it couldn't remember the last time it had been hungry for so long.

After a moment's thought, Emi almost agreed.

"Never listen to the temptations of demons, little cat."

For some reason, the Saint's words echoed in Emi's ears once more. It wasn't a sudden memory; she truly heard the Saint's voice.

"Meow?" Cat tilted its head in confusion.

Emi wagged her tail, quietly meeting the demon's gaze. Its disproportionately small eyes, considering the size of its head, weren't focused on the cat itself, but seemed to reflect the Saint's gentle warning.

"Not just the next Remains Sister, but all of them. That's what you desired just now. Other remains, not just the next one."

The demon's words seemed imbued with an indescribable magic. "For just three days of the finest meals, you can have everything you need. My only requirement is delicious food—not just any tasteless slop to fill your belly. Isn't that a fair trade?"

All of them!

"Accepting a demon's bargain is like stepping deeper and deeper into the Abyss, little cat..."

Emi stared directly at the demon.

"...Reject it..."

Congratulations, Host, for completing the Achievement [White and Black]. Reward: 5% Portal Energy.

The System's notification seemed to awaken the last shred of rationality in the cat, revealing that Energy could be obtained through means other than Missions. Along with this realization, Emi's keen sense of smell returned, allowing her to perceive the raw, abyssal malice emanating from the demon.

"Meow."

"Is that so? How regrettable, madam. Your decision is as wise as a mouse squealing in a trap. I look forward to our next collaboration."

The demon vanished.