Reincarnated Jester: Taming Players

[Cursefell is a cure for Nero's frozen state. Each stage unveils a new skill, gradually setting her free from the curse. With my help, she can digest any taming pill she wants, but the wizard archetype will be most beneficial.]

The system showed the status window and explained it without Jung's permission. She was getting more daring, and as surprising as it might seem, Jung liked this change.

But he wasn't the type to show his feelings so openly. "You know what? I am not even going to entertain you," he said and looked at Nero. "Wait for two minutes. I have good news."

After saying that, he stood closer to the dead players, their bodies still waiting for his action. Trying to feel some kind of connection, he was disappointed.

There was no link he could catch. Yet, the Shifting Cloud activated, and the surrounding corpses transformed into mist. All of this dark red fog surged toward him.

Then Jung, or more accurately, the system, devoured it and converted it into some energy, which brought heat and wetness, but his progress was clear to see.

[Every stage will make this skill better. You can mutate not only your body but your five senses as well,] the system explained.

However, Jung still gave her a cold shoulder. 'This is useful, tracking my progress is casual eye candy.'

He struggled, trying to notice changes in his body. It was minuscule, but his bones felt sturdier. After experimenting a bit more, he deactivated the mutation, and his body went back to normal.

Tremendous pain washed over him, causing him to grumble. Enduring, Jung clenched his fists and almost chewed his tongue. 'This is way more painful than mutation.'

As he faced the after-effects, he called out to Nero. "My adorable cat, please come here."

Nero laughed. She could see his pain, and it gave her a pleasant sensation. "What was the good news you mentioned?"

"You are annoying," Jung yelled and caressed the cat. "You remember the pill I fed you, right?"

"Yep," she said shortly, relaxed in his touch, and continued, "It was a weird wizard archetype pill." She looked at Jung with suspicion. "What about it?"

"What would you do if I told you that you can eat other types of pills, and we can lift your curse?" Jung asked, explaining the Cursefell attribute.

"I would scratch your ugly face for lying." Nero's position was apparent to see.

No one in Maskera had survived consuming a pill meant for a different archetype group, and the cat showed no intention of testing that claim.

The same couldn't be said about Jung. It was apparent that he was certain Nero could handle the pills, but without exposing the system, it would be hard for her to believe him.

He might not show it, but Jung himself had a hard time connecting with people and, most importantly, trusting them.

All of this started right after his first reincarnation. Jung had a set of principles for each archetype. It formed in his first life, and it followed him to this day.

Initially born as an orphan, he had only one genuine relationship that was ended too early. Therefore, he was completely stunned when he died at 83 and reincarnated into a new world. At first, he hated the idea of living again. After experiencing one lifetime of solitude, he feared another loneliness.

He tried to connect with his new parents and the people around him, but everything and everyone rejected him. It felt like the universe was against him, and he had no place in it.

So he chose the Creator archetype. He was shunned by the people who had to protect him, and the principles he had for the Creator suited his vision.

He had an urge to leave something behind—not the name but the creation, an art that would be solely his. His imagination, shaped by two different lives, ran wild, and he created music. Singing was something he couldn't possibly do, even dorks could hum better than him.

But there is always something a person can do, especially a desperate one, and Jung found the lute. His passion for the lute turned him into the most skilled player of all.

That was what the Creators did. They became so consumed by their creations that they could neglect the burnt world around them.

Jung's second life was short-lived, but the art he birthed never died. He was broken because of the world, but his desires shaped his future.

This was a distant memory, almost erased but never forgotten. He had to encounter even more painful situations, but this first reincarnation still lingered in his mind.

As much as he wanted to slap Nero for not believing him, he could relate to that feeling. Nero was the only cat alive right now, and the responsibilities she carried were so huge that her life wasn't hers anymore.

It was understood why she would be against his offer or how hard it would be to trust him, but Jung had to gain her trust.

But before that, he had to ask himself, 'Do I trust her? Can I trust her?' He looked at the cat, examining her.

It was a hard question. Trust was something he seldom believed in. Lisa, Baki, and Elara were rare exceptions, they taught him love and affection, and it was something he wanted to give back. But with almost no experience under his name, he had no words to express it.

On that account, he did something out of the ordinary. After giving Nero a soft pat, he picked her up with care.

She wanted to oppose it and had every capability to perform it. Despite that, she didn't act and waited for Jung. Nero felt something unexplainable, it was a connection with Jung and the emotions he radiated.

No words were needed. No words were said.

Jung only hugged this lonely cat and cuddled not only her body but her entire being as well.

It was an emotional and important moment for both of them. With this one hug, their relationship deepened, and mutual understanding was born.

"Stay away from me! You reek." Her expression and words were unmatched. The bond was there, even though both of them felt embarrassed.

Mainly Jung, who wanted to kill everything in sight. But Nero's next words fetched a smile on his face.

"Give me those pills. I remember your promise, and I don't believe you'd break your word so quickly," she said and meowed gracefully.