Chapter 97

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 97

Chapter Title: Monster Wave Preparation Force Recruitment Application (2)

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‘But come to think of it, it’s been a while since I last saw my wives’ faces.’

Step, step—

As I strolled through the streets after leaving the hotel, I realized it was about time to pay some attention to my wives, application or no.

The cute catgirl Yuri and my first woman, Elrine.

S-Class adventurer Elena, along with the three C-Class adventurers Piona, Amy, and Rosa.

And then the saintess Eve, the vampire lord Ariel.

It had already been about a week since I emerged from the dungeon. Time had flown by without seeing their faces, and I found myself missing them.

The dungeon’s living quarters were comfortable. The mansion was spacious enough that they were probably getting along fine among themselves, but I still felt bad for leaving home empty for so long.

Tonight, once Sera and Seri were asleep, I decided to slip back to the dungeon for a quick visit to see my wives.

‘And for that, I need to plant a root tentacle somewhere in Christia City first.’

Even if I returned to the dungeon, I needed to set up a root tentacle in advance so I could teleport back here in an instant.

Root tentacles had innate stealth and camouflage traits, so they wouldn’t be visible no matter where I placed them. But when I teleported, I’d appear in midair right above the root, which could lead to witnesses.

So if I was going to install one, a secluded spot with no people around was best.

I wandered Christia City, scouting for a remote location no one would stumble upon.

‘This looks perfect.’

I found a suitable spot quicker than expected.

I’d considered heading outside the city if needed, but even advanced cities like this had their share of abandoned areas.

On the outskirts of Christia City.

I planted a root tentacle behind an abandoned building.

Rumble—

A tentacle resembling a tree root extended from my hand.

The purple-rooted tentacle burrowed into the ground, cloaking itself while simultaneously corrupting the surrounding soil as it spread.

Splurt—

The corrupted earth looked no different from normal soil to the naked eye.

It was impossible to distinguish visually—only I, as a tentacle monster, could sense it. From now on, this place was my territory.

I also planted a spore tentacle and a thorn tentacle nearby before leaving.

Since it was inside the city, I gave them strict orders not to harm anyone unless I commanded it directly.

I’d comfort my wives tonight, then make frequent trips back to the dungeon afterward.

Every other day ought to do it.

One day for pushing forward with Sera and Seri’s, the next for pampering my wives. Perfect balance.

Step, step—

“Welcome! This is Eldora’s Department Store!”

After setting up the root tentacle, I stopped by what could pass for a modern department store.

Before applying for the Monster Wave support, I figured I’d grab some clothes first.

‘Gotta look sharp.’

Up until now, I’d been wearing the spare outfit Sera gave me from the basement stash.

It was fine until yesterday, but now that I was in a big city, it was time to upgrade my style to match.

First, to secure some funds, I sold four gems at the jewelry section inside the department store.

They appraised at 30 million jeni, 20 million jeni, 17 million jeni, and 4 million jeni each.

Way more than I expected.

Totaling over 71 million jeni.

In Korean won, that’s roughly 710 million at once.

The shop auntie seemed to take a liking to me, but maybe the gems from Rune’s warehouse were higher value than I thought.

With cash in hand, I bought clothes suitable for my human form and gifts for my wives.

A protective emblem for Elrine, a crossbow for Rosa, a dagger for Piona, and so on…

I picked out things that suited each one and would be useful, and just like that, 59 million jeni vanished.

‘Wow.’

Couldn’t be helped.

With eight wives and a desire to give them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the best, the money flew out in a flash.

Of course, that 59 million included prices for my own new outfits and cosplay costumes for fun times with the wives.

There were plenty more gems and gold bars back in the dungeon anyway. No need to skimp.

After thorough shopping, I finally left ‘Eldora’s Department Store.’

“Thank you! Come again soon!”

The branch manager-looking fellow bowed politely as I exited.

I’d instantly become a VIP customer.

Checking my reflection in a nearby building, my handsome face was now complemented by a sharp outfit.

‘Looking good.’

I stored all the purchases and remaining money in my new ‘storage tentacle.’

------ ◦ ------

After making Ariel my wife and hitting level 96, traveling with Sera and Seri pushed me to 97.

It wasn’t from making Sera my wife—though she’s a high-grade female, as a civilian, she didn’t yield much EXP.

Thanks to the hordes of tentacle appendages and special appendages I’d spawned over time, I was at a point where I could level up just by breathing.

They constantly funneled nutrients and EXP back to the main body, so this level-up came from that.

- Storage Tentacle: A tentacle for basic storage functions. Its interior connects to a unique subspace.

The storage tentacle was acquired upon reaching level 97.

It could hold items in a subspace roughly the size of a high school classroom for now.

Apparently, the subspace expands with levels.

“Excuse me. Could you point me in the direction...?”

“Oh? Y-yeah...!”

With perishables bought, all that remained was the Monster Wave support application.

I asked locals for directions to the recruitment office.

The power of plausibility, I suppose.

Ask ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a decent-looking young woman, and she’d explain in detail right away.

I arrived at a building.

[Monster Wave Preparation Force Recruitment Office]

A clean sign hovered in the air. Inside, there were dedicated counters.

‘Pretty crowded, huh?’

I’d asked the locals about various things, and they said applications opened six months ago.

Yet people were still lining up, proving the Monster Wave was a disaster for the city’s folk—but a life-changing opportunity for the strong to shine.

As I moved to enter, a notice by the counter caught my eye.

[Minimum Qualification: E-Class Adventurer or Higher, or Rank 2 Mercenary or Above]

‘......? Wait a sec.’

A spark flashed in my mind.

I was a tentacle monster.

In other words, not human—unemployed.

A freeloader.

‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

My plan to wrap up applications today crumbled instantly. I smacked my lips and sighed lightly.

‘Guess I need to hit the Adventurer’s Guild first.’

No need to despair, though.

Becoming an E-Class adventurer was easy.

Just one promotion from the bottom-tier F-Class, and the requirements weren’t tough.

Climbing from E to D or higher had real difficulty, but E-Class was practically entry-level for citizens.

Plenty of time before the Monster Wave—better knock out the adventurer registration quick.

Step, step—

I left the recruitment office and walked along the street.

It didn’t take long to reach the Adventurer’s Guild from there.

Five minutes in, a massive guild complex came into view amid the buildings.

‘Way bigger than back in Binbona Village.’

Unlike the single four-story building there, Christia’s guild spanned three huge structures.

Even if the National Alliance had fewer adventurers relative to the Phrygia Alliance, their absolute numbers weren’t small.

Of course, assuming top skill, knights were seen as more stable and honorable across the Alliance.

Still, plenty of folks hovered below knight level, and many preferred the freedom of picking requests on their terms over knightly honor. The guild buzzed with people.

I entered, grabbed a number at the consultation counter, waited my turn, and sat before the staffer.

“Here to register as an adventurer.”

“Ah! New applicant? Please fill out this form first.”

She handed me a sheet.

Name, age, main weapon—lots of fields.

Feels like a bank application.

I filled it out roughly.

‘Name: Yujin.’

Age: 23.

Main weapon... tentacles? Nah. Bare-handed martial arts. I could use magic bullets too, so auxiliary magic?

Origin: Phrygia Alliance.

She just glanced and moved on—no deep checks.

“Next, this questionnaire too!”

Another sheet. A survey.

1. I feel afraid when I see monsters normally.

Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree

2. I get excited about exploring unfamiliar places or unknown areas.

Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree

3. I have no aversion to seeing blood up close.

Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree

“......”

Never knew about questionnaires like this. Skipped in the previous game? Reminds me of medical exam questions from my old world.

Questions ran from 1 to 65.

Tedious, but basic stuff—I checked them off quick.

“Finally, the minimum combat test. We measure with magic or physical for combat types. You put ‘general,’ Yujin. Pick one.”

“Magic, please.”

“Got it! Magic it is.”

She brought a small transparent orb. Told me to infuse it with mana.

“Take your time! Even if it’s long!”

This test was in the previous game too.

Average magic stat of 8 needed to pass.

For someone around 10, it took at least five minutes of focus. Over ten? Fail.

Vmmm—!

But as I breathed mana into it effortlessly, the orb lit up blue instantly.

“Gasp...”

The staffer gulped at the sudden glow.

Onlookers waiting for their turns also inhaled sharply.

She quickly retrieved the orb.

“Y-you pass! W-want your adventurer card now?”

“Yes, please.”

“Right away...!”

I paid 3,000 jeni and applied for the card.

This card would prove my identity from now on.

“Yujin, you’re officially an F-Class adventurer as of now. For E-Class promotion, gather 100 adventure points and take the exam at any branch!”

She handed over the card politely, explaining rules and notes.

I already knew it all, so I nodded along.

Procedures done—I was a proper adventurer.

Now I could roam the ‘Request Division’ and pick quests freely.

Beep—

I headed to another building, swiped my card, and entered the Request Division.

Rowdy cheers—

Unlike the quiet consultation area, this was the liveliest, packed with adventurers.

Eccentric types clustered everywhere.

I walked to the center, eyeing the massive circular pillar’s bulletin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠board.

‘Something I can do easy, with big points...’

To hit 100 points, F-Class doable quests meant four or five easy ones.

Troublesome.

Prefer a high-point one-shot, but those had class restrictions.

E-Class or higher, D-Class or higher.

Clients often didn’t trust F-Classers.

Fair enough, usually.

‘Hmm.’

I scanned the whole board.

‘Oh, this one’s good.’

Luckily, I spotted a gem: no class limit, easy for my power level.

150 points—perfect for my goal.

Beep—

‘Claiming this.’

I swiped my card on the board, applying instantly.

Quest vanished, replaced by a new one.

‘Time to head out.’

I turned from the board.

Memorized the details—just go, finish quick, done.

Then, a surprised “Huh?” from behind.

And—

“Wait! Hey!”

“?”

A sharp voice stabbed my back.

“I was about to take that quest. How can you just snag it like that?!”