Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Various Friendships (1)
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What I had used wasn't a simple spell.
The [Familiar] skill, which provided mana and allowed one to take the target as a servant.
Of course, I hadn't used the [Familiar] skill on the baby Kraken to turn it into a servant.
It was simply to provide it with a steady supply of mana until it reached adulthood, ensuring it could grow safely without its mother.
The very idea of using a Kraken as a servant was foolish to begin with. That's why typical [Familiar] targets were small animals like rats, cats, bats, or crows. The stronger the [Familiar] target, the greater the burden on the shaman's mana when sharing it. Thus, the basic rule was to choose a target one could properly handle.
The reason I could boldly use the [Familiar] skill was thanks to the target being a newborn Kraken straight from the egg. If it had been even a juvenile rather than a larva, I wouldn't have used it. The burden would have been too much in every way.
I planned to maintain the [Familiar] only until it became a juvenile. By then, it would be about the size of an average ship.
-Grrr...
I picked up the baby Kraken's translucent body. I could feel its numerous tentacles clinging tightly to me.
I sliced my palm with a dagger and fed it the blood that flowed out. Normally, it would need to consume the Kraken's 'ink,' but with its mother dead, I used my own blood instead. Having already accepted my mana, it took my blood without issue. I could see its translucent body gradually turning red.
'A red Kraken instead of a dark blue one...'
If someone claimed to have seen a red Kraken, I'd call them crazy. A hollow laugh escaped me.
"...What do you plan to do with it?"
Lloyd, who had been watching, asked. I shrugged and replied.
"I'm going to raise it."
"Raise... it?"
"Yes."
Was I too nonchalant about it? Lloyd fell silent for a moment. Sure, he could understand sparing it, but he probably never expected me to say I'd raise it.
"Of course, I don't mean I'll carry it around and raise it myself."
"..."
A flicker of relief passed over Lloyd's face.
"I'll raise it here."
"...Here?"
This answer seemed unexpected too, as Lloyd looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Isn't this the perfect environment for raising a Kraken? It's overflowing with sea goblins outside."
"Is that... so?"
"Absolutely."
"...I see."
Lloyd was finally starting to buy into my brazen words. Ha~ Nobles. So naive in the strangest ways.
"Think about it. If the Kraken eats up the sea goblins, won't the attacks on ships naturally decrease?"
"...You're right."
"Then there'd be no need to dispatch mercenaries. No more pointless deaths."
Lloyd nodded silently.
"I can teach it not to attack people or ships. That's more than doable."
With [Song of the Beast], it was entirely possible. I could come and go under the pretext of clearing the dungeon surroundings.
'I need to spend more time investigating this dungeon anyway if I want to get the Origin God quest.'
Gazing at the pink baby Kraken floating around lazily, I turned to the group.
"...Then, shall we head back for now?"
* * *
"I believed in you!"
Katarina, beaming from ear to ear, wagged her tail excitedly. She seemed thrilled at the prospect of using the sea route again.
"Shall we throw a banquet? The other merchant groups will flock here to express their gratitude too. It's a perfect chance to make your name known! I'll help you build connections."
A banquet? All I wanted was some rest. Couldn't she see what a mess we looked like? We were soaked in seawater, looking like cabbages ready for kimchi-making.
"...Well, I'd like to rest a bit first."
I glanced at my companions, who were in similar states, then spoke to Katarina.
"I'm not against a banquet. But we can't attend looking like this."
"Oh, right."
Katarina scanned us with a slightly queasy look before quickly plastering on a bright smile.
"Then, how about the banquet in two days?"
"That works."
"Leave all the preparations to me. I'll send a seamstress to your inn tomorrow."
"A seamstress... even?"
"I'm thinking of inviting the governor too. Not sure if he'll come."
She was already planning to boast about the dungeon conquest. I gave a weary smile and nodded. Whether the governor actually showed up or not, it wouldn't hurt to familiarize myself with such a figure if possible.
"Katarina, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Don't use the sea route just yet."
There was still a Kraken deeper in the dungeon. But no need to tell her the truth. I made up a suitable excuse.
"We conquered the dungeon, but we didn't wipe out all the surrounding monsters."
"So that means..."
"Yes. Cleanup is needed."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry. I'll handle it myself. For free."
"Great."
Of course it was. Free labor.
"I'll need about ten days. Keep ships away from the area until then."
Katarina nodded lightly. After holding out for months, ten days was nothing.
This secured the baby Kraken's safety. Now, over the next ten days, I just needed to teach it how to survive in the fake dungeon.
-Gurgle...
"..."
First things first, food.
We wrapped up our talk with Katarina and had the merchant group's healers check us over. Lloyd declined, so only El, Roshanak, and I got examined. With no major injuries for them, only I—who had a hole in my side—received treatment before heading back to the inn.
We handed our salt-encrusted clothes to the innkeeper and each took a bath.
Soaking in herb-infused boiling water finally made me feel alive. I was about to pass out any second. In the steaming wooden tub, I closed my eyes for a bit.
"..."
Focusing my mind, I could sense the baby Kraken swimming alone through the now-empty deep-sea dungeon.
'It's safe.'
The emotion it was feeling right now was 'peacefulness.' It was weaving through the black seaweed I'd planted thickly, treating it like its own home. Must not be bored. Good.
I lingered in the small wooden tub, savoring the vast ocean for a while before getting out. Thanks to the herbs from my [Dimensional Garden], my body felt refreshed.
'Finally, a proper meal.'
I'd been starving even before the bath; my legs were wobbling on the stairs down. I was the last to finish bathing, so Lloyd, El, and Roshanak were already seated in the inn's first-floor dining hall.
"I could devour a desert buffalo right now."
I sat at the table and ordered a beer. The innkeeper, having memorized my habits over the past few days, swiftly brought one over.
"Lloyd, what about you?"
"I'm fine."
He pulled a flask from his bosom. Sticking to his own booze, huh? I shrugged and gulped down my cold beer.
"Kaah!"
A sigh of satisfaction escaped me. Felt better than any potion or healing spell.
To lift my spirits, I ordered a pricey rack of round-horn buffalo ribs and Ekaitz's specialty seafood stew.
"Ugh, after a whole day in the sea, you want seafood stew?"
Roshanak recoiled and ordered a lamb steak. I added a few more sea quail roasts for El and Ayla, then drained my glass.
"Mr. Lloyd, anything else? It's on me today."
"That's enough."
"No need to hold back..."
With that build, he must eat a ton. You sure? Well... not my business.
I ordered another beer, then tore into a succulent buffalo rib. The meat was so tender, fatty juices dripping as it slid right off the bone. Chewing the juicy meat, I asked Lloyd.
"What are your plans?"
"?"
He looked like he didn't understand.
"I mean, our future plans."
I scooped out well-cooked scallops, shrimp, and corn from the steaming seafood stew. Wow, looks delicious.
"Our contract ends with the deep-sea dungeon conquest."
"..."
"Ah, hot... Whew. This is good."
"...I see."
Lloyd muttered in a dry tone.
I slathered herb garlic on a plump scallop adductor and popped it in my mouth. Mmm, tasty! But it'd be better with gochujang. Can't get it here, but maybe I can make some later?
"Anyway, what I mean is."
"..."
"We seem to get along pretty well. If you don't have special plans, how about traveling together for a while?"
"Traveling together?"
"Yes. El still needs training too."
"..."
"If you refuse, no choice."
Ah, peeling shrimp shells is such a hassle. But can't give up this plump flesh and sweetness. I meticulously removed the legs and shell, then bit into the fat shrimp. Perfect with gochujang.
As I kept exclaiming and devouring everything, Lloyd stayed silent, lost in thought. Honestly, he'd be an incredible asset, and our teamwork in the dungeon was spot-on. Plus, he could teach El—win-win.
"...Sure."
I paused mid-peel and looked at Lloyd. Sure? Did he just say sure? I glanced at El, who nodded vigorously in confirmation.
A knight of Lloyd's caliber was top-tier... Our journey ahead would be much easier. Holding back a grin, I handed him the peeled shrimp.
"Please take care of us!"
[Quest: Suspicious Companion? Success!]
[Reward: Knight Unaware of Betrayal]