Chapter 108. Forgotten Hedgehog
59th day in the labyrinth.
I had gathered some weapons from the machine factory that even a beginner could handle easily.
It wasn’t because I planned on using them myself.
I wasn’t dismissing the weapons made by Omega, but with these, it would be hard to even scratch the monsters inhabiting the Ancient Labyrinth.
The firepower of the weapons I brought was weaker than a flick from my finger.
Of course.
There were weapons that could harm S-class monsters.
Omega’s masterpieces were more than sufficient against the monsters in the Ancient Labyrinth.
But I didn’t bring any of those.
As I said before.
I didn’t retrieve them with the intention of using them myself.
I needed weapons that anyone could handle.
And the ones I brought were all weapons that even ordinary people could use easily.
Even Merino, who was F-class, was using them without any issues.
“Yangyang! Take this shot!”
Pshook-!
［Kkyua!］
The weapon Merino was currently shooting at Melody Fox was called the Aqua Stun Gun.
To put it simply, a paralyzing water gun.
The water contained the power to incapacitate the opponent.
It was a weapon developed after researching Dog Spider’s web.
Naturally, it didn’t work on an S-class like Melody Fox.
“Wow! How can she be fine even after getting hit! Melody Yang is amazing!”
［Kkyuhuhu!］
Though Melody Fox’s danger level had been nerfed to B-class, it wasn’t like it wouldn’t work on a B-class either.
That weapon must have had its firepower weakened as well.
After all, it was a weapon infused with Omega’s essence.
“Now, everyone else, take this too!”
Pshook-!
［Kheok…!］
［Japaaaaan!!!］
Niara Nepensis collapsed onto the floor, and Japan flailed her arms in agony, screaming.
It wasn’t that the water gun actually worked on them.
They were just pretending to be hurt, like playing with a child.
“Hahaha! I defeated the bad villains!”
It was something akin to playing house.
Anyway.
I planned to give those Aqua Stun Guns to the Assistants on Earth as gifts.
【Pururu】─Hmm. Don’t you have cooler weapons?
【Yumi】─I appreciate it, but these seem a bit childish for grown adults…
【Bubble Bubble】─Stop complaining and take it.
【Rizenova】─Don’t be ungrateful.
【Mysticism】─🤔 I actually like it.
Not only the Aqua Stun Guns.
I was also going to send the scarves that Azeras stayed up all night to make.
I had mentioned it like it was a bonus, but the scarf was actually the main gift.
The material for the scarves was made from Kinogine Arachne’s web.
With just one of those scarves, you could survive even if a nuclear bomb hit.
It was practically a cheat item that granted invincibility.
【Pururu】─The scarf is good. As long as we’re wearing this tiny one’s web scarf, we’ll be safe from parasites or brainwashing attempts.
【Mysticism】─😋
【Yumi】─It’s not exactly scarf weather, but… I’ll make sure to carry it with me at all times. Thank you.
The reason I was suddenly providing reverse support was simple.
I’d heard rumors that the atmosphere on Earth was becoming tense.
I didn’t know the details, but.
For the safety of the Assistants, I needed to arm them as much as possible by providing reverse support.
“So, the Dimensional Magician hasn’t figured out anything yet?”
【Pururu】─Nope, still completely in the dark.
“What the heck?”
【Pururu】─I meant they’re still clueless. It seems like they haven’t identified the cause of the Dimensional Barrier tearing yet, and the higher-ups are busy with behind-the-scenes investigations.
It seemed like nothing had been uncovered yet.
Well, it wasn’t easy to figure out the full truth in such a short time.
【Pururu】─Sage is going through a tough time. Balancing a café job, restoring the Dimensional Barrier, and investigating the higher-ups. It’s a triple job.
“She’s still working at the café?”
【Pururu】─She said she hasn’t repaid her debt of gratitude yet. Plus, she’s guarding the café owner in case of a monster attack. She even cast a secret protection spell on them.
【Yumi】─But she only works three days a week now, and only for three hours each day.
I didn’t realize Sage had such a strong sense of gratitude.
This was the first time I’d learned that.
We weren’t exactly that close.
By the way, I heard that Sage had also cast protection spells on the Assistants.
“Oh, and just to be sure, you guys aren’t investigating any shady people on your own, are you?”
【Pururu】─Nope, we’re doing nothing!
【Yumi】─Sage told us not to get involved. Said it’s dangerous.
【Mysticism】─Except for meetups, I don’t leave the house! 😅
“That’s a relief. Leave all the investigations to Sage. There’s nothing you can do as ordinary humans. If you get involved, you’ll only get in the way.”
It was sincere advice.
Frankly, it wasn’t wise to poke your nose where it didn’t belong.
Unless you had more than one life.
Sage might not have a problem since she was strong, but for ordinary human Assistants to investigate monsters was practically a death wish.
Even if I provided them with equipment, it wouldn’t matter.
【Yumi】─Don’t worry. We have no intention of becoming an obstacle to what Sage is doing.
【Mysticism】─I’m too scared to mess around! 🤭
【Pururu】─We know our limits. We’re well aware that we’re weaklings.
“Good. Stay safe and stay home unless you’re working.”
It wasn’t until I heard their responses that I felt a bit more at ease.
Though Pururu and Mysti were idiots, they didn’t seem to be the reckless type.
【Rizenova】─It seems they have a pretty good grasp of themselves.
【Bubble Bubble】─Right? And if they’re scared, they’ll live a long time. Cowards usually survive the longest.
【Pururu】─Is that an insult?
【Bubble Bubble】─It’s a compliment.
【Pururu】─Thanks.
【Mysticism】─🤔
“Anyway. I’ll send over the water guns… no, the Aqua Stun Guns and the scarves Azeras knitted. Rize, activate that function like last time.”
Reverse support was originally only available to Assistants ranked Gold or higher.
But if there was a Diamond-ranked Assistant, the story changed.
One of the privileges of a Diamond-ranked Assistant was a support function that allowed an Explorer to use reverse support for lower-ranked Assistants.
We had used this function when we sent food last time.
If I had to guess why such a function existed.
It was probably a little perk for high-ranking Assistants to feel superior.
【Rizenova】─Heh. Assistants of Earth, bow down before me.
Just like that,
Rize was making full use of his privilege as a tool for flaunting his superiority.
【Rizenova】─What are you all doing? Get your heads down and post a picture of it!
【Mysticism】─Why is he like that. 😠
【Pururu】─Stop showing off.
【Yumi】─[Photo]
【Bubble Bubble】─Yumi uploaded it right away.
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh, that’s a picture she took a while ago.
Ha Yumi posted a photo.
But Mysti stubbornly refused to upload one until the end.
Pururu, being Platinum-ranked, didn’t need Rize’s help to receive reverse support, so she just watched from the sidelines.
【Rizenova】─Why isn’t Mysti posting a photo?
【Mysticism】─😡
【Mysticism】─I’ll just have Pururu pass mine along.
【Mysticism】─Kang Geon oppa, send mine to Pururu.
【Pururu】─Huh? Don’t send it. I have no intention of accepting it for her.
【Mysticism】─Ah, why?
【Mysticism】─Just receive it for me, please.
【Pururu】─Too much hassle, buzz off.
【Mysticism】─🤬🤬🤬
【Yumi】─What are you doing? Just post the photo already.
【Rizenova】─Haha. I was joking. You don’t have to post a picture, so don’t be mad.
【Yumi】─??? Then what about me, the one who posted it?
【Pururu】─What do you think? You’re an idiot.
【Mysticism】─😀
Rize used his authority.
With that, it became possible to provide reverse support to Assistants below Gold rank.
***
After completing the reverse support.
The Assistants from Earth began sending coin support.
『BLACK-ranked Assistant “Yumi” has supported with 300 coins!』
『BLACK-ranked Assistant “Mysticism” has supported with 300 coins!』
『PLATINUM-ranked Assistant “Pururu” has supported with 300 coins!』
【Mysticism】─This isn’t enough to rank up. 😭
【Yumi】─What a shame. I really need to reach Gold quickly.
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋㅋ
It wasn’t their own money they had used to send support.
The coins the Earth Assistants sent had all come from
Seo Dan-bi’s friend, the third-generation chaebol, Hwang Mir.
“Lulu, pass along my thanks to this Mir person.”
【Pururu】─Yup, already did.
【Pururu】─And you should keep Hwang Mir as your top priority for the next Assistant candidate. She’s dying to watch your stream as soon as possible. Right now, she’s getting by looking at the monsters I drew for her.
I didn’t need to be told; I was already thinking of it.
Considering she had supported us so much without even being an official Assistant, it was only natural to prioritize her.
“Got it. Once I get an Intermediate Invitation Ticket, I’ll invite her right away.”
If I had an Intermediate Invitation Ticket, I could invite Hwang Mir.
An Intermediate Invitation Ticket allowed me to designate someone I or one of the monsters I tamed had interacted with within the past five days and request their assistance.
It would be easy to create a point of contact with Hwang Mir.
All I had to do was use a Designated Dispatch Ticket to send a monster to Earth and have them meet her.
The cost of a Designated Dispatch Ticket was totally worth it.
It was an investment to secure a big-shot Assistant, after all.
Of course,
I wasn’t going to go so far as to use a Vending Machine Tracker to get an Intermediate Invitation Ticket.
That would be overkill.
【Yumi】─Mir said she’ll support even more tomorrow.
【Mysticism】─Thanks to her, I’ll probably rank up soon! 😃
【Pururu】─This kid never calls me unnie, but she calls Hwang Mir unnie?
【Mysticism】─Pururu, you’ve never given me any money.
Aside from coins.
She said she’d send livestock and farming supplies as well, but I asked her to hold off for now.
Since we hadn’t established the village yet.
Especially with livestock, there was no way we could accept it now.
If we accepted animals without being prepared, they’d definitely die from neglect.
‘More importantly, this was the first time I learned that higher-ranked Assistants could send living creatures. I thought they could only send objects.’
After the Earth Assistants sent their coin support.
This time, Rize and Elise also sent coins.
『DIAMOND-ranked Assistant “Rizenova” has supported with 10,000 coins!』
【Rizenova】─Heh.
【Pururu】─Stop showing off.
『BLACK-ranked Assistant “Bubble Bubble” has supported with 2,000 coins!』
『Notice』
◇ Assistant Rank Up ◇
● Target: Bubble Bubble (005)
● Change: BLACK → GOLD
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh, finally ranked up.
【Mysticism】─😮 I’m jealous.
【Yumi】─Wow! Congratulations!
【Bubble Bubble】─Thanks. It was a good decision to charge coins with the gold my younger brother had.
【Mysticism】─😶 So you used gold to charge your coins.
【Pururu】─We could charge coins with gold too.
【Pururu】─But Bubble, you didn’t steal your brother’s gold, right?
【Bubble Bubble】─I didn’t steal it; I borrowed it.
【Pururu】─You did tell him before borrowing it, right?
【Bubble Bubble】─Anyway, I’m just glad I reached Gold rank.
【Pururu】─Answer me, you crazy woman.
After the coin support ended.
From a distance, I saw the monsters returning from their exploration.
Snake Head, Mummy Skeleton.
And Hedgehog… huh?
What the?
I didn’t see Hedgehog, who had gone out with them for the exploration.
This time, I had sent the three of them together, hadn’t I?
“Guys. Where did you leave Hedgehog?”
［Orooro? Chwee?］
［Hedgehog…? I don’t know anything about that…］
“You don’t know Hedgehog? What are you suddenly talking about?”
I asked, baffled.
Then, the Assistants’ chat started flowing in.
【Bubble Bubble】─Who’s Hedgehog?
【Mysticism】─🤔
【Yumi】─Geon, did you ever tame a monster called Hedgehog Summoner?
【Rizenova】─I can’t remember anything.
【Pururu】─I’ve never heard of it either.
Following the Assistants.
“Who’s Hedgehog Summoner, Yanyang?”
Merino Ulla.
［Master, Snake Head and Mummy Skeleton went on the exploration by themselves.］
Neo Hyeong-seok.
［If you’re referring to the monster that lives in the plains, Hedgehog has never been tamed by you, Explorer.］
Centaurides.
［I’ve never heard the name Hedgehog Summoner either.］
Puppet, Lilith Morphea.
［Pii, pii?］
［Kyuu?］
Even Medical Mushroom and Melody Fox.
They all acted as if their memories of Hedgehog Summoner had been erased.
It didn’t feel like they were playing a prank.
Could it be that everyone except me had forgotten about Hedgehog Summoner?
Just as I was thinking that.
［Pii? How can you not know Hedgehog Summoner! Are you still friends?!］
［That’s strange. Why is everyone forgetting?］
Blood Jellyfish Princess and Kinogine Arachne spoke as they stood beside me.
And aside from them.
［Gauntlet. I remember. I even saw the three of them go on the exploration together earlier.］
“I, too, know Hedgehog…”
［Son, this mother of yours remembers Hedgehog Summoner too.］
Puppetmaster, Azeras, Niara, and more.
There were quite a few monsters who remembered Hedgehog Summoner.
Fortunately, not everyone but me had lost their memories.
【Mysticism】─🧐🧐🧐
【Mysticism】─What is everyone talking about? There’s never been a monster called Hedgehog Summoner! I’ve been watching Geon oppa’s stream for ages!
【Yumi】─Things are taking a weird turn.
【Pururu】─Hmm. What’s going on?
【Pururu】─I’ve been watching Geon’s stream from the beginning, and I have no recollection of a monster called Hedgehog Summoner.
【Bubble Bubble】─I don’t remember either, but seeing as some, like Gauntlet, do remember, it seems like the memory of a monster called Hedgehog has vanished from our minds.
【Rizenova】─Actually, I remember. How could I ever forget Hedgemog Mursoner?
【Pururu】─Stop pretending. You didn’t even get the name right. Damn it.
【Rizenova】─Apologies.
Some remembered.
Some didn’t.
Selective memory loss.
I pondered the pattern hidden behind this.
Then I caught a crucial connection.
There was one thing in common among those who had lost their memory of Hedgehog Summoner.
It was that their danger level was below S-class.