The Expected Result

"This workshop should have hired waiters long ago."

Scar stared at the calico cat curled up beneath the table.

Scar was a nickname. There was a long, vicious scar over his left eye, so everyone called him "Scar."

Scar did not mind the nickname much. He felt the scar on his face was proof of his achievements. But now he was somewhat nervous, because he was not sure whether the adorable waiters in the workshop would be willing to approach him.

But these cats could talk and think, and they still came out to serve customers, so it should be fine, right?

Scar thought as much and reached toward the calico—

"Meow!"

At the critical moment, the calico suddenly opened its eyes and leaped up. It stepped on Scar's head, sprang backward, and fled in a few quick movements.

"Cat—" Scar watched the calico's retreating back in dismay.

Especially when he saw the cat jump over the table and into Kata's arms across from him, glance back at Scar, then look up at Kata, turn around and knead a circle with its paws before lying down, Scar felt as if his heart had shattered.

The others, however, barely noticed Scar being rejected.

"Didn't this place have cats as waiters from the very beginning?" the young man sitting with Kata asked.

This young man had received Mithril's service when he had first entered the shop with Kata, and the experience had left a deep impression on him.

But newcomers like Scar rarely saw Mithril anymore.

It was even Scar's first time hearing about it. "There were cat waiters from the beginning?"

"Yeah. The first one was a Black Cat," the young man said.

"Then did that cat introduce all the other cats here?" Scar asked excitedly.

So if he won over Lord Black Cat, could he become friends with the other cats too?

The young man froze.

He probably had not expected such a fierce-looking brute to have thoughts straight out of a fairy tale.

"The owner of this workshop and Lord Mithril are our lifesavers, so we work here," a Maine Coon in boots walked over and answered.

The cat was carrying a silver tray filled with glasses of drinks in various colors. "Our shop has recently introduced Happy Water, which can improve your gaming skills. Would you like to try some?"

This was a new item launched alongside the cat waiters. Magic Gear had begun selling a drink called "Happy Water."

Of course, everyone merely listened to the claim that it could "improve gaming skills." No one took it seriously.

But who could refuse a fluffy big cat's sales pitch?

Although someone complained, "By the way, why isn't there any alcohol?" everyone ordered a cup.

The Maine Coon handed everyone a drink. Pretending not to notice Scar secretly touching its paw pads, it delivered the final cup to Kata.

"Youth, this one is yours."

The Maine Coon said this, but glared at the calico loafing on Kata's lap. Without making a sound, it swatted it with its tail.

Unfortunately, the fluffy tail probably did not hurt much. The calico's ears twitched, but it buried its face in its front paws, determined to play dead to the end.

The Maine Coon could do nothing about the calico and had no choice but to leave.

Kata did not notice the interaction between the two cats at all. He was in a mysterious, indescribable state.

I feel like I'm about to break through!

Kata thought.

He felt that this was not an illusion.

Kata was one of the earliest Players to arrive at this workshop apart from the children. Unlike them, he had plenty of time to play. As his gaming time increased, his skills steadily improved. In Reindeer alone, he could already brush the Holy Spirit Fairy's skirt, and he was likely only one step away from clearing the game completely.

Especially after he accepted the invitation of the Boss of Scar's group of fierce men and helped raise their Game Table's ranking.

Someone else was paying the bill and even paying extra. Why would he refuse?

Without financial concerns, Kata spent even more time gaming, while the reserved Game Table ensured that he could play whenever he wished.

In return, he had not disappointed that Boss. Not only had he raised the Game Table's ranking considerably, he had also helped train several skilled Players, claiming thirty of the top fifty spots on the Leaderboard.

However, the obstacle remained.

Kata had never defeated that detestable noble, and their Game Table's ranking had shamefully remained in second place.

Fortunately, after several days of intense training, Kata felt signs of a breakthrough!

Kata had told no one that since the day before yesterday, whenever he closed his eyes, he could sense countless glowing orbs floating through the air like stars.

Whenever he touched those orbs, he felt his Mental Power improve. He remained energetic even without sleep, and everyone's movements seemed to slow down—including the Reindeer in the game!

Playing in that state, he definitely would not lose again!

What mattered now was figuring out how to use that power.

As Kata sensed the glowing orbs and thought this, he casually picked up the Happy Water delivered by the Cat Waiter and took a sip.

"Burp!"

After feeling the icy drink slide down his throat, Kata let out an uncontrollable burp. Then he saw a white, glowing bubble float out of his mouth.

So it really wasn't an illusion!

"I've leveled up!" Kata declared.

He clenched his fists. "My skills are already flawless. All I need is a little luck to claim victory!"

No one was surprised by Kata's declaration.

Because Kata made the same proclamation every day.

"I think you're already pretty lucky," Scar said. Pointing at the calico on Kata's lap, he revealed cat knowledge utterly at odds with his appearance. "Male calicos are extremely rare. They say there's only one in three thousand. Yet one appeared here and even jumped into your arms on its own. Doesn't that prove you're very lucky?"

"I see. Has fate already given me a sign?" Kata said.

He held the calico high in the air. "Then I shall go seize victory!"

Calico: ...

Calico: What a lunatic, meow!

The calico struggled free and fled.

Kata did not care. He straightened his clothes and strode toward the Game Table with his head held high.

Seeing him approach, the people playing at the Game Table voluntarily gave up their seats.

Ten minutes later.

First Place: Leibniz 11931,2865,6862 Game Table No. 1

Second Place: Kata 9999,8658,1821 Game Table No. 2

"Why?!"

Kata stared at the score on the Leaderboard and punched the air in fury, unable to vent his anger.

The people around him also let out regretful sighs, and several hands patted his back comfortingly.

"It's fine. You'll win next time!"

"You're getting closer and closer."

"You were just a little unlucky."

Although Kata had not taken first place, his efforts had already won everyone over.

Everyone felt he had done his best. Even the Boss who wanted to climb the Leaderboard had no further demands.

But Kata could not get past it himself.

"I could clearly feel it," he said, his clenched fists trembling along with his shoulders.

Even now, Kata could sense those glowing orbs whenever he closed his eyes.

So what were they? Had they been his illusion?

"Big Brother, I found you!"

At that moment, someone shouted. Kata saw his stupid little brother rush in front of him, clutching a long crystal marked with scales.

"One of your classmates brought this to our house. They said you absolutely had to finish it today and hand it to your teacher!"

"Ah, you still haven't turned that in?" one of Kata's friends said. "They handed it out last week."

"Mom was really angry when she found out. You're in trouble when you go home tonight," his little brother reported.

His face was clearly full of gloating.

Kata was still immersed in his recent defeat. He stared blankly at the crystal in his hands, unable to muster any interest.

Only Scar had never attended school, so he asked curiously, "What is that?"

"A Mana Test Stone, used to test whether someone is suited to becoming a Mage," someone answered.

Originally, such tests were only conducted in Mage Towers. But after compulsory education began, all students had to undergo testing.

Because there were too many students, these test stones were distributed instead. Students simply had to pour Mana into the stones. After all, their Mana Patterns had been registered, so there would be no mistakes.

This completely stripped away any sense of ceremony from becoming a Mage.

The students only found it troublesome.

Kata was the same.

As he absentmindedly took the test stone from his little brother, he complained, "Does it matter whether I hand this in or not? I failed last year. It's not like I can suddenly become a Mage seed this year... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kata noticed that everyone around him was staring at him strangely.

—More precisely, at the test stone in his hand.

Kata looked down as well, then widened his eyes in astonishment.

It had passed the line!

The test stone emitted a faint glow. The Mana within surged to a height he had never been able to reach before, until it surpassed the red scale line on the stone.

"How is that possible?" Kata said in confusion.

The people around him reacted even faster than Kata himself.

Scar gave Kata a shove. "Isn't that incredible talent? I knew the Lucky Cat worked!"

The others began talking over one another as well.

"It's my first time seeing someone reach the passing line! So our second place is going to become a Mage?"

"Not that quickly, but he should be able to go to the City of Academies and study in the Magic Major."

"Aren't Mages unpopular these days?"

"What do you know? The Magic Major waives tuition, and as long as you're not too terrible, they generally guarantee job placement!"

"More importantly, am I the only one wondering what a Lucky Cat is?"

"I think it might be the effect of the Happy Water."

Surrounded by everyone, Kata looked completely bewildered.

He did not understand how he had suddenly gained talent for Mana.

No, compared to that, what he wanted was a breakthrough in his gaming skills!

*

The commotion naturally alerted the other people in the workshop.

"What are those commoners making such a fuss about?"

Leisiphia asked from the chair she had brought herself, holding the calico known as the Lucky Cat in her arms.

The calico lazily rolled over, exposing its white belly as if it knew nothing at all. Naturally, Servants carried out Young Lady's orders.

Before long, someone returned to report, "A young man passed the Mana test."

"Hm? Mana talent?" Leisiphia said indifferently. "For a commoner, that is indeed quite lucky!"

Though it was only the beginning, if he could become a true Mage, he could be considered a minor noble.

"Lucky? No, that is the result of hard work," Leibniz, sitting nearby, suddenly said.

"Brother Leibniz?"

"But receiving results as long as one puts in effort... perhaps that is a kind of luck as well," Leibniz murmured.

For some reason, when this youth, a noble born with high-level Mana, looked at the second place whom he always defeated, his eyes were full of envy.

Even jealousy.

Leisiphia did not ask. She pushed a cup of Happy Water toward Leibniz.

Leisiphia felt he needed it.