Chapter 182. Official Candidate
While I was conversing with the Elephant Merchant, Artpega Unibicorn had been quietly eavesdropping and finished updating the Monster Guidebook.
■ Elephant Merchant
─ Actual Danger Level: SSS-rank.
─ Current (Nerfed) Danger Level: S-rank.
─ Notable Traits: Sells items and information, black-market trader.
After briefly glancing at the entry, I resumed questioning the Elephant Merchant.
I treated all the information he provided as truthful for the sake of analysis.
Here’s a list of the questions I asked, the answers given, and their associated costs:
—
Q. When do tamed monsters betray their Explorer?
─ Information Cost: 1,500 coins.
［There are various scenarios. If the Explorer commits significant betrayal or repeatedly engages in minor betrayals. If the monster is forced to do something it strongly dislikes multiple times or is abused. Or if it’s not treated as a proper friend. In essence, betrayal happens when the Explorer takes actions that sever the relationship first.］
【Luna-chan】─If what he says is true, then the claim that they “never betray” must be false. Though, I still don’t trust that Elephant-chan.
【Bubble Bubble】─I don’t trust him either, but that information does sound plausible.
【Rizenova】─Honestly, if the Explorer breaks the relationship first, it’s only natural for the monster to stop seeing them as a friend.
【Yumi】─If betrayal only occurs when the Explorer initiates it, isn’t that technically not betrayal?
【Pururu】─Right? lol.
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Hwang Mir】─Regardless of whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter here. Geon treats his tamed monsters as genuine friends.
【Pururu】─Yeah, even though he sometimes teases them, he never crosses a line that would damage their relationship. It’s all just friendly banter.
—
Q. How does one become the ruler of the Ancient Labyrinth?
The Crocodile Merchant had dodged this question when asked.
The Elephant Merchant didn’t provide an answer either.
Or more precisely, I couldn’t purchase it.
The price was absurdly high—so much so that even if I emptied all my resources, I couldn’t afford it.
【Pururu】─That insane elephant is charging way too much for this information.
【Mysticism】─😡 How is he any different from the crocodile? In the end, they both won’t tell us.
—
Q. Why does the Ancient Labyrinth spread subtly false information?
─ Information Cost: 500 coins.
［It’s connected to the method of becoming the ruler.］
“…Is that all?”
［Yes.］
【Bubble Bubble】─I just wasted coins.
【Hwang Mir】─We should’ve known from the low price.
—
Q. Are there creatures in the Ancient Labyrinth stronger than the Crocodile Merchant?
─ Information Cost: 900 coins.
This was another question the Crocodile Merchant had avoided answering.
This time, I was able to purchase the answer.
［Yes, there are.］
【Hwang Mir】─“Yes, there are.” That’s it? And it costs 900 coins? Ridiculous.
【Mysticism】─😠
【Pururu】─He’s just pocketing our coins.
【Luna-chan】─There are monsters stronger than SSS-rank ones?!
【Yumi】─Don’t believe it.
【Bubble Bubble】─I don’t trust him, but I think it’s not impossible for stronger monsters to exist. We once thought SSS-ranks couldn’t exist, yet here they are. The Ancient Labyrinth is a world far removed from conventional logic.
【Rizenova】─I hope that statement is false—for Gauntlet’s safety.
【Bubble Bubble】─I agree. While stronger monsters might be possible, I’d rather they didn’t exist.
—
Q. Why do Wandering Merchants want coins?
─ Information Cost: 100 coins.
［The Crocodile Merchant collects coins to offer them to the Ancient Labyrinth. As for me, I absorb them to become stronger.］
“Why do you want to become stronger?”
［That’s 300 coins.］
—
Q. Why do you want to become stronger?
─ Information Cost: 300 coins.
［For revenge. There’s someone I want to kill.］
“Is your revenge target the creature stronger than the Crocodile Merchant?”
［That’s 200 coins.］
—
Q. Is your revenge target the creature you mentioned earlier?
─ Information Cost: 200 coins.
［Correct.］
【Pururu】─This guy’s just milking coins at this point.
【Mysticism】─😡
—
Q. Why weren’t you recognized as an official Wandering Merchant by the Ancient Labyrinth?
─ Information Cost: 2,500 coins.
［I was, briefly. But during that time, I sold restricted information to an Explorer. Because of that, I lost my official status.］
“Did you not know it was restricted information?”
［That’s 300 coins.］
—
Q. Did you know it was restricted information?
─ Information Cost: 300 coins.
［I did.］
“Then why did you sell it?”
［50,000 coins.］
“I’m not buying that.”
—
Q. Are there traits that make it impossible to become the ruler of the Ancient Labyrinth?
─ Information Cost: 7,000 coins.
［Yes, there are.］
“There are? Which traits?”
［150,000 coins.］
“……”
【Yumi】─This elephant is completely drunk on coins.
【Pururu】─He’s lucky he’s SSS-rank. If he were lower, Geon would’ve beaten him to death.
—
I didn’t buy that information either.
As I mentioned earlier, I was only purchasing information for reference.
Since I couldn’t determine whether his information was true or false, I refrained from excessive spending.
—
Finally.
After purchasing various other pieces of information, I decided further spending would be wasteful and asked one last question.
Q. Is the Ancient Labyrinth a living being?
I asked this because of the strange phenomenon I experienced earlier.
The sensation that the labyrinth had transmitted its emotions to me during the small tremor.
I refined my question for a more definitive answer.
Q. Like Solorb, which holds an entire world within, is the Ancient Labyrinth also a world held by a living being?
─ Information Cost: 3,000 coins.
［Normally, this information would be more expensive… But it seems you’ve already figured it out, so I’ll give you a discount. Yes, that’s correct. The Ancient Labyrinth is akin to Solorb—a living being that can freely manipulate any dimension. It’s the highest-ranking, supreme existence across all dimensions—the sole Absolute God.］
【Pururu】─Whoa.
【Hwang Mir】─What?!
【Mysticism】─😮
As soon as the Elephant Merchant finished speaking.
*Kuuuuung!*
The gray space he created began collapsing.
［W-What’s happening? This space has never been breached before… Could it be that the Ancient Labyrinth overheard everything?］
The Elephant Merchant trembled in shock.
*Ding!*
「Explorer Gauntlet has obtained verified true information.」
A familiar voice echoed.
「Due to the revelation of the truth, pure behavioral evaluation is no longer possible.」
「Evaluation of Explorer activities will commence ahead of schedule. Failure to meet standards will result in disqualification.」
「Assisted One, Gauntlet.」
「Measuring relationships with tamed monsters…」
「No monsters hold dissatisfaction with the Explorer.」
「No monsters are disappointed in the Explorer.」
「No monsters have been abused by the Explorer.」
「No monsters feel betrayed by the Explorer.」
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「All satisfactory.」
「Evaluation complete.」
「Congratulations. You have passed the evaluation, and your Explorer status remains intact.」
「You are now an official candidate for the ruler of the Ancient Labyrinth.」
「Certain information has been updated.」
With that announcement, a new description appeared before me for the Assisted One trait.
The content was slightly altered from what I had seen before.
■ Assisted One <New! Official Candidate for Ruler of the Ancient Labyrinth>
─ Taming abilities are activated.
┗ You can tame monsters by making physical contact with specific parts of their body for a certain duration. Tamed monsters will become your close friends and protect you. Furthermore, as long as you treat them with genuine friendship and sincerity, they will not betray you.
That wasn’t all.
New abilities related to taming were also added.
—
<New!> Absolute Taming Ability
┗ You can tame any monster within the Ancient Labyrinth. (e.g., monsters already tamed by other Assisted Ones, neutral monsters.)
<New!> Delegated Taming Ability
┗ You can
delegate taming authority to up to 10 companions (tamed monsters). Delegates can use taming abilities and review specific parts. They can also view Assistants’ chats.
<New!> Dimensional Taming Ability
┗ You can tame all living beings across all dimensions.
—
I reviewed the new abilities in stunned disbelief.
「Congratulations, Explorer Gauntlet, on becoming an official candidate.」
「To commemorate this, a special gift has been prepared.」
Once again, the voice echoed.
［Ugh, my head…!］
The Elephant Merchant collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
「You have successfully tamed the Elephant Merchant.」
「Unfortunately, due to complications during the taming process, most of the Elephant Merchant’s memories have been erased.」