Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: The Warrior Checks His Pet's Abilities
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Time passed after the academy's practical exam ended.
The days grew even hotter.
Inside the Abyss Pit, an enormous transient population came and went.
"Kraaaah!!"
"Uh... I think we've lost our way?"
"There's space behind that pillar!!!"
Of course, the challengers in the main dungeon continued their grueling battles.
But since no one had officially reached the boss room yet, Balak was bored.
However, now he had several ways to pass the time besides training.
"Swing harder if you want to unleash sword ki!"
"Yes!!"
He could help with Narin's training from last time.
"Brother Balak, what do you think of this dish I made?"
"We helped make it too!"
"Please give it a taste!"
"Ooh, the presentation looks fantastic."
Or chat with the tavern family while eating their food.
"Father, I want to get even stronger here."
"But your body won't hold up, will it?"
"That's why I'm thinking of adding various magic tools for support."
He could consult with his daughter-in-law who wanted to power-level even more.
He also kept gathering information from the outside world.
"So heroes out there don't revive infinitely either."
[Father, if they did, wars wouldn't exist, and this world would either belong entirely to the heroes or have collapsed long ago. But their behavior matches exactly what you described.]
"For example?"
[They earn money from quests and dungeons, maintain extreme political neutrality, pursue freedom, have immense curiosity, and don't fear death—but only for heroes. Countless traits align perfectly.]
"So it's a hardcore RPG where revival is limited to in-dungeon to prevent exploits...? Anyway, aside from that, the world matches my expectations perfectly."
[But magitech makes the future unpredictable.]
"Whoa there, son. Not knowing the future is what makes life fun. And I have a rough idea of how the outside will turn out, so don't worry. We'll talk about that later. How's your disciple doing lately?"
[You mean Ludwig. As expected of a non-human, he's growing fast and has reached adolescence.]
"I see. Hmm... Does he know about the academy?"
With more people around him than before, even on boring days without battles, Balak could spend his time comfortably.
Afterward, Balak met Pengpeng, who had fully adapted to the new house, and the familiar left by Demon King Areatia.
"Pengpeng!"
"Meow! (Master!)"
"And how have you been?"
"Woof woof!"
Deciding it was time to check Pengpeng's abilities, he placed his hand on a device.
*************
Squeeze!
"Lord Balak, you called for me!"
"Belesa, come on in."
Now the dream demon had arrived too.
He could finally check what abilities Pengpeng had gained as a spirit beast.
He immediately explained the purpose.
"You're here to check Pengpeng's abilities like I mentioned last time. But... what's with that black dog?"
"Woof woof!!"
Come to think of it, the dream demon hadn't met this one before.
Yet it was extremely wary of her.
It was so friendly with the family, so why act like that?
Anyway, he explained it was the familiar left by the Demon King.
"Hmm... A familiar for two-way communication, I see."
"There's no other way to contact the Demon King from the demon realm."
"That's a pretty good method. So what's the dog's name?"
"Sif."
"Heh heh heh..."
Thrilled that I'd named it, the pup's tail wagged furiously.
Seeing how cute it was, the dream demon approached while calling Sif's name.
But hating her intensely, it immediately hid behind me.
"Tch, too bad, but can't be helped. So where's Pengpeng?"
"Right over there."
We approached Pengpeng, who was playing by the water, and it greeted us warmly.
"Nya! (Long time no see!)"
"It's been ages since then. How's the house?"
"Meoow! (Love it!)"
"Pengpeng couldn't stop raving about this place."
The environment felt just like dumping nature as-is.
The space was huge.
It had day and night cycles, moderate humidity.
Even cool breezes, perfect for slugs to thrive.
No wonder Pengpeng seemed to be growing bigger.
"Lord Balak, that's not an illusion."
"It's actually getting bigger?!"
Pengpeng was still in its growth phase!
I'd also heard of spirit beasts reaching the pinnacle.
"Think of the Four Guardian Beasts of the East."
"So Pengpeng could become a feral god just sitting there... Hard to imagine."
"Pfft, a slug feral god would be uniquely awesome."
"Hmm... One question: If spirit beasts can become feral gods passively, shouldn't there be tons of them?"
"You could see it that way, but only a tiny fraction of spirit beasts qualify as feral gods. And they need insane luck too. For example... there are no feral gods in the Western Continent."
"Why's that?"
"The nobles hunt them all. Spirit beast byproducts make elixir ingredients that fetch insane prices."
Oh.
Overhunting had wiped out their numbers.
Anyway, having heard of Pengpeng's infinite potential, it was time to test its abilities.
Pengpeng was eager to know its own power, so it cooperated fully.
"Bleeeeeh!!"
Splat!!
Sizzle...
"Dissolving acid..."
"Impressive range, and it melts rock that fast—powerful stuff. Hey Pengpeng, can you make it stronger?"
"Meow? (Stronger?)"
"Like spitting a longer stream or sustaining it."
"Nya! (I'll try!)"
At Bellesa's urging, Pengpeng extended its acid stream.
Everything it touched melted away...
"Isn't this just a breath attack?"
"I was thinking the same."
Pengpeng could use hydrochloric breath.
The dream demon then gave Pengpeng a full check-up.
"Wow... Its body is tougher than steel. And the slippery mucus makes it hard for normal weapons to damage."
"Plus, flame attacks get auto-deflected by the mucus."
"It seems highly resistant to all attributes."
Ooo... Pengpeng was a true dungeon boss.
It also had a simple but powerful weapon.
Whish whish whish whish!
Crack!!
"Who knew the head tentacles could whip like that..."
"And insanely strong too."
The head tentacles spun like a lasso before striking, smashing anything decent.
They even stretched like rubber.
But later tests showed no special abilities beyond physical prowess.
Still, since it was growing, he figured more would come later.
Right then—
"If Pengpeng had a clearer path forward, it might gain various abilities. Such a shame."
"Belesa, what do you mean?"
"Simply put, a role model."
A role model...
Right, in his past life, there were tales of carps aspiring to dragons and transforming.
Any being needed a clear goal for true growth.
But what role model for a slug...
"Hm?"
"Lord Balak, something click?"
"Yeah. There is one. An insanely powerful slug!"
No way Pengpeng had a potential role model!
Ahh... This must be fate!!
The red string of destiny.
That slug could basically split into various sizes at will.
The splits could share information.
It could transport a person inside its body.
Even heal—a universal utility slug!
"Such a slug exists?!"
"I don't lie."
"N-No, where did you even..."
"In the East."
The mysterious Eastern lands indeed.
Telling Pengpeng lit it up sparkling.
Was it evolving right here?!
"...Nah, no change."
"Uh... Shall I check again?"
"Please do."
Soon after.
The check-up results were shocking.
"Th-The mucus has healing properties?"
"For real?!"
"And it seems great for skincare too."
So it doubled as potion snail cream?!
The dream demon finished the exam and explained.
"In short, it had the power stockpiled for special abilities, but lacked imagination."
"The abilities have to mesh somewhat. But that slug you mentioned fits Pengpeng perfectly."
Pengpeng would become a true universal utility slug someday.
"Hahaha! Pengpeng, your growth has me hyped!"
"Meoow! (I'll work hard to help Master!)"
Sniff... Am I just that charismatic?
Pengpeng's such a sweetheart!
Truly touching.
That's how he spent time playing with Pengpeng alongside the dream demon.
***********
Now he could relax until Pengpeng grew.
"But what're you gonna do with all that mucus?"
"I-I thought it'd make great cosmetics..."
"Oh."
The dream demon had a nose for business too.
"Sniffed out the profits like a pro."
"Belesa, I'll supply mucus steadily. Can you sell the cosmetics in my dungeon later?"
"Huh? Really?"
"More variety in the shop is always better."
"Then I'll check the inventory."
His dungeon just gained a new category.
But browsing the products...
"These... are cosmetics?"
"Ah, these are special ones we use."
Cream that makes 100-year-olds look 20?
And some liquid turns bodies to clay...
"Isn't this just assassin poison?"
"Originally developed for that. But it needed 10+ minutes submerged in water to work, so it was slated for disposal..."
"Perfect for plastic surgery though."
"Control it right, and it's great for dieting or curing skin diseases."
Women's obsession with beauty was terrifying.
Anyway, new stock in the shop—he told her to take samples.
Then he mentioned beings he wanted to meet via the dream demon.
"You want to meet that alchemist again, and someone who knows spirits well?"
"The alchemist for the dungeon remake I mentioned. And I'm planning replies to the spirit realm's letters to the Spirit Kings."
"Ah... Right, the spirit realm's been courting you. We have a spirit on our side."
"Ooo! Who?"
"A wood spirit named Carsein."
Meet Carsein first, then the alchemist.
Perfect timing—no challengers entering the boss room!
The dream demon had a free schedule and offered to guide him, so he contacted Ferguson.
[Brother's heading out and it'll take a while. Should I just guard the boss room?]
"Can you?"
[Of course.]
With his second son—who'd broken through his growth plateau—manning the boss room, no worries!
Plus its healing factor meant endless fights were fine.
He handed off to his second son and followed the dream demon.