Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Let's Make a Little Sibling
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This large scale—what on earth should I make with it?
Equipment like weapons or armor is the safest bet, right?
I agreed with the good doctor's words.
This scale was incredibly tough, fitting its massive size.
But it wasn't overly heavy, so turning it into gear would make for a pretty solid item.
Only one problem with that...
Do you know any blacksmiths around?
Just to be sure, but can you make it?
Of course not...
Right. I could use alchemy to brew potions or create "new metals."
But blacksmithing—processing those metals into gear? No dice.
This came up last time when I tried climbing the tower's third floor.
I was too cheap to buy armor, so I figured, "Eh, I'll whip something up."
[Please enter what you wish to synthesize.]
〖Useful Armor〗
['Synthesis' category recipe exceeded.]
Recipe search canceled.
Yeah, couldn't even generate the recipe. My class is "Alchemist," after all.
Stepping outside the alchemist's synthesis category? Not happening.
Equipment's out, then.
Should I just brew it into a potion and chug it?
What about an alchemist's signature—a potion?
Nah, too risky.
A potion from some mystery monster scale?
With the name censored like that, it's no ordinary thing. You sure you wanna drink it?
...Good point.
That was iffy too.
Turning an unknown monster's scale into a potion to swallow? Super sketchy.
What if scales sprout all over my body? Or I turn into a fish-man? I'd be screwed.
And if it looks too dangerous to drink after brewing, I'd have wasted time and materials.
Tricky material all around...
Creating stuff's never easy. Don't sweat it too much.
My blacksmith buddy says the trickier the material, the better the gear potential.
Should be similar for your production class.
Ooh... Sounds like wisdom from a master craftsman.
Yeah, he's top-tier in Korea—bit of an eccentric, but the skill's legit.
Hmm... So? What do I even do with this scale...?
Can't outsource gear. Potion's too risky.
Just sitting on it feels wasteful—I wanna make something...
Nothing came to mind.
Then Lulu waddled over, done with her meat.
"Daddy meow. You making something with that scale meow?"
"Yeah... that's the plan. But nothing's clicking. Got any ideas, Lulu? Something you want?"
"Then make one, Daddy meow! Lulu wants a cute fishy little sibling meow!"
"Cute fishy little sibling...?"
Uh... so.
She wants a homunculus (cute fish) from this scale...?
That was...
"...actually a great idea?"
I'd figured Lulu was enough—no need for more homunculi.
But with nothing else viable, it didn't sound half bad.
Of course, it could birth a feral one that ignores my orders...
Like tagging Lulu "(Growth Type)."
Tag this scale-homunculus "(Loyalty)" and it'd probably work out?
Decision made: new homunculus it is.
I told the doc right away.
Nothing else to make... Wanna just whip up another homunculus?
A homunculus?
Lulu's begging for a cute fish sibling.
Wanna say "what kinda reason is that," but... surprisingly solid idea.
Read a paper: homunculi see their creator as god and obey well. Won't try to kill you off the bat.
Monster + spirit again, right?
Probably.
Perfect defense buddy then. Fish scale means high chance of water spirit.
Water spirits do attack, heal, defense—summoners with 'em make parties a breeze.
Doc was surprisingly on board with the homunculus plan.
Didn't know this, but they obey their creator like a god.
'Come to think of it, Lulu called me master right after hatching.'
Plus, spirit affinity added intimacy to hatching conditions.
Feral homunculus? Maybe not so likely.
"Still, definitely adding (Loyalty)."
Obedient doesn't mean harmless—especially with mystery monster parts. Better safe.
Anyway.
Water spirits are versatile jacks-of-all-trades.
Made me wonder: "Don't specialized attributes have higher peaks?"
Asked the doc.
If it's good at everything, doesn't it cap lower?
Yeah, as support—not main—they cap lower. Up to low-tier, anyway.
Mid-tier guarantees a floor, so party's reliable all-around.
Other spirits rock too: fire's raw power, earth tanks, wind slices—spirits are just OP.
Summoners with spirits must get treated well.
If they roll one, yeah. But it's not easy.
Guess how many spirit summoners in Korea?
Uh... over a thousand?
Shockingly, just over 100. Of those, mid-tier+ is ten. Top-tier? Two in Korea.
...What? Barely over 100?
Mid+ down to ten, top-tier just two.
Spirits that rare?
"Huh...?"
Hold up.
If I can make spirit-like things...
Figured you'd catch on by now.
Your Lulu? Barely mid-tier spirit.
If word got out you make mid-tiers...?
Kidnapped...?
Bingo. World powers kidnapping you. Basement lab slavery till you drop.
Don't want that? Think smart. Be good to me keeping your secret lol.
(Spare me, Doc! Kon)
(Know your place? Kon)
Make the scale homunculus and hit me up.
Need anything midway? I'll snag what I can. For a price, obvs.
Wrapped up the thrilling, chilling 1:1 with the doc.
Time to prep Lulu's cute fish sibling.
Done it once, so no sweat.
Spirit needs a core—bought and registered one first.
"13 million? It jumped 3 million?!"
You purchased 'Dimmed Spirit Core'.
'Dimmed Spirit Core' registered as material.
Need ocean monster corpse too—registered that.
"Big Tail Great White Shark...? Tower of the Conqueror floor 40+ sea shark... 10 mil... Not bad, let's go."
You purchased 'Trimmed Big Tail Great White Shark Flesh'.
You purchased 'Trimmed Big Tail Great White Shark Cartilage'.
'Trimmed Big Tail Great White Shark Flesh' registered as material.
'Trimmed Big Tail Great White Shark Cartilage' registered as material.
All materials set.
Fired the skill—similar recipe, but (Loyalty) over (Growth Type).
[Searching recipe for 'Cute Small Animal Homunculus (Loyalty)' using main material '[Censored]'s Scale Fragment'...]
[5 related recipes found...]
[Optimizing recipe for current dimension...]
[…………■■………….]
[……■……………….]
[………………■■….]
[……■■…………■■■■….]
[…Com?plete?]
[Generated 1 recipe for 'Cute Small Animal Homunculus (Loyalty)'.]
[Outputting recipe automatically.]
Ding-!
Cute Small Animal Homunculus (Loyalty)
"...Huh?"
Our blood—mine and Lulu's—as ingredients?
No, more than that.
If I'm not imagining...
"Did I hear a weird voice during the recipe search...?"