Chapter 189: Nature Transformation
The SSS+ rank monster that the Elephant Merchant swore revenge on.
The Elephant Merchant said that it must have been because of that monster that Hekhekshilshillshiiik's personality completely changed.
［Hmm… But is it really okay to reveal this information? I'm worried that my memory might suddenly be erased again...］
The Elephant Merchant looked around once more.
He still seemed wary of the Ancient Labyrinth.
"If it's a memory you still have, then there shouldn't be a problem. If it were truly dangerous information, I would have made sure to erase it properly."
［...I suppose you're right? Then I'll set aside my worries and explain the information that just came to mind in detail.］
The Elephant Merchant cleared his throat.
Then, glancing at the soundly sleeping Hekhekshilshillshiiik, he began to speak.
［Unfortunately, I still can't recall that bastard's name. But I do remember its appearance and some of the abilities it possesses.］
The Elephant Merchant continued speaking.
Summarizing the information he provided, it went as follows:
SSS+ rank monster.
One of the abilities it possessed—Nature Transformation.
Nature Transformation was a power that altered a being's very essence. To put it simply, it was closer to brainwashing.
And that ability worked not only on SS-rank threats like Hekhekshilshillshiiik but could even change the nature of SSS-rank beings like Solorb.
That much could be concluded.
［Hekhekshilshillshiiik was undoubtedly affected by Nature Transformation. That bastard has a peculiar hobby of making naturally gentle creatures extremely violent.
And now that I think about it, there's a crucial piece of evidence proving that Hekhekshilshillshiiik was subjected to Nature Transformation.］
The Elephant Merchant slowly moved toward the cocooned Hekhekshilshillshiiik.
For the record, Hekhekshilshillshiiik’s face was exposed.
［Do you see this?］
The Elephant Merchant nudged Hekhekshilshillshiiik's forehead with his trunk.
Two red spots were imprinted on his forehead.
They weren’t the same red spots I needed to place my hands on to tame a monster.
They were much smaller and paler in color.
"What's with those spots?"
［Those spots are proof that he was affected by Nature Transformation. Anyone subjected to Nature Transformation develops two distinct red spots on a clearly visible part of their body.］
So those were signs of Nature Transformation.
I had thought they were just one of Hekhekshilshillshiiik’s natural traits.
Apparently, I was wrong.
【Yumi】—A monster that enjoys turning gentle creatures into violent ones...
【Bubble Bubble】—Sounds like a twisted bastard.
【Rizenova】—Just as we suspected, that SSS+ rank really is like a cancer in the Ancient Labyrinth.
【Pururu】—For real, it's like a virus.
【Hwang Mir】—It’s too soon to jump to conclusions.
This one sounds messed up, but maybe the other SSS+ ranks are fine.
【Pururu】—Wait, there are more SSS+ ranks?
【Mysticism】—Let's find that mutt who changed Hekhekshilshillshiiik’s nature and beat it up. 😠
【Luna-chan】—If we go looking for it now, Gauntlet’s party will die.
We should befriend more SSS-rank monsters first.
Just as Sage Lunaris said.
If we confronted that being now, we would be annihilated.
For that reason, I had no intention of searching for the mentioned SSS+ rank just yet.
Even with a few more SSS-rank monsters on our side, victory against it was uncertain.
"...Anyway, meeting that thing now wouldn't do us any good, so we'll stop exploring Cave No. 2 here."
We decided to temporarily halt our expedition of Cave No. 2.
The likelihood of an SSS+ rank monster residing deep within was too high.
Additionally, we planned to set up temporary barriers throughout the cave.
Of course, they wouldn’t hold for long.
But at the very least, they would serve as an early warning if the creature started moving toward our forward base.
Lastly, we would install Iris’s crystals throughout the cave to function as surveillance cameras.
"But you said there’s no creature immune to that bastard’s Nature Transformation, right?
Then does that mean it would work on me too?"
［It wouldn’t work on Explorers.］
"So there are exceptions. That’s a relief."
While talking with the Elephant Merchant, I looked at Hekhekshilshillshiiik, who was still cocooned in silk.
I had already attached a spare severed arm to its body.
Since the transformation was happening extremely slowly, I couldn’t keep my hands on it the entire time.
It seemed like taming it would take quite a long time.
"Kino, take care of it and bring it along."
［Understood, Father.］
After securing Hekhekshilshillshiiik, we quickly withdrew from the area.
***
Day 87 in the Ancient Labyrinth.
At last, the Underwater Village was complete.
Using the warp device, I teleported to the village, greeted the monsters living there, and took my time exploring.
The overall structure hadn’t changed much since construction, so I focused on checking the houses where the monsters lived and the core facilities.
【Yumi】—The village looks really pretty.
【Mysticism】—😮 The village is sparkling!
【Luna-chan】—That's because of Omega-chan’s mechanical devices.
【Hwang Mir】—There seem to be more residents than I expected. I see some monsters I’ve never seen before.
【Bubble Bubble】—Most of them are probably corpses. That monster over there, Necro Marine or whatever, is a necromancer.
【Pururu】—But shouldn't a village of corpses have a gloomy atmosphere? This bright and cheerful vibe doesn’t really fit.
【Rizenova】—You should abandon the stereotype that corpse villages must be dreary.
Now that the village was completed.
The only thing left to do was to find more residents to move in.
At a glance, it seemed like there were already a lot of residents.
But in reality, 90% of them were just corpses reanimated by Necro Marine.
Since they were revived using an S-rank monster's ability, they were far superior to ordinary undead.
However, they were still vastly inferior to the puppets of the Necro Puppet Master.
As I watched the corpses wandering around the village, I called out to Necro, who was standing nearby.
"Necro."
［Uuu…?］
"No, not you, Necro Marine… I was calling Necro Puppet Master."
［Uuu…］
［Did you call for me?］
"Yeah. I wanted to ask something—surely you didn’t include Marine’s corpses as part of the Underwater Village’s residents, right?"
［Of course not. Marine’s corpses have intelligence that’s far too low.］
The Puppet Master replied.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he created a black sphere.
From within that sphere, numerous corpses poured out.
［Starting today, I plan to put great effort into creating proper village residents.］
It seemed that he had been stockpiling a large number of corpses to make more puppets.
Well, puppets were acceptable.
They had no souls, but they possessed self-awareness and high intelligence.
Afterward.
I continued my conversation with Necro Puppet Master while exploring the Underwater Village.
After delegating the taming authority to him, I returned to the hotel.
At the hotel, Whipra and the Centaurs, who had stayed the night, were preparing to leave.
Whipra had to return to Hell to resume her role as a warden.
And the Centaurs, being a nomadic species, didn’t like staying in one place for too long.
【Hwang Mir】—Centaurs seem like a race that gets restless if they don’t keep wandering.
【Mysticism】—🤔 That’s strange. Artpega Unibicorn didn’t dislike staying in one place when she was a Centaurides. Aren’t Centaurides the same species as Centaurs?
【Rizenova】—It’s nothing to be confused about. There are always exceptions.
【Bubble Bubble】—Exactly. Just because they’re the same species doesn’t mean they all have the same nature. There are always mutants and anomalies.
【Yumi】—Then maybe Artpega was a bit of a mutant herself.
【Pururu】—The curse of inbreeding.
【Luna-chan】—?
Artpega Unibicorn and I saw off the Centaurs and Whipra as they left the hotel.
***
After getting enough rest at the hotel, I stopped by the forward base.
I had come to check on Hekhekshilshillshiiik, who had finally been tamed.
［Shaak, Shaaang!］
"…Huh? Is this really the same guy I saw yesterday?"
Unlike before.
Its once-ferocious face had softened so much that I barely recognized it.
【Pururu】—What happened? Did it get plastic surgery?
【Mysticism】—😮 It got cute!
【Hwang Mir】—It now has a face that could spare it from being turned into soup.
【Yumi】—It seems much gentler now.
【Rizenova】—Hmm? The two red spots that were on its forehead have disappeared.
Panting with its tongue out, Hekhekshilshillshiiik leaned its head toward me.
As I patted its head, I checked its forehead.
［Shaak, Shaangaaang.］
They were really gone.
The two red spots, the proof that it had been subjected to Nature Transformation.