Vending Machine Tracking Ticket - Labyrinth Day 74
Today marked the day to use the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket. And I had to lead this expedition personally. After all, only I could use the vending machines. So I decided to bring all the monsters with top-tier combat prowess. Even if I was currently S-grade now. Even if the nerf risk meant S-grade monsters—ones that could stand toe-to-toe with actual SSS-grade threats—weren't an issue anymore.
Complacency was the enemy. You never knew when some wildcard would pop up. As I'd emphasized time and again, utmost caution for safety was the way to go. No harm in that.
Early that morning, I fired up the broadcast like always.
I immediately summoned the headquarters monsters.
⊳ Ready for deployment.
⊳ All clear.
⊳ Sleepy.
The Iris/Vision units assembled in perfect order first.
⊳ "All set, Father."
⊳ "Daddy! I got up early and drank lots of the blood Jappan gave me!"
Kinogine Arachne. Blood Jellyfish Princess.
⊳ "Suuung~"
⊳ "Ppi! Ppi!"
⊳ "Nothing to prep here. We can head out anytime."
Black Magma Slime-003. Medical Mushroom-004. Bastet Daong.
"I'm ready too."
⊳ "My boy's even hotter in the morning light. Hehe."
Azeras and Niara Nephensis.
⊳ "Explorer, I've packed supplies for the Pokédex work."
Art Pega Unicorn joined the lineup.
Hedgehog Summoner God, Jappan, Melody Fox, and Merino Ulla stayed behind today. This wasn't a routine scout, so I left the four non-combatants—or potential liabilities—at other villages. They wouldn't contribute much in a fight and might even drag us down. Merino especially.
"Jappan can wield BlmaSl's magma, sure. But unlike BlmaSl, she has weaknesses. No matter how devastating her attacks, if her core gets smashed, she's done. That's why she's benched."
Jappan's body was tough. She shrugged off same-rank S-grade hits with her rock-solid defense. But SS-grade attacks? No dice. That's why she was sidelined for this run. The farther we strayed from our shelter, the more SS-grade encounters we'd face.
Melody Fox wasn't combat-focused, so out. Hedgehog Summoner God stayed glued to her for evo buffs, so out. And today, they were headed not to the desert village, but the undersea village construction site.
⊳ "Duumba! Help with construction, yot?"
⊳ "Kyuu!?"
"Yeah. Necro Marine's there. I cleared it with him already—just shadow him and handle odd jobs."
⊳ "Got it, yot! We'll work hard! Stay safe, yot!"
⊳ "Jappan! Construction fun!"
⊳ "Kyuu......"
As the trio headed for the warp device, Merino trailed them, then glanced back at me with wistful eyes.
"...I wanna go with Gauntlet-yang."
"Too dangerous. No."
"Yangyang..."
Merino's shoulders slumped. As she trudged to the warp device, she muttered loud enough for all to hear.
"To always stick by Gauntlet, I gotta get strong fast-yang. I'll train hard and match him someday-yang."
With Merino and the trio warped to the undersea village, I activated the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket right away.
Like the Wandering Merchant Tracking Ticket, this one guided us via voice directions. Following the audio cues, we entered Passage 5.
Passage 5 led to a vast underground world after some walking, filled with endless apple orchards where Poison Apples lurked. That's how we reached the apple farm.
⊳ "Purrrr! Long time no see!"
The farm manager—the Poison Apple I'd tamed—greeted us warmly. Even after taming, she'd retained some malice in her expression, but now she looked far more serene.
FYI, to distinguish her from the others, I'd named her Poae.
"Poae. Not that long. Doing alright?"
⊳ "Great! Here for apples today? I've handpicked the juiciest—top-quality summon fodder!"
Poae tried hawking her premium Poison Apples. The others ground their teeth at the sight.
⊳ "That traitor..."
⊳ "Purr, purrrr...!"
The Poison Apples glared daggers, but one look from me and they dropped their eyes like they'd never stared.
⊳ "...He gets stronger every time. What is he?"
⊳ "M-monster..."
I withdrew my gaze and turned to Poae.
"No need for recs. Not here for apples today."
⊳ "Purr? Then why're you here?"
"Just passing through. The ticket led this way."
The voice guide now pointed beyond the farm, deeper in. Had to push on. Should've warped here instead. I started forward, then paused and looked back at Poae.
"Oh yeah, Poae."
⊳ "Purrr?"
"Know what's down that way if you keep going?"
I figured we'd exit the farm into uncharted territory to find the machine. Best to scout intel first.
Poae pondered, then answered.
⊳ "Purr! End of that path has a door. But what's beyond? No clue... Just that Stone Makers came through it."
No real help. Oh well—have to check it ourselves. I thanked Poae politely and led the group deeper, per the voice guide.
Time passed. We hit a dead end. Or rather, a massive door blocking the passage.
The door filled our vision, overwhelmingly huge. Jagged black iron and red stone, studded with varied skulls and razor spikes. The massive handle twisted like a serpent, red gems for eyes glowing ominously.
Just like Ha Yu-mi said. It looked like an entrance straight to hell.