JSOML 19

Chapter 19

‘Hah. My head hurts. But it was a lower synchronization rate than before, and I feel like I’ve learned more than I expected.’

Lery flopped onto the rug, overwhelmed by the sudden wave of fatigue.

Immediately, a golden system window appeared with a fanfare, making a grand entrance.

[SYSTEM: Congratulations! You have received a reward for achieving 1/4 synchronization!]

[Current number of rewards obtained: 1]

[Would you like to check your reward now?]

[YES/NO]

‘Reward?’

Lery widened his blue eyes and pressed the ‘YES’ button. He had no idea what kind of reward he’d receive, but somehow he felt excited.

Immediately, the system window popped up.

[You have acquired ‘Reward – 1 Hour Humanization Voucher’!]

“Myaak?! (What?!)”

“……Huh? Huh?! Captain?”

Startled by Lery’s loud cry, which couldn’t hide his excitement—half delight, half surprise—Jack, who had been sound asleep, sprang to his feet and looked around.

“I wasn’t sleeping!”

“I really wasn’t sleeping…….”

Jack mumbled drowsily, then, confirming no one was there, slumped back down.

Ever since being caught dozing off by Ian a while ago, he’d been in that state.

That aside.

‘Humanization! Even if it’s just for a short while, it means I can become human?! I’ve been so frustrated all this time……!’

Lery had no time to worry about Jack. He was simply overjoyed that the reward he’d longed for had finally been given.

‘But wait. Something’s strange.’

But his joy was short-lived; a ominous feeling flashed through him. Lery narrowed his eyes and stared at the system window.

‘There’s no way they’d give away such a good reward so easily.’

No matter how he thought about it, it was strange.

He’d been burned too many times to trust the system window blindly. Besides, when it came down to it, he was living this unplanned cat life all because of the system window, so he couldn’t exactly be grateful.

Sure enough…….

When Lery poked the system window with a nonchalant expression,

[SYSTEM: This reward has an expiration date. Must be used within the designated time frame.]

[Remaining time: 72:00:00]

‘Fraud. What would I have done if I hadn’t checked.’

An outrageous message appeared saying it must be used within three days.

Lery rested his fluffy forehead on his paw pads.

How on earth was he supposed to transform into a human in a place with so many people, under Theodore’s watch every night?

‘Just say you don’t want to give it to me…….’

Lery made a sad face and trudged over to his food bowl.

In times like these, the only thing that soothed his troubled heart was the savory smell of cat food.

Lery crunched on his kibble, glaring fiercely.

‘What was I expecting. Damn system! If you’re going to do this, at least add a difficulty level. SSS-rank!’

He even thought that finding Mr. Kim in Sentineo might be easier.

And so, Lery had half given up on receiving the reward.

“……So prepare to depart tomorrow, timed with Ian’s quitting time.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Oh, and take Pompom with you. Lery might get bored.”

“Yes.”

As dusk began to settle dimly, contrary to Lery’s expectations, an opportunity came quickly.

‘Depart? Pompom too? What’s that supposed to mean?’

Lery looked back and forth between Theodore and Sonia with eyes like full moons. It was so sudden that he couldn’t grasp the situation.

“Myaa……? (Where am I going……?)”

He cautiously asked, shaking his paw pads about, but there was no way the two of them could understand.

Theodore, with a rather serious expression, gave Sonia a few points of caution.

“Once you arrive at Ian’s estate, a doctor will be waiting. The doctor’s identity must not be disclosed. You shouldn’t ask too many questions either. And it’s best to depart with as few people as possible.”

“Yes, understood. Then Jack…….”

“He applied for leave that day, didn’t he? Ian will take over the escort duties.”

Come to think of it, he’d seen Jack, who had just finished preparing to leave, humming and greeting him a little while ago.

‘Wow. Leave……. I’m jealous…….’

Lery recalled Jack’s face, which looked like he had the whole world, and focused back on the conversation.

Sonia wrote down everything Theodore said, then tilted her head and asked.

“Yes, understood. Your Highness, but how long will it take to get to Marquis Serpeon’s residence?”

“It won’t take that long. Why?”

“It seems like Lery hasn’t ridden in a carriage for that long before…….”

“Hmm…… I think that should be fine.”

Theodore said, stroking his chin.

Certainly, Lery these days was different from his previous self, who would just sleep or get startled by loud noises even when visiting the temple. Even now, he was looking out the window with curious eyes.

Theodore smiled and looked at Lery.

“Our Lery, you’ve been going on walks well lately, haven’t you?”

“Yes, come to think of it, he’s been eating well lately too…… and he does seem to have become quite lively all of a sudden.”

“Right. So don’t worry too much. Ah, he might get stressed in unfamiliar places, so pack mostly familiar items.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In his gaze, one could clearly feel the heart of a butler who cared for Lery more than anyone else.

‘So…… I’m going to Ian’s house now? To check on my health?’

Having listened quietly to Theodore’s words, Lery was finally able to reach a conclusion.

To summarize, before Lery was possessed into this body, the cat had been very sick. He didn’t eat well, and his sleeping hours increased. But strangely, the cause was unknown.

Theodore, who couldn’t just stand by and watch, had made inquiries and finally found a doctor specializing in felines, and Lery was to receive a proper examination for the first time.

He couldn’t figure out why the examination had to be at Ian’s residence, but in any case, it was the perfect opportunity to get away from Theodore.

‘Yes!’

Lery clenched his front paws tightly.

At least Ian’s residence would have fewer people than here and probably less strict surveillance.

Above all, he’d practically be a free man every night. Unlike Theodore, there was no way he’d ever have to sleep with Ian!

‘Right! He doesn’t even like me that much! Of course, I feel the same way!’

Lery’s tail swayed gently, instantly filled with joy. It felt like things were falling into place better than expected.

He’d been upset because it seemed like he’d gotten a pretty good reward but wouldn’t even get to use it before it expired.

‘Great! If that’s my chance…….’

It felt like a celebration was about to break out in Lery’s heart.

Conversely, Theodore’s expression began to darken rapidly.

“……Haah. What should I do.”

“Pardon?”

Theodore, who had been giving Sonia instructions for a while, suddenly stopped speaking and let out a sigh.

Seeing him with a serious expression, even rubbing his forehead, Sonia rolled her eyes in confusion. She was worried that something might be wrong and was about to cautiously speak up.

“Your Highness? Is something wrong…….”

“Lery doesn’t want to go.”

“……Pardon?”

“Look. He’s already expressing how much he doesn’t want to go by wagging his tail like that. How can I send him off when it breaks my heart?”

Theodore brushed his face repeatedly with drooping eyes, like a sad puppy.

‘……Is he serious?’

Sonia shifted her gaze to Lery, who was looking at her with sparkling eyes.

No matter how she looked at it, contrary to what Theodore had perceived, Lery only seemed excited, as if he was about to leap out at any moment.

As if he’d been waiting for this very moment.

Sonia smiled awkwardly and spoke, trying to clear up Theodore’s misunderstanding.

“He seems to be in a good mood…….”

“No. Look at those big eyes trembling. He looks like he’s about to cry any moment.”

“Pardon? Eyes…… crying?”

“Look at those little drooping lips, how wistful they are. It truly breaks my heart.”

“Oh…… Wistful?”

Sonia replied with empty eyes, her soul seemingly absent.

And rightly so, because none of his descriptions matched Lery’s actual state. It was as if he was looking through his own one-sided love filter.

Theodore, ignoring Sonia’s reaction, looked at Lery with an even more sorrowful gaze.

Like a girlfriend sending her boyfriend off to the military.

“Lery, how can I send you off?”

“Mi-yang……. (Are you f*cking insane…….)”

“Huh? You’re sad too? I know, I know. I understand everything.”

Once started, Theodore’s cheesiness grew like a snowball.

His eyes even reddening, he hugged Lery tightly and began rubbing his face against his snow-like fur.

“Don’t cry, Lery.”

“Mya?! Myaang! (What?! Let me go!)”

“Yes, Lery. We’re only apart for one night……. Let’s bear with it just a little…….”

“Myaaang! (What are you talking about!)”

You’re the one who’s going to be sobbing!

Lery raised his tail stiffly and flailed his limbs.

And so, the Crown Prince’s bedchamber was filled with nothing but Lery’s screams of anguish from the sudden attack.

“Nights without you will feel especially long…….”

“Mueok, mi-yaaat?! (Ugh, what are you saying! Did you butter your mouth?!)”

“Lery, when you cry so fiercely, my heart aches.”

“Mya-myaak! (Stop, stop!)”

In the end, unable to bear the sappiness, Lery was about to throw a punch full of rage at him when—

“Jji?! Jji-jji?! (What?! War%^&?!)”

Pompom, who had been enjoying a deep sleep, sprang up clutching an armful of seeds.

But all that entered Pompom’s eyes was Lery, flattened like a hotteok pancake, pressed into Theodore’s embrace.

“Jji……. (What$…….)”

“Mya! (Help me, Pompom!)”

“Jji-jjit……! (Me too !@#.)”

Before Lery’s urgent cry could reach him, Pompom buried his face in the pile of seeds and fell back asleep.

In the end, Lery had to toss and turn through the night, tormented by Theodore once again.