Chapter 314: Already
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 314: Already
A vast sky stretched out over red clouds.
Even that sky was eclipsed by a massive structure of bone and flesh. It looked as if a colossal ship, built to part the seas, was floating in the heavens.
“The Sanguks Mothership..!”
A single, gargantuan vessel traversed the battlefield where Manmagyeong had appeared. Dozens of massive cyclones began sucking up the swarm ants, drawing them into an opening at the prow of the mothership.
In an instant, the ants' hard cephalic exoskeletons were sliced open to extract their brains. These were washed with electrical discharges, and only the necessary parts were precisely excised and stored. The remaining portions were repurposed as biological storage for calculations or records.
Other useless organs were crushed and mangled before being dropped into hyper-acidic gastric juices to be biodegraded in seconds.
The high-strength ant exoskeletons underwent various durability tests before being sent to the appropriate factories, where they immediately replaced outdated components.
The Queen Arachne exoskeleton, while significantly stronger, had always suffered from high production costs. When used as the outer shell for missiles, it was so much tougher than the explosion itself that the shell had to be opened manually before impact. The swarm ants' shells, however, were sturdy but not enough to withstand the blast of an enhanced Skeleton Mage.
He had acquired a highly cost-effective substitute that reduced production costs and eliminated the need for impact calculations.
As a result, he had secured enough exoskeleton material to produce three or four missiles from a single soldier ant.
All these computational processes were resolved in less than three seconds within the biological factories designed inside the Sanguks Mothership.
—Thump! Thump! Thump!!
In the latter half of the 2nd Stratum of Mascena, missiles encased in ant exoskeletons began to bombard the hard ant mounds that rose like scattered mountains.
Toward the entrances of the mounds, now blown wide open and exposed, he deployed a massive number of synthetic monsters emitting the ant pheromones he had just acquired to map the internal structure of the tunnels.
Since the ants had poor ocular performance and provided insufficient visual data, he used synthetic monsters with superior eyes to visualize the information they possessed.
Information gathering and storage monsters—creatures with massive brains but no combat capability—infiltrated the ant nests without suspicion thanks to the pheromones. Visual data from hundreds of giant ant tunnels began to accumulate instantly.
—Flutter..!
Once the visual data was gathered, avian-type monsters retrieved the information-gathering creatures and returned them to the Sanguks Mothership. There, their brains were interfaced, and the data was uploaded.
In less than a minute, information regarding a vast area approximately 50km in diameter, covering 2,123 km², was secured.
Except for a few small ant colonies left for breeding, most of the ant mounds were uprooted from the ground. They were enveloped by a massive stomach wall, and every living creature inside was harvested. The foundations of the mounds, composed of inorganic soil and stone that could not be stored, were returned to their original positions.
“Heh, heh….”
The number of living organisms on the 18th floor of the Labyrinth, which had been teeming with tens of millions of ants, dropped to less than ten percent of its original population. The time elapsed: exactly three minutes.
“So this is… Manmagyeong….”
Lona Bishuter, the White Star and one of the only two top-tier explorers in Mascena, collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at the scene.
“Ri-Rita, was it? What is your relationship with Manmagyeong…?”
“I only just found out myself….”
Rita shook her head at Valeria’s question. Having viewed Yoo Eon as just a kind outsider older brother until only two hours ago, Rita was just as bewildered.
Floating in the air, opening and closing his fourteen hands, Yoo Eon nodded.
This is quite the find.
Originally, the method he used to issue orders was ‘verbal communication.’ Since the brains of Orcs were quite intelligent by monster standards and could understand basic vocabulary, the process of culturing brains by combining Orc eggs and sperm had been essential.
The downside was the incredibly low productivity and high maintenance costs. However, if he utilized the pheromone-based communication of the ant swarm, he could communicate much more easily using a Queen Ant that laid thousands or tens of thousands of eggs at once.
If not language, there was sign language. Hands were the organs that occupied the smallest surface area while being able to convey the most meaning. By issuing commands through learned gestures, he could command a large number of organisms at a lower cost than language.
From now on, basic commands would be issued via pheromones, while complex and difficult orders would use a mix of sign language and verbal speech.
“Is this what it means to be Orichalcum Grade..?”
Baltos Johen, a Platinum-grade scout and back-line dealer belonging to the White Star’s party, was also unable to hide his shock as he sensed the surroundings.
The danger warning skill that had been screaming inside his head had suddenly gone quiet, now sounding an alarm for only a single individual.
Before they knew it, the cleanup of the entire 18th floor was finished. The red clouds that had filled the sky vanished, and the blue sky returned.
The clouds had merely been blood drawn out by vampire magic to hide the hull of the Sanguks Mothership, which was designed in a way that would make an ordinary person faint on sight.
Even the name ‘Sanguks Mothership’ wasn't something Yoo Eon had come up with himself. It was a story that circulated among explorers like an urban legend—that a monster ship would appear in the sky of a labyrinth targeted by Manmagyeong and sweep up monsters like a squid boat.
“The rumors were true….”
Freya, the priestess of the White Star party, muttered as she knelt with trembling hands, offering a prayer to her goddess, Aelina.
If she didn't do at least this much, she felt she wouldn't be able to maintain her sanity.
* * *
“The area is safe now, so you can head back. Or you can resupply and head to the next floor.”
I descended once I felt things were mostly wrapped up, but for some reason, the reactions were underwhelming.
“A-Are you… Manmagyeong..?”
“Manmagyeong? Ah.”
I don’t know when or where that name stuck, but for some reason, everyone calls me that. Maybe because of Hollow Breeze, even people in this remote rural city know it.
“I am.”
“I-It is an honor! To meet an Orichalcum-grade explorer..!”
“No, there’s no need for all that.”
I had kept my face covered with a mask-like exoskeleton because I didn't want to show it, but doing so seemed to keep their guard up. I’m pretty sure I just saved them, but looking through the Evil Eye’s vision, I could see a hint of hostility.
“Why are you shaking so much?”
“Th-They said Manmagyeong eats people too….”
“Me?”
Rita began to whimper, flinching at my every movement.
“Th-They said you eat people and turn them into monsters..!”
“No, I don’t really do that.”
When did I ever eat a person and turn them into a monster? I’ve only ever eaten monsters, so I have no idea why such a rumor started.
Ah, wait. Maybe.
Is it because of that Succubus bitch and Iris? Since that scene was broadcast, I suppose people could misunderstand.
“I’m a good person, as you can see.”
“As I can see..?”
Rita squinted and looked up toward my face.
“Uuuu….”
“No, this is a mask. It’s just a bit awkward if my face is exposed.”
No matter how much I explained in this form, it wasn't working.
“You party over there. I’m curious if you’re willing to keep the fact that I was here a secret.”
“A-A secret… does it have to be?”
“Well, yes.”
There was a reason. According to Iris, my movements would eventually reach the ears of the Demon King’s Legion Commanders. While hiding isn't exactly comfortable, I don't yet possess the martial power to guarantee I won't lose against anyone.
And above all, it would cause civilian casualties. For now, it’s better to keep a low profile.
“Then… we will definitely keep our mouths shut.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
The explorer called White Star looked younger than I expected. She had the feel of a woman in her early twenties. Most of the explorers here seemed young; perhaps it was due to the unique nature of the Labyrinth.
Since she said she’d keep it a secret, I figured it wouldn't hurt to show my face. If they tried to act familiar outside the Labyrinth, that would be its own problem, but they probably wouldn't do that if they had any sense.
Squelch…
I absorbed the facial exoskeleton I had been wearing as a mask and revealed my true appearance. The four people present gasped in surprise.
“I-Is that… Manmagyeong’s true face..?”
The explorer who looked like a priestess tilted her head with a meaningful expression.
“It is. Why?”
“Ah, aha….”
Rita clung tightly to the explorer she liked, Valeria. Standing here like this, I felt a bit like a kidnapper.
“Rita, want to go to the 32nd floor?”
“Me?!”
“Why so surprised?”
“But… the White Star-nim’s party is here….”
“W-Wait. We… we cannot be of any help to Manmagyeong-nim.”
It’s not like I’m taking someone because I need help. If I had to choose, I’d go alone, but I felt a bit bad for Rita and wanted to do something for her.
“This is a great opportunity, Rita! Go to the 32nd floor with Manmagyeong-nim!”
“Whaaat..?”
Valeria shook Rita’s shoulders back and forth, then leaned in close to her ear and whispered.
“Ri-Rita..! Please, if you find out anything about the 4th Stratum..!”
“Hieee….”
Lona Bishuter watched the two of them, hesitated for a moment, and then turned her gaze to me.
“The girl… she won’t be in any danger, right?”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
“…I see.”
How dangerous could the 32nd floor possibly be? It’s a bit much to say, but even if a limb gets torn off, I can easily reattach it. Not that such a thing would happen, of course.
“Rita, you have to earn that meat I gave you.”
“Uuu… can’t I just spit the meat back out….”
“It’s already been digested.”