Chapter 42. Formation of Teams
The monster, Iris.
Its primary ability was sharing vision.
To put it simply.
It meant that I could see whatever Iris was seeing.
‘Maybe I can hear sounds too?’
I sent one Iris far away.
After investigating the ability more thoroughly,
I discovered that it wasn’t just vision we shared. I could also hear whatever it heard.
Moreover, it was possible to share smells if I wanted to, and I could even feel the texture of whatever its tendrils touched, all vividly transmitted to me.
It felt like watching a 4D movie.
‘This feels more like sharing senses than just sharing vision.’
I corrected the ability listed in the monster encyclopedia.
From ‘vision sharing’ to ‘sense sharing.’
Whether it was a supernatural power or magic, I didn’t know.
Either way, it was a very useful ability for me.
By using the Irises, I could explore the labyrinth safely without risking my life.
After explaining what I had just learned to the Assistants, I asked Pururu.
“Pururu, can you also see what I’m seeing through Iris right now?”
【Pururu】─ㅇㅇ? I can’t see anything though?
【Rizenova】─We can only see what’s directly visible from the Gauntlet Ball’s view.
【Yumi】─You can switch the view and see around Geon too.
【Mysticism】─👀
I decided to leave one Iris behind.
The Assistants would be bored if I was the only one watching the labyrinth exploration.
By the way, the Irises could share senses with each other as well.
“Iris No. 1, show me all the views that the other Irises are seeing.”
[Accepted.]
On the eyeball of the nearby Iris, several split screens appeared.
They displayed what the other Irises were seeing.
I should use this too when necessary.
Sharing senses with multiple Irises at once could make me dizzy.
【Pururu】─Wow, that’s amazing. ㅋㅋㅋ
【Mysticism】─😮
【Rizenova】─It’s similar to the crystal orbs on Lumina.
【Yumi】─It feels like a super high-quality CCTV.
I could even zoom in on the screens I wanted to look at more closely.
As I closely observed the screen of Iris No. 1, I asked,
“Iris, even without sharing senses with the others, can I hear the sounds from your screen?”
[Yes. I can also block them.]
“Block them too?”
[Your voice and face can also be transmitted.]
When Iris No. 1 said that, the other Irises gathered around me again.
Iris No. 1 stared at me intently.
In the eyeballs of the other Irises, my face was being broadcast.
“Oh, it can do this too.”
“Oh, it can do this too.”
“Oh, it can do this too.”
“Oh, it can do this too.”
Even my voice.
【Yumi】─Gasp.
【Pururu】─ㄷㄷ That’s creepy.
I looked at Iris, pondering.
Maybe…
If I dispatched it, could I also see another world? And possibly communicate with people from that world?
I think the possibility is high.
I’ll have to try it later.
***
On the 16th day in the labyrinth.
Today, I formed exploration teams.
First,
I, the Black Magma Slime, and Iris No. 1.
The three of us remained in the hideout, forming the command team to oversee all the other teams.
Since Black Magma Slime was the strongest of the monsters here, I kept it as my bodyguard.
[Sssss~]
【Pururu】─The slime girl seems excited to stick with Geon.
【Yumi】─That’s the privilege of being the strongest monster.
【Mysticism】─🤭
Next,
Psycho Clown and Medical Mushroom.
I assigned these two to Team 1 and gave them the task of exploring and mapping Passage No. 8.
They were originally from Cave No. 8 anyway.
[Kiik. Do I have to do the mapping?]
“Yes. Clown, you’re smarter than Mushroom.”
[Biiiii…]
【Yumi】─Mushroom looks so gloomy…
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋㅋ Mush-roomy.
【Mysticism】─🤭
Team 2 also had two members.
The Hedgehog Summoner and Dog Spider.
They were responsible for Passage No. 7, where we first discovered the vending machine.
I left the mapping to the Hedgehog.
[Doodoomba! I’m the ace of this team, so you gave me the mapping job!]
[Siii?]
【Pururu】─I can’t believe the stupid hedgehog is the leader.
【Mysticism】─😶
【Yumi】─It’s not the leader, just in charge of mapping.
Next, Team 3.
The Centaurides and Jellyfish.
Team 3 would explore Passage No. 6, where we encountered the Fire Slime, and Centaurides was in charge of mapping.
[Piih!]
[I wanted to stay with the Explorer…]
【Rizenova】─It’s a wise decision to keep Centaurides away. You never know what strange things might happen if she’s nearby. Her eyes are suspicious.
【Pururu】─Agreed. Let’s send that pervert far away.
【Mysticism】─😠
I assigned one Iris to each team.
【Pururu】─Geon, we have one Iris left.
“One will be the standby team.”
【Pururu】─ㅇㅎ
After organizing the teams,
I handed out one arm to Team 1, 2, and 3.
One was an arm I had cut off earlier, and the other two were my left arms, which I had cut off that morning.
None of the arms had their senses blocked.
I released the restrictions and connected the nerves.
It felt a bit awkward at first, but once I got used to it, I found that I could manage three arms with my weak body.
This laid the foundation for long-distance taming.
【Pururu】─This feels like a dungeon management game. ㅋㅋ
【Yumi】─It’s not a game; it’s reality.
【Pururu】─I’m just saying, you annoying b*tch.
【Yumi】─?? Why are you swearing? You’ve been getting so rough lately.
【Pururu】─It’s not my mouth, but my hands that are rough.
【Pururu】─For the record, I don’t usually swear much. If I’m swearing at you, you’re the problem. Reflect on that.
【Mysticism】─😶
【Yumi】─Pururu, you should visit our hospital. Mental illness needs to be treated quickly.
【Pururu】─Shut up.
【Rizenova】─Hmm. So Pururu swore? In Lumina, we don’t consider words like that to be curses. It must be pretty harsh in your world.
【Yumi】─It could be a translation issue.
【Pururu】─Korean curses are pretty intense. ㅋㅋ
The monsters took my arms with them.
Then they set out on their respective explorations through the designated passages.
It wasn’t long before I realized that the monsters’ powers weakened around the area where my severed arms were.
I was sure it wasn’t because of the Irises.
I was only sharing vision through Iris No. 1, not fully sharing senses with the other Irises.
“Psycho Clown, can you temporarily restrict the sensation from the arm you’re carrying?”
─[Kirik. Got it.]
When Psycho Clown, who was exploring Passage No. 8, restricted the sensation from my arm,
─[Kirik? My strength is back!]
─[Biiiii! Bipupibup!!!]
【Pururu】─Ambulance alert?
【Yumi】─Emergency Mushroom!
The monsters regained their strength.
The power weakening was indeed due to my arm.
After confirming this, I reconnected the sensation in my arm.
It didn’t really matter if our monsters had their full strength back or not.
The other monsters could still use their full strength anyway.
***
While the teams were exploring the labyrinth, our command team leisurely enjoyed a hot spring in a pond located in Cave No. 8.
【Pururu】─The others are working hard on the exploration, but the command team is relaxing.
【Yumi】─That’s the privilege of being in the command team. If you wanted that, you should have joined us.
【Rizenova】─If you want to talk about being relaxed, we’re even more relaxed. We’re not stuck in a dangerous labyrinth like Gauntlet Ball.
【Mysticism】─🙂
And when we returned to the hideout, we received a support item from Rise.
The support item sent by Risenova was a huge crystal orb.
No, it was actually a house shaped like a crystal orb.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed it had a door.
【Pururu】─What’s that?
【Rizenova】─It’s a portable house we use in our world.
【Pururu】─Like a container house?
【Yumi】─I guess gold rank members can send houses too.
【Rizenova】─It’s not a perfect portable house. We had to strip off most of the parts to match the service fee.
I thanked Risenova and entered the crystal orb house to check the interior.
It was about 5 square meters inside.
It was completely empty, with no furniture, no kitchen, no bathroom.
Well, I didn’t need a bathroom.
The Black Magma Slime would take care of any waste.
【Yumi】─It looks cozy and nice.
Anyway.
Even though it was an empty house with nothing in it, I liked it.
“The temperature’s perfect. It’s neither cold nor hot.”
【Rizenova】─That’s because energy flows through the walls. When the energy runs out, I’ll send you a separate crystal orb to recharge it.
【Pururu】─You can send energy too? Isn’t energy your currency?
【Yumi】─We can also send paper money or coins. But unlike energy, those would be useless to send.
After thanking Rise once again,
I was moving a mattress from outside into the house when it happened.
─[Stop! Don’t come any closer!]
─[Siii, sii!]
A panicked voice came from Iris.
The voice came from Team 2’s screen.
─”It eats… excrement…”
─[I-I said don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll start dancing!!!]
─[Sii! Sidumba! Sidumba!]
In front of the terrified Hedgehog and Dog Spider, a humanoid monster approached them with a blank expression.
Half of the monster’s face was covered with a grotesque mass of flesh.
Even through the screen, I could sense the danger emanating from it.
This was a monster on the same level as the Black Magma Slime, an A-grade.
Its actual danger level was SS-grade.