A Silent New Ally and the Jellyfish in Passage 3
Just as I was about to explore Passage 3's Cave 3, a new helper arrived.
I postponed departure. I needed to explain my current situation to Unknown-002 as well. I repeated everything I'd told Pruru, step by step. Starting with how this was another world—a labyrinth teeming with monsters—and how I'd been pulled here from Earth today.
I'm currently streaming from another world. My role is the explorer delving into the labyrinth, and yours is to support me as a helper.
After explaining the roles of explorer and helper.
This is my second time coming to this otherworld. My powers are sealed. No one else can see this broadcast. And so on—I relayed every single thing I'd told Pruru without omission.
I couldn't tell if Unknown-002 believed me or not. They still weren't typing messages—just emojis.
"Hey, Unknown-002."
"Did you understand what I said?"
An emoji with a skeptical expression. They probably didn't believe me. Well, I hadn't expected them to from the start. Of course, I had a way to make them believe.
"Haven't you seen the spider on my shoulder yet? Dog Spider-001."
I called out to Dog Spider-001 and stroked its head with my finger.
Siiiik!
It seemed pleased. Dog Spider-001 rubbed its face against my finger.
"You see it, right? This guy's a monster."
Its size was still no different from an ordinary spider. But no creature like this existed on Earth. Even as a non-adult Dog Spider, it was more than enough proof that monsters were real.
"Believe me now?"
"That means you believe me?"
"No, stop with just emojis and type something."
"Is this person nuts?"
I couldn't help but curse. Why wouldn't they type? It was frustrating.
Even if they didn't believe me yet, they'd come around naturally by watching the stream. Of course, if I didn't prove it properly now, they might leave. But that wouldn't be a big loss—just a bit regrettable. I already had one unconditional supporter.
Pruru alone was enough for now. Whoever they were, they were friendly toward me.
Unknown-002 didn't communicate and didn't seem likely to help, so no need to cling. Not that I wanted them gone—more helpers were better, even weird ones. Better to keep them around for now.
Don't pry into their identity. They seem to want to hide it, just like Pruru.
I had no intention of forcing them to stay, but I didn't want to scare them off either.
I entered Passage 3. This time, the goals were cave exploration plus resupplying water and food.
As I walked, I quietly asked Dog Spider-001 in a small voice.
"Dog Spider."
Sii?
"Besides spitting silk, you really have no other abilities, right?"
Sisi...
Dog Spider-001 replied with a dejected face. No other abilities besides silk, then. Well, it would've shown them earlier if there were. I hadn't expected much—just checking.
My steps felt heavy. Worry was already creeping in. If we encountered a monster, could Dog Spider-001 handle it alone?
Probably not...
This labyrinth's level was high. The giant skeleton from the start was S-grade threat level. I hadn't checked the others properly in the chaos, but they all looked B-grade or higher. Plus, my Dog Spider-001 was also B-grade.
In the worst case, this could be the labyrinth's depths, filled only with boss-grade or higher monsters.
If so, Dog Spider-001's abilities need to work on equals or stronger. Otherwise, no chance of winning.
And it needed to block magic too. Beyond B-grade, magic users increased. I wasn't hoping for superpower negation—just please let the disabling silk nullify magic.
"A little? Don't know what monster we'll run into."
I kept organizing my thoughts as I walked. Then a sudden question arose.
Come to think of it, how did Min Hyung-seok subdue monsters at first?
The Domination Trait required near-death monsters for obedience. Min Hyung-seok didn't seem capable. He looked ordinary to me—agile, but not superhuman.
So, high chance he was a normal human before being pulled here.
Ah, not impossible.
The question resolved quickly. Simple if I thought about it. The Domination Trait description said: "Can dominate when near-death." No mention of doing it yourself.
So, monsters beaten near-death by others could be dominated too.
If I tame a healing monster, I can use the same method as Min Hyung-seok. Safer than fighting myself.
Thinking of Min Hyung-seok brought his death to mind. And after, when I'd hidden in Passage 1 and glanced back briefly, the unnatural shift in the monsters.
...Probably just imagination?
High chance it was. Just a quick sidelong glance— even more cursory than scanning his monsters. My instinct for measuring strength hadn't triggered properly.
It had to be imagination. Otherwise, without unsealing everything, I couldn't survive this labyrinth.
What illusion? All monsters had felt overall stronger. Not slightly—threat levels up two stages. Giant skeleton like SSS-grade, others S-grade or higher.
If not imagination, impossible.
I'd been ignoring it on purpose, but it came back... Just forget it. Never heard or seen monsters suddenly jump two stages.
I shoved the memory away again. Assuming worst-case helped survival sometimes, but excessive anxiety could hinder it.
About 20 minutes into Cave 3.
No food or water yet. But I found something else.
A monster freely swimming through the air entered my view. I quickly ducked behind a rock. Then peeked out to observe closely.
The monster resembled a jellyfish.
That thing...
A familiar shape made my eyes widen. Was I seeing wrong? I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Clearer now. And not wrong.
This jellyfish was definitely a monster I'd faced in the otherworld.
Jellyfish-002?
A monster rivaling heroes and demon kings. Threat level S-grade: Demon King Jellyfish.
An S-grade of all things... Huh? Wait.
Normally, I'd run without looking back. Dog Spider-001's disabling silk had low odds against S-grade.
But I didn't run. Something felt off. I stayed hidden, calmly observing.
What? It looks exactly like a Jellyfish...
For some reason... this Jellyfish's threat level was B-grade, same as Dog Spider-001.