My Scumbag System Chapter 464: All My Girls are Psychic Beacons

I descended the stairs with Maki close behind, already regretting every choice that had led to this precise moment. Each step I took resonated within the deserted stairwell, a steady rhythm marking the countdown to the inevitable pandemonium that clung to me like a persistent curse.

The common room was largely deserted upon our arrival on the ground floor.

It was too early for the usual breakfast rush – those social butterflies who treated each dawn as an opportune moment for networking.

It was also too late for the insomniacs, individuals who had long since abandoned the pursuit of sleep and were likely buried in their textbooks somewhere on the fourth floor.

There was only me, a bakeneko clad in athletic shorts that did little to conceal her figure, and a profound silence that made my skin prickle with an unsettling anticipation.

"Transform," I stated matter-of-factly.

"But Master—" Maki’s voice shifted to that familiar, alluring whine, a sure sign she was preparing to object. "I could just remain like this. It’s far more comfortable. More… intimate."

"Cat. Now."

Maki’s pout was potent enough to melt steel. Her bottom lip pushed forward, her hazel-gold eyes widening with an expression of theatrical betrayal. For a fleeting instant, it seemed as though I had just announced the world’s imminent end.

Then, she began to shimmer.

Darkness coiled around her form like liquid night, obediently swirling at her command.

The usual distortion of her transformation momentarily warped reality, bending the light in a manner that caused my eyes to water if I stared too intently.

Once the effect subsided, a sleek, black cat with two tails sat poised on the polished hardwood floor, its fur catching the morning light like gleaming obsidian.

Those hazel-gold eyes fixed upon me, filled with pure, unadulterated accusation.

"You'll survive," I replied, suppressing a smirk.

The cat let out a huff – an actual huff, much like an offended noblewoman reacting to a social slight.

With exaggerated dignity, she then padded towards the couch, each paw placement demonstrating feline precision. Sunlight streamed through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm, golden bands across the cushions and overlooking the academy’s eastern gardens.

She leaped up with effortless grace.

After circling twice, seemingly testing the comfort of the surface.

She then settled into a perfect loaf position, her twin tails curled neatly around her body, resembling matching question marks.

Sunbathing.

As if she hadn't been stark naked in my room mere minutes ago, attempting to persuade me that "morning exercise" was crucial for our bond.

As if she weren't a literal supernatural murder-cat disguised as a common feline.

I needed to test my newly acquired abilities. The divine spoils from Apollo’s banner felt like a burning weight in my mind, each new power clamoring for attention like unread notifications I couldn't dismiss.

Lightning Rod hummed beneath my skin, promising the power to capture storms and turn Reyna’s formidable weapon into my own arsenal.

Kinetic Absorption waited patiently, ready to convert every impact into fuel, transforming pain into power with cold, calculated efficiency.

Steel Body remained coiled, like a powerful spring, poised to transform me into an impenetrable tank for precisely ten seconds – ten seconds that could decisively tip the scales between victory and utter humiliation.

But most significantly, Sovereign’s Mandate pulsed with the immense weight of five distinct bonds tugging at my consciousness like powerful gravitational tides.

I could perceive them all.

Every single one.

Natalia, somewhere in the east wing, likely already awake and meticulously planning her day with unwavering resolve. Her presence emanated a sensation akin to cold fire – contained, potent, and entirely focused.

Skylar, probably still asleep, her headphones on, her consciousness emitting a relaxed, contented hum. She had undoubtedly stayed up late again, engrossed in designing new gear, lost in the depths of her creative process.

Emi, in the kitchen, already preparing enough food to feed a small army, a typical response when she felt anxious. Her presence was warm and bright, reminiscent of being near a cozy fireplace.

Celeste, studying diligently in her room – always studying, perpetually striving to prove her worth for something she had already rightfully earned. Her consciousness felt like the soft glow of winter moonlight: beautiful, serene, and utterly perfect.

Akari, occupied with texting someone, her presence lighter and more playful than the others. She was probably coordinating the latest gossip with Hikari, that twin hivemind already operating at peak capacity this early in the morning.

The connections thrummed like the taut strings of a guitar, each resonating with a subtly unique frequency.

Each one represented a thread linking me to someone who had deemed me worthy of their trouble.

Worthy of the inherent risks.

Worthy of everything they had so generously bestowed upon me.

Nel’s voice whispered, carrying a distinct note of genuine concern.

I immediately withdrew the sensation, compressing it as if clenching a fist.

I made it more subdued.

More controlled.

The absolute last thing I needed was for all five of them to converge upon the common room, demanding explanations for why I had just conducted a psychic 'poke' before breakfast.

The common room door creaked open, shattering my intense concentration.

Celeste entered, dressed in simple academy attire and holding a thick, academic book – likely concerning advanced cryokinetic theories or the historical classifications of Gates. Her silver-white hair, neatly pulled back into a practical ponytail, gave her a surprisingly youthful and vulnerable appearance.

No makeup.

No pretense.

No 'ice princess' facade.

Just Celeste, the girl who had entrusted me with parts of herself she had never revealed to anyone else.

Her periwinkle eyes widened with evident pleasure upon noticing Maki straight away.

"Oh."

Maki’s ears flicked, turning towards the newcomer.

Approaching the couch with measured steps, Celeste moved with an innate elegance honed by years of etiquette lessons. "May I?" she inquired.

The cat responded with a cheerful chirp, a sound that clearly translated to universal feline approval: "Yes, human, you are permitted to bestow affections upon me."

A gentle smile graced Celeste’s lips as she sat beside Maki, stroking the cat along its spine with a practiced and confident touch. "She’s beautiful," she commented, her voice imbued with sincere warmth. "What is her name?"

"Maki," I replied concisely.

"An unusual name for a cat," Celeste remarked, scratching Maki behind the ears with the assuredness of someone accustomed to handling fine animals. "Where did you find her?"

"She found me."

"Strays seem to find you often," Celeste observed, glancing up. A knowing glint appeared in her expression, as if she had already deciphered much of the situation and was merely awaiting my confirmation of the remainder. "Are you going to tell me she's also soul-bonded to you?"

Despite my best efforts to maintain a neutral expression, my eye twitched involuntarily.

"She’s a familiar. The mechanics are different, as is the type of bond."

"But she’s still yours."

"Yes."

"Good." Celeste resumed petting Maki, whose purr had escalated to the intensity of a small engine. "At least this one can’t whisk you away for late-night discussions about death gardens."