Chapter 179. A Strange Phenomenon
The gems created by Iris and Vision.
Through sensory sharing, I placed large quantities of violet crystals that provided visibility to other spaces in each village.
The former headquarters, which was the forward base.
The underwater village under construction.
The machine factory.
The desert village.
The apple farm.
In addition to the communal crystals for villages.
I distributed at least two crystals to each of the monsters I had tamed.
The reason for giving out multiple crystals was to have extras just in case.
Of course, I ensured even the monsters in hell were not excluded, and all of them were given the crystals without needing to carry them around consciously.
The crystals followed the monsters on their own, reflecting their images as they moved.
Oh, and by the way.
Although the crystals had defense and attack capabilities, they wouldn’t be of much help to our monsters.
If I were to rate the crystal’s danger level, it would only be around A-rank.
Even though they were created by SS-rank entities, it was only natural they couldn’t produce S-rank power.
This was because the crystals were a material capable of infinite mass production.
To be honest, even A-rank danger levels were close to breaking the balance.
“Yanyang. So tasty, yang.”
Crunch, crunch.
As soon as Merino received the crystals, she put them in her mouth, chewed them, and swallowed them.
“…Merino. Those weren’t given to you to eat.”
“Yanyang?!”
I handed her a new crystal again.
“I’ll give you another one, but don’t eat it this time.”
“Yanyang!”
Next.
While checking through the guidebook.
“Let’s see… there shouldn’t be any monsters left without crystals now, right?”
Just as I was about to confirm if I had forgotten to give crystals to any monsters, Seo Dan-bi’s chat popped up.
【Pururu】─ㅇㅇ No monsters left out.
【Pururu】─I checked each one individually. Even the hotel staff and cats received them.
“Really? You checked without me even asking? Thanks.”
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋ This much is a given for an Assistant.
【Yumi】─You’ve actually done something useful for once.
【Mysticism】─😮 Pururu has become useful!
【Hwang Mir】─A helpful Dan-bi? Astonishing!
【Rizenova】─The heavens are turning upside down.
【Pururu】─Don’t exaggerate. I’ve always been useful.
【Pururu】─You jerks. ㅡㅡ
【Luna-chan】─Pururu-chan kawaii. >.<
【Bubble Bubble】─What’s “kawaii”? Is it a word you learned on Earth?
【Luna-chan】─Elise-chan is kowai. o_O
【Bubble Bubble】─What nonsense are you spouting?
Communal crystals for the villages.
Crystals distributed to the monsters individually.
And additionally.
I requested Iris to mass-produce more crystals for exploration purposes.
The crystals we produced were sent out to various regions without owners.
They were to be used to assess the danger levels of unexplored regions in advance.
Of course.
Exploration couldn’t rely solely on crystals.
The crystal’s danger level was A-rank.
Meanwhile, the monsters in the Ancient Labyrinth were almost at minimum S-rank.
If crystals without owners were sent for exploration, no matter how many gathered together, they would likely be easily destroyed.
Therefore.
There needed to be an exploration team conducting physical investigations.
You could think of it as a preliminary survey team.
Iris mentioned there was no problem even if the crystals were destroyed.
“Iris, are you sure there’s no damage to you even if the crystals are destroyed?”
［Absolutely sure.］
［Absolutely sure.］
Even though she was connected to the crystals.
No matter what happened.
Even if she were subjected to abilities that interfered with the soul or cursed powers connected to the objects, Iris firmly stated there would be no harm to her.
Well, if she said so herself, I guess I could trust her.
［But more importantly, a question.］
［But more importantly, a question.］
“A question? What is it?”
［Do you think my appearance is beautiful?］
［Do you think my appearance is beautiful?］
“No, seriously, how many times do I have to answer that? I’ve already said countless times that you’re beautiful… stop asking already.”
［Understood.］
［Understood.］
【Bubble Bubble】─Give it a rest. How many times are you going to ask that question?
【Hwang Mir】─It feels like she’s asked that question a hundred times already.
【Pururu】─It’s actually the 105th time.
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Yumi】─It seems she’s not asking out of curiosity but just wants to hear she’s beautiful. No, I’m certain of it.
【Pururu】─Acting like a psychology expert now.
【Rizenova】─She seems extremely excited about her objectively beautiful evolution.
【Luna-chan】─Let her be. She’s just thrilled.
Anyway.
Vision, the body with eyes, was permanently stationed in the hotel’s control room, while Iris, the eyeless body, was set to follow me and stay by my side.
［Do you think my appearance is beautiful?］
［Do you think my appearance is beautiful?］
“Stop asking already.”
［This is the last question. Awaiting response.］
［This is the last question. Awaiting response.］
【Pururu】─She really doesn’t know how to quit.
【Yumi】─Iris, clingy women aren’t attractive.
【Hwang Mir】─Just tell her she’s ugly already.
Although I once again answered that she was beautiful, contrary to what she had just said, that question did not end this time.
She continued to ask periodically afterward.
Each time, I sighed and gave the same answer.
I figured she would stop after today.
***
Day 84 in the Labyrinth.
Today, I experienced a strange phenomenon.
To commemorate the relocation of the headquarters, I invited all the monsters from each village and held a meat party right in front of the hotel.
As usual, Merino did something ridiculous.
Some nearby monsters burst into laughter at her silly antics as if they found it amusing.
I also couldn’t help but smirk at Merino’s behavior, raising the corners of my lips.
At that moment, a strange phenomenon occurred.
*Guuuuung-*
It felt as if a small earthquake had caused the ground to shake.
What was strange about this?
The fact that it didn’t feel like an ordinary earthquake.
At least, not to me.
I wasn’t sure how to explain this…
But if I had to, it felt as though the Ancient Labyrinth itself reflected emotions.
As if the labyrinth had been observing us, saw Merino’s actions, and found them amusing, laughing alongside us.
Of course.
I was the only one who seemed to feel this way.
The others said it was just simple vibrations.
Was it because I was more in tune with my physical senses that I alone could perceive this?
Or was it just my imagination?
I couldn’t be certain.
It was hard to make a proper judgment.
Currently, my power was sealed, and I was still at the S-rank level physically.
If I had my original strength, I might have been able to confirm it.
Suspecting this might be related to the method of becoming the labyrinth’s ruler, I pondered over the strange phenomenon while enjoying the party.
【Pururu】─Our Geon eats so well.
【Hwang Mir】─He eats heartily.
【Mysticism】─😋
【Bubble Bubble】─I should have some meat today too.
While gnawing on meat and chewing, I became lost in thought.
［Gauntlet.］
A familiar voice broke my train of thought.
When I came to my senses and turned my head, Madam Rabbit was standing upright, looking at me.
［You have a guest.］
“…What? A guest?”
［Yes. The person is over there.］
Madam Rabbit respectfully gestured in a direction.
It was the direction where the door connecting to the cave passage was located.
In front of the rabbit staff standing guard at the door, someone was visible.
I tried to observe them closely.
But their figure was obscured by the rabbit staff, so I couldn’t see clearly.
“Who is it?”
［They introduced themselves as a Wandering Merchant.］
A Wandering Merchant?
Could it be the Crocodile Merchant?
Something felt off.
That guy had never come looking for me first.
Or perhaps it was a different Wandering Merchant I hadn’t met before…
For now, I decided to approach the door to meet the one claiming to be a Wandering Merchant in person.
I walked quickly toward the door.
Just in case, I moved with Hedgehog Summoner God by my side.
［A guest? Doom-ba, doom-doomba. Wiggle your hips while you walk.］
When I stopped in front of the door, the figure of the monster, previously hidden by the rabbits, came into view.
The monster smiled brightly at me, bowed politely, and greeted me with utmost courtesy.
［Ah, so you are the Labyrinth Explorer Gauntlet. It’s a pleasure to meet you. To introduce myself, I am the Wandering Merchant Elephant Merchant, who sells various items to the Assisted One in the Ancient Labyrinth. Nice to meet you, haha.］
【Yumi】─?
【Mysticism】─🤔
【Pururu】─What’s with that elephant?
【Bubble Bubble】─What’s this? That’s supposed to be a Wandering Merchant? Wandering Merchants are supposed to be crocodiles.
The monster who identified itself as a Wandering Merchant.
Its true form was that of an elephant beastman.
Moreover.
Its listed danger level was S-rank.
Its estimated true danger level was SSS-rank.
I immediately became cautious, lowering my voice to speak to Hedgehog beside me.
“Dochi.”
［Doom-ba?］
“Summon Abyss Lord right now.”
As I stared at the elephant-shaped monster.
A warning from the vending machine that I had seen repeatedly crossed my mind.
「❗ Items other than tickets can be purchased from the Wandering Merchant. Wandering Merchants are neutral monsters contributing to labyrinth development and will never harm explorers. Additionally, Wandering Merchants are crocodiles. Wandering Merchants that are not crocodiles do not exist. Be wary of impostors.」
It was clear.
That guy was not a real Wandering Merchant.