NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10
The method of gaining favor through bait was successful.
The jellyfish that consumed the bread crumb showed a satisfied expression, and right after that, the discoloration speed of the spots drastically increased.
About 5 minutes later.
Peeeee.
The spots turned completely green.
I had succeeded in taming the jellyfish.
Pururu─Did it work?
002─
For reference, the spots were only visible to me.
The assistants couldn’t see this spot.
“Yeah. I feel connected to this guy, and the spots have completely turned green. It’s marked on the list of tamed monsters too.”
Pururu─That’s great. But I want to see the status window too. I’m curious what it feels like. Haha.
002─
Pururu─What are you curious about now, resting your chin on your hand? Are you curious about what the list of tamed monsters is?
002─
Pururu─It’s like the status window you often see in cartoons or novels. We can’t see it; it’s only visible to you.
002─
Pururu─Oh? You seriously don’t know what a status window is?
002─
Pururu─If you don’t know, just look it up. Hmph.
002─
Pururu─Relax your expression.
002─
The tamed jellyfish swirled around me.
Sending quite a friendly gaze.
Pururu─Haha, that jellyfish looks gross and scary, but its cry is just adorable!
002─
I told it that I would call it ‘Jellyfish’ from now on and gently pet its head.
Then I made a request.
“Jellyfish. Can you cast Speed Magic on me?”
The jellyfish’s specialty is Explosion Magic.
But it can also use various Buff Magic and Protection Magic.
The jellyfish I fought in the other world was engaged in battle with the Devoted Warrior right before it charged at me, and I definitely saw it use Speed Magic at that time.
Pee?
The jellyfish blinked its eyes rapidly.
Without using Speed Magic.
Pururu─Looks like it can’t use that kind of magic. Haha.
002─
As Pururu said.
This guy might not be able to use Buff Magic.
After all, it’s a different entity from the jellyfish I saw in the other world, and its Danger Level is two tiers lower.
But my thought was different.
It seemed to me that the jellyfish either didn’t fully grasp the magic it could wield or didn’t properly understand my request.
I feel bad saying this, but this jellyfish seems to lack intelligence compared to the one I saw in the other world.
“Hey Fish, you understand what I’m saying, right?”
Pee!
The jellyfish nodded.
Luckily, what I said was getting through.
“So, you don’t know what Speed Magic is?”
Pee!
The jellyfish nodded again.
My second guess was correct.
The meaning of the word ‘Speed’ clearly wasn’t conveyed to it.
“Um… would you understand if I say it’s magic that makes your body light?”
Peeee!
Suddenly, I felt my body becoming as light as a feather.
My feet lifted off the ground, and soon my whole body slightly floated into the air.
This was Levitation Magic, not Speed Magic.
Pururu─Wow. Flying magic!
002─
This wasn’t bad either.
But I still needed Speed Magic.
I needed it to proceed quickly with the Labyrinth Exploration.
For now, I canceled the Levitation Magic after asking the jellyfish.
Then I scratched my head and briefly pondered until an idea to help it understand popped up.
“Hey Fish, watch my actions closely.”
Pee?
I jumped with all my might from where I stood.
A typical adult male jump.
Pururu─What are you doing all of a sudden? Are you going crazy?
002─
Pururu─What’s with that emoji? Where did you pick that up?
002─
Pururu─Sigh.
After showing off my jump.
I commanded the jellyfish in a way that would be easier for it to understand.
“Did you see my jump just now?”
Pee!
“Can you make me jump higher than I just did?”
That should be enough for it to understand.
There’s no simpler way to explain it.
Pee, Pee!
A blue light flowed from the jellyfish’s body.
The blue light poured into me like a clear stream.
As my body became lighter, I felt a surge of vitality.
Plus, I even felt refreshed.
“Seems like you can use Speed Magic after all.”
Pururu─Did it work? Nothing feels different.
I lightly jumped from my spot.
My elevated body touched the cave ceiling in an instant, and I landed back on the ground after pushing off with my palm.
002─
Pururu─Wow, that’s insane! Get me that magic too, Jellyfish!
“Thanks, Fish. Now can you cast Levitation Magic on me again?”
Pee?
“Um… the magic I initially cast.”
Pee!
I received Levitation Magic on top of Speed Magic.
Combining the two spells would make my flying speed even faster.
Pururu─Wait a minute. But why does Speed Magic increase my jumping power? Is it normally like that?
Like this, I could proceed with the cave exploration faster and more conveniently.
*
My plan was to check every passage slightly to understand its structure and characteristics. Plus, identify the monsters residing there.
Like when I explored Cave No. 2.
Again, I had no intention of going too deep into Cave No. 3.
Before receiving Speed Magic, at least.
Pururu─You’re so fast. Flying around must be fun…
002─
I delved deeper into Cave No. 3.
Since the time taken for the exploration was significantly reduced, I was planning to explore a little deeper.
All thanks to the jellyfish.
As I moved deeper inside, the cave started to widen gradually.
And I noticed a big hole in the cave wall.
I leaned closer and peeked outside the hole.
About a 10-meter short cliff.
Below it were familiar monsters swarming.
‘That seems to be the habitat of the jellyfish.’
An incredible sight with countless jellyfish gathered.
002─
Pururu─Eww, it looks gross when they’re gathered like that.
All of them were B-rank, so the shock was lessened.
If S-class jellyfish were gathering like that, it would be a disaster for others.
‘Even those creatures down there are all B-rank… surely not just the non-adult ones are gathered.’
It seems like the jellyfish inhabiting this maze have reached their fully-grown form.
In fact, until now, I had suspected that my jellyfish wasn’t an adult.
It only makes sense since it’s smaller and less intelligent than the one I saw in the other world. By the way, the Demon King jellyfish was about three times bigger.
‘Are the jellyfish here weak, or was that jellyfish in the other world a special case…’
My head hurt.
The more I thought, the more confused I got.
‘But what’s that over there?’
While surveying the cliff below.
I spotted a human-shaped monster in my view.
It looked like an ordinary human woman with a jellyfish on her head.
Pururu─Our jellyfish might be like scouts. But is that jellyfish woman their boss? Hey, what’s her danger level?
“…A-rank. She seems to be their leader.”
She’s presumed to be a higher entity of jellyfish.
But still, her danger level is lower than the Demon King jellyfish I fought in the other world.
‘Still, in the worst dungeon known as Hell in the other world, the mobs didn’t swarm like B-ranks did.’
I scanned the cliff below again.
There were way too many jellyfish.
The number exceeded a hundred.
B-ranks are still boss-level monsters.
I’ve seen groups of ten, but groups of a hundred is crossing the line by a long shot.
It no longer mattered whether this was the innermost part of the labyrinth or not.
It didn’t matter whether monsters below B-rank existed or not.
With B-rank monsters swarming like mobs just one fact alone was enough to explain the danger of this labyrinth.
‘To survive, I definitely need to break the seal quickly. This labyrinth is a crazy one that defies common sense.’
Anyway.
I decided to end the exploration of Passage No. 3 here.
Sometimes you have to retreat.
I felt like worse monsters might emerge as I went deeper.
*
[Passage No. 3]
○ Larger than Passage No. 2.
○ Jellyfish and the Jellyfish Leader are residing.
I returned to the hideout.
Glancing at the clock leaned against the box, the time was already 10:30 PM.
I decided to go to bed for today.
“I’m getting sleepy. I’d better sleep now.”
Pururu─Already? Are you living the right life?
002─
I plan to activate the assistant blocking feature while I sleep.
In other words, that meant ending the broadcast.
“I’ll turn the broadcast back on tomorrow. You’ll be here, right?”
Pururu─Yeah, of course, I’ll watch. I can’t watch such an awesome show anywhere else. Oh, but it’s more because I’m worried about you than it’s fun.
002─
Well, even if I don’t know about 002, I bet Pururu will come.
After all, I spent quite a lot of money today.
I exchanged farewells with my assistants before activating the block.
Then I called for the jellyfish.
Just in case of any unforeseen events.
“Jellyfish. Can you cast Barrier Magic around us? You can do that, right?”
Pee?
“…Cast magic that prevents other monsters from approaching us.”
Pee!
The jellyfish closed its eyes calmly.
Then blue magical energy flowed from its body and seeped into the ground.
The magic wriggled like a life form and spread in all directions, eventually soaring towards the sky.
Thus, a transparent hemispherical shield was formed around us, about a 5-meter radius.
Thanks to that, there was no need for a night watch.
That shield will protect us safely while we sleep. If it breaks, I’ll wake up to the sound of its destruction.
Afterward.
Before facing the first night in the labyrinth.
I took out a notebook from the box and started drawing the monsters I’d seen today.
Since the jellyfish was right beside me, I could draw it anytime, but the jellyfish leader’s appearance might become vague in my mind by tomorrow.
I decided on a rough name for the jellyfish leader that came to mind.
—
■ Jellyfish
─Estimated Danger Level: B-rank.
─Abilities: Explosion Magic / Buff Magic, Protection Magic, etc.
─Weakness: A flick?
—
■ Jellyfish Queen
─Estimated Danger Level: A-rank.