Chapter 72 Curse
Curse Devil Gentleman.
A demon-type monster that wielded curses.
The battle with Unit 1 lasted quite a while.
If it had been an ordinary 2 vs. 1 scenario, the battle would have ended quickly. But in reality, it was practically a 1 vs. 1 fight.
Medical Mushroom belonged to the healing class.
Not a monster specialized in combat, it was only providing support beside Psycho Clown, blocking the curses.
【Pururu】─Clown’s fighting pretty well.
【Rizenova】─My master is the strongest among S-class.
【Yumi】─Fighting! Don’t lose!
【Mysticism】─🤡
【Bubble Bubble】─I kind of want to fight too.
Psycho Clown’s maddening psychic powers clashed with Curse Devil’s insidious curses.
The main curse Curse Devil used was countless black hands extending from the ground.
If they touched you, your body would rot away.
However, since Medical Mushroom’s healing liquid constantly protected Clown, there was no major damage.
“Hmm. It doesn’t look like Clown’s going to lose.”
From my perspective, Clown was slightly stronger than Curse Devil.
It seemed like he could win even without Medical Mushroom’s support.
It was probably due to the difference in experience.
After all, Psycho Clown had existed as a monster for a comparatively long time.
“But this fight dragging on for too long makes me uneasy. Should I send reinforcements now?”
I tore my gaze away from Iris.
I glanced at the other monsters in the hideout.
All the other exploration teams had returned.
Currently, most of them were staring at me with expectant eyes.
It was probably because they heard the news about the Evolution Ticket.
Their faces were practically stamped with the word “anticipation.”
“Guys, staring at me like that isn’t going to get you picked as an evolution candidate, so stop.”
I had already decided on the candidates in my heart.
The monsters I had chosen were Jellyfish and Melody Fox.
I picked Jellyfish because it was one of the original members.
Kinogine Arachne and Black Magma Slime had already reached SS-class, but Jellyfish was still stuck at S-class.
It seemed slightly upset about that.
As for Melody Fox, the reason was simple.
It was because she gave buffs to other monsters.
If Melody Fox evolved and reached SS-class,
She could give even better buffs to our monsters, allowing more of them to evolve to SS-class with ease.
And, who knows, perhaps she could even evolve SS-class monsters into SSS-class.
In short,
Evolving Melody Fox was a choice that benefited everyone.
If I explained the reasons, the other monsters would probably understand.
Anyway.
We’ll discuss the Evolution Ticket later.
For now, I decided to send reinforcements to Unit 1.
“They’re not struggling… not exactly, but the battle’s dragging on. Anyone want to go help?”
When I asked if anyone wanted to volunteer,
［Pii! Piii!］
［Explorer! I’ll go!］
［Doodoomba! I’ll go!］
［Ororo! Ssssh!］
［I desire… not evolution… but to assist.］
Many of the S-class monsters responded.
They clearly wanted to evolve very badly.
It was obvious they weren’t volunteering out of concern for Unit 1.
They just wanted to impress me and receive the Evolution Ticket.
Such transparent creatures.
“Then maybe we should all just…”
I trailed off, glancing at Iris.
A loud impact had sounded.
─［Yohohoho…］
Hmm.
It seemed we wouldn’t need to send any reinforcements after all.
The battle had been decided.
“Guys, never mind. Looks like it’s over.”
［Pii…］
［Aah…］
［Doomdoom…］
［Ororo! Ssssh!］
［Too bad… no, fortunate, indeed…］
As you could tell from my calm tone,
The winner of the battle was not Curse Devil, but Psycho Clown.
Curse Devil had been struck by Clown’s attack.
It lay sprawled on the ground, having lost its arms and legs.
Though it raised its head slightly, gazing at Clown with a sinister smile.
Why is it grinning like that even after losing?
─［Kirik. You were quite a worthy opponent.］
─［Pii!］
─［Yohoho…］
Clown slowly walked toward the fallen Curse Devil.
─［I won’t kill you. Gauntlet wants to tame many monsters. Kirik.］
─［Yohohoho…］
【Pururu】─Why does that thing keep grinning?
【Yumi】─I know, right? It’s making me feel gross for no reason.
【Mysticism】─Creepy.
【Bubble Bubble】─Is it a monster that’s lost its mind?
【Rizenova】─If you tame it, I recommend making sure it can’t laugh.
I could understand the reactions of the Assistants.
To be honest, I also found that laugh unpleasant.
How should I put it…
It was a condescending kind of laugh.
Hearing it once was fine, but listening to it repeatedly made me feel uneasy.
─［Kirik. Since Gauntlet is waiting, let’s return to the base and tame…］
Clown extended his hand toward Curse Devil.
At that moment.
Curse Devil’s eyes curved into crescent moons.
─［Yohoho!!!!］
A maniacal laugh sliced through the air, echoing inside the cave.
Along with an ear-splitting explosion, Curse Devil’s body swelled rapidly.
And then.
Boom!
Its body exploded.
【Pururu】─What the hell??? A suicide explosion???
【Yumi】─Oh no! Is Clown okay?
【Mysticism】─😱😱😱
【Bubble Bubble】─Doesn’t seem like a suicide.
【Rizenova】─It wasn’t an explosion to harm others. It only blew up its own body.
─［Kirik…?］
Just as Rizenova had said.
Psycho Clown, who had been caught in the explosion, was completely unharmed.
It had simply been drenched in Curse Devil’s blood.
【Pururu】─What was that? Did it just commit suicide? Why?
【Mysticism】─I don’t get it.
【Yumi】─Did it choose death rather than being tamed?
【Rizenova】─I’m not sure about that either.
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh no. Wait a second.
【Bubble Bubble】─Gauntlet!
【Bubble Bubble】─Tell Medical Mushroom to pour as much liquid on Clown as it can right now!
【Bubble Bubble】─That blood itself might be a curse!
Is that blood a curse?
Startled, I hurriedly gave instructions to Mushroom.
“Mushroom! Clown might be in danger, pour out all your liquid!”
［Pii!!! Peeppoopeepoo!!!］
Medical Mushroom’s thick liquid drenched Clown.
***
Our base, the Grand Cavern.
A massive pink jelly floated in the air.
Inside the translucent jelly, Psycho Clown was breathing irregularly, his breath ragged.
［Kirik, Kii…］
Just as Elise predicted.
Curse Devil’s blood carried a powerful curse.
An ultimate curse, completed upon the caster’s death.
［Pii…］
［Kyuu…］
Medical Mushroom sobbed.
Melody Fox fidgeted anxiously.
All the other monsters were gazing at Clown with eyes full of worry.
【Yumi】─What should we do… Will it be cured?
【Mysticism】─Clown, don’t die…
【Rizenova】─Master…
A constant tug-of-war played out between healing and decay.
The curse rotted Clown’s flesh,
And Mushroom’s healing liquid reversed the decay, only for the process to repeat again and again.
Unfortunately,
The curse’s speed was slightly outpacing the healing, and Clown’s condition was steadily worsening.
Like a sinking ship,
Clown’s life was slowly slipping into the swamp of death.
【Pururu】─I had no idea that bastard was hiding such a trump card.
【Pururu】─No wonder it kept laughing that creepy laugh…
【Yumi】─Um, but…
【Yumi】─Is everyone else okay? That curse won’t spread to anyone else, will it? I’m worried about Clown, but I’m also worried it might affect the others…
【Bubble Bubble】─Curses that strong usually target just one person.
【Bubble Bubble】─Since it already picked its target, it’s unlikely to spread. The blood that fell to the ground earlier should just be normal blood now, without any curse.
【Mysticism】─I still don’t get it.
【Mysticism】─Why did that monster curse Clown at the cost of its own life?
【Mysticism】─What could it gain from that?
【Bubble Bubble】─It was probably the kind of monster that thought placing a curse on its opponent was more important than its own life.
【Rizenova】─What a crazy creature…
【Pururu】─That bastard was really insane. If you’re going to die, just die quietly, you son of a b*tch.
【Bubble Bubble】─Monsters that use curses often have a screw loose. I should’ve warned you to be more careful. Sorry, Gauntlet.
“Why are you apologizing?”
【Yumi】─Yeah, this isn’t Elise’s fault.
【Mysticism】─No one’s at fault here.
【Pururu】─It’s that damn Curse Devil’s fault.
Elise wasn’t at fault at all.
In fact, this was mostly my fault.
There was Clown’s carelessness, but
This happened because I overestimated our monsters’ abilities and made poor judgments.
I should have given more careful and cautious instructions.
［Gan, tlet…］
Clown called out to me.
Still submerged in the liquid, his arm trembled as he extended it toward me.
I approached the pink liquid, reached in, and took hold of Clown’s hand.
Silently cheering for him to overcome the curse.
While I was doing that,
Centaurides, who had been stroking her chin in thought, slowly approached me.
Centaurides glanced between me and Clown before speaking.
［Explorer. Use the Evolution Ticket on Clown.］
“An Evolution Ticket?”
【Pururu】─All of a sudden?
［Yes. I can’t be certain, but if you use the Evolution Ticket, the curse might disappear.］
It wasn’t an implausible idea.
If Clown evolved, his body would be reconstructed.
“…That’s true, if the curse isn’t imprinted on his soul, it might disappear when he evolves.”
Perhaps.
Using the Evolution Ticket was the only way to save Psycho Clown right now.
Medical Mushroom’s healing liquid wasn’t enough to defeat the curse.
“Hey, guys.”
I turned and looked at the other monsters.
“You heard the conversation just now, right? I’m going to use an Evolution Ticket on Clown. If anyone has an objection, speak up now.”
The instinct and desire to grow stronger.
And a friend’s life.
These two values couldn’t be compared or weighed against each other.
But for the others, Clown might not have been a cherished companion.
The tamed monsters were only gathered around me.
Their favorable attitudes toward Clown were because I was the common link.
So I thought there might be some who would prioritize their own evolution over Clown’s life, but…
“None, right?”
The cavern was silent.
No one voiced any objections.
They didn’t seem to be hesitating, simply nodding as if they naturally thought the Evolution Ticket should be used on Clown.
“Looks like I’ve done a good job picking and taming only the best.”
【Yumi】─I know, right! Everyone’s so nice.
【Pururu】─For real, just like me.
【Mysticism】─Pururu, stop insulting the monsters.
【Pururu】─It’s a compliment, crazy woman.
【Rizenova】─Please, use it before my master breathes his last. I beg you.
【Bubble Bubble】─Hurry, before it’s too late!
With a smirk, I turned my gaze away from the monsters.
Without hesitation, I used the Evolution Ticket on Clown.
At that moment,
A black substance explosively burst from Clown’s body.
The black mass swiftly enveloped Clown’s entire body, transforming into a large egg-like shape.
『Time until evolution is complete: 24:00:00』