Chapter 41. Iris
Those who had fallen into the Ancient Labyrinth, that is, the Drifters, could also use the Invitation Ticket.
Thus, before Rize returned, I used a Mid-grade Invitation Ticket on him, making him an Assistant.
There were three main reasons I made Rize an Assistant.
First.
To receive repayment for my help.
Since there was a possibility that the dispatched monster might not be able to bring back items from that world, this acted as a kind of insurance.
And this assumption was correct.
Psycho Clown, upon returning, mentioned that it was impossible to bring items from another world.
Second.
I had no other choice.
The Mid-grade Invitation Ticket could only be used on a person I had contact with within five days, and the only ones who fit that condition were Rise, Ayulla, and Therio.
Lastly, the third reason.
I needed to dispatch a monster near Rize.
I had already established a connection with him.
Thanks to that, I had also formed a link with the planet Lumina.
However, time was short.
I had to find and join up with Rize within 24 hours and defeat the Seven Captains.
Even though Psycho Clown’s tracking abilities would allow us to find Rize, 24 hours was still far too short.
Moreover, simply knowing someone didn’t mean I could dispatch a monster near them.
That function was only available for Assistants.
Thus, I made Rize an Assistant.
Of course, I demanded a significant amount of coins as repayment.
Naturally, Rize accepted my offer without hesitation, and he became my fourth Assistant.
Looking at the coins in my possession, I mumbled.
“My coins just skyrocketed.”
【Pururu】─We’re rich now!
Combining the coins I received yesterday and today, I now had a total of 55,006 coins.
Now, whenever I found a vending machine, I wouldn’t have to worry about not having enough coins to buy a ticket.
“Maybe I didn’t need to blow all my savings.”
【Pururu】─For real, lol.
【Yumi】─Well, you didn’t know this would happen, so it couldn’t be helped.
【Pururu】─Yumi, you should hurry up and send some coins to Geon. You promised to cover the cost of the Dispatch Ticket last time.
【Yumi】─Did I say that?
【Pururu】─Don’t try to deny it.
【Yumi】─Haha, I’ll send it tomorrow. I was planning to raise my rank anyway.
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Rizenova】─Hmm. It’s a shame. I didn’t manage to surpass Pururu’s rank, but I was hoping to at least reach the same rank today…
Rize had been complaining nonstop.
Despite all the coins he had supported me with, he was still unhappy that he remained at the Gold rank.
Well, I would have been dissatisfied too.
【Yumi】─But why hasn’t his rank gone up from Gold yet?
“It’s probably because it’s only been a day since he became an Assistant. I think the viewing time also affects Assistant ranks to some extent.”
【Yumi】─Ah, that makes sense.
【Mysticism】─🤔
【Pururu】─I told you, you need to send coins with sincerity. That’s how you rank up fast.
“Lulu, stop spouting nonsense.”
【Pururu】─Okay.
【Rizenova】─If what Gauntlet says is true, then my rank will naturally rise over time.
“Of course. So don’t be too disheartened.”
I had started speaking informally to Rize.
He had asked me to feel free to speak casually with him.
Anyway.
While reading the Assistants’ chat, I began my meal.
As usual, today’s meal was Pig King.
No matter how much I ate, I never got tired of it.
Well, I suppose I would if I ate it for several weeks straight.
【Rizenova】─I still want to eat Pig King meat again. The fantastic taste of Pig King still lingers in my memory.
【Yumi】─I want to try it too. I’m curious about what it tastes like.
【Mysticism】─😋
【Pururu】─Rize.
【Rizenova】─Yes?
【Pururu】─I have a question.
【Rizenova】─Go ahead.
【Pururu】─Does your world not have its own currency? Why do you use energy as coins?
【Rizenova】─In our world, energy is our currency.
【Pururu】─Oh, I see.
As I looked at the chat, a thought crossed my mind.
Why does the labyrinth require currency from other worlds?
Although it was said that converted coins were used for the development fund of the labyrinth, I still didn’t understand what that meant.
Energy from a world like Lumina might be useful, but…
As for Earth’s currency, no matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem like it would be helpful.
As I ate and pondered, a theory came to mind.
‘…Could it be that this labyrinth grows by feeding on desire?’
It might be possible.
All currencies share one common trait.
They are born out of desire.
Money is synonymous with desire.
It was possible that the Ancient Labyrinth absorbed the desires of other worlds and grew.
I couldn’t think of any other reason why the labyrinth would need currency from other worlds.
‘If that assumption is correct, then it makes sense why it demands currency.’
Nodding slightly, I continued to develop this theory on my own.
***
Day 15 in the labyrinth.
The exploration of Cave No. 8 was still underway.
During the exploration.
I encountered a new monster for the first time in a while.
Its body was made up of a green sphere, and within it, a sinister green light swirled.
Around the sphere, numerous tentacles danced and wrapped around it like a vortex.
To put it simply.
It was an eye-shaped monster.
【Pururu】─That’s a floating eyeball.
【Mysticism】─😱
【Yumi】─Oh my!
【Pururu】─Oh my! Lol, what a reaction.
【Rizenova】─It’s the creature we encountered last time. It didn’t seem like an aggressive monster, so you don’t need to be too wary of it.
Normally, when people think of a floating eyeball, they would imagine something grotesque, but surprisingly, this monster wasn’t that disgusting.
Maybe it’s because its eye was green?
Or perhaps because it lacked any blood?
This monster actually exuded a rather mystical aura.
I decided to name it 「Iris」.
“Is it a monster like the Medical Mushroom that doesn’t seem to be wary of other creatures? It doesn’t seem to care about us.”
Just as Rize had said.
Iris didn’t seem to be a hostile monster.
“That means taming it should be easy.”
【Pururu】─What would you even use it for if you tamed it?
“I’ll tame it first. The more monsters I have, the better.”
【Pururu】─Fair enough.
There was no limit to how many monsters I could tame.
So, I planned to tame as many as I could if they caught my interest.
Especially monsters like that one, which didn’t harbor hostility.
They were much easier to tame, and it didn’t take long, so I had to tame it without hesitation.
For creatures like the Pig King, which I designated for consumption…
‘I won’t tame the Pig King. Even if it’s okay to kill the kin of a monster I’ve befriended, eating it feels a bit off.’
【Yumi】─This monster looks so much like a jewel, it makes me want to keep it.
【Pururu】─You have weird tastes. I just find it gross.
【Mysticism】─😐
【Yumi】─It’s kind of gross, but it’s more mystical than gross, so I think it’s fine.
【Pururu】─Fair enough.
【Rizenova】─The crystals in our Lumina are more radiant than that monster.
【Pururu】─Fair enough.
【Yumi】─Pururu, are you trying to make that your catchphrase? It sounds silly, so stop it.
【Pururu】─Fair enough.
【Rizenova】─Forgive me for saying this, but, if I may be honest, Pururu seems a bit slow-witted.
【Pururu】─Fair enough.
【Mysticism】─😡
I slowly approached Iris.
Just in case, I had asked Jellyfish to reinforce my protective magic.
There was always a chance it might suddenly turn hostile and attack me.
As I got close to the creature.
［Proximity detected.］
Iris suddenly turned towards me, glaring sharply as it spoke.
Its voice was cold and alien.
The sound was more like a mechanical noise than an organic voice.
［State your purpose.］
“······.”
［State your purpose. If you do not, I will eliminate you.］
“To tame you.”
【Pururu】─Wait, why are you saying that outright?
［Purpose confirmed. Taming. I accept.］
【Pururu】─?
Iris calmly floated over to me and made contact with my hand of its own accord.
It placed itself precisely on the spot where the bond mark would appear.
【Yumi】─It was a very friendly monster after all.
【Rizenova】─It’s much more harmless than I thought.
【Pururu】─This is easier than taming the Medical Mushroom. It might be the most docile creature you’ve met so far.
【Mysticism】─😶
As if to prove that Iris had no hostility towards me, the bonding process progressed rapidly.
It was choosing to tame itself.
As I stood there, dumbfounded by the absurdity of the situation.
［Purpose confirmed. Taming. I accept.］
［Taming. I accept.］
［Taming. I accept.］
［I accept.］
【Pururu】─???
Suddenly, more Irises appeared from all directions and flocked toward me.
They lined up behind the Iris I was currently taming, as if waiting for their turn.
It looked like they were ready to be tamed as soon as their turn came.
【Pururu】─What’s going on now?
【Yumi】─It seems like these monsters are eager to be tamed…
【Pururu】─Were they… monsters in heat? Ew.
【Mysticism】─🤮
【Rizenova】─You can just tame them one by one, I suppose.
In the end, I wound up taming five Irises all at once.
***
After returning to my hideout.
■Iris
─Actual Danger Level: S-grade.
─Current (Nerfed) Danger Level: B-grade.
─Ability: Shared Vision.
Once I finished updating the monster guide.
I checked the abilities of the newly tamed Irises and discovered that they had the power of shared vision.
And with this ability.
I could conduct labyrinth explorations while sitting in the comfort of my hideout without needing to venture out personally.
After all, I could tame monsters remotely.