The Extra's Evolution Pathway

"Ouch..."

A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed at the back of my head.

I sucked in a sharp breath, it felt like someone had driven a spike straight through my skull.

"Ugh…"

I groaned, but the moment my eyes fluttered open, the headache vanished, melting away like it had never been there.

I squinted my eyes. My brain felt fuzzy, but the soft, warm sensation against my body was undeniable.

A second later, my vision cleared.

A bed.

I was lying in an actual bed.

"Hm.."

My gaze darted around.

The ceiling above wasn't the cracked, peeling paint of my old apartment, nor the grand ceremonial hall from earlier.

It was high and vaulted, ribbed with polished brown wood.

Afternoon sunlight seeped through the gap in the heavy crimson curtains that draped over the tall windows.

Ornate glowing crystals occupied the top corners of the room, casting a regal golden light that bathed everything in warm hues...

"Mana Crystals,"

The words slipped from my lips before I realized it. I gasped.

I had really been summoned to a magical world.

[Precisely. Mana Crystals are mineral stones that glow dimly due to stored magical energy. However, this type absorbs ambient mana and releases it as light energy, serving as a steady and bright light source.]

"The system?"

My mouth fell open in awe, a bright smile blooming across my face.

Slowly, my thoughts rewound to earlier events.

I was about to use a high-tier magic spell, then I collapsed.

That explained how I ended up here.

"So this… this is my residence now?"

[Depleting one's magical energy can be detrimental. System initiated emergency protocol.]

[Host Mana has been fully replenished.]

I rolled my eyes and gave a small nod. It was oddly comforting to have something to talk to, even if it was just the system.

I could still remember how I felt, that crushing wave of exhaustion when I collapsed.

Like my very life force had been sucked out of me.

"Ah…"

My face twisted bitterly, like I had just tasted foul medicine.

I never wanted to experience something like that again.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I quickly sat up and replied halfheartedly.

"Come in."

I had no idea when I had been brought here, which meant anyone could walk in at any moment.

CLCKSH!

The door opened, and a slim figure stepped inside, dressed in a neat maid uniform.

My expression hardened.

I hadn't exactly had a pleasant experience with the royal maids during the summoning.

Hatred stirred in my chest like a hot coal.

I looked up, meeting her eyes with a gaze burning in quiet fury.

She froze. Her body trembled as she clutched the hem of her short dress tightly, knuckles turning white.

And then, just like that, a wave of guilt washed over me, snuffing out the flame.

Seeing her frightened expression, I suddenly felt like the bad guy.

Logically, not all the royal maids were present in the hall.

There was a chance she hadn't been part of the mockery.

I cleared my throat and spoke, trying to sound as friendly as I could.

"Uhm… Thanks for taking care of me."

Hearing my soft voice, her expression softened, and a radiant smile lit up her face.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me, like I was some sort of celebrity.

'Could it be I could build a maid fan base, too?'

She stepped forward, dipping her hand into the side pocket of her uniform and pulling out a small, sealed glass jar filled with light blue liquid.

But something else caught my eye.

My mouth twitched. My eyes lit.

'Cat ears!'

It's furry.

The thought exploded in my mind.

Her long auburn hair parted slightly, revealing a pair of twitching furry ears atop her head.

[Cat girl. A demi-human race—half-cat, half-human.]

The system's explicit explanation helped steady me.

But... I was anything but calm.

My breathing had grown heavy and loud, like I had just finished a sprint.

I felt a strong urge.

"Yes, I want to touch it!"

She shrank back a little, clearly startled by my expression.

I immediately reined myself in.

I had gotten too caught up in the moment and nearly forgot.

This world was filled with all kinds of magical races.

'I shouldn't do anything that would make her think I'm a pervert.'

I nodded to affirm the thought in my heart.

"I'm sorry about that."

I scratched my head and met her gaze again, this time with a softer expression, a calm, trustworthy one.

She looked away, cheeks flushing crimson. Then something swished sideways and shot up.

A tail.

An auburn-furred tail had perked straight into the air.

"Is she happy?"

Being half-cat, it made sense she would inherit some feline traits.

The thought tugged on a memory, my cat back in my old world.

My chest tightened.

'She must've felt so lonely…

Well, I'm sure she'll be fine with Mr. Park.'

"So, is there anything you wish to give me?"

I asked gently, my thoughts drifting back to the item she had taken out earlier.

Without hesitation, she held it out to me.

The jar of glowing blue liquid felt so warm in my hand as I raised it for a better look.

[Mana Potion. A liquid used to replenish depleted magical energy.]

This time, a glowing blue window appeared above the jar, displaying the item's description.

"Mana potion, huh..."

She stepped in a little closer, and I looked up to see her beaming.

"Lord Rei already knew about the potion, even though you only arrived yesterday!"

She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Yesterday?

The word echoed in my head. My expression dropped.

"Umm... it seems to be part of my ability," I said, unable to come up with a better excuse.

To my relief, she seemed to believe it without question.

'This system ability is really handy, it is almost like an appraisal skill in video games.'

"Princess Lousielle asked me to bring it to you,"

She said cheerfully, placing her hands behind her back.

I eyed the potion. I didn't need it now, my mana was already replenished.

And it wasn't like it could increase my mana pool.

Best to save it for later.

"Thank you,"

I smiled at her, and she returned it without hesitation.

"I'll be standing guard right outside. My name is Fieral, If you need anything, just call for me."

She bowed slightly, turned, and quietly left the room.

'Fieral...'

I nodded slowly, pleased by the convenience. Then I turned my gaze back to the potion in my hand.

"I need to increase my mana pool."

With how little magical energy I had, I could barely use any of the powerful abilities I aimed for.

If things stayed like this, I would always end up drawing the short straw.

After all, I had gotten trash stats.

Although there seemed to be some element of evolution in my skill.

But for the stats, it was something I needed to earn.

I heaved a sigh of relief and summoned my status, a determined expression boldly etched on my face.

------

It is always cool to meet a fantasy creature

Well, there are many more to meet and with different personalities.

Next chapter is about focusing on his status.

Don't forget to vote, add to collection and comment your thoughts about the chapter.

Your support is highly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.