Chapter 68. Assistant Index
Time passed, and it had already been 35 days since I arrived in the labyrinth.
I divided the monsters I had tamed into two groups: the first and second generation.
Let’s list the first-generation monsters.
SS-rank, Kinogine Arachne.
SS-rank, Black Magma Slime.
SS-rank, Azeras.
S-rank, Jellyfish.
S-rank, Medical Mushroom.
S-rank, Psycho Clown.
S-rank, Centaurides.
S-rank, Hedgehog Summoner.
S-rank, Melody Fox.
That made nine in total.
Now, listing the second-generation monsters:
SS-rank, Pharaoh Devil.
SS-rank, Anubis Dragon.
SS-rank, Bastet Daong.
S-rank, Snake Head.
S-rank, Mummy Skeleton.
S-rank, Giant Caterpillar.
That made six in total.
As for the Iris creatures, they were exempt from these generational classifications.
If the number of monsters increased further, I planned to assign the first-generation monsters to the main unit.
Being in the main unit didn’t mean they wouldn’t explore.
They would be responsible for leading the other exploration teams as team captains.
Of course, I hadn’t restructured the exploration teams properly yet.
There weren’t enough monsters for a formal reorganization.
For now, I just divided them by generation in preparation for the future.
While I hadn’t fully restructured the teams yet, I had made minor adjustments due to the new monsters I tamed.
Team 4:
Kinogine Arachne, Snake Head, Iris No. 5.
They were in charge of exploring Cave No. 5.
Team 5:
Anubis Dragon, Bastet Daong, Iris No. 7.
This team handled Passage No. 4, exploring the desert area.
Additionally, I had tamed a few more Iris creatures.
Team 6:
Azeras, Mummy Skeleton, Iris No. 8.
This team was assigned to Cave No. 3.
Lastly, Pharaoh Devil was appointed as the manager of the desert shelter.
He would be assisted by Giant Caterpillar and Iris No. 6 in guarding the shelter.
I distributed a severed arm to each exploration team.
Increasing the number of severed arms wasn’t an issue since I had grown accustomed to connecting my nerves to them.
Plus, with one of the seals lifted, I was no longer just an ordinary human—I was in a superhuman state.
Ah, and I also left a spare severed arm at the shelter as a backup.
Today was a day off from exploring.
***
There had been some changes in the ranks of the assistants.
Rizenova and Bubble Bubble had both leveled up.
Bubble Bubble advanced to the Black rank, while Rizenova had been promoted to the “Diamond” rank, the second-highest rank.
The highest rank was called “Trinity.”
【Bubble Bubble】─Finally reached Black rank!
【Rizenova】─Don’t settle for Black rank, aim higher.
With the broadcast on, I was lazily rolling around on my mattress when I got bored and decided to step outside the crystal house.
As I exited, I saw the monsters resting nearby.
In the shade next to the crystal house stood Kinogine Arachne, her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.
［Once again, repeat after me: I am an irredeemable piece of trash.］
In front of Arachne, Anubis Dragon hung his head low.
［I am an irredeemable piece of trash!］
［Louder!］
［I AM AN IRREDEEMABLE PIECE OF TRASH!］
［Good. Repeat it a hundred times.］
［I am an irredeemable piece of trash! I am an irredeemable piece of trash! I am irredeemable…］
Anubis’s booming voice echoed throughout the shelter.
I wasn’t startled; they had been doing this every day since Anubis was tamed.
It was like a chant of reflection.
Before being tamed, Anubis had been a hunter of explorers and had even declared he would kill me.
Arachne made him repeat this daily as a form of atonement for his past intentions.
Of course, it wasn’t just Anubis. Pharaoh Devil was also repeating the same chant at the desert shelter.
─［I am an irredeemable piece of trash!］
Arachne, using Iris as her eyes, kept an eye on Pharaoh to make sure he was chanting properly.
This wasn’t something I had ordered. Arachne had taken it upon herself to make them do this, as she couldn’t forgive their past attempts to kill me.
‘Well, at least there’s no violence involved, but how long does she plan to make them do this…?’
Shaking my head, I turned my gaze to the other monsters.
In the middle of them stood Melody Fox, with a determined expression on her face.
［Kyuu.］
As all eyes focused on Melody Fox, she crouched down, bowed her head, and pushed off her hind legs to hurl herself forward.
With a soft roll, her plush, fur-covered body tumbled gracefully along the ground.
After completing her forward roll, Melody Fox stood back up, flicking her tail with pride.
［Kyu-huhu.］
At the same time, applause erupted around her.
［Amazing!］
［Pii!］
［Oroorooro! Chiiik!!!］
［Kirik. That was a fantastic forward roll.］
［Doodoomba! A work of art!］
［Biii! Bip-bip!］
The monsters watching cheered all at once.
［Kyu-huhu!］
Melody Fox’s tails wagged even harder, clearly delighted.
‘…What a show.’
Some of them were probably genuinely clapping because they thought Melody Fox’s performance was cute, but the majority were likely sucking up to her, hoping to receive beneficial buffs from her—buffs that could even lead to evolution, like what happened with Arachne.
I could easily see through their motives.
***
I pulled out a notebook from a box.
Since it was a day off from exploration, I decided to finally start working on the Assistant Index I had been putting off.
I wasn’t going to start drawing it right away, though, as I hadn’t received the photos yet.
The assistants said they didn’t like the photos they had taken earlier and would send new ones.
I wasn’t in a rush, so I decided to wait.
Since I had time to spare, I placed the notebook on my lap and relaxed when—
［Gauntlet!］
Bastet Daong approached me, wagging her tail, and sat down beside me.
［Our world has fish now, meow!］
“Fish? How?”
［Solorb created them for us, meow!］
“What? Solorb can create life?”
［That’s right, meow!］
…Is that even possible?
Well, Solorb is a monster capable of housing an entire world, so I guess it’s not surprising that it can create life within its world.
“Does that mean you were created by Solorb too?”
［Correct, meow!］
Hmm.
So it had even created life…
Well, if Solorb created its world, then it makes sense it would also create the creatures living in it.
‘I should definitely get closer to Solorb. If I build a good relationship, I might get other strong monsters besides Bastet.’
If the opportunity arises, I might try taming Solorb as well.
Finding the red spot on such a massive creature would be a challenge, but taming an SSS-rank monster would be worth the effort.
As long as I could get Solorb to dim its burning light again, I should be able to withstand it with my current body… probably.
If not, oh well.
While I was lost in thought, the assistants’ chat suddenly picked up again.
Had they finally taken the photos?
【Bubble Bubble】─When are those photos coming?
【Rizenova】─Indeed, what’s taking so long?
The assistants who went to take the photos weren’t responding.
They were probably still busy.
In the meantime, the others, bored, were chatting among themselves.
【Rizenova】─By the way, Bubble Gong, what does Bubble Bubble mean?
【Bubble Bubble】─It means bubbling or effervescent.
【Rizenova】─I see.
【Rizenova】─I have one more question. You said you were a warrior—who bestows the title of warrior upon someone?
【Bubble Bubble】─Sometimes the state grants it, or sometimes it’s just given naturally if you perform heroic deeds.
【Rizenova】─I see.
Since I had nothing to do, I asked Elise various questions, mostly about the current state of things in Elemencia.
During our conversation, I learned about a monster called the Demon King of Peace.
It had appeared during the height of the war between humans and demons.
Its name was Heh-Hehsilsilsiik, but they called it Hexil for short.
It was from the same species I called the Dog Spider.
Apparently, the Demon King of Peace claimed to have come from the Ancient Labyrinth.
“That’s interesting
. I didn’t think monsters from the Ancient Labyrinth would appear in Elemencia.”
【Bubble Bubble】─Maybe the Demon King of Peace isn’t the first. The previous Demon King Jellyfish could’ve been from there too. Who knows, maybe other demon kings are from the labyrinth as well.
“That’s possible. But you said Hexil has a gentle personality?”
【Bubble Bubble】─Yeah, they hate fighting.
“Then stay close to them. They’re really useful to have around. Their ability to neutralize threats with their webs is amazing.”
【Bubble Bubble】─I’ve already been hanging out with them lately.
【Bubble Bubble】─But wait, didn’t you say Kinogine Arachne was originally a Dog Spider? Does that mean Hexil could evolve into something like her?
“They wouldn’t turn out exactly like Kinogine. While Kinogine Arachne did evolve naturally, it was also a special evolution influenced by Melody Fox’s buffs. Plus, her species transformed.”
【Bubble Bubble】─I liked Kinogine’s look, though. That’s a shame.
【Bubble Bubble】─Actually, never mind. I guess there’s no reason to be disappointed—Hexil won’t evolve anyway.
“They might evolve.”
【Bubble Bubble】─There’s never been a case of a demon king or devil king evolving before.
There could have been SS-rank monsters who hid their identities as demon kings or devil kings in the past.
Just as I was about to respond, the chat from the assistants who went to take photos finally came in.
【Pururu】─Done!!!
【Mysticism】─Oppa, I’ll send it now.
【Yumi】─I’m ready too.
The chat flooded with messages from those who had gone to take photos, all at the same time.
【Rizenova】─At last.
【Bubble Bubble】─Took them long enough.
【Pururu】─Geon, should we upload the photos here? Or print them out?
“Just upload them here.”
【Bubble Bubble】─You can’t put them in the index if they’re uploaded here.
【Pururu】─? We don’t use the photos in the index. Geon redraws them based on the photos.
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh, right. Why bother redrawing them, though?
【Pururu】─Because Geon drew you and Rize, so it’s only fair we get our portraits too.
【Mysticism】─[Photo]
【Mysticism】─😉
The first photo was from Mysticism.
It looked like it was taken in an alley, and the composition suggested it wasn’t a selfie but a picture taken by someone else.
‘She looks a bit more mature than when she was a student. Her hair’s cut short now.’
Still, she had that youthful glow, and her appearance remained striking as ever.
【Pururu】─Whoa, is that really you, Mysticism?
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh wow! You’re so cute, Mysticism!
【Yumi】─Wow. Mysticism, you’re super cute.
【Rizenova】─So, this is Mysticism Gong’s true form.
【Pururu】─It’s kinda ugly, though.
【Pururu】─Just kidding. You’re really pretty. Damn.
【Yumi】─Okay, I’ll upload mine now!
【Yumi】─[Photo]
Next was Yumi’s photo. Like Mysticism’s, it was taken by someone else rather than being a selfie.
She looked slightly different from what I remembered… Probably because the picture had been edited a little.
But it wasn’t edited so much that she looked drastically different from my memory.
Just enough to touch things up.
【Rizenova】─Yumi Gong is quite the looker too.
【Bubble Bubble】─Yumi, you’re so pretty!
【Yumi】─Thank you!
【Mysticism】─Ajumma.
【Yumi】─?
【Mysticism】─Just kidding! You’re pretty!
【Yumi】─Thanks.
【Pururu】─Hey, you edited that, didn’t you? I told you not to.
【Yumi】─I didn’t!
【Pururu】─Your face looks different from the last picture you uploaded.
【Yumi】─It’s the same!
Come to think of it, Yumi had posted a selfie here before, but I must’ve missed it since I was napping at the time.
【Yumi】─Pururu, hurry up and post yours already.
【Pururu】─I will.
【Pururu】─[Photo]
Pururu’s photo was the last to be uploaded.
When I saw it, I blinked silently.
‘…Who is this?’
The person in the picture looked nothing like the Seo Dan-bi I remembered.
【Mysticism】─What the—why are you so pretty, Pururu?
【Pururu】─Haha, thanks. You’re pretty too.
【Mysticism】─I know.
【Pururu】─?
【Rizenova】─Oh ho, so this is Pururu Gong’s true form. Now that I’ve seen her face, I can add her portrait to the kill list.
【Pururu】─?
【Rizenova】─Just kidding.
【Bubble Bubble】─Pururu, you’re pretty too. Everyone here’s good-looking.
【Pururu】─Haha, thanks.
【Yumi】─Hmm…
【Yumi】─This isn’t a stolen photo, is it?
【Pururu】─Nope, it’s really me. 🙄
I had the same thought as Yumi at first—was it really her?
But after looking closely, I could see faint traces of the old Seo Dan-bi.
She had probably just grown up, ditched her glasses, started wearing makeup, and changed her hairstyle, making her seem like a different person.
The photo had likely been touched up a bit as well.
“Dan-bi, is this really you?”
【Pururu】─Yep, it’s me. For real.
【Pururu】─Do I look bad?
“No, you look great.”
【Pururu】─?
【Pururu】─Haha, thanks.
【Mysticism】─😠
【Pururu】─Thanks. And for the record, I didn’t get any surgery. All-natural! Haha.
【Mysticism】─Who cares.
It seemed unlikely that it was a stolen photo.
After all, there was no reason for Pururu to steal someone else’s picture.
Despite the big gap between how she looked now and the image in my memory, it made sense—she was the one I hadn’t seen for the longest time among the assistants.
Plus, back in school, she never really cared about her appearance.
【Yumi】─But seriously, Pururu, are you sure you didn’t edit that? Is this your real face?
【Pururu】─It’s really me.
【Yumi】─Be honest now. We’ll all find out once we meet in person anyway.
【Pururu】─Okay, fine, I edited it a little. Haha.
【Yumi】─?? Didn’t you tell me not to edit mine?
【Pururu】─So, you didn’t edit yours?
【Yumi】─Actually, I edited mine just a tiny bit. 😄
【Pururu】─You little…!
【Mysticism】─I didn’t edit mine at all!
【Rizenova】─So, Mysticism Gong was the only one who sent her original photo.
With all the assistants’ photos finally uploaded, I figured it was time to start working on the Assistant Index.
I opened my notebook and picked up my pen.
■Mysticism (Shin Somang)
─Danger Level: F-rank.
─Assistant Rank: BLACK
I started with Mysticism, since she had been the first to upload her photo.
‘Ah, I hate drawing backgrounds.’
As for Seo Dan-bi and Hayumi, I decided not to bother drawing backgrounds for them since they uploaded their photos after Mysticism.
■Yumi (Ha Yumi)
─Danger Level: F-rank.
─Assistant Rank: BLACK
■Pururu (Seo Danbi)
─Danger Level: F-rank.
─Assistant Rank: PLATINUM