Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 172

Chapter 172: The Contract and a Cat?!

Now, the God of Darkness began the ritual to forge a new contract. He raised his hand, chanting an ancient incantation as a glowing magic circle formed before him. Canis, already seated at the center of the circle, kept his head down, his expression weary and resigned. The God of Darkness merely offered a faint, understanding smile, as if he had expected this reaction all along.

Slowly, I stepped forward and entered the magic circle. Only I, as the primary contractor, needed to participate—Envi remained outside, watching quietly. As my foot touched the glowing edge of the circle, I felt a wave of dark energy ripple through the space. It was dense, ancient, and alive.

The God of Darkness extended both hands and began releasing his spell: [Darkness Familiar Contract]. In an instant, I felt a pulse of magical force connect me to Canis. His energy surged into my magic circuits, weaving its way into my soul, beginning the process of linking us as one.

“Listen carefully, Nao,” the God of Darkness spoke solemnly. “To complete the contract, there are three essential steps you must follow.”

He continued, his voice deep and steady, “The first is the Blood Bond. You must offer a drop of your blood into the circle. Just one drop is enough. That blood will enter Canis, and your souls will form a permanent link.”

“A-alright,” I replied nervously. I bit down gently on my thumb until a small trickle of blood appeared. With a deep breath, I let it fall into the center of the circle.

The moment my blood touched the glowing glyphs, the circle flared to life, bathing the room in a momentary brilliance. It was warm, even in this dark, sealed dimension. The God of Darkness nodded.

“The blood bond has been established. From this point on, you and Canis will be able to sense one another’s condition—whether you’re alive, injured, or in danger. You’ll also gain a shared mental link, like a form of telepathy. He’ll be able to speak directly into your thoughts, just as Envi does now.”

I swallowed hard. The bond was real. I could feel it anchoring into place.

“The second step,” the God of Darkness continued, “is Restructuring. This stage resets Canis—breaking the remnants of Outer God’s influence and purging him of uncontrollable bloodlust and madness. He’ll be reborn, cleansed of the darkness forced upon him.”

Canis suddenly raised his head, eyes filled with emotion. His voice, for the first time, trembled with something fragile—hope or fear, I wasn’t sure.

“My Lord… regarding this step… may I ask one thing?” Canis pleaded softly.

“Speak. What is it?” the God of Darkness asked, intrigued.

“I… I don’t want to lose my memories. Please, allow me to keep them. I don’t want to forget you, my Lord—we’ve been together for so long.” Canis’s eyes shimmered with emotion. “If I must be reborn, let me carry the burden of my past with me. Let me atone for my sins… not erase them. I want to remember everything I’ve done—the lives I’ve taken, the gods I’ve hurt. To forget would be to run away. And I don’t want to run anymore.”

His words struck me deeply. Both Envi and I looked at each other in surprise.

Maybe… just maybe… he truly could change.

The God of Darkness turned to us as if seeking our judgment. Silently, we both nodded in agreement.

“At the very least, live up to those words,” Envi said sternly.

“I will. I swear it,” Canis replied with a firm nod.

The God of Darkness gave a gentle nod, granting Canis’s wish.

Then, he turned back to me and began explaining the next part. “Now, to restructure Canis, you must imagine his new form. His new vessel will be shaped by your thoughts—something that represents your bond with him. I suggest choosing a form you truly like. This will help shape not only his body, but his soul, personality, and temperament.”

That’s when it struck me. I needed to choose wisely. I didn’t want him to remain a wolf—it reminded me too much of the trauma. Not just mine, but Envi’s… and the Blackmore family’s.

I started thinking through other animals.

A leopard? A cheetah? A lion? A tiger? None of them felt right. I had no personal connection to those creatures.

A dog? No way. I still had nightmares of being chased by three different dogs as a child… and losing my shoes every time.

Then a memory gently surfaced, warm and comforting.

Of course. That’s it. The one animal I’ve always loved, the one that never scared me and always made me smile, even during the darkest times.

Yes… I’ll choose a cat—the cutest, most comforting creature in the world. No ferocity, no intimidation. Just warmth, mystery, and quiet strength.

….

I remember my past—back when I still lived on Earth. Life was hard then. My family struggled financially; even buying basic groceries was something we had to budget carefully. Yet, even in those difficult times, there was one thing that never changed: my love for cats. No matter how tight money was, I always found a way to feed the stray cats that roamed the streets near our home.

Every day, whether I was heading to work in the early morning or coming home in the late afternoon, I carried small packs of food in my bag. Whenever I saw a hungry, thin, or lonely cat, I would stop and feed them. I didn’t do it out of pity—I genuinely loved seeing them eat, hearing their soft purrs, and watching their cautious eyes slowly light up with trust.

Sometimes, I would even cut back on my own lunch budget just to buy more food for them. It wasn’t a sacrifice to me. It felt right. It felt like something I had to do—something that made me feel human, even when everything else in my life felt out of my control.

My love for cats started from a young age. I was six years old when I first found her. She was a small, starving cat with soft brown and white tabby fur, crouched and shivering in front of our house. She looked weak, barely able to lift her head. Her fur was dirty, and her tiny body trembled with every gust of wind.

Without thinking, I ran outside and scooped her into my arms. She didn’t resist—she was too exhausted. I brought her inside, carefully hiding her from view, and rushed to the kitchen to get the leftover grilled fish from my mother’s cooking. She ate it hungrily, as if she hadn’t had food in days. I also gave her water, which she lapped up desperately.

Seeing her so frail, I couldn’t bear to let her suffer. She was still cold, so I secretly tucked her under our kotatsu—the warm heated table we used during winter. I wrapped her in a towel and watched over her, hoping she would recover.

Of course, my secret didn’t last long. My mother eventually found out.

But instead of scolding me, she smiled gently and knelt beside me.

“Nao… you’re such a kind child,” she said, brushing my hair softly. “I’m proud of you. Let me help you take care of her.”

Hearing those words filled me with joy. Together, my mother and I nursed the cat back to health. We bathed her, brushed her fur, and kept her warm every night.

“Look, Mom! She’s better now. She’s healthy and lively again! And she smells nice too… she’s so cute!” I said with delight, petting her while my mother laughed beside me, amused by my excitement.

Not long after, my younger sister Nana found out about our furry guest. Instead of being jealous or annoyed, she eagerly joined in, helping me build a small shelter for the cat out of old cardboard boxes. We placed it in the middle room—right near my bedroom and the rooms of my older siblings.

Then, my older brother Naki discovered her too. Before long, the three of us were playing with the cat every day. Our home, which often felt cold and heavy with worry, began to feel brighter. We laughed more. We smiled more. That little cat brought us a kind of happiness we hadn’t felt in a long time.

I decided to name her Runa. It was a play on Luna, the word for moon. Her eyes were large, round, and so beautiful—they reminded me of the full moon on a clear winter night.

After school, I stopped hanging out with the troublemakers in my class. I didn’t need them anymore. I preferred coming home and spending my afternoons with Runa. Those were some of the happiest days of my childhood.

But like all precious things, it didn’t last.

Three months after we adopted Runa, it was winter and my father returned. A man who had abandoned us without warning suddenly decided to come back. He barged into our lives again, acting like nothing had happened.

He didn’t ask. He didn’t care.

And the first thing he did… was throw Runa out.

I was devastated. I searched everywhere for her—through the snow-covered streets, under porches, the park, behind trees on the sidewalk. My mother and siblings helped me look, but it was too late.

I found her days later, frozen to death hidden beneath the snow near the old tree in our yard.

All this time he tried to get back to my house and ended up powerless and frozen. He had tried his best but could only reach the tree. He couldn’t reach the door of my house or my bedroom window so I could hear his voice.

Knowing that made me very sad and devastated. I cried for hours. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep.

There was so much anger inside me. I shouted at my father, but he slapped and hit me. My mother and older brothers who defended me were also beaten and he left the house again lightly.

That day my heart awakened a deeper hatred for him. I really hate him!

Even after Runa’s death, her memory never left me. Every time I saw a stray cat huddled beneath a bench or hiding near a dumpster, I saw her eyes in theirs—those same moonlit eyes, full of quiet longing and soft trust. I couldn’t bring her back, but I could make sure no other cat would be left alone like she was.

As I grew older, feeding stray cats became a daily routine—almost a ritual. No matter how busy my life became, no matter how empty my wallet was, I always found a way to care for them. It wasn’t charity. It was love. It was connection. Each small purr, each gentle brush of fur against my leg, reminded me that warmth still existed in a world that often felt cold.

Sometimes, I would imagine Runa watching over me from somewhere beyond the stars, her little spirit curled up under the kotatsu in some peaceful heaven. I hoped she knew I still thought of her, that I never stopped loving her.

Even now, in Aetheria, a world far from Earth, that promise I made as a child echoes in my heart.

That is why, when I was asked to reshape Canis… I chose the form of a cat.

….

When I opened my eyes, the second step had been completed. I stared at the results, and suddenly Canis screamed hysterically.

“Damn it! What happened to my body! My cool, dashing and dignified figure has now become… cute? This is a CAT! You bastard, you turned me into this adorable creature!” Canis said that while checking his body.

“And what is this, why is my voice like this? And why isn’t that there? The thing under my crotch… you… YOU TURNED ME INTO A FEMALE?!!!” Canis struggled in annoyance, trying to scratch me while crying, but I easily held her head.

She couldn’t accept the changes that were beyond her expectations. I could only laugh at her. Envi also laughed out loud and said that Canis deserved that form.

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