Chapter 10. Jellyfish Queen
The method of winning its favor with food succeeded.
The jellyfish that consumed the bread crumbs appeared satisfied, and shortly after, the speed of the discoloration of its spots increased dramatically.
About five minutes later.
[Piiiii.]
The spots had turned completely green.
I had successfully tamed the jellyfish.
【Pururu】─Did we succeed?
【002】─🤔
By the way, only I could see these spots.
The Assistants couldn’t see them.
“Yes. I also feel connected to this guy, and the spots have completely turned green. It’s also listed in the tamed monster list.”
【Pururu】─That’s great. But I’m curious to see the status window. I wonder what it feels like. lol
【002】─🤔
【Pururu】─What’s with the hand on your chin? Are you wondering what the tamed monster list is?
【002】─😀
【Pururu】─It’s like those status windows you often see in comics or novels. We can’t see it, but only Geon can.
【002】─🤔
【Pururu】─Huh? Do you not know what a status window is?
【002】─😀
【Pururu】─If you don’t know, why don’t you try looking it up? —_—
【002】─😠
【Pururu】─Relax your expression.
【002】─😶
The tamed jellyfish circled around me.
It sent me a rather friendly gaze.
【Pururu】─lol The jellyfish looks gross and scary, but its cry is kind of cute.
【002】─😅
I told it that I would call it ‘Jellyfish’ from now on, then gently patted its head.
Afterward, I made a request.
“Jellyfish. Can you cast a speed spell on me?”
The jellyfish’s specialty was explosive magic.
However, it could also perform various buff and protective spells.
The jellyfish I killed in the other world was fighting against the Warrior of Devotion before it attacked me.
I briefly witnessed it using various spells during that fight, and I’m sure it used a speed spell back then.
[Pii?]
The jellyfish blinked rapidly.
It didn’t cast the speed spell.
【Pururu】─Looks like it can’t use that spell. lol
【002】─😐
As Pururu said, this guy might not be able to cast buff spells.
After all, it was a different individual from the jellyfish I saw in the other world. Its danger level was also two stages lower.
However, I had a different thought.
To me, it seemed that the jellyfish either didn’t fully understand the magic it could use or didn’t properly grasp my request.
I felt bad for saying this, but this jellyfish appeared to have lower intelligence compared to the one I saw in the other world.
“Fish, you understand what I’m saying, right?”
[Pii!]
The jellyfish nodded.
Fortunately, my words were getting through.
“Then, do you not know what a speed spell is?”
[Pii!]
The jellyfish nodded again.
My second guess was correct.
It didn’t understand the meaning of the word “speed.”
“Hmm… Maybe if I say it’s a spell that makes your body lighter, you’ll understand?”
[Piiiii!]
Suddenly, I felt as light as a feather.
My feet left the ground, and soon, my entire body was slightly floating in the air.
This wasn’t a speed spell but a levitation spell.
【Pururu】─Wow. A flying spell!
【002】─😮
This wasn’t bad either.
Still, I needed a speed spell.
I needed it to quickly explore the labyrinth.
I asked the jellyfish to cancel the levitation spell.
After scratching my head and thinking for a moment, I came up with a way to help it understand.
“Fish, watch what I’m about to do.”
[Pii?]
I jumped with all my might from where I stood.
It was the jump of an average adult male.
【Pururu】─What are you doing all of a sudden? Have you lost it?
【002】─🤪
【Pururu】─And you, where did you even find that ridiculous emoji?
【002】─✌🤪✌
【Pururu】─Sigh.
After demonstrating the jump, I gave the jellyfish a clearer command.
“You saw my jump, right?”
[Pii!]
“Can you make me jump higher than that?”
This should be clear enough.
There’s no simpler way to explain it.
[Pii, Pii!]
A blue light emanated from the jellyfish’s body.
The blue light flowed into my body like a clear stream.
As my body felt lighter, I was filled with energy.
Plus, I felt a refreshing sensation.
“So, you could use a speed spell after all.”
【Pururu】─Did it work? I don’t see any difference.
I lightly leaped from my spot.
My body soared up in an instant, touched the cave ceiling with my palm, and then landed back on the ground.
【002】─😱
【Pururu】─Whoa, that’s crazy! Jellyfish, cast that spell on me too!
“Thanks, Fish. Now, can you cast the levitation spell again?”
[Pii?]
“…The spell you cast on me earlier.”
[Pii!]
On top of the speed spell, I received the levitation spell as well.
When these two spells are combined, the flight speed increases significantly.
【Pururu】─Wait. But why does the speed spell increase your jumping ability? Is it supposed to do that?
This allowed me to explore the cave more quickly and comfortably.
***
My plan was to explore each passage slightly to grasp its structure and characteristics. Additionally, I aimed to identify the resident monsters.
Just like when I explored Cave No. 2.
I didn’t plan to go too deep into Cave No. 3 this time either.
At least, not until I was granted the speed spell.
【Pururu】─You’re so fast. Flying must be fun…
【002】─😀
I ventured deeper into Cave No. 3.
Since the time required for exploration was significantly reduced, I intended to examine a bit deeper.
All thanks to the jellyfish.
The deeper I went, the wider the cave became.
Soon, I noticed a large hole in the cave wall.
I approached and peeked out of the hole.
A short cliff about 10 meters high.
Below it, familiar monsters were teeming.
‘Looks like that’s the jellyfish’s habitat.’
A rare sight of countless jellyfish gathered together.
【002】─😨
【Pururu】─Ugh. Seeing them all gathered like that is gross.
It wasn’t too shocking since they were all B-rank.
If S-rank jellyfish were gathered like that, it would be a disaster for others.
‘They’re all B-rank… There’s no way only the non-adults are gathered here.’
It seemed that the jellyfish inhabiting this labyrinth were fully grown at this size.
Until now, I assumed my jellyfish wasn’t fully grown.
That’s because it was smaller and less intelligent than the one I saw in the other world. To put it bluntly, the Demon King Jellyfish was about three times larger.
‘I wonder if the jellyfish here are just weaker, or if the jellyfish I saw in the other world was a special case…’
This is giving me a headache.
The more I think about it, the less I understand.
‘But more importantly, what’s that?’
While scanning below the cliff, I spotted a humanoid monster.
It looked like an ordinary human woman with a jellyfish perched on her head.
【Pururu】─So, our jellyfish was like a scout. But is that jellyfish woman the boss of all these jellyfish? Geon, what’s her danger level?
“…A-rank. She seems to be the leader.”
She was probably a higher-ranking jellyfish.
Though her danger level was still lower than that of the Demon King Jellyfish I had killed in the other world.
‘Even in the worst dungeons, called Hell, in the other world, B-rank monsters didn’t swarm like this.’
I slowly scanned the area below the cliff again.
There were too many jellyfish.
Far more than a hundred.
Even if it was a B-rank, it was still a boss-tier monster.
Seeing ten of them grouped together was one thing, but a hundred of them?
That was way over the line.
At this point, it didn’t matter whether this was the deepest part of the labyrinth or not.
It didn’t matter if monsters below B-rank existed here or not.
The fact that a labyrinth where B-rank monsters swarmed like common mobs existed was enough to explain the danger of this place.
‘To survive, I need to figure out how to break the seal quickly. This is a crazy labyrinth that defies common sense.’
Anyway.
I decided to end my exploration of Passage No. 3 here.
I knew when to retreat.
I had a feeling that more troublesome monsters would pop up if I went further.
***
<Passage No. 3>
○Larger than Passage No. 2.
○Inhabited by jellyfish and their leader.
I returned to the hideout.
I checked the clock leaning against the box and found that it was already 10:30 PM.
I decided to call it a night.
“I’m getting sleepy. I should go to bed.”
【Pururu】─Already? You’re such a goody-two-shoes.
【002】─😐
I planned to activate the Assistant Block mode when I slept.
In other words, I intended to end the broadcast
.
“I’ll turn the broadcast back on tomorrow. Will you come back tomorrow?”
【Pururu】─Yeah, of course. I have to watch this broadcast. You couldn’t even pay for a show this fun. Though, to be honest, I’m more worried about you than entertained.
【002】─😉
Well, 002 might not, but Pururu would definitely return.
Considering how much money was spent today.
After bidding farewell to the Assistants, I blocked their assistance.
Then, I called the jellyfish.
Just in case, I wanted to set up some protection for the night.
“Jellyfish. Can you set up a barrier spell around us? You can do that, right?”
[Pii?]
“…A spell that prevents other monsters from approaching us.”
[Pii!]
The jellyfish quietly closed its eyes.
Then, blue magic power flowed from its body and seeped into the ground.
The magic wriggled like a living creature, spreading in all directions, and soon shot up into the sky.
A transparent dome-shaped barrier formed, covering a radius of about five meters around us.
Thanks to that, there was no need to keep watch.
The barrier would protect us while we slept. If it got destroyed, the noise would wake me up.
After that.
Before spending my first night in the labyrinth, I took a notebook from the box and started drawing the monsters I had seen today.
I could draw the jellyfish anytime since it was right next to me, but the image of the jellyfish leader might blur in my mind by tomorrow.
I decided to name the jellyfish leader based on what came to mind.
—
■ Jellyfish
─ Danger Level: Estimated B-rank.
─ Abilities: Explosion Magic / Buff Magic, Protection Magic, etc.
─ Weakness: A flick on the forehead?
—
■ Jellyfish Queen
─ Danger Level: Estimated A-rank.