Village Resident Recruitment #2

We needed a Necro Puppeteer. One of his superpowers, mind control, would make taming monsters far easier. Realizing this a bit late, I returned to the shelter, brought the Puppeteer back to the desert with me. Oh, and I brought Niara Nephensis along too. I hadn't planned on it, but there she was, leaning against the crystal ball's stand with a dejected look, sadly rolling a pebble around. She looked so pathetic I couldn't just leave her behind.

[Hehe, thanks son. Mommy only has you, after all~]

We first took a quick look around the Oasis Shelter. Countless robots that had come ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over from Omega and the mech factory. Plus the shelter managers, Snake Head, Mummy Skeleton, Anubis Dragon, Lionheart. Everyone who'd arrived ahead was hard at work on village construction.

After checking Ellis's chat, I watched Snake Head closely.

"...It's true."

He was just pretending to work. While two robots carried a long beam from either end, Snake Head had wedged himself in the middle, barely touching it with his fingertips as he shuffled along.

[Orooro! So heavy!]

I averted my gaze. Better to pretend I didn't see that. Slacking off cleverly is a skill in itself.

I walked past Snake Head and approached Omega.

"Omega. How long will construction take, roughly?"

[Not long. Fastest case, done in 10 days. Poing poing.]

"10 days? To build that massive village?"

[Poing poing. Surprised? My tech is dimension's best.]

Guess I'd been underestimating Omega's tech. Even for him, I'd figured months for a whole village.

After chatting a bit more with Omega, I led the monsters I'd brought outside the shelter. Time to start recruiting village residents for real.

[Aberrural! Let's go!]

The ride: Giant Caterpillar. Not for speed—we were scouting desert-dwelling monsters.

"Bug. Take it slow."

[Aberrural!]

And so we mounted the caterpillar and set off across the sands.

As we crossed a dune...

Misi's question popped up in chat. Scanning the desert for monsters, I answered.

"Niara could make a village with her creation powers, but there are limits to the details."

"Simple terms... Niara excels at massive-scale creation, but struggles with intricate, complex structures. Sure, with effort she could mimic blueprints. But Omega's village packs his unique tech. Niara can't replicate that."

A hollow shell without the tech. Like a giant plastic model—looks good, but empty inside.

After kindly explaining, I refocused on scouting monsters when suddenly my crown tingled hot. Solorb must've snuck down low again. I looked up and called.

"Solorb."

[Oh, heading up...]

"Nah, not scolding you for coming down... Just wanted to ask something since you're here."

[...A question? Fine. Questions from Bastet's friend are welcome.]

A bit surprising. Figured he'd brush off questions. Maybe there's a shot.

I fired away. "Last time I tried taming Bastet, she said you told her you don't care as long as it's not you getting tamed. Still feel that way?"

[Asking if my mind's changed?]

"Yeah. You've been watching me through her. Wondered if familiarity softened you up."

I asked hopefully. He'd seemed pretty friendly—like with tamed monsters. When I said the heat was too much up close and to go higher, he'd float up without complaint. Especially since I'd been taking good care of his kid Bastet Daong, even briefly. Maybe he'd cracked open ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a bit.

But alas...

[No change. I don't go under anyone.]

Solorb's tone was ironclad, shattering my hopes.

"Not under me though."

[I know your trait turns foes to friends. But even friends have hierarchy. Like Bastet Daong and me.]

"...Fair. So zero interest in being tamed?"

[Correct.]

"Got it. Too bad."

Timing's off, I guess. Shelve today's taming plan for later. Plenty of chances.

[......]

"......"

Awkward silence settled as we stared ahead.

[Explorer.]

Solorb spoke up again.

"Yeah?"

[That's it?]

"Huh?"

[Don't you want to tame me? Giving up after one rejection?]

"Begging more won't change your mind."

[True. I'll reject again.]

Sudden clinginess? Or offended I only asked once for someone his caliber? As I pondered, Solorb spoke again.

[Silent? No more begging?]

"You said no."

[......]

"What."

[No desire to be tamed by you... but if you begged desperately, endlessly, I might reconsider—]

Kuuuung! A monster burst from a sandstorm ahead, cutting Solorb off.

[Aberrurerural! Scary!!!]

The Giant Caterpillar slammed to a halt before the towering storm.

[Behold my arrival.]

The humanoid monster with glowing blue eyes glared fiercely, wielding the sandstorm freely.

—[Explorer. Neo Hyung-seok says it's a Dune Strider. Not from Min Hyung-seok's memories—info from another monster mixed in his body.]

Kentaurides's voice came from Iris/Vision stuck to my side.

Dune Strider. Actual threat: S-grade. Nerfed: B-grade.

...Right? Threat readings felt glitchy all of a sudden.

"Kentaurides. Anything besides the name?"

—[Yes. When facing stronger foes, it temporarily matches their power.]

"Minus the 'temporary,' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sounds like my old ability."

—[Pardon?]

"Never mind."

That explained the weird reading. Unlike fixed-max Poison Apple, this guy's conditional. Hits higher tiers on trigger. Different mechanics, so no higher scan.

"So, against SSS-grade, it matches?"

—[No, not that far.]

No SSS, then. Still, S-grade pulling SS is plenty strong.

"No other powers?"

—[None.]

"Not tricky, then. Temporary boost anyway."

I eyed my flanking monsters—time to capture. As they moved in...

[Tried to hold back, but this mood swing... unbearable.]

Blazing sunlight lanced from the sky onto Dune Strider's head.

[Insignificant speck dares interrupt me?]

[Kuh, aaaaagh!!!]

It ash-ed instantly, gone.