Chapter 122. Sixth, Seventh
Not long after sending Melody Fox on a dispatch mission, shocking news came from the assistants.
Apparently, Melody Fox’s actual size was large enough to cover an entire city.
‘I overlooked it again…’
I had stupidly forgotten for a moment.
Some monsters within the labyrinth were always under a size nerf.
‘I didn’t expect that Melody was also nerfed in size.’
Just like with the Hedgehog Summoner.
Assuming that Melody Fox’s body size was immutable was clearly my mistake.
I needed to reduce these kinds of errors.
‘…Well, there were no casualties, so I guess it’s fine.’
Fortunately.
Melody Fox had a shrinking ability.
And because of that, there hadn’t been any damage in Seoul.
It wasn’t like the spirits of the Hedgehog, who had appeared by breaking through the space above the city.
I had heard that Melody Fox’s true form didn’t have a physical body and was more of a gaseous state.
Thanks to that, no one was hurt, and no buildings were destroyed, the assistants had said.
【Pururu】─Brought Melody Fox home for now. She’s shrunk back to her small form.
【Mysticism】─She’s cute again! 😋
【Yumi】─She’s shrunk, but she looks a bit different from how she did on the broadcast.
【Bubble Bubble】─How big did she get?
【Mysticism】─Super duper huge!
【Yumi】─[Photo]
【Yumi】─She got this big.
【Rizenova】─Oh ho, a grand and majestic appearance.
【Bubble Bubble】─Wow, she really did get huge.
【Yumi】─Anyway, way too many people saw her this time. Tons of photos and videos were taken.
【Pururu】─Yeah, the internet is totally blowing up right now.
【Pururu】─Normally, they’re quick to cover up anything related to monsters, but they didn’t bother manipulating public opinion this time.
The fact that the internet was in an uproar was actually a good thing.
It would instill a sense of caution in people.
Currently, monsters were sporadically appearing on Earth.
Yet, from what the assistants were saying, it seemed like most people weren’t fully grasping the seriousness of the situation.
But now it would be different.
They must have been shocked by the appearance of a giant monster.
Monsters were real.
And most people must have finally realized how dangerous these creatures were.
Looking at it that way, maybe I should be thanking the Hedgehog…
Anyway.
The Hedgehog had also managed to warn a few people without causing any casualties in the process.
I turned my head slightly to glance at the Hedgehog.
[Shake your booty, shake it all! Doodoodoo Doodoomba!]
“Doodoomba-yang! Doodoomba-yang!”
[Doom-ba, doom-ba, doo-doo-doo-doo Doodoomba!]
“Doodoomba-yang! Doodoomba-yang!”
I decided not to praise her after all.
Better just to let her keep dancing.
“More importantly, are you taking good care of Melody?”
【Pururu】─Yeah, she’s wolfing down delivery food right now. She’s eating really well.
【Yumi】─She really likes Earth’s food. Thankfully, it seems to suit her taste. ㅎㅎ
【Mysticism】─So cute. 😋
【Yumi】─She’s following us well, too. She might not want to return to the Ancient Labyrinth at this rate. ㅎ
【Pururu】─Nah, she still really wants to see Geon.
“I see. I was worried she might not adjust to the other world, but hearing that she’s doing well puts my mind at ease.”
I nodded slightly.
It was time to invite some new assistants.
‘Now, let’s see who’s on the list…’
With the mid-tier invitation ticket, only those who have had some contact with me or the monsters I’ve tamed in the last five days could be invited.
And since the conditions for “contact” seemed relatively lenient, the list of invitees was filled with many names.
‘These must all be people who were near Melody Fox or witnessed her directly.’
Additionally.
Names seemed to be prioritized by those with more significant or direct contact, as more familiar names appeared at the top.
There were two particularly recognizable names at the very top.
━Sage Lunaris
━Hwang Mir
After confirming the names, I used the mid-tier invitation ticket to send them both a request to become assistants.
***
『RED-grade assistant “Unknown – 006” has come flying like a comet to watch over you.』
『RED-grade assistant “Unknown – 007” has come flying like a comet to watch over you.』
【Rizenova】─Give your greetings.
【006】─Nice to meet you, Mr. Geon. I’m Hwang Mir, a friend of Danbi. I’ve heard a lot about you from her!
“Hello, I’m Kang Geon. Thank you for all the coin support you’ve provided through the other assistants.”
【006】─No need for thanks. Haha.
【006】─Oh! The monsters look amazing! I’ve been wanting to see them! They all look incredibly strong!
【007】─Oh my! It’s been a while, Gauntlet! I’m Sage Lunaris! And here’s something shocking! I’m actually a woman! ><
“It’s been a while.”
【007】─Why are you greeting me so dryly? ㅠWㅠ
【Rizenova】─Give us your greetings as well.
【Yumi】─Both of them are in some kind of weird role-play mode.
【Pururu】─Geon, both of them are unhinged. smh
【Mysticism】─😡 Why didn’t we get status windows!!!
【Bubble Bubble】─Sage, it’s me, Elise.
【007】─Elise! It’s been so long! ><
【Bubble Bubble】─What’s with you.
【Rizenova】─Ahem! The newcomers should greet us as well!!
【Pururu】─You’ve been babbling nonsense this whole time. Stop acting like you’re the boss.
【Mysticism】─Rize, stop being so arrogant. 😠
【Rizenova】─?
【Rizenova】─Did I say chest?
【Rizenova】─I meant tradition.
【Yumi】─It was never a tradition.
Hwang Mir and Sage Lunaris.
They were each assigned the numbers 006 and 007, and immediately after becoming assistants, they changed their nicknames and re-entered the broadcast.
【Mir-Stin】─Changed my nickname! I’m back!
【Luna-chan】─😃
Hwang Mir became Mir-Stin.
Sage Lunaris became Luna-chan.
Both nicknames were incredibly childish.
I didn’t like them, but I didn’t tell them to change them.
That would be infringing on personal freedom.
【Mysticism】─😡 Luna-chan! Stop using emoticons! They’re mine!
【Luna-chan】─Oops! Got it!!
“Why is Sage so energetic? It doesn’t suit her at all.”
I hadn’t seen Hwang Mir in person, so I wasn’t particularly bothered by it, but I just couldn’t get used to Sage’s attitude.
Even though I didn’t know what she looked like.
Her neutral voice didn’t match at all.
【Pururu】─Seriously, watching her type those cheerful chats with a straight face is creepy. She’s like a psychopath.
【Yumi】─I booked her a therapy session because I think she has some mental health issues.
【Mysticism】─🤭 Those nicknames are so childish. Why would she pick that!
【Mir-Stin】─It’s because Sage’s been watching a lot of magical girl anime recently.
【Pururu】─You should change the way you talk too. smh
【Mir-Stin】─It’s my style.
【Mir-Stin】─Anyway, I’ve seen enough of the monsters, so now it’s time for a coin bomb!
【Mir-Stin】─Are you ready, Luna-chan?
【Luna-chan】─Of course, Stin!
As soon as those chats came up.
A continuous stream of coin support started flooding in before my eyes.
And as the support kept coming.
『Notification』
◇ Assistant grade increase ◇
● Target: Mir-Stin (006)
● Change: RED → BLACK
『Notification』
◇ Assistant grade increase ◇
● Target: Luna-chan (007)
● Change: RED → BLACK
【Mir-Stin】─Let’s keep going!!! I heard we can reach Gold in a day!!!
【Luna-chan】─Let’s race to the top!!!
The two reached Black grade.
And soon after,
『Notification』
◇ Assistant grade increase ◇
● Target: Mir-Stin (006)
● Change: BLACK → GOLD
『Notification』
◇ Assistant grade increase ◇
● Target: Luna-chan (007)
● Change: BLACK → GOLD
They completed their promotions to Gold grade.
They didn’t reach Platinum, of course. The condition for Platinum included viewing time.
【Mir-Stin】─Haha. How was that? I’ve been saving up for this day.
【Luna-chan】─I borrowed from Stin! Hehe.
【Pururu】─Hehe, with a straight face. Creepy psycho.
“…Thank you. You really are different, being a third-generation chaebol.”
【Mir-Stin】─Since I’ve supported you so much, next time could you
send one of your monsters to me on a dispatch? I want to make lots of monster friends!
“Of course. Just tell me when and which monster you want, and I’ll send it right away.”
【Mir-Stin】─Thanks! And don’t worry about the size! I have a private island with a mansion, so you can send them there!
【Rizenova】─You must be quite wealthy. Thanks to you, I feel a little less burdened.
【Pururu】─Hmm. Feels like she’s calling us broke and saying she’s been handling the burden herself.
【Mysticism】─She’s dissing us! 😠
【Rizenova】─That’s right.
【Rizenova】─No, I mean, that wasn’t my true feeling.
【Yumi】─?
【Rizenova】─Ah. It wasn’t my true feeling.
【Pururu】─This jerk.
I thanked Hwang Mir once again.
Even though she was a chaebol, she had given such a large sum of money to someone she had never even met, so no amount of thanks would be enough.
【Mir-Stin】─By the way, I’m the same age as you, Geon. You can talk casually with me.
“Oh. You said you were Dan-bi’s friend. Got it, I’ll drop the formalities then.”
【Mir-Stin】─Yep. I’ll do the same when we meet in person. Right now, I’m sticking to the concept. Haha.
【Yumi】─Geon, would you mind talking casually to me too? I’d feel left out if you only used formal speech with me.
“Sure.”
Before I knew it, I was speaking informally with Ha Yumi as well.
【Yumi】─Wow. I didn’t expect you to switch so quickly.
【Pururu】─So now you’ll call her, “Yumi, you b**ch!” like that?
【Yumi】─Why would you add b**ch… You should at least call me ‘noona.’
Even though I had dropped formalities with her.
Ha Yumi insisted on continuing to speak formally to me.
She said it felt too awkward to drop formalities.
Anyway.
Now that we had new assistants, I needed to update the assistant codex.
I had asked them to send their photos just a moment ago.
Sage said she’d change into her favorite clothes before sending it, and Hwang Mir said she’d take a quick photo after dressing up a bit.
After a little time passed.
【Mir-Stin】─Sent it!
【Luna-chan】─Here it is! Yaaah! ><
【Rizenova】─Hmm.
【Pururu】─Their chat style is seriously making me sick.
【Mysticism】─🤮
【Yumi】─How can they type like that with a straight face? Doesn’t it make them cringe…
【Bubble Bubble】─Sage has a pretty shameless personality.
The photos of Hwang Mir and Sage arrived.
“You could’ve just sent the photos in the chat.”
Saying that, I picked up the photos.
As I settled into my seat and opened the codex, Centaurides and Merino approached, clearly interested.
[These must be the new assistants.]
“Hello! I’m Merino Ula! Please accept my greeting!”
Centaurides seemed eager to help draw the codex, judging by her expression.
But unfortunately for her, I wasn’t planning on letting her handle it this time.
“Centaurides, I’ll be drawing the assistants in the codex, so you don’t need to help.”
[Oh… yes…]
Centaurides lowered her head.
With a dejected expression, she turned and walked back to her spot.
Meanwhile, Merino was still waving excitedly next to me.
“Please accept my greeting! Accept it, please!”
“Merino, I accepted it. You can stop now.”
“You did? Thank you!”
Then, naturally, she plopped down next to me, sticking close.
“I’m going to watch you draw. Is that okay?”
“Do what you want.”
[Can I watch too…?]
Centaurides quietly slid back over and sat next to me.
Ignoring the pressure from the stares on both sides, I began working on the codex.
■Mir-Stin (Hwang Mir)
─Danger Level: F-grade.
─Assistant Grade: GOLD
─Ability: Money.
■Luna-chan (Sage Lunaris)
─Danger Level: S-grade.
─Assistant Grade: GOLD
─Ability: Dimensional Magic, etc.