“It’s been a while since I had grilled meat.”
For someone like me, who had only eaten things like mice, fish, and jerky, the grilled meat I was having now was an extraordinary delicacy.
It felt like going from eating only pork shoulder and ham to savoring beef ribs for the first time.
As I tore into the rabbit’s hind leg, I glanced up at Irina, who was also devouring her share of meat.
Hunters.
In the old days, before civilization was firmly established, they were the ones who protected humanity’s safe zones by hunting monsters.
Hunters were exceptional warriors, mages, and scholars.
They played a significant role in expanding human territory and building civilization.
But no one can resist the flow of time.
As civilization progressed, they passed on their duties to others, and eventually, the hunter lineage nearly disappeared.
So, it should have been impossible to see hunters anymore, but…
There was a girl born as the granddaughter of one of the last hunters, who inherited the lost secrets of hunting and sought to revive the tradition.
That girl was the brown-haired Irina, sitting right in front of me.
She had come to the capital to rebuild the Hunter Department, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, the last instructor of the Hunter Academy.
Thanks to her grandfather’s recommendation letter, she was admitted as a special case student. Despite being ignored, she pushed through and eventually achieved her dream—a true protagonist.
Rebuilding the department as a student was no easy feat, making her a character with one of the most challenging storylines.
She was the type to act first and think later if she believed it was necessary. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
“You eat well, huh? Want more?”
If she’s offering, of course.
I happily accepted the piece of meat she handed me.
“Ahahaha! You really eat well!”
After running around all day, I was bound to be hungry.
But since I couldn’t express it in words, I let out a soft meow in response and sat a little distance away from Irina.
Close enough to reach her head if I stretched out my arm, but far enough that I couldn’t touch her otherwise.
Irina glanced at me as she tore into the meat, seemingly disappointed by the distance.
This girl, she’s probably thinking of pulling me into a hug.
In the original story, she often hugged the animals she raised, so I could predict her actions with near 100% accuracy.
“Hey, why are you being like this with me?”
What do you mean, “us”?
Is this some kind of insider talk?
Things are moving too fast.
Does she think giving me food equals maxing out her affection meter?
As I subtly leaned back, Irina withdrew her hand with a look of disappointment.
“Alright, alright. I won’t do it if you don’t want me to.”
You should’ve done that from the start.
“By the way, can you find your way out of this forest?”
“Meow.”
Since I can’t speak human language, I answered with a short meow.
“I’ll take you out of the forest after we finish eating.”
How kind.
I’ve been through enough in my life that I don’t think I need an escort, but it wouldn’t hurt to build a rapport with Irina.
Given her chatty nature, she’d probably keep talking, and I could confirm whether she’s the protagonist or not.
Well, I might as well take a nap until the food’s done.
I curled up by the campfire.
‘I want to keep her.’
A cat roaming unharmed in a place full of beasts that eat cats.
Irina looked down at me with curious eyes.
My well-groomed white fur shimmered in the firelight, and my heterochromatic eyes gleamed with intelligence.
Even my reactions to her words made it clear I wasn’t an ordinary cat.
Where did a cat like this come from?
‘Maybe she’s the spiritual creature Grandpa mentioned!’
Beasts with the potential to become spiritual creatures have a different aura.
Given how rare spiritual creatures are, Irina’s curiosity soared like a startled cat.
It’s said that fewer than 20 spiritual creatures have ever been discovered, and here’s a beast showing potential!
If she weren’t a hunter with knowledge passed down orally, she might have just thought I was a slightly unusual cat.
‘She’s staring at me so intensely. Maybe I should’ve just watched from afar.’
But the temptation of the rabbit meat on an empty stomach was hard to resist.
What’s done is done.
I sat by the campfire and closed my eyes, resigning myself to whatever would happen.
‘If only she were a bit closer, I’d try putting my finger in her mouth.’
Putting a finger in a yawning cat’s mouth.
It’s a prank Irina wanted to try, something she often did with her grandfather’s cat.
Even though I’m a different cat, she wanted to feel that sensation again!
But it wasn’t the right time yet.
‘If we get a bit closer, she might let me play pranks on her.’
For now, it’s like two people who’ve just met—awkward and unsure.
If she pushes too hard, I’ll just run away, so she needs to be patient.
The brown-haired girl bit into the well-cooked rabbit meat and forced her gaze back to the campfire.
‘By the way, I wonder how the application went.’
The first step in rebuilding the Hunter Department.
Securing the budget for the main building’s reconstruction!
The Hunter Department, with only one student and the department head (who also handled academic affairs), had a large area but no budget, leaving it in ruins.
To rebuild, money was essential.
After all, in a civilized society, everything requires money.
“Ugh, this is frustrating! I wish money would just rain down from the sky!”
The world was peaceful, except for the northernmost and western edges of the continent.
With stable international relations, there was little for hunters to do.
Knights handled security, mages took care of magic, and scholars managed academia, leaving hunters with only monster hunting!
But unless the monsters were useful or rare, they didn’t fetch much money!
Unless you hunted a dragon, that is.
‘Should I go crazy and try hunting a dragon?’
Even if other monsters don’t pay well, dragons are different!
But a hunter must always remain objective.
“…There’s no way I could hunt a dragon.”
Knowing she wasn’t capable of hunting a dragon, she shook her head with a bitter smile.
‘Wait a minute.’
My face stiffened like I’d seen Medusa.
“…Once we get the budget, we’ll request to create lectures first. Since hunters are still active in the outskirts, we’ll ask for guest lecturers too…! We’ll take it step by step!”
No, just go hunt a dragon!
My mouth itched to say it.
‘If you’re not the protagonist, how is anything supposed to work?!’
If you were the protagonist, you’d go hunt a dragon without hesitation!
If none of you are protagonists, how is anything supposed to work?!
My scream died in my lungs, unable to escape.
I couldn’t show weakness in front of a can opener.
“Sigh, living alone makes me talk to myself a lot…”
As the stars began to appear in the sky, it was time to take the white cat out of the forest and get some sleep.
Stretching her arms above her head, she stood up and stretched.
“Kitty, do you want to go home?”
“…Meow.”
‘Let’s sleep for now. Things will be clearer after some rest.’
If not, I’ll just blame my 30-gram brain.
I sighed and stretched.
Seeing me act as if I understood her and wanted to go home, Irina’s eyes sparkled.
‘She’s so smart! If she were a stray, I’d take her home in a heartbeat!’
I want her.
I really want her!
The way she consciously measures distance and acts like she understands human speech has completely won me over.
After all, a hunter’s partner must be sharp and intelligent!
“It’s such a shame~ If she didn’t have an owner, I’d take her home and raise her!”
‘Dream big.’
“Alright! Let’s go!”
I followed Irina’s energetic steps as she led the way.
“Bye, kitty! See you next time!”
Guided by Irina, I left the forest and quickly returned to the garden.
The garden was quiet.
Glancing at the corner, I saw a brown-furred cat lying on its back by the fountain.
Living the good life.
While some of us are burning up inside.
I lowered the paw I was about to lift and curled up in my usual spot.
…I’m screwed.
If none of the five are protagonists, what are we supposed to do?
Just a moment ago, the future seemed bright, but now it feels like dark clouds have gathered.
How am I supposed to relieve this frustration?
Should I just play it by ear and hope for a natural death?
Without even the minimum safety net, survival means I have to be cautious.
…But, but still.
If the future isn’t set and is completely unpredictable, then why was I reincarnated?
The question that arose after all this confusion.
What’s the meaning of my reincarnation?
It can’t be just to see the ending in this body.
At the very least, let someone possess me.
I’m even open to a gender swap.
With these complicated thoughts, I closed my eyes.
In times like these, it’s best to take a nap and sort things out afterward.
I wrapped myself in the quiet night air and drifted off to sleep.