Chapter 155: Actually, it wasn’t Yangrani but Shiprani!
[Table of Lambs] was a regular erosion-type dungeon that received a B rating.
The interior looked like an ordinary forest.
The oxygen levels in the air weren’t much different from the outside. There was no labyrinthine, winding terrain, and because of the numerous Hunters’ strategies and explorations, paths where people could walk had even been formed.
There was no poison-filled mist, nor were there any monsters with special attack gimmicks that ambushed Hunters from underground. If there were no monsters, even ordinary civilians could easily trek through it, just as if they were climbing a hill behind their house.
As such, the only thing that made this dungeon a dungeon was ultimately the monsters that inhabited it.
Shiprani.
"Sheep water deer."
In Korean, this monster was called "Yangrani" or "Shiprani," and unlike Goblins or Orcs, which swarmed the world like cockroaches, Shiprani were classified as rare monsters, with a relatively small population globally.
"Alright, then. Let’s go hunt those sheep bastards!"
[Looking like a total dweeb.]
[For real, lol.]
[The room master must’ve been a major weeb before they returned.]
Gasp, how did they know…
Although Shiprani were classified as rare monsters, it was estimated that 90% of all Shiprani in the world were concentrated in Korea. Their numbers were impossible to measure, and Hunters believed that there were at least hundreds of millions of them.
Moreover, they were so vicious that in Korea, it was a rule to kill them on sight.
Shiprani were bipedal monsters, similar to Orcs, Kobolds, and Goblins, and as their name suggested, they looked like a cross between a sheep and a water deer.
Their overall appearance was like a water deer standing on two legs, with fluffy wool-like fur covering their upper body and head. They had sharp fangs like a bat, and there were even rumors that they sucked human blood with those fangs.
In any case, while wild water deer lived solitary lives, Shiprani lived in small, primitive tribal groups. So, according to the Hunter Wiki, if you hunted one, you had to deal with the rest of the tribe.
When the Shiprani first appeared on Earth, they seemed like a species with a certain level of intelligence, as they used tools, built shelters, and communicated with each other. The government even sent a diplomatic envoy, offering friendly signals and proposing peaceful relations.
Given past experiences with Elves, Dwarves, and Beastmen, the government wanted to interact with the Shiprani and share knowledge.
However, the day after sending the envoy, the government discovered that the Shiprani had killed the human diplomats and thrown a grand feast, eating their flesh. After that, the government classified the Shiprani as mere bipedal monsters like Orcs and Goblins, and sent a large-scale Hunter force to wipe them out.
But because of their high numbers and strong reproductive abilities, complete extermination wasn’t possible. From then on, the Shiprani were branded as harmful beings to humanity, and they continued to be subjected to hunting orders.
By the way, one of the missions assigned to me when I returned, as a test of my abilities, was to hunt 30 Shiprani.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t done any missions in quite a while…’
Ah, forget it.
If anything happens, the Association will contact me.
At the time of their initial appearance, some scholars and Hunters attempted to tame or domesticate the Shiprani, just as I had done with the Lucky Centipede Blade.
The wool from the Shiprani’s body was highly valued for its warmth and soft texture. It was used in high-end clothing, as well as special garments for Hunters that were produced only in Korea. Also, because of the large Shiprani population, their meat had considerable economic value.
Of course, all attempts to domesticate the Shiprani failed.
Setting aside their intelligence, they possessed a savagery and brutality that made it impossible for them to see humans as anything other than prey.
Whereas ordinary Goblins had combat power rated at F to D per individual, adolescent Shiprani were rated at C, and adult Shiprani were generally classified as B-grade monsters. In some ways, they were even worse than Goblins, and unless it was a brainwashing-level taming process, it was impossible to integrate Shiprani into human society.
They stood nearly two meters tall and weighed over 250 kilograms.
Though the weight of their wool contributed, the dense fat and muscle beneath it made them a significant threat to lower-ranked Hunters. Furthermore, they were considered particularly nasty monsters due to their foul temperament.
They lacked the ability to assess strength, and their characteristic shrieking cries, like wailing banshees, were unbearable to Hunters. Whenever they saw a human, they recklessly charged, causing immense frustration.
As a result, today’s general perception of the Shiprani was that they could communicate among themselves, but their language was incomprehensible, and they were exceedingly savage and barbaric towards humans—monsters that needed to be exterminated as soon as possible.
That sentiment became so common…
The Shiprani earned a rather familiar nickname— "Sheep bastards."
[By the way, is that Sheep thing tasty??]
[I remember a truck outside my school grilling them when I was a kid.]
[Yeah, they tasted good.]
"Ha, you don’t know anything. Sheep bastards’ meat is tasty enough to be used in Hunter-exclusive combat rations!"
If it didn’t taste good, Hunters wouldn’t buy and eat it.
"Ah, though there’s a bit of a problem…"
"Shia."
Normally, this would’ve been a time for banter with the viewers, but I lowered my voice as a hut came into view in the distance.
It seemed Menelapie also sensed the presence near the hut and glanced at me.
"Sorry, everyone. I’ll put the chat on stealth mode for now."
[The room master’s abandoning us aaaaa]
[Noooo]
[Mom, it’s cold hereee]
[Where are you going, Mom? Where are you going, Mom? Where are you going, Mom?]
"I’m not your mom."
Click.
It was partly to avoid the viewers' chat interfering with the hunt, but the bigger reason was to protect the drone from being targeted and destroyed by the aggressive Shiprani.
It was unfortunate not to be able to see the chat, but in situations like this, it was better to ensure the drone’s safety by using stealth mode.
"How many are there?"
"One, two, three… Nine. There’s another hut in the 3 o’clock direction and signs of life in the cave nearby. I’d estimate around 30 of them."
"Hmm…"
I began examining the Shiprani, whose wool made them look like people wearing long coats.
Beneath that thick wool, there was surely a good amount of fat and muscle.
There’s no way that meat wouldn’t be tasty, but the question was… whether those Shiprani were the best-quality meat available in this area.
‘Since it’s Olga’s first experience… No, first meat-eating experience, I want to serve her the best meat possible…’
If I were alone, I would’ve just hunted all the ones in front of me, butchered them, and stuffed myself full, then stored the leftovers in the meat refrigerator at home.
However, I had Olga, who was about to have her first meat-eating experience. More importantly, my Hero, Menelapie, was with me.
‘Menelapie would eat anything I cooked for her, but of course, I want to serve something delicious.’
I was well aware that my cooking skills were disastrously bad.
The only reason I managed to make something resembling food on my broadcasts was because I spent time studying various cooking methods and tips from the internet, covering my lack of skills.
That’s why the quality of ingredients was crucial.
After all, it was the quality of the ingredients that made up for my inadequate cooking skills.
‘Hmm, in situations like this, the tribe chief or a mutant is usually the tastiest…’
But as I examined the huts, all the auras felt similarly malevolent.
Hmm, what to do…
"Should we catch a few and interrogate them?"
"Would that work?"
Bang!
Before I could say anything else, Menelapie, having heard my words, dashed off.
"Wha…"
Wait, I’ll come with you…!
●●●●
– Squeak?
– Squee?
– Hoekk!
– Ueekk?
Shiprani were typically fearless.
It wasn’t just because they lacked intelligence, but also because they were overly confident in their natural physical abilities.
Thus, some of the Shiprani licked their lips as they watched Menelapie, a human female, suddenly rush into their sight.
Although she moved fast, the Shiprani, capable of reaching speeds up to 130 km/h, didn’t think the human female was particularly fast.
One of the Shiprani, excited by the sight of Menelapie, pulled out a stone axe and spear from the wool it carried and charged toward her.
Today was going to be a feast of human meat!
No.
This sturdy
female looked like she could give birth to lots of offspring!
They planned to eat her arms and legs, then make her give birth!
– Squeak!
The Shiprani at the front hurled a stone axe at Menelapie with great force.
For an ordinary civilian, it would have been too fast to see, but Menelapie simply tilted her head slightly to dodge it and instantly closed the distance, grabbing the Shiprani by its head of wool.
Rip!
– Squeaaaaaaak!?!?!?!
With tremendous strength, she ripped off the wool, causing the Shiprani to scream in agony and roll its eyes back in pain.
– Squeak!
– Squeehekk!
– Squeeik!
– Squeeeeeek!
Seeing their leader get bald in an instant, the other Shiprani laughed at the sight.
For the Shiprani, losing their wool was considered incredibly ugly and proof of being hideous.
Even from a human perspective, it was quite unsightly.
However, Menelapie tilted her head in confusion.
Why were they laughing?
They were all going to end up the same anyway...
Whether they had wool or not, they were all equally hideous.
Crack!
Clenching her fingers, Menelapie slowly approached the remaining Shiprani.
Even though they were B-grade monsters, after experiencing the first encounter, Menelapie didn’t find their physical abilities strong at all.
If she controlled her strength well, she could finish this without damaging the meat.
– Squeak!
– Squeeee!
Seeing the human female continue approaching, the Shiprani hesitantly stood up.
Their small hooves, straightened like deer standing upright, gave them a strange, eerie appearance.
Why was that human female still coming toward them?
Usually, humans would leave after catching one of them.
Upon closer inspection, she was a sturdy female. Let’s make her our broodmare.
Each of the Shiprani, lost in their thoughts, pulled out weapons hidden in their wool.
Most were axes or spears made of stone, but some had equipment they had looted from Hunters.
"Well, it’s nice that I don’t have to draw my sword."
They were big, and their large, wooly bodies provided easy targets.
Menelapie took a short breath.
And with one step, a small shockwave rippled out from where she stood, and in the blink of an eye, her hand lashed out toward the Shiprani.
– Squeik?
– Eh?
– Squeeek?
Menelapie, having reached the Shiprani at a speed that exceeded sound, briefly hesitated.
Should she kill them here?
Or subdue them, plucking out their wool so that Shia could dismantle them easily?
Of course, the conclusion came quickly.
If the goal had been simply to kill them, she could have killed them all at once right here. However, the reason they were attacking the Shiprani was to obtain their meat.
Moreover, since Shia was doing a broadcast, it was clear that she would show the process of cooking and dismantling the monsters.
Tearing off that fluffy wool would only be a repetitive and tedious task, so it wouldn’t negatively affect Shia’s broadcast material.
Alright.
Instead of killing them, she would just make them bald and subdue them.
Her accelerated thoughts reached a conclusion in an instant, and Menelapie stomped the ground with her aura-imbued foot.
Boom!
– Squeak!?
– Squeeeeeeeek!
– Ugegegegegeee!
She didn’t even touch them directly. She had merely stomped the ground. But the shock it sent to the Shiprani was so great that they momentarily saw death flash before their eyes.
The shock traveled up their small, delicate hooves from the ground and struck their brains, rendering them disoriented and defenseless.
Before the Shiprani could fully shake off the shock, Menelapie twisted her body and kicked one of the Shiprani in the ribs. Simultaneously, she grabbed its wool and tore it off.
Crunch!
The ribs of the Shiprani were completely shattered as it flew through the air.
Before it could crash and pass out, Menelapie crushed the axe of the next Shiprani with her bare hands and smashed its jaw.
The Shiprani with the shattered jaw couldn’t even scream as it was flung into the air. As it came crashing back down to the ground, Menelapie grabbed its wool and tore it off with a crack.
Seeing their fellow Shiprani being destroyed in an instant, the remaining ones finally grasped the situation, terror-stricken expressions appearing on their faces.
They realized belatedly that they weren’t leisurely hunting this female, but were instead face to face with a dangerous predator, and their lives were at risk.
However, Menelapie had no intention of letting any of the Shiprani escape—Shia needed them for food, after all.
Darting into another Shiprani’s space, Menelapie threw a quick punch. The blow caused the Shiprani’s eyes to roll back as it foamed at the mouth and collapsed. Menelapie promptly ripped off its wool.
One Shiprani, foaming at the mouth in a mix of terror and excitement, charged at Menelapie, but she swiftly kicked its leg. The reverse-jointed leg bent forward, changing its direction to match a human’s, and the Shiprani fell to the ground.
Thud!
Thwack!
Crack!
None of these blows were intended to kill.
They were solely to render the Shiprani unconscious, subdue them, and pluck their wool so that Shia could dismantle them easily.
If the purpose had been to kill, there would’ve been no need to beat each one individually like this.
With Menelapie’s abilities, she could have wiped them all out with a single area-of-effect attack.
But doing that would likely leave no meat, so she had to be cautious.
"Hey, don’t run away. The Saintess needs you, so how can you ignore her call!"
– Squeeeeeeeeeeek!
– Squeak!
By the time Shia arrived, Menelapie had managed to pluck the wool from 22 Shiprani.
When Shia arrived, her face lit up with joy and admiration, and Menelapie smiled in satisfaction.
Heh, good.
Praise me, Shia!
"Gasp, is this the Menelapie-style subjugation technique—balding?!?"
"…No, not exactly."
As a side note, a new nickname was born for Menelapie in the now-stealth-moded chat room.
[The Hero of Balding] became a nickname that no one could help but laugh at.
●●●●
– Squeak!
– We’re going to dieeee!
– Squeeeeeeek!
– My head! My head!!!
– My wool! My wooooool!!!
I’m not sure if it’s the power of the Saintess, but sometimes I could hear the voices of monsters in my head.
Of course, it wasn’t that I could understand all of the Shiprani’s language.
It was more like telepathy or thoughts flowing straight into my mind, and I couldn’t control it.
Well, it didn’t give me a headache, so I just let it be.
– Don’t worry.
– Ugh?
– Humans these days are kind. They won’t harm prisoners.
– Really?
– That human said they’re looking for something tastier than us.
– Squeak!
Ah, well, that’s not entirely wrong.
Shiprani meat was high in protein, high in calories, and high in fat.
It was used as emergency rations for Hunters because it provided such high energy, but eating just one portion meant that the weight you ate went straight to your body. It was quite a burden for civilians to eat.
If it were an apocalyptic scenario like during the First Great Rift when humanity was on the brink of extinction, it might have been fine, but in 2088, when society was generally stable, it was the age of well-being and health foods.
As a result, the demand for Shiprani meat had decreased, and large-scale hunts for them became less frequent.
– Thank goodness!
– What will I do when I get home?
– I’ll eat the leftover lizard tail.
– Let us go, human.
– Hurry up and let us go, human!
– This is tyranny!
However, feeling the need to correct their misunderstanding, I poked my head out and spoke to the Shiprani.
By the way, I kind of understood what they were saying, but I wasn’t sure if they understood me.
"Uh, we’re totally going to eat you though."
– ?
– ?
– What…
Judging by their reactions, they seemed to understand me well enough.
Anyway, the Saintess doesn’t lie.
Although I wouldn’t serve them to Menelapie or Teresa, I was going to butcher them and eat them all myself.
How could I just leave behind such delicious meat?
Leaving food behind was the most disrespectful thing you could do.
China had a culture where leaving food was considered polite, but I couldn’t really understand that.