Wait! Was I Seriously Just Reincarnated As a Cat?

Eventually, everyone was taken under my skill, Purr-suasion as their anger and frustration were calmed, and replaced by a soothing inner peace. Even Naldoola fell to his knees, overwhelmed by its effects.

There was no doubt about it—I won this bout—and I did it by myself.

Naldoola’s breathing was ragged as he knelt there with trembling hands against the dirt as the crimson glow in his eyes started to flicker like a lightbulb before disappearing.

The forest felt... quiet.

I then stopped purring as my chest rose and fell as exhaustion finally caught up to me.

My legs were shaking but I stayed standing, because rulers don’t fall first. Especially me! I gotta look cool for everyone.

As the remaining Skinwalkers looked lost and confused while others clutched their heads, some of them stared at their own hands like they didn’t recognize them anymore.

"What... what have we done...?" One of them whispered.

Good. Let it sink in.

Purr-suasion was more useful than I thought it’d be.

Naldoola tried to lift his head with clenched teeth as if sheer will alone could force his body to move. But he failed, slumping forward again with a broken growl—eventually consumed by the skill after it took full effect.

"This power..." He said in awe. "Even after you stopped using the skill... it still has after effects!?"

I stepped closer with my paws crunching against the dirt as I stopped just a few paces away from him. His body refused to make him act out in violence, it seemed he was now under my control.

"It’s over, Naldoola, no more fighting."

I looked down at him without hatred or pride, but simply pity.

"I don’t want anyone else to die today!"

His eyes widened just a fraction at my comment.

"You call yourselves rulers of the forest, but it seems to me that all you ever do is act on your own rules and do whatever you want! That’s not ruling, dude, that’s just being loud and obnoxious!"

Behind me, I could feel Stoneback standing tall with his shell cracked but unbowed.

Conndo leaned on his spear, feeling his chest rising and falling as he stared in disbelief.

Rowan was even silent for once.

Aristella watched me like she just witnessed something sacred.

And the beasts, every single one of them, were no longer afraid.

"This forest isn’t yours!" I said with a firm voice despite the tremor in my body. "And it’s not mine either!"

I lifted my head, swaying my tail to the side.

"It belongs to everyone who lives here!"

Naldoola closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"...Then kill me." He muttered. "That is your right."

I stared at him with wide eyes. But then I turned away.

"No." I said simply. "You don’t get to escape responsibility that easily."

Gasps echoed through the village of Nekoria as I refused to end our enemy.

Now glancing back over my shoulder, I stared him down.

"How about you do something good for once? Join Nekoria."

Everyone at this point was baffled by my words. The silence that followed was heavy; everyone was unsure how to react.

"...Join... Nekoria?" Naldoola repeated with wide eyes, as if the words themselves didn’t quite make sense.

I flicked my ear, trying not to show how tired I actually was.

"Yeah. You heard me!"

Every beast muttered to one another with confusion, shock, and outright disbelief.

Stoneback’s eyes even widened.

"L-Lady Keiko... are you certain?" He asked carefully. "This is a Skinwalker! They lead raids. The spill blood and use it in combat!"

"I know." I said as my voice wavered just a little, but I didn’t back down. "But if I kill him, that blood doesn’t come back. It just adds more!"

Naldoola’s claws dug into the soil in disbelief at all of this.

"You would trust a Skinwalker... after all of this?" He asked with a hoarse voice. "After what we’ve done?"

I finally looked directly at him.

"No." I said honestly. "Not yet! I’m not that freaking stupid, yo!"

That seemed to surprise him more than anything else.

"But I do believe people can change, if they’re forced to face what they’ve done instead of dying before they understand it!"

I gestured around us with my tail.

"You wanted to rule the forest, right? Then start by protecting it instead of tearing it apart."

Naldoola laughed weakly, almost disbelieving.

"...You’re insane." He muttered.

"I don’t think so." I shrugged like a cat. "My morals are just beyond your understanding, my guy."

Conndo eventually walked toward Rowan, whispering loudly to him.

"Wait, is Keiko seriously gonna recruit a Skinwalker? Shouldn’t we have a say against it?"

Rowan just stared in disbelief, lowering his sword and shield.

"This is her village. How will we override a ruler’s decision?"

Aristella suddenly decided to speak up among the confused populace.

"This is... mercy." She said. "Not weakness! Lady Keiko is giving even the wicked a chance to change!"

All beasts glanced at her, some now having a change of heart.

Nice going, Aristella. Can’t have the entire village hating on me at this moment.

Naldoola clenched his fists, then slowly, but painfully, bowed his head until his forehead touched the ground.

"...If you truly spare me..." He said with a trembling voice. "Then my life is no longer mine!"

His words weren’t a vow of loyalty, but rather a confession of shame. I watched him for a while before nodding.

"Good. Then use it to make up for what you did!"

I turned to the remaining Skinwalkers, who stiffened when my gaze landed on them.

"This goes for all of you." I said firmly and reassuringly. "You don’t get to leave Nekoria! You will all help rebuild what you broke. No more raids, and no more fear!"

They exchanged glances, and then—one by one—they lowered their heads.

"...We will stay." One said quietly before others agreed.

"Hmph." I nodded my head. "Good! Glad to hear it." I let out a long breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

My legs finally really gave out as I faceplanted... pretty freaking hard.

"...Ughh." I groaned into the dirt. "That one hurt."

Stoneback rushed forward in a panic.

"LADY KEIKO!"

Aristella suddenly ran and knelt beside me, smiling warmly as she helped me sit up.

"You did wonderfully." She said. "Even if you collapsed at the end."

I swished my tail weakly, feeling my furry cheeks burning.

"Hey... dramatic timing is important."

I sat there for a second, blinking as the world stopped spinning. Okay, maybe more than a second.

My ears were ringing and my chest felt pretty tight, like I’d sprinted for miles without stopping while my paws were still trembling even while Aristella supported me.

But despite my problems, I was smiling as much as a cat could smile.

The forest was finally calm once again

Stoneback stood awkwardly beside me, clearly unsure whether to help Aristella support me or not.

"Lady Keiko, you should not move." He said firmly. "It seems you wasted too much mana in battle.

"Yeah... I noticed." I muttered. "Everything feels... fizzy."

Rowan finally sheathed his sword completely, now exhaling through his nose.

"...You really ended it without killing anyone."

Then he looked at me.

"That was reckless. But I’m impressed that a beast like yourself can show mercy to others."

I squinted at him.

"You know that just makes you sound racist, right?"

"What?! Hey! Don’t start talking like that! That’s not even true!"

"Uh-huh." I closed my eyes, turning my head away to ignore him.

"Hey! I’m not racist! You’re just an anomaly!"

Ignoring Rowan as his voice faded in the background, I saw the Skinwalkers still kneeling as others stared blankly at the dirt like they were afraid to look up.

Naldoola slowly lifted his head as his eyes appeared tired and defeated.

"...This feeling." He said quietly. "It won’t let me hate."

I met his gaze, still sitting on the ground like the very dignified ruler I was.

"That’s the point."

He furrowed his brows.

"I suppose this is our new life now. A life without hatred, and serving the blood god."

"Mmm." I nodded my head. "Don’t forget this feeling! It’ll wear off soon, but you must always remember it or suffer the consequences."

Wait, what did he say just a moment ago? The blood god? Who in the hell? Maybe I should gain more information later.

"I won’t." He said immediately, lowering his head again. "I swear it."

Aristella helped me to my paws—slowly this time.

My legs were wobbling, but I stayed upright.

Rulers don’t fall twice in a row, nuh uh, not someone like me.

The beasts of Nekoria began gathering closer bowing and watching everything unfold.

Some were simply curious and hopeful while most of them even smiled.

"Alright!" I said, raising my voice. "Today was... a lot, we need a break!"

Everyone seemed to nod their heads in agreement.

"But listen up!" I continued. "We must rebuild. Together! No more ’us versus them’ nonsense. If you live in this forest, you protect it. If you hurt it, you fix it. Simple rules!"

Stoneback nodded his head.

"We will follow your word!"

Conndo raised his spear slightly.

"Guess your village just got bigger, Lady Keiko!"

Rowan glanced at the kneeling Skinwalkers.

"...And more complicated."

I grinned at their comments.

"Yeah. But complicated doesn’t mean bad!"