Chapter 6: Damn You Kitten!
The cat jumped down from its makeshift bed, moving with silent, graceful steps like a shadow gliding across the floor.
It approached the bed where the young man was sleeping soundly, his face calm and peaceful in his sleep, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
With quiet, delicate movements, the cat climbed onto the bed, inching closer to the young man's face as he lay there, lost in deep slumber.
Then, with a gentle motion, the cat wrapped its small body around the young man's neck, almost like it was giving him a soft hug.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind burst through the room. This wind didn't come from a window or door, it came from the cat itself, emanating an intense, magical aura.
The wind swirled around the sleeping young man, forming a bright white vortex of light so dazzling it was almost blinding.
The vortex grew larger, spinning faster and faster. The young man's body slowly began to fade, piece by piece, as if it was being sucked into the swirling light, until nothing remained of him but the blanket and pillow on the bed.
The cat stared into the vortex with a mysterious smile on its face, as if it had just completed an important mission.
After a few moments, the swirling light began to dim, and then it vanished completely, leaving the room quiet and dark once again.
The cat leaped down from the bed and, with a casual stride, disappeared into the shadows.
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The young man woke up. The first thing he noticed was a strange sensation all over his body.
He felt light as a feather, yet incredibly weak. His eyes blinked several times as he tried to adjust to the dim light around him.
Then an odd smell hit his nose—an earthy mix of burning wood, straw, and a faint hint of animal manure.
He tried to move his hand, but what he saw wasn't his familiar, callused hand shaped by years of typing. Instead, he saw a tiny, chubby hand with uncoordinated fingers, wrapped in a soft swaddle cloth.
Panic surged through him. He tried to sit up, but his body was too weak, and he fell back down instantly.
His movements were clumsy and limited.
What is this? Where am I? Am I dreaming right now? Yes… this has to be a dream!
He tried to shout for his mother, or at least curse out loud, but all that came out was a high-pitched wail sharp, and humiliating.
No! This can't be happening! he screamed in his mind, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion trying to make sense of what was going on.
But all that escaped his lips was a series of loud "Waaah! Waaah!" cries, growing even more desperate and panicked. He knew that sound well. It was the unmistakable cry of a baby.
He realized he was lying in a woven rattan cradle lined with rough linen cloth.
A thin, cream-colored blanket was wrapped tightly around his tiny body as he forced himself to look around.
The room's walls were made of old, worn wooden planks, cracked in several places. A small window revealed a view of wide, open fields outside. No tall buildings, no busy city streets filled with cars.
The sky beyond the window was a pure, clear blue, without any smog or pollution. The furniture in the room looked ancient, made from natural materials like wood and stone, and was extremely simple, just a small table, a basic stool, and a fire stove in one corner.
The entire house was so plain, almost like a hut. This was definitely not his bedroom or his apartment. This wasn't even his world. Damn it!
Damn it! How did I end up transmigrating?! No! I refused this! Send me back to my original world! DAMN IT!
He cursed in his heart, but all that burst forth were louder, more frantic baby cries, complete with snot and tears.
I already prevented this! I smashed my phone! I didn't want an isekai! I chased away that damn crow! This must be the kitten's doing! That damn kitten!
Tears streamed down his chubby cheeks, soaking his soft face.
He felt completely hopeless, furious, and totally lost.
Everything he had rejected, everything he had fought so hard to avoid, had now become his new reality.
He thought of his family. His father and mother who always cared for him, who were probably panicking right now, desperately searching for him. His chatty but adorable little sister, who must be confused about where her brother had suddenly gone.
His friends, the ones who could always make him laugh, who might think he was just hiding somewhere. His small apartment, even though it wasn't much, it was his home, the place where he always felt safe.
His mind was spinning in chaos.
What would happen to them in his world? Would they search for him? Would they be okay without him? Would he be stuck forever in this baby's body, in this strange, unfamiliar world? He had no idea. All he could do was cry, mourning his cruel fate.
From a grown man who hated fantasy and all its clichés, he was now a helpless little baby trapped in a world completely unknown to him.
A world that was almost certainly a fantasy realm he had always despised. And the worst part was, he had no idea how to get back, or if it was even possible to return to earth.
His anger and despair twisted together into an overwhelming wave, fueling heart-wrenching cries that filled the simple wooden room.
He could only hope that this was just a nightmare that would soon end. But deep down in his heart, he knew this was the bitter reality he had to face.