Chapter 190:Perfect Corpse
A mark and proof of having undergone nature alteration.
The two red spots on Hekhekshilshillshiiik’s forehead disappeared.
I was slightly taken aback by how drastically his personality had changed overnight, but with the disappearance of the forehead marks, it seemed that the nature alteration had been undone.
［Shaang, Shaaang-ang.］
"So the nature alteration ability doesn’t just fail against Explorers, but also against monsters tamed by Explorers...?"
Furthermore.
Even if someone had already undergone nature alteration.
If they were tamed by an Explorer, it seemed that the curse of nature alteration would disappear, just like now.
【Yumi】─We've discovered a way to break the nature alteration.
【Rizenova】─Rather than a countermeasure, it’s more accurate to say that Gauntlet Gong’s party is simply immune to nature alteration.
【Mysticism】─Anyway, Dog Spider is free! 😃
【Hwang Mir】─Tch.
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋ Nature alteration? That crap gets countered by the Explorer’s ability. GG.
【Pururu】─SSS+ monsters aren’t a big deal! Let’s head straight to Cave No. 2 and take them down.
【Bubble Bubble】─What are you talking about? Do you think an SSS+ rank monster only has nature alteration as its ability?
【Pururu】─That’s true.
【Mysticism】─🤭 Puru dummy.
【Luna-chan】─Puru idiot. o_O
【Hwang Mir】─Danbi isn’t actually dumb, but I think she’s watching the broadcast while drawing, so she’s getting dumber. When Danbi draws, her intelligence drops.
【Yumi】─So basically, she can't multitask.
【Pururu】─It’s not that I can’t multitask, it's just that I focus almost all my attention on drawing, so my brain doesn’t work well for other things.
【Yumi】─That’s what not being able to multitask means.
【Pururu】─I do fine with other things when I’m not drawing.
［Nature alteration not affecting monsters tamed by the Explorer... Even I didn’t know that. I may have known before, but it could be information erased by the Ancient Labyrinth.］
The Elephant Merchant beside me spoke.
It seemed like he hadn’t known this either.
Well, if he had known, he would’ve told me earlier.
［Hmm. But based on the memories I still have, the Dominant One's control ability didn’t seem to have this effect...］
【Pururu】─So the Assisted One trait was actually the best, huh. ㅋㅅㅋ
"Could it be an additional effect that appeared as my taming ability got stronger?"
［Ah. That could be possible.］
【Pururu】─That makes sense. ㅋㅅㅋ
【Bubble Bubble】─Why do you keep saying ‘군군’?
The Elephant Merchant gave a small nod.
Then, he shifted his gaze to Hekhekshilshillshiiik.
［At any rate, we no longer have to worry about being affected by nature alteration. Plus, with Gauntlet-nim's ability, we might even be able to save those who have been altered.］
In the Elephant Merchant’s eyes, Hekhekshilshillshiiik was surrounded by the Dog Spiders he had killed.
Of course, this wasn’t a scene of revenge.
The Dog Spiders were simply cheering at the sight of Hekhekshilshillshiiik returning to his old self.
［Hekhekshilshillshiiik is nice again, siik!］
［Not bad anymore! Siiiii!］
［Shaaaaang!］
［Apologize for killing us! It really hurt!!!］
［Shaaaang...］
［You look like you’re reflecting, so I’ll forgive you! Sii!］
［Shaang!］
【Bubble Bubble】─That was a quick forgiveness.
【Luna-chan】─Well, Hekhekshilshillshiiik-chan was also a victim, so we should forgive him.
【Mysticism】─😶
【Rizenova】─The Dog Spider gongs are incredibly understanding monsters.
【Hwang Mir】─Hmm.
【Hwang Mir】─Even if it was under nature alteration, it still killed them. Isn’t forgiving it too easy?
【Yumi】─It just means the Dog Spiders are that kindhearted.
【Hwang Mir】─If it were me, it would take a long time to forgive. Even if Hekhekshilshillshiiik didn’t act on its own will.
【Luna-chan】─Small-minded!
【Hwang Mir】─?
【Rizenova】─Mir-gong isn’t small-minded, the Dog Spider gongs are just extremely generous.
【Pururu】─It seems like they’re forgiving him without even thinking about the nature alteration part. Am I wrong?
【Mysticism】─😠 You’re wrong.
【Pururu】─ㅇㅋ
【Pururu】─But why are you getting mad?
【Mysticism】─😅
I had been wondering how to mend the relationship between Hekhekshilshillshiiik and the Dog Spiders, but luckily, the Dog Spiders were simple and kind-hearted creatures.
Anyway.
The Dog Spider group was sent to the underwater village along with Hekhekshilshillshiiik for recuperation.
Hekhekshilshillshiiik had only just been freed from nature alteration, so it needed stability, and the Dog Spiders had just died and come back—they couldn’t be sent on an exploration right away.
Once they had recovered sufficiently, I planned to send them to explore another cave.
***
Day 88 in the Ancient Labyrinth.
Today, I decided to reinforce the forward base with new monsters.
The candidates were Pig King, Chicken, and Laser Leaf.
Monsters that had previously been classified as food.
【Mysticism】─😮 You’re taming them now?
【Pururu】─Didn’t you say you wouldn’t tame monsters designated as food?
【Yumi】─He did mention feeling hesitant about taming Pig King because he’s eaten so many of them.
"I originally had no intention of taming food monsters, but after thinking about it, I figured taming at least one wouldn’t be a bad idea. Since I’ve already tamed Poison Apple before."
【Pururu】─Oh.
【Pururu】─Now that you mention it.
The reason I hadn’t tamed food monsters.
It was because I found it unsettling to tame a monster and then eat its kind.
But after thinking it through, I realized I had already done exactly that.
It took me a while to notice because I barely even thought of Poison Apple.
Honestly, until it evolved into Venom Banainsect, it didn’t have much presence.
Anyway.
This time, the food monsters I plan to tame will also be carefully selected, just like Venom Banainsect—only those willing to betray their own kind.
Or those isolated from their kin.
Individuals with an unusual innate disposition who were ostracized from their group.
Mutants.
And so on.
Any creature lacking a strong sense of kinship was a good choice.
On the other hand.
I had no intention of taming monsters deeply attached to their kind.
If a monster had deep affection for its kin, seeing them get eaten by me over and over would eventually lead to betrayal, no matter how well-tamed it was.
At least, that's what I learned from the information obtained through the Elephant Merchant.
Of course, it wasn’t just about the risk of betrayal.
Even if they never betrayed me, there was still a moral issue—befriending a monster and then eating the ones it cared about felt wrong.
I wasn’t so rotten that I would treat my friend’s friends as food.
【Bubble Bubble】─But why did you suddenly decide to tame food monsters?
"I've had a goal from the start to tame a diverse range of monsters without discrimination."
【Luna-chan】─So you also had the goal of taming every kind of monster. o_O
【Pururu】─I think he mentioned that before.
【Hwang Mir】─But what if you tame a food monster, only to find out later that it actually has strong kinship feelings?
【Hwang Mir】─What if it didn’t seem attached before being tamed, but turned out to be deeply loyal to its kind afterward?
"Then I’ll give up eating that species."
【Hwang Mir】─Huh?
【Pururu】─ㄷㄷ You’d give up that easily?
"It’s not like we *have* to eat the monsters classified as food—we just do because they taste good. Thanks to Merino, we’ll never run out of food anyway."
As I said that.
Merino trotted over, crossed her arms, and put on a confident expression.
"Hehe yang. That’s right yang! As long as I’m here, you’ll never starveyang!"
【Pururu】─Merino, don’t make that smug face. It makes me want to flick your forehead.
"Yangyang..."
【Pururu】─Oh. Right, she can see the chat now.
【Pururu】─Sorry, sorry. Make whatever face you want.
"Yangyang!"
Merino happily returned to her work.
She had stopped by the forward base to prepare food for the monsters.
"Anyway, I’ll try to find one without kinship ties, and if I end up taming one that does have them, I’ll just stop eating that species. No need to overthink it."
After saying that.
I was about to head out to catch a Pig King when—
［Haya?!］
A sudden unfamiliar voice pierced my ears.
When I turned my head, I saw a monster I had never seen before standing near the warp device.
【Pururu】─Who’s that now?
【Mysticism】─🤔
【Bubble Bubble】─It’s a monster from the underwater village. I was just watching the broadcast through Necro Puppet Master's perspective, and it was there with him.
［You must be careful when taming a Pig King! If you are not cautious, it is dangerousaya!］
"Huh? Dangerous if I’m not careful?"
［That’s right aya! Dangerous aya! Most Pig Kings have a habit of eating the ones they love and cherishing them inside their stomachs aya!］
"…Seriously? What kind of insane habit is that? But wait, who are you?"
［Pig Kings are a completely deranged speciesaya! If you want to tame one, you must find a mutant that does not have such tendencies aya!］
"…Okay. Thanks for the info, but more importantly, who *are* you?"
【Mysticism】─😠 Mysterious monster! Reveal yourself!
【Rizenova】─It doesn’t seem like an enemy.
【Bubble Bubble】─It’s on our side.
Actually, it wasn’t really a mystery.
I had a pretty good idea who this monster was.
That’s why I wasn’t being hostile, even though it was an SS-rank entity.
Still, they should at least introduce themselves properly.
［Haya! I forgot to introduce myselfaya!］
The creature finally started introducing itself.
［I formally greet you aya! My name is Perfect Corpse! I am a puppet created by the Necro Puppet Master aya! And for the record, I am slightly stronger than the Necro Puppet Masteraya!］
Name: Perfect Corpse.
Threat level: SS-rank.
As expected, this guy was one of Necro Puppet Master’s puppets.
■Perfect Corpse
─ Threat Level: SS-rank.
─ Special Note: Puppet of Necro Puppet Master.
［Hehe... Encyclopedia, encyclopedia…!］
As soon as Perfect Corpse finished introducing itself.
Artpega Unibicorn completed its encyclopedia entry in mere seconds.