Reject Humanity, Return to Monke

I opened my eyes with a startle, my surroundings giving me pause as my mind tried to figure out where I was. My chest heaved up and downward, my breathing a bit erratic as I recalled the final moments before I was ultimately consumed by the raging inferno that was the asshole's Attack-From-Fountain magic.

Looking around, I realized that this wasn't my Dungeon. My Dungeon doesn't have any gold-plated marble columns, with intricate linings made from who knows what metal. I also found out that I was lying in some kind of regal bed that would put kings and queens of incredible wealth to shame.

'So, I'm still in the Divine Realm… Not what I was expecting when I was eliminated, but I am thankful for their hospitality…' I thought that after being eliminated, the Dungeon Masters would be immediately sent back to their Dungeon.

"Oh, you're finally awake." Cue the famous intro line from a famous game, grabbing my attention. I looked at the direction where the familiar voice came from, only to be met with a grinning Catalina, who was looking perfectly fine, if you count her being blown by a giant, raging fireball, all things considered, that is. "I thought I'd have to get up close and personal just to wake you up, and I had the best solution for that."

She licked her lips and stared directly into my uncovered crotch that was thankfully hidden beneath the sheets. Couldn't hide the erection, though. Damn morning wood, an irritation for men everywhere, even when you have to pee.

It's hard to aim, goddamn it! And take into account the liquid sometimes spewing in two directions, and you have a mess to clean up after relieving yourself.

A totally shitty situation, if I was asked for my opinion. Actually, maybe every male in existence would tell you it was a shitty situation.

Anyway, I digress from my initial reaction. Taking a good look at the obvious boner (morning wood) I had currently, I sighed and stared back at Catalina, who for all intents and purposes, looked ready to jump my bones any moment now.

"You know, is that something to say to a person who just woke up from experiencing a near-death experience?" I asked, and Catalina just shrugged. She slowly approached where I laid and sat her soft ass on the bed.

"As much as I would like to have some fun right here and now, Oshurkova is calling for everyone for a meeting. Apparently, our other team lost in the first round due to being matched up against one of the strongest Dungeon Master groups in the world." Catalina then laid down next to me as she rubbed circles around my chest with her fingers.

"… Then why are you lying beside me instead of asking me to get up?" I asked with a confused tilt of my head, which caused her to snort and straddle me, her added weight against the bed causing it to shake slightly.

In response, she just looked at me with a very serious and determined gaze, her cat tail that was usually swishing back and forth perfectly still, copying her entire body that stayed put like a statue. The only indication that she was still there was the intensity of her gaze, and her soft breathing.

"You know, Jion. I'm thinking we should take our relationship to the next level." Her eyes bore into me as she observed for any kind of indication of my declination. To her relief, however, she only saw in me confusion and hesitation.

"… Why…? As far as I know, we're not even that much acquainted with each other." I replied back, not at all comfortable with this topic. As much as I like the catwoman, I didn't feel for her in that way, yet. "Sure, we've fucked, but is that really all it takes to take our relationship to the next level?"

She locked her gaze on mine, her mind cramming every letter, word, and sentence into her head. A few seconds later, she stood up and silently sat on the bed, her back turned to me. Feeling a little bit guilty at my somewhat rejection of her, even though for all intents and purposes, I was completely in the right, since this wasn't the way a healthy relationship would be born, I raised my upper body and tried to reach out for her.

Only for her words to stop me mid-action.

"You remind me of my previous lover, you know." She started out somberly, her cat ears laying flatly against her head as she refused to turn around. "You act so much like him that I can't help but draw parallels between the two of you."

I stayed silent as I watched the catwoman slowly turn around, noticing that there weren't any stray tears cascading down her cheeks. Only grim acceptance and shame for trying to fill a void in her heart.

"Hehe… To think I would use another person to satiate my need for affection… I'm terrible." She muttered out loud, all the while not shedding a tear. I looked on in worry, my mind grinding out mountains and mountains of explanations, but not a single one of them being able to exit my mouth due to how shocked I was. "I'll just… leave… Maybe… Maybe…"

She went silent for a few seconds, before she stood up and turned around.

"Maybe us doing that was a mistake…"

That was the final straw. Forcing my body to move out of its stupor, I quickly moved to grab her hand, not caring that the sheets covering my dignity and modesty fell down to the floor, exposing my entire body to the world.

"It's not wrong… To look for something that can fill in the void in your heart." I recalled the time back on Earth where I was naught but a puppet with my family pulling the strings. I searched high and low for anything to fill in the void in my heart, be it games, movies, watching anime, or reading books.

Our motivations for soul-searching may have differed, but at its core, it was all the same.

Searching for love… Searching for affection…

"The moment you invited me that day, I was happy." I continued. The catwoman was still not looking back, but by the movement of her cat ears, I could tell she was listening. "Before, all I was doing was mulling about, doing everything in my power to just survive. Even before that, I was nothing, just a puppet for my parents, who were using me so they could climb up the social ladder."

My unbottled feelings just poured out at that point. Years of resentment, years of anguish…

Years of loneliness…

"It was fucking hard… Just to cope with those bastards who call themselves my flesh and blood. If that wasn't enough, those I called friends all vanished the moment they knew who my parents were!" My voice continued to rise, my eyes not noticing Catalina, who turned around to look at me with shock. "The only friend I had, the one who stuck with me until the end, even if I kept on giving him the cold shoulder, died not too long after due to an accident! My entire life... My entire fucking life! I've felt nothing but anger! Loneliness! Resentment toward the cretins who caused my anguish and misery! And you know what!? That night… That night you and I spent together. You made me forget all of those… So don't you dare say what we did was a mistake!"

At this point, I was breathing heavily. My mind was still processing the outburst I had just unbottled at the catwoman in front of me. The moment I realized what I had done, it was too late.

'Shit… I've said too much…' I waited for the time this catwoman would leave me then and there, but only felt soft arms wrapping around myself, the catwoman's face buried into my chest.

"Ha… You both really are alike…" In response to my outburst, the catwoman chuckled to herself. "I guess I ain't the only one who's got emotional baggage, huh…?"

She looked up at me, her eyes holding something within that calmed me down.

"Before I became a Dungeon Master, I was just a normal Cat Beastman living in our tribe's homeplace. It was a very relaxed life, not too much action and drama." Catalina then recounted the early days of her life, presumably the part where she met her previous lover. "When I was sixteen, I met him. He was just like you. Big, a little bit hairy, kind, and all around just a chill dude. He also had a very skewed sense of humor, much like what you have. One day, during our tribe's yearly event, we just clicked, and the next day, we got together."

She smiled sadly as she recounted the next part.

"Fast forward a few years later, I had a daughter. It was the best day of my life. Not a year later, though…" Her voice turned lower. "Another tribe of Beastmen attacked our tribe's village. I was the only survivor…"

It was then she leaked out a few tears. She then laughed depressively.

"That was when I became a Dungeon Master, after stumbling into a cave with fatal injuries. I then struggled, then had my revenge, killing their entire tribe, not leaving even a single one alive, but even then, it wouldn't replace them…" She then looked at me, a soft smile on her lips. "Until I met you, that is…"

She then slowly separated from me, her hands wiping the tears from her eyes. We both stayed silent, before she giggled softly.

"… Thanks. For listening. Lady Oshurkova was right: you are a good listener." She then chuckled as she looked at my hanging dong, swaying in the air. "And put on some clothes. You might surprise the prude harpy if she comes over since we're taking a bit too long."

I chuckled back and quickly put on my Monkey King's Garb, which was surprisingly inside my inventory, even if I hadn't put it back inside.

"So… Still friends?" I asked, even though I wanted to try dating her, but right now just wasn't the right time. I still have to sort out my feelings for her.

"… Still friends, but I'm still gunning for you." She smiled, then laughed boisterously as she clung to my arm.

'I guess some things will never change…' I smiled, this time, brighter than before, like a huge weight was thrown off my shoulders.