Episode 96: Boss Monster
After a meal and a long break, I used Mermaid Drop to transform into my mermaid form again.
I surfaced and contacted Houryuu and the others via communicator. They said their hunting, or rather, fishing, was going smoothly. Their biggest catch was a fish larger than the island we initially used as a base. Isn’t that a whale?
“Are we still far?”
“Who knows? The Underwater Meter can tell the direction, but not the distance.”
I’m using the Underwater Meter to investigate the direction of high Magical Power concentration and heading that way, but I don’t know how far that point is.
Also, even though we’re heading towards the direction of high Magical Power, it’s unclear whether it indicates a monster with strong Magical Power or a lower level with even more powerful monsters.
By the way, since it detects Magical Power dissolved in the water, it can’t be used on land. Magical Power doesn’t dissolve easily in the air.
“Stop.”
The Underwater Meter showed a new reaction. The Underwater Meter isn’t just measuring Magical Power; this reaction is… poison.
“There’s a monster releasing poison from that direction.”
“Poison, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine with the poison.”
The body transformed by Mermaid Drop has resistance to harmful substances. This poison doesn’t require any special measures.
Still, it’s not a pleasant situation, and there haven’t been any monsters releasing poison until now.
“We need to investigate. Or rather, subjugate it.”
“Indeed.”
“I don’t know any monsters with that ecology. We can’t leave unknown monsters alone.”
“Gianna is right.”
Gianna, being a long-lived elf, was somewhat familiar with Sea Monsters. However, she didn’t know everything, so she gave temporary names to some monsters.
A monster that releases poison into the water. It’s not that unusual as an attack method, but apparently, this monster isn’t in Gianna’s knowledge.
I only know about monsters like that from another planet. I don’t actually know a single Sea Monster from this planet.
“Delicious, is it?”
“I don’t think we can eat it.”
Monsters that store poison in their bodies can often be eaten if the poison is removed, but this one is releasing poison into the sea.
The poison is very likely to have soaked into its skin, scales, or fur, whatever it is. I don’t know how far that will affect it, but it’s certain that there will be fewer edible parts.
“It’s that way.”
I guided everyone towards the source of the poison.
There was a giant Shell Monster there. It looked like a giant clam, about twenty meters in size. A pale yellow poison was constantly being released from the gaps in the shell.
It seemed to be paralyzing the surrounding monsters, immobilizing them. Furthermore, four thick tentacles were extending from the gaps.
They were catching monsters and carrying them into the shell. I see, so that’s how it preys.
“This yellow stuff has a taste.”
“Gianna-sama!? Are you alright!?”
“It’s incomprehensible, but I’m fine in this body.”
“I see…”
“You have resistance, but how could you put that in your mouth…”
I don’t have that kind of courage.
“It has a taste. And a smell. I think it attracts creatures from afar and eats them when they become incapacitated nearby.”
“Smart.”
“It’s a stingy strategy for its size.”
“Maybe it’s because it got too big.”
Well, Shell Monsters originally… there are some that fly around the sea surface, but most of them basically don’t move from the seabed.
“It’s hard.”
“Hmm, SGS-AA21’s electric shock mode doesn’t work?”
Beatrice fired several shots, but they were all deflected by the shell. Sensing our attack, the Shell Monster closed its gaps.
“Gaps, closed.”
“We’re in trouble.”
“Try the penetration mode.”
“Understood.”
Beatrice operated the dial and changed the attack method.
“…It’s deflected.”
“Amazing.”
Even SGS-AA21’s penetration mode, which is standardly equipped with barrier penetration capabilities, can’t break through. It simply has considerable hardness. Honestly, I never thought I’d encounter such a monster on this planet.
But in this case, the only way to attack is to slash it with the SB Lance.
“Okay, let’s leave it alone.”
“Hmm, that’s the best course of action.”
“Eh? I’m a little interested in that shell.”
“It would make good armor, maybe.”
“Well, we could cut it off with the SB Lance and quickly return.”
Fortunately, this Shell Monster, with its shell closed, doesn’t seem to move at all.
“Ah. So it’s this type.”
“Something wrong?”
“I think this guy is a Dungeon Master or a Floor Master.”
“Is that so!?”
She says “I think.”
“The Underwater Meter is pointing at it.”
I was focused on the poison reaction, so I didn’t notice, but the Magical Power reaction was also pointing at it.
“If it’s a Floor Master, there should be an entrance to the lower level somewhere nearby.”
“I can’t find it.”
“Indeed.”
“What does that mean?”
“As a possibility, there might be an entrance to the lower level under it.”
We won’t know until we defeat this giant Shell Monster.
“But if it’s a Dungeon Master, this Dungeon will close.”
“Oh, that’s…”
“Precious seafood.”
“That’s right.”
That’s the scary thing about Dungeons. Even if you want to make effective use of them, the Dungeon closes if you defeat the Dungeon Master.
“So, I think we have no choice but to leave it alone.”
“Hmm, I’ll obey King-sama’s orders.”
“Indeed. Then let’s give up on the shell too.”
“Hmm, it can’t be helped.”
Dungeons controlled by Dungeon Masters are subject to subjugation. Because they’re dangerous.
But this is the Black Forest; there are so many Dungeons controlled by Dungeon Masters that you could throw them away. Leaving one or two alone now won’t change anything.
An environment where we can regularly obtain seafood is more important than that.
“That’s the situation. Let’s leave this guy alone and go home.”
“Understood.”
It’s a shame we can’t make a Salt Farm, but it can’t be helped. It’ll take a little effort, but let’s scoop up seawater here into a Magic Bag or something and take it home.
We can build a factory to boil it down and create salt, so let’s prepare that.
“Fortunately, there are no monsters nearby thanks to this guy. Let’s go up here. We’ll go back by boat.”
“I’ll take the wheel.”
Gianna is motivated, so it’s okay to leave it to her.
We surfaced and took out the boat. We got on the boat, drank the antidote, and then Gianna drove us back to the first island.
It took a whole day to swim here, but the return trip is only about three hours in a straight line.
It’s quite wide. It’s impossible to conquer without special equipment like mine. Getting lost is a must.
“Next time, fishing, maybe.”
“Ah, that’s a good idea. Let’s come fishing.”
Fishing instead of diving for seafood is also a good idea.